Action Figure Review: F.I.S.T. – Doom Trooper

By Nolan P. Smith

Editor, Pastrami Nation

Some reviews hit a little differently—and this one’s been a long time coming. I first connected with Esteban Cifuentes when his original action figure line, F.I.S.T., was just kicking off. His passion and vision were undeniable from the start. We even had him on the Pastrami Nation Podcast, and I was fortunate enough to meet him and his wife in person at San Diego Comic-Con last year. Fast forward to today, and I’m finally diving into my first hands-on review from the line—with the formidable Doom Trooper.

A Menacing Presence in 1/12 Scale

The Doom Trooper is a 1/12 scale beast, clocking in just under 6 inches tall. Packaged in a slick window box, this figure immediately grabs your attention with its gritty, intimidating design. Included in the box:
–Shotgun
–Grenade launcher
–Knife with sheath
–Pistol with holster

Articulation-wise, this figure offers a solid range of motion and adds a brutal, monstrous presence to your 1/12 scale collection. The paint applications are sharp, and the sculpting is detailed and full of character, from the armor to the facial expression. Weapons fit snugly in his hands, and the head is removable so you can pop off the vest for even more display options.

Room for Refinement

As this is part of the first wave of F.I.S.T., there are a few areas where improvement could take this figure from good to great:

• Joint stiffness and support: Some of the joints don’t hold weight too well—posing the figure in certain stances can lead to some sagging, especially in the legs.
• Vest-to-belt connection: Having the vest attached to the belt makes swapping parts more challenging than it needs to be. A little more modularity would go a long way.
• Sculpted shirt confusion: The colors on the torso may initially appear like orc skin, but it’s actually a sculpted shirt—which threw me off at first glance. A clearer distinction here would help the overall design read better.

Final Thoughts: A Promising Start

Creating your own action figure line from the ground up? That’s no easy feat. Esteban has poured his heart and soul into F.I.S.T., and it shows. Doom Trooper has a lot of positives—and with some polish, the next wave could easily elevate this line to elite status.

This figure is a solid entry into a new universe of 1/12 scale action, and it’s absolutely worth checking out, especially for fans of original indie properties and monstrous military aesthetics.

Rating: 3.5 Pastrami Nations out of FIVE

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Keep your eyes on this line!