Clone Trooper Sergeant - TBS [P2] - Six Inch Figures (#07)

Clone trooper sergeants are genetically engineered and trained to command clone trooper squads in the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars.

It took a little longer than perhaps expected, but Hasbro has finally began repainting existing sculpts in The Black Series 6” line in an effort to quickly bring new characters into the line. The Clone Trooper Sergeant of course isn’t the first instance of this. Hasbro reused the sculpts of the Biker Scout figure from the Speeder Bike and Biker Scout as well as the Sandtrooper to make the Imperial Shadow Squadron TARGET exclusive set. But now they’re repainting the 6” figures, albeit simply, to bring us new characters from the films. The Clone Trooper (#14) figure was first released in The Black Series [Phase I] line and now it has been repainted as the Clone Trooper Sergeant in The Black Series [Phase II] line. Everything you know about the original figure has been carried forward here, including the accessories, but Hasbri has opted to cast the figure in a duller white color which does wonders for the sculpt. The paint operations are alright in this instance, but we still are wondering when we can relax about them in general. As you might expect, there are still a few paint operations issues here. It seems that Hasbro's consistency is still a bit rocky. We are waiting to return to the days when the paint operations will outshine the sculpts again. We digress. It’s very interesting however to us how Hasbro has been preoccupied with the Clone Trooper Sergeant in The Black Series line. It was the very first phase I clone trooper officer in the 3.75” line and now it’s the first clone trooper officer in the 6” line.

But it looks pretty fantastic. With a nice amount of articulation and a design that perfectly captures both the essence and silhouette of the character, The Black Series [Phase II] Clone Trooper Sergeant is likely only the first of many clone trooper offices the line will bring us before it ends. Don't shoot us, but we hope that Hasbro completes all of the clone trooper officers and soon, so that they look consistent. We find two things very odd about the Clone Trooper Sergeant release though. Firstly, why would Hasbro choose this particular clone trooper officer when it is the commanders and captains that have the most visible screen time in Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones. And although the Clone Trooper Sergeant characters are actually seen in Episode II, they are never seen with their helmets on their heads (at least the footage we have watched over the years). Obviously the Clone Trooper sculpt comes without a removable helmet (which is honestly a good thing), but perhaps what would have made the Clone Trooper Sergeant a very unique release would have been to give this figure and all-new head sculpt with a removable helmet feature for screen accuracy purposes. We're being a bit anal-retentive here, but we can't help but address these points. Although, as with so many other phase I Clone Trooper action figures released throughout time, Hasbro has changed their protocol with the Clone Trooper Sergeant by giving him an off-white armor color. He still has a clean paint job. Clearly this means that this clone is based the scene in Kamino during Episode II that the clones were receiving their helmets.

We don't understand this phenomenon too well, but the clone trooper officers tend to always look better than the all-white infantry clones in the toy line. The same is true for the Clone Trooper Sergeant. This green (as in novice as well as color flashes) soldier is a tremendous asset to the 6” line regardless of his cleanliness. We’re still inclined to rate this sculpt as being a little bit distant from perfect status, but there is no way you won't be somewhat impressed with it. Hasbro included clever articulation systems that give this figure an edge over many of the other figures in the line. The double hinge-jointed elbows, which we saw on both the Sandtrooper (#03) and the Stormtrooper (#09) have been carried forward with the Clone Trooper Sergeant and works just as well as they did in the past. You’re able to bend the arms in ways that ball-jointed articulation just doesn’t allow. And you can really attain some amazing poses. With the precise matching of the pins, we couldn’t be happier with their execution here. Add to that plenty of extra mobility courtesy of ball-jointed shoulders and wrists, the Clone Trooper Sergeant can be posed in so many ways that all previous 3.75” versions of this character couldn’t come close to capturing. We’re elated about this and it keeps us assured that Hasbro has great intentions for this line. If Hasbro can just lock down tighter paint operations, there would be a much warmer reception for this line. More accessories would be appreciated too. Give us some value for the $20 price tag! But overall, we are enjoying this line. We just want them to lock down some of the details better. But even if they don't give us more accessories, we will be surprised if you're not impressed by this release. It is a pleasant surprise.