Clone Trooper (Attack Of The Clones) - LC - Saga Legends (SL04)

The clone troopers make their first appearance on the planet Geonosis. All the genetic engineering and training have led up to this moment, when the clones will prove their value as an effective and relentless fighting force against the Separatists and their droid armies.

Until Star Wars goes away (which will never happen by the way), collectors can expect to receive an inordinate amount clones released for the basic figure lines. Clone troopers are staples so that means that each product year, Hasbro will issue one form of them or another to keep the demand fulfilled. But ironically that is something that won’t happen either. Collectors and kids will be buying clones forever. Every generation of collectors wants them so Hasbro will give them to us. It’s just the way it’s going to be. This is a wonderful thing. We never have to worry about running out of clones. Thankfully, Hasbro has some great sculpts of them under their belt so at least we’ll be getting quality figures for the foreseeable future. In Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones, there were only five “visible” clone types. The plain white infantry clones and then the four clone officers made their debut in the film and frankly made it quite easy for Hasbro to bang them out with regularity. By comparison, the clones from Episode II weren’t so cut and dry and it does require Hasbro to get them into the line in intervals. So it made sense when Hasbro announced that all five clones from Episode II would be included in the 2007 TAC Saga Legends line. Fans were thrilled. They've kept that tradition alive for years now, and now the Episode II Clone Trooper is part of the Legacy Collection Saga Legends lineup.

There was always intense and crazy demand for the original 2003 CW Clone Trooper ('03 #50) figure. It was one of the handful of figures we NEVER saw on the pegs, and that was a trend for most collectors. So by the time the 2007 TAC Saga Legends line came around, collectors were ecstatic about the opportunity to army build this figure briskly and in large quantity! This Clone Trooper has been in the Saga Legends assortment since and now we've all had plenty of opportunity to buy as many as we need. He is almost a bore for the Legacy Collection Saga Legends line at this point! Hasbro knew that had proverbial “gold” in their hands and it was wise of them to make him an evergreen throughout the various lineups. They were smart. Not only did they clean up the paint operations on them, the joints were tightened up a bit more and best of all they were all cast in a super-white plastic which shows no signs of yellowing. (Check your 2005 figures because ours are yellowing terribly.) You should buy a whole bunch of them because these are fantastic sculpts with only a handful of issues. Besides looking a tad too chunky, the legs don't fully articulate at the hips. (The armor gets in the way a little bit.). We do find it a bit disappointing however that Hasbro has neglected to include the long DC-15 blaster rifle. That weapon seems like a necessity for this character.

It’s important to note that Hasbro actually used the same sculpt of the figures from the 2005 OTC Clone Trooper (Troop Builder 4-pack) sets and not technically the 2003 CW Clone Trooper (’03 #50) figure instead. This is easily proven by the inclusion of foot pegs at the bottom of the figure’s feet. We also have noticed a slight repositioning of the legs, but that may just be incidental to production at another time. Interestingly, the Clone Trooper still sports a 2003 copyright date. Despite the subtle retool (by the inclusion of the foot peg holes since 2005), it seems that Hasbro is still considering this figure a straight repack. Other things make this figure superior to its predecessors as well and both things we mentioned earlier. The plastic is bright and very white. This is the best your Episode II clones have looked to date. Also, the black and gray colors used to accent the primarily white body are tighter and crisper and lines haven’t been more perfect. Included with the 2009 version is a cardboard locker of six extra weapons, some of which are Clone Trooper guns. The other extra weapons are surely meant to just help kids and collectors replace lost weapons to the action figures they already have. It's a nice gesture, but it's going to get old fast.