Kashyyyk Trooper/Wookiee Warrior - TAC - Comic Packs (Exclusive)

One look at the purple color-flashed Kashyyyk Trooper in this Comic Packs set and you’ll probably utter immediately that it isn’t a Kashyyyk Trooper. You would actually be both right and wrong in your assessment. If you can rewind your mind back to the Revenge Of The Sith line in 2005, you may remember that the original concept of the Kashyyyk Trooper was first released in a Galactic Heroes two-pack with an Episode III take on Chewbacca. At the time, none of us knew if this style of clone trooper was actually going to appear in the film. It ended up not being included in the film.... as is.... and instead a red colored version of this BARC Trooper was seen during the Order 66 segment in Revenge Of The Sith with the leader becoming Commander Neyo. (Hasbro also released these clones in the 2007 TAC Treachery On Saleucami Walmart exclusive Battle Packs set.) The artists of the comics didn’t get a good grasp on what the clones looked like who fought in the Battle on Kashyyyk since they had to draw and ink the comics way in advance.

It did however give Hasbro a great idea for an Expanded Universe take on the events of Revenge Of The Sith for the Comic Packs line. Ripped right from one of the panels of the comic, the Kashyyyk Trooper/Wookiee Warrior Comic Packs set is a cool if you can appreciate the advanced look at Episode III and the battle we waited a long time to see. This Comic Packs set is truly based on some great pre-release film concept art – the Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith #3 issue. The Kashyyyk Trooper (actually a BARC Trooper) is nothing new to the line. As we mentioned, it was first released as Commander Neyo from the Walmart exclusive Battle Packs set and he’s super-articulated. He comes with a tightly fitting bandolier/pauldron combination (but please note that it is removable) and a DC-15 blaster rifle. Although the Galactic Heroes version has the symbols on the armor colored in blue, the Hasbro 3.75” version is purple (and it’s also purple in the comics). The Wookiee Warrior is not that big of a deal. But the two severed Battle Droid arms he comes with just sell this set home.

Walmart particularly took notice to the success of the Comic Packs line at their retail establishment and wanted to releases sets exclusive to their store. Six exclusive sets got released between January and June of 2008 and brought some of the most surprising and unique Comic Packs we have seen to date. It’s probably true that had Walmart not taken interest in releasing their very own exclusive Comic Packs that this set may have never been produced. All six exclusive Comic Packs are created very simply, obviously to create an affordable release for Hasbro’s retail partner. All of the twelve figures released across the six sets are repaints with new accessories basically. (Hasbro saved all-new sculpts for the main line.) But if we had to get repacks, repaints and kit-bashed figures, this is definitely the way to get them. We don’t care if Hasbro made a ton more sets with differently colored clone troopers and generic Wookiees as long as they’re based off of some source. While Hasbro’s own concepts in the past have been decent, there are so many different styles of clones from the Expanded Universe that should be made first. And the Kashyyyk Trooper is one more off of the list. (Editor's Note: Special thanks to Dan Curto for the reference image.)