Clone Trooper - TLC - Basic (BD 16)

When armed with a Cip-Quad, a clone trooper becomes a mobile piece of anti-personnel and anti-armor blaster artillery. Troopers wear special gear to operate this experimental weapon’s twin-barreled cannons that can take out AATs and tanks.

Why did Hasbro have to call this figure “Clone Trooper”? At this point in our collecting tenure, we should be getting more colorfully described names for our action figures especially when they are beyond the scope of a plain, white generic clone trooper. This figure should have actually been entitled "Heavy Gunner Clone Trooper" or "ARC Heavy Gunner" instead and it would have were it released in The Saga Collection or 30 (77-07) lines. Why in the world would they name this specialized of a clone trooper as simply "Clone Trooper"? It makes no sense at all. Ever since those had ended, Hasbro prefers to go with the most generic naming convention possible for their figures and until they change this protocol, we will just have to deal with it (unfortunately). Generic creates general confusion, but it especially causes confusion for archivists (like us). Many collectors don't seem to mind, after all, it's all about the figure inside the packaging and not the naming. But nonetheless, the good news here is that the name doesn't diminish the awesomeness of this figure. Clone Trooper (with Cip-Quad) is a great second attack by Hasbro on an previously released great attempt on this character and while it's nothing earth-shattering to long term collectors, it is a great updated enhancement to the line. We first got this character first in 2006's TSC The Hunt For Grievous Toys R Us exclusive Battle Packs set. (It was one of the greatest exclusives of all time.) In fact, it was so popular and commanded a high secondary market price shortly thereafter that Hasbro reissued it as a general release Battle Packs set in 2007's 30 (77-07) line. It was totally worthy of re-release and sold equally well a full year later. Obviously it was a welcome repack! It was full of Clone Trooper goodness and we really don't see a clone-focused Battle Packs collection like this that often unfortunately. There are some, but not nearly enough as there should be. But it is also great to get unique clone troopers as basic figures too and Clone Trooper (BD 16) does a fine job of giving us something all new and wonderful for our collections.

Clone Trooper is quite different from the figure that was released in the Battle Packs multipack. And while they are both meant to represent that tough clone trooper jumping out of a Republic Gunship on Hypori in the opening scene of Volume 2 of the Clone Wars, they are so unique and different from each other. That exciting scene made fans start drooling immediately for all the potential action figures that could possibly come from it. (And over time we have gotten many of them thankfully.) While both “Heavy Gunner” Clone Troopers are excellent, depending upon who you are, you may favor things from the first release that the second version doesn't have and vice versa. We love the new basic figure, but we are also partial to the Battle Packs figure. It's nice to get clones without a removable helmet and the original version did not have a removable helmet. While a removable helmet adds play value, we have to admit that more mystery and ominousness is created when you can’t see the face underneath the helmet. (Yes, we know, some exceptions apply, like Darth Vader for example.) Also, sometimes a non-removable helmet on a figure just plain looks better as it is not exaggerated in size to fit over the head. So while the new figure has a removable helmet, the Battle Pack version did not and it looks a little bit better in all honesty. Also, for $20-$25, you got four other clones. But there has always been more value in Battle Packs. But this time around, the new figure has an amazing newly sculpted and cool Cip-Quad accessory. The poor Battle Packs figure came with a pitiful "heavy gun" that just didn't cut the mark by any means. The new Cip-Quad accessory puts it to shame! His main trademark is of course this very large gun, and fans fell in love with this accessory almost as much as the character. Technically called a "reciprocating quad blaster," it is one of the largest and most impressive clone trooper accessories we have ever seen. Period. The new large gun is brilliantly crafted and fits flawlessly in the Clone Trooper's hand. Hasbro has recently raised the bar on the accessories they include with their figures (and not just the guns, but table, etc.), and this is evidenced by this release. And this may be brave of us to exclaim, but this may be reason enough to pick up this figure.

Clone Trooper is pretty much an all-new figure and we have yet to conclusively prove ourselves wrong that any part has been recycled to date, but the possibility exists. But for intents and purposes, he is NEW. Regardless of this figure's parts recipe, he is one of the neatest clone troopers to have entered our collections. Hasbro tends to defer to older sculpts or molds when they reinvent a new clone trooper, so we should count ourselves blessed that this figure got all-new treatment (again, for the most part if not entirely). While the body looks to be all-new, he does indeed borrow the kama from the 2007 TAC Obi-Wan/ARC Trooper (No. 7) Comic Packs set. Accessories are likely to be borrowed from other figures and this is just fine with us. But other than that, you won't find any newly recycled parts. It is important to note that the kama has also been repainted so you may not notice its quick repainted status right off the bat. Clone Trooper is super-articulated and holds his Cip-Quad heavy artillery weapon without any issues. Having a figure that can bend appropriately to hold his accessories is such a joy - it doesn't happen as often as it should unfortunately. His center of gravity has been designed flawlessly and he won't fall over when posed with the gun, even if you have to spend a moment or two to get it just right. This is another benefit of this figure, a blessing in disguise! Hasbro also seems to like this figure, because it is scheduled to appear in a Kmart exclusive multipack down the road and we also expect him to make new appearances in the basic line in additional waves. It is a shame that the original Clone Wars micro-series is officially on the back burner at Hasbro now. If they could continue making A-list figures like this, the few left to be made would be so nice to have! But difficult the future is to see! But it isn't difficult to know that you definitely need this action figure in your collections! And how amazing it is how far Hasbro has come even since only 2006. (The Battle Packs gave us some great quick figures, but sometimes all of the parts just didn’t work too well.) We now have all great working parts and an excellently designed Clone Trooper. This figure is a must-have!