Clone Trooper/Clone Commander - LC - Comic Packs (9)

After receiving Order 66, the clone troopers in Bogey Squad hunt down Jedi General Quinlan Vos. The squad searches the forests of Kashyyyk to find and eliminate their former commander, who is now considered a traitor the the Republic. The troopers are highly skilled, but they are up against a resourceful quarry.

Fans of Kashyyyk and the 41st Elite Corps are going to be thrilled with the Clone Trooper/Clone Commander Comic Packs set based on the Star Wars: Republic comic series. An Expanded Universe source that remained very faithful to the events that were witnessed in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith, it essentially took readers to the last remaining Order 66 “clean-ups” needing to be performed by the newly established Galactic Empire. Enter the Bogey Squad, a tough battalion of clones on a mission to annihilate the remaining Jedi. The Bogey Squad is one battalion in the 41st Elite Corps that was assembled by Commander Faie during this purge to wipe out the Jedi completely, specifically General Quinlan Vos on Kashyyyk. It an ironic twist, all the battalion was defeated by Vos thanks in part to a Wookiee named Chak. An action packed story line, the Star Wars: Republic comics were dramatic but not silly and it seems that the authors of the series intended to create a seamless “next” storyline as what would have happened after the events during Episode III. The stories are believable, heartfelt and exciting. And as a result, we get to see interaction among the camouflaged Scout Troopers we have come to love with unique designations and personalities. (It’s sort of like The Clone Wars figures, but in realistic mode of course.) Hasbro thought this would be a great choice on which to base a Comic Packs set and we have to admit it has quickly become one of our favorites. As with anything, the set isn’t free from criticism of flaws, but Hasbro did a fine job and gave us two more Kashyyyk Troopers that we will no doubt really like in our collections. But the paint jobs on the figures are beautiful, the articulation is sublime and as a whole, the set allows the collector to learn about new and exciting events that transpired as if Episode never ended and just kept going. Hasbro keeps this story alive very well with this set and we have to say that is has quickly become on of our favorites in the very rich and diverse Comic Packs line.

We would like to make a point on Hasbro’s naming convention. We have reached a point in our collecting where it is basically unacceptable to call characters “Clone Trooper” or “Clone Commander” any more. The comics give us specific names or clone designations for the most post and we wish Hasbro would name the action figures as such. By naming this set Clone Trooper/Clone Commander, it first is an archivist’s nightmare and two, it demeans the individuality the character established in the comics. We obviously know that this is deliberate on Hasbro’s part, but we wish for them to consider making the naming as special and creative as the action figure development process. Hasbro had multiple name choices for these action figures that they could have used, but they decided to make it generic unfortunately. Here is hoping that they will consider clever and specific names for our action figure, especially clone troopers and astromech droids. That aside, we really do love this Comic Packs set. We loved 2009's TLC Commander Faie/Quinlan Vos Comic Packs set too and they complement each other perfectly. We do take issue with the head choice Hasbro made for the Clone Trooper figure. Instead of using Temura Morrison’s likeness, they went with the portrait of Bodie Taylor. This is a bit annoying because the Bodie Taylor likeness represents a younger stage of a clone and we don’t think the young ones were fighting at the end of Order 66. Who knows, we could be way off here. (We also didn’t prefer the Bodi Taylor likeness of 2007's TAC Galactic Marine (30 02) figure either.) This could be nitpicking, but it also affects the final product of the action figure as well. The Bodie Taylor head sculpt doesn’t fit nicely of the body like the Temura Morrsion head so the final result is a bit of a “no neck” situation. It also affects how well the helmet fits on the head. It is a very tight fit and we hope that going forward that Hasbro will stick to Temura Morrision head sculpts. The figure is not that different from the figure in the Commander Faie/Quinlan Vos Comic Packs set, but it has a brighter and different (unique) camouflaged pattern on its armor (and of course that very annoying head).

The Clone Commander in the set is a charmer. Its paint applications are very reminiscent to the figure we saw in 2007’s TAC Yoda/Kashyyyk Trooper (6 of 6) Order 66 set (see photo gallery for a comparison shot), but better. Added this time around too is a pauldron and it looks great on him. In fact, the Clone Commander looks like a camouflaged version of 2006’s TSC Commander Appo (SAGA 064). Utilizing the wonderful 2005 ROTS Clone Trooper (III 41) sculpt, the Clone Commander is super-articulated and rounds this set out very nicely. You already know plenty about this figure already so we won’t waste much of your time here writing about it. But both figures look great, are accessorized well and have awesome articulation. Interestingly, we couldn’t find reference materials on the Clone Commander in the included comic book. If he appears in another volume, then so be it, but this action figure may be a Hasbro concept since all of the clone trooper we saw in Star Wars: Republic were Kashyyyk Troopers as seen in Episode III. Even so, the variety of the two included figures is awesome and we bet this will be a brisk seller at retail. Now that the Comic Packs line is in retirement and we look back on the line, we certainly have to admit that it was an impressive run. Of course the options for news sets is close to endless, the time away from retail may stir up more excitement and desire for the line. And if Hasbro does decide to resurrect the line, they need to know that kicking off with repacks will not do it any good. Like it or not, the Comic Packs line has a niche audience and doesn’t have support of the hoi polloi. But it is our opinion that if Hasbro brings new ideas that follow similar approaches to the Clone Trooper/Clone Commander and the Clone Trooper Lieutenant/Clone Trooper (the Utapau-styled clones) Comic Packs sets, the line may just get its second wind. Unfortunately, it may never get its second chance.