Figure of the Day: Day 1,097: 501st BARC Speeder Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER and BARC Speeder Bike
The Clone Wars Figure & Vehicle Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 91349 No. 91361
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Figure, bike, rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: June 2009
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith, The Clone Wars


Image: Adam Pawlus' place.

Bio: Clone troopers ride Biker Advanced Recon Commando (BARC) speeder bikes on scouting and escort missions. BAC speeders give the troopers greater range, speed, mobility, and firepower than foot patrols. They prove so useful to elite units like the 501st Legion that they are soon made available to the entire clone trooper army. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: While the first animated 501st Clone Trooper was a Wal-Mart exclusive in 2008, this one better matches Captain Rex. The same basic clone body type is recycled here to the same great success, and it sports the the 2009-style helmet with the notch in the chin and what seems to be a bigger forehead. All the same great articulation is here, no lateral leg movement or anything, so if for some reason you stumble on a cache of these and want to do some army building, if it's cheap, this is a good item to pick up en masse. With a basic black rifle, it's a pretty great overall release. Assuming you want the bike, of course, otherwise it's a pretty expensive set. If I had the means to get several of this figure for my army and vehicle-packing purposes, I would do so. Unfortunately, I'm too cheap.

Collector's Notes: In 2005, the same bike was sold with the first decent Stass Allie figure for $10. Wal-Mart had an exclusive of it with a pair of Saleucami troopers in 2007 for about $23. So at $17, you might not be smiling so much to buy it again with another repaint. This item is scheduled to ship for a short while, possibly extending into a long while.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,097: August 27, 2009