Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,338: Airborne Clone Trooper (212th Battalion, The Vintage Collection)

AIRBORNE CLONE TROOPER (212th Battalion)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Walmart Exclusive 2-Pack
Item No.: No. G3191
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #399
Includes: Blaster pistol, blaster rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: March 2026
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: On Clone Commander Cody's orders, the 212th battalion's specially trained clone paratroopers searched - to no avail - for their missing commander, Obi-Wan Kenobi. (Taken from the cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Walmart now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Sometimes I see a set, hold my nose, and order it anyway. Not because it's bad - but because I wasn't disappointed in what I have at home. This Airborne Clone Trooper (212th Battalion) is a newer, skinnier, debatably improved version of a 30th Anniversary Collection figure from 2007. The 2007 one had vibrant orange coloring, a removable helmet, battle damage, and even a hidden blaster inside his pouch. It even had a coin, and it was $6.99 (about $11 adjusted for inflation.) Even at the time, that was a really good price. This figure stands well, physically and on its own merits. Having said that, the 2007 one was so good, you might not feel compelled to upgrade. I would not argue if you felt that way.

This new figure was about $20 (in a 2-pack that cost $40). It has no removable helmet, two blasters (one is different), and no battle damage. The new ankles rock better, the helmet pivots better and is a bit more appropriately sized, the waist joint is better, and the wrists move well. The elbow cuts? They're better too. It's much easier to pose this new version, but what's kind of vexing is the part count isn't that much different from the original, much cheaper toy. I prefer the new cloth kama piece to the plastic original, though, so there's that.

I liked the coloring of the original release a little more, mostly because it just popped. The white is a little duller, and the orange is a little paler this time. All the rank markings are where they were last time, though, but the color drift over 20 years means your 212th attack battalion figures likely won't all match any more.

Hasbro's 2027 figure isn't bad, so my grumpiness comes mostly from my satisfaction of the old figure, what with its banged-up black marks and weathered armor, being a perfectly good, much cheaper toy. With a coin. That 2007 figure costs about the same as this new one, and if you ask me which one you should buy? It's a hard choice. I like the coin a lot from 2007, but I think most fans will prefer the soft goods kama and improved range of articulation on the otherwise very similar joints. For 18 years, it doesn't feel like the massive leaps we saw from 1978 to 1998, or even 2002 to 2007. We do see some massive leaps forward with some of our human likenesses and every all-new, never-before-made figure tends to look amazing. It's just when we already have one at home (or in a storage unit) it can be tough to really hold up a higher-priced remake as a beacon of awesomeness, even if it is very nicely executed. If Hasbro included the battle damage, a removable helmet, and a pouch blaster, I'd say this would be clearly a superior figure... but as it stands, I'm having more fun with the 30th Anniversary Collection incarnation. It's a better toy, this is a better figure adults can use to try to impress each other.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart. I got mine online, but I was surprised to see this in multiple stores. I was less surprised to see this set ripped open with the Clone stolen. Arizona gonna Arizona.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,338: April 21, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,335: 212th Attack Battalion Utapau Trooper (The Black Series 6-Inch)

212TH ATTACK BATTALION UTAPAU TROOPER Obi-Wan's Clone Troopers
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Entertainment Earth Exclusive Set
Item No.:   No. C0495
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pistol, rifle, more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $99.99
Availability: November 2016
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: These clone troopers served with Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Grand Army of the Republic's 212th Attack Battalion during the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Hello there!  The Phase II Revenge of the Sith Clone Trooper mold was also decorated as the spiffy  212th Attack Battalion Utapau Trooper, complete with the dirt and scratches you love.   The figure has the same great articulation, a small blaster pistol, and great deco.  Heck, you probably even know what to expect - but let's run it down anyway.

The white Clone has now been given a unique paint mask - the green clone and orange clone have similar designs, but completely different white scrapes in their squad markings.   The orange looks fresh, as do the scrapes - which show exposed white plastic underneath.  Added dark scrapes imply dirt or wear and tear, with a healthy smattering on the figure's front.  Even the helmet has been kicked around a bit, which helps it look distinctive and interesting.  I was even more surprised to see Hasbro spent some effort marking up the back as well, as historically this has been something Hasbro wouldn't touch.  If you don't see the damage in the window box, Hasbro would often leave it off - so this is a huge improvement over some older designs.

The design is based on one of Hasbro's finer earlier figures, so you get double-jointed elbows, bend-and-swivel wrists, and a good range of motion that allows you to hold a gun with one or two hands.  Some newer troopers can't necessarily do that, but Hasbro is getting better at making simpler elbows with better ranges of motion as of late.   If you like Clones, and my math says some of you do but not as many as one might hope, get this figure and/or set.     The only thing missing would be more weapons and even more variety, but I like what I got and I think you will too if you're in to prequel figures.  After all, there aren't many.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.   Where I ram-rodded its creation.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,335 January 17, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,768: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Orange, Unadorned
The Clone Wars Clone Troopers & Droids Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 94743 No. 19677
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, grappling hook, display stand, game card, 3 more figures
Action Feature: Firing rocket launcher
Retail: $24.99
Availability: June 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Clone troopers apply all their military training, warrior skills and weaponry to battle the endless army of "Clankers" during the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former kitchen.

Commentary: It's kind of amazing that we got to a point when writing about another Clone Trooper is something of a chore. This one is similar to the 2009 release, except the color is a smidgen different and he has an added grappling hook accessory. The entire set is quite good-- you get an orange 212th Battalion figure with a jetpack and two great droids, plus this guy. His range of movement is great-- you get articulated ankles, bend-and-swivel wrists, the works-- but it's still Just Another Clone Trooper, and his value is dependent entirely on your need for an army or how many clones you already have. The range of movement is good, the accessories are fun, and the complete set is, again, worth it. It's just that as a single unit, this figure may not be doing much for you. As filler goes, this figure is about as good as they come, but I wouldn't suggest tracking down the set just for it. (Now the Retail Droid? Absolutely.)

Collector's Notes: As Hasbro withdrew support of Battle Packs, the early wave sets (like this one) sat around for a while and may still be in a retail store near you. At a discounted price, this is a must-buy set. Even at full price it's pretty good-- four figures for $25 or so is, sadly, now quite the deal especially when one of them is an exclusive sculpt to this set.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,767: March 22, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,763: Clone Trooper (Gearshift)

CLONE TROOPER possibly "Gearshift"
The Clone Wars Legacy of Terror DVD Set
Item No.: Asst. 30411 No. 31677
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #1 of 2
Includes: Stand, game card, blaster, Obi-Wan Kenobi figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: March 2012
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Obi-Wan and clone troopers discover a macabre legacy of terror on Geonosis. The Jedi General and a team of clone troopers enter a Geonosian temple and find an underground hive of undead Geonosian warriors, their menacing queen - and the frightening brain worms she uses to control her zombie army! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo hole.

Commentary: The Clone Trooper and Obi-Wan Kenobi DVD 2-pack was announced at Comic-Con 2011 last July, with an August on-shelf date. Simple, right? Well, sort of-- sometimes exclusives get delayed quite a bit, especially in the last couple of years where a few items ended up in different retailers entirely or were simply quietly canceled. Since this set started showing up in European packaging and in a few Asian auctions, it seemed obvious that it was made-- but where were the US packaged versions? And why weren't they at Walmart like they were supposed to be? We don't know, but we do know that the T.J. Maxx and Marshalls chains of closeout stores (which share a lot of inventory) got them. Since it just showed up this week, your mileage may vary but I suggest you run out to your stores this weekend to go looking. Due to the high foot traffic in these stores, parents and non-collectors can gobble them up before you even knew you missed them.

Anyway, now this item exists, and as of yesterday we know for a fact you can go buy one. I ran to Marshalls after work and found what seemed to be a case, already beat up a bit, but devoid of any Walmart stickering. (Some previous Ross/Max/Marshalls closeouts had the stickers manually removed.) So for the time being, it's less an exclusive than it was a "dumped" item. Between the two sets there are two significantly different figures, one repack, and one that's just different enough to make you mad. This Clone is the one with the best new tooling, as his helmet was tweaked to include those really cool head lamps seen in many episodes of the show. This mold could be used to refresh several styles of the troopers, but as Hasbro seems to be slowly winding down this line it seems unlikely that we'll see these cool lamps again any time soon. The figure uses the 2008 body type (ankles!) and is similar to the existing 212th Battalion Clone Troopers. Named specifically "Clone Trooper" on his card, it's unknown if it's one of many unnamed troopers or Gearshift, who looks the same, or if it matters. What I do know is that if you want it, it's ten bucks, and for every one you buy for your army you'll get another Obi-Wan Kenobi figure you don't want. (I like Obi-Wan, I just have been "forced" to buy many in the name of my clone army.)

The deco is more or less normal for a clone, so when you get right down to it the main reason to buy this set are the lamps on his helmet. As a trooper fan, I'll buy any clone with a change to its sculpt without a lot of complaining, and I like it. I wish it was sold on a single card so I could get them cheaper, but the rising costs of single figures compared to this two-pack makes that complaint moot. For $10, this is a fun set if you don't have an Obi-Wan Kenobi, or too many Clone Troopers, or the episode "Legacy of Terror" on DVD or Blu-Ray. As a kid item, it's wonderful. (Scary, but wonderful.) I mean, it's ten bucks for two good figures and 30 minutes of entertainment. It's hard to go wrong for that, Hasbro can (and should [and is]) do more of this kind of product-- recent Transformers Prime Cyberverse toys have been spotted with DVDs as well. Back in the 1980s, we had "Listen & Fun" sets which had a goofy audio cassette adventure and a toy, so we've come a long way.

Collector's Notes: Originally announced as a Walmart exclusive, this is one of many sets originally announced as an exclusive to the chain which ended up on clearance at other stores later. Does this mean anything? Probably not, other than the market may have finally achieved a level of Star Wars saturation. Given some years have had north of 200-300 figures (counting Battle Packs), a little reduction or correction is probably a good thing, and given the lack of new Clone Wars product on the shelves these days I would say this is an exciting release. It doesn't take much. So don't shell out for this on eBay, people of March 2012: go check your local T.J. Maxx and Marshalls first.

One last note: the date stamp reads 11851, meaning it was produced on or about July 4, 2011. Knowing how long it takes a container of toys to get from China to the USA, this would've probably put it at a mid-August arrival at a US port, and for all I know this means it was later than Walmart wanted it and they said "nevermind," but this is just speculation. Maybe Walmart just didn't want it any more, period, which is unfortunate given exclusives seemed a little light late last year.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,763: March 16, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,758: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER 212th Battalion
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 30018
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC38
Includes: Helmet, rifle, blaster
Action Feature: Removable Helmet
Retail: $8.99
Availability: January 2011
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Fore be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' G.I. Joe backdrop.

Commentary: OK, so this Clone Trooper is basically the 2010 TVC release, except with some paint. The plain white one was pretty bland, particularly since many samples came missing a few markings. This one makes up for it, and while his helmet isn't a fan favorite, it's nice to have a super-articulated 212th Clone Trooper with hip joints. I like the guns-- the smaller, basically more authentic ones-- but they aren't painted. The armor itself has black and orange, and lacks the slick battle damage of the 2006 release... of which I have many. This figure is a great addition to a squad to mix things up and add some variety, but visually it doesn't look better than the cheaper 2006 ancestor.

If you like figures which work well with vehicles, or are pretty neat at being posed, this is worth snagging. Just don't overpay for it, there are more 212th clones out there from other releases, gift sets, and so on.

Collector's Notes: Of the token "repaint" wave of early 2011, this one seemed to disappear the fastest-- and Hasbro got this weird "oh no! Troopers don't sell!" attitude around the same time, not taking into account that it's because they just came off of two very plain, very boring troopers during a price increase and neither of which were particularly interesting to look at. So yeah, this dude suffered. Will the same happen with the much-delayed TVC 501st Trooper? (Probably.) I'm so old I remember the days where Hasbro would make a trooper and stick it in cases for months to come, I reckon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,758: March 9, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,606: Flamethrower Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Flamethrower
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 20805
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW26
Includes: Stand, flame (clip-on), flame (flamethrower), helmet, backpack, flamethrower, blaster rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Fall 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: A clone trooper uses a flamethrower to fight Geonosian drones. The trooper's squad is battle their way through a cave to reach the rest of the Republic invasion force. Their mission is to wipe out a droid factory manufacturing powerful new weapons. The clone trooper aims his flamethrower at the attacking drones to clear his path. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: Since 2010 Hasbro has had made a good effort in getting Geonosis-specific Clone Trooper animated figures on the market. This one is a slight remold (and a total repaint) of the snow gear Captain Rex of early 2010, down to the removable helmet dome and backpack. The figure's big change is a cloth skirt allowing him to sit if you're so inclined, plus it allows more movement in the legs. The large flamethrower accessory-- which, let's be frank, cannot stand with the figure easily with the flame in it-- brings all sorts of new balance issues so you probably will need to buy some additional means of support to display this figure with the flame attached. (Fishing wire, perhaps?)

The earthy red deco looks great, with orange highlights matching the bulk of Obi-Wan Kenobi's 212th Battalion figures. If the flamethrower is too much for you, the flames can be removed (or snapped on to a droid), or you can just use a normal blaster rifle. It looks great, and is another fine example of Hasbro following the animation's lead to reuse an existing design to get more mileage out of the work which has already been done. I should also note, the shoulder armor is removable-- so be careful, or you will lose it. I feel this was something of a mistake, as it's a potential hazard for lost parts. Or choking, I guess, I'm more worried about missing pieces.

Collector's Notes: You should be able to score one of these for $10 or so, or at retail. It's a nice one, not particularly rare, but quite distinctive on a shelf.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,606: August 10, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,562: Clone Trooper Lieutenant

CLONE TROOPER LIEUTENANT and Clone Trooper
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs Wave 7
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 91772
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #10
Includes: Helmet, grappling hook, blaster, extra figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Star Wars: Routine Valor Comic Book

Bio: Clone Troopers display more than "Routine Valor" during a battle on Sarrish. When their Republic gunship crashes near a dangerous gun emplacement, the clones launch an attack to capture the promontory on which the gun is anchored. Although the odds are against them, the troopers dont hesitate to take on the deadly challenge. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old neighbor's yard. The fence was low.

Commentary: Part of the last retail wave of comic packs, this orange Clone Trooper Lieutenant takes pieces of a few existing figures and bashes them together into this unique ranking officer. The kama is similar to the ARC Trooper one. The helmet is similar to the Evolutions sculpt. And the gun? Well, that's new. The blaster rifle has a hole in the barrel which can hold a grappling hook. It doesn't fire or launch, but it just looks cool. The figure has modified 212th Battalion orange markings, and is a pretty clean design. There aren't a lot of dents or dirty marks, making this figure look somewhat pristine. I don't consider the figure a required purchase, but if you have a need for big armies with lots of variety you need to buy this set.

Collector's Notes: While this wave of comic packs tends to be somewhat expensive, this set doesn't seem to be too bad most of the time. If you can get it for roughly retail, you should. Otherwise, just settle for some basic orange clones, and you'll probably be just as happy. The most exciting thing about this one, for me, is the grapple gun.

Day 1,562: June 9, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,549: ARF Trooper Waxer

ARF TROOPER WAXER and Geonosian Battle Droid
The Clone Wars Target Exclusive 2-Packs
Item No.: Asst. 31362 No. 31679
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, stand, rocket, rocket launcher, Battle Droid figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: Late February 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Clone troopers fight Battle Droids to destroy a Separatist weapons factory. ARF trooper Waxer scouts ahead to gather information about the enemy. He runs into a squad of battle droids, and stops these robotic warriors before they reveal his position. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's TBD.

Commentary: During The Clone Wars' ongoing run, a few minor characters get a chance to stand out-- and some of them are killed off. So far ARF Trooper Waxer and his brother Boil have shown up a few times, sporting 212th Battalion armor in their first appearance and this Geonosis-specific armor the next time they showed up. Not being a company to waste tooling, Hasbro uses the same body for both Waxer and Boil in this form, albeit with different deco. What this means to you is that Hasbro used the best body in terms of articulation. While the armor isn't 100% authentic to what appears on-screen, particularly in the elbow area, it does have bend-and-pivot wrists as well as ball-jointed hips so that he may mount an AT-RT or another vehicle without ruining the toy. This is, of course, a huge plus.

Waxer's deco is very similar to Boil's, although there is more orange on the helmet. Also, there's a little Easter Egg-- a small drawing of Numa, the Twi'lek girl from "Innocents of Ryloth," is on the back of his helmet. It's small and subtle, and much more prominent on Boil.

While a fun figure that I was excited to pick up, when you get right down to it, this makes at least 5 different figures to use the animated ARF Trooper body. While the deco is different, it may not be different enough for you to run out and buy. This is, of course, a shame as this is a pretty nice pair of figures. That, and I just can't bring myself to split up Waxer and Boil. It's just not right.

Collector's Notes: Still available at retail, and not a bad set. If you already bought Boil with the AT-RT, you really need Waxer too.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,549: May 23, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,461: ARF Trooper Boil

CLONE TROOPER BOIL with AT-RT
The Clone Wars Vehicles with Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94737 No. 25943
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: AT-RT, blaster pistol, game stand and card
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Clone trooper Boil pilots an AT-RT during the battle to retake Geonosis. An AT-RT (All-Terrain Recon Transport) is a one-man walker armed with a repeating laser cannon. With its height, mobility, and speed, the walker allows Boil to support the embattled Republic forces as they fight waves if battle droids and Geonosian warriors. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Hasbro's best overall Clone Trooper mold to date is the ARF Trooper body, which has been repainted to make this Clone Trooper Boil figure. The previous Boil had a removable helmet and was exclusive to Target, while this one has a unique camo pattern, the orange 212th Battalion markings, and a special added detail-- a little drawing of Numa on the visor of his helmet. (Numa was a little Twi'lek girl he and Waxer saved on Ryloth. Watch the show, it's good.) But why is this figure good, you're asking?

The ARF Trooper body is, to date, the only animated Clone Trooper to have ball-jointed hips for better sitting on vehicles. (Jesse will have these, but other figures have had to spread their legs a little more forcibly-- they weren't designed for vehicles.) Because this design works so well, Boil has no problems standing around and looking good or sitting in his AT-RT (pictured). The figure is indeed super articulated, plus has extra wrist joints to allow for even more movement when holding his blaster pistol or driving a vehicle. In short, this is as good as it gets, and if you like the paint job you really ought to run out and get this figure. Even though it's just another Clone Trooper, the coloring is quite distinctive from what you already own and the vehicle is really nice (and simple) too. You can't go wrong with this one, kids (or adults).

Collector's Notes: The set was the second repaint of this AT-RT mold, although the figure has had three different paint jobs at press time. The set was easy to get reasonably early on, meaning you can probably find one if you do some looking toay. Or you can do me a solid and order on the link below, ensuring my continued employment.

Aurebesh Notes: The word "Eo" appears under the vehicle's seat for reasons I can't quite grasp. Much more sensible are the words "Bug Stomper" on the sides of the front of the walker, as this vehicle was deployed on Geonosis during the landing on Point Rain.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,461: January 19, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,370: Clone Trooper (Rocket Pack)

CLONE TROOPER Rocket Pack
The Clone Wars Clone Troopers & Droids Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 94743 No. 19677
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Rocket pack, rocket, dummy rocket, additional figures, display stand, game card
Action Feature: Firing rocket launcher
Retail: $24.99
Availability: June 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Clone troopers apply all their military training, warrior skills and weaponry to battle the endless army of "Clankers" during the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' apartment.

Commentary: This Clone Trooper makes use of the existing 2008 sculpt, but has the 2009-style helmet a hole for a backpack. (This may not mean much to you.) There have been other orange, 212th Battalion-themed troopers with backpack holes but this one is unique in that it isn't off-white. Since it uses the older mold, the wrists do have the extra range of movement and the ankles are articulated, making this a fully super-articulated release from Hasbro. The backpack is removable, but plugs in nicely. There are both firing and non-firing rockets so you can use whichever you might prefer. The orange is nice, the white is nice, and the sculpt is as expected-- which is to say, excellent. While lacking in surprises, it is still a nice toy.

Collector's Notes: The set includes 4 figures, 4 display stands, gaming cards, the works. It really is a nice set, particularly since it can help you flesh out your armies. Unfortunately, you probably have more than enough Clone Troopers by now, and no standard Battle Droids are included, but the set itself has enough new to offer to make the collection worth your while. I can't get enough of the troopers, particularly when they're all a little different, so this works nicely for me.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,370: September 14, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,262: Clone Trooper (Routine Valor)

CLONE TROOPER and Clone Trooper Lieutenant
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs Wave 7
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 91772
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #10
Includes: Antenna, blaster, warhead, extra figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Star Wars: Routine Valor Comic Book

Bio: Clone Troopers display more than "Routine Valor" during a battle on Sarrish. When their Republic gunship crashes near a dangerous gun emplacement, the clones launch an attack to capture the promontory on which the gun is anchored. Although the odds are against them, the troopers dont hesitate to take on the deadly challenge. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's neighbor's yard.

Commentary: If you love clones and are anything like me you probably got your fill of the orange Clone Trooper figures from the 212th Battalion back in 2006. This figure is basically the same mold and very similar deco, but is different in a few meaningful ways. There are no black "damage" markings here, and the positioning of the orange markings are slightly different. Were Hasbro to integrate this slight deco variation on the basic figure, that'd be pretty swell for those looking to build an army. For a comic pack, it's still a nice idea because it does set this figure apart from the basic carded release, even if only slightly.

The most signifiant addition to this release is his gun. The larger rifle has a hollow barrel, and you can cram stuff into it like this bazooka-esque warhead thing. It fits right in, or can be removed, giving your gun two distinct looks. It's a nice feature, one I was not expecting to ever see. Who knew Hasbro had new surprising gun features waiting for us? While not significantly new, the figure is certainly different enough to be worth a good look, although those of you who are over clone troopers may be better served being happy with what you already have.

Collector's Notes: While not a significantly different figure from the 212 Battalion Utapau troops, army builders will want this one just to mix up their ranks a bit. It's great to see similar-but-different troopers for those who are interested in such things, although your average fan may not want to pay a premium for a slightly different shade of orange and a new gun.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,262: April 15, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,181: Clone Trooper 212th Battalion

CLONE TROOPER 212th Attack Battalion
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 87939
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #19
Includes: Rocket, launcher, blaster rifle
Action Feature: Rocket launcher fires
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Early 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: The clone troopers of the 212th Attack Battalion are distinguished by the orange markings on their white armor. Led by Clone Commander Cody and Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi, this unit includes a number of elite infantrymen trained for special missions. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: This Clone Trooper uses the same mold as pretty much every one since 2008, although this particular one is historically significant in that it's the first with the "new helmet." This redesigned helmet sculpt has a bit if a hole where his "chin" is, plus a slightly broader forehead. At first it looked really weird, but the truth is that it's truer to the animation designs. The figure itself sports the orange markings of Obi-Wan Kenobi's squad, so it's pretty swell-- add it to your army, get a bunch, etc. He has the same articulation as you're used to, so check out the other FOTDs for the specifics.

Collector's Notes: This figure came and went pretty quickly, but it's assumed we will see it again due to the sheet number of them on the series. If not this one specifically, other members of the battalion should see release eventually. Similar troopers were sold as deluxe figures with jet packs, and another 212th Clone with the original helmet sculpt was shipped in a Target-exclusive Battle Pack in November of 2008. So you can probably make a pretty good 212th Squad at this point.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,181: December 23, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,074: 212th Clone Trooper

212th BATTALION CLONE TROOPERS and Jet Backpacks
The Clone Wars Figure and Vehicle Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 91349 No. 91369
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 figures, 2 jet backpacks, 2 clone blasters, 1 clone rifle, 1 battle droid blaster, 4 rockets
Action Feature: Backpacks spring open with button, rockets launch
Retail: $16.99
Availability: June 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Bio: Some clone trooper units are equipped with jet backpacks and a variety of weapons. Jet backpacks are used for aerial assaults and are equipped with twin missile launchers. These packs are often assigned to troopers who are deployed to difficult or rugged environments, such as the troopers of Commander Cody's 212th Attack Battalion. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: The two Clone Troopers that come in this boxed set are the third unique incarnation of animated orange troopers. These include the second helmet with the "notch" in the chin, are cast in an off-white plastic, and sport a hole in the back so the backpacks can attach. Other than that, they're typical animated clones with 14 joints and the enhanced wrist articulation you've come to love. They can stand, sit, pose, be ready to fight-- all that jazz. The orange coloring seems paler than on other figures, but that could be due to the contrast with the plastic. Either way, they're quite different in how they look, and their blue weapons are also unique to this set so far. Even if you have every clone released so far, these are different enough to add to your stash. The jet backpacks are revised versions of the ones sold in 2005 with the deluxe Clone Trooper from Revenge of the Sith, but with new coloring.

Collector's Notes: It's new, and one of the few items in this new figure and vehicle assortment which is actually a better value than the other items in the case. A deluxe clone with jet backpack sold for $10 in 2005, and basic figures are normally $8 these days, so $17 for a pair of figures with extra guns and spring-loaded backpacks are actually a pretty good deal.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,074: July 27, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 354: Airborne Trooper

AIRBORNE TROOPER Clone
30th Anniversary Collection
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87239
Number: 3007
Includes: Rifle, Helmet, Purse, Pistol
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $6.99
Availability: March 2007
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Obi-Wan Kenobi attacks General Grievous and his droid army on Utapau with the assistance of the Parjai Squad, 2nd Airborne Company, part of the Commander Cody's 212th Attack Battalion. The clone troopers descend upon the droid armies and decimate them while Obi-Wan dispatches Grievous, ending the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: We weren't sure what this Clone was when we first saw it. A medic? A specialist? Well, we eventually got the name of Airborne Trooper and that didn't exactly help specify their function too much since we didn't see them doing too much in the air. But hey, it looks cool, and that's what matters, right? The mold has been repainted a few times, but started life as the Evolutions Clone Trooper from 2005. With new bandoliers, waist coats, and helmets, you get a new figure. Plus, this one has a retooled shoulder, making it more than different enough to qualify as a new figure, especially as it has had more changes than your average Clone Trooper. (Which, for the record, is paint.) So it's a good one-- the waist coat gets in the way of him sitting down, so even though this figure was designed with intense articulation, his accessories will prevent you from taking advantage of this. But you probably don't care, the only pushing most fans need to get a Clone Trooper figure is to find out that it exists.

Collector's Notes: This figure was sold in 2006 in purple as "Clone Commander" in a Target exclusive Battle Pack based on Mace Windu. In 2007, another version of this mold was released with blue markings for the Target Order 66 packs. It's the understanding of fans that the mold was originally meant to be this figure, orange, but exclusive needs accelerated the release of the purple one. This orange Airborne Trooper will be right at home with Clone Commander Cody, the Utapau orange Clone Trooper, and the Order 66 orange AT-RT Driver. (Oh, and the Utapau Shadow Trooper, but that one isn't orange.)

Day 354: April 25, 2007