SUPER BATTLE DROID with Clone Commando
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87556
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #16
Includes: Removable flames and bomb, Clone figure
Action Feature: Flames, bomb plug into figure
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Only one clone commando lives to report what happened on the derelict factory moon of Asturias. While the commandos are escorting Director Lorca Oviedo, Oviedo's ship malfunctions near Asturias. Coming out of hyperspace, they are attacked by Separatist forces and crash on the moon. The commandos are attacked by super battle droids, droidekas, and battle droids, as a twisted web of lies and betrayals threatens them all. (Taken from the toy's cardback.)

Image: Adam's toy room.

Commentary: It seems like as of late, the only easily forgiven repaints are clones and droids, both of which come in a comic pack featuring this Super Battle Droid. While not exactly how it looked in the comics, this new deco is a nifty new take for fans of armies, plus it'll add diversity to your shelves. The base mold is the same figure sold in early 2007 in Attack of the Clones colors, except now it's in more of a bronzey, goldy color with bright red eyes. This new droid has ball-ish jointed shoulders and a torso, plus has articulation of the knees, hips, and elbows.

Since the figure itself is nothing new, the accessories and deco have to be a selling point. Using the holes in the chest to plug in a sticky bomb was genius, and I have to say I really like the idea. The snap-on flames with the exploding bomb for the leg works well too, and it's nice to see Hasbro crank out some new accessories to freshen up a figure like this. Especially since you can plug these extras on to the various other Super Battle Droids based on the mold. If you like new deco and unique ways to show battle damage, the snap-on accessories do the trick. Were this a $7 carded figure, I'd suggest getting a couple. As part of a cheap $10 2-pack with a bonus Clone figure, I'd say buy a few of them. They're great!

Collector's Notes: A great army pack, this set seems to be selling well consistently. As such, get one if you can, or just get a dozen. For the record, the same base figure mold has a grand total of 4 known releases. #1 was a blue color in early '07 as a basic figure, this is #2, #3 was a silver redeco for a Toys "R" Us exclusive Battle Pack, and #4 is a sort of "night camo" deco for the upcoming Mygeeto Battle Pack.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 758: June 2, 2008