Matchstick - TCW [R] - Basic (CW34)

Matchstick is a clone pilot in Shadow Squadron who goes on a fatal mission to destroy a Separatist ship. He flies a Y-wing fighter/bomber to attack the Malevolence, a huge vessel armed with a deadly ion cannon. His Y-wing is damaged while passing through a large nebula, a mishap that results in dire consequences for the trooper.

Is it just us, or is The Clone Wars line getting a little dull and stagnant? "Heresy!" you scream? You may even think we are schizophrenic about making this comment since we just raved about Matchstick's wave mate, Padmé Amidala, but this new clone trooper pilot is everything we expected from a repainted figure and nothing more. And to be completely honest with you, it should have been a figure that we should have liked a lot more than we do! There is nothing special about this figure. No surprise paint ops, no new gear, no nothing! The only thing that makes Matchstick somewhat interesting is his new helmet. We will get to the helmet in a moment or two because we must give credit where credit is due. It is splendidly decorated and looks fantastic, but come on, the clones are beginning to look a little clone like. OK, that was a bad choice of words, but our storage cases that contain our figures are looking like bins full of snow at this point. It is frustrating that Hasbro didn't do anything at all to change things up in the slightest. And it sacrifices the potential that this character could and should have been a great deal cooler than he looks as an action figure. Yes he is super-articulated and yes he is a clone trooper, but dare we say we are getting a little bit weary of this? "Heresy!" you scream again! But Matchstick leaves us wishing for a lot more. We understand that clones have the potential to be a little boring and not much differentiates them from the bunch, but we think we have reached a point of burn out in the line. OK, we've made our point, now that you know our grievances with the clone troopers in The Clone Wars line let us move on to other (and better) things about figure in a little bit better detail.

It is indeed a shame that Matchstick doesn’t impress us more than he does, because he certainly qualifies as unique. He is a kit-bashed figure utilizing a few previously release clone troopers but to be honest, the parts are starting to look so much like each other any more that we aren’t even going to attempt to list the figures from where he is comprised. As a clone trooper, he looks pretty cool bald and it certainly aids in the ease of helmet removal and placement. It fits well over his cranium and looks quite proportionate and symmetrical. It is the only detail that sets him apart from any other clone trooper. Clearly, the best thing about Matchstick is his helmet which looks to be an all-new accessory. 2008's TCW [B] Clone Pilot Odd Ball (No. 11) did not have a removable helmet so they didn’t borrow it from that piece. The decorations on Matchstick’s helmet are very striking and while not too many colors have been used for this figure, the pattern of them is what makes this helmet truly unique. If you are looking to change up some of you’re The Clone Wars displays, then Matchstick will do a good job of adding some cool variety to them Other than that, we are sad to inform you that the figure offers not too much else. We are perplexed that Matchstick doesn't do more for us and we wish he did. We are not even sure what to pinpoint as the reason for our mild disdain of the figure. As we have stated many times before, repaints and repacks are just an inevitability in Star Wars collecting. But we have to admit that it is becoming a little too antiseptic and boring as of late. Much of this has to do with the limited decorating a figure receives. In short, this figure looks a whole lot better than the other clone pilot figures previously released.

Hasbro has to watch their costs (as we so have been apprised by them multiple times now), but we think the lack of finishing touches on figures is affecting the line adversely at an all time high. The clone troopers were looking pretty good for a while but now the quality has taken a bit of a back seat. This is quite unfortunate because it is a very good television series and the action figures should better mimic their onscreen counterparts. Is it possible that a return to the beautiful battle-damage markings may occur? We don’t think so, so we urge Hasbro to be a little more inventive with the colors they can use on the figures. Instead of the final dirt washes, how about placement of carbon-scoring marks on the armor as we saw on 2006’s TSC [Utapau] Clone Trooper (SAGA 026) and Clone Trooper (442nd Seige Battalion) (SAGA 057)? We don’t see how this can alter costs if it is in the paint operations protocol and not a separate step. Who knows, we for sure do not work in the factories but we need something done. Matchstick had the capability to be a better than average figure. Perhaps we personally are burned out the uniformity of the clones, but we don’t think it needs to be this way. The clone troopers in the television series certainly are individual in personality and look. We just want a little bit more of these traits transferred into the action figures. Since Matchstick is a clone trooper pilot, we expect sell through to be very good. But don’t expect anything revolutionary with him. He is the same old thing (for the most part) we have received before and it is undoubtedly getting a bit tiresome for us. And again, we don't mean to be so grim, but this figure just didn't move us.