Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper - TAC - Evolutions

The evolution of the galaxy's most powerful army is captured in these figures! The clone troopers fight for the Republic, to try and save the galaxy from chaos. But secret plans change their loyalties, and they help the evil forces of the Sith to take control! No longer known as clone troopers, they are now stormtroopers, the loyal soldiers of the Emperor, enforcing his harsh will throughout the galaxy!

It was a pretty momentous announcement when Hasbro revealed that Evolutions would be making a return to the Star Wars line. The first wave didn't arrive until early 2008, and even then they were all repacks. Promises of new sets assuaged collectors, but it was hard to wait until the new stuff arrived, just a short month after the repack wave. With the new glorious 30th anniversary packaging, most collectors had decided that Evolutions would become a priority for them. In all honesty the sets never looked better thanks to the updated packaging. One set from the first wave was the Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper three-pack. As with most repackaged items, the figures contained within them to one degree or another have received updated paint operations. In this set these changes are minimal. The same accessories have been carried forward as well. If you own the previous set, you really already have everything contained within this re-release. The Evolutions line is absolutely collector-focused. These are premium action figures with phenomenal sculpts and stunning paint jobs. And while there is always room for improvement, Hasbro has really proved to collectors that they have their best interests in mind with the Evolutions format. The Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper Evolutions set brings forth two Prequel Trilogy clones and an Original Trilogy sandtrooper.

It’s hard to ignore the brilliantly decorated generic white Clone Trooper (The Clone Wars) figure in this set. This figure alone gives you the option to “create” three movie specific clones types. Besides the generic Clone Trooper (Phase I armor), you can take the helmet from the Clone Trooper (The Fall of The Republic) and place it on him and you have an instant Clone Trooper (Phase II) “all white” Clone Trooper as well. And then you can convert him into a Clone Pilot with the interchangeable helmet. You get great takes on these Episode II and Episode III clones with just a few changed parts. The figures in the Evolutions series have mind-blowing paint jobs and the Clone Trooper (The Clone Wars) is no different. The Clone Trooper (The Fall of The Republic) also has a fantastic paint job as well as some interchangeability! It comes packaged as a “Clone Commander” but you can also remove his pauldron and kama and in its place add the included gray belt and create a 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper as seen on the Coruscant landing platform in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith (the 41st Elite Corps clone troopers). These are the clones that are seen surrounding an arriving Republic Gunship around the Battle of Coruscant. What’s incredible about this flexibility is that they are updates to the figures included in 2007’s TAC Clone Attack On Coruscant Battle Packs set (which really didn’t need a re-release unlike this set).

The last figure in this set is the Stormtrooper (The Rebellion). Why Hasbro has decided to refer to Sandtroopers as Stormtroopers here escapes us, but as long as the figure is good we really don’t care too much what the packaging says. Besides, it’s technically not incorrect. The Sandtrooper figure in this set is absolutely the filthiest your collection will ever see. We have never seen more dirt, (mud?), grit, grime and whatever else is on there than on this figure. While none of the Sandtroopers in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope appear this dirty, we have to admit it looks rather cool and we’re thrilled what Hasbro did with it. It’s nice to see this figure once again in the Evolutions line. The only issue is that this figure won’t fit in believably with the rest of your Sandtrooper ranks. Hasbro changed things up not only in the paint job department, but they also gave this Stormtrooper (The Rebellion) figure a new officer ranking pauldron – this time a sergeant. This is the character famous for saying “look sir, droids”. Together, all three figures looks amazing together, but it’s perhaps important to realize that these figures aren’t flawless. Things like bulky helmets and poor posture seems to plague these figures a bit too much. But none of the issue are the end of the world. The Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper set is still good even a couple years after its original release, but you’ll have to decide for yourself if it is meant for you and your collection.