The recent appearance of the excellent Ahsoka Tano and Kanan Jarrus Black Series figures has me thinking about adding some other more realistic-style animated characters in the 6-inch scale Star Wars Black Series. If they can add Rebels characters, maybe they will think about Clone Wars characters. If they were to sprinkle some into the line every once in a while, here’s who I’d like to see.
The Clone Wars ran for six seasons and was wildly hit or miss for this fan, but it did produce a lot of standout episodes and interesting characters, as well as developing characters that were barely hinted at in the prequels into interesting people. The art style is sometimes a little too extreme for my taste, so a redesign in a more realistic style for these characters would be welcome.
Runners Up
Clones, clones and clones
The Clones themselves got some real development throughout the series and many became interesting characters with distinct personalities. Beyond just that, there are a bunch of fun clone paint-job variations that would make some fun, cheap figures. Most wanted for me would be Echo, Fives, Hardcase, Dogma, Gregor, Wolffe, Waxer and, of course, Captain Rex. As the main hero clone, Rex would be my number one priority for more clone figures.
Nightsisters
The Nightsisters were a fun take on Darkside users taken from the EU and brought into canon. They have a cool look based on some great Episode I concept art, and they use the force in a different way than Jedi and Sith that is akin to magic. I dig their pointy hats.
Sinrich
He’s a snaggletooth that dresses like Captain EO — ’nuff said.
10. Pong Krell
This Jedi had a really cool story arc in a later season and he shows us a different kind of Jedi General that provides a great foil for the heroic Captain Rex. He’s a Bessalisk, the same species as Dexter Jettster in Episode II, except Krell shows the raw power of this impressive-looking alien. He wields two double-bladed lightsabers between his four arms to devastating effect, like an organic version of General Grievous.
9. Quinlan Vos
Quinlan Vos started out in the comics (though he supposedly has a cameo in The Phantom Menace) as a more edgy Jedi that works undercover taking down criminal gangs. He seems a little more cheerful and off-kilter in his Clone Wars episode, but I enjoy him as a non-traditional Jedi.
8. Commando Droids
The Battle Droids are pretty useless, so the Clone Wars provided an upgraded model. These guys are a little scary. They hop around like ninjas and cut through clones like butter. They basically took the Battle Droid design and cooled it up a bit so they look a bit more like robo-skeletons, and I like that.
7. Sugi
I love bounty hunters, and the Clone Wars introduced some great new ones. Sugi first appeared in an episode where she is working with a group of bounty hunters to defend farmers from pirates in a blatant homage to Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai. Sugi is the leader and has that classic mercenary-with-a-heart-of-gold personality that feels perfect in Star Wars.
6. Pre Vizsla
Mandalore is featured quite a bit in the Clone Wars, and Viszla is the main villainous Mandalorian who leads a militant splinter group called “Death Watch.” He has the usual Mandalorian armor tricks but adds a new wrinkle with the Dark Saber, an ancient weapon that can go hit to hit with the Jedi Lightsaber. In later seasons his look is updated with some antennae that are homages to Rick Hunter’s Veritech fighter from Robotech.
5. Hondo
Hondo is a Weequay pirate and he provided a nice combination of menace and comic relief in his numerous appearances in the Clone Wars series. He would steal candy from a baby and actually did try to steal lightsaber crystals from Jedi younglings. A fast-talking opportunist with a an unpredictable streak, Hondo was always great with tons of little asides and funny ways of putting things that always made me laugh.
4. Embo
Embo is a bounty hunter who first appeared with Sugi in the Seven Samurai homage. He’s got a killer (literally) hat that would make Constable Zuvio jealous and is used as a projectile, a shield, or even as sled as needed. The design has that great, samurai-meets-sci-fi feel that fits Star Wars perfectly.
Plus, he sometimes ran with a really cool space dog, Marrok.
3. Aurra Sing
Did I mention I like bounty hunters? Aurra was a “blink and you’ll miss her” background actor in The Phantom Menace that was fleshed-out in comics as a Jedi-hunting bounty hunter who collected lightsabers. In the Clone Wars she serves as mentor and guardian to the young Boba Fett, along with Bossk. Her pale white skin and bright orange jump suit make for a striking design, and the show gave her a ruthless and cunning personality to go with it.
2. Cad Bane
That hat. This bounty hunter’s design didn’t really appeal to me at first as I felt it was a little too literal “old west” with the duster and hat, but it grew on me over numerous appearances. Bane was a bounty hunter that actually got stuff done, whose plans actually worked. He took on Jedi frequently and usually came out on top. Bane is a Duros, one of the classic Cantina alien species, and the blue skin/red eye is a winning combo.
1.Assaj Ventress
Assaj was Count Dooku’s assassin and apprentice and was a frequent antagonist of Anakin and Obi-Wan. Since she doesn’t appear in Episode III, I assumed she was disposable, but the writers actually crafted a really interesting arc for her across six seasons. Plus, she dual-wields Count Dooku-style red lightsabers.
That’s my list, who do you want to see?
