Toybox REVIEW: Star Wars Black Series Clone Commander Cody (Revenge of the Sith)

Release Date: March 2025

RRP: $24.99/£24.99

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge on the Sith, and of course Hasbro are getting in on the celebration. In addition to some much-needed updates to characters via new sculpts and/or revised paint jobs, this new selection of Black Series figures have also been given the retro packaging treatment – matching that of the original 3.75" figures released all those years ago. Among the range is an all-new Black Series Clone Commander Cody, finally updating one of the most iconic clone troopers with an all new sculpt, removable helmet and movie-specific accessories.

Toybox REVIEW: Star Wars Black Series Clone Commander Cody (Archive Release)

Release Date: 2015 (Original Release), January 2021 (Archive)

RRP: $19.99/£19.99

One of the least enjoyable things about toy collecting is seeing how much certain figures you're missing end up costing on the aftermarket. Since I only jumped into collecting the Star Wars Black Series line a few years ago naturally I had a lot of catching up to do, and as a Clone Wars fan Black Series Clone Commander Cody was near the top of my wish list. However with the figure now going for around four to five times its original value, purchasing him wasn't likely to happen any time soon. Clearly there were many other collectors that felt the same, because when Hasbro asked fans what they'd like to see in the next wave of Archive releases (a sub-series dedicated to re-releases of older figures), Obi-Wan Kenobi's clone commander in arms was a landslide winner.

Toybox REVIEW: Star Wars Black Series Clone Commander Bly

Release Date: March 2020

RRP: $20/£20

2020 truly is the year of the Clone Trooper. The final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars has come and gone, finally giving closure to the story George Lucas and Dave Filoni started all the way back in 2008. On top of that, 2020 also marks the 15th anniversary of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, where Darth Sidious finally made his move and activated Order 66 - commanding the clones to turn against their Jedi generals. Amongst the clones loyal to the Republic was Clone Commander Bly, who finally arrives in Hasbro's Black Series as part of its latest wave. Appearing in both The Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith, Bly is most notable for his appearance in the latter - where he gunned down Jedi Master Aalya Secura on the planet Felucia.

Toybox REVIEW: Star Wars Black Series Clone Commander Gree

Release Date: July 2017, March 2020 (Reissue)

RRP: $24.99

With the resurgence of Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney+ clone troopers are very much back in the public eye, so of course Hasbro haven't wasted any time capitalising on that popularity amongst their various Star Wars toy lines. While there are a fair few new variants on the market it's also an opportunity to re-release a few old favourites as well. Black Series Clone Commander Gree was originally released as a Toys R Us exclusive all the way back in 2017, but in 2019 was announced to be returning as a Fan Channel exclusive - meaning it would be made available again via a select number of retailers. Gree is best known for his appearance in Revenge of the Sith, assisting Yoda with the droid attack on the Wookies on their home planet of Kashyyyk. When Order 66 came through Gree was foolish enough to try and take down the wizened Jedi Master, resulting in a rather quick death for the clone trooper.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Count Dooku

Release Date: April 2019 

RRP: 6696 yen 

When Bandai Tamashii Nations first announced that they would be producing Star Wars figures in the S.H. Figuarts line, few probably expected that they'd pay quite as much attention to the prequel trilogy as they have so far. As it stands they've currently produced more Obi-Wan figures than they have Luke Skywalkers, and something from all three prequel films while still no releases whatsoever from The Empire Strikes Back. This however has led to the production of S.H. Figuarts Count Dooku (aka Darth Tyranus), a Tamashii web exclusive release of the Separatist leader and Sith Lord Darth Sidious' trusted apprentice throughout the Clone Wars. Curiously the figure is based on Dooku's appearance in Revenge of the Sith rather than Attack on the Clones (where he made a far more substantial appearance), but it's not the strangest choice the line's ever made. Alternatively, maybe Bandai were just eager to let fans recreate that iconic beheading scene…

Toybox REVIEW: Star Wars Black Series General Grievous

Release Date: March 2019

RRP: £30/$30 

Releasing a toy line at a single price point is a great idea when it comes to affordability, but it does beg the question of what you do when certainly characters don't quite fit into that fairly rigid mould. The Star Wars universe features characters of all shapes and sizes, many of whom wouldn't be done justice at the standard price point of the 6 inch Black Series line. But rather than go all Marvel Legends on collectors and introduce a build-a-figure to each wave, Hasbro have instead introduced a new "deluxe" range of Black Series figures – ones that can have the size, materials and price point they need to do them properly. Kicking off this new range is a character that's been on many collectors' want lists for some time now – the Separatist droid general and feared Jedi hunter General Grievous. Despite Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith being his sole movie appearance, Grievous' popularity also stems from his appearances in the two Clone Wars animated series as well as various other bits of expanded tie-in media.