Rex is one of the best characters to have come out of The Clone Wars series, along with Ahoska, Bo-Katan Kryze, Cad Bane, Honda Ohnaka, and Ziro the Hutt.  A whole generation of Star Wars fans grew up with Rex, and it’s been fun to watch his arc over the years, and spread to other shows such as Rebels, and briefly in an Ahsoka flashback.  He of course was front and center with Ahsoka in the final episodes of The Clone Wars, which I will once again say was some of the best Star Wars ever. 

Rex, who debuted in 2008 with the release of The Clone Wars film is well known enough that I’m not going to spend time on his story.  That’s all the more reason for fans and collectors to have been frustrated at Hasbro for failing to produce an acceptable realistic figure of Rex over the 16 years since.  Hasbro gave neanderthal child collectors their fill of various animated-styled releases, while the mature, discerning, sophisticated, and cultured collectors were left to rot.  In 2012, Hasbro FINALLY made the decision to release characters based on The Clone Wars in the realistic line, with VC92 Anakin Skywalker.  Two years later, while the 3.75” line was going through the hellish indignity of the Black Series packaging, a realistic Rex was released as , Black Series Phase 2 #09 Captain Rex from 2014.  This figure was objectively terrible and frustrating, especially after prototype images were released of the sculpt being based on VC45 Clone Trooper and modeled after the then-venerable VC54 ARC Trooper Commander [Not Fordo].  This abomination was re-released in 2021 as VC182.  There’s not enough battery power in my laptop for me to go into what was wrong with both the original and the idea of repacking it.  Let’s just say, we needed a new rex.  Well in 2021, we got VC208 Captain Rex (Bracca) from the Bad Batch 4-pack.  It was much improved (it did use the VC45 base figure) but had huge warts that were maddening.  In my review of that pack, I wrote

Sadly, I think Hasbro is going to have to take another stab at Rex for TVC, before fans of the characters are satisfied.

Well, here we are.  In 2024, we get this figure.  It is based on the newly tooled VC269 Clone Trooper (Phase II Armor), with some new parts specific to Rex.  We’ve reviewed VC269 and it’s multiple variations multiple times, so there’s nothing new here.  But that’s okay, because it’s a tremendous base figure.  It replaced the anorexic VC45, and has all the best contemporary articulation, a terrific sculpt, and excellent paint apps.  I’m sure that many fans will be annoyed at the “shiny” paint apps, and lack of weathering/battle damage.  But I’m sure there’s time for that repaint later.

The figure brings a proper headsculpt for Rex, as the previous version had too much hair and looked way off.  This one has the familiar buzzcut.  He comes with a swappable helmet, which is more accurate, since the previous version came with a visor.  We get a more screen-accurate pauldron accessory here.  The visor and the odd pauldron from the Bad Batch pack were designed off of concept art which didn’t match Rex’s appearance on the show. 

Speaking of The Bad Batch, Hasbro chose that as the source.  It’s interesting because Rex lacks the poncho accessory, which was the best part of the 4-pack figure.  So there’s really not much that makes you feel this is specific to TBB, rather than TCW.  This, coupled with the fact that so far we only have Hunter from TBB, most collectors will probably decide that the figure is from TCW. 

Another oddity is the name pill.  On the 4-pack release, also based on TBB, the figure is called Clone Captain Rex.  This one is Clone Commander Rex (Bracca Mission).  Rex was indeed promoted to Commander just prior to the final 4-episode arc of TCW, as the Siege of Mandalore was about to begin.  When Rex finds Clone Force 99 on Ord Mantell, the team refers to him as “captain.”  While incorrect, it seems this was a term of endearment/respect from his old friends, or perhaps they just didn’t know/care about his promotion. Hasbro went with “captain” on VC208, but then changed it to “commander” for VC317.  They’ve created a Captain/Admiral Piett situation again, and ain’t nobody got time for that.

There continues to be some aspects of the clone trooper sculpts and accessories that fans will say is too much of a blend of animated and realistic styling.  Obviously from my earlier statement, I’m not a fan of animated figures, but I can’t say I’m bothered by these details.  To me, this is a satisfactory realistic representation of Rex.  I’m sure Hasbro will re-release/repack this figure in various other expressions if they are interested in presenting more figures from either TCW or TBB.  Giving him some weathering and battle damage would be a welcome variation.  I also think it would be a great pack in for a blue 501st Y-Wing, and they could include a clone back pack and shovel as he is depicted the last time we see him in the show.

As a 501st focus collector, a proper Rex has been missing from my collection for far too long, but I finally have what I’ve been looking for.  10/10.