Review: Star Wars Black Series Clone Captain Rex from Ahsoka, Galaxy Collection Wave 21
- Mephitsu
- Jun 20
- 6 min read
“In my book, experience outranks everything.”
Captain Rex is a huge part of the Star Wars Universe, predominantly through his roles in the animated series, starting with Clone Wars, moving into Rebels, and also making appearances in The Bad Batch. The Rex figures to date in the Black Series have been based on his Clone Wars and Bad Batch appearances, and both were essentially the same figure, albeit the latter had a removable soft goods poncho. When Rex made that surprising live action cameo in the Ahsoka series, and the ‘world between worlds’ sequences, ot provided Hasbro the opportunity for a fourth release of Clone Captain Rex - this time taking advantage of the new Clone Trooper base body whilst also delivering, for the first time, him wearing his Phase I helmet.
The new Clone Captain Rex was released in June 2025 and is part of Wave 21 of the Phase 4 Galaxy Collection. The wave also includes Anakin Skywalker, also from Ahsoka, as well as figures of Cassian Andor and Director Krennic from Andor, and Moff Gideon and his Praetorian Guard from The Mandalorian. Rex is packed in the usual black box with the turquoise blue accent colour assigned to Ahsoka on the side art and across the main text elements. The side art depicts Rex against a generalised mountainous backdrop reflecting the ‘world between worlds’, this same backdrop is used as the coloured card back for the figure. Rex is number 16 in the Ahsoka series. This appears to be an error, as the artwork looks like it connects directly to Shin Hati (Arcana), who was number 14. We think Hasbro have had a numbering error and Rex should have been 15, making Anakin 16 rather than 17 - especially when the future release of the Night Trooper has also been numbered as 17. The box concludes round the back with the brief text overview for the character. Here, it makes no reference to the context of the Ahsoka series or Rex’s appearance, but instead gives a short overview of Rex and his service on the front lines of the Clone Wars, serving under both Anakin and Ahsoka.
The first three Rex figures have all been using the older pinned Clone Trooper body. Our Ahsoka series Captain Rex utilises the newest Clone Trooper configuration, which is made up of glossy white armoured panels and black connective joints. This reduces the decor applications needed, while making the transition from armour to the black undersuit of the clones crisp and tidy. The 501st markings are added in blue, and rather than being chipped and battle worn as we often see on some of the Phase II Clones, these markings are ‘shiny’ and fresh, reflecting this early stage of Rex’s career. Similarly, there is no weathering or dirty armoured panels on this Rex.
Over the armour, Rex is wearing his pauldron, which is the sleeker Phase 1 ARC trooper piece and is new to the line, cast in grey with three blue painted panels. The skirt has been changed from soft goods to a softer PVC, which allows it to hang much more naturally on the figure and be inclusive of sculpted folds and creases. The skirt is part of the same piece as the white belt, and the whole component is a white cast piece with the skirt painted in black, while the edge is painted in blue. The two working holsters at either hip are left unpainted in the base white.
vs 2018 Clone Captain Rex (right)
The Phase I helmet is likely derived from the more recent Phase I Clone Troopers, also released under the Ahsoka banner. Rex’s helmet is inclusive of a new inserted range finder in grey plastic with a black top section. The same blue colour is used to add a ridge to the helmet and trim around the black visor. The front of the helmet also features the Jaig Eyes symbol in blue set between two yellow squares.
While Rex was never shown with his helmet off in the brief Ahsoka flashback scenes, Hasbro has made the helmet on the figure removable, revealing a sculpted Rex head beneath. This is pretty much the same as the original releases, closest probably to Bracca Rex from the Bad Batch. As the techniques get better, each subsequent figure has a better likeness than the previous, even across the same sculpt. This one is pretty impressive, with a strong extrapolated likeness to actor Temura Morrison, complete with photo real application and Rex’s close cropped blond hair.
Rex is armed with the usual twin DC-17 blaster pistols, both cast in plain black plastic with limited detail and no further paint apps. They can be holstered in the hip holsters, although I found the fit was looser than the older Rex figures, and I had to be careful the blasters didn’t drop out when handling the figure. By using the newest Clone body and configuration. I am so pleased that Rex finally gets trigger finger hands on both left and right hands, allowing him to wield both weapons in a shooting position.
Articulation, all pinless, is 21 joints in total. The legs feature the single joint knees, but with the floating knee armour that gives the option of sliding the knee armour into a central position in any poses where the knees are bent. Along with the ankle rockers, thigh swivels and hip joints, Rex is able to be posed running (with a stand), kneeling, sitting or bracing himself with a wider stance for firing off his blasters. None of this is restricted by the skirt, which still moves to some extent with the legs, and while not as much as a soft goods solution, the balance between form and function are nicely achieved. Rex is pretty stable once positioned, with no obvious looseness in any of the leg joints
The upper articulation is designed around a Clone wielding a larger blaster and firing with two-handed poses. That means Rex is very well served with the available positions for his single blasters, with most firing positions available, as is the ability to be drawing or holstering his blasters. His arms are also extensive enough to be posed removing his helmet or with the helmet under his arm. All supported with the further expressions provided by the torso ball joint and the twin neck joints.
The 2025 Clone Captain Rex is another impressive Black Series release, improving heavily on the previous figure by way of articulation, overall design, upgrading soft goods to PVC without sacrificing movement, and by other simple adjustments like finally giving Rex two trigger hands to wield both is blasters. It also finally debuts Phase I Rex into the Black Series, and while this is badged as an Ahsoka release, the figure will fit perfectly well into a Clone Wars setting alongside the other Phase I Clones and specifically the recent Clone 1 501st release.
Having seen the improvements implemented on this figure, there is an opportunity here also to go back and re-do Phase II Rex at some stage with the same articulation but with the battleworn decor and welded armour panels that works so well on the original release.
Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive
If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports
About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
Comments