Star Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers
Learn the secrets of the clone troopers in this interactive, fully illustrated guide for readers of all ages.
Join the ranks of the Galactic Republic in Star Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers. Young fans will uncover thrilling secrets from the history of beloved clone troopers—from Captain Rex to the Bad Batch—all accompanied by incredible artwork and interactive features, including pop-ups, booklets, and lift-the-flap inserts.
LEARN THE LORE: In this in-universe book, discover the secrets behind the galaxy’s clone army, from their origins on the planet Kamino to the horrors of Order 66. You’ll delve into the clone troopers’ battles on behalf of the Galactic Republic, the inner workings of the 501st Legion, the adventures of Clone Force 99, and more.
FAVORITE CHARACTERS: Spanning films, television shows, books, comics, and video games, Star Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers highlights the galaxy’s iconic clone troopers—including Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Echo, Crosshair, Omega, and more.
INTERACTIVE FEATURES: Pop-ups, booklets, and lift-the-flap inserts will thrill young fans, making for an engaging experience while introducing stories about the galaxy’s clone troopers.
ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS: Star Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers contains beautiful illustrations that will enthrall child and adult readers alike. Complete with a frameable 11 x 17 poster of the cover art, this book is the ideal gift for any Star Wars fan.
GROW YOUR STAR WARS LIBRARY: Thrilling and comprehensive, Star Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers is a must-have addition to Insight Editions’ line of Star Wars titles, including: Star Wars: The Secrets of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Secrets of the Sith
Author: Marc Sumerak
Artist: Alberto Buscicchio
Publication Date: 8th October 2024
Page Count: 32
ISBN: 9798886630534
The Secrets of the Jedi, The Secrets of the Sith, and The Secrets of the Wookiees were all high-quality, insightful and most importantly enjoyable books to both read and review, so it’s a pleasure to be able to confirm that The Secrets of the Clone Troopers is every bit as readable, a treasure trove of clone related information packed with pull outs, double-page spreads, pop-up pockets and more information than you probably thought was created for one of the key elements of the entire saga, something fans first heard of way back in 1976 when the novelisation of Star Wars was first released. Through the original trilogy, the expansion of the mythos through comics and novels, right up to the prequel trilogy and the reset George Lucas chose to link in the history of Boba Fett with that of the clone army and beyond, through the Tartakovsky Clone Wars and on to Filoni’s The Clone Wars, there’s enough information and history to fill Tipoca City five times over.
At this point, author Marc Sumerak really does have this down pat, kicking off with an introduction by many people’s favourite clone, Rex (aka CT-7567). He lays down the basics; how the legacy of the clones isn’t well regarded, how the greatest conflict the galaxy ever saw was named after them, and their turbulent integration into galactic society after the end of the war. As Rex says,’while our bodies may have been derived from the same genetic template, each and every clone was born with a mind of their own. And those all turned out to be one of a kind.’ How true.
Diving into the book (and staying with Rex as our guide) we kick off with a description of what clones are, and their first home on the world of Kamino. Genetic modifications looks at their accelerated ageing process and the behavioral modification chip which will play such a vital role in the execution of Order 66. Then the original, the template; Jango Fett, adopted by the Mandalorians, earning his place as one of the premier bounty hunters in the galaxy before accepting 20 million credits for his genetic material and a home on Tipoca City, and of course the agreement that he would take an unaltered clone as his own, Boba Fett. We see the ‘other’, Omega, who would join the Bad Batch and then delve into the history and background of the Clone Wars, all the while unfolding extra pages and spreads (with impressive artwork from Alberto Buscicchio) as we move through the conflict on Umbara, Onderon, Anaxes and more.
As fans know, there was far more than just the standard clone fighting on the battlefield. Officres, ARC Troopers, Commandos, Coruscant Guards and more filled their ranks, and a closer look at some of the more iconic clones (Gregor, Jesse, Cody, Wolffe, Fives and Clone Force 99) reveals unique men who fought for the freedom and security of the galaxy….until they didn’t.
Armour modifications were a key part of their individuality, and a chapter on armour variations gives us a closer look at a wide array of armour, as does a double-spread looking at the arsenal of weapons they used. In the skies we see their fleet of Venator-class attack cruisers, LAAT/I dropships, BARC speeders, Juggernauts and Omicron Attack Shuttles, while we must never forget the enemy they fought against. Numerous classes of battle droids, as well as the Jedi who led and fought beside them.
And then the darkest hours of Order 66, when everything changed. The massacre of the Jedi, the sacking of the temple, the betrayal of clone on less receptive clone and a galaxy changed forever. Through deception, Palpatine not only grabbed complete control but lay the blame at the feet of the Jedi, ending millennia of Republic and Jedi peace and stability, exchanged for the ‘security’ of the Galactic Empire and its tyrannical Emperor.
The aftermath of Order 66 saw the galaxy changed, and the world a very different place for those clones who survived with their free will intact. First the destruction of the clone facilities on Kamino, then the Imperial Defense Recruitment Bill that saw clones phased out and enlisted troopers brought in. A life free of fighting saw Rex, Gregor and Wolffe retire to Seelos, but even then they were pulled back in by their old friend Ahsoka Tano, leading to a new mission and as the book ends, hope for the future.
Informational, very easy on the eye and packed with additional info via pullouts, this is a fine entry in ‘The Secrets of‘ series, and with a plethora of other topics to choose from long may it continue.
