Jango Fett’s clones are all genetically identical, yet the Clone Troopers in Clone Troopers were supposedly created to be the ultimate non-Force-sensitive warriors who would back up the beleaguered Jedi Knights in their war against the Separatists, and while they were trained to be perfect obedient soldiers, the clones of both Star Wars canon and Legends were, ultimately individuals. The different experiences, personalities, and specializations of Jango Fett’s clones led them to often have different hair colors, tattoos, scars, and even significant differences in their physical ages.
Jango Fett, a Mandalorian warrior and the Star Wars galaxy’s greatest bounty hunter in the years leading up to the Clone Wars, conspired with Count Dooku to destroy the Jedi Order. While Jango Fett was apathetic towards most of his clones in canon, his Legends counterpart actively oversaw Clone Trooper training to ensure that the Clone Troopers were all elite Mandalorian warriors who could pose a threat to even a Jedi. Perhaps unknown to Jango Fett, however, the Clone Troopers were indoctrinated to follow Order 66, compelling them to assassinate their Jedi friends when the time came.
Before Order 66 was issued, all Clone Troopers, from the standard grunts to the elite ARC Troopers, were demonstrably good men with free will. While Legends acknowledged this with high-ranking Clone Officers, Commandos, and ARC Troopers (who were minimally modified), canon’s The Clone Wars emphasized the individuality of basic Clone Troopers constantly. Clone Troopers gave themselves names, developed a wide range of personalities, and often marked themselves with tattoos or different hair colors and styles to express their individuality.
CT-5555, appropriately named Fives, tattooed the number 5 on his temple. Captain Rex dyed his hair blonde and kept it shorter than most Clone Troopers. Commander Gree and numerous other Clone Troopers gave themselves a distinctive red double mohawk, honoring fallen Jedi and clones, particularly those who died in the Battle of Tibrin. Some clones, like Commander Cody, didn’t alter their appearances but sported scars from battles that distinguished them from their brethren.
In specific instances, Jango Fett’s clones have different appearances due to Kaminoan modifications or lack thereof. In Legends, the Null-Class ARC Troopers had a bulkier physique than most Clone Troopers, as a result of their enhanced physical strength. In canon, the commandos of Clone Force 99, a.k.a. “The Bad Batch,” had varying physiques due to their modifications or cybernetics. Boba Fett was unique among Jango’s clones for having no differences from his template, as an unaltered clone. Another unaltered clone, Omega, is a female version of Jango Fett.
Clone Troopers defied their programming for most of the Clone Wars by expressing themselves and forming close friendships with the Jedi. Their experiences, personalities, and Kaminoan modification in some cases all shaped their identities. The Clone Troopers may have all been grown from Jango Fett’s template, but they each became individuals, and their different appearances in Star Wars: The Clone Wars expresses this wonderfully.
