Before the emergence of modern Star Wars canon, there was one clone trooper who outclassed the rest. An Advanced Recon Commando personally chosen by Jango Fett to be trained, this clone was the toughest created and a highly valued asset to the Republic. However, the clone would never see modern canon thanks to Captain Rex and George Lucas.

Introduced in the story "Jango’s Legacy" by Haden Blackman, Stephen Thompson, and Ray Kryssing from Dark Horse Comics' Star Wars: Republic #50, Alpha-17 is a battle-hardened warrior, trained to become one of the Clone Army’s greatest assets. Chosen and trained by Jango Fett, Alpha’s battle tactics mirror those of the galaxy’s greatest bounty hunter.

For Alpha, there is no room for weakness, only strength to achieve the mission. Unsurprisingly, Alpha-17 was going to be the original leading clone in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated show. However, despite how cool the weathered clone was, he was inevitably cut because of the show’s child-friendly nature.

Alpha-17 Used to Be Star Wars’ Coolest Clone Trooper

Alpha and Anakin Considered Each Other Relative Equals

Just looking at Alpha-17’s design, it’s easy to tell where Captain Rex got his inspiration. Not just sharing the traditional ARC Trooper armor, both clone warriors carry the same shoulder padding and extra pockets. Like Captain Rex, Alpha is of the first generation of clones, groomed with the highest expectations of strength and leadership. Both clones, like their brothers, are dogs of war, trained to become killing machines. More than that, both clones are masters of military tactics.

In the DVD commentary for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, it was revealed that George Lucas’s main reasoning for cutting Alpha-17 was to avoid too much alliteration in the show, since it also included names like Anakin, Ahsoka, and Artoo on top of Alpha-17.

Like Rex, Alpha-17 was personally chosen by despite Anakin’s age, Alpha-17 and Skywalker fought as equals. As an isolated character, Alpha outclasses Rex completely.

Captain Rex Was Ultimately the Better Choice for the Leading Trooper

Alpha-17 Will Always Be a Legends-Era Legend

While Alpha-17 was a great character in isolation or when paired with Anakin Skywalker, his hardened ways and dedication to the mission limited his ability to interact with other characters. Alpha doesn’t mind speaking back to the Jedi or his superiors. His aspirations extend no further past his mission. ittedly, Alpha-17 isn’t all that well-liked - at least, not like Rex is. Captain Rex’s power is that he’s a personable leader. He stands out because of the status and respect other characters give him. He’s dedicated to his team just as much as he is to his mission.

In that regard, Captain Rex was the better choice for Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ leading trooper. That said, nothing can rob Alpha-17 of his legendary, yet ill-ed, status. In the darker-toned nature of the Star Wars: Republic comics, Alpha is a perfect fit. Prior to the television show, the Clone Wars and its characters were defined by the noticeably mature and dynamic nature of Episode II and the existing comics. While Star Wars may never bring Alpha-17 into the modern canon, his essence will live on as the inspiration for Captain Rex.

Star Wars: Republic #50 is available now from Dark Horse Comics.