The first of the Bad Batch figures for Season 2 were released in late July 2023. The wave was a US Walmart Exclusive, while it was sold via the Fan Channel retailers here in the UK. While four of the five figure wave were members of the Bad Batch crew, the fifth figure was a new Clone Commando figure as seen in Season 2 working for the fledgling Empire. The figure arrives in a plastic free box with deep red accent details and side art, and is number 13 in the line - following on from the 2023 Cad Bane exclusive, and preceding Wrecker from this 2023 wave.
The Clone Commando is a full re-used figure, taking the basic Republic Commando body and armour as first used on the original Bad Batch figures and the head created for the Gaming Greats Delta Squad figures. The armour is cast in a soft white with the inner suit parts cast in black. This principle of splitting up the individual parts into component pieces means there are no paint apps at all across the body but the transition from white armour to black undersuit is clean and without bleeding or paint errors in most areas. The exception is the upper bicep which is white paint over black plastic and that is noticeable in terms of the colour difference to the rest of the figure’s armour. There are no weathering applications, this is a very much a ‘shiny’ in the Imperial ranks despite the visible scratches and dints in the sculpted armour.
The Clone Commando comes with a backpack, and this does include grey and black painted panels, and a trio of red indicators. The backpack is the same as that used on the original Hunter & Crosshair figures, and on some of the Delta Squad releases. The backpack has now other function, it doesn’t open and can’t stow any weapons - only plugs into a socket on the figures back.
The helmet is also cast in white with black painted breather details and a metallic blue visor which looks particularly striking. Overall the figures proportions remain a little too slim when you consider the bulky look of the Commando’s from the Clone Wars and videogame.The Commando’s original source of Hunter from the Bad Batch is also evident on the left wrist where an empty socket sits with no use other than this would have been where Hunter’s knife holster attached.
There is a single blaster accessory, a DC-17m Clone Commando Blaster Rifle. This is black plastic with a fair leevl of detail but no paint apps to enhance the look. It fits into the Commando’s right hand where a trigger finger will slot into place. The left hand can also come across and cup the barrel for two handed posing.
The Commando has a total of 20 points of articulation, all pinless. The articulation provides a good range of posing opportunity including allowing the Commando to kneel, and adopt firing positions. The shoulde pauldrons are a softer plastic jointed above the shoulder so do not impede movement in the arms, similarly the knee joints are floating above the knee and jointed to the upper thigh - this solution can look odd in some poses.
The Clone Commando army building figure is probably one that is long overdue and this release does allow collectors to enxpand their Clone Troopers from the Clone Wars era, to supplement the Delta Squad releases, or as is intended to provide an opposition for The Bad Batch. Army Building when a figure is exclusive and within an exclusive wave is more prohibitive, but in this case the Fan Channel aspect outside of the US does present more opportunities. Its place in the Bad Batch Season 2 wave does also feel a touch out of place when a Season 2 Omega is planned but not included this year.
The figure itself is probably best classed as adequate. The erross it presents in stature and proportions dates back to the original 2021 designs and with Hasbro unlikely to revisit the Trooper any time soon - this is as good as we are likely to get if you can look past the inaccuracies and limited paint apps. Expect to see a variant with grey markings incoming at some point too as another easy Bad Batch Season 2 release - and perhaps also a tweaked Bad Batch release for Scorch.
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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...