The Star Wars Black Series figure collection for The Bad Batch kicked off in Spring 2021 with figures of Hunter and Crosshair in their Bad Batch Clone Commando armour. This was before the show aired on Disney+ and before Crosshair would betray The Bad Batch in the early stages of season 1 and side with the Imperials.
This release, number 9 in The Bad Batch Galaxy Collection, brings us the Imperial version of Crosshair in his black armour. He comes in the standard Galaxy Collection packaging with the deep umber colour scheme used on all Bad Batch figures. Crosshair follows on in the montage artwork and numbering system from his new boss - Vice Admiral Rampart - and like Rampart, the Clone Shock Trooper and the incoming Rex, Imperial Crosshair is an exclusive release sold via Walmart in the US and via Hasbro Pulse and Fan Channel stockists in the UK.
"Formerly a member of Bad Batch, Crosshair's loyalties shift after his team defects from Imperial service. Committed to the Empire, Crosshair leads a new squad of enlisted recruits."
The new Imperial Crosshair armour is cast predominantly in dark grey plastic to represent the new Imperial Elite Troopers. Crosshair, as he does in the show, continues to use a variant of the Clone Commando armour and to that end, much of the figure is re-used from the original release. This does pose some accuracy issues as the shoulder armour still carries the embossed Clone Force 99 logo and the siting spike on the left side and both of these should have been updated with the ones used on the Imperial Elite Trooper. We also still have the left forearm with an open socket where the knife holster was fitted on the first Bad Batch figure of Hunter.
Oddly while these glaring errors were missed, Hasbro has updated the chest piece to be screen accurate? The armour sculpt does carry plenty of sculpted detail and battle damage, but the only paint apps are added on the belt with a silver clasp at the front and painted silver targeting disks on the back.
Like the previous release, a backpack is included that sits snugly and securely in a hole on the back of Crosshair. This is cast in black and has painted red and blue indicators on the control panel. It does not open.
Like the first Crosshair, the figure has a removable helmet. The helmet is a brand new piece and is also screen accurate as the helmets of the Clone Troopers begin to evolve into the Stormtrooper helmets of the Imperial Army. The fit over the head is snug and may result in some rub over time. The helmet features an articulated range finder that can be swiveled down over the visor or left raised to the side.
The head itself is identical to the first release. It uses photo-real decor to give some shading to the face and to add details like the eyes and the crosshair tattoo. The likeness is has been well translated from the animated show into a real-world setting.
Crosshair features two weapons, starting with a small DC17 hand blaster that arrives secured in the holster on Crosshair's left hip. The weapon has been well used in the Black Series with other Clone figures and like all previous releases is cast in black plastic with no painted detail. The left hip holster position is accurate to the show, but the left hand on the figure is not designed to hold the weapon.
Crosshair then comes with the same enormous sniper rifle we saw in the first release. It is my personal opinion that this gun is far too big for the figure, and while it is difficult to gauge scale in the show the piece needed reducing slightly to fit better with the figure. It too is cast in black plastic without any paint detailing, and like the DC-17 is meant to be fitted into Crosshair's right hand. The size of the thing, coupled with the articulation, won't allow any sniping poses so Crosshair is restricted to carrying the gun at ease with the left hand supporting the barrel.
Like the first release, the gun can be disassembled at the barrel (not covered anywhere on the packaging) and once done so it fits into a slot on the backpack, with the disconnected barrel having a peg socket that allows it to sit to the side of the backpack. It is in this configuration that the piece looks most impressive.
Crosshair has 19 points of articulation including the butterfly shoulder joint and the dual jointed neck. The shoulder armour is a flexile rubbery piece attached to the shoulder so the armour moves with the joint and does not restrict it. The knee joints use a similar trick with the knee armour in soft plastic attached only to the upper thigh so it does not impede the knee bending.
The joints on Crosshair all do as they should and he has a good range of motion and holds poses well - although the backpack and gun can see him overbalanced if you are not careful.
Considering the story arc for Crosshair, an Imperial version of him was inevitable for the Black Series and is more reflective of his appearances through Season 1 of the show. The final figure Hasbro has brought us is an odd contrast of accuracy by way of a new chest piece, and what feels like laziness in leaving the Clone Force 99 shoulder armour in place. I do wonder if concept art may have played a part here? Inaccuracies aside, this is a decent figure with good articulation, a strong head sculpt and a couple of decent - if not one oversized - accessories, as well as a removable helmet and backpack to boot. Its issue will lie in its exclusivity, particularly in the US. And now the exclusives are numbered and sit within the mainline they will be sought after and Hasbro does need to ensure boxed collectors are not left with gaps in their Galaxy Collection series montages.
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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...