Review: Star Wars Black Series ISB Tactical Agent from Andor, Galaxy Collection Exclusive
- Mephitsu
- 30 minutes ago
- 7 min read
“This is ISB, this is a warrant search. This is your first and final warning. I need to see open hands and I need to see them now!"
Several new and now iconic Imperial Troop types have been revealed across Rogue One in 2016 and then across the two prequel seasons of Andor. Among these are those outside the Stromtrooper legions and more grounded versions of the Imperial Forces, such as the Imperial Officer in riot gear from Andor Season 1 and now the ISB Tactical Agent from Season 2.
These armoured Tactical Agents were given a Star Wars Black Series release in the Summer of 2025, one of three Target (US) retailer exclusives that also included Dress Uniform Krennic and the Range Trooper with Rocket launcher. Outside of the US, these were sold via the Fan Channel. Our ISB Agent is packed in the usual Black Series box, complete with orange/red highlight colouring assigned to Andor on the key text and on the side artwork. The Agent is number 17 in the Andor Galaxy Collection, with the side art connecting to that of Ceremonial Director Krennic in the wider montage.
The rear of the box doesn’t go into much detail in terms of Andor or the role the ISB Tactical Agents play, but does talk about their wider role in carrying out specialised field assignments. Behind the figure, the card insert is in the same matching orange/red finish, and embedded within this is a background image of an Imperial installation along with some TIE fighters in flight.
The ISB Agent is constructed in a style similar to that of Stormtroopers, with a black ridged undersuit making up the key joints and over this sit the armoured panels in a high gloss white. There is a lot of re-use on the figure, which is fine and in keeping with the way Imperial Armour is likely constructed in parts and is interchangeable within the Star Wars Canon. The main chest armour is from the Solo Mud Trooper figure, but now cast in white and featuring silver painted straps at the shoulders, and some black vent detail around the back where we have the embedded power and life support systems. When you look at the ISB Agents on screen during the raid to arrest Kleya, most are wearing a comms device on their chest armour, but this is not included on the figure. Instead, this figure is closest to those seen in the hospital scenes when Kleya goes to find Luthen Rael.
The shoulder pauldrons appear to be those from a new Stormtrooper figure, although the upper arm - while similar - is slightly different around the elbow to accommodate the forearm piece, which is taken from the Patrol Troopers (2018) from Solo, now with painted (not sculpted) straps to mimic the costume on screen.
Under the chest armour is a softer rubber belt with gunmetal painted squares, followed by a further soft rubber skirt piece. This skirt features armoured white panels to protect the Agent's upper leg,s and these, and the compartment pouches above, are painted white on the black of the skirt, giving them a duller finish to the rest of the armoured panels. The re-use continues into the lower legs, which are also taken directly from the Patrol Troopers from Solo. These are black trousers with strapped-on white shin armour and boots. While relatively accurate to the screen costume, the shaped knee piece is missing a side panel on both knees that would make them a 100% match.
Like the Imperial Officers from Season 1 of Andor created in the Black Series, Hasbro has obviously based the figure on a likeness, and you must assume this likeness is from the series and one of the uncredited actors, but not one of the key named ISB Agents of Gharial or Benzi. The figure likeness is rugged and stern-looking, overprinted with facial tech to give the hint of facial stubble and an intensity in the eyes.
The hair is cropped short, and the Agent is wearing a standard Imperial cap, cast in black with a central silver stud. Unlike the Andor Season 1 Dark Times Officer, the cap can now be removed from this figure, giving a couple of options for the figure on display. When a Trooper is not wearing a helmet or mask, the army-building options are reduced unless collectors are happy to have the same face across the ranks of their troops. To that end, Hasbro could have used facial plates - as seen on some Rebel Troopers - or included an extra head or two, but has chosen not to. Not to worry, for those wanting to build an ISB Tactica Squad, there are options if you keep reading to the end of this article.
The blaster rifle appears to be new to the line, and is as yet undesignated in any of the Star Wars source materials online - fan-created or official. It is a chunky blaster rifle, cast in black with a large amount of details down its entire length and across the two upper scope sections. There is no further painted detail, nor any ability to holster the weapon. Instead, it should fit in either hand, with both featuring a trigger finger to engage it in either left or right hand positions. The right is the better grip, a re-used hand from the Patrol Trooper, while the left hand is a wider grip and a stubbier finger gives less security when the rifle is held.
Articulation is 16 points in total, comparable to the line from circa 2018, when most of the parts were originally created. This means we also have visible pins at the knees, but they are double-jointed to allow kneeling positions with enough flexibility in the skirt to support these poses. There is less movement in the arms than in more modern Troopers, with no butterfly shoulders and only a 90-degree elbow. That being said, the rifle can still be held two-handed and raised to firing position with a good degree of realism.
The Black Series ISB Tactical Agent is a sensible choice for an exclusive, considering the limited role in the show and the heavy re-use of parts. That re-use is not particularly an issue, especially when the Imperials themselves would share components, and the parts used on the ISB Tactical armour are of that ‘Dark Times’ era and as also seen on the Solo Troopers from which most of the parts are taken.
Accuracy to the onscreen costume is closest to the ISB Agents we see guarding the hospital rather than those doing the raid with Sergeant Gharial, who had heavily customised their gear. The generic likeness is good, but a named officer might have been preferred, as would an extra head or swap-out face plate, which would then encourage army-building.
All in all, a pleasing figure, expanding the background of the ISB and giving Dedra Meero some muscle behind her in a display setting.
So what of the army building possibilities using other heads from the Hasbro Black Series and beyond? Well, I can confirm the ISB Tactical Agent uses what appears to be a very common neck peg compatible with plenty of other Black Series heads. If you go to the generic Imperials we've had to date, then you can swap out the heads for the other Andor Troopers from Season 1, such as the Ferrix Officer, although there is a skin tone variation here that will need painting. Using this head will also allow some configuration of armour, using the Mud Trooper helmet rather than the Imperial Officer cap - although the latter does still fit.
Going to other Imperial Troopers, the Death Squad Trooper from A New Hope is another perfect fit and again is also capable of wearing the cap. Outside of these, you are starting to work with named characters, and this might be a nice ‘off camera’ nod to perhaps seeing Migs Mayfeld as an ISB ‘sharpshooter’ or even a Clone Trooper head or too used?
For those who want to keep it generic, you can look to other Hasbro lines. I went over and dug out my spare heads from the Marvel Legends Tracksuit Mafia figure from Hawkeye.
While Marvel Legends are often visibly larger than the Black Series, the heads from the Tracksuit Mafia do still fit and look in scale. The fit here is looser, and while the heads sit well enough, they will wobble and swing around.
I especially liked the balaclava head as a masked Tactical Agent, a tactic I can certainly see the ISB squads using.
The final head I dug out was a bit of fun based on its shouting expression. Again from Marvel Legends, the J. Jonah Jameson head is OK scale-wise, but the fit here is not compatible, so if you do want a shouting Jonah to lead your ISB squad, a bit of work is needed with the neck. He does, however, wear the cap particularly well.
Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive
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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...