"I’ve Taken Down So Many Clones Over The Years. Once You Figure Out One, The Rest Are Easy.”
After being established in The Clone Wars, Cad Bane made the jump to The Bad Batch at the end of the first season where we find him hunting down Omega. This appearance was translated to a Star Wars Black Series exclusive release in 2022 sold globally by Amazon. While the figure was sold exclusively, it remained part of the mainline Galaxy Collection and used the same window box packaging, slanted side, and deep red accent colour on the artwork. Cad Bane was number 12 in the Bad Batch series, following on from the Wave 7 release of Echo and with the artwork eventually connecting to the 2023 Clone Commando Exclusive.
Cad Bane is designed around his Season 1 appearance on Bracca when facing off against The Bad Batch, and Hunter in particular. The figure uses elements from the original Clone Wars release - particularly the hips and upper thighs, lower arms, and hands - along with new parts and enhancements. Bane is no longer wearing his long coat, and instead, the base brown torso is overlaid with a large armoured panel in dull metallic grey, similar armour is added to the shoulders while the same colour is used on the gauntlets which continue to be connected by softer plastic pipework running up the arm.
The legs are grey and plain but with new boots in green with brown and silver trim. The rocket jets remain in place, updated again from the Clone Wars release and painted silver and black. They plug into the side of each boot. The belt and holster finish the outfit, added as another softer plastic sleeve and incorporating an ammo belt with trimmed sliver ammo, and two holsters in a brown leather finish.
Bane is also provided with a new head sculpt with an expression featuring narrowed eyes and a slight angle to the mouth which is either a smirk or a grimace. The blue head with painted red eyes is enclosed in the headgear which now comes up and over the forehead and includes the breathing tubes and apparatus that extend from either cheek and connect via a silver box at the rear - this is removable, although that is perhaps not a useful feature as Bane is never really seen without them. The hat is also new, reduced in size since The Clone Wars but still brown leather in its finish, wide-rimmed, and trimmed on either side with metallic painted panels. It remains a snug fit on Bane’s head.
As well as his hat, Cad Bane also comes with his twin blasters. These are the same as The Clone Wars release and coloured in the same way with a silver base, black trim along the barrel, and brown on the textured grip. These fit into either hand, with both left and right hands coming with a flexible trigger finger. When not in use they can also be slipped into the working holsters on the belt.
Bane has 21 points of articulation if you count the rotation of the jet thrusters on either leg. The other joints are all pinless and include the new butterfly shoulder joints and dual joint neck. Both arms and legs have a wide range of options, restricted only by the holsters at the upper thighs and partially by the shoulder armour. The flexible pipework on the arms moves with the joint but these may be a weak spot over time. The breathing tubes on the head are also mobile and move with the neck as the head is posed.
Cad Bane on Bracca is a good execution of an animated character in figure format with a faithful translation of the costume and armour. The head sculpt and body proportions remain slim and obviously embedded in his animated status but he fully complements the other Bad Batch figures and the wider Black Series collection, not looking out of place against any of the live-action figures. The articulation is good - improved even on the original - while the accessories, particularly the hat, give further display options and the ability to mimic Bane's mannerisms, such as when he tips his hat.
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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...
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