When you ask any JvC fan, or even any Real American Hero fan what one of the top five best new figures are, I can almost guarantee that Crosshair will appear within almost everyone’s list, as well he should.Spy Troops Wave 4 (Wave 7.75) - Crosshair
When you ask any JvC fan, or even any Real American Hero fan what one of the top five best new figures are, I can almost guarantee that Crosshair will appear within almost everyone’s list, as well he should.
The figure is well-proportioned, has great accessories, a cool personality and is colored in a realistic military hue like everyone enjoys so much. The first new sniper since Low Light came along in 1986, he also has an interesting specialty, and exists as a blank slate for anyone to do as they please. So why mess with it? Well, it seems this time, Hasbro offered us a repaint with a purpose, and executed it pretty well.
As a jungle sniper, Crosshairs color scheme makes sense…but what sniper doesn’t operate at night? Making this new character a part of the infamous G.I. Joe Night Force was a terrific idea, I think, and the outcome is quite impressive as well. Everyone who reads my reviews knows how much I love those loud, flashy colors. I have no problem with bright reds and blues, or even occasionally yellows, purples, and golds, but I can appreciate the draw of a darker color scheme, and Crosshair’s got it just right.
Instead of the different shades of green, he’s operating here in blacks and browns, with a hint of dark, dull gray, and each color meshes with the other one just right. They put these colors in all the right spots and they compliment the mold they’re attached to pretty near perfectly. His knit sleeves work great as brown, while his shirt/vest looks terrific in black. His hat, knee pads and boots just work. Easy as that.
One of the coolest things about a paint scheme like this, is that it is so multi-purpose. Crosshair in black/gray could be a night sniper or an urban sniper, as he appears here. As bland and single-colored this figure is, I really like those different shades. Darker grays with liberal paint wipes and other different shades of gray here and there just look great. I really, really like this figure a lot in this pain scheme!
The mold itself has been discussed, but deserves all of the attention it gets. Wave 5 was possibly the most nicely sculpted wave we’ve seen to date, and it’s too bad that some of the subsequent waves went in slightly different directions. Crosshair is slim and well-proportioned (although he does have those pesky small hands…) and is definitely one of the highlights of the new Joe line. He looks remarkably cool in this new paint scheme, and if you don’t have the original, do not hesitate to buy this version. Even if you do have the original, this one is a great update and worth a buy to expand Crosshair's horizons even a little bit.
