Crossfire (2001)
Combine parts from two molds that later in the decade would become some the most overused in recent memory, and what do you get? Rock ‘N Roll–I mean Crossfire, the new machine gunner introduced in the Real American Hero Collection series.
The arms and torso belonged to Big Ben, and the waist and legs to Dial-Tone. Bits of those two guys guys were reused so much in the 2000s, you could probably create a pretty formidable family tree to link them all. The mish-mash of a 90’s torso and arms with mid 80’s waist and legs makes for a figure that’s quite top heavy. Crossfire must be a good singer. He’s got canary legs.
I’m also a little concerned for Crossfire’s longevity on the battlefield, seeing that he doesn’t come with headgear of any sort. Considering the size of his melon, however, I’m not surprised. I can’t recall a normal helmet that would fit a noggin of such prodigious proportions.
Why they didn’t go with the ’89 Rock ‘N Roll’s head and create a new version of the original Joe machine gunner is beyond me. Maybe the head mold wasn’t available. Then again, maybe they wanted to maintain control of the copyright for the name Crossfire in anticipation of re-releasing the famous Joe R/C vehicle of the same name. Then again, Hasbro already had the name in use with the most awesome ball bearing firing board game ever created. You know the one I’m talking about, and you can probably even sing it with me–Crossfire! You’ll get caught up in the–Crossfire! CROSSFIYEAAH!
I’d not noticed the top-heavy nature of him until you mentioned it and now it’s one of those things I can’t not see…it always did strike me as odd that the Real American Hero collection created so many new characters when they could have just kept old names (Double Blast and Sidetrack–I’m looking at you) but I do have to applaud them for trying some different part combinations on a few of their new characters.
I don’t see anything particularly wrong with this–doesn’t look so top-heavy from my view. Also, the reason they didn’t use the Rock N’ Roll mold you spoke of is because of a mishap with it during a transfer from Funskool in India and back–the same mishap that gave us the whole “Flint/Rock N’ Roll” kerfuffle with the repaint of the 1992 HQ set. The story’s here: http://forgotten-figures.blogspot.com/2012/08/2001-rock-and-roll-tru-hq-exclusive.html
Needed better gear. He was totally generic new joe, but at the time they were just half-heartedly reintroducing 3 3/4″ to mass retail and name copyrights were an issue. That’s why there was no Roadblock. Someone else bought the rights.
I wish the comic pack heads had been like Crossfire’s…original scale and hard plastic.
I think Crossfire should’ve come with the Sonic Fighters Rock N’ Roll’s machine gun, that would’ve been something different. Also, Rob, he did come with a helmet.
The lack of headgear during this period in the line’s history stands out like a sore thumb. Why go to all the trouble of creating new heads for all these characters based on fans and Hasbro employees if you don’t have helmets to go with the figures? The original ’82 helmets had recently resurfaced for the 15th anniversary reissues, so their absence here is sort of puzzling.
The helmet from 1992 Duke worked on this figure, like it did on the new Leatherneck. That would’ve been an easy inclusion.
What started so promising with the arahc quickly devolved onto junk like this. Figures like this deserved the quick cancellation that the line got.
I like this new machine-gunner.
I really like the head sculpt on this guy. Change a few things and add a beret and this might make a nice Colonel Trautman.