Gundam’s Exclusive MG Crossbone X2 Ver.Ka Gunpla Kit Returns for Official US Re-Release
Image by Charlotte DavisOne of Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam’s darker Master Grade Ver.Ka releases is returning to the US, giving collectors another chance to add Zabine Chareux’s rebuilt Mobile Suit to their collection.
The returning kit is the “MG 1/100 Crossbone Gundam X2 Custom Ver.Ka,” an exclusive Master Grade originally released in 2017 that recreates the heavily modified form of the Crossbone Gundam X2.
In the original Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam manga, the black and violet X2 is piloted by former Crossbone Vanguard ace Zabine Chareux, who eventually defects to the Jupiter Empire.
After Tobia Arronax escapes from the Jupiter Empire using the X2’s Core Fighter, the captured Mobile Suit is rebuilt without its original Core Block System and becomes the XM-X2ex Crossbone Gundam X2 Custom, also commonly known as the X2 Kai.
The rebuilt machine gains significantly enlarged rear thrusters that immediately separate it from the standard X2, with the Jupiter Empire attempting to reproduce the original propulsion system using the technology available to them.
Bandai recreates those changes with newly designed parts for the main rear thrusters, adding enlarged sections, two additional sub-thrusters, and heat-dissipation fins while retaining the X2’s black, violet, and yellow color scheme.
Its other major addition is the Buster Launcher, a huge ranged weapon measuring approximately 21.5 cm long that gives the X2 Custom a very different silhouette when compared with the original machine.
The launcher was developed with a Ver.Ka-specific folding gimmick supervised by Hajime Katoki, allowing the rear support and grip to move before the barrel rotates 180 degrees and folds into a more compact carrying configuration.
A dedicated right-hand part is included to provide a more secure connection when holding the oversized weapon, helping the completed model support it in more aggressive firing poses.
The Buster Launcher is only one part of an extensive arsenal, with the kit also including the Buster Gun, Beam Zanber, Scissor Anchors, Screw Whips, Brand Markers, Heat Daggers, Beam Sabers and Beam Shield.
Builders also get Ver.Ka water-transfer decals containing line markings, caution graphics and several options for the chest, while the full-color packaging uses artwork newly drawn by Hajime Katoki for the original release.
The X2 Custom’s return follows several other recent opportunities for US Crossbone Gundam collectors, including the Premium Bandai re-release of the silver Crossbone Gundam X0 Ver.Ka and a restock of the heavily armed MG Crossbone Gundam X-1 Full Cloth earlier this summer.
Pre-orders for the MG 1/100 Crossbone Gundam X2 Custom Ver.Ka opened through Premium Bandai US on September 4 at 8:00 PM EDT and are scheduled to remain available until January 16, 2027 at 2:59 AM EST, although reservations can close earlier if the available allocation sells out.
The exclusive kit is scheduled to ship in February 2027 and is priced at US$61.
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