Now, nearly as much time has passed since the 2005 figure was released as had passed between the 1985 version and the 2005 Comic Pack release. Unsurprisingly, the 2005 Flint has not held up. You can tell from the relatively sparse content featuring the figure that he's not that popular. You can't even catalog all the photos that feature the 1985 Flint. And, collectors use the original as their go to choice for photographs even today. It's just such a better option and is a nearly ubiquitous member of pretty much every Joe collection that's out there.
It is interesting to read up on contemporary reviews of the figures that were written right after their release. The sentiment on this Flint was tepid, even back then. And, that's translated into a figure that's simply faded into obscurity. It's probably a just fate for this figure. The 1985 figure is vastly superior. And, the Funskool version of Flint remains a cheaper option for the V1 Flint look and it includes the trademark shotgun. So, enjoy what little content there is on this figure out there.
2005 Flint Profile
2005 Flint Profile
Everybody still bought that shitty figure hasbro to stuffed down collector throats, giving them incentive to release trash underwhelming garbage for years.
ReplyDeleteThis Flint is not an improvement in any way to the original but at the time he came out he was decent. He didn't suffer from the shrunken head like many of the other comic book pack figures. Looking back at that era of GI Joe and being heavily involved in collecting I was excited to get a new Flint figure. In retrospect it's obvious that the comic book pack premise was better as an idea and very flawed in execution.
ReplyDeleteDecent compared to what? It’s not even a new figure just an inferior version of an old figure. It’s like collectors refuse to remember the fuck you Hasbro gave us with Gi Joe extreme and making us buy sgt savage only to cancel it and all the shit to end up bargain bin. The Stars and Stripes forever set quality and uninspiring reissues of og figures are another fuck you. Just pushing out the shitty canceled battle corps repaints and Astronauts was fresh in my mind when these came out and it’s like some sick joke getting some experimental rehash when you were devestated joe stopped moving forward and already was looking backwards. Low effort figure using og design to engage your nostalgic sentiments. It’s like Gi Joe fans are a bunch of suckers to Hasbro and they put out a solid stream of product like this, knowing collectors will buy regardless. I know so many people, people who served with kids and limited funds, who ended up buying stuff like this because of a literal commitment to Gi joe collecting. The figure never made them happy or excited beyond the fact it had “Gi joe” and a character. Contrast this with the value foreign figures offered at the time………….. this was a shitty buy then and now!
DeleteDecent compared to some of the other comic book pack figures that suffered from the small head syndrome. When Sgt. Savage and GI Joe Extreme came out they were targeted as toys for kids not adult collectors. I totally agree with you on the Stars and Stripes quality control issues but their was some pretty good stuff to be released in 97/98 as well. For my collecting I buy what I want, what interests me. I try not to get overly emotional about toys or attacking the company that makes them.
DeleteMan this was 20 plus years ago... if you don't like the figure fine, but I don't think it deserved the anti Hasbro propaganda. I think they sold plenty of comic packs, so there had to be some people who liked them, not just " lemmings" who buy anything Joe. I'm not saying Hasbro is perfect, but I think the market pretty much dictates most of their decisions (we are the market btw). Notice that Savage and Extreme tanked...that's the market talking. I miss the RAH 3 3/4 era too, but the overall market has changed. I think the tons of retro walmart hiss tanks that are unsellable speaks to that. It seems silly to get upset that other people enjoy collecting things you don't just because it's not your favorite. Life changes, things move on, enjoy things why you can.
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