Headman Profile
Showing posts with label Headman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Headman. Show all posts
Saturday, January 4, 2025
1992 Headman - Around The Web
Headman is one of those figures that was hated for many years. But, over time, his quality has shone through and he is now an accepted Cobra villain. The figure's sculpt is good and matches his purpose. Sure, he's still a little Hamburglar-y. But, in the context of 1990's Joe villains, that's fine. So, here's a bit of content featuring the 1992 Headman. Check it out.
Headman Profile
Headman Profile
Saturday, October 22, 2022
2002 Headman - Around The Web
Headman was a really good villain whose unique look made for a great figure. This 2002 figure, though, upped the ante and took a huge chance on a bright and interesting color scheme. And, it created one of the best figures of the 2000's. But, collectors of the day didn't see it that way and the figure was much maligned. While the quality is better appreciated today, the high production numbers and disappointment hangover have left this Headman as underappreciated. The upside is that he's relatively cheap to acquire. And, as you can see in the links below, he works well in a variety of photos and dioramas.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
1992 Headman
There is a very real chance that I saw a Headman figure at retail during my one trip to Toys R Us in December of 1992. I distinctly recall reviewing a cardback and seeing a Headhunter: thinking that he was a figure I wanted to own. But, I did not find a Headhunter at the store. I did, though, buy a Bulletproof: proving there were plenty of other DEF figures at the store. So, Headman was probably there. But, he left no lasting impression upon me and purchasing him was really not an option I entertained. Over the years, Headman still never resonated much with me until a repaint showed up and was different enough that it allowed the character to stand out. But, in time, things come around and Headman's complementary appearance with the Headhunters makes him useful
I acquired my first Headman figure in the late 1990's. At the time, I was on a quest to find Headhunter figures. And, in my purchase of lots that included the army builders, I also picked up a Headman figure. The figure was there. But, I did little with him. Headman didn't really become part of my Joe world, though, until 2002. That year, Hasbro released a Headman repaint in the overproduced Wave 1.5. This orangish/tan redo on the character easily became my go to version of the character and also defined his character. With this solid repaint in tow, I had little use for the original figure. And, he didn't survive my early 2010's figure purge since the 2002 version was superior. With that 2002 version, I created a replacement character for Tomax and Xamot. That Headman was squarely situated in the business dealings of Cobra. Now, though, I prefer Headman as a drug dealer.
I find it odd that there are collectors who have no issue with Cobra creating an army to overthrow the United States government but find that dealing drugs was too far for them. Cobra needed funding. And, while arms sales certainly pay the bills, drugs would provide a steady income stream as well. Drugs also have the added benefit of creating discord in American society. This would allow for conditions where Cobra could come in and easily brainwash people. Larry Hama deftly visited this theme in some issues of the comic in the Millville arc. Though, he avoided drug use/abuse as one of the themes that had the people worried. Now, with opiods wreaking havoc across communities both large and small throughout the U.S., I can see Cobra getting their cut of the action to both better fund their activities and create opportunities for recruitment/takeover in neglected towns that are off the beaten path in the U.S. Headman fits into this realm well. He has a specific purpose in Cobra. And, he's very valuable due to the revenue he generates. But, Headman is also expendable. It's relatively easy to find drug kingpins: especially when you have Cobra's resources of weapons and troops. So, Headman has value and provides Cobra a valuable service. But, he's careful not to tread too heavily lest he find himself replaced. There's not a lot you can do with a role like this. But, it gives this Headman some use and keeps him on the Joe's radar. Cobra has interest in ensuring Headman isn't captured. But, he also serves as a useful pawn that Cobra could sacrifice in an attempt to get the Joes to declare victory and move their resources away from Cobra's domestic funding operations.
As a design, Headman has pluses and minuses. He is the only vintage figure sculpted in a suit. In the 2000's, this became hugely important as it was quickly commandeered for both a new General Flagg and the desperately needed Tomax and Xamot in business suit figures. Of course, now, all Cobras wearing suits went to the same tailor. But, there's so few of them that it's OK. The pinstripes are odd. In some ways, they look nice. But, even with the vertical striping, the figure looks too much like a prisoner. The stripes are also gold paint. We all know the limitations of gold paint and they become apparent quickly as even decently conditioned Headman figures will often show a bit of wear on the stripes. The biggest design flaw is the head. The figure's ponytail is a nice addition that gives the character some depth in design. But, the face mask is simply too 1940's. It makes the figure look like the Hamburglar. So, any seriousness afforded to Headman as a character is quickly lost with that design association.
In the early 2000's, collectors were mostly enamored with 1987 and earlier characters. A few Cobras from 1988 and 1989 managed to break into the general collector conscious. But, 1990's Cobras were mostly ignored. As the 2000's turned to the 2010's, you saw a few more of these 1990's characters enjoy moments of spotlight where the figures were shortly desirable. But, the late 2010's have brought a greater appreciation to the 1990's Cobras. Characters like Cesspool, Toxo-Zombie, Interrogator, Vapor and even repaints of Dr. Mindbender, Major Bludd and Destro have started to gain appreciation among collectors. Headhunters, in particular, have taken off in popularity again. (They had a brief surge around 2002-2003, but then fell out of favor.) Headhunter figures have gotten very expensive and hard to find. Even items that collectors tended to loathe (like the convention Headhunter Stormtrooper) have gained some popularity. Headman, though, has not. The character remains obscure and the only real market interest in him is driven on scarcity rather than popularity. This is likely a function of the fact that Headman's look can be taken as a joke. But, even meme worthy figures like Funskool Big Brawler have found some cachet among the collectors of the world. Headman mostly remains lost. He has yet to take ahold of the collecting hive mind. This is likely a function of his absence in the anniversary line. It's not bad that some characters fall behind since it leaves unturned gems for collectors to discover later. But, in Headman's case, I wonder if it's going to happen for him since his design and look present such challenges.
Headman's gear is not great. His main accessory is a gigantic missile launcher with missiles. It's useless. But, it's something that was used to increase the figure's retail price point. He also includes a blocky, golden rifle. Personally, I despise this weapon. I think it looks terrible. But, I have been surprised to find my opinion of it is in the minority. Many collectors actually really like the weapon and consider it a key attribute of the figure. I would have preferred that Headman included some type of cane. (He sported one in the comics.) It would have played up his stereo-typical design. But, also would have been a unique feature of vintage Joe line. I went looking for 3 3/4 canes. But, I have yet to find any from the major dealers of compatible accessories. So, if you know of a good one that's widely available, leave a note in the comments.
Headman was only made by Hasbro. He had the 1992 and 2002 releases. Then, his body was used in 2004 for General Flagg and in 2005 for Tomax and Xamot. Oddly, he didn't appear in the 2008 convention set. But, since we had a decent Headman repaint in 2002, it was a much better choice to include the previously unseen Gristle figure as the set's main antagonist. When Hasbro repainted both the Viper/Mirage and Alley Viper/Big Ben sets in later 2002 figure waves, I desperately hoped that a repainted Headman would also follow. I thought the mold still had potential for a stupidly wacky repaint (think purple or green suit!) that would have been a departure from Hasbro's 2000's norm of muted colors. But, this never happened. And, Headman remains an under-utilized mold from the vintage era. I can't really say he was wasted. But, I feel more could have been done with him. But, since collectors seem to have left the character behind, it was probably the right choice to not re-visit him again and again.
2018 brought tremendous change to the Joe world. There was an influx of new collectors. This increase continues to drive prices of even common and undesirable figures much higher. The other thing it's doing, though, is finally bringing to light the inequity in production numbers between regular carded figures and the carded sub set figures. Themes like DEF, Eco Warriors and even Star Brigade are starting to show up with less frequency. The lower production numbers on these sub-themes have always been known. But, they have never really manifested when trying to acquire the figures on the after-market. Now, though, it is becoming harder and harder to find loose samples of figures from these sub sets. While you used to see plenty of lots featuring a few of the sub set characters each, you now find fewer and fewer dealers and collector/dealer hybrids are willing to do this. They separate out the sub set figures and sell them alone. This leads to the perception that the sub set figures are scarce. And, while this is true, it's not as true as dealers want new collectors to believe. You often see thinly veiled attempts to frame figures as rare from a person who, secretly, is selling those exact figures on another venue. You see people talking about $40 Headhunters while watching the figure sell for $18 on an open sale. Yes, the DEF figures exist in smaller quantities than the regular carded series. But, they were also widely shipped and exist in far greater quantities than any Joe made in 1997 or later. And, those who try to portray it otherwise usually have an agenda they are keen to keep discrete.
Dealers seem to get around $20 for a mint and complete Headman figure. Left to his own devices, though, the figure isn't much cheaper. You might find one for $15 or so. But, they appear less and less frequently as open sales. You can get carded versions of Headman for between $30 and $40. And, those seem to be about as a available as loose samples. However, incomplete Headman figures can be picked up for just a couple of bucks. And, since his gear really sucks, I find that a much better option to add Headman to your collection. (And, the 2002 version is still dirt cheap and it's, in my opinion anyways, a much better figure.) I wouldn't pay that much for this figure. He's neat and a needed member of the Headhunters faction. But, I've never seen Headhunters as belonging to Headman. Free from such constraints, Headman's value to me plummets even more. Your mileage, of course, will vary. Since DEF is a small subset, many collectors complete it out of boredom. Headman hasn't really captured the attention of collectors. If the second Joe renaissance continues, it's probable that we will, eventually, get around to Headman. But, those surges are shortlived and I don't see Headman ever becoming more than what he is today.
I acquired my first Headman figure in the late 1990's. At the time, I was on a quest to find Headhunter figures. And, in my purchase of lots that included the army builders, I also picked up a Headman figure. The figure was there. But, I did little with him. Headman didn't really become part of my Joe world, though, until 2002. That year, Hasbro released a Headman repaint in the overproduced Wave 1.5. This orangish/tan redo on the character easily became my go to version of the character and also defined his character. With this solid repaint in tow, I had little use for the original figure. And, he didn't survive my early 2010's figure purge since the 2002 version was superior. With that 2002 version, I created a replacement character for Tomax and Xamot. That Headman was squarely situated in the business dealings of Cobra. Now, though, I prefer Headman as a drug dealer.
I find it odd that there are collectors who have no issue with Cobra creating an army to overthrow the United States government but find that dealing drugs was too far for them. Cobra needed funding. And, while arms sales certainly pay the bills, drugs would provide a steady income stream as well. Drugs also have the added benefit of creating discord in American society. This would allow for conditions where Cobra could come in and easily brainwash people. Larry Hama deftly visited this theme in some issues of the comic in the Millville arc. Though, he avoided drug use/abuse as one of the themes that had the people worried. Now, with opiods wreaking havoc across communities both large and small throughout the U.S., I can see Cobra getting their cut of the action to both better fund their activities and create opportunities for recruitment/takeover in neglected towns that are off the beaten path in the U.S. Headman fits into this realm well. He has a specific purpose in Cobra. And, he's very valuable due to the revenue he generates. But, Headman is also expendable. It's relatively easy to find drug kingpins: especially when you have Cobra's resources of weapons and troops. So, Headman has value and provides Cobra a valuable service. But, he's careful not to tread too heavily lest he find himself replaced. There's not a lot you can do with a role like this. But, it gives this Headman some use and keeps him on the Joe's radar. Cobra has interest in ensuring Headman isn't captured. But, he also serves as a useful pawn that Cobra could sacrifice in an attempt to get the Joes to declare victory and move their resources away from Cobra's domestic funding operations.
As a design, Headman has pluses and minuses. He is the only vintage figure sculpted in a suit. In the 2000's, this became hugely important as it was quickly commandeered for both a new General Flagg and the desperately needed Tomax and Xamot in business suit figures. Of course, now, all Cobras wearing suits went to the same tailor. But, there's so few of them that it's OK. The pinstripes are odd. In some ways, they look nice. But, even with the vertical striping, the figure looks too much like a prisoner. The stripes are also gold paint. We all know the limitations of gold paint and they become apparent quickly as even decently conditioned Headman figures will often show a bit of wear on the stripes. The biggest design flaw is the head. The figure's ponytail is a nice addition that gives the character some depth in design. But, the face mask is simply too 1940's. It makes the figure look like the Hamburglar. So, any seriousness afforded to Headman as a character is quickly lost with that design association.
In the early 2000's, collectors were mostly enamored with 1987 and earlier characters. A few Cobras from 1988 and 1989 managed to break into the general collector conscious. But, 1990's Cobras were mostly ignored. As the 2000's turned to the 2010's, you saw a few more of these 1990's characters enjoy moments of spotlight where the figures were shortly desirable. But, the late 2010's have brought a greater appreciation to the 1990's Cobras. Characters like Cesspool, Toxo-Zombie, Interrogator, Vapor and even repaints of Dr. Mindbender, Major Bludd and Destro have started to gain appreciation among collectors. Headhunters, in particular, have taken off in popularity again. (They had a brief surge around 2002-2003, but then fell out of favor.) Headhunter figures have gotten very expensive and hard to find. Even items that collectors tended to loathe (like the convention Headhunter Stormtrooper) have gained some popularity. Headman, though, has not. The character remains obscure and the only real market interest in him is driven on scarcity rather than popularity. This is likely a function of the fact that Headman's look can be taken as a joke. But, even meme worthy figures like Funskool Big Brawler have found some cachet among the collectors of the world. Headman mostly remains lost. He has yet to take ahold of the collecting hive mind. This is likely a function of his absence in the anniversary line. It's not bad that some characters fall behind since it leaves unturned gems for collectors to discover later. But, in Headman's case, I wonder if it's going to happen for him since his design and look present such challenges.
Headman's gear is not great. His main accessory is a gigantic missile launcher with missiles. It's useless. But, it's something that was used to increase the figure's retail price point. He also includes a blocky, golden rifle. Personally, I despise this weapon. I think it looks terrible. But, I have been surprised to find my opinion of it is in the minority. Many collectors actually really like the weapon and consider it a key attribute of the figure. I would have preferred that Headman included some type of cane. (He sported one in the comics.) It would have played up his stereo-typical design. But, also would have been a unique feature of vintage Joe line. I went looking for 3 3/4 canes. But, I have yet to find any from the major dealers of compatible accessories. So, if you know of a good one that's widely available, leave a note in the comments.
Headman was only made by Hasbro. He had the 1992 and 2002 releases. Then, his body was used in 2004 for General Flagg and in 2005 for Tomax and Xamot. Oddly, he didn't appear in the 2008 convention set. But, since we had a decent Headman repaint in 2002, it was a much better choice to include the previously unseen Gristle figure as the set's main antagonist. When Hasbro repainted both the Viper/Mirage and Alley Viper/Big Ben sets in later 2002 figure waves, I desperately hoped that a repainted Headman would also follow. I thought the mold still had potential for a stupidly wacky repaint (think purple or green suit!) that would have been a departure from Hasbro's 2000's norm of muted colors. But, this never happened. And, Headman remains an under-utilized mold from the vintage era. I can't really say he was wasted. But, I feel more could have been done with him. But, since collectors seem to have left the character behind, it was probably the right choice to not re-visit him again and again.
2018 brought tremendous change to the Joe world. There was an influx of new collectors. This increase continues to drive prices of even common and undesirable figures much higher. The other thing it's doing, though, is finally bringing to light the inequity in production numbers between regular carded figures and the carded sub set figures. Themes like DEF, Eco Warriors and even Star Brigade are starting to show up with less frequency. The lower production numbers on these sub-themes have always been known. But, they have never really manifested when trying to acquire the figures on the after-market. Now, though, it is becoming harder and harder to find loose samples of figures from these sub sets. While you used to see plenty of lots featuring a few of the sub set characters each, you now find fewer and fewer dealers and collector/dealer hybrids are willing to do this. They separate out the sub set figures and sell them alone. This leads to the perception that the sub set figures are scarce. And, while this is true, it's not as true as dealers want new collectors to believe. You often see thinly veiled attempts to frame figures as rare from a person who, secretly, is selling those exact figures on another venue. You see people talking about $40 Headhunters while watching the figure sell for $18 on an open sale. Yes, the DEF figures exist in smaller quantities than the regular carded series. But, they were also widely shipped and exist in far greater quantities than any Joe made in 1997 or later. And, those who try to portray it otherwise usually have an agenda they are keen to keep discrete.
Dealers seem to get around $20 for a mint and complete Headman figure. Left to his own devices, though, the figure isn't much cheaper. You might find one for $15 or so. But, they appear less and less frequently as open sales. You can get carded versions of Headman for between $30 and $40. And, those seem to be about as a available as loose samples. However, incomplete Headman figures can be picked up for just a couple of bucks. And, since his gear really sucks, I find that a much better option to add Headman to your collection. (And, the 2002 version is still dirt cheap and it's, in my opinion anyways, a much better figure.) I wouldn't pay that much for this figure. He's neat and a needed member of the Headhunters faction. But, I've never seen Headhunters as belonging to Headman. Free from such constraints, Headman's value to me plummets even more. Your mileage, of course, will vary. Since DEF is a small subset, many collectors complete it out of boredom. Headman hasn't really captured the attention of collectors. If the second Joe renaissance continues, it's probable that we will, eventually, get around to Headman. But, those surges are shortlived and I don't see Headman ever becoming more than what he is today.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
2002 Headman
The idea of Joe fighting drug dealers hasn't been a popular one in the modern collecting world. Regardless of feelings about the subject matter, though, the characters and figure molds that were released during the first wave of DEF figures are among the best in the line. The feature unique and highly detailed sculpts, muted, realistic colors and great accessories. In the years I've been at this, I've profiled most of the figures that comprised the first wave of DEF figures. They are simply that good. In modern times, more collectors have warmed to these molds and many DEF figures count themselves among the most expensive and desirable post 1990 figure releases.
The Headman was the leader of the Headhunters and the big cheese in drug trafficking. I call him the big cheese because the figure does bear a resemblance to the Hamburglar and part of me always thinks of that when I see the figure. The original coloring was decent enough with a black suit dusted with gold stripes. But, the 2002 figure went all out. It turned the Headman into a flamboyant drug dealer with the gaudy suit to match his personality. It was this great orangish-brown suit that drew my attention to the 2002 figure and made it stand out against the backdrop of his similarly colored contemporaries. The one element of the figure design of which I have never been fond, though, is the pony-tail. While that physical feature fits the Headman's intended specialty, it does not match with the characterization I have assigned to the figure. It is a minor point but one that probably keeps this figure from seeing as much use in my collection as it otherwise would were the pony tail omitted.
In my collection, Headman is not a drug dealer and he is not named Headman. Instead, he is named Rialto. Rialto is a supply chain management genius and holds an MBA in the subject from an Ivy League university. Rialto's position within Cobra is as the head of munitions manufacturing. He is not the designer but he is responsible for ensuring that the raw materials and production facilities needed for Cobra's arms business is a fine tuned machine. He also oversees the transport of the completed munitions to their final destination. He is in control of the Cobra ports, railroads, highways and motor truck cargo capacity. It is a huge responsibility that makes Rialto one of the most important members of the Cobra hierarchy, even though he is, officially, a non-combatant. It also gives him some leeway in terms of fashion sense since he has no combat role to worry about. Plus, it's really not like an organization like Cobra: full of outlandish uniforms, would frown on Rialto's choice of wardrobe.
This non-combatant status, of course, causes rifts on Cobra Island. Combat commanders do not like someone who does not fight having so much power within Cobra. But, the Commander is fine with this as and actively encourages Rialto's non-combatant stance. The reason why is since Rialto understands the the logistics of Cobra Island's transportation system, would he ever decide to lead an insurgency on the Island, he would have a huge advantage in moving his troops around the island. This fact isn't lost on the Commander and he ensures that no combat troops ever deal with Rialto. That way, Rialto's knowledge is only dangerous as part of a plot rather than as the mastermind.
For his part, Rialto doesn't mind. He has access to one of the most ambitious manufacturing operations in the world and the logistics of moving massive amounts of hardware all over the globe keeps him satisfied in his duties without having to dream of conquest. This has lead to a friendship between Rialto and Ramen. (Cobra's South American Commander.) Ramen admires Rialto's abilities and his dedicated focus. The two also share an Ivy League pedigree and that has fostered comradeship. Ramen considers Rialto one of the keys to the Cobra dynasty and one who, if in Ramen's stable, would give him the ability to do pretty much anything he wanted in the Cobra world. Rialto has resisted actively joining Ramen, though, as he feels his neutrality is better serving the good of Cobra. At some point, though, he will be forced to declare allegiance to either the Commander or to Ramen. When that day comes, the winner will have one of the most important allies in their stead and will gain a clear advantage over the other....
Of course, this leads one to question Rialto's motives. Why would one of the brightest business minds in the world go to work for Cobra where the military aspect could spell doom despite great business success? The answer to that lies in Rialto's upbringing and character. While Ramen was a criminal whose exploits had him facing dozens of years in a white-collar federal prison, Rialto joined Cobra for the challenge. Rialto wanted to head one of the world's largest companies upon graduation. But even the most forward thinking company would have put off his dreams for at least 20 years as he navigated the murky world of corporate politics. In Cobra, Rialto found a refreshing honesty that comes from such a confrontational and deadly military culture. In Cobra, Rialto didn't have to worry that a rival might sabotage a presentation. Instead, that rival might just shoot him. That certainty made Cobra attractive and Rialto was able to rise through the ranks in only a matter of a few years. There were no golf memberships, knowing the right people nor the other hallmarks of traditional corporate malarkey. Instead, there was a certainty that if he proved himself, the military commanders would give him control of all the assets he desired and leave him to his devices as long as the money kept rolling in. The military commanders were glad to be free of the hassle of the business logistics since those did not build their troop counts nor their battles won. They left Rialto free and he has made the most of the opportunity. Perhaps too well, though, as his power has become a spot of contention and competing factions on Cobra Island wish an oath of loyalty out of Cobra's most famous and powerful civilian.
The Headman mold was used in 1992 only. The figure was then first used again in 2002. Since then, the mold has not been used again as Headman but has appeared as the stock look for suits in the line. First used on the comic pack General Flagg in late 2004, Hasbro then re-used it again for the under-appreciated suited Tomax and Xamot figures that were included with the Toys R Us exclusive Crimson set in early 2005. It has not appeared since then, but is certain to be the first choice if Hasbro ever needs another ARAH-style figure that wears a suit. Truthfully, though, the mold isn't too overexposed since the three releases have been of such drastic different colors and included on such diverse characters. But, at the same time, I really don't think we need another Headman unless he was to return in a set stocked with his Headhunters and Headhunter Stormtroopers. Otherwise, the character has been adequately done.
The reality is that Wave 1.5 in 2002 was one of the most overproduced wave in Joe history. Hasbro needed a stop gap wave to fill in between the disaster that was Wave 1 and the re-tooled with O-rings figures that were planned to be Wave 2. Retailers were warm to the designs in Wave 1.5 and the floodgates were opened. Most major retailers stocked Wave 1.5 in abundance. As if this weren't enough, though, many non-traditional toy retailers such as JC Penny, Kohl's and others also ordered this wave and stocked in their stores. K-Mart even received an exclusive product wave where a 2-pack of Wave 1.5 figures was packaged with a third "bonus" figure from the Wave. This made even popular figures like the Viper and Alley Viper very easy to get and collectors were able to stockpile massive armies just through successive months of retail incursions. As if this weren't enough, though, Hasbro ended up selling a massive production run to Family Dollar stores. They had walls and walls of the figures in their stores and were not able to get rid of them until they reduced them to $1 per pack in the summer of 2004. In between times, Hasbro also sold off large quantities of overstock to an Israeli toy dealer and many high end American collectors were offered cheap quantities of army builders from Israel, provided they pay the shipping.
The result is that there is no Wave 1.5 figure that is very desirable. Even the army builders can still be had for under $5 each and most of the other figures are often sold for $2 or less. The Headman is one of these as he is often ridiculously cheap. Personally, I feel the Wave 1.5 figures were decently done and the accessories with the non-army builders alone are worth the small price you often pay to acquire these figures. I have purchased several after market Headman figures for almost nothing just due to the fact that they are cheap and the figure's look is good. For the price, this figure is a no-brainer to add to a collection. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that he will ever be appreciated for more than that.
The Headman was the leader of the Headhunters and the big cheese in drug trafficking. I call him the big cheese because the figure does bear a resemblance to the Hamburglar and part of me always thinks of that when I see the figure. The original coloring was decent enough with a black suit dusted with gold stripes. But, the 2002 figure went all out. It turned the Headman into a flamboyant drug dealer with the gaudy suit to match his personality. It was this great orangish-brown suit that drew my attention to the 2002 figure and made it stand out against the backdrop of his similarly colored contemporaries. The one element of the figure design of which I have never been fond, though, is the pony-tail. While that physical feature fits the Headman's intended specialty, it does not match with the characterization I have assigned to the figure. It is a minor point but one that probably keeps this figure from seeing as much use in my collection as it otherwise would were the pony tail omitted.
In my collection, Headman is not a drug dealer and he is not named Headman. Instead, he is named Rialto. Rialto is a supply chain management genius and holds an MBA in the subject from an Ivy League university. Rialto's position within Cobra is as the head of munitions manufacturing. He is not the designer but he is responsible for ensuring that the raw materials and production facilities needed for Cobra's arms business is a fine tuned machine. He also oversees the transport of the completed munitions to their final destination. He is in control of the Cobra ports, railroads, highways and motor truck cargo capacity. It is a huge responsibility that makes Rialto one of the most important members of the Cobra hierarchy, even though he is, officially, a non-combatant. It also gives him some leeway in terms of fashion sense since he has no combat role to worry about. Plus, it's really not like an organization like Cobra: full of outlandish uniforms, would frown on Rialto's choice of wardrobe.
This non-combatant status, of course, causes rifts on Cobra Island. Combat commanders do not like someone who does not fight having so much power within Cobra. But, the Commander is fine with this as and actively encourages Rialto's non-combatant stance. The reason why is since Rialto understands the the logistics of Cobra Island's transportation system, would he ever decide to lead an insurgency on the Island, he would have a huge advantage in moving his troops around the island. This fact isn't lost on the Commander and he ensures that no combat troops ever deal with Rialto. That way, Rialto's knowledge is only dangerous as part of a plot rather than as the mastermind.
For his part, Rialto doesn't mind. He has access to one of the most ambitious manufacturing operations in the world and the logistics of moving massive amounts of hardware all over the globe keeps him satisfied in his duties without having to dream of conquest. This has lead to a friendship between Rialto and Ramen. (Cobra's South American Commander.) Ramen admires Rialto's abilities and his dedicated focus. The two also share an Ivy League pedigree and that has fostered comradeship. Ramen considers Rialto one of the keys to the Cobra dynasty and one who, if in Ramen's stable, would give him the ability to do pretty much anything he wanted in the Cobra world. Rialto has resisted actively joining Ramen, though, as he feels his neutrality is better serving the good of Cobra. At some point, though, he will be forced to declare allegiance to either the Commander or to Ramen. When that day comes, the winner will have one of the most important allies in their stead and will gain a clear advantage over the other....
Of course, this leads one to question Rialto's motives. Why would one of the brightest business minds in the world go to work for Cobra where the military aspect could spell doom despite great business success? The answer to that lies in Rialto's upbringing and character. While Ramen was a criminal whose exploits had him facing dozens of years in a white-collar federal prison, Rialto joined Cobra for the challenge. Rialto wanted to head one of the world's largest companies upon graduation. But even the most forward thinking company would have put off his dreams for at least 20 years as he navigated the murky world of corporate politics. In Cobra, Rialto found a refreshing honesty that comes from such a confrontational and deadly military culture. In Cobra, Rialto didn't have to worry that a rival might sabotage a presentation. Instead, that rival might just shoot him. That certainty made Cobra attractive and Rialto was able to rise through the ranks in only a matter of a few years. There were no golf memberships, knowing the right people nor the other hallmarks of traditional corporate malarkey. Instead, there was a certainty that if he proved himself, the military commanders would give him control of all the assets he desired and leave him to his devices as long as the money kept rolling in. The military commanders were glad to be free of the hassle of the business logistics since those did not build their troop counts nor their battles won. They left Rialto free and he has made the most of the opportunity. Perhaps too well, though, as his power has become a spot of contention and competing factions on Cobra Island wish an oath of loyalty out of Cobra's most famous and powerful civilian.
The Headman mold was used in 1992 only. The figure was then first used again in 2002. Since then, the mold has not been used again as Headman but has appeared as the stock look for suits in the line. First used on the comic pack General Flagg in late 2004, Hasbro then re-used it again for the under-appreciated suited Tomax and Xamot figures that were included with the Toys R Us exclusive Crimson set in early 2005. It has not appeared since then, but is certain to be the first choice if Hasbro ever needs another ARAH-style figure that wears a suit. Truthfully, though, the mold isn't too overexposed since the three releases have been of such drastic different colors and included on such diverse characters. But, at the same time, I really don't think we need another Headman unless he was to return in a set stocked with his Headhunters and Headhunter Stormtroopers. Otherwise, the character has been adequately done.
The reality is that Wave 1.5 in 2002 was one of the most overproduced wave in Joe history. Hasbro needed a stop gap wave to fill in between the disaster that was Wave 1 and the re-tooled with O-rings figures that were planned to be Wave 2. Retailers were warm to the designs in Wave 1.5 and the floodgates were opened. Most major retailers stocked Wave 1.5 in abundance. As if this weren't enough, though, many non-traditional toy retailers such as JC Penny, Kohl's and others also ordered this wave and stocked in their stores. K-Mart even received an exclusive product wave where a 2-pack of Wave 1.5 figures was packaged with a third "bonus" figure from the Wave. This made even popular figures like the Viper and Alley Viper very easy to get and collectors were able to stockpile massive armies just through successive months of retail incursions. As if this weren't enough, though, Hasbro ended up selling a massive production run to Family Dollar stores. They had walls and walls of the figures in their stores and were not able to get rid of them until they reduced them to $1 per pack in the summer of 2004. In between times, Hasbro also sold off large quantities of overstock to an Israeli toy dealer and many high end American collectors were offered cheap quantities of army builders from Israel, provided they pay the shipping.
The result is that there is no Wave 1.5 figure that is very desirable. Even the army builders can still be had for under $5 each and most of the other figures are often sold for $2 or less. The Headman is one of these as he is often ridiculously cheap. Personally, I feel the Wave 1.5 figures were decently done and the accessories with the non-army builders alone are worth the small price you often pay to acquire these figures. I have purchased several after market Headman figures for almost nothing just due to the fact that they are cheap and the figure's look is good. For the price, this figure is a no-brainer to add to a collection. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that he will ever be appreciated for more than that.
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