2003 Funskool Incinerator - Random Photos of the Day

The Incinerator is a pretty good figure.  Sure, his specialty is obscure and difficult to use.  But, in the context of an evil flame thrower, his look is just about perfect.  In 2003, Funskool produced their own version of the character.  He is incredibly similar to the Hasbro version.  As such, the two are great companions.  The Funskool version breaks up an army of Hasbro figures and vice-versa.

Every U.S. based dealer under the sun sold Incinerators for $4 each or less.  Despite this widespread availability, though, collectors largely yawned at the release.  And, today, the figure is somewhat hard to find.  And, you'll pay a bit of a premium for him.  At $4, this figure was a must buy and even small armies made sense.  At today's insane pricing, he's best left as an oddity that sits on the shelf.  

I do enjoy photographing him, though.  The Incinerators, in general, are a lot of fun to take out and use.  They are visually powerful and aren't a figure that lot of people use...especially at any scale.  Adding the Funskool version to the mix just gives the photos that much extra oomph.  

His gear is kind of fun.  The bright green backpack offsets the orange, nicely.  The blue gun makes no sense.  But, bright orange, oval headed flamethrowers don't make sense, either.  And, it's so "Funskool" that it's perfect.  Enjoy the photos below as something different today.

Rarities - Funskool Late Run Incinerator Variants

The Funskool Incinerator was first released in the latter half of 2003.  At the time, the release was relatively ignored by the collecting community.  1991 Incinerators were cheap.  The Funskool version wasn't that different from the Hasbro version.  And, Hasbro was releasing a large variety of new army building figures with even better ones coming in early 2004.  So, the collecting community pretty much let the figure slide into obscurity.  

In 2004, Funskool also stopped producing new figures.  Their sales were slipping and the gimmicks they tried to boost sales were not successful.  On top of that, Hasbro recalled many of the figure molds.  So, a wide variety of figures that were insanely popular with American collectors ceased to be available.  But, that wasn't as big of a deal as the Hasbro Joe line was also dying out.  The 2005 Hasbro line was cancelled and moved to the DTC model.  Collectors were losing interest in all things Joe.  So, for that reason, some of the final variants of the Funskool line went unreported.

Among them are some variants of the Incinerator figure.  Here is the original version that came out in 2003.  You'll see a black missile included with the figure.

Below is a version of the Incinerator that was produced in 2005.  Notice that he includes an orange missile.  This missile was available in both black and orange with the Funskool General Flagg figure, too.  So, the missiles aren't too hard to find if you have them loose.  The real takeaway here is that Funskool was still producing figures into 2005.  I thought they had ceased most of their production in 2004.  Seeing this 2005 figure, though, opens the door to other figures also have end of line variants.  As Funskool imports were mostly done by the end of 2004, many of these late runs may not have the collector reach of earlier figures.

One of the big changes that Funskool made in 2003, though, is that they improved the construction quality of their figures.  So, while the original Incinerators aren't terrible, there's a good chance that these 2005 figures are higher quality than the earlier runs.

1991 Incinerator - Random Photos of the Day

The 1991 Incinerator is kind of weird looking.  But, guys who carry flamethrowers should be weird.  And, in the context of their specialty, the red and orange coloring makes sense.  Basically, they are just about perfect for being a flamethrower.  You just don't have a lot of need for a whole bunch of flamethrowing army builders.  So, the Incinerator works in small numbers.  I like using the figure from time to time.  And, he does work well with many vehicles released in the 1990's.  Here's a few of my recent photos of these guys.

1991 Incinerator - Around The Web

The Incinerator is one of those figures that everyone needs one of.  After a single figure, though, the value of additional figures diminishes.  He looks great and the orange and red are visually striking.  But, you don't really need more than one once you have him.  The notion of a bad guy flamethrower makes more sense than it does as a Joe specialty.  And, this figure screams flamethrower.  The Funskool version is also pretty good.  I found a surprising amount of content out there on this figure.  So, here's the best of the 1991 Incinerator from around the web.

1991 Incinerator Profile

1991 Incinerator by nostalkid

1991 Cobras at the Dragon Fortress

1991 Incinerator by jogunwarrior

1991 Incinerator by Outrider 01

1991 Incinerator at JoeBattleLines.com

1991 Incinerator by Stormer

1991 Incinerator by JoeADay.com

1991 Incinerator by Outrider 02

1991 Incinerator by Danish Dude

1991 Incinerator by HCC788

2003 Funskool Incinerator

Back in September of 2001, I profiled the original Incinerator figure. At the end of that profile, I mentioned that I would like to see this mold used again, even if it was by Funskool. Well, I got my wish! At the time, I made my prognostication based on the fact that Funskool had pulled a lot of 1991 molds out of the warehouse and put them into production. It only made sense that they would likely have the Incinerator mold. Fortunately, the figure they finally released was not too "Funskooled" out and makes a nice addition to a Cobra army.

This version of the Incinerator figure is nearly identical to the American release. As the original figure was rather brightly colored, though, I'm not certain if the similarity is due to Funskool liking the loud colors or if it was contractually mandated. The only real differences are that the face shield of the Funskool figure is orange as opposed to the American red, the Funskool figure has a black Cobra sigil rather than a red one, the Funskool figure has small yellow highlights on his upper chest straps, the Funskool figure has a black belt buckle, and the Funskool version has fully painted black feet whereas the American figure has some orange patches sticking through. Truthfully, the Funskool figure is actually more detailed than the original American figure in this case. The real difference lies in the accessories. In this arena, the Funskool figure fails. Rather than including the well done original Incinerator accessories, the Funskool figure comes with a neon green version of the Toxo-Viper backpack and a bright blue version of Dodger's gun. Properly colored, these weapons might have worked. However, as they are in useless hues, this Incinerator figure will have to be re-accessorized. The nice thing, though, is that many of the new sculpt figures include accessories that would work for this figure. As such, finding accessories that fit him won't be too much of a problem.

As I said in my original Incinerator profile, I use these figures as supporting troopers. They are called into situations where typical Cobra infantry has run into trouble and needs the Incinerators specialty. However, I have felt that the notion of a flamethrowing soldier is a bit out dated. Even the best protective gear will not save a poor soul whose pack full of highly flammable fuel is set ablaze by a stray bullet or shrapnel. As such, the job of setting something on fire is left to fearless BATS. As I still like the Incinerator mold, though, I have found other uses for them. Their color makes them less useful as gunners, but they do work well with Alley Vipers and I often mix the two together. Incinerators carry HEAT Viper weapons (as they are readily available from many 2002 figures) and serve as heavy weapons soldiers in support of the Alley Vipers. From time to time, I also use them as a subset of the Toxo-Vipers whose suits are a bit more protective. I could also see them filling as pilots in some of the newer Cobra aircraft. Really, the mold is versatile and can be adapted to many uses. This is a feature I really look for when I'm assessing a figure's value to my collection.

In my view, one of the areas where Funskool most helps American collectors is in the area of non-standard army builders. American collectors have been feasting on the overkill of Viper and Alley Viper repaints for the past year. As such, many people have been able to build nice Cobra armies, though only of a few figure types. This isn't a bad thing, but, if you are like me, you want at least some diversity. While the Python Patrol set from earlier this year helped that some, there really hasn't been any other alternative for some non-standard Cobra army building figures. This is where Funskool has played a major role. Their offerings of Night Vipers, Toxo Vipers, Crimson Guard Immortals, Eels, Hydro Vipers, Desert Scorpions and Incinerators have given the American collector a chance to build his Cobra army with some different figures. In just about every case, these figures are similar to their American counterparts and fit into an American collection with few problems. Going forward, I hope Funskool continues in this role. I don't want to see them focused primarily on army builders, though I doubt that would happen as all the American Funskool sellers combined do not even sell one day's worth of figure production for any one Funskool mold in an entire year, but I would like for them to continue to offer alternatives to the traditional American releases. In this capacity they can be very beneficial to American collectors and will serve as another way for us to supplement our collections as Hasbro moves away from producing a diverse selection of ARAH-style figures.

Soon, Incinerators will be everywhere. You can get them from all of your favorite online Joe dealers for about $5 or so. To me, this is a great way to supplement my Cobra army. I don't ever see myself having a dozen or so of these guys, but I could see myself ending up with 4 to 6. The nature of the Incinerator makes him more prone to smaller quantities in collections. But, as he is one of the few non-standard army builders out there available at retail, I could see me ending up with more of them as time progresses. As I usually do, I really like this latest offering from Funskool. He is of near Hasbro quality and is quite a change from the typical perception of Funskool figures. In this case, the figure is similar to the American version and blends perfectly with any of those you might already have in your collection. If you've been wanting to check out the new higher quality Funskool figures but have been put off by the likes of Grunt and Big Brawler, you should really try the Incinerator. He is a well done figure that makes an excellent addition to any Cobra army.

1991 Incinerator - Cobra Flame Thrower

Back in 1998, I was just getting back into Joe collecting. I had spent most of the prior year buying Star Wars toys, but the Stars and Stripes set had finally taken its toll and gotten me interested in Joes again. When I first starting looking for Joes, I tended to be most interested in figure lots that concentrated on the '89-'91 time span. I had stopped collecting full time at the end of 1987, but still had a few '88s. As such, I really wanted the figures from the newer years. Of course, back then, it was easy to get pre '88 figures, but those from later years were very hard to find. Fortunately, I found a couple of large 30+ figure lots that heavily concentrated on figures from those years. (Of course, back then I paid about $1.50-$2.00 per figure for those lots. Today, a similar lot would run several times over what I paid. I miss the old days of Ebay.) When I started sorting through the figures, there were many I didn't recognize and had never even seen before. While I liked the Joe affiliated figures, it was the new Cobras that really drew me in. Guys like the Interrogator, Night Vulture, Annihilator, and the Rock Viper were awesome new additions to my fast expanding Cobra army. Another figure from those years that I liked, though, is the one I decided to profile this week: Cobra's only flamethrower, the Incinerator.

I use the Incinerator figure in the same manner as I use SAW Vipers and Fast Blast Vipers. They are a small support team that enhances a Cobra combat unit. The way I see Cobra, the Troopers and some infantry Vipers make up the bulk of any Cobra attack force. They are equipped with the weapons and supplies to at least pinpoint all of the enemy in a given area. When a situation arises, though, where they need more support, teams of specialty Vipers, like the aforementioned group, flock to the scene to take care of the special situation. Rather than have troops ladened with heavy gear, like the Incinerator would have, running around and getting in the way of the infantry, these specialty troops hang back near the Cobra armor or in troop transports and respond to calls for help. That way, if they are not needed, Cobra never has to show their full strength. It is a perfect way for Cobra to be more deadly, but always have an additional surprise available to them.

The Incinerator is a very cool mold. He has a bulky sculpt that showcases the fact that he is wearing protective gear. The helmet is very sleek, though not removable. He has nicely detailed features and excellent accessories. (His pack is large and detailed and he comes with the original incarnation of the same weapon that came with the 1993 Crimson Guard Commander.) All in all, this is a great mold that only has one drawback: the color scheme. Since the original Blowtorch in 1984, Hasbro seemed to think that a flamethrower would wear bright, neon colors. While this uniform would work in a base or controlled environment, it makes the Incinerator an easy target when he ventures into the field. Still, the orange and red is definitely a danger signal to anyone who would come across one of these guys. On that level, the color scheme still works for me.

Personally, I'm very surprised that we haven't seen this mold again since the initial 1991 release. This figure just screams for a repaint. He would have easily integrated into Star Brigade and would have fit into that genre. This figure also would have made a much better choice to be the mold for the 01 Laser Viper. His bulky sculpt and cool head would have been a nice addition to the new releases. I'm also surprised that we never saw this guy anywhere else in the world. He was released in Europe, but that version is the same as the American. However, with Funskool's recent foray into 1991 molds (see Desert Scorpion, Crimson Guard Immortal, and General Hawk) I would not be surprised if we one day saw an oddly colored Incinerator repaint offered from them. I know I'd welcome it.

Incinerators are tough to find. All the '91's, with the exception of Bats and Red Star, are still pretty tough finds. With a little patience you can build an army of these guys, but it will take a while. Incinerators can be had cheap, though. The bright colors, late issue date, and not often popular specialty keep them from most collector's and army builder's radar screens. If you like the figure, that allows you the freedom to acquire as many Incinerators as you can find without killing your budget. He is about the most affordable '91 Cobra figure, but really isn't bad to make him so. Like some of the '89 Cobras, this guy came out in a year of so many good enemy figures that he is kind of lost. It's a great idea and a very nice execution of that idea, but he still pales in comparison to many of his contemporaries. Still, he makes up a small part of my Cobra army, and I think he will find a home in yours as well.

The Incinerator is pretty cool, though I don't have tons of uses for him. Would you like to see a repainted Incinerator figure, even if it were offered by Funskool? Let me know.