2023 Black Major Mercenary Troopers

Major Bludd doesn't need troopers.  Really, as an independent mercenary, he'd be bogged down by the responsibility of troopers.  He might have some associates in the event he'd need some additional help.  But, he's not the type of person who would command an army.  Despite that, there are some 2023 Black Major Cobra Trooper repaints who just mandate that Bludd have a few, select Troopers at his disposal who just happen to share the color scheme of Bludd's 1983 debut.  

It is my opinion that, when it comes to the Cobra Trooper mold, less is often more.  The paint jobs that follow the vintage paint masks, just with alternate colors, are my personal favorites.  In cases, though, where one subtle paint mask is added, like on these Mercenary Troopers, the result is often even better.  It breathes life into a mold that is now fairly common and makes up a large percentage of the overall figures released in the past decade and a half.  

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the cammo pattern Trooper repaints.  That is, definitely, a minority take, though.  As, most collectors really seem to love the various cammo Troopers that are out there.  I prefer the figures that utilize solid colors.  This isn't to say that there aren't some bangers among the cammo Troopers out there.  I just have to draw the line somewhere when  it comes to factory customs and, with Cobra Troopers, I remain particularly choosy about the new paint designs I'll track down.  

Major Bludd is one of my personal favorite Cobra characters.  The main thing about him was that he was always evil and never really had a redemption arc that ruined his fundamental character.  He was just a guy who would kill with impunity provided that you were the best paying customer.  Despite my enjoyment of the character, I don't use him all that often.  Mostly, this is because I have just one loose vintage Bludd and he sits among my main collection that rarely gets used for photos.  I still have a bagged version from Hasbro Canada.  But, I can't mingle that with my other loose figures.  So, Bludd sees little use unless it's his later versions.  And, those are less inclined to blend with this early Cobra Trooper mold.  So, getting these figures out is usually a special occasion.  

Black Major has gone through several different Cobra Trooper molds in the past 15 years.  This Mercenary Trooper uses the (as of today!) most current mold.  The most notable feature is that the head is a bit...squished.  So, it gives the Troopers of this mold a distinct look that allows them to be distinguished from earlier releases that might share the same color scheme.  There are other differences, too.  But, the Attica Gazette better covers them.  So, go read that for a full breakdown of the nuances of Black Major's various Cobra Trooper incarnations.

There are, now, over 100 flavors of Cobra Troopers that are available.  They extend from standard repaints like a crimson figure to obscure and ridiculous versions like an orange figure with brown tiger stripes.  So, with so many Cobra Troopers available, you can afford to be choosy.  I've skipped many great repaints in the past couple of years because they are similar enough to figures I already own.  But, I do find figures like this Mercenary version to be somewhat fresh and interesting. With so many variants available, every collector can have their personal favorites that might be something in which other collectors have no interest.  So, that's a huge upside of a mold being repainted into oblivion: there's something for everyone.

The main draw of this figure, for me, is the juxtaposition of color.  You have the black base that is offset by the brown pants.  The brown is a unique color that's both realistic and under-represented among Joe figures.  The swath of brown on the figure's collar provides a nice starting point for the hue, too, and really ties the top and bottom of the design.  The entire thing, though, is highlighted by a bright green.  The green isn't too bright.  But, it's not a drab that would blend into the brown and black.  Instead, it really highlights them and gives the figure a contrast that is visually stark.  It works against both the black and brown, which is hard to pull off.  The logo and bullets aren't silver.  They are a silvery, metallic blue color that, in its sparse application, accentuates those details more so than when  they are in traditional Cobra logo colors.  If all that isn't enough, there's a few splotches of cammo paint on the figure's helmet.  This provides a little extra detailing that makes the figure feel like something more than just a base Cobra Trooper repaint.

Like most of the recent Cobra Troopers, this figure includes three accessories.  He starts with the classic Dragunov sniper rifle.  It's a requirement for any Cobra Trooper.  Despite the iconic stature of the homage to the character's original weapon, though, I find myself more drawn to the second rifle included with the figure.  I'm not sure of its origin.  But, it's properly scaled for the 1983 body design of the Trooper and looks more like a more modern assault rifle.  It's a bit tighter in the figure's hands.  But, not so much so that you are worried about stressing or breaking a thumb.  The final piece of gear is a Big Bear backpack.  It's a common yet, unremarkable pack.  So, it works in the context of the Trooper.  It's something that's nice to have, even if you seldom use it.

The overall quality of these figures is pretty par for the course for Black Major figures.  The joints are tight.  The paint masks are sharp and crisp.  The figure can hold its weapons.  The limbs will hold a pose.  The figure isn't the same as a vintage Joe figure.  But, it's still pretty good.  After 15 year, you should know what to expect from factory customs.  And, if you've never owned a Black Major figure, that's not because of lack of opportunity.  But, if you like this figure's look, it's certainly worth tracking down a few and building up a squad to your liking.

This figure is relatively recently made.  Had a small production run and is rather niche.  Right now, you can still get mint and complete versions for $20 - $25.  If you can find a lot of them, you'll probably pay slightly more than 1/2 of that per figure, though.  I have a tough time predicting which Black Major figures will be super popular on the collector market and which will fade into obscurity.  But, pricing on out of circulation Black Major Cobra Trooper repaints does seem to be softening a bit.  This is a function of the overall market downturn we've seen in recent years combined with the sheer volume of new figure releases that have been pouring into the community in 2024.  

My general rule when it comes to factory custom army builders is to acquire figures I like if I can get them in bulk.  I don't really have a use for one or two of these figures.  But, four or five fill out a photo and have some value in my collection.  My point isn't to suggest you mimic my rules for my collection.  Instead, it's just a reminder that, sometimes, guardrails on acquisitions are good.  Otherwise, you end up with dozens or hundreds of figures for which you overpaid and for which, now, you have no real use.  And, we all know how much it sucks to try to sell off large quantities of single figures.  So, approach figures like this with a purpose and pick and choose among those who speak to you...even if the reason for your interest in them isn't readily definable.

1991 Super Sonic Fighters Major Bludd

I have looked at this sculpt for Major Bludd before.  In fact, I have reviewed every single use of the body and head that was ever released anywhere in the world with one exception: the original that started it all.  All of the subsequent derivatives of this Super Sonic Fighters Major Bludd were done up in the classic brown from Major Bludd's debut look in 1983.  But, this 1990's Sonic Bludd brought a new color scheme to the character and updated him to a much more useful and interesting look.  It doesn't hurt that he's also in some very classic Cobra base colors that allows him to be a prominent member of an updated Cobra High Command.

An interesting point about this figure relates to its colors.  The blue and yellow are a nice blend of colors that works not only for Bludd, but for figures in general.  As this Major Bludd appeared in the cartoon, too, his look was exported around the world.  In India, Funskool had released a brown Major Bludd for several years that was based on the original Hasbro figure from 1983.  However, around 1993, Funskool repainted the 1983 Major Bludd mold in a blue and yellow color scheme.  It was likely that this was done to match the toy to the colors that appeared in the cartoon.  (The cartoon was airing in India during this time.)  So, you can spend way too much money to get a version of Major Bludd in this color scheme, but on his original mold.  Hasbro was keen to ensure that certain characters matched media releases.  So, Funskool updating an original mold into a new color scheme to match the cartoon was rather unique in the Joe world.

The figure itself does get maligned for the overabundance of grenades that are sculpted onto the figure's body.  There's way too many of them, for sure.  They can hinder the ability of the figure to fit inside certain vehicle cockpits.  Aside from that, though, the rest of the figure is just amazing.  Bludd carries over the dog tags from his original figure.  And, his overall harness and suit combo really do fit with Bludd as a jet pack user.  Which, at its core, is what this figure really is.  This is Bludd's flight suit as he soars among the clouds.  No one uses this figure in that regard.  But, it is the reason that this version of Bludd exists.

Situated among the '90's releases of Cobra Commander, Destro and Firefly, this Bludd fits perfectly.  The color palettes of these later figures all mesh well.  The bulkier sculpts give the early characters more heft and make them more posable with 1990's Joe figures.  You don't often see the 1990's Cobra High Command pics, though.  That iconography is reserved for the early 1980's figures.  And, the missing Baroness also makes the later team look incomplete.  But, Bludd, et al, really work either in the original swivel head versions from the early 80's or the ball headed updates from the early 90's.

Major Bludd's accessories are...well...terrible.  He has the oversized sonic jet pack.  Of the sonic packs, his being a jet pack probably makes the most sense.  So, I can forgive that.  His other gear...not so much.  He includes a yellow rifle that's one of the worst designed weapons in the line.  It seems like it was intended to be part of a vehicle and would attach to a gun port.  Instead, it was repurposed for this figure.  He then includes an odd "sonic disruptor cannon".  It's a two handed weapon (making it rather unique in the Joe line) with a not terrible design.  As a throw in, it's not bad.  But, when Bludd's main weapon is so terrible, the disruptor cannon becomes less acceptable.  The card artwork, though, clearly shows Bludd wielding the pistol that would, ultimately, be included with the Air Devil.  This would have been a better weapon for sure.  And, I would love to know how Bludd came to include his yellow rifle instead of the superior Air Devil design.

I acquired my first version of this figure back in 1999.  I bought a lot of 1990 and 1991 figures.  It was about 50 mint and complete with filecard figures.  I paid well under $100 for the lot since no one liked '90's figures back then.  When the lot arrived, most of the figures were bagged with their correct gear and filecards.  A few, though, weren't.  This Major Bludd was one of them.  Instead, he was holding a 1990 Rock Viper pistol.  While I knew this wasn't meant to be his weapon, that pistol just kind of stuck with this Major Bludd.  And, through the years, I've used that Rock Viper weapon more with various repaints of the Bludd mold than I have with actual Rock Vipers.  Even today, I'm more inclined to pose this Major Bludd figure with that Rock Viper pistol than I am to give it to the actual Rock Viper.

This Bludd has often found use in my collection.  But, it was almost always the later, brown paint jobs.  You can find the blue figure in a few very early pictures on the site.  He was almost always paired with the 1993 Firefly.  I saw the figure as a new character, though.  So, he was rarely used as Bludd.  Those days, though, are gone.  And, now, I see this as a great way to have Major Bludd interact with later Cobra characters and army builders.  The bulkier sculpt is more in line with his contemporary releases.  And, Bludd looks great among the stalwart Cobras from the latter half of the line's history.  

So, one of the subtle points of contention about the Super Sonic Fighters relates to their release year.  YoJoe put them as 1991 releases.  And, for that reason, they were considered to be 1991 figures for decades.  Recently, though, 3DJoes.com reclassified the series as a 1992 release.  Personally, I'm not sold on this change.  The Super Sonic Fighters feature only other 1991 released on their cardbacks.  But, I'm not privy to the internal paperwork and other documentation that other well reasoned collectors used to come to their conclusion.  The reality is that the idea of a yearly wave of Joes went out the window with the advent of subsets in the 1990's.  (And, could be argued back as far as the Battle Force 2000 figures being 1987 or 1988 releases.)  So, while the main carded line did have a set year of release, the subsets were phased in as the year progressed.  And, it's entirely possible that a set was a very late release one year and was meant as a main retail alternative for the subsequent release year.  In the end, you'll see this figure labelled as either a 1991 or a 1992 release.  For now, either will do.  As older guides fall out of favor, 1992 may become the de facto standard.  Personally, old habits die hard.  And, I've had this figure and his brethren in my 1991 drawers since 1999.  Rather than move them, I'll just continue to call this a 1991 release: knowing full well that it could change at some point in the future.

This Major Bludd mold debuted in 1991.  The head was then used around 1994 for the Chinese Major Bludd.  In very late 2000, the entire figure was repainted in brown and released as part of the ARAHC line.  This figure was shipped with the Rock Viper and was an international pegwarmer of near epic proportion.  Hasbro then, oddly, shipped the mold off to India.  In 2002, Funskool released Major Bludd based on the ARAHC figure: just in a lighter brown.  This is the end of the mold.  So, really, there's two brown versions and this one blue version.  Both are excellent.  And, since we got the mold in classic Bludd colors, there's not really any reason  for another coloring to exist.

The Sonic Fighters figures had limited release windows.  While there were plenty on the shelves during their release year, they were just released during that short time.  So, today, you don't find these figures with the same frequency as their contemporary standard carded figures.  During the price surge between 2018 and 2021, this Major Bludd climbed as high as $40 for a mint and complete figure.  So, dealers still try to sell them for that price.  But, you can get a mint an complete figure for around $15 in the current market.  If you're willing to sacrifice completeness, you can get the figure for under $8.  So, that makes this figure a worthwhile addition to any collection.

2003 Python Patrol Major Bludd - Around The Web

The Python Patrol Major Bludd figure was not well liked upon his release.  Many collectors disdained the figure for simply not being an army builder.  17 years later, though, Major Bludd has help up the best of the 2003 Python Patrol figures.  His unique coloring and lone character was not lost in the sea of army builders that followed.  And, the fact that he used a unique parts combination has made him more interesting than many of the other figures of the era that were straight repaints.  Here's the best of him from around the web.

Python Patrol Major Bludd Profile

Python Patrol Major Bludd at Nekoman's Viper Pit

Python Patrol Major Bludd at JoeADay.com

Python Patrol Major Bludd at JoeBattleLines.com

Python Patrol Review at GeneralsJoes.com

Python Patrol Major Bludd by Slipstream80

1994 Major Bludd

In the past four years, I've looked at a lot of G.I. Joe figures.  If you asked me which years received the most of my focus, I'd have easily put 1994 as one of the most popular years.  Only, this isn't the case.  Since September of 2015, I've only profiled 5 1994 releases.  While I have taken hundreds of photos and done a ton of Around The Web features on 1994 figures, I have taken an in depth dive on just five.  (In the same time frame, I've reviewed 18 1993 releases.  So, that's the primary year of late run vintage Joes for me.)  This is far fewer than I would have thought.

I didn't really hunt G.I. Joe figures at retail in 1994.  It wasn't until 1995 that I really started scouring stores: seeking out the ghosts of a now cancelled line.  And, while it was easy to find some figures at stores, it was pretty much impossible to find many specific characters.  Cobra army builders, lower production run repaints and the second series of the 1994 figures were all difficult to find.  Few stores were still getting shipments of G.I. Joe figures.  (Though, there was warehouse overstock that flowed through into 1996.)  If a case was put out, it was usually just one case and the same figures sold out first each and every time.  Major Bludd was among the figures that I never found.  He was a classic character in a decent design.  So, he sold out while other Joes and even a few Cobras were left behind.

The general consensus in collecting circles is that the traditional color for Cobra is blue.  The classic blue color is supplemented by crimson and the entire Cobra organization is based on blue and red.  However, that really isn't the case.  In reality, the main Cobra color is actually purple.  If you look at the carded figures released between 1982 and 1994, I find 10 primarily blue Cobra figures and 16 primarily purple Cobra figures.  Now, to be fair, purple become more prominent after 1986 with a big surge in the 1990's.  And, blue is the basic color of the Cobra Trooper, Cobra Officer and Viper: figures who comprise the backbone of many Cobra armies.  But, the truth is that purple is a more prevalent color among Cobra releases than blue.  And, it should get more credit as the main color of Joe's primary antagonist.

My first real interaction with this figure was not with the figure itself.  In 1999, I managed to acquire a prototype of an unreleased 1995 Battle Corps Rangers figure.  The seller offered up a resin copy of this Major Bludd figure for a paltry additional amount.  So, I took him up on on it.  This unpainted torso, arms and head (it didn't include the legs since they were reused from the 1991 Toxo Viper) introduced me to the hidden blade in Major Bludd's arm.  It also, though, forged an odd visual treat that I wish were actually true.  On the unpainted figure, the raised bumps of Bludd's eyepatch looked like a crude skull.  While that may be a bit too "pirate-y" in 2019, it worked as a cool Easter egg on the figure in 1999.  When I finally acquired a production figure, though, the optical illusion from the resin colored test was exposed.  The dots on the eyepatch are just additional details and don't, actually, lay out like a skull.  But, for a few months, I thought this figure was much cooler than he actually turned out to be.

Bludd's character has always been among the most fascinating for me.  His Australian origin seemed exotic in 1983.  Unfortunately, Australian stereotypes infiltrated with his 1994 filecard and make his birthplace more of a joke than it was originally meant to be.  But, looking back at Major Bludd's original card art from 1983, you see the roots of a truly dangerous man who would have made for an excellent villain.  He wears tons of dogtags (that I believed he took from defeated enemies), had been in prison and wore the requisite bad guy eyepatch.  So, he had all the trappings of a classic villain.

One of the line's on Bludd's filecard that stands out is that he's wanted for war crimes in Rhodesia.  This is a holdover from Bludd's original 1983 filecard.  I find this fun, though, because Rhodesia ceased to exist in 1979 when the Rhodesian Bush Wars finally ended.  It's very possible that, in 1983, Bludd would still be a fugitive from the war that had ended less than half a decade earlier.  But, by 1994, it seemed very dated.  This was a likely relic of the fact that by the time I learned about Africa in school, all the maps and globes had been updated to show Zimbabwe in lieu of the old Rhodesia.  So, the Rhodesian reference felt like something from a lifetime ago.  But, it also shows motivation for Bludd to join Cobra as they could offer protection from the governments who wanted to bring Bludd to justice.  The fact that the reference still exists on 2000's era releases, though, dates the character (much like the Vietnam references for Stalker, Snake Eyes and Duke) but also provides an interesting history lesson for those so inclined.

As a figure, though, this Bludd leaves me a bit cold.  I grew up with the brown Major Bludd.  And, as he was one of my childhood favorites, I've found it hard to accept non-traditional colors for the character.  In looking at the various Bludd figures available, there are many options for a brown motif using all of Bludd's major molds.  This particular figure's mold (only the arms, head and chest are new, his waist and legs are from the 1991 Toxo Viper) was never reused in its entirety.  But, the head appeared on the 2003 Python Patrol Major Bludd and again on the 2006 Convention Major Bludd figure.  As the head was sculpted for this chest, I think the 1994 use of the head is the best.  But, you can get the look for Bludd on other figures that aren't as...purple.

Major Bludd's gear was not great.  First off, the weapons included with the figure were all red.  While brightly colored weapon trees were the norm in 1993 and 1994, they were still disappointing.  The upside is that the red gear actually goes well with the figure.  But, they are still red.  The worse part, though, is that Bludd's weapons tree includes a series of lackluster weapons.  The Rock Viper rifle is too big to be useful.  The 1992 Destro's pistol never really worked for me.  (And, I considered it Destro's unique weapon since I actually had a 1992 Destro figure.)  Voltar's weapon is best left forgotten and is one of my least liked gun designs in the vintage line.  (Thanks for the comment on the Voltar weapon!)  It was nice the Bludd got a knife.  But, since he had the sculpted blade affixed to his arm, the bladed weapon seems a bit redundant.

While there are no variants on the 1994 Major Bludd figure or his gear, there are variants for the card upon which he was released.  The early 1994 cards emulated the 1993 card layout.  The filecards were full sized and more akin to those from the 1980's.  The weapons tree was horizontally oriented and the bubble, basically, stretches across the entire cardback.  Later releases, though, spruced up the figure presentation.  The weapons were now vertical and the bubble was smaller.  These were, likely cost cutting moves.  But, they also cleaned up the presentation of the figures on the shelves.  Bludd's later filecard was reduced to a more baseball card sized version that had truncated text and removed some of the bullet points describing Bludd's uniform and gear.  Some variants of the filecards and cardbacks can be more desirable than others.

Major Bludd figures are both not as expensive as contemporary releases and also not nearly as available as they were a couple of years ago.  Right now, mint and complete figures will sell in the $17 range when left to open pricing.  But, because dealers haven't caught up to the lower supply of 1994 figures, yet, you'll see dealers offing the figure for $12 or so.  At the same time, you can still get a carded figure for under $20.  So, that's probably the best way to go.  Also, since Bludd's gear sucks, missing it isn't a big deal.  And, you can get loose figures for $5 without too much trouble.  So, just getting the character makes a lot more sense for a budget minded collector.

2001 Major Bludd - Around the Web

Sometimes, Hasbro gets it right.  And, in late 2000/early 2001, one of those rare perfect repaints was released.  The 1991 Super Sonic Fighters Major Bludd was a good mold, but in different colors.  Hasbro repainted it into Bludd's classic motif and a star was born.  Sadly, though, Bludd's wave of figures was overproduced and eventually clogged the pegs so badly that it lead to the cancellation of the ARAHC figures.  It's an unfortunate fate for one of the best repaints of the 2000's.  Here's the best of him from around the web.

2001 Major Bludd Profile

Major Bludd at Half the Battle

2001 Major Bludd Prototype at Treasure & Toys

Major Bludd by Nekoman

Major Bludd by Past Nastification

Major Bludd by thedustinmccoy

2001 Major Bludd - By Past Nastification

2001 was the last all ARAH year following the sputtering start of the Stars & Stripes Forever Set in 1997.  There were the comic pack figures and the GI Joe Collectors’ Club figures and even some ARAH figures packaged opposite New Sculpt figures.  

But the New Sculpt figures, as hated as they are now, were the belle of the ball in 2002.  The previous figures from the start of the new century were sort of left to wither on the vine of collector enthusiasm.  Except for Big Brawler, a character everyone hated with fiery animosity.  There were some decent figures in 2000 and 2001.   

It’s taken a long time for me to appreciate them. The head-to-toe repaints (Double Blast, Chameleon, White Out, Thunderwing) were a plague.   The not-different-enough-from-the-original-color-sets figures (Cobra Commander, Snake-Eyes) were too.

But several figures were repaints meant to represent the old characters in new uniforms that worked very nicely.  Major Bludd is the best.

This Major Bludd is a repaint of the 1991 Sonic Fighters Major Bludd.  With its blue uniform, collectors like the 1991 version because it showed Bludd growing some allegiance to Cobra.  But he’s a mercenary who only has an allegiance to money.  So the 1991 figure recolored in Bludd’s traditional brown fits the character much better.  With its silver grenades and black gear, this is a wonderful figure.  The head sculpt is an improvement over the 1983 version.  If only it had a removable helmet...  The body is bulkier, and not puffy chested hunchback big like some of the later ARAH figures.  

A decade in limbo makes the mold really appreciated.  It’s a good one.  

The unpainted dog tags are a missed opportunity to showcase another callback to the first Major Bludd figure, but the painted whites of the eyes add a touch of realism to the face. 

Major Bludd’s accessories are up for some debate, as the figure was included with a “Rock Viper” (a Range Viper that Hasbro sloppily misnamed).  I’ve pictured the grenade launcher, a dagger, and a strange rifle.  The strange rifle looks like it would have originally been an underwater accessory for a Cobra character, but is a repaint of the rifle included with the 1991 Major Bludd.  At least now it’s black instead of yellow.    

This is a contender for the best ARAH-style Major Bludd done for an American release.      

2006 Skull Squad Trooper - By Past Nastification

As a write reviews I find myself asking the question of questions “Where does the time go?”  This figure was released 13 years ago, a 2006 release by the GI Joe Collectors’ Club as part of its Cobra’s Most Wanted:  Mercenaries! box set.  Major Bludd and his Skull Squad Troopers were the bad guys of that set.  Well, some of the bad guys, that is.  It was an all-bad guy set also containing Cobra Mortal, Overlord, and Coil Troopers.   

Skull Squad Troopers are “freelance henchmen” on Bludd’s payroll, although the filecard sports a Cobra logo. 

Decked out mostly in brown and black as a clear callback to Major Bludd’s 1983 figure, a few touches of silver and grey complicate the color set just the right amount.  The red masks do scream “Cobra”, so that probably should have been avoided, if these aren’t to be viewed as Cobra soldiers. 

These figures are an example of how to recycle a body correctly to use as a different character.  The body is from 1987’s Avalanche.  But the once white/silver color set is so far away from the new brown/black color set that this figure doesn’t even make one recall Avalanche, poor forgotten Avalanche.  (Sorry for the comparison photo.  This is the only Avalanche figure I own, and I painted out the silver 32 years ago!)  Top the masked head off with a NS Major Bludd helmet and any thoughts of Avalanche completely disappear.  The helmet design helps identify the Skull Squad Troopers as being Bludd-adjacent as much as the color set does. 

It’s not a flawless figure.  The quilt pattern armor on the chest/back is sculpted for a figure wearing cold weather gear.  What passed as extra bulky clothing on Avalanche looks more like extra Hardee’s on the Skull Squad Trooper.  But it’s really not too bad.  Maybe the Skull Squad Troopers are in their 40’s?   

In addition to the helmet, the figures each include a rifle and a grenade launcher, plus a clear ARAH style figure stand.  Needless to say, the figures display well with the Major Bludd from the same set, but I think they look even better with the 2001 Major Bludd (a fantastic brown repaint of the 1991 Major Bludd). 

This set was a bit of a taunt and a treat to collectors in that it used several ARAH bodies not used or widely used by Hasbro during its early 2000’s run of ARAH figures.  The bodies or parts of Long Range, Barricade, TARGAT, Iron Grenadiers Destro, and Avalanche were used.  Wouldn’t it have been nice if a Long Range body had been used just once instead of the Big Ben body during this era?   

The Skull Squad Troopers are a concept that didn’t really catch on as far as I know.  A customizer (I can’t remember the name to give proper credit) worked up a “Bluddhound Gang” concept years before this, which might be why the GIJCC didn’t use that better sounding name for the subteam.  These figures never really gathered much attention, but they are well done.  Being part of an expensive boxed set probably didn’t help grow their popularity.  Sadly the GIJCC won’t get a chance to re-interpret the concept again in the modern era.   

2003 Python Patrol Major Bludd

In a lot of ways, the early 2000's were the heyday of G.I. Joe collecting.  The community was the largest it's ever been.  Hasbro were willing to make new Joes for retail.  And, the internet gave collectors plenty of places to congregate and discuss the hobby.  It was one of those times where you don't realize how good it is until its all gone and you look back at the era in retrospect.  Despite all the good, collectors were also their own worst enemies during this time.  We would express our disdain for a product while buying it.  We'd exclaim that we'd buy 100 of something...only to buy one or two when it came out.  Hasbro of that time really tried to listen.  The G.I. Joe brand manager was a fan and tried to engage them.  But, mostly, those attempts failed.  There were forces at play in the retail world that were at odds with collectors.  And, collectors often didn't know what they wanted.  Hasbro produced some very forgettable figures during this time.  But, they also produced some gems.  15+ years later, though, some of the figures that couldn't rise up at the time have taken on new life.  One such figure is the 2003 Python Patrol Major Bludd figure.

A sad fact about collectors of the early 2000's is that we didn't reward any Hasbro ingenuity.  While collectors would bemoan the multitude of Snake Eyes and Duke figures that Hasbro constantly released, they would then turn around and buy them: leaving much more innovative products on the shelves.  With this Major Bludd, and the entire Python Patrol set in general, Hasbro took a huge chance.  Rather than go with a tried and true vintage homage, the came up with something completely different.  The dark red and black was a whole new look for Python Patrol figures.  But, Major Bludd, in particular,  was something really new.  At the time, collectors hated any Battle Corps mold.  It was mostly blind hatred grounded in stereotype rather than fact.  But, it was pervasive.  To make Major Bludd, though, Hasbro took one good aspect of 1994 figures, Major Bludd's head, and put it to use on a new body.  In 2003, the 1991 Super Sonic Fighters Zap was mostly an unknown figure and few collectors owned one.  So, putting out a new Major Bludd using this body was a tremendous risk that Hasbro took to create something new for the singular non army builder in the Python Patrol set.

Collectors, naturally, rewarded Hasbro by complaining constantly about Bludd.  They were upset they had to buy an extra Major Bludd to get the 5 army builders they wanted.  We also complained about the Python Patrol not being compatible with vintage figures.  Basically, collectors told Hasbro not to take chances like this set, again.  They did so by not buying the set in droves like many had planned.  While early message board boasts talked of people buying 10 or more sets, the reality is that even the most die hard army builders stopped after 5 or 6.  Most collectors only bought one or two sets.  And, the Python Patrol lingered at retail, even getting clearanced out online.  As such, Toys R Us lowered their order of future sets.  While both Tiger Force and Python Patrol had around 25,000 units produced, Toys R Us dropped that number to around 20,000 for the 2004 exclusive sets.  And, the Joe sets, eventually, dropped as low as 16,000 as interest in the brand began to wane.

The lower productions runs, though, weren't a bad thing.  While many collectors predicted a scalper's apocalypse with the 2004 Cobra Infantry, that never came to pass.  20,000 sets proved to be around the right number for the collector base of the time and even became too many by 2005.  But, the Python Patrol's ultimate retail failure can't be blamed solely on collector apathy.  Hasbro played a part, too.  In 2002 and 2003, army building was the rage.  Sure, you see army building today.  But, it's nothing like what happened in the early 2000's.  Collectors of that era army built anything released at retail and would go to great lengths to justify why they had 20 or more of some specialty Cobra.  Hasbro never really understood this.  Even their token army building offerings of 2002 were shortpacked in cases or forced the consumer to buy a Joe to get the army builder.  Collectors were demanding some classic army builders while Hasbro turned deaf ears to their cries.  The announcement of the Python Patrol was enough to make collectors happy since they had an army building set that fulfilled many desires.  It didn't have Vipers or Crimson Guards.  But, 5 army builders and a crappy Major Bludd for $20 was still pretty good.  But, right as the set hit, Hasbro threw a wrench into collector plans.

At the 2003 G.I. Joe convention, Hasbro released news of their 2004 offerings.  The year would start with a 6 pack of classically colored Cobra Troopers and Officers.  If that wasn't enough, there would be a three pack of G.I. Joes in Crimson Guard disguises that would be released for the 2003 holiday season, too.  And, they promised more army builders as the year went on.  With this news, all collector focus fell off the Python Patrol.  Why buy extras of this set when you could save that money for Cobra Troopers and Crimson Guards that were only a couple of months away?  The Python Patrol set was made DOA just by the announcement that much better army building opportunities were coming.  Collectors no longer had to settle for what they got since what they had always wanted would be coming to retail at long last.  Even the cancellation of the Infiltrate Cobra Island Crimson Guards was enough to dampen enthusiasm as the Toys R Us Cobra Infantry was enough of a hit to offset any disappointments.

As for the figure itself, the Python Patrol Major Bludd is well done.  The new Python color scheme is intricate and well executed on the figure mold.  The palette of maroon, black and gold is very striking and sets a different expectation for a Cobra figure.  The parts mesh together well.  And, while the Zap body creates more of a heavy weapons Major Bludd than we've seen in the past, it is not out of character for Major Bludd and seems like a plausible look for him.  The huge downside are the accessories, though.  Bludd didn't include any useful weapons.  Instead, he included a terrible rocket launcher and a gun meant to plug into a now missing backpack from the 1991 Zap figure.  To say they are useless is an understatement.  Fortunately, it's now easy to acquire better weapons for Major Bludd.  But, he was another early example of Hasbro's lack of commitment to giving figures decent gear.

For me, though, this figure is tough to use.  It looks cool.  But, this Bludd doesn't really fit with the specialized troopers from his Python Patrol set.  And, if I want a Major Bludd to use in other contexts, there are better figures for that role.  So, this Python Patrol figure sits in his drawer, awaiting some rare occasion where he will be needed.  With a few factory customs coming that use this Python Patrol pattern, it's possible that Major Bludd will find more use at some point in the future.  For now, though, he's a neat figure for whom I have no use.  That kind of sucks.  But, there are a decent number of quality figures in the line's history who have very specific purposes and are tough to use any other time.  This Bludd fits into that pattern.

After being, basically, an unsellable figure for many years, this Major Bludd has started to see some life on the aftermarket.  Mainly, though, that's due to the the extremely low amount of stock that is for sale at any given time.  Dealers will sell a mint and complete with filecard version for around $15.  And, since there's really no other options any more, they sell quite a few at that price.  Left to the open market, the figure will sell for considerably less.  You just might have to wait 6 months to find one.  You can also still get the figure for almost nothing if you buy a set of Python Patrol figures as a lot and then resell the army builders individually.  It's a lot of work, though, to save a couple of bucks.  And, the rest of the Python Patrol figures (aside from the SAW Viper) are pretty nice.  This 2003 Python Patrol color scheme has also become iconic in its own right.  It has shown up on anniversary figures and factory customs.  So, after 15 years, collectors finally came around and rewarded Hasbro ingenuity.  The long delay just cost us the line we love being a retail success.

1983 Major Bludd - Around the Web

The 1983 Major Bludd figure is one of the iconic Cobra characters from the earliest years of the line.  His unique look, cool name and fun accessories added up to a villain for the ages.  This original release of Major Bludd works perfectly well with the other contemporary Cobras of the time.  Though, he is a bit out of place when posed with later figures.  But, being a classic character means there's lots of content out there on him.  Here's the best of Major Bludd from around the web.

Major Bludd Profile

Major Bludd Review at Whenitwascool.com

Major Bludd at JoeADay.com

Major Bludd at ARAH Gallery

Major Bludd At 3DJoes.com

Major Bludd Video Review

Major Bludd Pre-Production at YoJoe.com

Major Bludd at JoeDios 1

Major Bludd at JoeDios 2

Chinese Major Bludd Card Artwork

The Chinese Major Bludd figure is one of the most common foreign figures to appear in Joe collections.  This is a combination of his great availability and low price.  These make the figure attractive to potential buyers.  But, the quality of the figure is the real calling card.  This version of Major Bludd uses parts from the General Flagg, Lamprey and Super Sonic Fighters Major Bludd figures.

The card art itself is taken from the 1983 Major Bludd figure.  So, neither the mold nor accessories match what was actually included with the figure.  You see some English and non some non-English text combined on the cardfront.  The safety warning being in English is odd.  But, that warning mentions children under 36 months old while additional safety text at the bottom mentions the boy being suitable for kids 5+ years old.  It's a constant contradiction.  You will note the Hasbro logo on the bottom, indicating the figure was Hasbro made and is comparable to other, vintage Joes in terms of quality.

The cardback shows the Chinese line.  Again, you have an eclectic mix of figures with 1983 molds right alongside those from the 1990's.  However, in the case of Destro and this Major Bludd, the molds used were from later figures.  Duke and Cobra Commander used their classic molds.  (With slight modifications on Duke.) While Roadblock was actually the Tiger Force version of the original mold.  

Over the years, I've tried to translate Major Bludd's filecard a few times.  However, I have yet to be successful.  So, if anyone can translate it, please leave the info in the comments.

Through the years, there's been lots of speculation as to the audience for these figures.  However, large quantities of overstock Chinese figures were sold in U.S. liquidation and close out stores in the mid 1990's.  That is the source for the vast majority of the figures that populate collections today and is responsible for the cheap availability of the figure.  

Rarities - The Curious Case of the Missing Mustache

In the 2000's, Hasbro reused many molds.  Starting in 2000, though, they would, periodically, skip the paint application for a figure's facial hair.  These were by design.  However, it seems that Hasbro had some issues with facial hair in general as figures missing facial hair were common pre production finds.  Below, you will see a few examples of figures that are missing the facial hair paint applications.

The first figure is the mail away Agent Faces figure.  For this figure, the head was a either a new sculpt based off of the '92 Duke or a slightly modified version of that head.  The production figure's facial hair was just a paint application.  In the sample below, though, this application was missed.  The result is a very different looking figure.  While the sample is production level, it's more likely a case of factory error or poor quality control than an actual variant.  But, it's interesting nonetheless.

The second figure is the pre-production 2002 BJ's Dial Tone.  This mold was released with no mustache in 2000, but the production figure in 2002 did have the mustache.  This pre-production figure has differences other than the facial hair, like the differently colored elbows and general difference in the green arms.  But, the mustache is the most glaring difference.

The final figure is, again, likely a factor error rather than a variant.  But, it is a 2003 Python Patrol Major Bludd figure with no facial hair.  Bludd is very odd without his trademark mustache.  So, this figure is boldly different from any other appearance of this head.  While it's likely not a variant, it does offer further proof that factory goofs can make their way to retail.

Click on the Rarities tag to see more oddball items.  And, Rarities Month II will be coming in June of 2017.

Chinese Major Bludd - Around the Web

The Chinese Major Bludd figure is one of the most famous international figures ever released.  The Hasbro construction, easy availability and low price have made him a staple of most collections, even though he was not available at U.S. retail outside of some deep discount retailers.  The figure is excellent and worth owning.  Here's the best of the Chinese Major Bludd around the web.

Chinese Major Bludd profile

 Chinese Major Bludd at JoeADay.com

Chinese Major Bludd meme at Joecustoms.com

Chinese Major Bludd Guest Link at JoeADay.com

Chinese Major Bludd at Nekoman's Viper Pit

Chinese Major Bludd at JoeDios.com

Chinese Major Bludd Dio

Chinese Major Bludd Dio 2

1994 Major Bludd - Around the Web

This isn't the best version of Major Bludd, but it has some merits.  The arm knife is pretty cool and makes the figure worthwhile.


1994 Major Bludd Profile

Major Bludd at Joe a Day

Major Bludd Preproduction Samples

Major Bludd at JoeDios.com

Major Bludd at 3DJoes.com

1994 Major Bludd by nostalkid

2001 Major Bludd

The A Real American Hero Collection promised collectors a great deal back in 2000. The Toys R Us exclusive repaints of 1997 and 1998 had been hit and miss in terms of overall releases. But, the '98's were generally more accepted by collectors than the '97's. And, the first wave of the A Real American Hero Collection showed great progress in terms of what Hasbro was willing to release. In late 2000, images surfaced of the 6 figures that would comprise Wave II of the series. Collectors were impressed with the lineup: Big Ben, Whiteout (a Snow Job repaint), Duke, Sidetrack (an Ambush repaint), the Rock Viper (a Range Viper repaint) and, finally, Major Bludd. Major Bludd was everything collectors were hoping the line could be: a sensible repainted homage to the vintage figure using a later mold that was not originally painted in colors that were as appealing. The 2001 figure returned Major Bludd to his brown and black roots while maintaining a look that was in line with the character. It was a great start that, unfortunately, turned out to also pretty much be the end of such quality figures in the line.

This Major Bludd is a straight repaint of the 1991 Super Sonic Fighters Major Bludd figure. The original use of the mold isn't a bad figure and works for the Bludd character. But, seeing it in Bludd's classic colors was a great bonus for collectors. It allowed Bludd to have his classic look with a more modern mold that fit with many figures from the 1990's. (If you look closely, the figure even has the pack of dog tags from the original figure. They are just not painted, so they are difficult to spot.) It was a great update that was the perfect companion piece to the 1993 Cobra Commander and 1992 Destro figures. For an adult collector, being able to assemble the Cobras of my youth in updated molds that match many of the later figures who became part of my collection as a collector was a great way to get me interested in the years of the line to which I have no real childhood connection. Figures like this Bludd also were a way to keep Joe from getting too out of hand. As the repaint era expanded, Hasbro had to create more and more figures that were "different" from the main notion of a character to keep those characters on retail shelves. There were times where a totally new interpretation of a mold worked out spectacularly. Other times, though, it completely failed. Instances like this Bludd, where Hasbro was able to bring a new mold back in colors that were reminiscent of the original were great ways to keep the characters out there without marginalizing them to too great a degree.

This figure quickly became the second most important version of the character in my collection. While he was not the classic look of the V1 that was displayed with my early Joes, it was a more ubiquitous figure who would appear among the stalwarts of the later Cobra repaints and remolds. The limiting factor of the figure, though, is the plethora of grenades sculpted on the body. Aside from the fact that Bludd would have to be a body builder to lithely move with that many explosives (no less than 16 of them!) attached to him, the grenades make it difficult for the figure to fit into many of the earlier Cobra vehicles. They add width to the figure's legs and arms that prevent decent fits into Rattlers, Hiss Tanks and Stingers. It is a limiting factor and the primary reason why the Chinese Major Bludd remains my Bludd figure of choice when I want a more modern mold for the character.

As a character, Major Bludd is among my favorite Cobras. Unlike the Commander or Destro, Bludd did not have some underlying reasons for his evil nature. It seemed that he liked money and was willing to accept payment from anyone who could meet his price. This makes him both an easy villain to predict, but also one that can be difficult to follow. At least with the Commander, his motivations always lead to him to the same path. With a guy like Bludd, he could accept work from Cobra one day and the government of a country opposing Cobra the next. It made him a labyrinth of loyalties that would be impossible to follow...unless you could follow the money. Having access to Bludd's finances would lead you to exactly where his immediate loyalties lay since he would be most loyal to the highest bidder. Of course, getting to his finances would prove problematic. So, even Cobra Commander would always to be wary of Bludd lest another, richer foe pay Bludd off for deep intel into Cobra's operations or for an assassination attempt on the Commander himself.

Major Bludd's accessories are terrible. He includes only a futuristic rifle from the Sonic Fighters figure. The originally yellow rifle is at least colored in black this time around, but it is still awful. As such, collectors are pretty much forced to update Bludd's weaponry on the aftermarket. There are a wide variety of weapons available for Major Bludd and the V1 figure's pistol and pack work excellently on this later release. It's unfortunate that collectors had to look elsewhere to get decent weapons for a figure released in 2001, but it was definitely a harbinger of things to come. It is also one of the reasons why this figure has never really gotten greater appreciation by collectors. Poor accessories can ruin even great figures. Had this Bludd included weapons more in line with his vintage appearance, or even something that was more sensical than what was included, it's likely this figure would be a bit more popular.

The Major Bludd mold saw a short life. After its use in 1991 and 2001, the figure was shipped off to India after Hasbro cancelled the ARAHC line. (The head was used in 1994 for the Chinese Exclusive Major Bludd.) Funskool quickly resurrected the mold and released in colors nearly identical to the 2001 figure in 2002. The Indian figure is slightly lighter in color. But, the general idea of the figure is the same. Amazingly, the Funskool figure actually included worse accessories than the American figure as it gave Bludd a series of translucent plastic weapons in bright colors. After that, the mold disappeared. It's possible that Hasbro got it back. But, really, the only use for the mold would be for parts in other figures. The chest would make for a nice Frag Viper upgrade. But, that will never happen. At least collectors got the best possible Major Bludd repaint from the mold before it disappeared forever.

To call this figure worthless would overstate its value. Wave II of the ARAHC series was so overproduced that it was really responsible for the line's death. Bludd's were available for $5 at retail outlets well into 2003, even though he was packed with a highly popular army builder during the height of the army building craze. If you can find anyone bothering to sell the figure these days, they are dirt cheap. As many collectors acquired dozens of Bludds in their army building zeal, you may even find some collectors willing to sell them for $1 or $2 each. It's a pittance for a figure of this quality. With the money you save acquiring the figure, you can go out and get a set of the V1 Major Bludd's accessories for use with this version. Then the figure appears more worthy of the character. For me, the Chinese Major Bludd is the best modern take on Major Bludd. But, this figure isn't far behind. The classic color and true to the character visage make for a figure that must be part of any collection. The fact that its dirt cheap only makes the figure that much better.

1994 Major Bludd

Major Bludd has long been one of my favorite Cobra villains. There was just something about him that captured my attention as a child and he has remained a character who has always been a significant player in my Joe collection. However, it has always been his original figure that was the representation of the character to me. Bludd was not revisited during my childhood. So, it was only as an adult that I came across new Major Bludd figures. I missed the Sonic Fighters version in 1991, but did find Hasbro's interpretation of the character in 1994. However, despite finding it a few times at retail, I simply could not bring myself to purchase the figure. The red weapons and purple color were just too much of a departure from the Bludd I knew. By the time I decided to buy any Joe figures I could find, though, Major Bludd had basically disappeared from retail. In 1999, I acquired a test shot of the figure and was surprised to find that the mold featured a knife molded onto Bludd's arm. This sparked an interest in the figure for me and I quickly tracked down a loose version to add to my collection.

Like most of the 1994 figures, Major Bludd's mold has great potential. The sculpting is solid and is true to the character. But, the color choices leave much to be desired. The combination of purple, black and red isn't a terrible departure from traditional Cobra colors. (Especially in light of the multitudes of Cobras who chose purple as their primary color.) But, they are a quite a leap from the subtle brown and black uniform that defined the first Major Bludd. Were this figure done in those colors, it would likely enjoy quite a bit of collector attention.

This mold isn't without its problems. The high collar and open chest are very reminiscent of Destro's disco inspired original outfit. The head is the true value of the figure. The large mustache is a Bludd trademark. But, the helmet is a nice homage to the original figure while being updated in a way that shows the improvements in figure sculpting over 11 years. The key feature to the figure, though, is the hidden blade on the figure's right arm. While the original Bludd had the armored right arm that limits the movement on the vintage version, this Bludd has the knife that tucks into a sheath beneath his forearm. It's not a feature that intrudes upon the figure in traditional display poses. But, it adds something very nice to Bludd as he has a built in accessory that is unique to him across the entire Joe line.

I have never really used this figure as part of my collection. The figure did not enter my collection until adulthood and there are much better versions of Bludd that are more true to the character. As part of a 1994 display, this figure works very well. But, the odd colors and non traditional look for Bludd prevent this figure from ever being more than a dio filler in anything I do. It's not that this is a bad figure. It just came out at an odd time. Being a Cobra, I missed this figure as the Joe line died at retail. So, I don't have those 20 year old memories of finding him as I first came back to collection like I do with many other 1993 and 1994 figures. As part of the line's history, this is a nice way to update Bludd and use him as something outside of his more traditional appearance. But, the opportunities to do that are less and less for a collector like me who is such a traditionalist.

The head, arms and chest of this figure were only released in 1994 for Major Bludd. (The legs are from the 1991 Toxo-Viper.) It is likely that Hasbro would have repainted this figure in 1995 had the line survived since that was their M.O. at the time. The mold has not appeared in the 20 years since this original retail release with the exception of the head being used in the 2003 Python Patrol set and again in the 2006 Convention set. What's odd is that Hasbro did revisit the classic Major Bludd color scheme in 1994 for the Chinese exclusive Major Bludd figure. So, maybe the plan was to give this mold a re-do in Bludd's traditional garb. It's a fun speculation, but nothing more than that.

If you want this figure, he's not hard to find. Mint, complete with filecard, this figure can be purchased for under $5. But, it's probably easier to just buy him carded since one of those will likely run under $10. Of the Major Bludd figures that are available, this is the least desirable by far. It lacks the distinguishing browns and blacks of Bludd. The colors are almost cartoonish in their appearance and this figure in no way conveys menace and evil. As such, this is never going to be a vital figure for any collector. There are too many other Major Bludd figures out there that are almost perfect.