2023 Fail Safe - Around The Web

I had grandiose plans for a more ambitious post today.  But, life and really cold weather intervened.  So, I dip into the 600+ drafts for something that's close to ready.  And, all this Fail Safe content just called to me.  Hard to believe it's been almost three years since the Skystriker was shipped.  Been four years since it was announced.  And, while the plane, itself, has all but disappeared from online content, a few figures from the set do continue to appear with frequency.  

Fail Safe is one such figure.  You'll see a ton of great uses of him in the photos below.  (I had just one photo ready to go.  But, don't see me getting him out for any more in the near future.)  He's a solid figure.  The quality is iffy.  But, the visual is pretty strong.  For a premium set figure, he's not terrible.  And, I'm glad he's still hanging on in the community.

2023 Fail Safe Profile

2023 Fail Safe by flatline54

2023 Fail Safe by joe_hunter73

2023 Fail Safe by gen_liederkrantz

2023 Fail Safe by darth beotch

2023 Fail Safe by Dok Sewage

2023 Fail Safe by evilface

2023 Fail Safe by viper_space

2023 Fail Safe by flatline54

2023 Fail Safe by doksewage

2023 Fail Safe by yo_joe_it

2022 SDCC Carded Skystriker Figures

I was really hoping these figures would be released on the old resealable bubble cards that were used for convention figures.  You'll have to tear up the cards to get a set of loose figures, which is what I'm after.  So, that kind of sucks for loose collectors.  

The artwork on the never before carded figures looks pretty weak, though.  It's similar to the fan art inspired stuff we see on Super7 cards.  It's definitely lost the feel of the vintage work.  It's just a bunch of guys (and one girl) standing around.  Meh.  These will definitely look out of place among either vintage carded figures and even the 2022 releases that were based on the standard vintage artwork.

But, these will resell for stupid amounts.  I'm guessing over $300 easy for the Cobra Commander, maybe higher if the vintage market hasn't cratered by the time this is released.  But, man, is his artwork weak.  It's really amazing how much the Ripcord artwork (which is based on the vintage) stands out among the rest of the statues.

Haslab Skystriker - Funded!

So, on 12/6, the Rancor failed.  Despite a strong last minute surge, it still fell about 500 backers short.  Instantely, this lead to doom and gloom among the Joe groups that the Skystriker was sure to fail, too.  And, at about 85% heading into the final day, it was kind of a possibility.  But, as we neared 12 hours before the funding deadline, the backers suddenly surged.  Over 600 Skystrikers were backed in under an hour.  And, the next hour saw over 400 more.  Slowly, the counter climbed over 98%, over 99%.  And, then, it stopped.  There was a major Amazon Web Services outage on this day.  And, the counter got stuck at 9924.  

But, after a while, it jumped and the Skystriker was fully funded with about 8 hours to go.  From there, the numbers continued to climb.  Historically, about 2/3 of the orders for a Haslab are placed in the final 2 days.  But, the failure of the Rancor and the quick funding of the Ghostbusters Pack put some of that historical context in doubt.  The various Joe forums were full of gloom about the Skystriker's fate.  More collectors than you would think took up a schadenfreude approach and took glee in the impending doom.  But, as the numbers rose, those posts and comments started to disappear.  For a moment some of the toxicity of Joe fandom was beaten back in shared accomplishment that will bring some desired toys to the collecting world.

Now, the Skystriker is happening.  It's the most ambitious Joe toy since at least 2005 and, maybe, since 1993.  It's also a telling milestone.  We know that vintage style Joes are making some kind of a return in 2022 for the 40th Anniversary of the line.  To see a flagship toy get produced by a collector base that's still firmly stuck in the "wait for Ross" mentality gives me hope that a retail Joe line will get a little more of a marketing nudge than it might otherwise have.

Around 3 hours away from the funding mark, the Skystriker passed the Scarlett tier of 13,000 units backed.  This means that pilot Scarlett will be made and it makes this Haslab a better than retail cost proposition.  In the last 90 minutes of the campaign, though, there was a final surge.  And, the Skystriker's final number was 16,784 units backed.  This meant that not only was Scarlett unlocked, but Ripcord, too.  So, the final product will include 7 figures, the plane and the deck vehicles.  Not too bad when you consider what the aftermarket pricing on the figures will be.

In the end, 12/7 was as much fun as February 15th, 2002: the date that the internet exclusive Wave V debuted at online retailers and the entire Joe world was united in their desire to get them and the frustrations as ambiguity set in.  Days like that are rare in the Joe world.  Nearly 20 years between two dates is a lot.  But, for now, there's something to be happy about in regards to Joe.  When those two huge boxes show up at my door sometime in 2023, though, we'll see how the happiness lasts as I try to explain $500 in toy airplanes to my wife.

Haslab Skystriker - Cobra Figures Added

Prior to today, the Skystriker was on pace to easily fund and probably reach the Ripcord tier.  However, due to the bad press around the Rancor, there was a lot of concern among Joe groups about the Skystriker funding.  So, today, Hasbro dropped a new tidbit of information on some additional figures that are included in the base tier.  They are: Cobra Commander, a Cobra Trooper and a new amalgamation of the G.I. Joe Deck Crew figure and the Cobra Trooper that makes a Cobra Deck Crew.  

The Cobra Commander is the helmeted version that is in desperate need of a new release.  It features the Mickey Mouse logo.  This is certain to be an exclusive variant and the sure to be retail release in 2022 will have the standard Cobra logo.  

The Cobra Trooper is based on the cartoon look.  I HATE the ungloved hands.  But, that's just me.  It's tough to get excited over Cobra Troopers when there's over 100 repaints of them available.  But, it's a nifty looking figure for sure and something that will have some demand later.  The final figure using the Cobra Trooper head, Ripcord legs and the chest from the Deck Trooper.  It's a neat looking idea and also pretty much ensures the Deck Trooper mold will probably appear at some point.

As you now get these included in the base tier, you are guaranteed to get them when the Skystriker funds.  I do not like the idea of army building figures in an expensive set like this.  I'd prefer them to be characters.  But, this shows that Hasbro wants the Skystriker to fund and is also showing their hand when it comes to probable 2022 commemorative figure releases.

One thing to ponder:

Back of the napkin math if this were a retail item:

Figures:

5 x $15 = $75.

Refueling Vehicles: $25

Shipping: $30

Skystriker and Base: $100

All of those are in line with retail pricing.

After the announcement, we're seeing massive uptake in the Skystriker backing.  It's probably a combo of hard core collectors upping their max order to 5 to get the army builders and some new people coming on board.  Will be interesting to watch these next few days as the campaign ends.

HasLab Skystriker

I will preface with the fact that I am not a big fan of HasLab.  In general, it's a way for Hasbro to overcharge for a toy and assume absolutely minimal risk.  They take our money, sit on it for a year or more and then ship out an overpriced toy.  The upside to it is that you do get some offerings that would never be supported at retail.  But, paying $250 for an item that would sell for under $100 at a retail store is a tough pill to swallow.  The collectible toy market, though, is in a place where people are both willing and able to overspend for items that they want.  Hasbro realized this and is capitalizing on it.  I can't blame them.  I don't like it.  Yet, I'm about to drop $230 for the latest HasLab offering, the Skystriker.

I'm not a huge Skystriker fan.  While the plane looks great, the reality is that it's large, difficult to play with and takes up a huge footprint on display.  Despite all that, it does look amazing on display.  And, this new version (to ship in 2023!!!!) is only meant as a display piece.  It includes a stand.  But, everything about it is meant not as a toy but a piece of decor for an office, rec room or other such place in a collector's home.  Again, I'm not big on that.  I love Joe because they are toys.  

For me, though, the real value is in the figures.  The initial backing includes two figures: a rehash of the 1983 Ace and an all new co-pilot figure.

Ace figures are neither hard to find nor expensive.  So, I would have liked something on his paint apps to set him apart from the original.  But, as an homage piece, anything other than the original Ace coloring would have seemed out of place.  It's certain that these figures will be all new sculpts, likely based on the originals.  The real gem, though, is the co-pilot figure.  Not yet named, this mold is light years ahead of the new ARAH-style pieces Hasbro tried to scupt in the 2000's.  He has Ripcord's head.  So, it's tough to see him as anyone except Ripcord.  But, the chest looks pretty good.  I do not like the painted faces.  They look weird and are easy to chip and rub, even just in storage.  And, helmets, like the co-pilots, wreak havoc on painted faces.  So, I do hope that's something that changes prior to production.

Hasbro has to sell 10,000 of these for the Skystriker and the 2 figures to happen.  That is all but a certainty to happen.  Beyond that, though, Hasbro went ahead and revealed three other tiers right off the bat.  And, I will say that it's good that they did.  With just the plane and 2 figures, I would have been hesitant.  But, the possibility of 6 figures makes me all in.

The first tier figure is a flight suit Scarlett.  Coming available at 13,000 units, she is also all but guaranteed to be released.  It's an odd figure, Scarlett in Ace's flightsuit.  But, it's something different and the coloring isn't something you've really seen in the Joe line.  And, she'll be $80+ within a year of this thing's release.

The next tier brings us Ripcord.  At 16,000 backers, I'd put Ripcord at about 90% certainty to happen.  This is supposed to be a "Night Force" Ripcord.  As my friend RTG said, this figure looks like an early 2000's custom figure.  But, it is Ripcord.  And, fans have been clamoring for a new Ripcord since the early 2000's.  The figure is relatively bland.  But, the parachute rig really helps him.  Not being Duke also really helps him.  And, again, this is going to be an expensive aftermarket purchase.

The final tier brings us the army builders of this project.  For the first time ever, Hasbro is making flight crew.  The yellow and red figures are nothing special.  But, also something that every USS Flagg owner will love.  You see the re-use of the Ripcord legs and arms.  But, they appear to have new chests and heads.  The digital renderings kind of make them look like CORPS! figures.  But, I suspect they'll be decent enough.  And, considering their role, will fit perfectly for their intended purpose.

The Skystriker also includes a re-fueling and ammo vehicle.  Again, this is a little something extra that's sure to spur rumours of a HasLab Flagg is the Skystriker does well.  The vehicles are pretty cool.  Joe has always needed a missile rack to carry around re-loads for aircraft.  And the fuel vehicle is also something that's useful outside of the deck of an aircraft carrier.  For the money, that's a nice add on.

Below are more pictures of the Skystriker from the Hasbro promo images.  For $230, this thing is expensive.  But, it's also a reseller's dream.  The vehicles will recoup some money.  But, the figures alone are guaranteed to be at least $300 or more on the aftermarket.  And, the plane itself will sell for a premium.  That's why I think this will reach the 18,000 backers without issue.  While there aren't a ton of Joe fans, there are enough.  And, many people will buy two of these.  The resellers will pounce, too.  And, speculators know that HasLab's like this tend to appreciate pretty well.

In the end, this Skystriker was a surprise.  It's a low risk offering that's sure to find a market.  While not my choice, it's also fine and something I'm going to buy.  That's the first time I've said that about a high dollar Hasbro item in decades.  Let me know your thoughts on the Skystriker in the comments.

1983 Ace - Around The Web

I first got Ace for my 10th birthday.  He immediately became a favorite...to the point I lost his helmet twice in the first week I owned him since I took him everywhere.  Both times, I found the helmet and Ace continued to be a key part of my youth.  Eventually, Ace morphed from a pilot into a deep sea diver.  But, time took its toll and Ace faded away: replaced by better pilot figures.  There's a decent amount of content on Ace out there.  So, here's what I found around the web.

1983 Ace Profile

Ace at Toys From the Past

Ace by Flint

Ace at Joe A Day

Ace at 3DJoes.com

Ace By The Michael Mercy

Ace Pre Production at YoJoe.com

1988 Tiger Force Skystriker

This site has long specialized in the very obscure figures that dot the Joe collecting landscape. Over the years, though, the pool from which to draw Forgotten Figures has gotten smaller and smaller. Every now and then, though, I come across a figure that I had forgotten about and who you don't often see in any online Joe collecting forums. Usually, these figures come from the latter part of the original Joe line and are obscure primarily because of their late release date. In this case, though, Skystriker is a bit odd. He was released in 1988 as part of one of the most popular subsets ever concocted for the Joe line. However, for whatever reasons, this figure has fallen by the wayside and now remains the least publicized member of Tiger Force.

Skystiker is the only original character who was originally a member of Tiger Force. (This was almost not the case, though, as a character named Sabretooth was originally intended to be a member of the set. Sabretooth was a straight repaint of the '84 Firefly mold, but was never released. Now, though, a figure will be released in the same paint scheme as was intended for Sabretooth as an homage to that character in the upcoming TRU exclusive Tiger Force set.) He is an amalgamated figure utilizing the body from the original Wild Weasel and the head from Thunder. He even has a recolored version of Thunder's headgear to more specifically match him with his earlier counterparts. His body choice is odd, as he was the first (and one of the only) Joes to utilize a body mold that originally belonged to a Cobra. However, as he was the pilot to the Tiger Force Rattler repaint, the utilization of Wild Weasel's body insured greater compatibility with the plane and lessened the overall feel of this being a retail release amalgamation.

The use of Skystriker really kind of baffles me. There were many great pilot molds released as figures in the Joe line. In 1988, there were many other characters, most notably Ace, who would have been a better fit for as this pilot. The creation of an obscure character that was never explored in any Joe media was really an unnecessary step. It seems that this character was created just as filler to include with a cool vehicle beyond anything else. Of course, this has only enhanced his obscurity and has left Skystriker as a character that really does not fit into any type of Joe hierarchy.

I've always kind of liked the Tiger Force figures. Many of them are nice repaints of an original figure that allow for some diversity of character. Others are just visually striking and offer the type of aesthetic difference that lends a sense of uniqueness to a diorama. Many of you know that there is a new Tiger Force coming out later this year. Personally, I can't wait for it. I think the idea of a small subset of figures that are all done in one color scheme is kind of fun. The fact that many of the upcoming figures are based on the hard to find European exclusive figures and will provide an affordable way for many collectors to experience the look of the Euro figs in their collections. With the announcement that these theme sets could become a trend, I'm looking forward to seeing some additional repaints of classic molds come our way.

As far as Skystriker goes, he usually sits in my 1988 Joe drawer. Beyond his acquisition a couple of years ago, I've never really used the figure for anything else. In fact, it was only when I was cataloging my 1988's that I kind of rediscovered him. I took him out for the photos you see below and then tucked him back into his poly-bag and stuck him back in the drawer with the other 1988 figures of which I still need a part or two for completion. Beyond that, I don't have a use for him. Just about every other pilot figure that was ever release is superior to Skystriker. With that in mind, I don't foresee this guy ever being a major player in my collection. There are just too many other figures I'd rather have before this guy even appears on the radar screen. His obscurity causes me to forget he's available, but the poor color and mold choice causes me to pass him over when I'm choosing figures for a specific purpose. Perhaps, in time, I will use him as a test pilot or filler on the Flagg (should I ever get one!). Until then, he remains one of the least often seen figures.

As regular release American figures go, Skystriker is among the tougher ones to find if you want him mint and complete. While not as scarce as Hardtop or Payload, he can still be problematic for those seeking him. Skystriker suffers from original accessories that were never available with any other figure, paint that easily rubs off, and a lower production run as the pilot of the most expensive and least produced vehicle from a subset that was, in itself, under produced. Of course, just because he's hard to find does not make this guy overly expensive. Most people don't care about the figure and only want him to either complete their figure collections or complete their Tiger Force Rattler. Either way, this small group of people is not enough to put Skystriker in high demand. When you do find a decent one, he can be had under $12-$15 with no problem. For that price, I would pass on him. As a figure, he is interesting, but not so much so that I would consider him a necessity. There are tons of better pilot figures in the Joe line. Skystriker is just another, non-descript member of their group.

While I've got the Skystriker figure, I do need his filecard. If you can help,email me.