Funskool Streethawk

The G.I. Joe collecting world of 2023 is vastly different from that of 2003.  You'd expect 20 years to make a difference.  And, many of the changes we've seen are things that were unforeseen back in the early years of this century.  The one change that's the most baffling to me, though, has been the meteoric rise of the 2000's era Funskool figures.  These were sold by every dealer under the sun in 2001 through 2005.  Untold thousands of them flooded the market.  Collectors who wanted them were able to buy all that they could ever desire.  Those who didn't want them still usually ended up with some as they were so ubiquitous in lots and trade fodder.  Despite this, Funskool figures from that era are now overly expensive for their availability.  In general, though, the more popular Funskool figures from the early 2000's remain the cheapest.  While, the most garish figures that were unliked at the time of their release have gotten substantially more expensive.  There is one exception, though.  And, that is the Funskool Streethawk figure.  He's become the most expensive figure from that era, even though he was among the most popular figures of the time.

Streethawk has a few reasons for his exceptionalism.  The first is that he was only sold with the Streethawk motorcycle.  He was still a carded figure.  But, the inclusion of the cycle meant that new Streethawks would cost you $7 or $8 each as opposed to the standard $4 per standard carded Funskool figure.  Streethawk was also a character.  While this particular version shares a lot in common with the TARGAT mold and can be used as such, most people still saw him as a unique character.  So, even though he was about the same cost as a Hasbro retail army builder at the time, not as many people army built the figure since they were good with a single version of the character.  These two aspects combined to reduce sales on the figure as opposed to, say, the Night Viper.  But, Streethawk was still a common site in the collections of the early 2000's.  And, dealers would even sell out of Streethawk figures from time to time.  Everyone may have only had one or two of them.  But, everyone had at least one.

If you had told 2003 me that a handful of the common Funskool figures available at the time would be worth more than $100 each just 20 years later, my first guess for the figure would have been Super Cop.  But, Super Cop was also only available for a few months, cost $13 or more to buy at retail and was more of a one off warehouse find than a figure Funskool had in production.  So, if I'd thought about it, the only other real options would have been a couple of the very late, 2004, releases that collectors ignored.  Or, this Streethawk.  He was popular during his time.  And, he has a bit of crossover appeal to Streethawk fans.  (Yes, they exist.)  He was more expensive to acquire than other figures.  So, army building wasn't as common as it was with other figures.  All of these factors would have made him a good candidate.  But, at the same time, I doubt that I'd have believed any of the figures from that era would reach the prices we see on them today.  And, I'd have probably gone with someone like Stormshadow who also tended to sell out from time to time and wasn't a figure people army built.  But, his later inclusion in the common Russian series helped to curb his appeal.

In the end, the TARGAT body versions of the Streethawk figure are not rare.  There are tons of them in the collecting community.  But, like the Satan figure from Argentina, the figure's popularity drives the price moreso than the rarity.  Everyone wants a Streethawk.  And, that drives the $100 price tag.  You're not buying a rare figure.  You're buying a popular figure.  But, that's why there's both supply and demand elements to pricing.  The figure's popularity drives the price.  And, that popularity has held steady for more than 20 years, now.  So, this figure isn't a fad that will be subject to collector whims like some other joke or meme figures that have risen in price in recent years.

Black and silver are a rare combination in the vintage Joe line.  The only figure who uses only those two colors is the 1989 Snake Eyes.  (The 1993 Cobra Commander and 1994 Action Sailor are close, though.)  Because of that, figures like Streethawk stand out.  It's not an overdone combination of hues.  So, the figure works as part of Cobra and as a stand alone figure who is affiliated with the enemy faction.  The black complements many other figures.  So, you can use Streethawk with everything from classic blue Cobras to the more brightly colored enemies from the 1990's.

Streethawk includes just the black visor.  This part was omitted on the bagged vehicle driver figures, though.  The visor adds a lot to the look of the figure and is somewhat essential to the figure's overall appearance.  As he was never really available without the motorcycle, though, you could consider a complete figure to also include the black and silver RAM.  I find the motorcycle is my more used part of this toy as I use it all the time with a variety of figures.  But, most people consider the figure complete with just the visor and the motorcycle a separate part.

The upside to Streethawk is that he's a blank slate that anyone can use as they please.  He can be a recolored TARGAT, an astronaut, a motorcycle driver or anything else your mind can conjure up.  I've always seen him as a villain since he uses a Cobra mold for the majority of the figure.  I created a character for the Spearhead chest variation of this figure.  But, I see this TARGAT version as something different.  Really, I don't have a defined role for the figure.  I don't use him all that often in photos.  So, those don't even provide much of a clue as to his true purpose in my collection.  Most people seemed to view Streethawk as a Cobra or other villain.  But, the figure is an empty canvas that everyone can use differently.

There are several variants to the Streethawk figure.  The first figure released was a swivel arm 1983 Snake Eyes repaint with a black helmet.  This is not an easy figure to find and remains very pricey.  The second version introduced the TARGAT head.  But, it was on top of a Spearhead body.  The Spearhead chest version is also pretty hard to find and commands a hefty premium these days.  This version features TARGAT's head, arms and chest.  It's the third variant and probably exists in lower quantities than the fourth variant which just added in TARGAT's waist.  That waist change was made in late 2001/2002 so most Streethawks that were sold by dealers featured it.  But, it's so subtle that many people pass over it in their quest to just get 1 version of the character.  There are also some upper arm variants that may have originated from Funskool vehicle drivers.  And, I'm sure that if anyone could get a group of 100 Streethawk figures, they'd find some additional variants.  That's just how Funskool worked, especially on figures that were in production for a decade or more.

Here's the bad news.  Funskool Streethawks are now hard to find.  Carded versions of the TARGAT chest figures fetch over $200.  But, due to low availability, loose mint and complete figures with their motorcycle will run in the $150-$200 range, too.  Dealers will get up to $300 for the same set.  If you can find just a figure with the visor, you'll pay in the $100-$120 range.  That's a lot for this figure.  But, surprisingly, all black figures outside of Snake Eyes were uncommon in the vintage Joe line.  So, the coloring is distinct and really meshes well with a variety of Cobra scenarios.  Personally, though, I've had the figure for 20+ years and I don't use him all that often.  So, there's no way I'd pay $100 or more for one.  Heck, back in the Funskool heyday, I wouldn't pay $7 for a second one.  But, that's part of the reason why this figure is expensive today.  He's a cool design.  But, an easy pass for me at his current pricing.

Streethawk - Funskool Exclusive Cardback

Starting in the 1990's, Funskool occasionally made something odd out of the G.I. Joe molds they had available.  For many years, the "Super Hero" figure was the most famous.  But, as Funskool invaded American shores in the early 2000's, he was supplanted by the high quality Street Hawk figure.

Street Hawk was based on a forgettable TV show that was airing in India.  The figure was a multiple marketing opportunity as they used the show to cross sell and introduce G.I. Joe.  You will also notice the highly prominent MRF brand on the tires, MRF being one of the owners of the Funskool toy company.

The card art itself is bigger than normal.  But, that's to accommodate both the figure and the repainted RAM that makes up the duo.  You'll note the rider looks a lot like Snake Eyes.  This is because the first Street Hawk figure released was actually a Snake Eyes repaint with a black helmet.  It's a highly desirable variant and a very nice Snake Eyes version.  By 2001, Funskool was on at least the third version of the figure, this one mostly using parts from TARGAT.  There are a few waist variants among these figures, adding more complexity for Funskool collectors to hunt down.

The cardback is interesting with the marketing blurb about G.I. Joe.  You'll also notice that it features the earliest Funskool releases on the back.  Street Hawk was a holdover from the earliest days of the Funskool line.  So, it features many figures who had been out of circulation for years on the back.

For the vehicles, you will notice the MOBAT.  Funskool MOBATs are notoriously hard to find and can be pricey.  While the stock photography you see showcased on the cardback is from vintage Hasbro days, Funskool did release all of the vehicles shown.  All save the MOBAT were available well into the 2000's, too.

Funskool Streethawk - Spearhead Chest Variant

I have found it surprising that it has taken me this long to get to a Funskool figure on this new site. In the past, Funskool offerings have been one of the most innocently fun parts of Joe collecting. However, Funskool ceased producing new G.I. Joe figures in early 2004 and that has really lessened their overall impact on the hobby. Funskool Joes, though, remain one of the more interesting subsets in the Joe world. Their combination of bizarre colors, off-beat mold combinations and funky card art has made them both the toast and the laughingstock of the collecting community. I have long admired the Funskool line and enjoy the quirky offerings they have produced. Buried among the neon repaints, race changing figures and notorious mustaches, though, Funskool has also produced some really nice figures that are actually superior in design and color to their American counterparts. Some figures, though, have no American counterpart. Such is the case of the Funskool Streethawk figure.

The Streethawk figure has long been one of the most popular Funskool figures. He is, arguably, the best paint job of a quality Cobra mold and includes an awesome rendition of the RAM motorcycle in black. As such, many collectors have army built the Streethawk figure and he remains one of the few Funskool figures who have sold out from the larger dealers from time to time. It is not entirely clear what Streethawk's purpose was. Odd American television shows have found second lives in foreign countries. (I distinctly remember watching a Spanish dubbed version of the A-Team during prime time in Barcelona in 1993.) As such, it is likely that this figure was meant as a way to promote the newly launched G.I. Joe line in India by cross branding it with a popular TV show. Funskool had a few instances of this. Aside from the Streethawk, there is infamous Superhero figure. The package, though, is clearly labeled G.I. Joe, even though the figure has no other information that puts as part of the line. (You will also note the MRF on the tires on the Streethawk package. This is another cross sell with the co-owner of Funskool, the Madras Rubber Factory: a large tire maker in India.)

In my collection, the Streethawk figures has multiple roles. The version that has the TARGAT body has found a life as a generic Cobra pilot who is seen flying various Cobra aircraft. It is the Spearhead chest version, though, that has become a bit more interesting. I use this figure as a Cobra coyote. For unfamiliar with coyotes, it is the term for human smugglers in the Southwestern United States. These people (and I use that term loosely) smuggle desperate immigrants across the border in the worst conditions possible. They think nothing of leaving women, children and the elderly in the back of a tractor trailer in 110 degree heat with no water or ventilation while they stop for lunch. They are prone to incredible violence and have been known to get into gun battles right on a US highway. They are not good people in any sense of the word.

However, Cobra does have a use for people like this. The coyote is able to find the most desperate souls who are willing to sacrifice everything for a chance at a better life. These are the type of people that Cobra can use as they are easily malleable into the Cobra philosophy and create a dedicated base of loyal troops who will do the Commander's bidding under any circumstance. These people don't go on to become Vipers or Crimson Guardsmen. Instead, they are the cannon fodder for scientific experiments or the simple laborers who are the backbone of the Commander's most ambitious construction projects. (Like a tunnel from Cobra Island to the mainland US.) The Streethawk character can also serve as a means for Cobra officials to slip into and out of the U.S. across unsecured borders. The character is not really a part of Cobra (which is why he has no Cobra sigils on his uniforms) but is contracted with them and does lots of work for them.

This assigned role kind of fits the look of the figure. I see the bullet strap across his chest as a stereotypical homage to the Banditos of old. The helmet, though, offers protection both against the hard ground in case of an accident, but also against the powerful Southwestern sun. While the black may be a bit much in the desert heat, I see this character mostly driving across the deserted highways at night as he out maneuvers border patrol, Federales, local police, ranchers or civilian militant groups. Now, I just need to come up with a name for him....

There are several variants to the Streethawk figure. Page 55 of The International Action Figure Archive by Ron Conner and Derek Anderson lists 4 distinct versions of the Streethawk figure. The first, and most difficult to find, is a repaint of the V1 Snake Eyes figure. The third and fourth versions are basically TARGAT repaints. Version 3 features Spearhead's waist and legs while version 4 only features Spearhead's legs. The version 2 Streethawk figure, which is the subject of this profile is a completely repainted Spearhead body with only the TARGAT head and arms. (You can see a comparison photo at the bottom of this profile.) It is the second most difficult version of the Streethawk figure to find as it was discontinued just before Joe dealers began importing mass quantities of Funskool figures into the United States.

Much has been written about the quality of Funskool figures. They range in quality from nearly equal to American figures for the early Funskool stuff to really poor examples of workmanship with weak joints, cheap plastic and horridly applied paint. The key is knowing how to pick which figures are of the better quality. For some reason, certain Funskool figures are more prone to poor quality. Fortunately, it has been my experience that the Streethawk is not among these. All the Streethawks I have are well made. They feature tight paint masks and plastic that is more sturdy that many of the most recent Hasbro ARAH-style Joe releases. If you are still worried, though, there is another way to pick better quality Funskool figures. In April of 2003, Hasbro came down on Funskool for their quality. As such, any Funskool figure with a manufacture date subsequent to April of 2003 tends to be of much higher quality than those that were made prior to that date. As the Streethawk is a more popular figure, those that are still left at retail have a higher likelihood of being produced after April of 2003. So, even if you've had a bad experience with the quality of other Funskool figures, I would recommend giving them another chance with some of the later made figures. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

This version of Streethawk is somewhat tough to find. While he was not imported in the quantities of the later variations, though, he was one of the more popularly imported Funskool figures during the early days of foreign Joe collecting. As such, you can find them both loose and MOC with a little work. This version will probably run you over $20, though, if the sale is properly labeled. As many collectors, though, are unaware of the differences in price among some of the more significant Funskool variations, you can get good deals on this figure should you come across a sale with a blurry picture or poor description. However, unless you are a variation nut, I would highly recommend just spending $6 and buying one of the newer versions. It is much easier, the figure is high quality, and you would be able to quickly add this character to your collection.

I've found that the Streethawk figure in particular and Funskool figures in general are great ways to expand a collection. While Funskool figures are not as special as they once were, they still offer something distinctly different from many American releases and give any collection the diversity it needs to distinguish itself. Of all foreign releases, I count Funskool variants as the most common international figures in my collection. It is a distinction well earned and, if you have yet to take the Funskool plunge, is worth exploring.