1992 Talking Battle Commanders General Hawk

The 1996-1998 G.I. Joe community was made up, almost exclusively, of guys whose childhood Joe years were 1982 through 1985.  You'd see collectors of that era expand their notion of Joe until about 1987.  But, that was a clear demarcation line.  The only time you'd see figures made after this date was for a slate of standard customs.  You'd see a couple of later figures used to make the Oktober Guard.  You'd see a Street Fighter figure used to make the khaki shorts Kwinn.  And, you'd see the Talking Battle Commander Hawk head used to make some, usually villainous general who was looking to take the Joes down from the inside.

The reason this trope was ubiquitous was due to the overall design and quality of the figure's head sculpt.  Aside from the obscuring sunglasses, Hawk's head has a stern look that doesn't denote experience as much as it implies that the person behind the countenance is a huge dick.  More importantly, to collectors of that early era, Hawk was only defined by his 1986 figure.  There were no future Hawk figures to any of those guys.  So, breaking the 1992 figure apart to make up some fictional take on the "Jugglers" was the only acceptable acknowledgement that Hasbro had kept the character in circulation in the 1990's.  

The singular calling card of this General Hawk is his skin tone.  Hasbro went with a sunburnt face and hands for the fleshtone.  It is the only figure in the vintage line with this skin tone.  There's no explanation as to why Hasbro modified their standard flesh colors.  But, it makes this Hawk stand out among his peers.  The skin color is a match for the maroon and tan that comprises the bulk of the figure's color.  It still, though, stands out and makes you wonder what happened to the Hawk character instead of just blending with the rest of the uniform coloring.  It's an odd feature for the figure and is really the most famous discussion point around him.

The figure's base colors are also seldom seen in the Joe line.  The combination of a maroon jacket with golden highlights is a bold choice.  Pairing it with tan pants and offsetting it with some black details wasn't something you'd think would work.  But, the colors are complementary and do create a memorable visual of the figure.  I do think the colors allow this Hawk to blend into the background too easily.  And, he's difficult to pair with other figures who also accentuate his color palette.  More often, Hawk clashes with figures that are both his contemporaries and precedents.  The golden highlights and gear are meant as a way to make the figure appear to be a leader.  But, the gold doesn't improve the figure's regal standing and leaves Hawk as more of an odd man out than the leader that was denoted by his 1986 and, even, 1991 figures.

The overall sculpting of this figure is interesting.  As a standalone piece, the parts fit together, perfectly.  The puffy jacket, tall boots and rectangular head all work together to form a symmetric representation of a person.  When you compare this guy to other figures of his time, though, you start to see that he appears to be a bit out of proportion.  This was accentuated when Hasbro started using his pieces in conjunction with earlier sculpted parts during the 2000's.  It became apparent that this Hawk's legs were too long and his upper body too bulky.  It allows the figure to work on his own.  But, makes him harder to set up with other figures in the line.  His oversized accessories (especially the pistol!) exacerbate this.  And, when you take the weird skin, offbeat base colors, the elongated parts and the comical weapons, you're left with a figure that's never caught on with the collector base.

The Talking Battle Commanders were another gimmick in Hasbro's ever expanding arsenal as the line limped towards cancellation.  The oversized backpacks and electronics were a way to drive up the retail price and put a G.I. Joe item into the $5-$10 price category.  Historically, this level was where you found small vehicles that defined the line.  Many collector favorites exist due to this desired price point.  By the early 1990's, though, vehicles were passe.  And, Hasbro needed something that appeared to be special to justify the higher price tag.  The TBC figures seemed to sell in the $6-$8 range at various retail stores.  They weren't great sellers and the concept was discontinued for 1993.  Large quantities of them made their way to overstock stores of the era for around a $5 price tag.  All of these were high for what you got.  As I was an adult by the time these appeared at retail, the sway of electronic components in a G.I. Joe figure was lost on me.  I'd be curious to hear from younger collectors, though, to see if it was a salient selling point for them and made them want figures like this over the standard retail line that was about 1/2 the price.

The TBC Hawk included some solid accessories.  There is, of course, the massive electronic backpack.  There is a golden antenna that attaches to the top of it.  The talking backpack is screwed on with more fasteners than are worth removing.  They are annoying.  But, once the pack is taken off, you can get down to the essentials.  The figure also includes two golden weapons.  Gold is a rare accessory color.  In some contexts, it worked great.  For Hawk, though, the gold is somewhat distracting.  The color meshes with the figure, though.  It just makes the gear more difficult to port to other figures.  There is an oversized revolver that has a sight on top.  Somehow, the size works with this Hawk, though.  It is the only weapon I tend to use with this mold.  There is also a rifle.  I actually really enjoy this rifle.  It was released ad naseum in silver during the early 2000's and remains my de facto weapon for the 2000 Dusty and all the Mirage repaints from 2002 and 2003.  

This mold ended up with a good life. After the vintage release, it made a surprise appearance in 2000.  Hasbro then released it again in 2002, after they could not find the 1986 Hawk mold but still wanted to release the character.  In 2004, the mold was used for two of the three figures in a convention "Changing Zartan" set.  It was just weird and remains an obscure and unpopular release.  Starting in 2004, Hawks legs started to get used on comic pack figures including Clayton Abernathy and Stalker.  In 2005, the legs and arms were used along with some newly sculpted 1986 Hawk parts to make another Comic Pack Hawk.  Hasbro's infatuation with the parts in the 2000's further soured collectors on the mold.  And, it's taken nearly 25 years for you to start seeing sentiment that the various flavors of this General Hawk are worthwhile figures.

It's recently been discovered that this mold was also planned for a 1994 release.  It would have been included with a machine gun nest that ended up being released as the Battle Bunker in the Sgt. Savage line.  The figure would have used a grey base color and featured bright green highlights.  It would have been a solid repaint.  We don't know if Hasbro would have sculpted a new back piece for the figure or not.  But, grey Joes are few and far between.  So, had this figure been released, it would have been somewhat distinctive.  Personally, I'd still hold the 2002 color scheme as the best release of the mold...even if the 1994 repaint had happened.  But, it's interesting to know that Hasbro wanted to get more use from this mold during the vintage era.

In the end, I want to tell you that I like this figure.  On paper, I should.  He's bizarre enough and obscure enough to be the type of guy that's right up my alley.  But, he's not.  This is a figure that I only acquired because a fellow collector was liquidating his collection and happened to have his cheap as a toss in with a group of figures I actually wanted.  I've only ever taken photos of him, deliberately.  He doesn't work with other figures well enough to warrant appearances outside of shots meant to showcase him.  And, if I want to use the look of this character, both the 2000 and 2002 figures are far better ways to get the head sculpt into a photo.  I simply don't see this guy as Hawk.  His introduction to me as the nameless, shadowy general who has authority over the Joe team is the characterization of him that's stuck with me.  The figure just doesn't have the overall quality to overcome that early association and stand on its own.

The Talking Battle Commander Hawk is not popular.  As such, he remains an incredibly cheap figure to acquire.  While dealers will sell mint and complete figures in the $15 range, you can actually still get carded figures for under $20.  You can still find high quality figures on the open market and can buy them for about $8.  These days, that's about as cheap as you find any vintage Joe.  For that price, it's worth it to have a version of the figure lying around.  The later repaints are better.  But, when you can find something cheap like this Hawk is, you take advantage and add him.  The weird color scheme is well worth the paltry price and gives your collection a weird example of the Joe team's leader.

1992 Talking Battle Commanders Stalker - Around The Web

The 1992 Talking Battle Commanders Stalker is a pretty solid mold with a weird head.  Sadly, this is the best coloring of the figure.  We did get one repaint in 2003.  But, that Tiger Force version also has limitations.  There's enough on this guy out there to enjoy.  But, there's so many other Stalker figures that are better that it's kind of rare to see this version be featured.  Here's the best of the 1992 Talking Battle Commander Stalker from around the web.

1992 Stalker Profile

1992 Stalker by fun_time_at_serpentors_lair

1992 Stalker by 73lairbear

1992 Stalker by bruxovigo

1992 Stalker by Slipstream80

1992 Stalker by darkstar_vintage

1992 Stalker by fun_time_at_serpentors_lair

1992 Stalker by Lava Boss

Spanish Speaking Overkill

In 1992, Hasbro released the Talking Battle Commander series of figures.  The designs were pretty good.  But, the figures all included backpacks that were screwed into the backs of the molds.  This largely ruined the figures and has put them on the backburner of the collector world.  In the late 1990's, though, I came across the figure shown below.  It was a Spanish release of Overkill.

Ostensibly, the packaging difference is the most interesting part.  The figure is named Barracuda, which is a fun alternate name for the character.  You see the Spanish language tags on the rest of the card, too.  The phrases that the figure speaks are in Spanish writing.

This leads to the figure's real surprise.  The pack actually speaks in Spanish.  Instead of the English words, the electronic pack produces bad, 1990's era quality sound of the phrases in Spanish.  So, you can hear Overill (or Barracuda) scream "Nos Atacan!" over and over again.  While I've never seen the other three figures from the set on Spanish cards (to be fair, I've never looked, either) it's reasonable to surmise that they also exist and also have the Spanish speaking variant.

Alas, I sold this figure back in 2001 in an ill advised attempt to raise money to buy retail Joes.  I gave up oddities like the figure below to buy up Laser Vipers and Mirage figures.  Oops.  I'd like to see if the Spanish version has any other differences.  So, if anyone has this figure, or others in the series, and has any additional insights, please leave them in the comment below.

1992 Talking Battle Commanders Stalker

I've told the story of the my foray into the Hills store in Hamilton, Ohio as 1996 wound down before.  Along with the Detonator that was left behind, there were some figures on the shelves.  For the whopping price of 4.95, I could have bought several Talking Battle Commanders Stalker figures.  Even after finding nothing in terms of Joe figures at retail for several months along with paying $5 for one of the new Star Wars figures I constantly sought, I simply could not get myself to buy one.  The price was so high and there was nothing about the figure that called to me.  Mind you, I had paid 3.33 for both the Battle Corps Muskrat and the Battle Corps Mace figure at a KMart in Bloomington, Indiana the December before.  Those are terrible figures.  But, that extra 1.62 was simply too much to overcome.  I finally gave in, though, and grabbed one in my final stop before moving home.

There was really only one reason why I finally acquiesced and purchased this figure: his black weapons.  Most of the Joes I had been buying as the line disappeared had neon weapons.  So, finding some cool looking guns cast in black plastic was a bonus.  As it was a Stalker figure, I was happy to get a new version of the character.  Though, I had long ago found the excellent 1994 version and that figure far surpasses this look for Stalker.  But, the main plan was to buy him for the guns, open him up and disperse the weapons to other figures I liked more.

But, as 1997 began, other priorities took over.  I had just graduated from college.  I got my first "real" job.  And, to top it off, I planned to move to Arizona (a place I had yet to even visit!) that summer.  Those things took precedence in my life and I sort of forgot about this Stalker.  As the initial chaos of the early year began to subside, the 1997 Star Wars line began to hit in force.  I spent my free time searching out Star Wars figures, playing rugby, visiting friends in Cincinnati, St. Louis and even Paducah, KY.  In short, this Stalker was dropped into a dresser drawer and was left there.  When I moved that August, Stalker was left behind as I put him out of mind.  In 2001, I returned to Indiana for a time.  I then re-discovered this figure.  By that time, though, the need for black weapons had diminished and I kept the figure carded.  This time, he made it back to Arizona when I moved again and has been part of my collection since.

It has been 20 years since I bought that Stalker.  You will see the carded version in the photos below. Two decades later, I still haven't opened the figure.  I've never owned a mint, complete version of the figure other than carded version.  The Hills sticker is still there.  I should just open him and have a loose figure as I'm not much of a carded collector.  But, I can't do it.  There is so much personal history wrapped into the figure that opening him would destroy him.  I can associate figures with their acquisition.  I have my childhood memories.  I then have my '90's, neophyte collector memories.  Those really end in late 2000 or early 2001 which I consider my "collector" phase.  I've been in that phase for more than 15 years now.

But, so far, nothing in that phase has been associated with life memories like items from the first two phases.  I think that's just to the ages I was when those memories were forged.  Childhood is the formative time of our life.  Young adulthood is the time when you largely become the person you will be for a long time: but the future is still unlimited.  I don't look back at the early 2000's with the same nostalgia: mostly because collecting was not woven into the fabric of everything I did and my best memories are associated with other parts of my life that didn't involve toys.  But, part of why I collect is the memories associated with the items at the time of their acquisition.  Seeing this figure recalls my younger self driving through the backroads of Southwestern Ohio in my '88 Ford Aerostar with the windows down and the heat on full blast due to a blown head gasket looking for out of the way stores as I went to visit old friends.  It's possible that 15 years from now, I'll re-read this and recall staying up too late writing this on a Friday night before my kids soccer game listening to Urban Dance Squad's "Deeper Shade of Soul" over and over again.  It's not quite the same.  But, Joes remain tangible mnemonic devices for times that are long gone.

There's another reason I haven't opened this figure.  He's terrible.  Really, I mean it.  He's a truely bad figure.  The main complaint is the bright yellow highlights.  Offset against the black body, they really pop.  I have forgiven neon ever since it was first introduced into the Joe line.  But, something about this figure really sparked intense dislike.  It might be the yellow beret.  But, the bright highlights are something that halts me from digging too deep into this figure, despite it not being a hindrance elsewhere.  So, what else is wrong with him?  The most obvious answer is the Talking Battle Commander backpack.  The thing is enormous.  It's a massive weight on the figure and it nothing short of ridiculous.  Rather than make these packs use the standard back peg (like they did with the Super Sonic Fighters in 1991) Hasbro screwed them onto the figure's back.  Now, you can remove the packs with some effort.  But, in order to accommodate the pack, the designers gave the figure a flat back so the pack could rest flush against the torso.

This flat back has raised it's head before.  The excellent 1993 Cobra Commander solved the problem by getting a new back piece.  But, that piece disappeared in the 2000's and several solid Cobra Commander colorings were ruined by the return of the flat back.  Really, though, this shouldn't bother me.  Truthfully, figures are displayed from the front.  And, the backpack hole is still there and there are any number of backpacks that could cover the back to solve the issue.  I've overcome more glaring gaps with inventive accessory usage.  But, this Stalker is not offered the same opportunity.

This leads to the final issue I have with the figure.  I'm not a fan of the head sculpt.  I don't particularly like the overly floppy beret.  It doesn't fit with how I've seen Stalker through his other incarnations.  But, my main beef is the face.  To me, the expressive face is overdone.  Including the scowl and open mouth was a great leap forward in sculpting prowess on the part of the Hasbro designers.  But, it feels like they tried too hard.  In their zeal to make Stalker appear like a bad ass, they had him come off as a bad action film actor.  So, taking the head, bad colors, stupid backpack and flat back, you get a figure that I really don't have any interest in owning.  So, I've kept him carded for two decades and will likely never open him.

Accessory wise, you know he includes black weapons.  While these were novel and new to me in 1996, they don't hold up when you have the full panoply of G.I. Joe accessories available to you with little effort.  The smaller rifle is very reminiscent of the 1992 Destro weapon.  When I found the figure at retail, I thought they might be the same.  But, they are very different when compared directly.  The larger rifle looks cooler in the package than it actually is.  It's somewhat futuristic and the odd design and large size makes it difficult for a figure to hold and use without being top heavy and awkward.  The offset sight is interesting.  But, I've found the weapon's value is in aesthetics rather than use.  The sound backpack says three phrases: Blitz 'Em, Let's Party and Attack!.  There's a fourth, combat sound.  The sound quality is what you'd expect from a twenty five year old, $5 toy.  I'm sure it was novel in 1992.  But, it really doesn't hold up any more.

Hasbro released this figure in 1992.  They also released him internationally.  Many years ago, I had a carded Spanish Overkill figure whose talking backpack was actually recorded in Spanish.  I've never looked, but I'm sure a Spanish speaking Stalker also exists.  So, there is a likely, legit European variant for the figure.  In 2003, Hasbro surprised collectors when this mold showed up in the Toys R Us exclusive Tiger Force set.  The flat back to accommodate the talking pack was still present.  That, and the bizarre color scheme pretty much doomed the figure and Tiger Force sets lingered for most the year.  (Though, they are tougher to find, now.)  Despite returning to the Stalker character many more times in the comic sets and Toys R Us sets, Hasbro never revisited this Stalker mold.  Done up in more military colors, this mold has some potential.  But, the only two versions we ever got both has severe color limitations and that has doomed this mold to obscurity forever.

This Stalker is worthless.  Frankly, the $5 I spent in 1996 is worth more than the figure is today.  You can still buy MOC figures for $6.  Loose, mint and complete figures sell for $2 to $3, though dealers will usually ask at least $8.  For completion's sake, the figure is out there.  But, there's not much other reason to really seek him out.  The black weapons aren't even enough of a draw to spend a couple bucks to get one.  I can see the figure having its charm and I'm sure some people out there like this version of Stalker.  I'm not one of them, though.  The upside is that the figure has value to me based on the memories I have of finding him at retail.  Sans that, I'm not sure I'd even remember this figure exists.  The good news is that if you do like him, he's cheap and available.  If you don't like him, there's tons of better Stalker figures to ensure the character is properly represented in your collection.