The Rankings - 1984

1984 is an interesting Joe year.  It's considered a classic with some of the best figures ever released.  But, the 1984 lineup is very transitional.  About half the figures are in line with 1983 releases while the other half take a leap forward and give us the precursors of what the line would become in 1985.  It's going to be a tough year to rank as it contains some of my personal favorites, consensus icons and, one of the worst releases Hasbro ever created.  So, we'll jump in 1984 and see where this ends up.

#20. Deep Six

Yeah, it couldn't be anyone else.  This Deep Six sucks.  But, to be fair, he features an original head (which was intended to be the Alpine Trooper head that was going to be used with the Scrap Iron body) and an ambitious action feature.  I'm not going to convince myself that Deep Six is a good figure or toy.  But, he has all the hallmarks of a G.I. Joe figure and had the same care put into his design as did Stormshadow.  He loses due to articulation.  But, there are elements of quality to him that keep him above some figures from later years.

#19. Clutch and Stinger Driver (tie)

It's unfair to really include these guys in the 1984 lineup since they were both repaints of earlier figures.  But, in the case of each figure, the repaint was amazing.  Both are substantially different from their original releases while still maintaining the overall quality of the earlier design.  You can argue that both the 1984 repaints are even better than the original paint jobs.  They appear this low, though, because they were earlier sculpts and the other 1984 figures also brought new colors to the line.  It's not fair they are so low.  But, that's a testament to the quality of the overall year.

#17. Duke

At his core, Duke is a 1983 figure design.  He uses the classic helmet, reuses gear from prior figures and even recycles parts from earlier releases.  Design wise, he fits with the 1983 Team.  Because of that, his overall rank suffers for 1984.  His release year contemporaries brought more to the table.  Duke seemed like a pure throwback instead of something new.  His colors are nice.  But, they were more muted when compared against the other 1984's.  Then, he's got the goofy head.  In reality, Duke works as a figure.  He's just not one of the stronger releases in his year.

#16. Hooded Cobra Commander

An iconic look ranked this low?  Well, yeah.  Cobra Commander suffers from a lot of what ails Duke, Clutch and the Stinger driver.  The new head and the darker blue color make for a fantastic figure.  He just didn't offer anything new or revolutionary to the 1984 lineup.  The low ranking is more a function of him being mostly a repaint instead of an all new figure. 

#15. Roadblock

Roadblock is another 1983 throwback.  His body is a little beefier.  And, the reused parts do limit him.  His accessories push him up the list.  The machine gun, tri-pod and backpack all work in concert to produce a great toy.  His colors are nice.  If taken against the line as a whole, Roadblock would perform well.  He just can't outperform his fellow class of 1984.

#14. Copperhead

I'm not really sure if Copperhead should be this high.  He gets solid marks for bringing so much color to the Joe line.  And, he features a bulkier sculpt to showcase his size, too.  The fact that the figure persevered and remains somewhat popular despite him not getting any characterization is a testament to this figure's overall design.  So, he gets ahead of Roadblock even though Roadblock is a lot more useful.

#13. Scrap Iron

Scrap Iron started his life as a Joe Alpine Trooper.  At some point, he was converted to Scrap Iron.  The colors are great.  But, the head is weak.  It really doesn't fit with the rest of the figure.  It being designed later in the process explains the difference.  He gets some higher marks, though, for his gear.  The missile table was inspired and gave Scrap Iron value over just his figure.

#12.Wild Weasel

I don't like the Wild Weasel figure.  The reason for that is that I saw the artistic rendition of him in the comics in the summer of 1984.  So, I had months of waiting for him and anticipating him before we got him in October of that year.  And, the figure just didn't live up.  I thought the helmet was too big and there was too much red.  But, in the 42 years since his release, he's grown on me.  And, the design as a pilot is pretty strong.  

#11.Cutter

So, this one photo from 2008 is the only time I can ever find that I used the 1984 Cutter.  Back in 2013, one of my sons crawled into a storage room and opened up a drawer of 1984 Joes and managed to break my Cutter's crotch.  So, I haven't had one to really use in more than a decade and a half.  Despite that, the original design is pretty good.  The life vest gave him added bulk without making him too big.  The sculpted baseball cap also worked really well and brought a new look to the Joe line.  His colors are strong and different.  So, he's right in the middle of the year's lineup.

#10. Firefly

The first controversy in the list.  How could Firefly, one  of the line's iconic figures, only be the 10th best figure from his release year?!?  The answer lies is two parts.  First, Firefly is another 1983 style figure.  His head is the perfect size for the classic helmets.  Secondly, though, is that Firefly doesn't get any paint details that accentuate the amazing sculpting that Hasbro did for his body.  While Firefly is still visually interesting, he also lacks something because his grenades, pouches and pistol all blend into a seamless see of two toned grey.  Firefly's cool as hell.  But, his overall design didn't do much to move the Joe line forwards.  

#09.  Ripcord

As a figure, Ripcord is kind of bland.  But, his cammo is more dramatic than Firefly's.  The rest of the figure doesn't have much going for it.  What it does have, though, is some of the best gear ever released.  No parachute rig that came after was able to live up to the innovation of Ripcord's parachute pack and airmask.  With his gear attached, he's an amazing figure.  I had mine wear his mask even on ground missions because it just looked so cool.  

#08. Thunder

Apparently, I'm a Thunder fan.  While he's very much a 1983 throwback, he works on many different levels.  He included new helmet gear that elevated the standard helmet.  The rest of him, though, is well sculpted.  I've always loved his chest sculpt.  They layers of brown, green and black work as a visual treat.  So, I find Thunder a better piece of design than some of the more iconic figures from this year.

#07. Recondo

Recondo isn't perfect.  But, he is a great looking jungle trooper.  His muted base color allows his painted details to stand out.  The green hat is a perfect topper, too.  Recondo features a strong face sculpt to boot.  He only includes two accessories.  His backpack is one of the better pieces from the line's early years.  It's big enough to showcase all the details while not being overbearing like many of the packs from 1987 and beyond.  His rifle can be tough to pose.  But, it does look really good with Recondo...to the point where Recondo looks weird with any other weapon.  Recondo showed what Hasbro could do now that they had a couple of years under their belt.

#06.  Spirit

Like Recondo, Spirit showed what the Joe line could be.  His stern face is an understated element of the figure that helps define his character.  The molded hair piece, though, was a leap forward in design.  It opened the doors to more variety for heads.  We wouldn't see it that often.  But, Spirit allowed the 1984 lineup to look quite different from the previous years.  On top of that, he included another new addition to 1984: an animal companion.  Freedom wasn't a terribly useful accessory.  But, he was an element that set the Joe line apart.  The rest of Spirit's gear really only works  for Spirit.  That's a double edged sword, for sure.  But, shows that accessory integration is essential for any successful action  figure line.

#05.Stormshadow

The top 5 is where it starts to get dicey.  It's very possible that, if I were to revisit these rankings in 2028, that Stormshadow might end up #2 on the list.  For now, though, he rests at number 5.  Really, though, that's only because those above him are so good.  As a figure, Stormshadow isn't all that groundbreaking.  Sure, he introduced the ninjas mythos to Joe.  But, his sculpt is somewhat basic and hearkens back to 1983.  He excels, though, in the accessory department.  His backpack is a masterclass of engineering.  It was, likely, the most intricate accessory that existed in the 3 3/4" scale at the time.  The complete package remains iconic.  

#04.Blowtorch

Blowtorch gets high marks for his striking colors and his amazing gear.  I've always kind of lumped Ripcord and Blowtorch together because they both had air masks.  But, it is Blowtorch's design, where his mask is integrated into the figure itself, that is more memorable to me.  It's a stronger feat of engineering and something that Hasbro hadn't fully worked out when they were taking promo photos of the 1984 figures.  In addition, Blowtorch proved that bright, vivid colors could work perfectly in the proper setting.  You can see the fiery yellow and red and instantly know Blowtorch's specialty.  On top of everything else, his flamethrower and backpack integrated, too.  His suit is full of small details.  He's just a figure that defines his year while expanding the look of Joe into new areas.

#03.Mutt

Mutt is overly high.  He's among my favorite figures and is a guy to whom I hold great deference.  But, as an action figure,  he's amazing.  Mutt showed that brighter, more powerful greens could still work on a G.I. Joe.  And, his accent colors give him visual depth.  He also brought the first, real animal character to the line.  Junkyard became a fan favorite.  And, there are still collectors who prefer the dog to the man.  The rest of Mutt's gear is also great.  He might have the best pistol Hasbro ever created.  And, his muzzle/helmet combo gave him a talking point.  Without the muzzle, Mutt features a riveting head sculpt...including unexplained scars: a rarity for a good guy.  Mutt is just a complete package of a figure and is one who's always going to rank high with me.

#02. Baroness

I'm surprised I ended up with Baroness this high.  But, she is light years ahead of Scarlett and, certainly, Cover Girl in terms of female sculpting.  Her separate hair piece was inspired and gave an excellent approximation of longer hair.  The eyeglasses were perfectly proportioned and gave her a distinct look.

The only bad thing about the Baroness is that Hasbro then went backwards in female figure design after her release.  Lady Jaye is a step down.  Zarana does an OK job of replicating the Baroness design aesthetic.  But, the bad face sculpts keep her lower than the Baroness.  Jinx didn't have a face at all.  And, then we didn't see another female figure until the 1993 Scarlett.

The Baroness seems passe, now.  We got tons of repaints of her in the 2000's and even factory customs.  But, she remains Hasbro's best work for a female figure.  Her only detriment is her terrible rifle.  But, that's inconsequential when the rest of the figure design is so well done.  For her, the lack of color works as the all black ensemble conveys her affiliation and allows to match up with any of Cobra hierarchy where she may choose to lay her allegiance.

#01. Zartan

This should not be a surprise.  Zartan brings so much to the Joe line that he has to hold the top spot on this list.  The color changing gimmick is the least interesting thing about Zartan.  But, it's a big part of my kids loved him.  The character is just, generally, bizarre.  And, with little explanation as to why, kid's imaginations could run wild.  The oddball chest armor that held a heat sensing sticker added to the mystique.  And, his hood was an extension of the hair pieces used for Spirit and Baroness.  

To top it off, Zartan included great accessories.  His backpack held an alternate face.  Today, action figures include alternate heads for collectors.  But, in 1984, we got to play with a bearded weirdo who was disguising the most visually distinctive villain in the G.I. Joe line.  If that wasn't enough, his pistol rivals Mutt's for the top spot in terms of Hasbro's efforts.  

Zartan showed what the Joe line could be and firmly cemented it as military fantasy.  The illusion of the line being about green army guys was forever shattered and there was a full decade of future releases that were a function of that early decision.  

All in all, the 1984 line has a strong case for the best year of Joe releases.  There's just so much here and it's all packed into just 20 figures.  I'm sure everyone's list differs just based on your personal experiences.  But, I'd love to hear about your top figures from this year and why they are important to you.

2026 Super7 250th Anniversary Figure Reveals - Wal Mart Exclusive

Today, Wal Mart's website revealed a 2nd wave of 250th Anniversary G.I. Joe figures.  The first wave was a surprise.  It sold well.  But, there was no indication that a second wave would be coming.  But, it turns out that is the case.  Once again, it's four figures done up in white, blue and red coloring.  The four characters are Wild Bill, Flash, Snake Eyes and Chuckles.  Here are the carded figures:

First up is Flash.  He's kind of got a Bombardier vibe.  It's definitely a different look for Flash.  It kind of works.  It's not compelling like Lady Jaye was.  But, it's a fine figure.  And, it's good to see higher quality Super7 sculpts get repaints.  Flash's hair more closely matches his uniform colors.  So, that does add to his aesthetic appeal.

Then we get to Chuckles.  I've long wanted a Chuckles is alternate colors.  A guy doesn't  own one type of Hawaiian shirt.  I like the red.  But wish they had really gone for it.  I'd have preferred him to have a red and blue shirt with white pants: really owning the island look.  This design isn't quite what I've been wanting from a Chuckles repaint.  It's getting closer.  And, I suspect this figure will wear me down...especially if I can find him at a discount.

Then, we get the requisite Snake Eyes.  You need a major character to anchor any exclusive wave like this.  And, while I'd have preferred a subversive Cobra Commander in that slot, Snake Eyes makes more retail sense.  The thing is, this figure is just weird.  It's like a Black Major take on Snake Eyes as a Cobra.  That's not a bad thing.  Repaints should be offbeat and different.  And, this one foots the bill.  I always hate ungloved hands on Snake Eyes, though.  So, that degrades him a bit in my eyes.  But, slap a silver Cobra logo on this guy's chest and you've got a great Invasor.

Finally, Wild Bill.  I'm done with the Wild Bill mold.  It's old, bulky and not that great.  His cartoon coloring on the first release was almost enough to compel me to purchase him.  But, the more I looked at the large noggin, the less interested I was.  This sculpt has limitations and should be retired after this release.  Plus, in these colors, he looks like the Ramp Rat.

It's still weird to me that we're seeing these figures, now, while the Flint, Shipwreck, Baroness and SNAKE wave has been out in Asia for over 5 weeks with no official announcement from Super7.  It seems they bungle some of the PR on this stuff and miss great chances to generate discussion in the community about their products.  I suspect they're holding the next figure wave until the October G.I. Joe streaming day that Hasbro has, currently, planned.  We'll see.

In general, more G.I. Joe figures are better than fewer.  I'm not a huge fan of the white, blue and red color scheme.  It's tough to make it work....especially since blue is so associated with Cobra.  You don't really see the 1st wave of 250th figures being used all that much.  Lady Jaye had about a week of appearances and has all but disappeared.  I suspect these figures will follow suit.  

I'll probably talk myself into Chuckles.  Flash is not a definite "no".  You can get a couple of the first wave figures for about $15 right now.  At that price, I'd get Flash, no doubt.  So, we'll see where I end up.  

2026 Deep Six - Super7

Back in March of 2025, I wrote about G.I. Joe #36 that had been released 40 years prior.  If you look back at that profile, you'll see two separate scans from the comic that feature Deep Six in his "duty" gear.  The Deep Six character had been introduced in issue #25 and was a staple of Larry Hama's stories for the entirety of 1984 and into 1985.  He rarely, though, appeared in  his bulky, deep sea diver suit.  Instead, he wore a bucket hat, life preserver and a lined shirt.  This outfit was Deep Six's default look and allowed him to be used in more situations than his full dive gear.  Despite this canonical appearance, Deep Six was never released as a figure with this alternate look.  It took until 2026, 42 years after the character's debut for Super7 to surprise the collecting world with a useful Deep Six.

If you go back to the mid 1990's, Joe customizers followed some basic formulas.  They'd start with easy repaints like a red Stormshadow and a dark blue Cobra Commander.  From there, they'd advance to tackling the Oktober Guard and Snake Eyes' LRRP team.  After that, you'd see them attempt figures like Kwinn, the Soft Master and, yes, Deep Six with his bucket hat.  As the parts library was more limited back then, you'd often see Muskrat's head used since his had was the closest approximation of Deep Six's comic book appearance.  As the century turned, Hasbro released a hat on a version of Luke Skywalker that some customizers were able to morph into a removable hat Deep Six.  Then, in the early 2000's, Hasbro released some figures with removable hats and some other pieces became available in various military knock off lines that proliferated during that time.  And, with those bits, even better Deep Six figures were made.  The prevailing theme, though, was that comic Deep Six was a character who resonated with collectors of a certain age who came aboard during that 1984-1985 comic run.

As customizing skills began to incorporate more advanced sculpting methods and greater alteration of existing parts, though, Deep Six began to fade away.  You'd still see a custom, every now and then.  But, a younger crop of customizers who upped the game also lacked the youthful connection to an alternate look for Deep Six.  So, the prickly diver fell out of favor.  And, there was rarely a clamour for his more classic appearance to be commemorated in a figure.  Hasbro had so many other characters to consider that Deep Six wasn't really on the radar any longer.

Which, makes his appearance in the Super7 line somewhat baffling.  Super7 doesn't do that many comic book figures.  Their focus is 100% on the cartoon and ensuring that roster of the first two mini-series is completed.  So, getting this Deep Six was quite a surprise.  But, it was a welcome one.  While Deep Six would not have made my list of top 20 comic book looks to make, he would have made the list.  I even mention back in  that #36 write up that I'd buy a Super7 version of him.  And, I followed through on that statement.  

As a figure, Deep Six doesn't really break any new ground.  He's orange, blue and tan.  You can find similar colors to his on Cutter and Topside.  Though, he is substantially more muted than the orange colors that define those figures.  It's not about the palette, though.  Deep Six somewhat defined this look for a Joe.  He just didn't get a figure to cement it.  What this Super7 figure accomplishes is a solid homage to those comic book designs.  You can look at this and instantly know it's Deep Six from the mid 1980's.  Super7 does excel in this type of approach.  They are making a deliberate homage.  And, they tend to get it right.  This figure isn't going to win any awards for creativity.  But, it perfectly matches the intended purpose of the release: to give collectors a figure in a uniform that was never before offered in plastic.

I don't associate this Deep Six with either the SHARC or the USS Flagg.  I align him mostly with the ill-fated G.I. Jane.  This was the Joe ship introduced in 1984 that would be conveniently destroyed in #36 so that the Flagg could be introduced.  But, I also remember Deep Six as a member of the WHALE crew of issues #28 and #29.  These were my 2nd and 3rd G.I. Joe comics.  So, they were read hundreds of times and were very formative in my development of both Joe characters and my personal mythos.  As a kid, I always wanted a useful Deep Six who could man the gunner station on the WHALE.  That never came to be.  But, now, I finally assemble a crew of Cutter, Deep Six, Duke and Roadblock to match up with that early comic run.

And, it's here that I found the most value in Deep Six.  As a kid, his personality was off-putting.  But, that was the point.  After his introduction in #25, though, Deep Six was less of an in your face asshole and more of a sardonic side character whose prickliness was supposed to be endearing because it was, generally, harmless.  But, the idea of a Joe who didn't really get along with people while still being so good at his job that you had to have him around was intriguing.  And,  in the days when the Joe roster was pretty limited, losing a figure to the catastrophe that was the 1984 Deep Six figure was more impactful.  So, Deep Six always seemed like a character that would have been fun to have around but was just not available.  One of the reasons I was so keen on acquiring a 1989 Deep Six upon my return to collecting was because it gave the character a useful toy.  By the time of my acquisition, though, the notion of using Deep Six as his character was gone.  

So, really, I'm left with this figure as a scene filler or a display item on a shelf.  If I ever get around to exhibiting my WHALE, this Deep Six will be among the crew.  Until then, he'll be a guy who will find some use when I get heavy rains or take figures down to the creek.  He works very well in photos.  But, it's tough to find ways to really showcase this figure as the focal point of a scene unless you're recreating one of his early comic appearances.  And, once those are done, there's far less to do with the figure.  But, that's OK.  Some of the best figures in the line were guys like Alpine or Blowtorch: figures who had niche purposes and were background players.  This Deep Six continues that legacy and will be one of those guys who really helps to make a photo interesting, even though he's not really the subject on which the photo centers.  

Deep Six includes two accessories.  The first is the standard cartoon rifle that is based on Snow Job's XMLR.  It's weird to see a comic book figure include a cartoon weapon.  But, it works since the design aesthetic fits the time period of both character designs.  The second accessory is more esoteric.  In my #36 write up, I showcased a photo where Deep Six chops open a crate containing the MMS.  He uses a red axe to cut the ropes.  And, that red axe is included with this figure.  It's a very specific choice.  But, as an add on, it's great since it's such a specific comic book reference.  I used the image in my write up because it was memorable to me.  You can extrapolate that the image resonated with many readers of that comic and one of those grew up to design G.I. Joe figures for Super7.  So, its inclusion is a nice nod to an obscure bit of Joe gallimaufry.  

Deep Six's long term prognosis is probably pretty insignificant.  While the figure was welcomed by collectors and seems to have joined many collections, he hasn't made the splash that the Super7 Ninja Force figures have.  He is readily available and can be purchased from pretty much anyone who stocks the Super7 line.  For guys who hit the sweet spot to consume 1984 media, this figure is a must have.  But, for others, he's more of a novelty.  We'll see how he plays out over time.  For now, he joins my collection to fill a hole that's been open since 1984.  He's even got me considering an unboxing of WHALE that's been locked up since 2011.  If that appears in the photos below, you'll know that he was enough of a motivation to spur me to action.  Even if it doesn't appear here, though, I'll get him into the WHALE at some point.  He's just a figure who scratches that nostalgic itch enough for me to relive some childhood dreams.

Fuego - Plastirama Ripcord (Argentina) - Around The Web

Swivel arm Plastirama figures from Argentina are very common.  Thousands of cases of them were imported to the U.S.and sold be dealers from around 1999 through 2006.  Many of the figures are so common that they used to be sold in lots for a couple of bucks per figure and still no one would buy them.  One of those figures is Fuego: the Argentina version or Ripcord.

Back when these figures first appeared, most collectors considered Fuego to be too similar to the Hasbro Ripcord to be worth a purchase.  The lower quality and general ubiquity of the 1984 Ripcord really prevented Fuego from finding a niche in the Joe world. 

As more and more collectors completed their Hasbro collections, though, they started to look at the more ignored Plastirama figures in a new light.  With this, they found that figures like Fuego were, actually, pretty different from their North American counterparts.  The colors were distinct and the accessories could be quite different.  So, in the twenty years since the Plastirama figures started selling out, figures like Fuego have found more appreciation and are parts of many collections.

Despite that, you don't see the figure used all that often.  There's little reason to since the Hasbro Ripcord is, probably, better and is also very easy to find.  So, guys like Fuego still are a bit under the radar.  They are definitely worth checking out, though, since you can still find them for acceptable prices, from time to time.  So, see how the creators below used Fuego and appreciate the things that make him distinct from the Hasbro Ripcord figure.

Fuego Profile

Fuego by hobieshinobi

Fuego by Hit and Run

Fuego by kbzonecustomtoys

Fuego by hobieshinobi

Fuego by 334inch_figure_collector

Fuego by hobieshinobi

Fuego by brasil_gijoe

Fuego by viper_space

Fuego by hobieshinonbi

2009 Undertow

In 2005, the club had their first real "hit" with a convention set.  Even today, the Iron Grenadier set from that year receives high marks and is one of the most popular themes that was ever done.  So, it made sense that the club would try to cash in on that success with other figures in the updated Iron Grenadier color scheme.  Unfortunately, the mold they ultimately chose for that update didn't really make a lot of sense to appear in the Iron Grenadiers colors.  Sure, the original Undertow was "Destro's Frogman".  But, that figure was done in colors to match their specialty.  Seeing a diver done in the red, gold and black seemed a bit out of place.  But, the figure was a perfect match for the 2005 convention set.  Timing is everything, though.  And, in 2009, collectors weren't feeling all that nostalgic and the figure's flaws outweighed his value.  This alone, though, makes the 2009 Undertow worth another look.

The 1990 Undertow is a solid figure.  I'd argue that he's not as good as the 1985 Eel.  But, the original Eel is also a near perfect figure.  So, that's a high bar.  Undertow, though, stole coloring elements from the 1985 Eel figure.  And, even on the second usage, the colors worked.  The 2000 and 2002 uses of the Undertow mold were done in mostly solid colors.  They worked for what they were intended to be.  The club took the basis of previous Undertows and added some additional colors to call attention to the sculpt's details.  This 2009 release shows that, sometimes, less is more.  The overabundance of colors seems like overkill.  While the overall paint apps aren't bad, the colors chosen seem like a lot.   And, the figure doesn't make much sense as a diver in these colors.  But, this figure wasn't meant as an army builder or, even, a figure you'd take outside for photos.  It was always meant as a companion display piece to the 2005 convention set.  And, in that regard, it succeeds spectacularly.

I quit playing with G.I. Joe in 1987.  I was aware of the introduction of Destro's Iron Grenadiers in 1988 as my younger brother had the original Iron Grenadier figure and I was still an avid reader of the comic book.  I liked the idea of Destro having his own army.  But, it was never a concept that carried over to my collection.  I liked Destro as a character who pulled strings behind the scenes.  He was brave in battle.  But, he wasn't a guy who put himself out at the forefront.  So, the idea of the Iron Grenadiers as a separate and nearly equal faction to Cobra was never something that manifested in my toy collection.  

Seeing the 2005 convention set of all Iron Grenadiers didn't really move me all that much.  I thought the execution of the Iron Anvils and the overall color palette was top notch.  It was great to see some molds that hadn't appeared anywhere else get some use.  But, Iron Grenadiers were not a concept that mattered to me.  Had the set been Eco Warriors or Star Brigade, I'd have jumped all over it.  Instead, I was cool to the theme.  The figures were neat.  And, I picked up most of them.  But, I then sold almost all of them shortly thereafter.  I didn't use them and had no desire to ever develop them.  I kept a couple of Iron Anvils due to my love of the 1994 Viper mold.  But, Iron Grenadiers were just one of those concepts with whose absence I was fine.

This is, 100%, a result of timing.  IG's came out when I had outgrown Joe.  And, they were gone by the time I returned to Joe in the early '90's.  Those early '90's days were full of wonder for all I'd missed.  And, the IG's didn't match that description because we had owned one of the figures and they came during my period of malaise that had culminated from my leaving toys behind.  I fully appreciate the quality of the Iron Grenadier concept as well as the execution of the figures and vehicles.  In a different world, they would be the centerpiece of my childhood storyline.  But, I was a year or two too early for that to manifest.

All of which is a long way of saying that I want to really like the 2005 Iron Grenadier color scheme.  I want to have this Undertow be the missing piece to a fully formed enemy faction.  But, it simply doesn't happen for me.  I appreciate this Undertow for what he succeeds in doing.  But, it doesn't make for a figure that captures my attention.  It's not this figure's fault, though.  Instead, it's due to my personal timing and the manner in which Iron Grenadiers entered into the Joe mythos.  For most other collectors, the 2005 Iron Grenadier coloring is among the highlights of the repaint era and remains their overall favorite convention set.

Which is why it's somewhat odd that this Undertow is not only forgotten today, but was completely unappreciated in his time.  The figure landed with a thud when it was announced.  Not because it was bad.  But, collectors just weren't interested.  2009 was a very different time in the Joe world.  Hasbro had burned many collector bridges with the way the line was handled as it was cancelled at retail in 2005.  The switch the anniversary style in 2007 also spurned many of the vintage collectors.  And, the influx of new action figure collectors further drove many of the remaining casual vintage collectors from the hobby.  On top of that, the times were making collecting more of a luxury.  And, forums were filled with guys who were desperate to get whatever they could for a collection that, just two or three years earlier, would have been in a contentious bidding war.  It didn't help that this Undertow was released as the "Membership Figure" for 2009.  Previously, membership figures had heavily been JvC style figures that collectors tossed aside.  By 2009, club membership was skewing towards anniversary style collectors who found an o-ring Joe to be passe.  

All of this added up to this Undertow going a bit under the radar.  The people who were still serious about vintage Joes were aware of it.  But, the figure didn't end up as a popular subject of the Joe photographers of the era.  He didn't end up as a brag worthy army builder for guys who were wont to buy up expensive figures for clout.  Instead, he mostly ended up on Ebay, selling for $10 or less for a bagged figure.  While the reviews from that time about this Undertow were laudatory, it didn't translate into actual popularity among the collecting community.  Undertow was swept away and remains a figure whose existence is often a surprise to newer collectors.  

The only reason I own this figure is because I happened across one at a local shop back in 2019 or so.  He was in a bin of unloved figures and I bought him for a song.  Had he been even slightly more expensive, I wouldn't own him.  The only real reason I was compelled to pick him up was because it was such an oddity to find him in this box that was full of figures from the 1980's with Undertow being the lone representative of the repaint era.  I got him home, appreciated the design and, promptly stuck him in a container where he's rarely moved from in the years since.  I see him all the time when I'm getting other figures from their slots in the containers.  But, I never have any idea of how to use him and you'll see the photography for the figure in this profile doesn't really do much to showcase his abilities.  I have plenty of water available and still never think to get this figure out into it.  Nothing encapsulates the collecting sentiment on this 2009 Undertow better than that.

One level, the quality of this figure is top notch.  On another level, though, it has some flaws that should be noted.  Just in terms of paint applications, the figure is great.  Convention level figures featured intricate paint masks that were few and far between on retail figures.  The plastic quality is the same as the other figures of the era.  So, it's a bit softer and less susceptible to broken thumbs and crotches.  The issue with the softer plastic, though, is that paint can rub off.  And, as this Undertow has painted hands, the softness of the paint and plastic are a deadly combination.  Any tight fitting accessories will rub the grey glove paint off the figure's hands.  But, this figure was meant to be kept in the baggie.  And, even loose, he'd only hold a small, smooth handled spear.  So, you can see why the paint doesn't bother too many collectors...they simply never had occasion for it to be an issue.  

Undertow includes the gear from the original figure.  He's got a red mask with gold paint.  This is a solid match for the 2002 Undertow.  But, too scarce for anyone to really consider it as an option.  He has the underwater sled with a gold missile, hose, flippers and barracuda.  His weapon is the bizarre spear from the original version.  The tip is painted gold.  It's one of those things that looks great.  And, for collectors, works, since you won't be taking this figure down to the creek.  The gear, though, is limiting.  That's an artifact from the original design as Undertow's gear never lived up to that of the Eel.  So, while the accessories included with this 2009 version are perfect, they inherit the issues from their origin and make for a figure where the idea of the gear is much better than the practical application of it.

Undertow got a lot of use.  In the vintage line, there's just the one coloring that debuted in 1990.  There is a European exclusive accessory variant, though.  In 2000, Hasbro reused the mold for the first time.  This blue figure was hugely popular at the time of his release.  About half way through the production run of the 2000 figures, Hasbro altered the mold.  The peg used to affix the air hose to the figure's chest was removed and replaced by a hold into which you forced the tube.  There's really no reason why the change was made.  2000 Undertows are about 50/50 on peg or hole.  In 2002, the mold was used again in the BJ's exclusive set.  This figure was colored all red and didn't include any accessories that matched to the frogman specialty.  (He included a chainsaw!)  There is an unproduced BJ's figure that is white with a pinkish hue.  It's rare.  The final use was this 2009 figure.  All of the Undertows work in specific formats.  None of them are bad paint jobs.  But, the original is the best with the 2000 following closely behind.  Hasbro got their money out of this mold and collectors have a small subset of nice figures to collect.

Pricing on this figure is tough.  Even just five years ago, you could get bagged figures for under $25 without too much trouble.  Now, the dealer class tries to cash in on low availability and charges upwards of seven times that amount.  Those figures don't sell, though and there is plenty of stock available.  Which really proves out this figure's lack of popularity among the collecting community.  For a low production run, high quality figure that is relatively obscure and has little collector cachet, though, $40 is probably the sweet spot if you want to buy one.  Less is better.  But, any more and you're overpaying for something that collectors generally passed by.  For me, the value in the figure is as a companion to the 2005 Convention set.  But, as that set holds little value for me, personally, the figure is more of a novelty and not something I ever consider when it comes time to select aquatic Cobras for a photo shoot.  Had I not gotten him when I stumbled upon a super cheap version, he'd not only be absent from my collection, but I'd also have no compunction to ever track him down.