1991 Incinerator - Cobra Flame Thrower

Back in 1998, I was just getting back into Joe collecting. I had spent most of the prior year buying Star Wars toys, but the Stars and Stripes set had finally taken its toll and gotten me interested in Joes again. When I first starting looking for Joes, I tended to be most interested in figure lots that concentrated on the '89-'91 time span. I had stopped collecting full time at the end of 1987, but still had a few '88s. As such, I really wanted the figures from the newer years. Of course, back then, it was easy to get pre '88 figures, but those from later years were very hard to find. Fortunately, I found a couple of large 30+ figure lots that heavily concentrated on figures from those years. (Of course, back then I paid about $1.50-$2.00 per figure for those lots. Today, a similar lot would run several times over what I paid. I miss the old days of Ebay.) When I started sorting through the figures, there were many I didn't recognize and had never even seen before. While I liked the Joe affiliated figures, it was the new Cobras that really drew me in. Guys like the Interrogator, Night Vulture, Annihilator, and the Rock Viper were awesome new additions to my fast expanding Cobra army. Another figure from those years that I liked, though, is the one I decided to profile this week: Cobra's only flamethrower, the Incinerator.

I use the Incinerator figure in the same manner as I use SAW Vipers and Fast Blast Vipers. They are a small support team that enhances a Cobra combat unit. The way I see Cobra, the Troopers and some infantry Vipers make up the bulk of any Cobra attack force. They are equipped with the weapons and supplies to at least pinpoint all of the enemy in a given area. When a situation arises, though, where they need more support, teams of specialty Vipers, like the aforementioned group, flock to the scene to take care of the special situation. Rather than have troops ladened with heavy gear, like the Incinerator would have, running around and getting in the way of the infantry, these specialty troops hang back near the Cobra armor or in troop transports and respond to calls for help. That way, if they are not needed, Cobra never has to show their full strength. It is a perfect way for Cobra to be more deadly, but always have an additional surprise available to them.

The Incinerator is a very cool mold. He has a bulky sculpt that showcases the fact that he is wearing protective gear. The helmet is very sleek, though not removable. He has nicely detailed features and excellent accessories. (His pack is large and detailed and he comes with the original incarnation of the same weapon that came with the 1993 Crimson Guard Commander.) All in all, this is a great mold that only has one drawback: the color scheme. Since the original Blowtorch in 1984, Hasbro seemed to think that a flamethrower would wear bright, neon colors. While this uniform would work in a base or controlled environment, it makes the Incinerator an easy target when he ventures into the field. Still, the orange and red is definitely a danger signal to anyone who would come across one of these guys. On that level, the color scheme still works for me.

Personally, I'm very surprised that we haven't seen this mold again since the initial 1991 release. This figure just screams for a repaint. He would have easily integrated into Star Brigade and would have fit into that genre. This figure also would have made a much better choice to be the mold for the 01 Laser Viper. His bulky sculpt and cool head would have been a nice addition to the new releases. I'm also surprised that we never saw this guy anywhere else in the world. He was released in Europe, but that version is the same as the American. However, with Funskool's recent foray into 1991 molds (see Desert Scorpion, Crimson Guard Immortal, and General Hawk) I would not be surprised if we one day saw an oddly colored Incinerator repaint offered from them. I know I'd welcome it.

Incinerators are tough to find. All the '91's, with the exception of Bats and Red Star, are still pretty tough finds. With a little patience you can build an army of these guys, but it will take a while. Incinerators can be had cheap, though. The bright colors, late issue date, and not often popular specialty keep them from most collector's and army builder's radar screens. If you like the figure, that allows you the freedom to acquire as many Incinerators as you can find without killing your budget. He is about the most affordable '91 Cobra figure, but really isn't bad to make him so. Like some of the '89 Cobras, this guy came out in a year of so many good enemy figures that he is kind of lost. It's a great idea and a very nice execution of that idea, but he still pales in comparison to many of his contemporaries. Still, he makes up a small part of my Cobra army, and I think he will find a home in yours as well.

The Incinerator is pretty cool, though I don't have tons of uses for him. Would you like to see a repainted Incinerator figure, even if it were offered by Funskool? Let me know.

1989 Rock and Roll

Back in 1989, I didn't buy any Joe figures. I had picked up a couple of '88's, but that was it. I was still buying the comic, though, and was keeping up on the awesome new figures that were released that year. Of these, there were a ton of figures that I wanted. While pining away in Spanish class, I wrote up a story involving many of the older Joes that I had quick access to along with many of the new figures for 1989 that I didn't have. I figured that I would one day have the '89 Joes I wanted, I just didn't think it would take almost 9 years for me to finally add the 1989 Rock and Roll to my collection.

There are a number of reasons why I wanted to profile this figure. First off, Rock and Roll is an original character who finally got a well deserved remake. Secondly, I really wanted this figure back when he came out at retail. As I was out of Joe at the time (stupid high school years!), I never acquired him. Third, this is a great figure that comes with some of the most imposing accessories of any figure in the line. Any of those reasons would be enough to profile this guy. Sure, this guy is not the classic original figure that was Rock and Roll. The elements that made the character so popular, though, are all present in this updated version. He has the blonde beard, big machine gun, and surfer look. Taken as a sum, you've got a very cool figure that is worth another look.

This version of Rock and Roll was kind of problematic for me. The reason was the simple bulk of his weapons. Real cannons like his would eat through all the ammo he carries in about 3 seconds. Also, the weapons were so large that they would weigh down anyone who would have to carry them. Naturally, being slowed by hundreds of pounds of gear would make a soldier an easy target for enemy fire. How, then, could I use this figure in actual field combat situations when the innate skeptic in me said that there was no way for him to be effective in the field? The answer was simple: Rock and Roll was based as vehicular support.

Traveling in the APC, Rock and Roll could easily carry enough ammunition to wreak some serious havoc on any enemy installation. When the need would arise, though, I would have him don his original version's M-60 and go into the field with the classic Rock and Roll weapon. Being in high school, though, I saw a lot of my friends sustain knee injuries. After a while, I put another spin on Rock and Roll. He damaged his knees in a parachuting accident. He still had the strength that was evident from the comic, but he changed to a more stationary gunner after he lost most of his mobility. It added a level of depth to the character as he was forced to deal with his physical shortcomings. I liked to add a human element to my Joes. It made them more real for me. While most elements of Joedom had the heroes as just that, I preferred them slightly flawed. Having Snake Eyes be invincible really turned me off to the character. I don't know any superheroes. I wanted Joes that emulated life as I knew it: good people with remarkable abilities, but who had human flaws they had to overcome. Call it whatever you like, but that was what made Joe real to me.

All that being said, I've never much used this figure. Why? Simple, I didn't get him until the late '90's. At that time, I was out of standard field combat scenarios and was more focused on more urban set story lines. As such, figures like Shockwave, Law, Mutt, Alley Viper, and Stalker became the type of guys that I wanted to use. All of the Rock and Rolls that I acquired were dropped into the '89 Joe drawer and seldom saw any use. Lately, though, I've seen myself return to classic combat scenarios. My new backyard hearkens back to my childhood when I played with my Joes outside nearly all year round. The long grass and lack of definitive features just seem to call for some classic combat usage. I've also found myself returning to the classic definition of the Cobra. Before, I liked to use specialty Cobras for a number of purposes. Now, I find myself using the standard trooper and some of the more infantry minded Cobras more than ever before. Naturally, the more field combat oriented Joes are finding themselves in a much heavier use rotation as well. I've kind of come full circle. We'll see where I am after a few months of this.

***Update 12/24/08***

This Rock and Roll mold has a somewhat interesting history. After this release in 1989, Hasbro brought the figure back again in 1991 as part of the Super Sonic Fighters line. This figure featured horrible orange trim in lieu of the muted tan. At some point in the '90's, the mold was shipped to India. There, Funskool released it in colors nearly identical to the Super Sonic Fighters version. This figure, though, likely saw a very short release window. It seems that Hasbro recalled this mold shortly after Funskool started production. Hasbro intended for this version of Rock and Roll to be included in the 2001 Headquarters. For whatever reason, though, Hasbro didn't use the mold. (The used the '94 Flint mold instead.) Hasbro then returned the mold to Funskool in 2001 or 2002. Somewhat dismayed at Hasbro's return of the mold, Funskool decided to re-use it for a new figure that was going to be released in 2003. However, Rock and Roll was pulled for another figure and the Funskool Joe line was cancelled before Funskool ever got around to reinterpreting the Rock and Roll mold. At this point, this figure could be anywhere. However, it is likely that Hasbro once again has access to it and this figure remains a viable candidate for re-release at some point in the future.

***End 12/24/08 Update***

While I kind of searched for this guy for a while in my attempts to add him to my collection, it was only after I did so that I realized how common a figure Rock and Roll really is. This guy is everywhere! He can easily be found loose, loose mint and complete, and carded. Best of all, none of these incarnations of him is expensive. Like most Joe figures, Rock and Roll can be had mint, loose and complete for next to nothing. I don't know why that is. Sure, modern collectors build Cobra armies, but they still need Joes for them to fight. This version of Rock and Roll, though, does not lend himself to Joe army building. As such, one is all you really need. Of course, this is an excellent opportunity to add one of these guys to your collection. You can acquire a cool figure for just about nothing. This is a figure that I really wanted. Even now that I have him, he's pretty cool. I think you will find him the same.

While I like this figure, I don't need him. However, should the Rock and Roll and the proposed '01 G.I. Joe headquarters come out, I will need that figure. I'm also after the dark skinned version of the 1997 Rock and Roll. If you can help me with either of these figures, email me.

Relampago (Brazilian Exclusive Python Patrol Rip Cord)

By now, most of you are probably sick of me profiling foreign figures. I've tried, though, wherever possible, to only showcase those foreign Joes that I think integrate nicely with the standard, American figures. As international exclusive Joes are where my collecting focus has been of late, though, those are the figures that I'm most inclined to be using, and therefore, be profiling. Today's figure follows the tradition of many of the other foreign releases I've showcased here. He is a dramatic repaint of a classic American Joe that was released in Brazil as a Cobra: Relampago or the Python Patrol Ripcord.

In Brazil, 2 exclusive Python Patrol figures were released. Relampago was one and Gatilho, a repaint of Airborne, was the other. Both of these figures fill in the one gap that has always existed in the Python Patrol subset, a named leader. It didn't make any sense to me to have this cool unit of specially colored Cobras who had no named leader. In the comic, Darklon, was kind of connected to the group, but that was more of a way to work Hasbro's '89 figure offerings into Joe media that it was any kind of sensical plot device. Without a definite leader, I've always relegated my Python Patrol armies to the back burner. Sure, the Python Viper got some use, but the rest of the figures were obscure and unused. Now, with the addition of Relampago, I no longer have that problem. This guy has become the Python Patrol commander and allowed for some previously unused figures to have some new prominence in my collection.

However, I also see another use for this figure. I envision him as a new, very young, up and coming commander. He is an expert marksman, but a novice commander. As such, he is currently relegated to leading the Python Patrol and Cobra's sweeper forces. He is the guy who heads Cobra's security divisions. He is very low on the totem pole in the Cobra world, but he is very ambitious. Of course, he has allied himself with the character portrayed by his fellow Brazilian exclusive figure the Flying Scorpion. The character portrayed by that figure sees great potential in the young prodigy and constantly challenges him to further his career. As he advances, I see this guy becoming another of my new Cobra legions who will eventually rise up and take over Cobra Commander.

This figure is very nicely done. As you can see from the pictures below, his cammo pattern fits in perfectly with the American release Python Patrol figures. In fact, there is really no way for this guy to be distinguished in any way from a normal, run-of-the-mill American figure. That's what I look for in foreign Joes. Oddly colored monstrosities that have straight arms and vac-metal parts and are high priced don't compel me. I'm after figures that I can use alongside my other Joes and have them fit in. Were you to look at my Joe collection, you would see figures from the U.S., Europe, China, Argentina, Brazil, and India all co-mingled together. The reason is that I like Joe figures. Any figure from any country that is cool to me is something I want. If I see a use for a figure in my collection, then I'm going to go after them. Value, or perceived value, and rarity become less important when it is the figure itself you want: not the prestige of owning it.

It seems that Ripcord was a popular mold for South American companies. Not only was a slightly repainted Ripcord available in Argentina, the mold was redone in tan to create the Argentine exclusive Sokerk figure. The mold then showed up in Brazil for Relampago. Most collectors know that Ripcord was originally supposed to be included in the American Tiger Force subset. He and a newly named figure called Sabretooth, an '84 Firefly repaint, were pulled from the set, however, and replaced with the figures we are all now familiar with. This is pure speculation on my part, but the reason Ripcord may have been pulled from the Tiger Force assortment was because the mold was missing. Most likely, Hasbro just mocked up existing molds for the Tiger Force figures. They had a Ripcord and thought he looked cool. When the time came to produce the figure, though, the mold was down in South America and there was no way to get it back in time to meet production timetables. Again, this is pure speculation, but I think it would help explain why a figure as cool as Ripcord never saw re release in the U.S. while losers like Bazooka did.

As Brazilian figures go, Relampago is kind of tough to find. I've seen very few of them ever offered for sale. Of those, the only one that was in mint condition and complete with all his accessories is the one now in my collection. I've seen a couple of these guys with broken crotches and broken thumbs. Like the American Ripcord, Relampago is subject to broken crotches. After holding the figure, though, I've also realized that him holding his gun puts undue stress on the thumbs. That would help explain the horrid condition most of these loose figures are currently found in. Like all Brazilian figures, this guy takes some searching to track down, especially if you want him complete. While figures like the Cobra De-Aco fetch $300+ for a loose, mint, complete sample though they are fairly easy to find in the U.S., guys like Relampago don't have the name recognition for people to really search them out and pay high dollars for one. That is good, though, for if you have the patience, you can actually acquire this guy for a fair price that will not force you to store him in a safe deposit box. Again, that's the way Joe figures should be.

****1/7/08 Update

While what I wrote about this figure's availability back in 2001 was accurate, we are now 6 years removed from that and Relampago has become easier to find. Now, mint and complete figures appear with regularity and they can be purchased for as little as $50 plus shipping from Brazil. For that price, the figure is still a bargain as it is a great way to grown an American Joe collection with figures whose look fit in with the line as a whole. As such, I wouldn't waste this figure's availability. A few years, there were always 2 or 3 mint, complete Relampagos available. Now, you only see a couple every month. While I don't see this figure rising in price as his availability dwindles, I certainly don't see him getting any cheaper. So, the time to act is now.

1994 Lifeline

I've long maintained that 1994 figures have gotten a bad rap. When you look at them, they are a fantastically molded and subtly colored group of figures that shows the Joe line still had life in it when the plug was pulled. Unfortunately, most collectors do not share this sentiment. They see the final year of the line as an amalgamation of translucent ninjas, ridiculous aliens, and astronauts galore. They simply haven't taken the time to look at many of the regular assortment of figures that we were offered in the line's final year. Figures like Stalker, Metal Head, Dial Tone, Viper, and Shipwreck were all nicely done figures that could hold their own in against figures from any year. Very few 1994 figures are poor, or even below average. They are simply forgotten afterthoughts from a time when the few collectors who were around were very bitter about the line's demise. Such is the case with today's subject, Lifeline.

I have several reasons for profiling this figure. First and foremost is because I like him. He also, though, will see his primary body mold reused later this year in the final Wave V assortments that should be at retail before the end of the year. Naturally, that exposure will put the mold on people's minds. However, very few people who will buy this new figure will pay much attention to the original owner of the mold. Since the original figure is so good, though, I felt compelled to espouse upon Lifeline before the deluge of nostalgia hits. The final reason is that I really, really like this figure. He has a small role in my Joe world, but a very important one when he is needed. He is one of the figures that I first acquired at retail when I returned to Joe and saw a lot of use in the days when I had few figures available to me. He, like many of the '93 and '94's I profile here, is a nostalgic favorite from a simpler time.

The only reason I originally bought this guy was because he came with a rope. (That's an accessory that I'll always buy!) Other than that, the figure didn't do much for me. However, I had recently purchased a Monster Blaster APC vehicle and needed a driver for it. Lifeline's tough look and communication device made him an emergency pick for the job until I could find a more suitable figure. Lo and behold, though, I grew to like the combination and Lifeline became the only driver my Monster Blaster (it's a really stupid name, but a great toy!) will ever have. He had many personalities depending on the situation. Like most of the figures I picked up in the mid '90's, Lifeline was originally used as an army builder. Over time, I developed a new name and characterization for him that made the figure stronger and gave it more long term potential. Now, he is the named driver of my Monster Blaster. He is a former security trooper and works mostly on prisoner transfers and other criminal related missions. More than once, he is the last link to salvaging a transfer mission gone horribly wrong.

In the history of the Joe line, the few medic figures were very well done. Doc, the original and only actual doctor, was a great figure and an interesting character. The original Lifeline was done in red, but had awesome accessories. Stretcher was also a nice figure who had great accessories. This third version of Lifeline (he also had a Tiger Force version that is really cool for a field medic) follows that tradition. He has a nice, well detailed mold that is covered with gadgets and tools. Like most of the '94 figures, though, these details were left unpainted and are easy to gloss over. If the new version of this mold, and the '94 Stalker mold, utilize paint schemes that fully accentuate the level of detail applied to these later figures, I think many more people will realize the gems that exist from Joe's final year. His head sculpt is also very detailed and shows that Hasbro was working on making the Joe's faces more realistic and detailed. Of course, he suffers from "Big Shoulder Syndrome" and his parts are less compatible with earlier Joes. This second series of figures more closely fits with what we would have seen from the 1995 Battle Rangers assortment. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we, the collectors and fans, were really shortchanged by Hasbro not being able to release the planned 1995 Joe line.

There are a lot of Joe fans out there that have a problem with Lifeline's character. The reason is that Lifeline was a pacifist. The very notion of a pacifist in an elite combat unit like the Joes does not sit well with many people. This characterization crosses the lines of Joe media and was evidenced in both the comic and cartoon. It is a serious source of contention with some people. For me, I avoided the problem. This figure is a rough and tough vehicle driver. The other two Lifeline figures are army builders for me. I use the original as a base medic and the Tiger Force version as a field medic. The figures are much more fun that way and you avoid the contradictions in character that so many Joe aficionados out there despise.

Lifelines are pretty tough to find. He came out in the harder to find second series from 1994 and didn't see the wide release that many of the other figures from his year did. Now, he, like most 1994's, can be found more easily MOC than he can loose. I remember trying to buy Joes at retail back in '94 and '95. They weren't an easy find. There were many, many pegwarmers left over from previous years and the newer figures tended to only show up occasionally. Looking for this guy now, especially if you want him mint and complete, can be frustrating. My advice would be to buy a carded figure and just open him. Most '94's can be had for under $10.00 for a MOC figure. With those kind of prices, why wait? With the impending rerelease of this mold, interest in this figure could increase. If that is the case, you will certainly be upset with yourself if you pass on the figure now. I've found this version of Lifeline to be a valuable addition to my collection. Given half a chance, I think many others out there will as well.

I'm looking forward to the new interpretation of this mold that will come out later this year. Are you?

1989 Track Viper

Back in the late '80's and early '90's, I was out of Joe. I hadn't bought a figure in some time. My youngest brother had picked up one or two random figures, but, for the most part, there were no new Joes in our house. Then, one day, I saw an interesting figure sitting on the floor of our computer room. It was gray and red and was unlike any figure I thought we had. I asked my brothers where the figure came from, but neither of them knew anything about it. They hadn't received any new G.I. Joe toys in a while. Like the Tiger Force Recondo no one knew where this figure came from. Since I thought he was really cool, though, I packed him away with my other figures and forgot about him. A couple of years later, I pulled out the figure, but still didn't know who he was. Once I discovered YoJoe.com, though, I finally learned that the mystery figure was actually the driver of the Hiss II, the Track Viper.

I never had a Hiss II. In fact, to this day, I've never seen one first hand. For some reason, it is a vehicle that has eluded me. However, the driver of the Hiss II is a great figure. I hate the original Hiss Driver. The red color, lame head and ridiculous leggings make for a guy that hasn't seen the light of day in quite some time. For a while, I used Motor Vipers as my exclusive Hiss drivers. The bright blue, though, started to wear on me. I had used my lone Track Viper as the driver for the Maggot, I use Worms as a named Cobra, but hadn't liked his soft grey against the blue grey of the of the Maggot. On a whim, I decided to put the Track Viper in the original Hiss tank. This was a winning combination. The figure fits into the cockpit perfectly and the grey and red is a better blend than the stark contrast created by the original driver. The Track Viper is a perfect example of how a later figure can integrate with an earlier vehicle and make it better.

Most people pay little attention to the Track Viper. He is an obscure figure for what an important vehicle he came with. For whatever reason, mainly the fact that he came out in 1989, collectors have passed him over. Of course, what do you do with a figure like this? I, myself, called him "uninspiring" back in the early days of this site. I still say that he has no flash and isn't a figure that everyone would see and just have to have. He is, though, an example of another nice, quiet addition to the Cobra ranks. Most collectors still rank 1989 as the second best Cobra year ever. Because of the great Night, Alley, and Heat Viper figures, other quality figures, like this guy, have fallen by the wayside. Had this guy come out in 1988, he would be much more appreciated. That, though, is a nice feature. It allows you to use the Track Viper for various purposes that help flesh out a diorama or scene much better than some other better known figure. I've always thought it neat when people use less heralded figures in their collections. It helps keep everyone's unique ideas from running together.

The Track Viper is a great mold. Unfortunately, both of its incarnations are less than stellar. I was really hoping that the Rip It figure would have been a Track Viper repaint. I hate the original Hiss Driver mold. This guy, done in the colors of Rip It, would have been just awesome. Alas, the nostalgic sentiment was too strong and the original Hiss mold was released with the original Hiss Driver mold. It is really a shame that this guy never got another chance to see release in colors that would have showcased how cool he really is. I think that figures like the Track Viper are really worth another look. Most collectors pay little attention to them and gloss them over. Had more collectors been vocal in their support of this mold, we might have seen it rereleased. As such, this guy is still a nice little secret that you can enjoy.

Track Vipers aren't the easiest to find guys in the world. In fact, they can be downright troublesome. With all the lots of '89 Cobras I've bought over the years, I've only picked up one extra Track Viper. Aero Vipers and Secto Vipers are actually a bit easier to find that this guy is. Lately, he will cost you as well. I remember Track Vipers being cheap, but not all that common. Now, this guy can fetch $20 for a loose, complete specimen! That's a pretty high price tag for a figure like this. He may not be out there in great quantities, but he can be found and certainly exists in greater numbers than a number of cooler, and less produced Cobra drivers. With the release of the Hiss III, I think interest in this guy increased. That exposure lead to higher prices. I see this guy becoming affordable again. He just isn't the type of figure that can sustain a high price tag for a long period of time. Guys like the original Eel have started to come down in price. Collectors will have their fill of this figure and he will one day be affordable. In the meantime, I suggest you check out the Nitro Viper. He is a straight repaint of this figure and works just as well in just about all vehicles.

While these guys are cool, I really don't need any more right now. Who is your favorite Cobra driver? Email me.