In the early 2000's, collectors hated 1993 and 1994 figures. As such, dealers often had boxes and boxes of carded figures for a few bucks each. Mostly, these were brightly colored characters that the collectors of the day loathed. But, every now and again, you'd come across a stash of Headhunter Stormtroopers. Around 2002 or so, the collecting community discovered this figure and began to accept that even 1993 had a few redeeming figures that were worthy to stand along the 1987 and earlier figures. 18 years later, this attitude seems almost foolhardy. But, it took the Joe community a long time to break their staid habits. Due to the figure's quality, there's a ton of content on him out there. Here's the best of the 1993 Headhunter Stormtrooper from around the web.
Headhunter Stormtrooper Profile
Headhunter Stormtrooper by thevintagetoylife
Headhunter Stormtrooper by Scarrviper
Headhunter Stormtrooper by jogunwarrior
Headhunter Stormtrooper by Flatline
Headhunter Stormtrooper by djv
Headhunter Stormtrooper Video Review
Headhunter Stormtrooper at 3DJoes.com
Headhunter Stormtrooper at Joewiki
Headhunters at Icebreakers HQ
Headhunter Stormtrooper by fun_time_at_serpentors_lair
Headhunter Stormtrooper by thedustinmccoy
I have Asa Negra.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to add this guy to my collection. Imagine if he'd been released at retail in standard Cobra blue, red, and/or black. What a missed opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious if this mold could of also worked for Destro's Iron Grenadiers in the 2000's? The Iron Grenadiers colours are sort of already there, though I think they would have to redo the colour layout of the figure to make them different from the Headhunters. I could maybe see them as either a sort of Destro's version of a Fear Trooper, Negotiator, or even the Iron Grenadiers version of the Cobra Interrogator.
ReplyDeleteWith the Skull face like mask, maybe the head could at least been used as a more Tech Based Inspired version of the Cobra Range Vipers in the 2000's as well. Maybe if Robot Rebellion(The line that was suppose to have happened after Valour V.S. Venom, before Hasbro shifted to 8" Sigma 6) line had happened, since it was implied that Cobra from that line was going to be a bit more tech based and some wearing armour(As indicated by some of the Single DTC Cobra releases such as Scrap Iron).
As for the Headhunter Stromtrooper, I do like the mold, as they are very scary looking thanks to the skull mask. I think I prefer the regular Headhunters look if I had the choice of the 2, but the Stromtrooper version still looks nice, and perfect for when they want to add a "Fear Factor" for any situation the Headhunters are in, regardless if they are aligned with Cobra or not.
One thing that the Club proved with the 2008 figure and Lady Jaye Toys is kind of proving with their upcoming HHST figures is that the mold doesn't take to colors all that well. The Club figure pretty much killed interest in the HHST for a decade and remains one of the cheaper convention army builders to this day. LJT's figures don't really make the mold pop, either.
DeleteWhile this is a great figure, I do think it's also a case where less is more. This guy is good enough in his original form that any others just start to diminish him, overall. It's weird. But, none of the repaints have worked on this guy, at all.
While I'm 1 who doesn't have any issues with the deco of 2008 Convention Exclusive version, I can see where you are coming from in your "Less is more" comments. And I do agree that the 1993 original is still the better deco when you compare to the 2008 version.
DeleteI was just thinking over is all, especially since Hasbro is usually consider the Repaint Kings.
I'm guessing Lady Jaye Toys is a new 3rd Party/Bootleg company doing O-Ring G.I. Joe figures correct?