Monday, December 2, 2024
Night Viper - Grey (Black Major Version)
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
1993 Night Creeper Leader
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
2018 Cobra Starduster - Black Major
When Starduster variants first showed up in 2017, I picked up a couple of them. They made for great figures. But, as more repaints appeared, I had less interest in them as I was rushing to catch up on the Steel Brigade, Cobra Trooper, Alley Viper and Night Viper repaints. By the time I got around to chasing down the Stardusters, they seemed like old news. In late 2020, though, Nekoman showcased a Red Shadows Starduster as part of his Laser Exterminator profile. Not to be outdone, RTG at the Attica Gazette then showcased the figure in its full glory on his site. With these, my interest in the figure was piqued. And, at that time, you could still get a few of the late 2010's Black Major figures for cheap prices.
When I thought about it, Starduster makes more sense as a villain. His jet pack is very much a super villain weapon. His visor hides his face well enough. And, he's obscure enough that switching the affiliation of a repaint doesn't really hurt any Joe mythos. Shortly after reading these other blogs about the figure, a red Starduster popped up for $12. I quickly snagged it. Mine, though, is not the Red Shadows version. Instead, it's a Cobra version of Starduster cast in all red. But, it still works for my intended purpose. And, it's a damn fine example of the work Black Major can do.
Black Major released a massive amount of Starduster repaints. Some were Starduster. Others were marketed as Cobras. And, there were Red Shadows versions, too. Quickly, collectors who were pigeonholed into Starduster's intended role were freed to actually do something with the character. I've never really clicked with Starduster as a character. To me, the most interesting thing about him is that he was named Hedge-Hopper in a preview issue of Marvel Age. That's not much on which to base a character, though. So, having the figure in a definitely Cobra color and Cobra markings was an interesting way to re-envision the character.
The calling card of the figure is the red color. It is a deep and vibrant red: fitting for a Cobra. The camo pants are in oddball choice that shouldn't matter. But, they add depth to the look of the figure and give him some visual interest. The black details and silver highlights stand out against the red backdrop. Really, there's not a ton of paint applications. But, when you have a powerful base against which accent colors can pop, small amounts of paint can go a long way. And, with this Starduster, they do.
I'm not really sure what to do with a Cobra Starduster. Just having a jetpack guy isn't all that much fun after a few interactions. It's why I had jetpack troopers when I was a kid. They were useful in spurts. But, not enough upon which to base a character. But, every villainous organization requires some B-level bad guys who can be beaten by the good guys but not be so important that their capture would compromise the bad guys or their plans. So, this Starduster fits that role well enough. He'll show up from time to time. But, usually, it's for a short time and a limited role. But, with thousands of figures now available in the vintage Joe style, some have to be intended for bit parts.
The Starduster era Black Major figures are very well done. From a quality perspective, the joints are solid, they will hold a pose and the paint masks are vibrant and sharp. You'll see some paint wear on the figure's visor in the photo below. The translucent plastic of the visor doesn't hold paint all that well. But, some other colors seem to better maintain their paint. The grenade launcher is also painted. So, it can wear if you use it frequently. Beyond that, though, the jetpack is awesome: equal of a Hasbro release. And, the helmet fits nicely onto the head. You'll note the reversed rivets in the figure below. A function of the time when these figures were released. You can find them with proper rivets, too. So, there's plenty of little things to look out for when chasing this figure.
Depending upon when you bought this figure, you got a variety of different pieces. Early figures included both a Duke chest and a Recondo chest so you could make an imitation of either major Starduster variant figures. The figure should always have a helmet, visor, jetpack and grenade launcher. Some will have the weapon and hose from the JUMP, too. As time has gone on, many of the figures made available have become separated from some of the superfluous pieces. But, you'll see variants of the chest and weapons among various figures that you can acquire.
This Starduster is tough to price. You see them offered at $40 or $50. But, they don't seem to sell at that point. You'll see some sell around $30. But, those seem to be outliers, too. Contemporary Starduster variants that were released at the same time as this Cobra version seem to run between $20 and $30. So, that's probably the sweet spot. There's a lot of people who try to oversell this figure just due to the association with Starduster. But, the original, Hasbro Starduster is one of the most over-hyped figures in all of collectordom and isn't nearly as popular or rare as his price suggests. So, don't overpay for the Black Major figures just due to a false sense of rarity associated with the Hasbro release.
Friday, November 15, 2024
1991 Mercer - Around The Web
I was very surprised to find this is the first content I've made on the 1991 Mercer figure in 20 years. He's a figure I greatly enjoy. And, I thought I used him quite a bit. But, it turns out that he's mostly in the background of photos. He's rarely the focal point. I probably need to change that. The figure's colors and mold are easy to match up with vehicles and other figures. So, he can be used in a variety of ways. I just need to explore it a little more.
The upside is that lots of other people use to great effect. So, check out all the links below to see some fun stuff utilizing one of the better 1991 figure releases.
1991 Mercer at Nekoman's Viper Pit
1991 Mercer at JoeBattleLines.com
1991 Mercer by andrey_collector
Sunday, November 10, 2024
1985 Snake Eyes
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
2024 BAT - Super7 ReAction+
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
2010 Black Major Blue Cobra Mortal - Random Photos of the Day
In the case of this figure, I couldn't do an around the web feature. The reason is that there's nothing out there. So, instead, I'll just post some of the various photos I've taken of him over the years.
Back in 2010 or so, when this figure first showed up, I thought that the Cobra blue body combined with the chromed head created an incredible visual. Back then, factory customs were pretty new. And, there was only a couple of dozen total figures. So, this figure felt very fresh. It seemed like something that could have been released. And, it was actually much better than any official version of the Cobra Mortal character that had seen production.
Now, the figure seems almost quaint. When compared to the current crop of factory customs, this figure is akin to comparing a 1982 Joe to one released in 1992. They have evolved to a degree that the originals are easily recognized. And, I kind of like that. It shows that there is still work to do in the Joe world. Despite that, these early figures retain a type of innocence from their early design period.
Saturday, October 26, 2024
1993 Nitro Viper Around The Web
Nitro Viper Profile 2017
Detonator Profile
Nitro Viper Profile 1999
Nitro Viper by Outrider 1
Nitro Viper by steelbrigade
Monday, October 21, 2024
1993 Headhunter
1993 Headhunter figure pricing is very volatile. You can still find carded figures for under $20 if you are constantly looking and quick on the draw. At the same time, you'll see mint, loose and complete with filecard figures sell for $40. Dealers are really trying to drive up the price of these figures. But, left to market forces, the figure is worth about $30. But, it will take you a while to find even one. It's a far cry from the days when the carded figures wouldn't sell for $8 each. And, the 1992 Headhunter is definitely a better figure. In fact, of all the Headhunter releases, the 1993 is probably the worst. But, it might also be my favorite. I wouldn't want to pay today's prices for one. But, I'm grateful for my little squad as they are a reminder that cool things can be made for kids.
Friday, October 18, 2024
X Ray Eye (Power Commandos) - Around The Web
The Power Commandos have become one of the more recognized series of G.I. Joe knock-off toys. This is, entirely, a function of them becoming relatively available in the last 10 years. Since they're kind of weird and have cool gear, it makes sense that they would have been accepted by collectors.
X Ray Eye isn't one of the more recognizable Power Commandos. But, he's in line with the aesthetic of the line. And, he makes for an interesting side villain to accompany your Cobras. The figure is fun to have around and can be very useful in the right setting.
With the newfound popularity of the figures, you can actually find some content out there that showcases them. So, take some time to stop by each link and see how others have used X Ray Eye.
Power Commandos Wave Breakdown & Release Info
X Ray Eye by thedragonfortress
X Ray Eye by toysandtomfoolery
X Ray Eye by nightforcetunnelrat
X Ray Eye by jaredscoolcollection
X Ray Eye by toysandtomfoolery