2017 Sightline - Random Photos of the Day

Back in 2017, Red Laser Army produced the Sightline figure.  For quite a while, the figure was the toast of the collecting world.  The combination of being an homage to a well liked collector and also a visually distinctive figure added up to a release that skyrocketed on the secondary market...even though it wasn't supposed to be sold.  8 years later, the figure remains extremely high priced.  Some of the militancy around selling the figure has, sadly, subsided.  But, at the same time, Sightlines have gotten much more sporadic in their appearance.  

There was a time when Joe creators love the figure and used it whenever they could.  Slowly, though, Sightline has fallen in popularity.  These days, you rarely see Sightline used in any capacity.  Part of that is just that we're so far removed from the figure's release that many newer creators don't own the figure.  But, even for people who have had him for a while, Sightline remains a rare sight.  I don't use him nearly as often as I should.  He's a figure I see in the drawer, want to use, but can never think of the perfect scenario for him.  I may try to rectify that in the future.  But, I say it about many figures: few of whom ever return to their former glory.

The reality is that Sightline is one of the most popular figure profiles on this site.  He was widely viewed upon publication and, every so often, gets a nice bump in views.  Usually, this is due to someone else using the figure and having many newer collectors ask about Sightline and why the figure matters to so many.  It's a good way to gauge if there's discussion about the figure or character occurring, somewhere.

In recent years, many other classic Joe molds have been painted up in the "Sightline" color scheme of grey cammo and red accents.  None of them capture the pure joy of the original figure, though.  I don't think of 2017 as being that long ago.  But, in terms of the Joe world, it was an unrecognizable time.  Prices hadn't risen and there wasn't the professional dealer class who artificially inflates the market.  Figures were made for fun because Hasbro didn't care about the brand at all.  Really, it was a good time.  

Seeing Sightline out and about, though, helps bring some of that feeling back.  I don't think of this figure as a "rare collectible" that requires me to wear plastic gloves if I want to handle him.  No.  I think of a fellow collector (Wowboy) offering me his figure in the spirit of the Sightline project.  I think of all the fun I had talking about this figure with other collectors.  And, I remember old message boards full of great collectors who are long gone and all the awesome discoveries and discussions that could be had.  In that spirit, here's Sightline doing what Sightline was intended to do: be a fun and unique part of a Joe collection.