I've recently been thinking about the 1986 Hawk. He might be my favorite 1986 release. There's a few other figures in that year that I really like. But, the marriage of Hawk's character and a cool figure update for him resonates with me...moreso than even childhood favorites like Dial Tone. In looking at the total year of 1986, I was surprised in that the class lacks a really amazing, iconic figure. Instead, pretty much everyone released that year is above average. (With some exceptions, of course!) So, it's a great year where the 20th best figure and the 3rd best figure are pretty close in quality. And, there's no clear cut number 1.
As a kid, though, this Hawk was essential. My Joe team finally had a leader who was worthy of fighting with them out in the field. As I loved Hawk's pistol for other figures, I'd often give him Leatherneck's M-203. I'd also remove his helmet as I didn't much like it back in 1986. And, this figure was a younger, more dynamic Hawk who was capable of leading the Joes right into any firefight. When I tired of that, Hawk could retreat to the HQ: where he was equally at home giving commands to the Joes still out in the bush. So, the figure got a lot of use.
Today, that still stands. I enjoy getting Hawk out for photo shoots. I don't do it as often as I should because my nice one is put away and my spare has a loose o-ring that I really need to repair one of these days. None of this figure's later homages were able to surpass the original. So, I still turn to the 1986 figure when I want to use the Joe team's leader. I was hoping a 2025/2026 repaint that was long rumoured might finally give my original figure some well earned retirement. But, it looks like that product is dead.
Enjoy the photos below. If you have another contender for top figure of 1986 (that isn't the BAT....), let me know in the comments below.
No comments:
Post a Comment