Beach Head is who he is. The original figure is a classic with a super fragile crotch. Hasbro made a few repaints of him in the 2000's. Now, there's factory customs featuring the mold. And, they proved there was a lot of life in the Beach Head mold. The real version of Beach Head, though, is the lime green Funskool version. To this day, this 1986 figure seems bland to me because I view the Funskool figure as the default version of the character.
This doesn't take away from the original paint job's quality. Beach Head remains one of the line's better overall figures. The different aqua green color that is offset by the black vest and brown, camo pants works way better than the words describing it would indicate. And, the figure's intricate details and perfect accessory complement complete the package for one of the highlights of the class of 1986.
Due to the ubiquity of the Funskool version in my collection, though, I rarely get this original figure out for photos. When I want Beach Head, I'll go with the brighter version. So, my usage of the Hasbro figure is deliberate. And, you'll see that in the photos below where Beach Head is paired with his contemporaries for a specific look.
It's kind of funny how the 1986 Beach Head fell into obscurity, considering how popular he was in the early 2000s. The figure still shows up, but nowhere near as frequently as he did in 2002. I thought maybe the Factory Custom versions would've brought new life to him, but not really.
ReplyDeleteMy older cousin got me into GI Joe. He had Beachhead, who was the coolest. I liked Beachhead because my cousin liked him. I though my cousin was so cool. He eventually just gave Beachhead to me, along with some other Joes. I haven't heard from him in 30 years. He last called me right after Chrono Trigger came out to ask me how to beat some part of it. Then, according to his mom (my aunt, who was awesome), he moved to Montana to get away from minorities. He basically ghosted his whole family. Really sad.
ReplyDeleteI still vividly remember the day I picked out Beach Head (and Dr. Mindbender) in the creepy basement toy section of our local craft store. He's always been a favorite of mine.
ReplyDeleteI've also got the light green Funskool one. But, for the life of me, I can't recall where or when I got him. He just sort of "showed up" in my collection one day :/
I miss the days of weird, offbeat stores all carrying toys. You'd find really old or obscure lines in them. I have tons of memories of finding walls of Star Wars figures in a hardware store, the downtown department store where the toys were by a ramp that ran between all 4 or 5 floors and a huge display of two year old Joes in the backroom of a Kroger store. Those were the days.
DeleteBeach Head is up there in my favorite figures of all time. He's always been a big deal in my joe verse. Never had the original as a kid but for many years my Battle Corps Beach Head was my favorite figure. I think I have 5 or 6 of the original in my collection just because of the fragile waist piece. I actually recently made a lazy bastard custom with 86 Beach Heads upper body and head with the 93 Beach Head's waist and legs. Always liked his character in GI Joe The Movie too - just a no nonsense instructor. When Hasbro released the Night Force version with Flint and the Moray Hydrofoil I remember my Joe Hunts at TRU trying to track it down moreso for Beach Head than the vehicle itself. An iconic figure mold.
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