I've had this Around the Web feature sitting in my drafts for a while. I don't much like this Duke figure. So, it wasn't a feature I was really looking to finish up. Last week, though, Gen Liederkranz posted a photo (it's the 2nd link below!) of this Duke with a set of his gear from various sources. It was amazing how much the proper gear enhanced this figure. That set me to take the 1st photo in this post. And, it prompted the same realization. Duke just looks better with his real gear.
Sadly, the resculpted head is too large for any vintage helmets. So, Duke is relegated to carrying an old Battle Gear helmet around. But, there are now a variety of colors in which you can find Duke's M-32. So, it's easy to find a nice match with a weapon that isn't so tied to Stalker or the original Duke. And, both the tan and brown versions of Duke's backpack can work with this color scheme. I'm not to the point where I like this figure. But, I can see him appearing more frequently now that I have a good way to accessorize him.
So, check out the photos and write ups on the figure below. There's some stuff written about him from back in 2004 so you can see how contemporary collectors viewed the figure upon his release. And, there's newer photos to see how people use him, now.
2004 Anti Venom Duke at General Liederkranz
2004 Anti Venom Duke by yo_joe_it
2004 Anti Venom Duke by fun_time_at_serpentorslair
2004 Anti Venom Set review at Generals Joes Reborn
2004 Anti Venom Duke by yovalleyjoe
2004 Anti Venom Duke by ftwten
2004 Anti Venom Set review at JoeBattleLines.com
2004 Anti Venom Duke by thejacshobby
2004 Anti Venom Duke by fun_time_at_serpentorslair
2004 Anti Venom Duke by gavinhignight
Honestly the biggest flaw with this and all Duke figures from the repaint era are those arms,you're telling me comic pack Storm Shadow can have his upper arms switched or comic pack 26 Stalker can swap out the arms entirely,yet for Duke he's stuck with those crappy arms?
ReplyDeleteI've always been of two minds with this figure. The colour combo chosen for the Anti-Venom set was actually really good, as they work in all sorts of environments, but the arms and the painted skintone for the head are terrible. I don't really know how they've aged, but the Anti Venom set was in my opinion the best overall Joe Team TRU 6 pack, everything else had significantly uglier warts, than this set, where the worst figure was this Duke (that's not even all that bad)
ReplyDeleteWith the proper accessories, this Duke is actually pretty good, if you're looking for a helmet to fit onto this one, the Black Major did the 82 helmet that came with figures from the wave that Greenshirt Mutt in the background of the first photo was in, and it fits, and works especially well with the visor.