1992 Cutter - Around the Web

The Whale is one of the top three most iconic vehicles in the Joe line.  It was released in 1984 and included a cool pilot named Cutter.  The Cutter figure was fine.  He fit the aesthetic of the time period.  8 years later, Cutter would get an upgrade.  This time, as a member of the DEF, the figure got a sleeker and more detailed look.  But, the underlying design was strikingly similar to the 1984.  The baseball cap, orange vest and dark blue pants were all carried over.  And, you if you were familiar with the 1984 figure, you'd instantly recognize the 1992 figure as Cutter.

As this updated version was released in 1992, it's often overlooked in discussions about the best character update in the line.  But, Cutter's massive improvements are right there with the 1985 Snake Eyes, 1989 Stalker and 1986 Hawk.  The 1992 looks just as home in the cockpit of the Whale as the 1984 version.  That's a tough trick to pull.  Hasbro did it, though.

Sadly, Cutter's not enough of a main character to really have his update shine through.  He remains fairly obscure and isn't a character that gets a lot of press.  I had to dig deep to find some good content on him.  But, much of what's below shows off not only his traditional gear like his weapon and the amazing flashlight.  But, also his spring loaded grappling hook that's one of my favorite spring loaded weapons.  So, take some time and check out the links, below.  There's some great content featuring one of the more unheralded character updates in the vintage Joe line.

1992 Cutter Profile 2002

1992 Cutter Profile 2014

1992 Cutter by evilface

1992 Cutter by Gen_Liederkranz

1992 Cutter by thedustinmccoy

1992 Cutter by hobieshinobi

1992 Cutter by ronnie_trickshot

1992 Cutter by actionforcedk

1992 Cutter by gijoe_c4_panama

1992 Cutter by thedustinmccoy

1992 Cutter by gen_liederkranz

1992 Talking Battle Commanders General Hawk

The 1996-1998 G.I. Joe community was made up, almost exclusively, of guys whose childhood Joe years were 1982 through 1985.  You'd see collectors of that era expand their notion of Joe until about 1987.  But, that was a clear demarcation line.  The only time you'd see figures made after this date was for a slate of standard customs.  You'd see a couple of later figures used to make the Oktober Guard.  You'd see a Street Fighter figure used to make the khaki shorts Kwinn.  And, you'd see the Talking Battle Commander Hawk head used to make some, usually villainous general who was looking to take the Joes down from the inside.

The reason this trope was ubiquitous was due to the overall design and quality of the figure's head sculpt.  Aside from the obscuring sunglasses, Hawk's head has a stern look that doesn't denote experience as much as it implies that the person behind the countenance is a huge dick.  More importantly, to collectors of that early era, Hawk was only defined by his 1986 figure.  There were no future Hawk figures to any of those guys.  So, breaking the 1992 figure apart to make up some fictional take on the "Jugglers" was the only acceptable acknowledgement that Hasbro had kept the character in circulation in the 1990's.  

The singular calling card of this General Hawk is his skin tone.  Hasbro went with a sunburnt face and hands for the fleshtone.  It is the only figure in the vintage line with this skin tone.  There's no explanation as to why Hasbro modified their standard flesh colors.  But, it makes this Hawk stand out among his peers.  The skin color is a match for the maroon and tan that comprises the bulk of the figure's color.  It still, though, stands out and makes you wonder what happened to the Hawk character instead of just blending with the rest of the uniform coloring.  It's an odd feature for the figure and is really the most famous discussion point around him.

The figure's base colors are also seldom seen in the Joe line.  The combination of a maroon jacket with golden highlights is a bold choice.  Pairing it with tan pants and offsetting it with some black details wasn't something you'd think would work.  But, the colors are complementary and do create a memorable visual of the figure.  I do think the colors allow this Hawk to blend into the background too easily.  And, he's difficult to pair with other figures who also accentuate his color palette.  More often, Hawk clashes with figures that are both his contemporaries and precedents.  The golden highlights and gear are meant as a way to make the figure appear to be a leader.  But, the gold doesn't improve the figure's regal standing and leaves Hawk as more of an odd man out than the leader that was denoted by his 1986 and, even, 1991 figures.

The overall sculpting of this figure is interesting.  As a standalone piece, the parts fit together, perfectly.  The puffy jacket, tall boots and rectangular head all work together to form a symmetric representation of a person.  When you compare this guy to other figures of his time, though, you start to see that he appears to be a bit out of proportion.  This was accentuated when Hasbro started using his pieces in conjunction with earlier sculpted parts during the 2000's.  It became apparent that this Hawk's legs were too long and his upper body too bulky.  It allows the figure to work on his own.  But, makes him harder to set up with other figures in the line.  His oversized accessories (especially the pistol!) exacerbate this.  And, when you take the weird skin, offbeat base colors, the elongated parts and the comical weapons, you're left with a figure that's never caught on with the collector base.

The Talking Battle Commanders were another gimmick in Hasbro's ever expanding arsenal as the line limped towards cancellation.  The oversized backpacks and electronics were a way to drive up the retail price and put a G.I. Joe item into the $5-$10 price category.  Historically, this level was where you found small vehicles that defined the line.  Many collector favorites exist due to this desired price point.  By the early 1990's, though, vehicles were passe.  And, Hasbro needed something that appeared to be special to justify the higher price tag.  The TBC figures seemed to sell in the $6-$8 range at various retail stores.  They weren't great sellers and the concept was discontinued for 1993.  Large quantities of them made their way to overstock stores of the era for around a $5 price tag.  All of these were high for what you got.  As I was an adult by the time these appeared at retail, the sway of electronic components in a G.I. Joe figure was lost on me.  I'd be curious to hear from younger collectors, though, to see if it was a salient selling point for them and made them want figures like this over the standard retail line that was about 1/2 the price.

The TBC Hawk included some solid accessories.  There is, of course, the massive electronic backpack.  There is a golden antenna that attaches to the top of it.  The talking backpack is screwed on with more fasteners than are worth removing.  They are annoying.  But, once the pack is taken off, you can get down to the essentials.  The figure also includes two golden weapons.  Gold is a rare accessory color.  In some contexts, it worked great.  For Hawk, though, the gold is somewhat distracting.  The color meshes with the figure, though.  It just makes the gear more difficult to port to other figures.  There is an oversized revolver that has a sight on top.  Somehow, the size works with this Hawk, though.  It is the only weapon I tend to use with this mold.  There is also a rifle.  I actually really enjoy this rifle.  It was released ad naseum in silver during the early 2000's and remains my de facto weapon for the 2000 Dusty and all the Mirage repaints from 2002 and 2003.  

This mold ended up with a good life. After the vintage release, it made a surprise appearance in 2000.  Hasbro then released it again in 2002, after they could not find the 1986 Hawk mold but still wanted to release the character.  In 2004, the mold was used for two of the three figures in a convention "Changing Zartan" set.  It was just weird and remains an obscure and unpopular release.  Starting in 2004, Hawks legs started to get used on comic pack figures including Clayton Abernathy and Stalker.  In 2005, the legs and arms were used along with some newly sculpted 1986 Hawk parts to make another Comic Pack Hawk.  Hasbro's infatuation with the parts in the 2000's further soured collectors on the mold.  And, it's taken nearly 25 years for you to start seeing sentiment that the various flavors of this General Hawk are worthwhile figures.

It's recently been discovered that this mold was also planned for a 1994 release.  It would have been included with a machine gun nest that ended up being released as the Battle Bunker in the Sgt. Savage line.  The figure would have used a grey base color and featured bright green highlights.  It would have been a solid repaint.  We don't know if Hasbro would have sculpted a new back piece for the figure or not.  But, grey Joes are few and far between.  So, had this figure been released, it would have been somewhat distinctive.  Personally, I'd still hold the 2002 color scheme as the best release of the mold...even if the 1994 repaint had happened.  But, it's interesting to know that Hasbro wanted to get more use from this mold during the vintage era.

In the end, I want to tell you that I like this figure.  On paper, I should.  He's bizarre enough and obscure enough to be the type of guy that's right up my alley.  But, he's not.  This is a figure that I only acquired because a fellow collector was liquidating his collection and happened to have his cheap as a toss in with a group of figures I actually wanted.  I've only ever taken photos of him, deliberately.  He doesn't work with other figures well enough to warrant appearances outside of shots meant to showcase him.  And, if I want to use the look of this character, both the 2000 and 2002 figures are far better ways to get the head sculpt into a photo.  I simply don't see this guy as Hawk.  His introduction to me as the nameless, shadowy general who has authority over the Joe team is the characterization of him that's stuck with me.  The figure just doesn't have the overall quality to overcome that early association and stand on its own.

The Talking Battle Commander Hawk is not popular.  As such, he remains an incredibly cheap figure to acquire.  While dealers will sell mint and complete figures in the $15 range, you can actually still get carded figures for under $20.  You can still find high quality figures on the open market and can buy them for about $8.  These days, that's about as cheap as you find any vintage Joe.  For that price, it's worth it to have a version of the figure lying around.  The later repaints are better.  But, when you can find something cheap like this Hawk is, you take advantage and add him.  The weird color scheme is well worth the paltry price and gives your collection a weird example of the Joe team's leader.

1992 Eco Warriors Barbecue - Around The Web

While I really enjoy this Eco Warriors Barbecue figure, I've never been able to really capture his essence in a photograph.  You won't find that issue in many of the photos below, though.  Others are quite good at showing off this figure.  So, scroll through the links and leave a comment for the creators who are able to make this figure really work.

1992 Barbecue Profile

1992 Barbecue at Nekoman's Viper Pit

1992 Barbecue by Tituslester32

1992 Barbecue by the Dragon Fortress

1992 Barbecue by 73larebear

1992 Barbecue by gen_liederkranz

1992 Barbecue by Tituslester32

1992 Barbecue by viper_space

1992 Barbecue by boonsart_com

1992 Barbecue by 73larebear

1992 Barbecue by 1990s_gi_joes

1992 Firefly - Around The Web

I bought this figure in December of 1992 because it was Firefly and I wanted a new version of one of my favorite characters from childhood.  I found a figure that was actually a lot of fun and very visually interesting.  His rifle was cool.  His uniform worked well. His grey accents hearkened back to the 1984 original.  And, even the bright green was cool.

Now, not everyone agrees on the last point in the above paragraph.  Despite that, the 1992 Firefly appears often enough in people's photos to suggest that it's a figure that collectors find useful.  So, check out the content below.

1992 Firefly Profile

1992 Firefly by yojoe_collectibles

1992 Firefly by gen_liederkranz

1992 Firefly by thedustinmccoy

1992 Firefly by fun_time_at_serpentorslair

1992 Firefly by fosilru

1992 Firefly by 73larebear

1992 Firefly by yorktownjoe

1992 Firefly by aka_patch

1992 Firefly by gen_liederkranz

1992 Firefly by yojoeonline

1992 Firefly by fun_time_at_serpentorslair

1992 Flak Viper vs. 1993 Night Creeper - Brothers in Design

A few years ago, I was cataloging some new acquisitions.  I spread the figures out on a white plastic lid and take pictures to document them before they join the rest of my figures in various drawers that are segregated by year and affiliation.  Two figures in the bunch, though, drew my eye.  I happened to place one above the other.  At first, I noticed how their accessories were the same color.  But, upon closer inspection I found that these two figures shared more than just common hues of their gear.  At first glance, the 1992 Flak Viper and the 1993 Night Creeper could not be more different figures.  But, they share quite a bit of common design.

One of the hallmarks of the Joe line is compatibility.  Not only were things like accessories and vehicles designed to work with any figure, but the figures themselves were designed to complement each other in terms of the colors chosen.  This is why you'll see instances where figures released years apart use plastic of exactly the same color.  This trend started with the line's initial release year and carried over through 1994.  Most collectors lose sight of this compatibility as the line progressed.  But, it's still there.  And, the similarities between the Flak Viper and Night Creeper showcase that the designers reused color combos and sculpting elements that worked well.

The most visual clue to the figure's similarities is the blue base used for each.  The blue color is identical.  The color matches on the figures as well as on the accessories.  As such, you can interchange their weapons and still retain the same visual appeal.  Each incorporates the blue into the main figure coloring, too.  In fact, the blue forms the accent color for both figures.  Really, the only difference in color between the figures is the green on the Flak Viper and the purple on the Night Creeper.  

Going deeper than the blue, though, you see that both figures utilize the same shade of grey as well.  While it's more prevalent on the Flak Viper, the same hue is used to mute the Night Creeper's purple and blue.  The crazy part, though, is the Night Creepers lower arms.  The grey there is broken up by lines.  These lines perfectly match those used on the Flak Vipers vest.  Were is possible to swap the Night Creeper's lower arms with those of the Flak Viper, the Flak Viper would appear as if he were designed with the Night Creeper's arms.

There are a few other design similarities as well.  First, both figures feature a massive chest that is crossed by a strap.  For the Flak Viper, it's his overalls.  For the Night Creeper, it's a bandolier.  But, both start at the bottom right and cover the left shoulder.  Both of their arms feature short sleeves over a grey undershirt.  And, both have elaborate gloves on their hands.

In addition, you will note that both figures feature details on the upper arm, right above the swivel joint.  These adornments are unnecessary.  But, help to hide the joint and give both figures more bulk in their arms.  The construction of the arms on both figures is remarkably similar.  It makes both figures appear more bulky and adds details to break up the mold and make it appear more substantial.

The final point of similarity is in the helmets.  While this one is a bit more far fetched, both helmets are blue with a visor of a different color.  (Black for the Flak Viper, red for the Night Creeper.)  Each helmet has a design in the center with smoother lines on both sides of it.  While the helmets are definitely different.  You see some of the same design elements on each.  Hasbro knew how to make an action figure look cool.  And, they could incorporate artistic creativity inside standard templates that they knew would translate to a toy kids would love.  

Having noticed these similarities, I now want a Flak Viper in 1993 Night Creeper colors and a Night Creeper in 1992 Flak Viper colors.  Both would make for excellent toys and would complement each other very well.  I'm probably the only person who would want this.  But, the fact that these figures are so similarly colored really makes me want to see each figure in the other's color scheme.  

I'm sure there are more examples in the line of figures who, at first sight, appear totally different but who are, actually, very similar in their design.  It was a bit of kismet that lead me to see these two figures and how similar they were.  So, if you have some other examples (The Interrogator and Sonic Dial Tone are another.), please post them up in the comments.

1992 Stormshadow - Ninja Force

Ninja Force is a bit of a tough nut to crack for me.  The figures have really grown on me over the years.  The mold designs and colors are all top notch.  But, old biases and disappointments from finding them on the shelves back at the time of their release also linger.  My main retail letdowns, though, were the 1993 series of Ninja Force.  The debut year of 1992 was long gone.  And, it's been from these 1992 figures that much of my renewed interest in the figures has sprung.  Most of the figures in the line were sculpts I had ignored.  So, upon finding them again, I was floored at how well done the figures tended to be.  But, in the end, the figures are still defined by their spring loaded action gimmicks.  And, that really costs some figures that should have been amazing...such as this 1992 Stormshadow.

I was out of Joe collecting in 1992.  But, I was still religiously reading the comics.  Really, a lot of the plot from that era just blends together for me, now.  I should go back and re-read the last 50 or so issues, just to re-familiarize myself with the happenings.  But, at the time, I did think that some of the Ninja Force designs were pretty cool.  I thought Slice would be a great toy.  But, on my one trip to Toys R Us in December of that year, I was too focused on some other familiar names and bought Destro, Gung Ho and General Flagg instead of anyone else.  This cycle repeated when I started buying up collections of figures in the late 1990's.  I'd focus on lots with figures I liked (back then, you had the luxury of being choosey) and I'd skip many lots that were heavy on Ninja Force figures.

Eventually, by chance, I acquired all the Ninja Force figures.  I bought way too many lots of 1992 figures when I was after Flak Vipers, Eels and Headhunters.  So, in time, I picked up this Stormshadow.  And, promptly, tossed him into a drawer and never looked at him again.  I was so blase about the figure that I didn't even realize that the 1997 Stormshadow (a figure I liked) was an homage to this 1992 figure.  And, it was only in the mid 2000's that I realized that collectors actually had a fondness for this color scheme on Stormshadow, even if they still hated the actual figure mold.  But, the mold's uses in 2000 and 2002 brought some spotlight to the sculpt and helped normalize it among the more hardcore collectors who comprised the community in the early 2000's.  

I remain steadfast in my belief that Stormshadow only works as a Cobra.  He's necessary as a foil to Snake Eyes.  Without the ying to Snake Eyes' yang, the Joe team's ninja/commando/superhero is just too overpowered.  He lacks the worthy adversary that can keep him from just killing Cobra Commander at any point and ending the whole, pointless conflict.  As I've grown older, I'm also more leery of redemption arcs.  While there's some value in the entire notion, the reality is that you really can't rehab a truly terrible villain.  Once someone will corrupt their morals to follow a dark path, their actions can't be erased by later good deeds.  Stormshadow slashed Gung Ho.  While the physical wounds would heal, every time Gung Ho saw the sword slash scar on his back, he's not be as forgiving of Stormshadow as a new ally.  Sure, you can find some conflict in that story.  But, the entire notion of the anti-hero and the redeemed bad guy have lead us to moral uncertainty where society is unable to grasp that, in real life, bad guys are bad guys and are not to be trusted...especially with power.  

While this figure uses just three basic colors (black, white and gold), the visual that they create is stark and memorable.  You have the white upper body that blends into the black midsection before spotting into white, again for the figure's lower third.  The transitional splotches work really well.  And, it's all offset by the golden highlights painted on the figure's torso.  Stormshadow's arms turn black...allowing for the figure's hands to be unpainted black.  This reduces paint wear.  But, it's also an example of how cost cutting on paint applications can be done in such a way to be un-noticeable.  Stormshadow has no paint applications on his lower arms.  Hasbro designed the figure, though, to make this paint savings appear as part of the overall design.  Stormshadow is no worse for not having paint applications because the blending was so well done.  When you compare this to the cost cutting moves of the 2020's era Hasbro, it's appalling apparent the difference in design skill and approach.  Today's Hasbro isn't afraid of making a stupid looking arm to save a few fractions of a penny.  The vintage Hasbro team did it in a way that no consumer would notice.  And, that's a big reason why the original Joe line resonates so much, even 40+ years after its debut.

I'll go out on a limb and say that if this Stormshadow mold used traditional construction, it would have surpassed even the 1988 version in the collector zeitgeist.  The figure is amazingly detailed and the headsculpt is an even better execution of the design that was introduced on the '88 release.  The body is detailed enough to be interesting.  Much moreso than the blander '88.  But, it's not overdone.  The figure suffers from an oversized torso that's designed to hold the spring loaded action feature that was the hallmark of the entire Ninja Force series.  Sans this feature, the figure would be better proportioned and more in line with other vintage figures.  It's a shame the figure has the action feature as it dominates an otherwise excellent Stormshadow figure.

The 1992 Ninja Force figures actually look amazing when all displayed together.  The color theory used to create the entire series works very well.  Again, this was all intentional on Hasbro's part.  How figures looked when displayed together on retail shelves was of utmost importance.  And, seeing all the first series Ninja Force figures together creates a sum greater than the value of the parts.  The 1993 series is similarly constructed.  And, once you see it with a full set, you realize how visually impactful all the colors can really be.

Stormshadow included three accessories.  The first is the standard black battle stand.  From there, he includes two, white bladed weapons.  He has a long, thin white sword.  It is in scale with the figure and is more lithe than most of the other swords in the Ninja Force line.  The final accessory is my personal favorite.  It's a white scythe with a spiked handle end.  While you can debate the practicality of a weapon like this in real life, it's a really cool weapon.  It's also small enough to be easily wielded by any figure.  It's is somewhat of a legacy weapon, too.  The original Stormshadow included distinctive accessories that helped define the figure.  The 1988 figure included the unique bow and claw.  This 1992 figure has the scythe that carries on that tradition.  And, even with just two weapons, Stormshadow has originality that hearkens back to his origins.

This Stormshadow mold was used too many times.  While Stormshadow didn't get a 1993 repaint, the entire mold was reused for T'Gin Zu.  Hasbro then gave the body parts a new head and used released it for two versions of Ken Masters in the Street Fighter II subset.  Stormshadow returned in 1994 when the mold was used in the Shadow Ninjas set.  In 2000, Hasbro decided to release a new Stormshadow using this mold in the first wave of the ARAHC series.  The mold returned as a Red Ninja in the BJ's set in 2002.  It was planned for inclusion in the ill-fated 2003 Wal Mart parachute figure set.  Plenty of the unproduced figures made their way to the collecting community, too.  In 2004, the mold was finally retired after it was released in the Urban Strike set.  It's worth noting that there are two unproduced variants of Stormshadow from this set: both of which were also heavily imported from Asia by collectors of the early 2000's.  So, there's plenty of this mold available.  

If all that's not enough, though, this figure's paint design is homaged on several other figures.  The first is the 1997 Stormshadow.  The coloring then appears on some anniversary figures.  And, in the 2020's, Black Major had co-opted the colors and released them on several different bodies.  So, if you like the way this figure looks, but not the actual parts which were used, there are alternatives to get the visual appearance into your collection, too.

The upside to this Ninja Force Stormshadow is that he remains cheap.  While dealers will fail to get $30 for a mint and complete figure, you can get really nice versions for around $12.  Just the figure will run you slightly more than half of that.  But, I recommend getting the figure's gear because it complements him so well and is only a slight premium from the loose figure.  Be sure to watch out for discoloration on the white plastic.  And, look out for loose o-rings as they are extremely difficult to replace and will require you to slit the figure's glue apart to fix it.  For the money, this is a worthwhile acquisition, though.  It's a neat look for Stormshadow, even if the actual toy is lacking.  But, standing on the shelf, that's less of an issue than it was in the days when everyone used their new figures for photos, dios or other showcases.

1992 Headman - Around The Web

Headman is one of those figures that was hated for many years.  But, over time, his quality has shone through and he is now an accepted Cobra villain.  The figure's sculpt is good and matches his purpose.  Sure, he's still a little Hamburglar-y.  But, in the context of 1990's Joe villains, that's fine.  So, here's a bit of content featuring the 1992 Headman.  Check it out.

Headman Profile

Headman at Nekoman's Viper Pit

Headman by thedustinmccoy

Headman by doksewage

Headman by thedustinmccoy

Headman by ironman3719

Headman by kitbash_joe

Headman at JoeADay.com

Headman at Half The Battle

Headman at When It Was Cool

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.

X Ray Eye Profile

Power Commandos Wave Breakdown & Release Info

X Ray Eye by thedragonfortress

X Ray Eye by toysandtomfoolery

X Ray Eye by nightforcetunnelrat

X Ray Eye at Toys of the Past

Power Commandos by nijirain

X Ray Eye by jaredscoolcollection

X Ray Eye by toysandtomfoolery

1992 Eco Warriors Deep Six - Around The Web

The 1992 Deep Six is a figure that, once in hand, tends to captivate people.  Those who don't have one are not likely to be actively seeking him out.  But, those who do have one really like him.  And, because of that, you see more content on the figure that you do of many other of his contemporaries.  So, check out the content below to see more of the figure.

1992 Deep Six Profile

1992 Deep Six by evilface

1992 Deep Six by python.patrol_benny

1992 Deep Six by ptytoys2021

1992 Deep Six by thedustinmccoy

1992 Deep Six by g.i.joe_manila_ph

1992 Deep Six by joerizzo2025

1992 Deep Six by ptytoys2021

1992 Deep Six by gijoe_c4_panama

1992 Deep Six by elevatemetoahigherhumanform

1992 T'Jbang - Around the Web

T'Jbang's one of those figures that no one really remembers.  You probably know there is a character named T'Jbang.  And, you know he was a member of Ninja Force.  But, you probably need a reference photo to remember what he looks like.  Despite this, there's a nice batch of content on him out there.  So, check out the various photos and write ups.

1992 T'Jbang Profile

1992 T'Jbang by thedustinmccoy

1992 T'Jbang by atticagazette

1992 T'Jbang custom by jogunwarrior

1992 T'Jbang by gen_liederkranz

1992 T'Jbang custom by sintechness

1992 T'Jbang by thedustinmccoy

1992 T'Jbang by mrmikevinthepit

1992 T'Jbang by viper_space

1992 T'Jbang by thedustinmccoy

1992 T'Jbang by viper_space

1992 T'Jbang by gen_liederkranz

1992 DEF Mutt - Random Photos of the Day

Mutt is a classic character with an iconic look.  In 1992, though, Hasbro created an update for him.  Personally, I think it's a solid update to the character.  And, I find it a nice alternative for Mutt.  Not everyone agrees, of course.  But, that's part of what makes collecting fun.

The most interesting thing about this figure is that he is in Slaughter's Marauders colors.  It's a choice that ties this figure to his predecessor.  But, the muted colors allow for this figure to be used in a variety of settings.  And, he's a nice complement to the 1992 Spirit.  

I haven't taken as many photos of this figure as I would have thought.  He's a figure that I enjoy.  So, here's a few photos I've taken of him in the past few years.  Let me know what you think of this guy.

1992 Eel - Random Photos of the Day

The 1985 Eel is one of the most iconic army builders in the history of the Joe line.  And, it just might be a perfect action figure.  Which, pretty much guaranteed that any follow up to  the Eel was going to be overly criticized and would never get a fair shake against the original.  It is through that backdrop that the 1992 Eel was always viewed.  Which, never allowed the 1992 figure to really be viewed on its own merits.  Really, the Hydro Viper and Undertow were both pale imitations of the 1985 Eel.  But, by virtue of not sharing a name, they have never been as harshly judged.

The 1992 Eel figure can stand on it's own.  The design is sleeker and  more self contained that the 1985.  The colors pop, but also work in water.  And, the figure includes the robo-shark.  If you can't get behind that, I'm not sure I can ever help you.  But, sharing the Eel name has forever doomed this figure to second status in the collecting world.  

Through that malaise, though, comes opportunity.  And, over the years, I've been able to acquire a decent army of the 1992 Eels for very cheap prices.  As people don't really care for them, they can be had for a pittance.  And, even with the low production runs of the 1992 single carded figures in general, the Eels are attainable and even amassable.

If you don't have the figure, you owe it to yourself to get one.  And, if you have the figure, you should get more...especially if you have a Bugg as the Eel is a near perfect match for it.  So, enjoy the photos below and let me know about your best work featuring this figure.

1992 Dice - Random Photos of the Day

Dice is a good figure.  So is Slice.  And, when posed together, they are a visual treat.  I haven't used Ninja Force figures for too many photo shoots.  But, I do tend to like the results when I manage to get them out.  

Below are some random photos of the 1992 Dice.  

Flak Viper - Where in the World

There are figures of which I am an irrational fan.  The Flak Viper is one such figure.  In the early and mid 1990's, the Flak Viper mocked me from the cardback of every figure I was able to find at retail.  I could not find him anywhere.  As Joe disappeared, I figured my chances of ever owning the figure were gone.  Fortunately, that was not the case and I was able to build a nice army of Flak Vipers as a collector.  But, the figure still fascinates me.  I can't get enough of the mold and love all his color combinations.  The two vintage releases and the two repaint era releases offer two very different takes on the mold.

The Flak Viper mold debuted in 1992.  It and the 1993 repaint are well done.  But, they are also identifiable as originating in the 1990's.  The two 2000's repaints, though, avoided many of the trappings of army builder repaints from that time.  Usually, Hasbro overdid it and the repaints were good, but had some minor issues that prevented them from becoming iconic.  But, with the Flak Viper repaints, Hasbro kept it simple and there's a Cobra blue and black repaint along with a desert themed figure.  They are well done.  

The first release of the Flak Viper is the 1992.  The debut of the sculpt showcased solid design and decent gear.  The primary colors are a bright blue and green.  They are offset with a grey sash and pants.  

The following year, Hasbro repainted the figure.  The base of the figure is the same.  However, the blue highlights have been replaced with orange. While the figure is bright, the orange is kind of fun.  This is my favorite version of the figure just because it's odd, bright and unique.  

The Flak Viper had another use in 1993.  Toys R Us got an exclusive set of Dino Hunters figures.  It was an absurd idea but capitalized on Jurassic Park. The Flak Viper's contribution is that his backpack was modified with holes that allowed it to be held by a mount.  The pack was colored in light grey.  You can still find the packs matched up with Flak Vipers from time to time.  Though, it was much more common a few years ago.  

In late 1994 or early 1995, Hasbro used parts of the Flak Viper again.  This time, the Street Fighter Movie Edition M. Bison figure included a silver version of the Flak Viper's rifle.  The silver was a cool look and a great color for the weapon.  It wasn't really a nice match for the 1992 or 1993 figures.  But, it turned out to be a great match for the later uses of the mold.

The Flak Viper mold then disappeared for a decade.  In 2004, the entire Flak Viper mold appeared in the Cobra Urban Strike set: this time under the name of Nullifier.  This figure is colored in Cobra blue with black and brown leather highlights.  It's the best paint job on this mold.  It's only drawback was the lame accessories.  The figure didn't include any of his original gear and only came with generic weapons from the 2000's.

In 2006, the final version of the Flak Viper appeared in an Operation Flaming Moth set.  This desert version was a nicely done update to the Flak Viper and was the type of repaint that made sense for Hasbro to do.  While not as nice as the 2004 release, the desert version is useful in it's own right.  The best thing about this version was the return of the full complement of Flak Viper accessories.  The black rifle and pack are also great since they work with the 2004 version, too.

The Flak Viper never got exclusive use anywhere else in the world.  The 1992 Flak Viper was released in Europe on exclusive cardbacks.  The figure is the same, though.  The Flak Viper mold is relatively unique in that it's a mold whose potential was fulfilled.  

1992 Air Commando Spirit

The 1992 Joe line is incredibly strong.  It's full of new molds for classic characters as well as a nice variety of new introductions to the line.  The colors of the year blend well and create a cohesive visual display.  But, the standard carded line of figures only included a few figures.  The rest of the year's line was released in various subsets and smaller vehicles.  Yet, the quality of mold and color continued and the entire is one of the better looking entries of a displayed collection.  Among the releases was a new version of Spirit.  

After being introduced in 1984, Spirit got his update.  It's easy to recognize the new look as Spirit.  He kept his long hair, but has it styled into a single pony tail instead of braids.  He retains his trademark headband.  But, once below his head, this Spirit is less an homage to Native American culture than a newly designed badass combat soldier.  He is burdened with an over-abundance of grenades.  (A common thread among Joe figures.)  But, they aren't too bulky and keep the overall appearance of this new Spirit relatively slim.  His chest is a bright green that visually pops.  It is set against black paint that highlight the mold's sculpted details.  The figure features blue pants that blend with many other 1992 releases.  And, his red gloves offer a both a splash of color as well as tying together the red pattern on the figure's headband.  To top off the details, Spirit has molded feathers on his right arm that offer a little reminder of the figure's roots.

On paper, this figure should be amazing.  But, the thing is, it really isn't.  While it's nice enough, the sculpt was improved upon in 1993 with the mail away color scheme.  The brown, gold and white combo on that figure is more unique and better fits the mold and character.  The head might be a little too large for the body.  And, Spirit can appear to be disproportional at times.  And, the red gloves are a bit off-putting.  They really interfere with the blue, black and green.  The red and white on the headband works.  But, the gloves really take you out of the overall design.  And, as the hands are a key part of any figure's look, a bad color can have an outsized affect on the appearance as a whole.  

This 1992 Spirit was part of the Air Commandos subset.  While the figure was sold on a card, the cards were drastically oversized to show off the gliders that were the real selling point.  Hasbro's original gliders in 1983 were garbage.  These 1992 releases, though, promised they would fly 40 feet with the figure attached.  Hopefully, not too many people actually did that with the gliders.  But, Spirit's red, white and blue patriotic overkill special seems out of place with the character.  And, today, the Air Commandos are remembered for the high quality figures rather than the cheesy gliders.  Unfortunately, though, the gliders cost anywhere between $8 and $10 each.  And, when you consider that there were far better alternatives available at that cost, the high price point was rather prohibitive to the toys really selling on par with sets like the DEF and even the Eco Warriors.  Which is why, even today, all the Air Commandos figures appear with less frequency than most other carded 1992 figures.

Did you know that Spirit was never released without Mutt?  In every single instance where Spirit was released, Mutt was also available at the same time.  They both debuted in 1984.  Then, they both returned as Slaughter's Marauders in 1989.  At various times, they were both released in Brazil and Mexico in the same waves.  Then, exclusive repaints showed up in Europe in the early 1990's.  Both characters got new molds in 1992.  Then, Mutt was repainted as a carded figure in 1993 and Spirit was available as a mail away in the same year.  It was not until the post vintage era where the two were separated.  Both appeared together in the comic.  So, there was a deliberate pairing of the two.  But, all of their designs work pretty well together until the 1993 versions.

Spirit comes with a single accessory.  He has an oddball pistol.  My introduction to the mold was with the 1994 Viper.  And, I felt the sci-fi nature of the weapon worked well with that figure.  With Spirit, it seems out of place...especially if you know of the amazing accessories that were included with the character's debut figure.  The upside is that there are many, more common, accessories that work well with this mold.  But, the disappearance of Freedom and the lack of other gear that would have accentuated the character feels like a missed opportunity.

My introduction to this figure mold was with the 1993 mail away version.  And, that remains my default use of this mold today.  Back when I got a bagged 1992 figure from Canada, I was never compelled to open the figure.  The 1993 was enough for me.  And, when I got a loose 1992, that feeling continued.  Now, though, I do find this figure works well with other 1992 releases.  And, is a nice background filler in photos and dioramas.  As a main focus, I'm still going with the 1993.  And, my first choice for any use of Spirit is the original from 1984.  

The 1992 Spirit mold got two uses.  The first was this Air Commando version.  Then, in 1993, the mold was repainted for the International Action Team.  This maroon and white version is probably better than the 1992 coloring.  But, both uses of the Spirit mold were relatively obscure releases.  Bagged overstock Spirits were offered as a Canadian mail away.  And, a great number of bagged Spirits came into the collecting community during the Hasbro Canada find in 1999.  Those figures, though, are bagged without guns.  So, if you see bagged figures sans weapons, you know they are from the Canadian overstock.  Sadly, Hasbro didn't use this mold in the 2000's.  It's a shame as it would have been great in a 1984 Spirit color scheme or a Euro Spirit color scheme.  But, it was not to be.

Dealers will sell loose Spirits for $30 and complete versions for $60.  That's a lot of money for a weapon that's not that small, isn't overly cool and doesn't really have any cachet.  On the open market, though, you can get Spirit figures for $13.  But, open market pricing on complete figures runs between $50 and $60...meaning the dealers are right at market on the complete figures.  That's very odd.  And, something that's likely to correct if the Joe market doesn't get back to normal soon.  The upside, though, is that a relatively hard to find, high quality update of a classic character is still affordable if you are willing to sacrifice his non-iconic weapon.  There's much worse outcomes in the Joe marketplace today.

Metal Hawk - Power Commandos

G.I. Joe was a hugely successful formula for selling toys.  Between the military/fantasy theme and the size and articulation of the toys themselves, Hasbro found a winning combination.  Naturally, competitors used Hasbro's initiative to produce many toys that were knock offs of the Joe line.  Some were purely military based.  Some were fantasy based.  And, some of the better ones, combined both.  All used the 3 3/4" size and most replicated the articulation of at least the straight arm Joes from 1982.  In time, though, some adopted the swivel, evolved beyond simply mold reuses and into full fledged toy lines on their own.  Some were more popular than others.  And, decades later, some have found themselves highly sought after by Joe collectors.  One such series is the Power Commandos figures by Lucky Bell.

Power Commandos took a more fantasy/sci-fi approach to their toys.  Their tagline was: "Those guys from the other galaxy.".  The characters that appeared were aliens, monsters and a few human good guys who battled against them.  While the most famous figure from the line is Mummy Mask, it is his packmate who draws my attention today.  Metal Hawk is a complex and interesting sculpt that features massive amounts of colors.  He's also still very much a knock off and doesn't have the polished look of a classic Hasbro release.  But, he's someone for which you can find a use.

Metal Hawk's bio card is just fantastic.  He was born on the Ironrock Comet.  And, his specialty is Out-numbered Combats.  No, that is not a typo.  That is his real specialty.  I have no idea what it means.  His bio mentions that Metal Hawk has skin as tough as steel.  (Metal)  But, he is still quick as a hawk. (Hawk.  Metal-Hawk, get it?)  He has both a lightning sword and a non-reflective black sword.  Lightning for power and the black one for stealth.  There's a scan of his bio below where you can read all about Metal Hawk and see the absolute glory that is his origin.  It should be noted, though, that Metal Hawk is one of the Power or good guys in the Power Commandos universe.  So, my placing of him among Cobra probably doesn't make sense.  But, I just can't see the figure as anything other than a villain.

Usually, when companies produce multiple waves of figures, the first wave is small and the second expands the line.  In the case of the Power Commandos, though, it was the opposite.  It turns out that the original set of 12 figures is actually the first wave of figures.  The more common repaints (of which this Metal Hawk is one) came later, as a second wave.  That is why this later Metal Hawk appears on a card that features the alternate coloring of the first Metal Hawk released.  The first wave of figures are actually very hard to find and some have risen to ridiculous heights.  This second Metal Hawk is much more common.  But, he's probably the second best figure among the six behind only Mummy Mask, his packmate.

Metal Hawk is a mishmash of contrasting colors.  He features red, green, dark blue, gold, black, a weird orangish hue, silver and light blue.  That's 8 colors.  Which is more than than pretty much any vintage Joe features.  Really, though, the figure has very little paint.  And, the colors are achieved through clever uses of different plastic colors on different parts.  Many details were spared paint applications.  So, Metal Hawk still has potential for improvement through customization.  But, all of the colors make the figure visually interesting, even if the colors are a perfect complement for each other.  Some of the contrast is odd enough that is really helps Metal Hawk stand apart from other figures.

While Metal Hawk is supposed to be a good guy, I just can't see him that way.  He just seems like he better fits with Cobra.  The helmeted head is very much in line with oddball Cobra headgear.  The amount of red and blue on him also better fits with a Cobra motif.  But, it's tough to find a real role for him.  The best use is probably Star Brigade.  But, that's a bit too on the nose for me.  I've posed him with BATs and a few other Cobra Troopers.  But, it's never felt right.  So, my best use for him is just a random sub contractor who Cobra hires out at times.  I've got a lot of these characters lying around now.  The characters are not really important.  But, they can fill a role while also making the Joes think that Cobra's roster is much larger than it really is.  It's a fairly small role.  But, as the figure is somewhat brittle and not something that I want to use all that often, a smaller role works for Metal Hawk

Metal Hawk's gear is among the weakest among his subset of 6 figures.  His gear includes a stick that was made from the end of Lady Jaye's javelin launcher and a handle that I don't recognize.  It's similar to the handle of the vintage Kenner lightsabers.  He then includes Torch's torch with the lower nozzle removed as well as the stock missing.  It looks like a pistol and is pretty weak.  He includes a backpack that's based on the 1986 Low Light's pack that's cast in silver plastic.  The final accessory is a massive sword.  It is not based on a Joe accessory.  I tend to give Metal Hawk gear from other Power Commandos as I think it looks better than his real gear.  

Quality wise, Metal Hawk (and, Power Commandos in general) are OK.  The paint applications are solid.  The joints are tight.  And, the parts fit together well.  The main issue is that the plastic is more brittle than vintage Joes.  It is close to that found on figures made by Estrela.  This more brittle mixture means that the thumbs and crotches of the figures are weak and very susceptible to breakage.  I'm hesitant to put any accessories in the figure's hands.  But, other collectors have been very successful in doing so.  But, the thumbs will snap with less pressure than it takes to break a vintage, Hasbro figure.  So, the quality is display worthy.  But, it tough to pose any of the figures with their gear without risking some damage.

Metal Hawk was released twice in the Power Commandos line.  This is the second, and more common, release.  The first release features an identical upper body, head and arms as the second release.  But, it has different legs and a different waist.  These are also a green color that matches the green on the second Metal Hawk's arms.  In my view, the first figure is probably better.  But, I like more green.  So, not everyone may agree with that assessment.  The first figure can also have green accessories.  Be aware of the differences as you seek out loose Metal Hawk figures.

Like all the second series Power Commandos, Metal Hawk is very available these days.  Huge amounts of overstock were found in Mexico and have been sold, cheaply, to Joe collectors over the past few years.  Now, though, the original source is starting to dry up.  While it's doubtful that this will lead to massive inflation on Metal Hawk figures, I also never considered the possibility that collectors would shell out three figures for the common Funskool figures that clogged every online toy dealer's inventory in the early 2000's.  So, the time to pick up this figure is probably now.  I got this guy on the card for under $10 in just 2019.  Now, though, the same carded package will run around $60.  Loose, mint and complete figures will top $30 or more.  That's probably a higher price than the figure is worth.  But, the Power Commandos are among the more interesting Joe knock offs that appeared over the years.  So, that, alone, makes at least one of them worth acquiring.