1993 Shark 9000

I'm not really sure why it's taken me almost 25 years to talk about the Shark 9000.  It is a great vehicle.  And, I acquired it very early in my adult collecting days.  I found it at a K-Mart store that was going out of business.  It was $10 on clearance and the only Joe toy they had left.  It was in the days before Christmas in 1995: a time when Joes were really starting to disappear from retail.  But, that's not the point of this profile.

I've talked about my younger brothers from time to time.  In general, they weren't as into toys as I was.  My younger brother really didn't much care for action figures.  And, once I was done buying Joes, he was, too.  My youngest brother, though, enjoyed them quite a bit.  And, after 1988 when I packed all of my nice Joes away in a red Lego container that was hidden in my closet, it was this brother who often sneaked in, took a few choice Joes from the container and left me scrambling in coming days trying to track down all of their accessories.  When, I added the 1989 Snake Eyes to the container, it was he who was most often missing.  Even into 1990, when I bought a lone Night Viper to add to my small collection, my brother was still stealing him out of the box.

Most of the 1988 Joe figures that entered our house were through my youngest brother.  And, even the lone 1989 figure that we owned: Scoop, was his.  He even got a Target Paratrooper Hit and Run.  As he aged out of toys, he still maintained a casual interest in collecting.  As the late 1990's began and I was falling into the trap that is toy collecting, he was also interested.  While he didn't fall into the abyss as much as I did, he did like toys and would often accompany me on my limited toy runs.  It was he who suggested stopping by the Castleton K-Mart on that rainy pre-Christmas day.  The K-Mart was tucked away in a corner of the shopping complex that was difficult to get into and even more difficult to leave.  As such, I never went there.  But, he suggested it since our day had been mostly fruitless.  And, once inside, I found the joy that is the Shark 9000.  Best of all, it was on clearance for a paltry $10.  I still have the box.  Though, the yellow clearance sticker finally dried out and fell off a few years ago.  

So, I bought the Shark and took it home.  Here, I opened it up and put it together.  I kept it under my bed while I was home and left it there when I returned to school a few weeks later.  On the occasion when I'd come home, I'd invariably find that the Shark 9000 was either disheveled and filled with different figures than I would choose for it.  Or, it was missing altogether.  I'd then venture upstairs to find it strewn among my brother's possessions in his all too messy bedroom.  I'd find the parts, put it back together and push it further under my bed, hidden by boxes of baseball cards before I returned to school again.

Eventually, as my brother neared college age, this stopped and my toys were undisturbed.  We did, though, bond over some of the weird mid 1990's cartoons and shows that were around during that time.  Right as I moved back to town after college, he left to attend school on the East Coast.  We didn't cross paths too often.  I moved to Arizona in late 1997.  But, when I came for Christmas that year, I brought him a box of loose Tick figures.  At the time, treasures like Man Eating Cow were $100 figures: more than the final 17 figures from the vintage Star Wars line would run you in those days.  And, the cow was in the box.  Along with most of the other late series rare figures.  I had gotten the lot on early Ebay for a song and decided to give the figures to him instead of trying to flip them.  At some point, after I'd left for home, he went to Toys R Us and bought himself a 1997 A-10 Thunderbolt with Ace and Hawk.

Over the years, I'd see the toys in his house.  Every now and then, he'd ask about value.  At some point, though, both the Tick figures and the A-10 became the domain of his kids.  And, they disappeared.  It's a better fate for them than to be tucked in a shoebox in some closet.  And, it's kind of depressing to me to see how the Tick figures, once one of the treasures of the 1990's, have become left behind relics.  Were they better toys, I might try to track them down.  I did take some pleasure, though, in showing the classic Tick cartoon to my boys.  While it wasn't all that enthralling for them, they did end up kind of liking it.  And, as I've used the term "Thrakkorzog!" as a euphemistic expletive in front of them for their entire lives, some of my weirdness started to make sense to them.  

The point of all this, though, is my youngest brother passed away this week.  He was born with health problems.  And the fact that he lived as long as he did is a testament to medical science.  But, his death was still sudden and unexpected.  In recent years, I moved just a block away from him.  Despite that, we had differences that put a permanent wedge between us.  I really want to say that those seem petty, now.  But, frankly, they don't.  We had become different people in our middle age.  And, there were certain things that neither of us were willing to compromise on.  But, I was outside his hospital room when he passed.  And, I'm grateful for that.  

This is a blog about toys.  But, really, it's a blog about me and the relationship I have with toys.  They are something that permeates my life.  And, it's through them that I often shape memories of the people who matter.  I recall a guy who gave me two vintage Star Wars figures he found in the engineering lab.  I can still see the Skystriker sitting behind the metal bars of a closet that was in an acquaintance's magnificent house in Dayton, Ohio.  And, I can still see the K-Mart on that rainy day when I was riding in the car with my brother.  Undoubtedly, we were listening to some bootleg cassette of an undiscovered punk band from Chicago.  And so, I write.  Mostly, because it's a way for me to process what I'm feeling and record my thoughts at a time when I can't really make much of them.  

My Shark 9000 is now badly discolored.  The photos below are old...but not all ancient.  Sure, the photo in the pool with the Hydro Vipers was taken in 2001.  But, the photo with the 1989 Deep Six was taken in 2016.  The Shark 9000 hadn't discolored badly, yet.  But, the tinges of yellow were there.  And, that was also 8 years ago.  Now, my Shark 9000 is a yellowy disaster that really makes it impossible to enjoy the toy any longer.  But, I'll never get rid of it.  There's a lot of memories that are incorporated into it.  Some time, probably on an around the web post in 2029 or so, I'll explore all the other good memories that I have with this toy.  Until then, I'm going to just stick with that day at K-Mart.

Top 10 Spring Loaded Accessories

Starting in 1991, Hasbro began to move the standard Joe accessories in a different direction.  Instead of leaving them the static pieces from 1982, they began to incorporate more action into the toys.  At first, it was simple kid interaction where you could flick a missile.  But, soon, it evolved into a series of spring loaded action features that allowed for kids to have their figures interact through propulsion.  While I title this article spring loaded accessories, that's just because the spring loaded pieces dominate Hasbro's offerings.  But, there are a few other gimmicks in the 1990's that are worthy of inclusion as they added interactive elements to G.I. Joe action figures without forcing the figures to be something incompatible with what came before.

So, you will not see Ninja Force on this list as those features were limited to the figures.  You won't see Sky Patrol, either, as the parachutes only worked with proper preparation and was designed as a stand alone toy that was commandeered for Sky Patrol.  This list covers 1991 through 1994 as those were the years when the action feature accessories were dominate.  And, while older collectors tend to revile this gear, the reality is that there are some amazing toys in here that are both tons of fun to play with while also being in line with the look and feel of the Joe line from the decade prior.

10. 1994 Lifeline Grappling Hook

I'm a sucker for grappling hooks.  As a kid, I loved them.  But, I never got any that actually worked.  So, things like Alpine's grappling gun were left to imagination.  Which, was fine.  But, there were times it would have been cool to have actual hooks that could shoot up and grip something.  Enter the 1994 Lifeline.  His grappling launcher is huge and his two pronged hook is, too.  But, you can tie a rope to it and shoot it at rocks, walls or plants and it might actually stick: just like the real thing.  That's  enough for me to view it as an essential accessory.

09. 1991 Eco Warriors Squirt Guns

Among the first of the action feature weapons are the Eco Warriors squirt packs and guns.  Instead of using a spring for their action, these packs can draw up and hold water that is then expelled from the nozzle of the gun when you press on the soft plastic container that is held in place by a harder plastic frame.  For Eco Warriors, this made perfect sense.  And, the water was used in conjunction with the figures as they would change colors when water of hot or cold temperature hit the special paint on the bodies.  The self contained squirt gun was a solid design.  The guns are pretty large, but not so much that they aren't usable.  But, the weapons are very useful and a lot of fun to have around.

08. 1992 Duke Bronco Launcher

So, this toy is dumb, stupid, lame and incredibly fun for any kid in 1992.  Who wouldn't want a missile launcher that a figure can ride?!?  This piece is an integral part of the 1992 Duke's card artwork.  And, it translates very well into the actual toy.  The only downside is that the brown tripod is made of plastic that has turned to glass.  I literally had one crumble to dust, yes, dust, in a box of other launcher parts.  I didn't know what all the dirt was until I found one intact foot.  The one in the photo below spidered all those while lines just from me gently trying to insert the peg into it.  So, using it today isn't overly practical.  But, man, this is just a stupid idea that made for an iconic piece for Duke.

07. 1992 Destro Disc Launcher

The 1992 Destro disc launcher is another one of those ideas that actually kind of works as a toy.  It's similar to Scrap Iron's missile table.  But, this one shoots discs.  The fact that they actually shoot, though, helps sell the idea of the weapon.  The disc launcher looks like something a comic book supervillain would use.  And, Destro is as close to that trope as the G.I. Joe line tends to get.  So, it's a perfect match of character and weapon.

06. 1992 Firefly Top Spinner

This spinner is also ridiculous.  But, as a toy, it works well.  You can set up a bunch of figures on a hard floor and let the ripcord fly.  The top can then knock over the figures.  Hours of fun!

05. 1991 Cobra Commander Drone

So, this thing is either a radio controlled surveillance drone or a buzz bomb depending on which part of the card you read.  But, any way you look at it, this is a little drone with a spring loaded launcher.  The drone is laminated plastic with cardboard pieces.  It's a neat little idea that worked out.  The launcher features a powerful spring.  It is mounted on a bi-pod and is meant as a stationary weapon.  The idea of a drone was rather innovative back in 1991.  So, it's inclusion is akin to things like the JUMP showing up in 1982.  

04. 1992 Eel Robo Shark

Full disclosure: I don't much care for the robo-shark.  In general, I think robots are dumb.  And these things are a pain in the ass for anyone who, like me, tends to army build 1992 or Funskool Eels.  The sharks are huge, sharp and just a pain to store away.  With that Andy Rooney moment past me, though, what kid in 1992 would not have loved a robot shark with a moving tail that shoots a missile out of its mouth?!?  This is the exact type of over the top ridiculousness that Cobra would have created in their descent into super-villainy.  

And, to top it off, the toy is amazing.  It's full of detail.  The tail moves and the mouth opens.  And, it can then shoot a spring loaded missile out of the creature's mouth.  To top it all off, the shark is also a backpack that affixes to the Eel to be used underwater!  Really, this has a case to be number 1.  But, what's a list without some controversy?  And, personally, I find the Flak Viper's missile backpack to be much more useful than the robo-shark.  But, I'm an adult who was in college when this came out.  If I'd have gotten it when I was 9, there's a good chance this is my favorite toy ever created.  So, if you're going to refute me in the placement of this piece, come with some good anecdotes of how it fit into your play and was a major part of your childhood. :)

03. 1992 Cutter Grappling Hook

I'm kind of cheating as there are two grappling hooks on this list.  But, as I said for Lifeline, I'm a sucker for grappling hooks.  As a kid, I used them not just as tools used to scale mountains, walls or buildings.  They were also Batarang type weapons that could be used to apprehend and tie up villains.  I'd use them between vehicles to either tether boats or even just capture an enemy vehicle that was about to outrun the good guys.  For me, the grappling hook was my irrational childhood dream toy because I got one when I was about 9 and it locked in the idea of a hook on a rope that could be used as a tool in most any situation.

I rank Cutter's hook higher for a couple of reasons.  It came first.  So, it has that going for it.  But, more importantly, Cutter's hook has four prongs.  This made it much more likely to actually catch onto something.  I have memories of being a kid and tossing Alpine's grappling hooks into a pile of rocks.  When the figure went to use it, the hook wouldn't catch anything and it would slip out, sending Alpine to his doom.  I had weird rules where if a rope didn't catch, then the Joes couldn't use it.  (I actually had a little, metal four pronged hook that was attached to a long length of white string.  I used this since it worked more often than the Hasbro toys.)  Cutter's hook is comically large.  But, that's what makes it fun.  If the hook hit anyone, it would kill them.  But, honestly, that's a plus in my book.  

In doing this article, I noticed that the tripod for Cutter's launcher looks the same as that included with the 1992 Duke.  The white plastic isn't nearly as brittle as the brown, though.  

02. 1994 Star Brigade Cobra Commander Suction Cup Walker

The 1994 Star Brigade Cobra Commander includes this oddball harness that's attached to a suction cup walker.  It actually works, though.  And, that alone makes it the 2nd best action accessory in the line.  It's a marvel of engineering and also a fun toy.  It's like those old wall walkers you got for birthday prizes except that it's high quality and a lot of fun.  Everyone should have one of these.

01. 1992 DEF Mutt Net Launcher

You really can't go wrong with this contraption.  It is a massive net launcher.  The launcher is fairly large.  But, it stands by itself and looks like something that would launch nets.  The best part is that the included net is massive.  It's large enough to cover an entire figure with plenty left over.  The four corners of the net are anchored.  The top two are attached to the firing missiles and the bottom two corners have weighted balls to hold down the net.  The net is perfect as a stand alone toy and the launcher just adds more play value.  The only downside is that the weight of the four anchors limits how far the launcher can shoot the net.  But, of all the action play features that Hasbro released, this is the best.

Here is a video from corpscommandercody showing the net in action.

This list is my own.  And, while all of these have their merits, I'm sure you have opinions of ones I overlooked, deliberately omitted or just plain ignored.  So, please let me know your favorites.  These were not the toys of my childhood.  So, my appreciation of them is based on what I think I would have liked as a kid and, more importantly, what I really like now.  So, seeing how kids of the day actually felt about them and which were their favorites is definitely something I'd like to hear about.  

Funskool Cutter

Throughout the vintage Joe run, Hasbro strived to keep existing characters refreshed and available.  This gave the line a continuity that helped bridge the gaps between different generations of kids.  It was possible for the youngest child to get the oldest's collection and then augment it with classic characters like Snake Eyes or Stalker who had new designs on the shelves.  In most of the cases of new takes on existing characters in the vintage line, Hasbro strayed far from the original design of the character.  (You could argue the 1985 Snake Eyes is a complete reimagination of the figure released in 1982.)  In some cases, though, Hasbro used their new take to simply update an existing character to a more modern take on their classic look.  There are few examples of this better than the 1992 Cutter.

The 1984 Cutter is not a bad figure.  I got him in December of 1984 and he quickly became an important part of my collection.  Even when the head construction changed in 1985, Cutter remained valuable because he was such a perfect fit for the Whale.  But, the reality is that Cutter did start to get a bit dated as the line progressed.  His look was perfect.  But, it was also bulky and he didn't really fit the notion of a combat commander.  The 1992 mold, though, solved this.  The DEF version was, at its essence, the same as the 1984 figure, just with a sleeker and more updated design.  Looking at the two figures, it's obvious they are same character.  And, that drives a lot of the 1992 Cutter's value.  He's a perfect update to the original Cutter figure.  But, he still works perfectly in the Whale.  But, he also works with an entirely new generation of figures without losing anything from the original.

In the early 2000's, though, it was actually kind of hard to find mint and complete figures from 1991 - 1994.  They were especially tough if you wanted to army build them in any numbers.  Funskool, though, offered a chance for collectors to get all the DEF Cutters they wanted for cheap.  Starting in 2001, dealers imported Cutters and sold them for around $4 each.  Collectors were quickly able to get a high quality rendition of the Cutter figure with ease.  For many, their first exposure to the mold was the Funskool release.  And, you'd see Funskool Cutters manning vehicles in photos and dios of the time.  The ubiquity of Funskool figures was somewhat taken for granted and collectors grew to feel the figures would always be available.  While I did buy a couple of extra Cutter figures, I never actually bought the army I sought.  

I have always loved the 1992 Cutter's accessories.  His weapon is the perfect combination of size and detail.  It's not too big.  And, it makes sense as the weapon that the commander of a ship would use since it would not be unwieldy in tight spaces aboard a Whale or Shark 9000.  The flashlight is an inspired choice of gear.  It's large and bulky and is a far cry from the Tunnel Rat or Outback flashlights from 5 years earlier.  The Funskool figures have the added value of being cast in black plastic instead of the white plastic of the American figure.  While the white works with the figure, it's really nice to get the weapon in black.  And, the Funskool release is the only option for an alternate color of this excellent weapon.  

There are three versions of the Cutter mold.  For sheer vintage homage appeal, the 1992 is the best.  The 1993 repaint that was released with the Shark 9000 is also very good and brings something different to the Cutter mold.  The white pants aren't great.  But, they work with the Shark.  And, the green is a great way to bring more environments into play for Cutter.  This Funskool version isn't too great a departure from the 1992 version.  But, the lighter blues and oranges are a near perfect match for the 1990 Topside figure.  And, in that vein, the two make for a great team.  So, each version has some value.  Hasbro had the chance to get this mold back from India in 2003.  It's not likely that they did so.  But, had they, the 2004 Moray and convention sets would have each been perfect venues for a new repaint.  That didn't happen.  And, the mold still has potential.  But, each of the three versions is good and that's more than many molds who debuted in the 1990's can say. 

Light blue Funskool plastic has always been a problem.  Figures that used it in the '80's and early '90's are notoriously prone to discoloration.  It's not uncommon to find gem mint examples of early and rare Funskool figures who have either entire body discoloration or singular pieces of the mold that have badly discolored while the rest of the figure is fine.  Most collectors assumed that proper storage for the figures released in the 2000's would solve this issue.   But, it seems that much of the plastic discoloring is a function of bad plastic and proper storage will only slow the decay, not prevent it.  As such, you see perfectly preserved Cutter figures that are starting to discolor.  But, these figures are now 20 years old.  The fact that Funskool light blue plastic figures may have a shelf life is disheartening.  But, all you can do is what you know is right and hope for the best.  Just know that even meticulously cared for figures will discolor through no fault of your own.

Funskool Cutter figures are not valuable to the average collector.  But, to dealers who can sit on them until someone desperate comes along, they can be.  Dealers will sell carded figures for $50.  Left to market pricing, though, it's a $25 carded figure.  Loose mint and complete versions of the figure are $7-$10 figures.  But, it might take you a year to find one.  New collectors are slowly getting it that most of the 2000's era Funskool figures are actually really common and exist in ample supply for both loose and carded figures.  That's creating the huge disparities between dealer and market pricing.  If you have more money than patience, you have overly expensive options.  But, if you like to maximize your collecting dollar, waiting out the market will usually give you a chance at figures like this for legitimate prices.

Funskool - Maltova Promotional Figures

Maltova is a chocolate drink marketed towards kids.  Funskool makes toys directed for the same market.  So, it was only natural that the two would team up for a cross promotion.  Funskool made some exclusive figures in the vein of the Calcium Sandoz figures that were either included with Maltova products or as a premium.  (Based on the ties on the packages, I lean towards them being attached to some product.)

I have no idea how many figures there might be.  Below are pics of a few of them.  Sadly, these figures have the same issues as other Funskool promotions in that they have crappy straight arms that make the otherwise exclusively terrible paint schemes less valuable for a loose collector.  But, for collectors in general, they are highly desirable and some will fetch stupidly high prices.  Each figure has a new code name included on the bio card.

Dial Tone (Navigator):

Here you have a 1994 Dial Tone torso and head that are colored similarly to the Funskool release of the figure.  It looks like he has Dodger legs.  But, I didn't look them up and am going from visual memory.  So, please offer corrections in the comments.

Cutter (Tracker):

This figure is one of the more interesting concoctions.  The figure uses the body of Cutter, but the Countdown head.  The coloring is reminiscent of both Cutter and the Funskool Grunt figure.  With swivel arms, this figure would simply be a must have.  It looks great and would be a perfect addition to either a Whale or Flagg crew.

Here's another oddball: a Quick Kick body with a Budo head.  The figure's name starts with Karate, but I can't see the rest.  I've never seen a Quick Kick custom using the Budo head and the design is kind of ingenious.  I'd easily buy this figure (if he had swivel arms) and I hate Quick Kick.  Sometimes, though, you strike gold.

Decoder:

The colors here are just iconic Funskool.  You have a Red Blocker head with an orange Psyche Out chest.  I'm not sure about the legs.  But, the whole ensemble is a great way to enjoy Funskool.

Croc Master (Snake Shadow):

This is probably the least interesting figure since it's a barely painted Croc Master.  Every other Croc Master release is better.  So, this figure would be an easy pass.

Budo (Scorpion):

Looks like Budo was a cheap mold to get into production.  This version isn't painted much at all, even though the colors of the base plastic are decent.  But, again, the production figures are better and this guy's value is as an oddity.

With all things Funskool, it's probable there are more variants out there.  But, all of these promotional figures are interesting looks at Funskool's attempts to entice new customers through other products.  Hasbro rarely did this in the Joe line.  But, they did go it.  And, Star Wars had an exclusive figure available with Fruit Loops cereal as recently as 1996.  So, there is ample precedent for such cross promotion. 

As a kid, my parents weren't too keen on tie ins if they were with brands that they did not, normally, buy.  But, I ate a ton of Fruit Loops in 1996 to get a couple of the Han Stormtroopers.  And, were even poorly articulated figures like these released as promotional items in the U.S., I'd most likely buy enough to get a full set.  But, that's what collectors do. 

2001 Cutter

When Joe returned to retail in 1997, Hasbro was deft enough to also release vehicles.  Fortunately, at the time, Star Wars vehicles were strong sellers and items sold at specific price points were highly profitable accouterments to a basic figure line.  While collectors of the age complained about the mold choices that were included in 1997 and 1998, history has proven that these releases were at least strong legacies of vehicles in general.  When the line returned to full retail in 2000, vehicles were once again included as a vital part of the retail experience.  (In fact, the vehicles actually hit most retail outlets first with figures following a few weeks later.)  Hasbro looked to release more vehicle offerings in 2001. This time, though, they dug up a Johnny Quest toy mold that was acquired when Hasbro gobbled up Galoob.  It created a lackluster release, especially when paired with a coolly received SHARC repaint.  The highlight of the vehicles, though, were the drivers.  Hasbro re-introduced two molds to the repaint theatre.  While the Sub Viper has found a following, his Joe companion has faded into obscurity.  While the character of Cutter is great, a barely repainted release of him in a terrible vehicle was not a figure that captivated the collecting community.

On his own, this Cutter is good.  He has a somewhat muted orange life vest and blue pants.  He looks like Cutter.  In fact, he looks almost EXACTLY like the 1984 Cutter figure.  The only real difference is that the colors on the 2001 version are softer.  You can see obvious difference with the two next to each other.  But, if you have a 1984 figure, there's no reason to own this 2001 (and vice-versa) other than completism.  The 2001 offers nothing new (aside from softer plastic) from the 1984 release.  For some reason, Hasbro started doing this in 2001 with this Cutter as well as Cobra Commander and Destro.  This made these releases simply seem like wastes.  Collectors got nothing new.  (At least the Cobra Commander and Destro molds had been drastically repainted for their 1997 releases.)  At the time, collectors wanted "realism" (whatever that meant) but they also wanted figures that weren't the same colors as those they could cheaply and easily acquire on the secondary market.  Cutter failed in that regard.  It was disappointing that one of the rare vehicle driver slots using a mold that hadn't been seen in years was basically the same figure we already had.  And, collectors responded in kind by massively skipping the Night Landing Craft since they didn't need this Cutter and the vehicle itself was pretty lame.

I'm very conflicted about the Night Landing Craft.  One the one hand, Hasbro tried something different and attempted to bring compatible toys into the Joe line to give collectors something different.  This should be lauded.  However, this vehicle slot could have gone to many other molds to which Hasbro had access at that time.  The Night Landing Craft is not a good vehicle and it's not a good toy.  (The 2002 release of the Mantis sub that also used a Johnny Quest mold was a decent toy that looked cool and fit better with Joes, though.)  So, its inclusion in the line sticks out as a bit of a sore thumb.  It doesn't really fit with standard Joe vehicles.  It feels like a cheap inclusion that, as a quick throwaway, might have been acceptable.  But, as a well planned retail release, the Night Landing Craft seems lazy and uninspired.  Retail agreed as both vehicles from this assortment hung around for quite a while and were, ultimately, clearanced out.

Very few of the ARAHC vehicle drivers included accessories.  In 1997 and 1998, this was not the case as Ace, Hawk, Thunderwing, Heavy Duty, Vypra, Alley Viper and Ace again all included some form of gear.  But, starting in 2000, vehicle driver accessories mostly disappeared.  It was likely a cost cutting move aimed at keeping the retail margin higher.  In the case of figures like the Desert Striker Flint, it's a choice that definitely hurts the figure.  But, the original Cutter lacked any gear so the absence of weapons with this version doesn't seem out of place.  As a kid, my Cutter carried a Battle Gear Scarlett Crossbow.  I cut the actual bow off of the accessory and viewed it as a harpoon gun used to thwart wayward Cobra Eels who would attempt to board the Whale.  I tied a thread to it so that Cutter had it slung at his side in the event he needed it, but it also stayed out of the way while he piloted his craft.  Should this version ever man the cockpit of a Whale, I could see him getting similar treatment.  But, as this guy is doomed to a life inside the 2001 figure drawer, that's unlikely to happen.

The Cutter mold is criminally underused.  The original 1984 release was a superb pairing of figure and vehicle.  But, as the Whale mold moved around the world, Cutter stayed behind.  He found some use as a mail away.  But, that was it.  When this 2001 offering showed up, it was this mold's first appearance in 17 years. But, then, it disappeared again.  In 2006, the Cutter body appeared in the Operation Flaming Moth sets.  This time, it was given a new head and released as Shipwreck.  This is easily the best coloring of the Cutter body.  Were it not for the fact that the excellent 1992 Cutter mold exists, the character would have been one of the most wasted opportunities in the vintage line.  But, the 1992 release breathed new life into the character and is, probably, a better version of the character.  The mold used for this 2001 figure could have easily been repainted a few times, even with a couple of different heads, and released as a naval character pack and collectors would have loved it.  Those opportunities, though, are long gone and collectors are left with very few ways to enjoy this sculpt.

This Cutter is worthless.  He's worthless for a couple of reasons.  First, he's not all that hard to find.  The Night Landing Craft and Wave Runner both hit clearance outlets all over the country.  Most collectors had access to $5 vehicles for quite a while.  Second, there were large lots of over run figures that were available from Asia, too.  These could be acquired for under $1 per figure.  A few enterprising collectors snatched up a few lots to use as custom bodies for a USS Flagg crew.  But, that was about the extent of the value of the figures.  Finally, this Cutter is very unpopular due to the fact that it's just an inferior version of the relatively common and vastly superior 1984 version of the character.  You don't see too many of the figure offered for sale.  But, loose, he's a $4 figure.  You can get boxed and sealed Night Landing Crafts for about $25 before shipping.  But, since it sucks and you pay a premium for the vehicle, it's better to just drop a couple of bucks for the Cutter.  The upside is that this Cutter is still cheap enough to be useful for customs or army building.  But, when that is a figure's claim to fame, you know you're dealing with a dud.

1992 Cutter - Drug Elimination Force

There were two ways to re-create classic characters in the vintage line: either redesign them from scratch or produce a mold and coloring that were true to the character's roots, but brought modern sculpting and design into the mix. Both approaches created a variety of all time great figures and some duds. As the line wore on, though, there were fewer and fewer of the latter option produced. But, when Hasbro got it right, they could really get it right. One such figure is the 1992 DEF Cutter figure.

The original Cutter was released in 1984 as the pilot of the iconic WHALE hovercraft. Adorned with a baseball cap, the figure was a great visual use of orange and navy blue to produce a vehicle driver worthy of such a classic watercraft. But, that original figure had some limitations. The life vest was bulky and the figure included no accessories. In 1992, Hasbro rectified that when they updated the character. This new Cutter was still sporting his traditional orange and navy blue motif. But, he was now more streamlined, had some additional, combat details on his mold and was released on a single card so he was fully accessorized. The result is a figure that is still a perfect fit for the command center on the WHALE, but can also be used as part of the combat team he transported to the mission site.

As a kid, Cutter was one of the main figures I used. This really had nothing to do with the quality of the figure or the character. It had everything to do with the fact that the WHALE was one of my favorite vehicles and remained vital to my Joe world well past the time that it was mostly broken and destroyed. I outfitted Cutter with a Scarlett crossbow from the 1983 Accessory Pack. Only, I cut off the bows so it appeared to be a spear gun. I tied a thread around the sight and Cutter would sling this weapon over his shoulder when he commanded the WHALE. But, it was available should any stray Eel attempt to board the craft. In this capacity, Cutter remained one of the most important Joes since he commanded their most important vehicle. As I got older, though, the limitations of the Cutter figure became apparent. Standing him alongside figures from 1986 and 1987 really showed how limited the original Cutter figure was. So, as the WHALE's role in my collection diminished, so did Cutter's.

If you fast forward a decade or so, though, I had a new WHALE in my collection. Naturally, I wanted Cutter to be the commander. But, with years of new figures added to my collection, the original version simply didn't cut the mustard any more. I had the 1993 Cutter figure take command of the classic hovercraft, but it wasn't the same without the traditional orange life vest. Around 1999 or so, though, I got a large lot of figures from 1992 and 1993. Included with the lot was the 1992 Cutter figure. At long last I had the perfect figure to represent the character and man the command station of one of my favorite vehicles.

From that point on, the Cutter character was only represented by this figure. He perfectly matches the WHALE since he hearkens back to Cutter's classic design. Plus, the figure is more sleek and streamlined so he looks more in place in the WHALE than even the original figure. This Cutter works well with figures from across the line's history. This cements the figure as just about the perfect upgrade. He's not on par with the 1985 Snake Eyes just due to the more obscure nature of the character. But, the level of design improvement is very close. Shockingly close for a figure released in 1992.

Cutter's accessories were memorable and terrible. The terrible starts and ends with the light up, spring loaded weapons that were standard issue with every member of the DEF. The memorable, though, starts with Cutter's rifle. While colored white, the rifle is acceptable since it would see most of its uses in a maritime setting. The detail, though, is top notch. The weapon is compact enough to make sense on a tight space like a ship. But, it is large enough to pack a wallop. The best part of Cutter, though, is the large flashlight that attaches to the figure's leg. A flashlight shouldn't be much of an accessory. But, in Cutter's case, the utilitarian nature of the flashlight, coupled with it's size just makes sense. You could see Cutter using it to probe the dark depths of the Whale's engine compartment. Or, maybe in the boiler room of the USS Flagg. But, if you got in a pinch, you could also have Cutter use the flashlight to conk the head of any poor Cobra Eel that let his guard down. The terrible is the light up grappling hook launcher. Honestly, the grappling hook and rope are, in and of themselves, decent accessories that make sense for a maritime trooper. But, the launcher is large, bulky and bright. In short, it adds nothing to the figure but a higher price point.

The Cutter mold was used twice by Hasbro: for this carded figure and as the driver of the Shark 9000 in 1993.  After that, the mold made its way to India where Funskool released Cutter for many years.  The Funskool figure is based on the American figure, but uses a much lighter blue.  Of note for that Funskool figure, though, is that the figure includes black accessories.  So, if the 1992 Cutter's white weapons don't do it for you, it's easy to get a Funskool version and replace the white weapons with black versions.  After the Funskool figure, the mold has disappeared.  It is likely that Hasbro got it back in the early 2000's.  But, it was never used and we have likely seen the end of the mold.

Due to the higher price point, the DEF figures weren't as popular as other 1992 releases.  The result is that all of them are slightly harder to find than the standard carded figures.  Mint and complete with filecard, Cutters can run as high as $12-$14.  But, you can find them for around $9 if you are willing to look around and sacrifice a bit of condition or the filecard or a few accessories.  For my money, this is the best version of Cutter ever released and he is a perfect match for the Whale.  He is well worth the price and should be a member of everyone's collection.

1992 D.E.F. Cutter

Back in 1984, Hasbro released one of the greatest vehicles in the entire Joe line, the Hovercraft. It was a novel toy and one that most people consider a necessity to any Joe collection. The driver of this vehicle was a Coast Guardsman named Cutter. The figure was realistic enough, but had a very bulky sculpt and didn't look quite "finished". As such, he was never a guy who really captured my attention on anything beyond the character level. However, here, the figure succeeded. As such, the original Cutter played a prominent role in my early collection. However, as figure sculpts improved in the coming years, guys like Cutter found themselves falling farther and farther down in my hierarchy. These nether regions would have been a permanent residence for this character except that new life was breathed into him when an updated version of Cutter was released with the D.E.F. in 1992.

I've always liked the D.E.F. I think that many collectors out there just lump any figure from any subset released after 1990 into the dreaded "neon" category. However, the D.E.F. does not fit this in any way. The figures released under its banner: Headhunter, Headman, Shockwave, Bulletprooof, Mutt and this Cutter are all well colored and excellently accessorized. As figures, they stand tall among those from any year. What was it, then, that doomed the D.E.F. to a future of obscurity? Simple. The figures came with "light and sound" spring loaded weapons. While some, like Mutt's net launcher, had potential and fun play features, most were nothing interesting and really detracted form the packaged figure's presentation. More importantly, the extra features raised the price point on these guys so they were more expensive than the regularly carded figures they sat next to. Let's see. Were I a parent in 1992, would I buy the regular Joe figure for 2.99 or the D.E.F. figure for 4.99? To me, they look the same. I'll just save my money and opt for the cheaper alternative. As such, these guys never got the real retail push they needed to capture the imaginations of many of the children who would have owned them and they remain a part of the hobby that has a stigma attached to them, even though it may not be deserved.

As far as the figure itself goes, this is really an prime example that Hasbro was still churning out high quality figure molds well into the 90's. Cutter is an excellent example of an update to a classic figure mold gone exactly right. One look at this guy and you know it's Cutter. They retained the normal look of his as well as his trademark baseball cap. They then re-did the life jacket into a more modern version that is less bulky and looks more in line with what a combat sailor would wear. They also retained his original color of orange and dark blue. It is a scheme that works great as the colors contrast each other to a degree that they accentuate the figure's mold while still maintaining that look or realism. He is well accessorized as well as he comes with a nice, small machine gun and a large, rescue flashlight that attaches to his leg. He also comes with a grappling hook, spring firing weapon. While not great, I've always liked figure that come with ropes and hooks. Removed from the launcher, it works quite well as a nice accessory for a sailor. As Hasbro is heading towards updates of classic characters with the Wave 2 resculpts, they would be wise to look to this Cutter as an example of how it should be done. This figure is an improvement in every way over the original figure, but still pays enough homage to its predecessor that any long time fan will instantly recognize him. If Wave 2 is pulled off in the same manner, then Joe fans in general have an awful lot to look forward to in the coming years!

I have dual uses for this figure. First off, he is Cutter in my collection. I have no use for the original figure now that this updated version is in my collection. When Cutter mans the Hovercraft, it is this version and this version alone who is called upon to represent the character. However, from time to time, I like to also use this guy as a maritime commando or a port defender. The look fits, with the large flashlight and small, compact gun. In this role, the figure gets more versatile and can really utilize the attention to detail paid his design. He is an army builder type figure who usually fights against pirates (portrayed by Dreadnoks) or a team of Cobra Divers who are trying to infiltrate a facility. Usually, this capacity is for more out-of-continuity adventures, but it shows that the mold has more potential than just being Cutter.

There is good news and bad news about the availability of the '92 Cutter. He really isn't all that easy to find, especially if you want him mint and complete. You just don't see him, or many of his D.E.F. brethren on a consistent basis in second hand market loose collections. The good news, though, is two fold. First off, if you do find a loose version of this figure, he won't cost you very much. Like the other D.E.F. Joes, Cutter is cheap. He can even be had MOC for prices that allow you to open him. The other bit of good news is that this mold is currently offered by Funskool. You can see a couple of them in the picture below. They are very similarly colored to the American version and are almost identical in color to Topside. They also come with black accessories that work well with the original version as well as many other figures. As they can consistently be had for under $4.00, this is a figure mold that you can amass quite easily in that manner. It really allows you to enjoy the quality of this figure for a price that is easy to handle. I can't get enough of these guys. Their use in my collection lends itself to army building and I do whenever I get the chance. I think, if you are willing to give this figure the benefit of the doubt, that you will find him some nice uses in your collection as well.

Cutter is a good figure, but not one that I need more of. The Funskool version covers that for me. What do you think of this guy? Let me know.

1993 Cutter

In 1994, I came home for Christmas and was in search of Joe toys. I went to TRU and picked up a 1994 Shipwreck, a 1994 Dial Tone, and a couple of other guys. I was highly disappointed that I couldn't find a Headhunter. (It is a disappointment that continues to this day.) On my way home, I decided to stop by a K Mart that was going out of business. In here, I found, on clearance, a SHARC 9000 for $5.00. This was a deal I couldn't pass up. While I really didn't want any vehicles, I am always a sucker for boats. (The hovercraft and hydrofoil rank no.s 1 and 3 respectively on my list of favorite vehicles.) I managed to sneak the SHARC into my parents' house. (Some 21 year olds sneak booze, drugs or porn into their parents' house when they are home on break. Me, I sneaked toys.) Once I got this sucker opened, it was awesome. Sure, the colors weren't the best, but it was great fun to have a new boat. I always loved the gun turret on the hydrofoil. The one on the SHARC was even better. (It actually shoots water!) I had the new Dial Tone man the turret, Shipwreck took the second chair, and Cutter was at the helm.

I've always liked Cutter. The original hovercraft is my favorite vehicle of all time and I had always used the original Cutter as a high ranking Joe who was always in charge of his craft. My only problem with that original figure was that it wasn't much fun to play with outside of the hovercraft. This version of Cutter solved that problem. The toned down look still allows for the figure to have a sculpted life vest, but it doesn't overpower the figure like it does on the original version. The 1992 Cutter, which was available as a carded figure, kept the orange life vest, but this version took a more militaristic approach and used the subtle green. It is odd that the vehicle this figure came packaged with is so mis-colored while the figure is actually very good. Cutter is very basic and doesn't suffer from overkill like so many of his contemporary releases. He proved that Hasbro was still capable of making great figures that didn't scream for attention, they just were too lazy to do so.

Most hard core collectors don't really like the SHARC 9000. It is a very poor substitute for a hovercraft or hydrofoil, but by 1993, the days of vehicles of that calibre were long gone. This figure suffers from his vehicle's lack of popularity. You don't often see him and never hear about him in any collecting circles. It's really too bad as this figure is very worthy of at least a little attention. He doesn't have anything that is really detrimental to his appearance, though the orange hair is a bit Ronald McDonaldy. Still, this figure remains high on my list. I've found myself substituting this figure for the original Cutter on my original hovercraft. He works so much better with the military colors. Cutter is just a fun figure to have around. I fully plan to man my aircraft carrier, when I get one!, with a couple of 1992 Cutters to complement my 1984 Cutters, all my versions of Shipwreck and about 4 1998 Navy Seal Teams. When the mission requires a hovercraft to recon or attack, though, the 1993 Cutter will be at the helm.

Like the other 1993 vehicle drivers, Cutter can be problematic to find. Not many people were in to vehicles near the end of the line and none of them saw a high production run. In fact, the line this figure was originally intended for, the D.E.F., was cancelled before the figure was even released. As such, you don't often see him for sale. Like most of the later edition figures, though, Cutter suffers from the Collectors' Paradox: this is a hard figure to find, but since he is not highly sought after, he remains cheap in price. Many people don't even know about this version of Cutter. The 1992 version is cool, but often overlooked. This figure, though, beats the original color scheme in almost every way, including collector obscurity.