Cobra Flying Scorpion (Brazil) - 25 Years Later

I guess it's tradition to post up the Flying Scorpion every 5 years.  Today, though, marks 25 years since I first posted my original profile on the Brazilian exclusive.  At that time, he was an obscure release that no one really cared about.  Now, he's among the more expensive foreign figures and commands a stupid premium.  None of that has changed his importance to me.  He remains the flagship figure in my collection.  He's the most expensive figure I still use with any frequency.  Some of the flair and creativity behind him has faded into the background.  I don't have deep and evolving characterization for him any longer.  But, the figure remains one of my personal favorites and one I love dusting off every few years.

Twenty Five years is a long time.  It's hard to really imagine the world of August, 2001.  It was such a drastically different time.  2001 was really the dawn of the Joe collecting boom.  Starting in that year, prices rose, forums exploded and G.I. Joe looked like it was set to return to the cultural zeitgeist.  The next three years were a blur of hundreds of new figures, constant news about the line and voluminous fan content that kept even the most voracious collector well sated.  

All good things must end, though.  And, Joe took a drastic downturn at the start of 2004.  By the middle of 2005, the line was cancelled.  Hasbro was ambitious, though, and offered the cancelled line as part of their Direct To Consumer (DTC) strategy.  You can't call the Joe items anything but a failure.  They were dumped to Toy R Us in 2006.  But, the DTC idea was the pre-cursor to Hasbro Pulse and was a harbinger of the 2020's online focused toy collecting experience.  O-ring Joes were all but silent for more than 15 years.  In 2022, Hasbro Pulse brought some underwhelming releases back.  They were fine.  But, nothing that really caused any sort of collecting resurgence.  Now, Hasbro has outsourced their o-ring Joes to Super7.  And, fan creators are releasing wave after wave of factory created o-ring figures that were inspired by G.I. Joe.  (Most are more Remco than Hasbro, though.)  So, it's not a bad time to be a collector, these days, provided you are not trying to fill hundreds of vintage holes.  Those prices remain artificially inflated.

It's kind of fun that there are now some figures who match up with the Flying Scorpion.  Not all of them make sense when taken  against the Sky Patrol theme.  But, you can build out a nice collection of similar figures to augment this guy.  

Originally, this figure represented a new character in my collection.  He still does.  But, I rarely photograph him in that role.  It's just too difficult to convey his importance and role in a photo unless someone has my 32 years of backstory that began at a boring job in the summer of 1994.  So, he usually appears as a single operator with some troops behind him...not much different than any other named Cobra.  I still like the idea of him as the new leader of Cobra.  But, the practicality of making that evident just doesn't work out.

In the early 2000's, it was pretty easy to get Flying Scorpion figures.  You could find carded versions for around $30.  Loose figures were harder to find unless you had a connection in Brazil.  But, the figures were cheap.  Those days are long gone.  And, you'll pay a substantial premium to add any high quality members of the Patrulha do Ar to your collection.  The figure isn't rare.  He's just popular and his price tag reflects that aspect of the demand curve.

Due to his high pricetag, there's not a ton of Flying Scorpion content out there.  Aside from being expensive, he's also fragile.  So, taking him out in the rain to pose him in the wet rocks doesn't hold a lot of appeal for those who own him.  But, I still do.  So, enjoy all the photos below and I'll see you again in August of 2031.

Flying Scorpion Profile

Flying Scorpion 15th Anniversary

Flying Scorpion 20th Anniversary

Flying Scorpion by comandos_em_acao_gijoe

Flying Scorpion by 00zxcvb

Flying Scorpion by relinquished1979

Flying Scorpion by Scarrviper

Flying Scorpion by Harry Hendriks

Flying Scorpion by relinquished1979

Flying Scorpion by don_zartan

Flying Scorpion by relinquished1979

Rarities - Brazilian Cobra Soldado

Cobra's iconic army building duo of the Trooper and Officer were exported all over the world.  Versions of them were released in Argentina, Mexico and Brazil.  Each of these releases features its own hue of blue to differentiate it from the those of the other nations.  It is the Brazilian version of the Cobra Trooper, though, that is the most famous of these releases.  While the other blues all tend to be dark takes on the color meant to evoke the look of the Hasbro originals, the Brazilian Soldado used a much lighter blue color.  This makes it visually distinctive and one of the more sought after versions of the Cobra Trooper that was released outside of Hasbro.

A figure that is either the same or is very similar to the Soldado was also sold as a pack in with the Brazilian Viper Glider.  This Cobra Piloto is also in the Brazilian blue.  It's tough to tell, but it might have some slight coloring differences.  Since so many Soldados were found loose, it's tough to really differentiate the figures.  But, be aware of the Piloto's existence, too.

The Soldado can be found with some different weapons.  The most common is the Rock and Roll M-60 with bi-pod.  This is how the figure is advertised in the Estrela retailer catalogs.  You can also find them with Grunt M-16's.  There are reports of him also being available with the standard Cobra Trooper Dragunov.  But, I've never seen a carded version that confirms this, though.

Sadly, the Soldado only exists in straight arm versions.  The swivel arm versions of the Trooper and Officer didn't make it to South or Central America.  That limits the usefulness of the Soldado.  Straight arm figures aren't really worth getting.  So, only have colorways in that construction can be frustrating.  Fortunately, factory custom makers have taken on the Soldado coloring and produced several versions of the swivel arm Cobra Trooper in Brazilian colored homages.  

The Soldado isn't as bright as the factory custom takes on the figure are.  So, if you're only familiarity with the Soldado is through the factory custom realm, you might be surprised at the actual hue of the figure.  You'll note the Estrela stamp on the figure's back, too.  

Soldados are surprisingly common.  Despite the high prices that many sellers try to get, the figures are always available and have been since the earliest days on Brazilian sellers.  There are collectors out there with decent Soldado armies just due to their availability.  The figure is neat and desirable.  But, it's not rare.  

Rarities - Funskool Red and Yellow Beach Head

Early Funskool figures feature a lot of weird colorings.  Funskool had a bit more carte blanche to create toys for their home market.  Slowly, though, Hasbro intervened and dictated the appearance of certain figures and characters.  So, offbeat color designs on some of the earliest Funskool figures were changed so that the characters were a closer match to their appearances in cartoons, advertisements and the comic book.  

Among those early oddballs are a Beach Head with a red head and a yellow vest.  There's no reason given for the color change other than Funskool liked bright colors.  Even the figure's card artwork is unchanged from the standard colors.  But, the drastic red and yellow make for a visually disconcerting Beach Head figure.  The color palette was changed for Beach Head.  And, the more common Funskool appearance is the lime green figure that's become my default for the character.

The Red and Yellow Beach Head remains expensive.  For a time, he was among the most expensive figures in the entire line.  He's still up there.  But, he's lost some of the lustre that he enjoyed in the mid 2000's.  

There are dozens (maybe even hundreds!) of Funskool Beach Head variants.  Some, like the red and yellow figure, are sweeping changes that are instantly noticeable.  But, even within the figures from the 2000's, there are slight color changes between production batches.  You'll find brown eyes, black eyes, dark grey explosives, light grey explosives and every hue in between.  His leg camo colors can vary from barely perceivable to outright distracting.  Beach Head might be the most varied figure in the entire line.  So, those who love him have a lot to track down.  But, this red and yellow figure remains the most popular and expensive of those variants and isn't a figure you see much of these days.

Rarities - Brazilian Duque

Most collectors are familiar with the Brazilian Tiger Force exclusives.  The Tiger Force Shipwreck (Marujo) and Airtight (Ar Puro) have been among the most popular Brazilian exclusives since the 1990's.  What is often forgotten, though, is that there is another member of the Forca Tigre: Duque.

This character is most often forgotten because, upon first glance, it's not all that much different from the 1988 Duke figure.  But, the Estrela figure has some differences that make it stand out.  Most noticeably, the 3/4 sleeves are missing.  Instead, Duque gets new lower arms from Ripcord.  So, he has full length sleeves.  The colors are slightly brighter than the Tiger Force Duke.  And, instead of the classic M-32, he includes a version of Crazylegs' rifle.  He doesn't include the stock, though.   In addition to his helmet, backpack and binoculars, he also came with some face paint for Brazilian kids to paint themsevles up in Tiger Force camo.

Duque is a figure that's always been relatively easy to find.  This is likely a function of him just being less popular than Ar Puro or Marujo.  But, you can find mint and complete versions with relative easy.  But, Brazilian dealers tend to overprice him.  And, they try to command similar prices for Duque as they get for Marujo and Ar Puro.  The figure just isn't that popular, though, and often goes unsold for high prices.  As Brazilian Joes go, Duque is firmly in that middle ground of something that has just enough of a variant from the Hasbro figure for you to notice.  But, not so much that he rises to the level of full on Brazilian exclusive characters like Ar Puro or Marujo.

Rarities - Action Force Kraken

The Kraken figure isn't so much a rarity as it is an oddity.  How this monster came to be included in the Action Force line isn't know and he's as out of place as the Lunartix aliens from the end of the Joe line.  At the same time, he is also a perfect fit for the Action Force mythos.  Why wouldn't this team of super-baddies who have some mad scientist type characters also have a monster?  It's not a question a kid would have asked back in the '80's.  You were just happy to acquire a really cool and fun toy.

Being a 5 points  of articulation figure, Kraken is a natural fit for any Kenner Cantina or Jabba's Palace diorama.  You'll see his Walrus Man inspired webbed feet.  He's the type of weirdo who fits into this scene in both design and figure construction.  The green, black and red coloring is eye catching and vibrant.  (It will appear on a factory custom Eel in 2026.)  He's that perfect combination where the weird design allows for colors that would be, otherwise, out of place for a Red Shadows figure.

Kraken figures are surprisingly common.  Even complete versions aren't all that expensive.  But, like most '80's toys, these days, supply has gotten tighter.  And, the figure has gotten fairly popular in recent years.  So, you'll pay more than you would have a few years ago.  The upside is that he's available.  And, since he's one of the more famous designs, lots of collectors have them and European collectors were keen to pluck him out of the huge lots of Action Force figures that used to be common at boot sales and second hand shops.

SuperCop (Funskool Exclusive) - Around The Web

In 2001, a weird figure popped up.  It was a previously unknown toy that used G.I. Joe molds.  The figure was named SuperCop.  Using the head from Sgt. Slaughter and cast in all blue, the figure was a really nice representation of a law enforcement officer.  The figure was very expensive when compared to other Funskool figures of the era.  But, even with the high price, SuperCop proved popular and sold through rather quickly.  For a while, he'd appear in all sorts of content.  Slowly, though, that all disappeared.  Now, you see the figure very infrequently.  Few people have him these days.  And, those who do are rare to use him.

I've had this draft sitting around for about 5 years.  As such, there's a bunch of links form back then that don't even work any longer.  More ghosts of the Joe world that are just gone.  None of that detracts from the figure.  He's stupidly expensive these days.  There's tons of guys who haven't been active since the early 2000's who have no idea that those extra Super Cop vehicle sets they bought now command premium prices.  

I don't use this figure often enough, any more.  I just don't have the interest in him that I once did.  At some point, I should do more base photos with him and some Law army builders.  Until then, enjoy the content below.

SuperCop Profile

SuperCop Packaging

SuperCop at JoeADay.com

SuperCop by atwooddan

SuperCop by yojoeroadhouse

SuperCop at Action Force.dk

SuperCop Video Review

SuperCop at Leaky Suit Brigade

SuperCop Rescue Jeep

SuperCop by atwooddan

European Exclusive Mutt - Around The Web

Mutt is among my favorite figure sculpts and characters in the entire line.  I have a version of every figure ever released based on the vintage mold.  And, while Mutt was released many times, it is the European exclusive version that is the most distinct from his original look.  This orange haired figure is not Stanley Perlmutter.  But, instead, is of Scottish descent.  We don't know why this version was exclusive to Europe.  He and Spirit were this odd pair of matching figures who randomly appeared in early 1990's European Joe assortments.  

The figure is missing the signature chest insignia.  This was removed for the Brazilian release of Mutt.  And, it's still missing on this later, European release.  His accessories are a darker grey color that live about halfway between the light grey of the 1985 Battle Gear pack and the black of the 1984 Hasbro release.

There's a decent amount of content on this figure.  He was one of the first European figures of whom American collectors became aware.  And, there was a time when loose figures were fairly common.  Even today, you can find lots of Euro Mutts with broken crotches and thumbs.  He's one of the more available figures.  Though, finding a complete one with the correct accessories remains a fairly tough chore.

Sadly, this figure has not gotten so expensive that you don't often see newer collectors willing to take hi outside and get him dirty.  When it was $40 to replace him, that was one thing.  Now that it can go over $200, that an entirely different proposition.  For me, though, it's still behind the original 1984 figure in terms of the best Mutt.  I'd argue that the Brazilian Mastim figure is better, too.  But, the orange hair and offbeat color scheme makes him a worthwhile discussion piece for any collection.

European Mutt Profile

European Mutt by dreadnokdread

European Mutt at R.T.G. at ARAH Gallery

European Mutt by gijoeaction

European Mutt by Golden_Cobra_79

European Mutt by nightforcetunnelrat

European Mutt by gijoeaction

European Mutt by bruxovigo

European Mutt by gijoeaction

European Mutt by viper_space

European Mutt by gijoeaction

European  Mutt by Relinquished1979

Funskool Mainframe

Sometimes, a figure is just a figure.  There's not much special about it.  The design is drab.  The character is somewhat one-dimensional.  The gear is just OK.  And, the general design doesn't spark the joy of the line's most prominent figures.  All of this perfectly describes the 1986 Mainframe.  He's a figure who exists in the Joe line.  He has very important uses.  But, even among just his contemporary 1986 releases, he's one of the last Joes anyone would pick as their favorite.  So, why not go two levels deeper?  Because, Mainframe had a release by Funskool in India.  He was released for many years in colors that are nearly identical to the Hasbro figure.  To get even more obscure, though, Funskool also produced Mainframe for release in Russia around 1999 or so.  And, it is this Russian, Funskool Mainframe that we'll discuss, today.

Mainframe is a perfectly neutral figure.  His colors are solid, but muted.  His sculpt is interesting, but kind of weird.  His gear is amazing.  But, also lacking.  He has enough personality to carry an issue of the comic.  After that, he's just a guy who's there.  The only remarkable thing about Mainframe is just how unremarkable he actually is.  As one of the line's supporting characters, though, this is perfectly OK.  You don't want a computer nerd to be the star of the show.  (At least, in the '80's, you didn't....)  But, you want every figure to be cool enough to buy and play with.  Mainframe balances this, perfectly.  

His biggest knock is the lack of a weapon.  As a kid, I outfitted him with spare Chuckles' pistols, Battle Gear Snake Eyes Uzis or the Uzi version that came with Low-Light.  All seemed fitting choices.  Back then, it was tough to get spare gear that was also decently colored.  Now, though, that's less of an issue and it's easy to get Mainframe the weapon he lacks.  Outside of that, though, Mainframe was a staple of my HQ.  He'd man the computer console.  Here, he could be the hero who held out against the invading Cobras.  Or, he could be the goat who was quickly defeated and allowed Cobra to steal Joe's secrets.  Usually, it was the former, though, as I liked the Mainframe figure and didn't want him to be the loser who lost to Cobra.  

Mainframe then took on 2 different roles in my collection.  The first role was as an experienced, older warrior.  This was a function of his comic introduction.  His older veteran status was something I combined with the character of Kup from the Transformers who was also an older, wiser warrior.  Mainframe was then someone who was an advisor to the Joe command team.  Him being in the HQ also gave him proximity to Hawk.  So, it was a natural synchronicity for the character.  As I really liked Kup, some of that also carried over to Mainframe.  So, he remained more important than he otherwise might have been.

The second role was as parts for some of my early custom characters.  We had an early Mainframe that belonged to my brother.  When I got a newer one, I took the old Mainframe apart.  I split up his pieces onto several other figures.  The one I mainly remember was a character named Havoc who had a built in hand cannon on his gloves.  He used Mainframe's chest.  I really liked this character.  I think he used the '86 Hawk head.  But, at some point, I wanted to put that Hawk back together.  So, I killed off Havoc.  He became a martyr for the Joes.  And, his name was invoked as a rallying point against Cobra.  Mainframe's arms ended up on some other characters that survived a lot longer in my collection.  It was these early customs that really expanded my story telling.  They were less constrained by the military realism that grounded the early '80's filecards.  And, while I don't have many of them left, all the parts are still in a box in the basement.  Someday, I'll buy a bunch of o-rings and screws and remake some of them.

One things I've wondered about Mainframe is if the designers had hoped that his microphone could be attached to his body.  This way, the figure could carry it around.  But, in 1986, they just didn't have the ability to do it.  But, the kept the idea kicking around.  And, by 1990, had figured out how to make it a reality on a figure.  It's pure speculation on my part.  Hasbro was very evolutionary in their accessories and figure sculpting.  And, you could see ideas that didn't quite work at their initial stage then later appear with the proper seasoning as gear that did now work for another figure.  

The Russian Funskool figures are kind of weird.  They were produced around 1999.  You can read the full story of their production at the Dragon Fortress.  Sadly, 1999 was during the beginning of Funskool's quality decline.  So, it's quite common to find fused swivel joints that prevent the figure's arms from moving.  As this is a key element of Joe articulation, it's an incredibly annoying trait of the Russian production run.  In the days when you could get these for about $4 per figure, it was less of an issue.  But, you're now paying a premium for Russian Funskool figures.  So, opening one up to find a useless arm is more of a pratfall, today.  So, definitely be aware that this is an issue for these figures.

Mainframe includes all the gear from his Hasbro release.  The computer and backpack are very slight color variants to the Hasbro figures.  You'll notice the poorer plastic quality before the colors, though.  He has a hose.  Mine is among the best hoses I've ever seen from Funskool.  But, this could be a function of the Russian figures being manufactured in the late '90's rather than a feature of the figure itself.  The only real variation on the figure is that his microphone is grey instead of black.  This works since it makes the piece more distinctive against the black hose into which it plugs.  It's also easier to see the sculpted details.  I'm a sucker for alternately colored accessories.  So, I find more value in this piece than most other collectors will.  But, the Funskool version will feature this uniquely colored piece.

Mainframe has a solid life.  He was used twice by Hasbro in 1986.  First as the grey carded release and then as an odd tan and red version that was included in the Mission to Brazil set.  After that, the mold was sent to Brazil.  The Estrela version, also codenamed Mainframe, is nearly identical to the Hasbro figure.  Most collectors aren't even aware it exists as there's nothing special about it.  From there, the mold went to Funskool.  Mainframe was a staple of the Funskool releases for many years.  He was widely imported to the U.S. in the early 2000's and was part of the 2009 series of Funskool releases.  There are even super weird uses of Mainframe parts in exclusive colors on Halibna releases.  These are rather rare, though.  The figure mold is either still in India or was destroyed there.  If we ever see another 3 3/4" Mainframe, it should mean that the ReAction+ line has enjoyed a decade plus long run and they've exhausted most of the other figures who are more deserving of an update.

Funskool Mainframes aren't that difficult to find.  They were massively imported during the early 2000's.  And, while the figure was never all that popular, his similarity to the original, Hasbro figure helped make him one of those guys that a lot of people did buy.  If these 2001-2005 imports weren't enough, Mainframe was among the 2009 Funskool re-releases, as well.  As such, you can still find carded versions for around $30.  It's tough to find any loose common Funskool figures, these days.  If you can, Mainframe will be cheap.  I'm pretty sure I'd never pay $30 for one of them.  But, getting one for $4 back in the days of heavy Funskool imports made a lot of sense.

Muralha (Brazilian Exclusive Flint) - Around The Web

Muralha is, basically, Flint.  Without context, a photo of Muralha would easily be mistaken for a standard Flint.  Some people might think that something seemed a little "off" about the figure.  But, at his core, Muralha and Flint are pretty much the same.  The green colors are a little darker.  The skin tone has a slightly different tint to it.  And, the accessories are that rich, deep green color that North American collectors are most familiar with from the Tiger Force Recondo.  Its a nice package for Flint that's true to his roots while being just different enough to bother you.

For me, there's not a way to get enough Flint figures.  I'd continue to buy them if Hasbro had squeezed him into their Pulse line.  And, I'll give any Super7 Flint a long, hard look.  (the headsculpt will be key)  Being able to track down at least one more international variant was a fun exercise.  It makes me wish the Plastirama Flint had been released in Argentina.  He would have been as cheap as Funskool Flints were back in the early 2000's and I'd probably have 3 or 4 of him.  

I'm always careful when taking photos of this figure.  Brazilian figures tend to have brittle thumbs and crotches.  So, breakage is always on my mind.  And, the days of finding cheap replacement parts for a release like Muralha are long gone.  That's always limited my creativity when trying to showcase this guy.  I'd like to use him more often.  But, it just doesn't happen.  I've got 3 or 4 spare Funskool Flints that are still carded in my basement.  So, those aren't as worrisome and that makes them far more likely to be my go to for an alternate Flint appearance.

Muralha doesn't appear all that often from non-Brazilian collectors.  So, you don't see him all that frequently.  And, while I really enjoy the figure for being something different, you don't need him if you have a nice 1985 Flint.  So, take a look at the Muralha content below.  You'll see lots of other Brazilian figures showcased with him in a lot of the content.  

Muralha Profile

Flint - Around the World

Muralha - MOC Rarities Post

Muralha by comandos_em_acao_gijoe

Muralha by lucianoverso

Muralha by colection.toys

Muralha by jonasgodoy_

Muralha by relinquished1979

Muralha by comandos_em_acao_gijoe

Muralha by lucianoverso

Muralha by geekcollector_

Muralha by comandos_em_acao_gijoe

Muralha by jundiaijoes

Muralha by comandos_em_acao_gijoe

Funskool Lady Jaye - Around The Web

There are many different Funskool Lady Jaye figures.  Some are more interesting than others.  My version  of the figure isn't too far off from the Hasbro release.  Her colors are a bit brighter.  And, most noticeably, her face paint application is poor.  So, it's not much of a difference from the 1985 Lady Jaye.  But, I've always liked Funskool figures and appreciate foreign releases with slight nuanced differences from the Hasbro figure.

There's not a ton of content on this figure out there since she's not all that common.  Heck, the photos you see below were taken 8 years apart.  I don't even use her that often.  The figure is definitely one you don't see often enough.  So, take a look at what little I could find.  

Funskool Lady Jaye Profile

Funskool Lady Jaye by kushviper

Funskool Lady Jaye by v1per_p1ilot

Funskool Lady Jaye by toysjoy357

Funskool Lady Jaye by aicrtm

Funskool Lady Jaye by ogtoys

Funskool Lady Jaye by v1per_p1lot

Alado - Plastirama Crazylegs (Argentina)

Crazylegs is not a figure that mattered to me during my childhood.  In fact, I kind of hated the figure because, before I saw the figure in stores, I assumed that a new parachute figure would be even better than the 1984 Ripcord.  That didn't turn out to be the case.  Crazylegs was such a disappointment that I never used the figure at the time of his release.  A few years later, though, Crazylegs was one of a very figures available to me.  And, in this capacity, he found a new niche that suited the figure.  It was far from his airborne trooper roots and was something I made up to fill a need I had in my Joe world.  

One of the halllmarks of the Joe line was improvement.  Each year, Hasbro improved the quality of their figures or the innovation of their gear.  It's a weird concept because Hasbro wasn't really chasing anyone in the marketplace.  And, no toy lines were competing behind the Joe line, trying to unseat it, either.  (Transformers and He-Man occupied very different spaces than Joe.)  So, getting a figure like Crazylegs where he was a huge step down from a figure released 3 years earlier was a disappointment.  The weird parachute rigging didn't make for a useful figure when Crazylegs was fully accessories.  and, while you have to give Hasbro points for trying something different, the reality is that Crazylegs' parachute is light years behind the rig designed for Ripcord.  

So, Crazylegs wasn't used.  His gun, though, was.  To me, Crazylegs' rifle was the closest approximation of the Cobra weapon from the cartoon.  So, I used the weapon with various Cobras.  But, I never found it a good fit.  So, instead, the weapon found its way to other Joe figures whose gear had been lost or broken.  Even with the removable stock long lost to the sea of junk in our toy room, Crazylegs' rifle was useful to have around. In the late 1990's, I co-opted the rifle for Sneak Peek.  I viewed this figure as a "commander" who lead the nameless legions who supported the Joes.  For some reason, I liked the way the rifle looked with him.  And, to this day, you'll find photos or Sneak Peek with Crazylegs' rifle on this site.

Now, I do appreciate the Crazylegs sculpt for what it is.  He is a nicely detailed figure.  And, the Night Force version has given me a useful version of it to blend with other figures in my collection.  I did make up a character of a "Sessions Officer" that you can read about in my 1987 Crazylegs profile.  But, these days, I mostly use him as intended, just in the background of a helicopter or other aircraft photo.  The red is useful for photography.  And, since I didn't overuse him in my childhood, there are few legacy memories associated with the figure.

There were just two post 1985 figure molds released in Argentina.  Sgto. Slaughter is the first.  And, Alado is the second.  Alado uses a 1987 mold and is the latest mold to be used in Argentina.  It does appear that Plastirama had more figures planned.  Alado's cardback shows Flint and BBQ as upcoming releases.  Neither was ever released in Argentina.  Though, both figures did show up in Brazil.  There's no real explanation as to why Crazylegs and Sgt. Slaughter were the sole late run mold representatives in the Plastirama line.  When you look at the catalog of 1986 and 1987 molds that were produced by Estrela, it's robust.  While I, personally, would have preferred a cheap way to get a slightly repainted Sci Fi or BAT, you can't fault Plastirama for their mold selections.

Alado is 100% based on the 1987 Crazylegs figure.  He used the grey base with red highlights.  But, the Plastirama Alado has some drastic color differences that make him easy to spot.  They also, though, make him a less useful figure than the other Crazylegs colorings that exist.  Alado uses a darker grey as the base color for his pants and shirt.  His gloves are a darker shade of tan.  The overall paint details on the fine, black paint are softer.  And, his skin color is more peach than that of Crazylegs.  The biggest difference, though, is the overall red color that was used.  It is not glossy.  So, Crazylegs' helmet and chest are very dull.  It's a weird look as flat colors were rare in the vintage Joe line.  The red on Alado's torso is also different than that on his waist and arms.  It makes Alado look like his a custom rather than a real release.  The final photo below shows Alado alongside a Hasbro Crazylegs.  But, sadly, the photo doesn't do the differences in the red colorings real justice.  And, Alado is much more recognizable in hand than the photos in the profile suggest.

Crazylegs traveled the world.  The timing of his appearances is odd, too.  Hasbro used the mold in 1987 and 1988.  Along with the original red version, Hasbro produced an exclusive Night Force version in 1988.  Shortly after that, the figure appeared in both Brazil and Argentina.  Both of the South American figures are named Alado.  And, both are very similar to the 1987 Crazylegs figure.  These figures had to start production after the Night Force run of figures.  So, they are, likely, 1989 releases at the earliest.  If that weren't enough, the Crazylegs mold then showed up in India.  Funskool produced a red suited Crazylegs whose real calling card is his red parachute.  They also used his head on the Skydiver figure.  So, Crazylegs fans have a lot to track down.  

Crazylegs was not among the molds that Funskool returned to Hasbro in 2003.  He was not among the 2009 Funskool update figures, either, though.  So, it's likely that Funskool had the mold but chose not to release Crazylegs when they tried to drum up interest in the Joe brand when the movie debuted in India.  The character was forgotten in the early 2000's.  But, eventually, he did appear in the Anniversary sculpt era.  And, he's even been ported over to the Classified scale in the 2020's.  Crazylegs is one of those guys who had no place in the community for the first 10 years or so of online Joe discussion.  But, he was able to move up the ladder and become a solid 3rd tier character.  And, I'm still not sure how that happened.

You can acquire an Alado figure in three ways.  The first is the standard carded figure.  You can also find Alado in a C.O.P.S. box.  There's no guarantee you'll get his accessories inside the box, though.  C.O.P.S. boxes are full of random parts and it's common to get Battlefield Accessories or Pac-Rats in them in lieu of the figure's gear.  You can also find Alados on Jhony Quest cards.  He will be packaged with the Jhony Quest figure...which uses parts from the Power Commandos.  Jhony Quest Alados are likely to have his full complement of gear, though.  Both the C.O.P.S. and Jhony Quest items tend to have collectability that is only partially related to the G.I. Joe figure that's included.  So, you'll pay a premium for these alternate packaging releases versus a standard, MOC Alado figure.

Once upon a time, Alado figures were easy to find and wouldn't cost you $5 for a MOC figure.  Now, you don't see the figures all that often.  And, dealers are able to get high prices for them.  You'll see figures sell in  the $70+ range for a carded figure.  You'll probably pay about $30 for a mint and complete figure.  But, that's an even tougher find.  Of the Crazylegs figures available, the Plastirama Alado is the weakest.  And, if you're not a huge fan of the character or the figure, is worth skipping.  Just get a 1987 or a Night Force figure to experience the mold.  It's a shame that Crazylegs only really exists in the two color schemes.  The Night Force figure, though, might be the perfect rendition of the character.  So, any new paint jobs would be vying for second place.  I'd still have loved to have seen something more on the Crazylegs sculpt...just since it's do well done.  But, that never happened.

The Plastirama Alado figure on the left vs. the Hasbro 1987 Crazylegs figure on the right.

Funskool Red Dog - Around the Web

The Funskool Red Dog debuted nearly 24 years ago.  During that time, I've been constantly flummoxed by the figure's complete lack of popularity.  Even back in 2001, when the figure was available from every guy with an Amex card for $4, few collectors really wanted to get one.  This made no sense to me for several reasons.  First, the Renegades were supposed to be popular.  In subsequent years, it became apparent that their popularity was very overstated.  Second, the Red Dog is a pretty drastic recolor from the Hasbro figure.  He features a different skin tone that fundamentally changes Red Dog's appearance.  Figures like that tended to be very popular.  Finally, the figure included a nice cadre of accessories.  Along with a black version of Red Dog's pistol, you also got a Recalled Roadblock machine gun.  For collectors who liked rare weapons, the Red Dog was a chance to get a mold that was pretty scarce in the U.S.

Despite this, the figure never took off.  And, today, that lack of popularity has made this figure relatively expensive.  Too expensive for a casual pickup for sure.  So, you see this figure even less than you used to.  Which is too bad as this is one of my favorite early 2000's releases.  So, I continue to use this figure far more often that most others.  Despite this, the figure rarely elicits much response.  It seems that most collectors are just blase about this figure and don't much care about it.  

Funskool Red Dog Profile

Funskool Red Dog by dantedmc37

Funskool Red Dog variants by Funskool Rony

Funskool Red Dog by gen_liederkranz

Funskool Red Dog by relena_warcraft

Funskool Red Dog by viper_space

Funskool Red Dog by bad warrant officer

Funskool class of 2001 by Funskool Rony

Funskool Red Dog by kushviper

Funskool Red Dog by relena_warcraft

Funskool Quick Kick

I'm not a Quick Kick fan.  I never have been.  Even back in 1985, I didn't find much use for the figure.  I had Snake Eyes to engage in epic sword fights with Stormshadow.  So, I had no need for another guy who wasn't part of the story and really didn't fit the ninja aesthetic of the time.  This was not the case for my peers, though.  They loved Quick Kick.  One of them loved him a bit too much and overused him to a great extent. But, to me, the character never really mattered all that much.  He simply wasn't someone around whom I could build adventures.  And, his only real use was as a generic civilian type militant who would get wasted by the Joes or Cobras when they tried to attack.

Much of my malaise towards the figure, though, was due to simple timing and luck.  For me, it was good luck.  For Quick Kick, it was bad luck.  Back in 1985, I found the new Snake Eyes figure very early in the year.  He was among the first 6 or 7 figures I acquired that year.  This was an anomaly as I had been very lucky to find an unstocked case of Joes on the floor of our local Toys R Us.  Inside was a Snake Eyes.  With Snake Eyes in hand, there was no way that Quick Kick was ever going to matter.  For my friends, though, this wasn't the case.  One of them had to wait until nearly Christmas to get his Snake Eyes figure.  With no other foil to his Stormshadow, Quick Kick became an integral figure to his collection.  Had I not found Snake Eyes on that fateful spring day 40 years ago, I might have found the same importance for Quick Kick.  Fate's cruel hand, though, dealt Quick Kick a fatal blow from which he hasn't recovered.

As I came online, though, I learned that many collectors view Quick Kick in a manner that's closer to that of my childhood friend than they do to me.  For many, Quick Kick was the only option to battle against Stormshadow.  And, he may have even been their only figure who carried edged weapons.  And, in this context, Quick Kick would be a vital childhood memory.  I, still, could not find much value in the figure.  He's among the least photographed figures from my childhood sweet spot of 1984-1987.  That doesn't mean, though, that he's a bad figure.  Quick Kick features all of the quality that was evident on other members of the 1985 figure class.  He is a cohesive design that creates a memorable character.  He just wasn't one that resonated with me.

But, seeing other collectors enjoy the character has, at least, gotten me to examine him on more than one occasion.  I feel it worthwhile to challenge my pre-conceived notions about figures...especially those from childhood.  Maybe I missed something.  And, as I've collected for over 3 decades, now, it's worth going back and trying to uncover an aspect of a toy that I may have overlooked or simply not appreciated as a child.  I find this a valuable exercise since it leads to self discovery as well as identifying items I've owned for years that can feel new and exciting again as they capture my attention.

With that in mind, I decided to take another look at Quick Kick.  He was the subject of a theme month at ARAHGallery.com and that gave me an opportunity to photograph his various versions.  I had a bit of fun with the various releases that I own.  As Quick Kick isn't an often participant in my photoshoots, I thought of a few ideas for him.  While R.T.G. has found success foiling Quick Kick against 1987 Cobra villains, I didn't find such a pairing.  Due to his release year, I see Quick Kick as more a pairing with more of the traditional Joes instead of the martial artists.  But, Quick Kick doesn't really match up with the missions on which Flint and Footloose would lead.  So, this still left the character with no real purpose and no real home.  In a couple of years, I'll try again and see if he captures my attention, then.

Quick Kick was a world traveler.  After Hasbro was done with the mold,  he was released in both Brazil and Argentina.  Both of these figures have coloring variants to the Hasbro and Indian figures.  Brazil even produced a large number of Quick Kick figures that were then available from Hasbro Direct as a mail away offer in the early 1990's.  These figures are identical to the Estrela figure released in Brazil.  But, they are fairly common and cheap, today.  Finally, Quick Kick went to India where Funskool released him for a long time.  An oddball figure using Quick Kick's body and Budo's head was even released as a Funskool promotional figure.  Hasbro never bothered to ask for the mold back.  And, Quick Kick was even among the Funskool figures who got a re-release in 2009.  The mold is, likely, still in India.  Maybe someone will resurrect it one day.  But, we probably have all the Quick Kick figures we need at this point.

At his core, the Funskool Quick Kick isn't all that much different from the Hasbro version.  The skin tone is more pink.  The pants are a shinier black.  And, in general, the accent colors of red and blue are more vibrant on the Indian figure.  The paint applications tend to be a little sloppier than Hasbro's.  So, there's really nothing that this Funskool release offers that you don't also get with the Hasbro version.  So, it's really just a bragging point or international Joe collectors and a figure to cross off a list.  

The Funskool version includes the same accessories as the Hasbro version.  The nunchuks are more flimsy than the Hasbro versions and feature a very thin chain that breaks easily.  The sword isn't as hefty as the Hasbro release, either.  It's noticeable when you have them both together.  His backpack is a dark black instead of the grey from the Hasbro release.  It's the most visually distinctive difference.  I'm loathe to use the nunchuks due to the fragility.  And, if the plastic dries out, they'll likely snap even if I've never used them.  I do like giving Quick Kick's sword to Budo as an alternative look for him.  That's about the most use I've ever gotten from the weapons.

There are many variants of the Funskool Quick Kick figure.  As he was in production for a long time, color nuances became the norm.  Generally, figures with very pink sashes are the rarest and most desirable.  Excellently conditioned samples can run upwards of $500.  Those variants, though, were not among the widely imported Funskool figures from 2001 and onwards.  All Funskool figure pricing on common figures from that era is stupid right now.  Quick Kick was available from American dealers for years and years.  Which makes sense that people trying to sell the figure in the $40-$50 range don't tend to do well.  But, supply is still very low.  So, you see carded figures sell for upwards of $50 all too often.  Left to market pricing, Quick Kick is about a $30 MOC figure...which is still way too  much for a figure of this stature and supply.

You can get a mint and complete Hasbro Quick Kick for about the same price as a carded Funskool version.  While a loose Funskool Quick Kick will be a lot cheaper, they are also harder to find.  So, it's probably worth it to just solve your Quick Kick needs with a Hasbro figure and call it a day.  I have this figure because he was $4: like every other Funskool figure that you overpay for today.  He was worth that price to me.  But, he wouldn't be worth much more.  But, it's also likely that my take on Quick Kick was forged by experiences that few others share.  So, to them, this figure has much more value.  And, if the character is important to you, having the option of another international variant makes collecting him much more fun and interesting. 

Rarities - Auriken Grunt

In Mexico, the Auriken toy company released a small line of exclusive Joes.  There are a few different series.  The initial series, though, features all straight arm figures.  In fact, it features all of the straight arm figures that were also released in the U.S.  All nine Joes are available, as well as both the Cobra Trooper and Officer.  But, two of the figures featured some "updated" artwork.  One was Snake Eyes.  The other was Grunt.  Instead of the classic Grunt artwork on the packaging, the Auriken Grunt featured Footloose's artwork.  

Footloose matched Grunt's specialty of "Infantry Soldier".  So, it's  possible that the artwork got mixed up as it traveled around the world.  But, the proper Grunt artwork was used in Brazil and Argentina.  So, it getting mixed up when it went to Mexico seems less likely.  The Footloose figure was also released in both Brazil and Argentina.  He didn't see release by Auriken.  Though, all of the Auriken figures that were released were also released in Brazil.  It seems the line went straight from Brazil to Mexico for figure releases.  The mechanism and timeline of how that happened, though, is murky at best.

As a figure, Grunt sucks.  Footloose is awesome, though.  So, getting another crappy Grunt and missing out on another international Footloose release is disappointing.  But, the Auriken figures have kind of dried up and it would be unlikely that a Footloose release would be something I had been able to track down.  

The real story is the box, in general.  It is a unique way for Joes to be presented.  Each figure being affixed with a twist tie is also unique.  During the early days of collecting, when Auriken figures were a bit more common, many collectors gravitated towards them due to the unique packaging.  It's weird that the figure's filecard would be displayed if you folded the box flap over the figure's window.  The whole design seems rather inefficient.  Regardless, it's a good example of how Joes were sold around the world.