Gatilho - Brazilian Exclusive Python Patrol Airborne

Gatilho has been part of my collection for over 20 years.  In that time, he has been a major player, minor annoyance and, now, part of my core collection that defines my Joe experience.  I no longer really think of the figure as a foreign exclusive.  Instead, he's just another option when I'm looking to staff the villains in photos or displays.  He's more a part of the Python Patrol to me than even Copperhead or the Viper.  I just see him in this role as a major character whose origin in South America is one of the lesser aspects of his character.  And, as I've found Python Patrol to be a fun subset to build out, Gatilho takes on importance beyond being a foreign oddity and has become a key component of one of my favorite one-off sets in my collection.

At this point in my collecting life, foreign exclusives have been part of my Joe experience for so long that I really don't have the appreciation for them that they probably warrant. It is amazing that the world has changed to a point where acquiring decades old toys that were exclusively released on other continents is commonplace.  Figures like the Brazilian Gatilho were once nearly impossible find.  Now, they are relatively common and most collectors have easy access to the figure, though they may be priced somewhat higher.  We have knowledge of foreign releases and access to their home markets that allow anyone to add foreign figures like this to their collections.  That expansion of the Joe world has been a heavy driver of the brand's momentum for over 20 years, now.  Fan clubs, factory customs and licensed partners have all delved into the foreign Joe mythos.  And, it's been only possible because there is so much information about non-Hasbro releases available.  

Gatilho is pretty much what he's supposed to be.  He's a weird villain wearing a Python Patrol uniform.  His base is solidly military...a leftover from his Airborne roots.  But, the colors are non-sensical in any form aside from membership in Python Patrol.  The green, yellow and black is a visual treat, though.  And, I'd have enjoyed this figure quite a bit had I owned him as a kid.  As a collector, though, I appreciate that he brings the one element that was always missing from Python Patrol: named characters.  Python Patrol was an army builder's panacea.  But, a team with no leader didn't make sense.  And, in the pre-factory custom world, Gatilho was the perfect choice to lead teams of Python army builders into action.

Gatilho has some limitations, too.  His yellow waists makes him appear that he's wearing yellow underwear on the outside of his uniform.  It's somewhat distracting.  It does break up the figure's look.  But, not in a good way.  His kneepads are also unpainted.  A quick application of black paint here would really help set the figure out.  The busy camo pattern makes Gatilho's legs disappear.  Black kneepads would help to break this up and give you a visual resting point on the figure.  The rest of the colors are an odd mish-mash.  But, they are true to the Python Patrol visuals.  Really, it's amazing how well Gatilho and Relampago match up to the Hasbro Python Patrol figures.  It's this consistency that makes the Brazilian duo so useful.  They look like they are intended to match the Hasbro sub-team.

Back in 2003, I wrote up a whole backstory for this figure.  And, had I not written it down, I'd have no recollection of it.  I have less need for a complex and intricate origin for every character these days.  Now, I just see Gatilho as a guy who leads some similarly dressed Cobras into battle.  There's not much thought put into him beyond that.  He might ride a motorcycle or a helicopter.  But, those are just tools and not part of his character.  I like the figure because he looks cool and is a perfect match for one of my favorite Cobra Trooper recolors.  And, 20 years after his acquisition, that's enough.  I like using him and I take advantage of that when I can.  

Gatilho includes two accessories, but both are unique to this figure. The helmet is a yellow version of Airborne's original helmet, but with the molded goggles painted black. This additional splash of color helps to mute the bright yellow and gives the helmet far more character than was exhibited on the American Airborne. The figure also includes a charcoal colored version of Ripcord's rifle. This coloring is similar to the weapon included with the Tactical Battle Platform in the U.S. But, it has a glossier finish. Due to the figure's brittle thumbs and the rifle's large handle, though, I have never actually placed the weapon in the figure's hands. Instead, I use other, smaller handled weapons or have Gatilho posed like he appears in the photos below where he holds the rifle by the barrel or handle in a resting position rather than being ready to fire. The accessories fit the figure, but are not all that great. Having the helmet is worthwhile as the helmetless figure is a bit boring. But, there are other alternatives to Gatilho's weapon that allow for the budget conscious collector to skip that unique accessory and outfit him with something from the spare guns bin.

The Airborne mold was released several times.  Hasbro released Airborne in 1983.  He was available on a card and bagged as well.  His torso and accessories were then used for the first version of the Steel Brigade figure.  Then, the mold went to South America.  (This is why the Steel Brigade was changed to the Duke torso and also why Starduster was switched to Duke's torso since Recondo was also sent away.)  Airborne was released in colors based off his US figure in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.  The final release of the mold appears to have been this Gatilho.  But, foreign timelines are fuzzy.  In the early 2000's, there were people in Argentina who claimed to have access to the Airborne mold and could make exclusive figures.  No one took them up on the offer.  (Which, was probably wise!)  But, it implied that the Airborne mold existed at that time.  It was just not in Hasbro's control.  If this was true or if the mold might still exist are unknown.  Factory Custom maker Black Major released an Airborne torso on his Steel Brigade figures in 2017.  But, he never used the torso on another figure, despite the possibilities.  Airborne remains an underrepresented figure in terms of untapped potential for repaints of the mold.  But, it's unlikely to ever come to be.

While the Airborne mold was used quite a bit, I feel it was never really fully exploited.  The Argentine, Mexican and Brazilian versions of the character all have nuances from the Hasbro figure.  But, at their core, they are the same central theme based on the character's original appearance.  The Steel Brigade usage of the torso was good.  But, you have to find what is now one of the rarest Hasbro figures in the line's history to use on a custom to make use of the solid green color.  Fail Safe brought back the Airborne helmet in 2023.  And, it would have been awesome to have seen a drastic Airborne recolor to accompany Ripcord released some time after the Skystriker dropped.  I feel there's a lot of potential left in the Airborne mold that could be used for a definitive version of the character.  I don't think we'll ever see it, though.

In the grand scheme of things, this figure is rare. The brittle Brazilian plastic, lower overall production numbers and language barriers to its native release country all add up to a figure that does not exist in great quantities. But, despite all that, the figure is still very much available from South American Joe sellers and can even be found from American dealers with some frequency. Gatilho is still, though, a $80 - $100 figure if you want a mint, complete with filecard version. (You can get them cheaper if you can find an American seller with the figure, but that takes quite a bit of patience.)  That's pricey for the Joe line. It is up to each collector to determine if this figure brings that kind of value to their collection. Personally, I find Gatilho and Relampago necessary members of my collection due to the holes they fill in the Python Patrol subset.  But, if Python Patrol isn't a division of interest, then the value each figure brings to a collection diminishes.

 

1989 Python Patrol Trooper

I've had this profile scheduled for months.  It was just the way it fit into the schedule with various other figures and the fact that this profile was mostly done.  Then, Hasbro dropped the Classified Python Patrol Cobra Officer release last week.  So, now it looks like this is a response to that.  But, hey, I'll take the weird kismet and roll with it.  

I don't much care for the Cobra Officer.  I have always been a Cobra Trooper fan and found the Officer to pale in comparison to the much more detailed Trooper.  But, the Officer included an AK-47.  And, to a kid of the '80's, this weapon was the symbol of the bad guys and tied Cobra's imagery to the two greatest evils of the era.  So, the figure was imperative, even if it wasn't my preferred Cobra army builder.  As a kid, I bought a Trooper at a Kohl's store.  But, I don't recall the Officer mattering very much to me.  He was in our collection as my parts bin still as some Officer pieces in it.  But, the Cobra Trooper was always my preferred Cobra and the Officer was, to me, a lesser figure that wasn't really worthwhile when the superior Trooper was available.

For some reason, Hasbro switched the names on the Python Officer and Trooper.  It's not quite a 4-LOM/Zuckuss level screw up.  But, it has lead to decades of confusion.  Personally, I always felt the Officer mold was better suited to be a trooper since it was bland and included the assault rifle.  But, the notion of this mold being an Officer over the Troopers is so ingrained from the original blues, that the name bungling can't prevent me from still seeing this figure as the Officer and the other figure as the Trooper.  I have just this one Officer.  But, I have quite a few Troopers and even some Factory Custom troopers to supplement them.  So, I still see this figure as the officer, even if the official name is that of a trooper.

The upside to this Python Trooper is that the colors and python pattern are excellently done.  Green Cobras were all but non-existent in the vintage line.  (At least, outside of 1989!)  So, the fact that this Python Trooper sports a green shirt makes him stand out.  Oddly, grey was also a sparsely used color among vintage figures and this Trooper also features grey accents that highlight the mold's details.  The bottom of the figure is cast in black with grey highlights to tie the top to the bottom.  In short, the figure isn't a color combo that appears very often and it allows for this figure to be a standout.

The Python Patrol used a color scheme that was consistent across figures.  So, this Trooper features the same green that you find on the Python Officer's straps.  What is really nice, though, is that the green also matches with the Brazilian Exclusive Python Patrol figures.  Gatilho is a nice match for the Officer.  And, you can easily mesh the exclusive Brazilian characters with the Hasbro army builders to create a larger, more cohesive team.  And, if you pair them up with the Sears Dreadnok Ground Assault, you get a cool little cadre of Cobras that can be used in some specific scenarios.

And, it is in that vein that I use the Python Patrol to this day.  I missed them when I was a kid.  And, even my brothers were pretty much done with Joe in 1989.  So, Python Patrol was solely a subset that entered into my consciousness when I was a collector.  It wasn't one that really resonated with me beyond the Viper.  But, in 2008 or so, Hasbro released an anniversary sculpt Python Trooper.  At the same time, there was a Hiss Tank available at retail.  I liked the combo and thought about how awesome it would have been to have had a vintage style Hiss and Python Trooper available at retail just a few years before.  But, at the time, Python Patrol figures were dirt cheap.  So, I stocked up on some Python Officers and built an army that remains the bulk of my Python Patrol collection today.

The Python Trooper has an accessory variant.  His AK-47 can be a glossy black or a light grey.  It is imperative to not confuse the light grey weapon of this figure with the white AK-47 from one of the Battle Gear packs.  You'll also often see the original, charcoal colored AK-47 from the 1982/1983 Officer with these figures, too, as they are actually easier to find than the black rifle from the Python figure.  You can see both variants in the photos below.  Neither of the variants appear to be more common than the other.  But, these days, it's far more common to see Python Troopers sold with incorrect weapons that it is to find them marked with specific variants of the rifle.

It is a ridiculous travesty that the 2022 Cobra Trooper/Cobra Officer set hasn't been repainted into Python Patrol figures.  Hasbro could drop a 6 pack of 4 Troopers and 2 Officers in a white box and baggies (like they do with Star Wars army builders) and sell them without too much difficulty.  They took the time to make these new molds and we have yet to see them reused outside of a last minute addition to the Skystriker.  Maybe we'll see them someday.  But, at this point, I don't hold my breath.  It's far more likely we'll see a repainted Trooper or Officer included with a $120 Transformer before we see a real army building pack that's themed and directed at collectors.  It would really be hard for Hasbro to have bungled the vintage Joe homages any more than they did.

The Cobra Officer mold wasn't used all that much.  The straight arm figure was sold in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.  The swivel arm Cobra Officer was sold in various countries and was available as a mail away for years and years.  In fact, bagged Cobra Officers were available as late as 1999 from Hasbro Canada.  The mold was used for the 1984 Stinger Driver.  Then, Python Officers were sold in 1989.  But, they were also available in things such as the Chuck-E-Cheese promos.  Hasbro remade the Officer mold in 2004.  But, they then found the old mold that same year.  It was used in a Toys R Us set, a Comic Pack and the Night Watch set from the DTC line.  Then, we got the 2022 Officer and it's repaint on the Stinger Driver.  Factory Custom makers have done an Officer mold.  So, you can find the proper color variants that Hasbro should have done in that realm.

Way, way too many Python Troopers sell in the $50-$70 range.  And, that's not just dealer sales.  You'll see the market push that high, too.  You can get mint and complete figures in the $40 range.  But, even incomplete figures sell in the $30 area.  As the crotch is brittle, it's much easier to find broken figures.  But, even they will command premiums at times.  Python Patrol was once considered less desirable than standard paint job figures.  But, those days are gone as collectors have realized that the Python Patrol exists in far lower numbers than their contemporaries.  So, pricing now reflects that.  

1989 Python Officer - Around the Web

I have always been a fan of the Python Officer.  Sure, he's the Cobra Trooper mold.  So, I have always used him as a Cobra Trooper instead of an officer.  The Python pattern is relatively subtle on the figure, though, and that makes him more useful as something beyond just a sub team member.  I have always used him in conjuction with the repainted Dreadnok vehicles.  I've found he works as a nice complement to the green colors.  Being a popular figure, there's lots of great content on the figure out there so check all the links to see some of the best work done with the Python Officer.

Python Officer Profile

Python Officer vs. Vibora Cart Artwork

Python Officer by thedustinmccoy

Python Officer at Colin's Joes

Python Officer by plasticbattles

Python Officer by Relinqueshed

Python Officer by backyardjoes

Python Officer at JoeADay.com

Python Officer by darkstar_vintage

Python Officer by playfulmonkeycosplay

Python Officer by thedustinmccoy

Python Officer by tituslester32

Python Officer by murphs_actionfigures

Python Officer by gen_lierderkranz

Python Officer by thedustinmccoy

1989 Python Patrol Viper - Around the Web

1989 saw the advent of the first set of repainted Cobras.  Python Patrol brought back a slew of classic Cobra molds, including the best army builders of the first few years of the line.  The Python Viper is a figure I actually consider better than the original.  But, I'm not a fan of the 1986 Viper.  So, mine is a minority opinion for sure.  There was a time when Python Patrol figures weren't that hard to find and would sell for less than the original versions.  But, now, their single year of release has left them harder to find than the classic Cobras.  There's lots of fun stuff using the Python Viper out there.

Python Patrol Viper Profile

Python Patrol Viper by corpscommandercody

Python Patrol Viper by scarrviper

Python Patrol Viper at JoeADay.com

Python Patrol Viper by viper_space

Python Patrol Viper at JoeBattleLines.com

Python Patrol Viper by dashiellrfairborne

Python Viper by gen_liederkranz

Python Viper by thedustinmccoy

Python Patrol Viper by HCC788

Python Patrol Viper by jogunwarrior

Python Patrol Viper by friezus.maximus

1989 Python Patrol Crimson Guard - Around the Web

Sometimes, a repaint just makes no sense.  And, when the color of the uniform you wear is part of your name, changing that color seems like a bad idea.  And, for the Python Patrol Crimson Guard, it was.  Despite the odd colors, though, the figure has some merit.  The CG mold is strong.  And, Hasbro only used it twice in the vintage line.  There's some nice content on the figure out there, though.  So, browse away at the Python Patrol Crimson Guard around the web.

Python Patrol Crimson Guard Profile

Python Patrol Crimson Guard by atticagazette

Python Patrol Crimson Guard by davaflavaprime

Python Patrol Crimson Guard by plasticbattles

Python Patrol Crimson Guard by yotothejoe

Python Patrol Crimson Guard by thekidcustoms

Python Patrol Crimson Guard by callsign_charlie.mike

Python Patrol Crimson Guard by gijoeshtuff

Python Patrol Crimson Guard by action_1982

Python Patrol Crimson Guard by atwooddan

Python Patrol Crimson Guard by Serpentor's Lair

Python Patrol Crimson Guard by dashiellerfairborne

Python Patrol Crimson Guard by gi_jokers

2003 Python Patrol Major Bludd - Around The Web

The Python Patrol Major Bludd figure was not well liked upon his release.  Many collectors disdained the figure for simply not being an army builder.  17 years later, though, Major Bludd has help up the best of the 2003 Python Patrol figures.  His unique coloring and lone character was not lost in the sea of army builders that followed.  And, the fact that he used a unique parts combination has made him more interesting than many of the other figures of the era that were straight repaints.  Here's the best of him from around the web.

Python Patrol Major Bludd Profile

Python Patrol Major Bludd at Nekoman's Viper Pit

Python Patrol Major Bludd at JoeADay.com

Python Patrol Major Bludd at JoeBattleLines.com

Python Patrol Review at GeneralsJoes.com

Python Patrol Major Bludd by Slipstream80

2019 Python Patrol Snow Serpent - Black Major

So far, 2019 has been light on new factory custom figures.  We've gotten a ton of Snake Eyes repaints as well as some configurations for various viper types.  But, the overall releases have been somewhat sparse.  Late September of 2019, though, began to change that when the Snow Serpent mold appeared.  A rainbow of Snow Serpent repaints showed up all at once and gave thirsty collectors something that they could hunt down and army build.  Being a desert dweller, though, arctic figures hold little value to me.  I haven't seen snow in years.  And, the Snow Serpent has always been among my least favorite 1985 army builders.  But, a few of the Snow Serpent repaints seemed useful to me.  I'm not someone who buys each and every factory custom figure.  I pick and choose the items that go with my collection.  But, in the case of this Python Patrol inspired Snow Serpent, I went against the grain and acquired something different for my collection.  In doing so, I found something rather cool.

Ostensibly, a Python Patrol Snow Serpent makes no sense.  But, neither does a Python Patrol Crimson Guard nor a Python Patrol HEAT Viper.  But, Python Patrol is now iconically Cobra.  So, seeing all the figure molds under the sun in the pattern is something collectors can get behind.  Thus, a Python Patrol Snow Serpent fits into the theme as well as anyone else and you might as well get him in this design while the Snow Serpent repaints are in production.  And, the results are really nice.  The subtle grey body would work well enough in a snowy climate.  The red and yellow are a bit much.  But, they are far less ostentatious than many of the other Python Patrol inspired factory customs.

For some reason, though, this paint job works for me.  Many of the other Python Patrol inspired figures are more intricate and use more color than this Snow Serpent.  And, I think that's why I like this guy.  He's not too busy.  Instead, there is a smattering of yellow with just a hint of red.  The figure isn't an over the top Python Patrol entry and more closely resembles an oddly colored Cobra figure from the 1990's instead of a modern homage.  At the same time, though, this figure shows off the fun aspects of having some splashes of color.  The brighter colors bring more attention to the mold and do detail how high of quality the figure actually is.  I'm not going to make this guy the leader of any arctic expedition.  But, he'll probably show up in photos alongside other Python Patrol members in coming years.

The Snow Serpent isn't a mold that I ever really wanted as a factory custom.  The original was extremely well done.  And, the arctic theme greatly limits the figure's usefulness in other color styles.  But, there are a lot of cold weather environments around the world with different terrain and fauna.  If you're a fan of the Snow Serpent mold, there are now many repaints available (including the return of the 1980's era Soviet logo on a few) to sate your desire for repaints.  I'm limited in what I'm after and picked up this Python Patrol version just for some diversity and to check out the paint scheme.  I figured I'd trade him some time in the future when the figs have gotten scarcer.  But, I find that I really enjoy this look for the Snow Serpent...even though it has limited use.  I'm at a point where visually appealing figures carry more weight than "realistic" paint jobs.  So, entries like this Python Patrol Snow Serpent are fun to have around.

The quality of these Snow Serpents is high.  The figures are not vintage Joe quality.  But, if you've handled any of the Black Major releases of the past two years, you know what to expect.  The joints move freely and the figure poses well.  The paint masks are crisp and intricate.  The gear is easily discernible from vintage pieces, but still of great enough quality for a collector to have no fear of breakage.  (The red also matches some vintage Red Shadows weapons, too.)   In short, they are toys easily worthy of addition to any collection.

The Snow Serpent repaints include all of the original gear.  This Python Patrol version has red variants of the classic AK-47, backpack, missile launcher, stand and snow shoes.  There is a red parachute pack as well.  However, the parachute and backpack are actually molded in white and painted over.  So, the color doesn't 100% match the rest of the accessories.  (This is likely due to the pliable plastic needed for the parachute pack being a separate production run.)  With the all the flavors of Snow Serpent now available, you can get the gear in green, red, black, yellow and other colors.  I'd love a run of black versions of the Snow Serpent rifle, though, that could be purchased separately.  I'd outfit most of my 2004 Cobra Infantry with them.

Right now, Snow Serpents are $18 figures.  I was fortunate and got mine in the introductory sale for a bit less.  So, patience can pay off.  But, if you look around, you see that most of the Alley and Night Viper repaints have started to dry up and can't be acquired as easily as they could 12 to 18 months ago.  The Starduster repaints prove elusive and are getting expensive.  Even a few of the Snake Eyes flavors from fall of 2018 don't appear as frequently.  Army builders are popular and Black Major figures are popular so it's always good to get them while the getting's good.  Joe's popularity is going to dive in 2020.  We are seeing both softening prices and decreased community engagement.  With some external factors thrown in, we should see cheaper prices in the new decade.  I don't know, though, if that will translate to figures like these.  The production numbers are low and most collectors seem to just buy one or two of each flavor rather than build an army of a dozen or more.  I've got mine, now.  And, you can get yours, too, with little effort.

2018 Python Patrol Storm Shadow - Factory Custom

2017 was an amazing year for factory custom figures.  Dozens upon dozens of new figures were released and collectors had choices of incredible army builders, rare character repaints or all new amalgamations to choose from.  In short, it was a great year to be be a vintage style Joe collector.  As 2018 started, it was poised to continue the trends of 2017.  Many new designs were shown and collectors salivated over the prospect of new figures.  More new designs showed up and it appeared that 2018 could see even more new figures than appeared in 2017.  And, then: nothing.  Factory problems in Asia, trade wars, construction problems, paint issues and every other little snag under the sun transpired and none of the figures were ready until late in the year until the first crop of Black Major figures finally appeared.  Even then, the offerings were few and the quantities were limited.  But, sometimes, the wait is worth it.  

Stormshadow first appeared in the factory custom world in 2016.  The initial offerings were classics like black, tan, red and Cobra blue versions.  Camouflage versions appeared and there was, generally, a pretty nice assortment of repaints of one of the Joe world's iconic figure designs.  I never really thought I needed a Python Patrol Stormshadow.  I would never have asked for one.  But, one of the joys of having others produce the factory customs is that I get to see some things that I didn't know I wanted.  As soon as I saw the first mock up of the Python Patrol Stormshadow, I had to have the figure.  Usually, I'm not a huge Python Patrol fan.  But, I do enjoy Python Officer figures.  But, seeing Stormshadow in this color scheme appealed to me.  For some reason, it seemed reasonable that Stormshadow could appear like this.  This is, prima facie, ridiculous.  Yet, with the figure in hand, my interest in him remains high.  To me, Python Patrol is mostly the domain of 1984 and earlier molds.  So, seeing Stormshadow colored like this works for how I've always viewed Python Patrol.

The biggest "problem" with this figure is that the base green color used for the figure is substantially brighter than the green that was used on vintage, Hasbro Python Patrol figures.  So, Stormshadow is not a perfect match for any of the vintage figures.  This has been an issue with all the Python Patrol colored figures that have come out in 2017 and 2018.  But, all of the factory custom Python Patrol figures are compatible with each other.  So, you have that as an option.  Beyond that, though, this Stormshadow is amazingly detailed.  The paint masks are intricate and sharp and the yellow underwear is a call back to the vintage figures.  He has the full complement of V1 Stormshadow gear and is just bright enough to call attention to himself without being too overbearing or ostentatious.

So, what am I going to do with this figure?  I have no idea.  This paint scheme falls into the category of really cool figure for whom I have no specific purpose.  There are lots of Stormshadow figures.  But, I don't really use them that often.  Having a Python Patrol version gives me more options when breaking out a Stormshadow for a photo shoot.  I can match him with some of my other figures and he can join Relampago and Gatilho in the pantheon of named Cobra Python Patrol characters.  I could use him as a Ninja Viper to augment the Python Patrol ranks.  The point is, I have no specific use for him and he's a general enough design to work in various settings.  For a classic sculpt in homage colors, that works for me.  

When it comes to factory custom pricing, who knows?!?  These Python Patrol Stormshadows started out at $18 per figure.  Even with relatively limited quantities, the figures were available for long enough that anyone who wanted one could get one.  It's possible that someone who had an unknown stock could liquidate some time in 2019 for 1/2 the original asking price.  But, more likely, the figures will dry up.  When that happens, the demand factor takes over.  If collectors love the idea of a Python Patrol Stormshadow, the figure will get pricey.  If the community is relatively indifferent to the design, the figure will stay around current prices.  And, if the notion of a hugely popular character repainted in a hugely popular color scheme is hated, you'll find this figure for pennies on the dollar.  I find the last scenario the least plausible.  And, I always recommend picking up items at "retail" cost unless you know the item is a turkey.  Black Major figures tend to have a following and many old, out of production designs command significant premiums on the after-market.  For me, I found this version of Stormshadow to be worth $18 new.  Not everyone will since it's an odd figure for sure.

1989 Python Patrol Crimson Guard

There are many good repaints in the Joe line.  In many cases, a figure has a repaint that is either equal to or, sometimes, better than the original figure.  There are many bad repaints, too.  It's hard to say which more dominate the Joe line.  Mostly, the domain of badly repainted figures is defined by 1993, 1994 and the 2000's as the release years.  To be fair, there were few repaints prior to those years.  And, those that did appear tended to be in themed subsets.  In these subsets, though, you could find a poor repaint.  In the case of the 1989 Python Patrol Crimson Guard, the remake of a classic figure did not translate.  We are now left with a figure that doesn't make much sense, even if you can make a case for his inclusion in the popular Cobra theme.

In the pantheon of Cobra army building figures, the Crimson Guard vies for one of the top spots.  It's hard to see him overtaking Vipers or classic blue Cobra soliders and officers.  But, he is probably of similar popularity to the BAT.  You don't see the massive vintage Crimson Guard armies like you used to.  But, this is a function of both the fact that Hasbro offered decent enough CG repaints in the 2000's and that many collectors are content with smaller numbers of "elite" troopers and use that to offset the quantities of other army builders they acquire.  But, there is no denying the character's popularity.  So, the inclusion of a Crimson Guard in the Python Patrol makes sense.  By 1989, the figure had been away from retail for 3 years.  And, it was likely that most kids playing with Joes were aware of the character from the cartoon or other media, but did not have his figure.  So, the repaint was born.

In 1989, I was out of Joe.  I didn't buy the figures or vehicles.  Even my youngest brother was mostly done with the toys and there were maybe one or two figures who found their way into our home.  So, I didn't have much exposure to the 1989 line aside from the comic.  It was here that I found out about Python Patrol.  But, as the toys were far out of mind, I just found it an amusing sub plot in the comic.  I never really knew that there were figures of these designs, though I assumed they would not have been in the comic did they not exist in some format.  It wasn't until I started collecting again as a adult that the first Python Patrol figures entered into my collection.  The Viper became a favorite as there were few options for the mold back then.  The rest weren't really interesting.  As the years wore on, though, the Viper lost his luster and the Python Officer became the only Python Patrol figure to hold my interest.

In the early days of Joe collecting, Python Patrol were considered rarer than the original Cobra figures.  In the late 1990's, it was fairly hard to find mint and complete Python Patrol figures.  The only thing that kept down their prices was the fact that most collectors had zero interest in any figure made after 1987.  As the Joe collecting world exploded in the early 2000's, the supply of figures that were found at garage sales, in basements or comic shops helped to saturate the market with figures.  Army builders kept prices high.  But, you could find as many Python Patrol figures as you wanted.  As collectors began to soak up all the more desirable figures, it again became evident that Python Patrol didn't exist in the same numbers as the other, excellent, 1989 army builders.  So, you saw prices rise, especially as Hasbro revisited the idea a few times.  But, the subset nature of Python Patrol has always kept this team as more a group of specialists than the backbone of a Cobra army.  And, that keeps the figures more available than they probably should be...even to this day.

But, of the figures released under the Python Patrol banner, I find this Crimson Guard to be the worst.  Truthfully, the design isn't any better or worse than most of the other figures in the set.  But, since the Crimson Guard was released during the height of my childhood, I always felt they were truly elite.  As a kid, Crimson Guards were the equivalent of most Joes and could beat the Joes in battle.  The red color was a calling card and badge of honor.  With that view of the Siegies embedded in my psyche, any rendition of the mold that was anything less than perfect was going to be viewed as flawed. 

So, for this Python Patrol Crimson Guard, the yellow chest and unfinished grey face simply don't hold up.  The figure is non-descript when the original boldly redefined red as a Cobra color.  And, with no Cobra sigil on the figure, there's nothing to tie him to the iconic first version or even the Cobra organization.  So, this figure fails to really mean anything to me.  I've had this version you see in the photos since he came in a lot I acquired in the late 1990's.  I've never gotten another one as this one version is all I'd ever need.  The upside is that you could use him to get another Crimson Guard rifle if you lost the version from your original.  (The black pack is useful on Crimson Shadow Guards, too.)  But, that's about the extent of his use and I have yet to find this figure as anything other than a box checker towards a complete collection.

The Crimson Guard mold did not fare all that well.  It was used in 1985 and then for this 1989 repaint.  The mold then went to Brazil.  Estrela released a version of the Python Patrol Crimson Guard there as a figure named Tocaia.  This figure featured the upper arms of Copperhead.  But, it is otherwise very similar to the American figure.  The mold then died.  Most of the Brazilian releases contemporary to the Crimson Guard also never re-appeared.  They could have gone to India or been returned to Hasbro warehouses in Asia where they disappeared forever.  Hasbro was so kind as to remake the Crimson Guard body in 2003.  This mold was released several times.  But, it lacked the vintage head and was only repainted in red and black.  Factory custom makers entered the Crimson Guard arena in the early 2010's.  This finally brought Cobra blue and black Crimson Guards into the community.  (Along with some other flavors.)  But, these figures saw low production runs and have mostly disappeared.  In some ways, the Crimson Guard being held mostly true to his roots helps to maintain the mystique of the character.  Though, I'd be lying if I said I would not have built an army of blue CG's had Hasbro released them in the 2000's.

Python Crimson Guards have a pretty big price range.  You can get mint and complete figures for around $15.  But, due to low supply, dealers will often get $30 or so for them.  Building an army can be done without breaking the bank.  But, it will take a long time to do it.  The question, though, is who wants to?  A lone CG makes for a good Python Patrol commander (a role never defined) and allows collectors to maintain just one or two in their collections.  The preponderance of yellow color limits the figure's usefulness and he's not a great choice for vehicles or the Terrordrome.  But, as he's the only Crimson Guard repaint that's really available, the figure has value.  And, with the now large quantities of Python Patrol figures that are available, it makes sense to have this CG.

2003 Python Patrol Major Bludd

In a lot of ways, the early 2000's were the heyday of G.I. Joe collecting.  The community was the largest it's ever been.  Hasbro were willing to make new Joes for retail.  And, the internet gave collectors plenty of places to congregate and discuss the hobby.  It was one of those times where you don't realize how good it is until its all gone and you look back at the era in retrospect.  Despite all the good, collectors were also their own worst enemies during this time.  We would express our disdain for a product while buying it.  We'd exclaim that we'd buy 100 of something...only to buy one or two when it came out.  Hasbro of that time really tried to listen.  The G.I. Joe brand manager was a fan and tried to engage them.  But, mostly, those attempts failed.  There were forces at play in the retail world that were at odds with collectors.  And, collectors often didn't know what they wanted.  Hasbro produced some very forgettable figures during this time.  But, they also produced some gems.  15+ years later, though, some of the figures that couldn't rise up at the time have taken on new life.  One such figure is the 2003 Python Patrol Major Bludd figure.

A sad fact about collectors of the early 2000's is that we didn't reward any Hasbro ingenuity.  While collectors would bemoan the multitude of Snake Eyes and Duke figures that Hasbro constantly released, they would then turn around and buy them: leaving much more innovative products on the shelves.  With this Major Bludd, and the entire Python Patrol set in general, Hasbro took a huge chance.  Rather than go with a tried and true vintage homage, the came up with something completely different.  The dark red and black was a whole new look for Python Patrol figures.  But, Major Bludd, in particular,  was something really new.  At the time, collectors hated any Battle Corps mold.  It was mostly blind hatred grounded in stereotype rather than fact.  But, it was pervasive.  To make Major Bludd, though, Hasbro took one good aspect of 1994 figures, Major Bludd's head, and put it to use on a new body.  In 2003, the 1991 Super Sonic Fighters Zap was mostly an unknown figure and few collectors owned one.  So, putting out a new Major Bludd using this body was a tremendous risk that Hasbro took to create something new for the singular non army builder in the Python Patrol set.

Collectors, naturally, rewarded Hasbro by complaining constantly about Bludd.  They were upset they had to buy an extra Major Bludd to get the 5 army builders they wanted.  We also complained about the Python Patrol not being compatible with vintage figures.  Basically, collectors told Hasbro not to take chances like this set, again.  They did so by not buying the set in droves like many had planned.  While early message board boasts talked of people buying 10 or more sets, the reality is that even the most die hard army builders stopped after 5 or 6.  Most collectors only bought one or two sets.  And, the Python Patrol lingered at retail, even getting clearanced out online.  As such, Toys R Us lowered their order of future sets.  While both Tiger Force and Python Patrol had around 25,000 units produced, Toys R Us dropped that number to around 20,000 for the 2004 exclusive sets.  And, the Joe sets, eventually, dropped as low as 16,000 as interest in the brand began to wane.

The lower productions runs, though, weren't a bad thing.  While many collectors predicted a scalper's apocalypse with the 2004 Cobra Infantry, that never came to pass.  20,000 sets proved to be around the right number for the collector base of the time and even became too many by 2005.  But, the Python Patrol's ultimate retail failure can't be blamed solely on collector apathy.  Hasbro played a part, too.  In 2002 and 2003, army building was the rage.  Sure, you see army building today.  But, it's nothing like what happened in the early 2000's.  Collectors of that era army built anything released at retail and would go to great lengths to justify why they had 20 or more of some specialty Cobra.  Hasbro never really understood this.  Even their token army building offerings of 2002 were shortpacked in cases or forced the consumer to buy a Joe to get the army builder.  Collectors were demanding some classic army builders while Hasbro turned deaf ears to their cries.  The announcement of the Python Patrol was enough to make collectors happy since they had an army building set that fulfilled many desires.  It didn't have Vipers or Crimson Guards.  But, 5 army builders and a crappy Major Bludd for $20 was still pretty good.  But, right as the set hit, Hasbro threw a wrench into collector plans.

At the 2003 G.I. Joe convention, Hasbro released news of their 2004 offerings.  The year would start with a 6 pack of classically colored Cobra Troopers and Officers.  If that wasn't enough, there would be a three pack of G.I. Joes in Crimson Guard disguises that would be released for the 2003 holiday season, too.  And, they promised more army builders as the year went on.  With this news, all collector focus fell off the Python Patrol.  Why buy extras of this set when you could save that money for Cobra Troopers and Crimson Guards that were only a couple of months away?  The Python Patrol set was made DOA just by the announcement that much better army building opportunities were coming.  Collectors no longer had to settle for what they got since what they had always wanted would be coming to retail at long last.  Even the cancellation of the Infiltrate Cobra Island Crimson Guards was enough to dampen enthusiasm as the Toys R Us Cobra Infantry was enough of a hit to offset any disappointments.

As for the figure itself, the Python Patrol Major Bludd is well done.  The new Python color scheme is intricate and well executed on the figure mold.  The palette of maroon, black and gold is very striking and sets a different expectation for a Cobra figure.  The parts mesh together well.  And, while the Zap body creates more of a heavy weapons Major Bludd than we've seen in the past, it is not out of character for Major Bludd and seems like a plausible look for him.  The huge downside are the accessories, though.  Bludd didn't include any useful weapons.  Instead, he included a terrible rocket launcher and a gun meant to plug into a now missing backpack from the 1991 Zap figure.  To say they are useless is an understatement.  Fortunately, it's now easy to acquire better weapons for Major Bludd.  But, he was another early example of Hasbro's lack of commitment to giving figures decent gear.

For me, though, this figure is tough to use.  It looks cool.  But, this Bludd doesn't really fit with the specialized troopers from his Python Patrol set.  And, if I want a Major Bludd to use in other contexts, there are better figures for that role.  So, this Python Patrol figure sits in his drawer, awaiting some rare occasion where he will be needed.  With a few factory customs coming that use this Python Patrol pattern, it's possible that Major Bludd will find more use at some point in the future.  For now, though, he's a neat figure for whom I have no use.  That kind of sucks.  But, there are a decent number of quality figures in the line's history who have very specific purposes and are tough to use any other time.  This Bludd fits into that pattern.

After being, basically, an unsellable figure for many years, this Major Bludd has started to see some life on the aftermarket.  Mainly, though, that's due to the the extremely low amount of stock that is for sale at any given time.  Dealers will sell a mint and complete with filecard version for around $15.  And, since there's really no other options any more, they sell quite a few at that price.  Left to the open market, the figure will sell for considerably less.  You just might have to wait 6 months to find one.  You can also still get the figure for almost nothing if you buy a set of Python Patrol figures as a lot and then resell the army builders individually.  It's a lot of work, though, to save a couple of bucks.  And, the rest of the Python Patrol figures (aside from the SAW Viper) are pretty nice.  This 2003 Python Patrol color scheme has also become iconic in its own right.  It has shown up on anniversary figures and factory customs.  So, after 15 years, collectors finally came around and rewarded Hasbro ingenuity.  The long delay just cost us the line we love being a retail success.

2003 Python Patrol Lamprey - Around the Web

The Python Patrol set in 2003 received mixed reviews.  Collectors loved the fact that you got 5 unique army builders.  They also loved that Python Patrol was returning.  But, the actual figure releases didn't really fly.  While the figures matched the vintage vehicles: few collectors in 2003 really focused on the them.  The figures not being compatible with the vintage Python Patrol was a detriment.  So, while collectors did buy quite a few sets, the Python Patrol stuck around at retail for quite a while.  Due to its pegwarming, the Cobra Infantry set in 2004 only got a production of 20,000 sets instead of the Python Patrol's 25,000.  Now, though, this set is more appreciated by collectors and has gotten a bit harder to find.  For me, the highlight of the set was the Lamprey.  Here's the best of him from around the web.

Lamprey Profile

Python Lamprey at JoeBattleLines.com

Violentfix's Python Lamprey

OGToys.com Python Lamprey

Brazilian Vibora Card Art Vs. Python Officer

The Python Patrol Officer was released in the U.S. in 1989.  This repainted Cobra Trooper utilized the card artwork from the original release.  But, Hasbro updated the colors to match their new subset of figures that were brought to retail as Python Patrol.  Around 1993 or so, the Cobra Trooper mold showed up in Brazil.  Here, he was released in Python Patrol colors as Vibora.  While the toy mold remained the same as an American release, Vibora was given brand new card artwork.

Vibora Card Art

Vibora features the classic Python Patrol coloring from the 1989 U.S. figure.  So, Hasbro sent those paint masks to Brazil for the swivel arm trooper mold.  But, this is the only connection to the U.S. release.  Vibora is in a completely different pose.  He also features his Brazilian exclusive weapons (a remake of Hit and Run's rifle and the Range Viper's grenade launcher) drawn into his hands.

Oddly, Vibor's name translates as Viper.  G.I. Joe fans know the Viper as the building block of the Cobra army and their successor to the original Cobra upon which Vibora is based.

1989 Python Officer Card Art

The biggest difference I see in the two artworks are the characters eyes.  Vibora's eyes are wide and somewhat crazy.  He looks worried and overwhelmed by his station.  The Python Officer's eyes, though, look very, very evil.  He has the hardened face of a career mercenary.  Each of them is cool in their own way.  But, the eyes seem to be the biggest characterization difference between the two releases.

Vibora Cardback and Filecard

Here is rough translation of Vibora's filecard:

He is extremely vengeful. And fast in your actions. Perfect for being the commander of the Cobra attack jets. His thirst for vengeance leads him to despise danger. And when it lands, its speed leaves the inmates unreacted.

Once, at school, Vibora needed to take ten to not be disapproved. He had no doubts: he took the test from the most intelligent colleague, put his name and called the teacher. For what? To accuse the unfortunate of wanting to take his test.

Vibora and Python Officer Card Artwork Comparison

Rarities - The Curious Case of the Missing Mustache

In the 2000's, Hasbro reused many molds.  Starting in 2000, though, they would, periodically, skip the paint application for a figure's facial hair.  These were by design.  However, it seems that Hasbro had some issues with facial hair in general as figures missing facial hair were common pre production finds.  Below, you will see a few examples of figures that are missing the facial hair paint applications.

The first figure is the mail away Agent Faces figure.  For this figure, the head was a either a new sculpt based off of the '92 Duke or a slightly modified version of that head.  The production figure's facial hair was just a paint application.  In the sample below, though, this application was missed.  The result is a very different looking figure.  While the sample is production level, it's more likely a case of factory error or poor quality control than an actual variant.  But, it's interesting nonetheless.

The second figure is the pre-production 2002 BJ's Dial Tone.  This mold was released with no mustache in 2000, but the production figure in 2002 did have the mustache.  This pre-production figure has differences other than the facial hair, like the differently colored elbows and general difference in the green arms.  But, the mustache is the most glaring difference.

The final figure is, again, likely a factor error rather than a variant.  But, it is a 2003 Python Patrol Major Bludd figure with no facial hair.  Bludd is very odd without his trademark mustache.  So, this figure is boldly different from any other appearance of this head.  While it's likely not a variant, it does offer further proof that factory goofs can make their way to retail.

Click on the Rarities tag to see more oddball items.  And, Rarities Month II will be coming in June of 2017.