Funskool Tunnel Rat - Around The Web

The prices on this figure are still dumb.  I'll just open with that statement.  Because, it seems everyone has forgotten that Funskool figures were widely available in the US and every collector who was active during the early 2000's had all the Funskool figures they could ever want.  But, memories are short.

Not a ton of people use this figure.  But, there's some fun stuff out there showcasing him.  The bright colors are a hallmark of Funskool but also create a really nice visually distinctive toy.  I really miss Funskool.  It's been over 15 years since they've made G.I. Joe figures.  So, I don't think we're ever going to see the line return.  But, it was fun while it lasted.

Funskool Tunnel Rat Profile

Funskool Tunnel Rat by corpscommandercody

Funskool Tunnel Rat by The Dragon Fortress

Funskool Tunnel Rat by Funskool Rony

Funskool Tunnel Rat by Toy Gyani

Funskool Tunnel Rat by corpscommandercody

Funskool Tunnel Rat by The Dragon Fortress

Funskool Tunnel Rat by corpscommandercody

Funskool Tunnel Rat by codenameflint

Funskool Tunnel Rat by corpscommandercody

Funskool Tunnel Rat by corpscommandercody

1987 Tunnel Rat - Random Photos of the Day

Tunnel Rat is one of the most iconic figures in the line.  His likeness is based on Larry Hama.  But, the rest of the figure is amazing, too.  He photographs really well and works in a variety of situations.  And, because of that, I have a wide array of Tunnel Rat pictures from various settings.  

But, Tunnel Rat is a very popular photo subject.  So, here's a bunch of photos I've taken over the years of Tunnel Rat.

1987 Tunnel Rat - Around The Web

Tunnel Rat is one of those characters who was always popular.  The great design and Larry Hama connection has kept him near the top of the pantheon of Joe characters.  In recent years, he seems to have taken on even more interest as all of his versions tend to command a premium over contemporary figures.  But, with no real bad versions, that's somewhat understandable.  Due to his popularity, there's tons of great stuff on the 1987 Tunnel Rat out there around the web.

Tunnel Rat Profile

Tunnel Rat by the vintagetoylife

Tunnel Rat by steelbrigade

Tunnel Rat by gijoe_rama

Tunnel Rat by gijoe_rama 02

Tunnel Rat by rj_vintage_toys

Tunnel Rat by billykessler

Tunnel Rat by gi_joe_85

Tunnel Rat by specialmissionforce

Tunnel Rat by steelbrigade

Tunnel Rat by fuerzatigre

Tunnel Rat by kushviper

Tunnel Rat by nostalkid

Tunnel Rat by _toyler_

Tunnel Rat by strikeforcecodename

Funskool Tunnel Rat

Tunnel Rat is easily one of the most popular figures in the Joe line.  He was released in the key Joe year of 1987, is an amazing sculpt, has excellent accessories, if colored near perfectly and has a likeness based on the father of the G.I. Joe mythos: Larry Hama.  Through the years, many other Tunnel Rat figures were released: pretty much all of them excellent in their own right.  Tunnel Rat was even given two international releases.  The Funskool figure, our subject today, features a paint scheme that is based on the 1990 Super Sonic Fighters Tunnel Rat, but is much brighter and more vibrant.  It's hard to see this as anything other than the worst Tunnel Rat figure.  But, the bright colors and excellent highlights give him a Funskool-chic that makes this figure a fun release to own.

Colorwise, Tunnel Rat is Funskool at its finest.  You get a powerful red shirt that announces the figure straight away.  It's offset by brown pants and darker red shoes.  The figure sports a odd brown bandana and gloves.  The chest, though, pops with a neon green grenade and offsetting silver and grey accouterments.  The figure is Funskool through and though.  (There is even an extra blob of yellow paint on Tunnel Rat's exposed chest/neck.  I don't know why, but it's there.)  However, the quality of the paint, the vibrant details and the appearance of a few useful colors all add up to a figure that should be terrible: but isn't.  Tunnel Rat is bright.  But, he fits in with other Joes from the 1980's since he features all of the painted details.  Funskool didn't try too hard (like Hasbro did with their 2000's era Tunnel Rat figures) but also was true to the spirit of the figure and produced something that's visually striking without being too over the top.

Funskool Tunnel Rat's gear is OK.  He includes a black version of the classic 1987 Tunnel Rat rifle.  This is great as it's the only weapon I associate with Tunnel Rat and helps to distinguish him from other versions that are missing his signature accessory.  He also includes a brown version of the Night Viper backpack.  It makes more sense for a tunnel specialist than the huge honkin' backpack from the original figure.  I'm not a huge fan of Cobra gear being re-purposed for Joe.  But, I give leeway for foreign releases.  Though, the technical look of the pack doesn't match Tunnel Rat, even if the color o the back is a nice match.  That's the extent of the gear, though.

For me, Tunnel Rat has always been the Joe team's light machine gunner.  As the 1987 figure was acquired during the height of my late childhood, he is both a sentimental and realistic favorite.  I've never had a burning desire to acquire more Tunnel Rat figures because the original version fulfilled my needs for the character and was useful in all situations where Tunnel Rat might be needed.  The Funskool version, though, is a useful addition to a vehicle crew or as a splash of color when I want a different look for a classic character.  I like the idea of the Super Sonic Fighters Tunnel Rat.  But, his muted, darker colors don't always translate to a photo or scene.  In that capacity, this Funskool Tunnel Rat excels and is able to be visually appealing and interesting without distracting like some of the brighter Funskool figures are wont to do.

Tunnel Rat got a lot of use.  In the vintage line, there was the 1987 original figure, a 1988 Night Force release and then a 1990 Super Sonic Fighters version.  All three of these figures are very well done and there isn't really a bad version of Tunnel Rat.  Hasbro then produced a Tiger Force Tunnel Rat that was exclusive to Europe.  Funskool acquired the mold and started releasing Tunnel Rat in the late 1990's or so.  They made him for years before returning the mold to Hasbro.  Hasbro then released a Night Force Tunnel Rat in 2004, a desert Tunnel Rat in late 2004 and a comic pack version with a new head in 2005.  There's plenty for a Tunnel Rat fan to collect and he exists in most of the major sub sets.  Tunnel Rat is a figure who Hasbro used well and left us wanting for little.

So, when I decided to profile this figure, I figured he was just like all the other Funskool figures of his era when it came to availability.  While he was likely no longer a $4 figure, I assumed a carded version would run around $20 or so.  Then, I went to look him up and found something shocking.  Aside from the fact that there were very few of them that sold, the prices were insane!  A carded version sold for over $200 at open sale.  There was another carded figure that sold for a buy it now for $100.  What happened?!?  Tunnel Rat was no more rare than any of the other Funskool figures of the early 2000's that were imported to the U.S. by the thousands.  Why does he now fetch stupid money while other, better repaints are available for $20?  It makes no sense to me.  But, there are simply tons of new collectors who were not around in the early 2000's when these guys sat unsold at every online dealer who could drop a few hundreds bucks on their Amex card with a reseller in India.  So, there is very much a false sense of rarity with many of the Funskool figures of this era.

Along with all the carded Tunnel Rats that were brought over, there was also a huge amount of bagged vehicle driver Tunnel Rat figures that were sold by some dealers for $1 each in 2003 and 2004.  Funskool returned the mold to Hasbro in the original batch of 18 molds in 2003.  Before they sent it back, Funskool ran a huge quantity of bagged figures.  As these were 2003 releases, they are the best quality figures and may be a cheap option for the highest quality figure...if you can find one.  I, personally, like this figure for his oddity.  It's a high quality Funskool release and gives Tunnel Rat something a little different than his darker and more drab releases from Hasbro.  But, there's no way in hell I'd pay more than $6 or $7 bucks for one....

Rarities - 2004 Desert Patrol Set (Convention Prototypes)

At the 2004 G.I. Joe convention, Hasbro showcased some upcoming Toys R Us exclusive sets.  One such set was the Desert Patrol.  This five figure set showed some promise.  It included the long missing 1991 Snake Eyes figure as well as a spiffy looking version of Stalker and Ambush.  (Though, with Low Light's head.  Tunnel Rat and the odd hybrid figure that would be named Dusty weren't all that exciting.  But, it was enough to get collectors interested.

When the set finally showed up at TRU in 4th quarter of 2004, there were a couple of small differences in the actually released figures.  In addition to Gung Ho being added to the set, the Ambush figure went from a solid cammo pattern (like Stalker) to a combo of the agave green and desert colors that matched Dusty, Tunnel Rat and Snake Eyes.  It took a solid set and turned it into a dud.  But, overall retail sales of the set were strong as Christmas of 2004 saw TRU sell out of most of its exclusive Joe products.  (That the set only had around 16,000 total units produced also helped.)

Today, the production set has actually gotten somewhat hard to find.  There is a ridiculously hard to find set of unreleased Desert Patrol figures, too.  But, these photos from the 2004 San Diego Comic Con show a set that still had promise before Hasbro made it worse.  This was a theme in 2004 and really carried into 2005 as the line died at retail.  The DTC offerings that used ARAH molds turned the tide a little bit.  But, it was too late.

You'll note that the photos below have a combo of what appears to be production figures as well as hand painted samples.  I am not aware of any full cammo Ambush figures actually making their way into the collecting world.  The version below could be hand painted or it could be production.  I can't tell from the old photos.  But, it is a massive upgrade over the figure that was actually released.  With the "final" Joe convention occurring this weekend, it's kind of sad to look back at a time when a convention meant seeing lots of cool, new stuff.

2004 Night Force Tunnel Rat - Around the Web

The 2003 G.I. Joe Convention was a sea of awesomeness for collectors.  Hasbro announced several new sets of vintage style Joe figures that would see release the following year.  In early 2004, the first of these sets appeared: the Toys R Us exclusive Night Force set.  It included 6 figures that were decent enough.  However, within a week or two, the companion Cobra army building set of 4 Cobra Troopers and 2 Cobra Officers was released.  This immediately eclipsed the Night Force set as the focus of collector attention.  Night Force then languished at retail for the remainder of the year.

While the Night Force set had some duds (Roadblock!) it also had some solid repaints.  The Tunnel Rat is especially nice and is a diversion from the neon ammo that defines the vintage Night Force take on the same mold.  Sadly, though, Tunnel Rat's signature gear was gone: diminishing the figure.  If you have a spare Tunnel Rat rifle around, it helps this figure.  I was fortunate to find a spare 1988 Night Force Tunnel Rat satchel for cheap at a comic shop years and years ago.  It helps make this Tunnel Rat version equal to many vintage releases.  There's not a lot out there on this figure, despite his late release date.  But, here's the best I could find of him from around the web.

Night Force Tunnel Rat Profile

Night Force Review at JoeBattleLines.com

Night Force Review at GeneralsJoes.com

Tunnel Rat at JoePedia

Tunnel Rat at Half the Battle

Tiger Force Tunnel Rat

Hasbro released 6 exclusive members of the Tiger Force team in Europe: Outback, Psyche Out, Hit and Run, Blizzard, Sneak Peek and Tunnel Rat.  All have their charms with bizarre, deep orange and blue colors.  I looked at the Tunnel Rat figure many years ago.  The figure still holds up as an odd look for an iconic character.  The orange headband, yellow scarf, red shirt and blue pants don't make much sense and are an assault on good taste.  Were this an American figure, it's unlikely it would be loved.  But, as a harder to find, international variant, it has taken on a life of its own.

Tunnel Rat was a childhood favorite of mine.  I liked the character and his figure was epic.  This version is less so.  But, it still cool as a oddity and something different for Tunnel Rat.  Below you will see the figure and a carded sample.  The card artwork showcasing the new color ensemble.

Rarities - Alternate 2004 Desert Patrol Figures

In late 2004, Toys R Us released the exclusive 6 figure Desert Patrol Squad set.  Featuring Stalker, Snake Eyes, Dusty, Ambush, Gung Ho and Tunnel Rat, the set was fairly well received and pretty much disappeared from retail during the Christmas shopping rush.  The set had some great figures, some boring figures and some terrible figures.  But, with under 17,000 units produced, it didn't languish at retail like the 2005 sets would.  Like most of the Toys R Us sets of that era, though, the Desert Patrol Squad had a set of variants.  The most famous, of course, is the Caucasian Stalker figure.  But, the rest of the set had equally difficult variants, even if they were not as pronounced.

The first figure is the race changing Stalker figure.  I've covered it in depth a few years ago.  Note the blonde hair.  The other change is the leather-brown highlights.  This will repeat itself on future figures.

Next up is Ambush.  At the 2004 G.I. Joe convention, this Ambush figure was shown in full body desert cammo where his upper body matched his lower.  This was, likely, a hand painted sample as full production versions of the figure will the full body brown and tan has not been seen.  But, the figure below does have differences from the production version.  Basically, it's just the leather colored bandolier and belt.  Not overly exciting, but still unique.  I think it gives the figure more depth.  But, the figure generally sucks, so even this small improvement does little to help it.

Next up is Snake Eyes.  Again, the unproduced figure features the leather colored highlights.  With more surface area changed by the leather, the Snake Eyes does appear substantially different than the production version.  He also sports different colored goggles.  In the case of Snake Eyes, I'm not sure which version I actually prefer.  The production version is fairly strong and fits in with the desert motif.  The unreleased version, though, has a richer color palette that gives the figure a bit more texture.  Really, I'd have liked either version were it released and would not have minded both variants having made their way into production.

The final figure is Tunnel Rat.  Here, you see a slightly brighter green grenade on his chest and the richer browns on his straps, belt and holster.  For Tunnel Rat, I actually prefer the brown on the unreleased figure to the released version.  But, the figure is generally not all that good, so it's kind of a moot point.

We know that the Gung Ho figure had a production tattoo size variant.  But, like these other four figures, there is also a version in the leather brown.  The same goes for Dusty.  I lost the photos of them many years ago.  But, the entire set has the subtle differences.  As the color changes, aside from Stalker's race, were slight, they were lost in the more flashy changes to the Anti Venom, Urban Strike, Night Force and Wal Mart figures.  But, these variants are out there, waiting for the enterprising collector to track them down.

Edit: found some more pics:

1987 Tunnel Rat

1987 was the last real year that I collected Joes in my childhood.  Sure, I bought a few 1988 figures.  But, that was done with after the first few months of the year.  1987 was the last time I tracked down every figure and attempted to get every vehicle.  As these were the last figures from my youth, I have fond memories of many of them.  While they didn't span multi-year play patterns like some earlier figures, they were the backbone of my final adventures.  For many collectors the 1987 series is special because of their attachment to the G.I. Joe movie or cartoon.  I, though, am overly sentimental about the '87's due to their unique place in my personal collecting chronology.

As a kid, the notion of a tunnel specialist was a great addition to the Joe team.  However, it is rather difficult to have actual play adventures in a real tunnel in the dirt.  So, Tunnel Rat was most often a hidden weapon who would emerge from a tunnel or underground cavern and assist the Joes.  The tunnel was a hook to get him into the action.  But, once the shooting started, he was, at his core, an infantryman more than a specialist.  As such, I have many memories of taking Tunnel Rat outside to play in the grass, dirt and weeds that were my Joe world in my backyard.  I dug holes for him from time to time.  But, mostly, he was used as a basic Joe.  Occasionally, I would outfit Tunnel Rat with the pistol from either the 1986 Hawk or the 1987 Backstop figure, give him Outback's flashlight and actually use him as a real tunnel rat.  I had read an issue of the 'Nam comic that featured a short story about a tunnel rat who actually bore some resemblance to this figure.  That inspired some solid adventures.  But, it was Tunnel Rat's appearance in the Special Missions comic where he was the team's designated light machine gunner that most inspired my use of the figure.

In this role, though, the figure found great use.  In short order, my figure exhibited playwear and I lost his flashlights and broke the handle on his gun.  This shouldn't be out of the ordinary for a child's toy.  But, I took great care of my Joes after 1986 and kept many of them in pristine condition.  For a figure that entered into my collection so late to take such abuse was a testament to the amount of use the figure saw.  But, the quality of the mold and excellent accessory complement were more than enough to keep the figure as an essential member of my Joe team.  Even when I returned to Joe collecting in the early 1990's, Tunnel Rat was a vital member of my collection.  While his original gun was long gone, I replaced it with the black version of Sub Zero's machine gun that was included with the Sgt. Savage Iron Panther tank.  It was a suitable replacement and kept the character viable until I was able to secure high quality, and complete, replacements.

As Rock and Roll had been long absent from my collection and the 1984 Roadblock's accessories had long been broken and I didn't like the 1986 Roadblock, Tunnel Rat became the main machine gunner for the Joe team.  In my backyard, there was a slight indentation on one side where the ground sloped down to a garden.  I had this as a road for my convoy of Cobra vehicles.  Naturally, the Joes lay in ambush with Tunnel Rat at the head: ready to pick off the multitudes of Cobras as they vacated their vehicles to take cover from the Joes on the high ground above the road.  I recall this outside adventure as it took several days in the fall to put together and the convoy was made of the combined collections of myself and the kids who lived down the street.  The idea of having 4 Hiss Tanks, 2 STUNs and 2 Maggots all together was simply amazing.  How would the Joes defeat such a large force?

The final day of the battle was ended when a rain storm sent us all inside, leaving the Joes out in the elements for several days as we waited for the rain to leave.  When it did, though, we had moved on to new adventures.  Eventually, I picked up the toys from the yard and brought them in.  It was the last time I would play with Joes with my friends.  As 1987 wound down, sports and other pursuits were starting to take our time.  I moved the toys inside and into my bedroom.  From there, I would have some great final adventures using the major players from 1987.  But, that last battle with Tunnel Rat at the head of the attack is something that I'll never forget.  The following spring, the kids from down the block were over and we were playing soccer in the backyard.  The ball went out of bounds into the garden by the convoy attack spot.  When I got the ball out, I found an Armadillo manned by Heavy Metal that had ridden out the winter hidden in the ivy.  I pulled it out and we all recalled when we had put it there to attack the Cobras.  We had a laugh, I took the tank inside and we played out our game, giving the toy little thought.

Tunnel Rat's accessories are both awesome and ridiculous.  His huge backpack is well detailed and would be great for a long range infantry trooper for survivalist.  The flashlights that plug into the top of the pack and are removable are a stroke of genius and a great addition to the figure.  The explosive satchel is a great add on for the figure and follows the EOD roots of the character.  The light machine gun is large, but not unwieldy.  It is well detailed and a perfect fit for a light machine gunner.  The ridiculous part of this, though, is that the figure is named Tunnel Rat.  In a tight tunnel or crawlspace, a weapon the size of Tunnel Rat's would be impossible to maneuver.  The huge pack would get stuck and impede his movement.  So, for a light infantry/machine gunner, the accessories are great.  But, for someone who crawls through cramped, dark spaces, the size of the gear is non-sensical.

The Tunnel Rat mold has seen a good amount of use.  Hasbro released the figure in 1987, in Night Force colors in 1988 and as part of the Super Sonic Fighters line in 1990.  Around 1991, Hasbro also used the mold for the European exclusive Tiger Force Tunnel Rat.  From there, the mold went to India.  There, Funskool released a Tunnel Rat figure that was similar in color to the Sonic Fighters version for many years.  Tunnel Rat was one of the first 18 molds Funskool returned to Hasbro in 2003.  Hasbro quickly used the mold in the 2004 Night Force set, the 2004 Desert Patrol set and a comic pack (but with a new head) in 2005.  The mold hasn't been seen since then.  But, considering the amount of use it got in a short time, most collectors are content with the amount of Tunnel Rat figures available to them.

In the early 2000's, Tunnel Rat figures were very popular.  So much so that mint and complete versions sold for $20 or more.  Slowly, though, the demand for the figure sated as collectors were able to either acquire the figure or pick up a modern repaint.  Still, though, many people think that the figure is worth the $20 price tag.  If you are selling a mint, complete with filecard version, you can get that amount without too much trouble.  But, if you are buying, a little patience shows that the same figure can be purchased for around $10.  At $10, this figure is a must have for every collector.  It's a popular figure, vintage mold, and solid character.  You can't ask for much more than that for such a cheap price.

2004 Night Force Tunnel Rat

In the first half of 2003, Hasbro managed to re-acquire 18 molds from Funskool in India. Rather than letting these molds mature a bit (they were all currently in production by Funskool and were readily available for about $4 each in the U.S.) Hasbro rushed these molds quickly into production. The results were a rather stale crop of figure molds that were both improvements and regressions from the mold's prior American releases. In the case of the Night Force Tunnel Rat, though, the paint job that was released was actually an improvement and is, arguably, the best paint job ever used on the V1 Tunnel Rat mold.

The Night Force set was bad, good and maddening all at once. The accessory complement was terrible. (It would, though, have been decent had it come with the Cobra Infantry Team.) The repainted V1 Roadblock figure was also a waste. The mold is antiquated, highly overused and simply did not look good in the Night Force color scheme. However, the Tunnel Rat, Flint and Beachhead figures were all well done. While they weren't strikingly different enough from their original releases to make them iconic or even useful as a means of diversifying their use, the colors were well done and all three figures are nice additions to a collection. The Short Fuze figure was nothing short of spectacular and is how all of the repaints should have been done. He featured an obscure mold that was poorly colored the first time that was finally repainted in a great color scheme. The maddening part, though, was Action Man.

I have no aversion to the character of Action Man being part of this set. I also have no specific aversion to having an orange clad figure as part of the set. In fact, the Action Man figure is rather cool. My issue, though, is that inclusion of Action Man cost us a chance at a Night Force Tracker figure. Tracker is a great mold that suffered from terrible colors the first time around. When Hasbro finally re-released the mold, instead of giving us the great color scheme every customizer had ever imaged on the Tracker mold, they gave us Action Man whose inclusion required the figure to have a bright orange shirt. Thus, collectors were robbed of the chance to finally get that perfect Tracker they had so long desired. This was made more maddening by the fact that the Tracker shown at the 2003 Convention was in the Night Force color scheme and that full production samples of Night Force Tracker figures showed up on the Asian market indicating that the inclusion of Action Man was a last minute decision. Of course, of the 6 molds in the set, Hasbro has since re-released 4 of them. The two they haven't are Short Fuze and, of course, Tracker. So, we're still waiting for the proper use of the Tracker mold almost 2 1/2 years later....

Tunnel Rat has the distinction of being the only 2 time member of Night Force. The original Night Force figure featured bright, neon details on the figure and, as such, this version is actually the more realistic color scheme. I think that's why the figure succeeds for me on a visual level. It features muted colors, but does not skimp on the painted details. You have shades of green, silver, brown, black, white and a dirty grey that make this figure perfect for use in Night and jungle theatres. The pants are one area where the figure could be better: especially if you removed the gaudy G.I. Joe logo. (Nothing like advertising that you are a member of a highly secretive covert unit right on your uniform.) This figure, though, has all the painted details of the vintage Tunnel Rat figure but has them painted in a darker, more layered color palette.

Lately, I've been very down on Joe in general. I find my interest in the line at an all time low. As such, I've really turned more towards Star Wars collecting in recent months and have found myself much more interested in that than I am in Joe. As I looked at the newer Star Wars figures, I wondered why they have replaced Joe among my toy collecting preferences. (I took a 5 year hiatus from Star Wars collecting and never thought I'd return.) The thing I noticed was that if you are currently buying Star Wars figures, you are able to buy some of the best figures ever made. While there are some gems from years past, the stuff that Hasbro is producing now is the best renditions of major characters, obscure aliens and just all round figures that they've ever done.

The same, though, can not be said for Joe. If you look back at the past 5 years of Joedom, there are few, if any, iconic figures that have been created. For the most part, we've seen uninspired repaints of classic molds, terrible accessories, a constantly evolving new sculpt formula and never-ending themes that have been more important than the toy line itself. The bottom line is that there have been few must buy figures that are integral to every collection that were created between 2001 and 2006. Again, that isn't to say that all the figures are bad. Far from it. But, when you consider that Hasbro has released 559 figures since 2001 (and 586 between 1982 and 2000) there really should have been more great figures since they released about the same number as they had in the vintage run. As such, you really start to see why the vast multitude of modern releases that have been of lower quality has started to finally drain away my enthusiasm for the hobby. In time, this may ebb. But, history has shown that Hasbro isn't too interested in doing new, exciting things with the Joe line. As such, I expect more of the same these days rather than anything innovative.

The Tunnel Rat mold features a facial sculpt that was based on Larry Hama, the writer of the Joe comic book. After it's original run in the US, it was re-released again in 1988 as the Night Force exclusive and again in 1990 as part of the Super Sonic Fighters line. From there, it was then used in Europe around 1991 for the Euro exclusive Tiger Force Tunnel Rat. (Which has gotten quite popular and fairly expensive in recent months.) After that, the molds arms were used on the 1994 Dial Tone figure before the mold was shipped off to India. There, Funskool released a figure in colors reminiscent of the Super Sonic Fighters version for many years. (They also used the upper arms on some versions of their take on the 1994 Dial Tone.) Funksool returned the mold to Hasbro in early 2003 and Hasbro has since used it in the Night Force set, the Desert Strike set and a recent comic pack. As such, the mold has seen probably too many uses at this point as there really is a Tunnel Rat for every occasion...almost.

Night Force Tunnel Rats are cheap and easy to find. Lost in the hype of the Cobra Infantry Team, the Night Force sets languished on the pegs at Toys R Us stores for almost a year. They didn't disappear from most places until the holidays. Even today, boxed sets can be purchased on the second hand market for under the retail price of $20. Some individual figures may be priced a bit higher, but the multitude of subsequent Tunnel Rat releases really killed any demand for this figure and has left him readily acquirable for about $5. At that price, he's a good pick up. But, you will have to spend some decent money to add adequate vintage accessories to the figure, so what you save on the figure you'll more than make up for when you go to accessorize him. Personally, I like this figure, but he isn't a figure that I would miss were he never released. Really, that's the attitude I've taken with most of the modern ARAH style repaints. A few are great. But, most of them are just kind of there. They offer nothing new to a collection that wasn't offered by the original figure. Some aren't bad figures, but many are. I guess I just expected more from a modern take on vintage molds. Perhaps that's what I get for having too lofty of expectations.

Tiger Force Tunnel Rat - European Exclusive

I've wanted to profile a Tunnel Rat figure for quite some time. About a year ago, I took one out in my yard to photograph. However, the shots just didn't do the figure justice. As such, I decided that I would hold off on profiling the Tunnel Rat character until I was able to acquire a version of him that is a bit more seldom seen. From that point on, there was a race between the Night Force version of Tunnel Rat and the European exclusive Tiger Force version. While both figures are pretty cool and well deserving of some recognition, it was the Tiger Force version that won out and it is my choice to profile.

A long time ago, I profiled the first foreign Joe I added to my collection: Tiger Force Outback. In that profile, I wrote of the difficulty in acquiring any of the European exclusive Tiger Force figures (Outback, Psyche Out, Blizzard, Sneak Peek, Tunnel Rat & Hit and Run) who weren't Outback and Psyche Out. The main reason for this is that Outback and Psyche Out were available for a full year before the next four were produced. As such, they have a full additional year of production that bolsters their numbers and makes them easier to locate. It has also made the later 4 Tiger Force exclusives some of the most sought after and hardest to find foreign exclusives out there. Unlike many of the wacky Indian figures out there, the Euro Tiger Force guys are often thought to be very similar to American Joes and an excellent addition to a very popular subset.

Tunnel Rat also has another claim to fame. His facial likeness was based upon the countenance of Larry Hama, the long time writer of the Joe comic. It was sort of an homage to the creative force who helped define so many Joe characters. (1987 seemed to be the year of tributes as Law's face was based on a Hasbro employee and Sneak Peek was named after the son of horror author Stephen King.) This is just another reason why this figure has remained popular with modern collectors. It is impossible to deny Hama's influence on the Joe mythos. Having a figure made in the likeness of such a figure is something that collectors often like to have. (Just look at the prices the Jorge Sacul figure from the Star Wars line are currently fetching!) As such, it is just another little thing that pushes the Tunnel Rat figure a little higher than most others.

Back around the time that the Tunnel Rat figure was released, Marvel comics had just started up a new comic series entitled The 'Nam. It was a comic series about the Vietnam war that was set in "real" time. As such, it featured some stories that were very self contained. One such story was about the war's actual tunnel rats; American soldiers who were trained to operate in and explore Viet Cong underground hideouts and tunnels. I found this issue to be particularly compelling as the story was very good and, to me, really portrayed the types of terror that these men were subjected to. Reading this just made me want a Joe figure in the same veins. When I finally got the Tunnel Rat figure, his first mission was flushing out a couple of Quick Kick figures from the depths of the couch cushions. While it was pale in comparison, it was my way of re-enacting a storyline I had really taken to.

Tunnel Rat's role in my collection evolved as time went on. In the comics, he was the team's light machine gunner. As my Roadblock figure had pretty much been retired and my Rock and Roll figure was long dead, Tunnel Rat became one of the most important machine gunners in my collection. He was involved in just about every mission. His large pack and cool satchel charge made him the type of figure that was imperative for just about every operation. As such, my original figure was beaten up pretty badly and I broke his gun. When this happened, Tunnel Rat kind of fell out of favor with me. While the figure was cool, it was the accessories that really made me want to use him.

When I returned to Joe collecting in the mid '90's, I sought out a replacement Tunnel Rat figure. In my zeal for one, I managed to pick up a couple of them. However, as the figure quickly regained his prominent position in my collection, that was fine by me. Tunnel Rat returned to his light machine gunner roots and became a fixture in many of my features. He works well on vehicles, underground, or in the field. He really has a versatility about him that allows for a wide range of uses. He also retains the sense of realism that so many casual collectors value. He remains one of the first selections I always make when choosing up a mission team. He just has the type of characteristics, both in figure and in character, that make him vital to many situations.

This version of Tunnel Rat is cool mainly because he is seldom seen. However, the orange headband, blue pants, and maroon shirt and yellow bandanna aren't really a recipe for a popular repaint of a great original figure. Were this figure not a European exclusive, I think he would be less desirable than the Sonic Fighters version of this figure that was released in the U.S. Of the 6 Euro Tiger Force figures, I think that Blizzard, Outback and Hit and Run are the most visually striking. While they may not have the uses their original figures did, they are still very neat. The Sneak Peek, Psyche Out and Tunnel Rat figures are less so. While they remain true to the Tiger Force theme, the colors and styles given them don't have the same wow factor that the other three do.

I'm not going to lie to you. Tiger Force Tunnel Rats are hard to find. Mint and complete, they can easily run upwards of $70! (One nice thing, though, is that the Tiger Force Tunnel Rat's accessories are identical to the original, American version's. Therefore, unlike the TF Blizzard or Outback, if you can get the figure, completing him isn't too hard.) Tunnel Rat is a very popular character. His original figure, that is pretty easy to find, can fetch almost $15 for a mint, complete specimen. The Night Force version is even more. (Especially if he is complete with his very tough to find flashlights!) Any way you look at it, if you want any Tunnel Rat version that is not the Funksool or the Sonic Fighters version, you are probably going to have to pay a little bit more. Of course, that doesn't mean he isn't worth his price tag. For my money, Tunnel Rat is the best light machine gunner ever offered in the Joe line. Since my childhood, he has been a constant member of any mission team I put together. Having a new version of him to complement his original is just an added bonus. However, the original Tunnel Rat version remains my favorite and the one that primarily represents the Tunnel Rat character in my collection. While this Tiger Force version is a cool figure in his own right, I'd prefer the original for day to day to use. This is a rare occurrence for me, but Tunnel Rat is a figure and character that no collection can really be without.

I've now managed to track down three of the six European Tiger Force exclusive figures. I still need the Tiger Force Blizzard, Tiger Force Hit and Run and Tiger Force Sneak Peek. I am also after a Red Laser and a European Mutt exclusive as well. If you have any of these guys available, let me know.