I never found the 1994 Alley Viper at retail. By the time I was combing the scraps of the Joe line in 1995 and 1996, Cobra army builders were long gone. But, this figure is a great homage to the original and a very nice update. There is a variant where one has little stripes on his legs and the other does not. As this guy is somewhat tough to find in any form these days, getting both variants can take a bit of work. There's not much content on this guy out there, but here's what I could find around the web:
1994 Alley Viper Profile
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Diorama - Joe Base
In 2000, shortly after I got my first digital camera, I took a photo set of some of my favorite Joes in the HQ. The centerpiece was my Tiger Force Outback figure. I liked how it turned out and tried to replicate it 2001. This time, the showcase figures were the Chinese Flint, the Tiger Force Psyche Out and the Action Force Blades figure.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
1983 Hiss Tank
The Joe line has many icons. They are images of characters or vehicles that simply transcend the line and all subsequent versions of specific items must be derivative of those original incarnations. Items like the VAMP, Skystriker or even Snake Eyes wearing black are ingrained notions of the line that can not deviate too far from their original design. One such icon for Cobra is the classic Hiss Tank from 1983. Sleek, simple and, yet, so well done, the Hiss Tank personifies Cobra's military might. All subsequent takes on the Hiss have had to live up to the lofty standard of the original.
In August of 1983, my brother's best friend who lived around the block from us had a birthday. For this birthday, he received most of the 1983 Joe line. Aside from the awesome Joe figures from that year, he got the full gamut of Cobras. Destro, Major Bludd and the FANG were great starters, but he also got the first Hiss Tank I had seen. The tank was perfect for kids of the day. It held 4 figures, could move fast and was armed to the teeth. It was the ideal weapon for Cobra and was something for which the Joes had no real answer since there was only one MOBAT in the neighborhood and no one ever wanted to play with it. A few weeks later, I recall zooming his Hiss down the sidewalk as we waited for the first G.I. Joe cartoon to air. That's one of the driving forces behind the early memories of the tank. Oddly, I recall the Hiss Tank and the adventure outside leading up to the cartoon moreso than I remember the cartoon itself. That Christmas, my brothers and I got most of the rest of the G.I. Joe line, too. While we shared the HQ and my younger brother got the Battle Bear, I got an APC and the Hiss Tank. Immediately, the Hiss was opened and my Cobra forces now stood on far more equal ground with the Joes.
The greatness of early Cobra was the uniformity. The Cobra Trooper and Officer were blue. (Along with the Viper Glider and Viper Pilot.) Cobra Commander was a lighter shade of blue. Destro was black with red highlights. Major Bludd was black with brown. The Hiss Driver was red. The FANG and the Hiss tank were red and black and black, respectively. Sure, you had the white SNAKE armor. But, even that was standardized as a Cobra color in 1984 with advent of the CLAW. Cobra moved away from some of the standardization as the line progressed. But, that early core cemented the idea of Cobra to me. They were the blue and black brigade: fearsome terrorists (usually heavily Russian in the early '80's) who were willing and able to destroy the American way of life. The Hiss Tank gave them power. No longer were they some guys with Warsaw Pact small arms trying to infiltrate a town. Now, they could roll their armor against any American city and impose their will while the populace waited for the military to arrive and turn their town into a ravaged war zone.
My favorite quality of the Hiss Tank is the durability. The Hiss is sturdy. As such, my original Hiss survived in pretty good shape while most of the vehicles which we acquired at the same time suffered damage and wear. With few moving parts and a generally strong design, the Hiss withstood the constant play a 10 year old could put on his favorite toy. That strength, though, is also a likely reason why vintage Hiss Tanks are cheap today. On the surface, it is the most popular Cobra vehicle and is army built heavily. Yet, they remain relatively cheap. The surface reason is that Hasbro sold a LOT of Hiss Tanks in the early 1980's and then the tank had a very long life as a mail away as well. However, I think the fact that good conditioned Hisses were common survivors of childhood collections meant that fewer found the trash can back in their release window. Broken toys were thrown away in my home and many of friends faced the same policies. If the Hiss didn't break, it was more likely to survive and be available for the adult market.
In my childhood collection, I had three Hiss Tanks: two black versions and the Sears SMS. This convoy formed the backbone of my Cobra army for years and years. For a time, the Hisses were replaced by STUNs. But, I was always brought back to the Hiss because I had so few Cobra vehicles in general. But, as a vehicle, the Hiss was pretty much perfect. The cannons were large enough to plausibly destroy smaller Joe vehicles and do damage to the perimeter defenses around Joe bases. But, they were also small enough to be used for anti-infantry purposes. They could elevate to shoot down aircraft and the gunner was, relatively, protected for a Cobra vehicle. The Driver was exposed. But, the sloping bulletproof canopy was uses as a shield that could deflect most small arms fire away from the cockpit. The Hiss was large enough to hold four figures (though, at some point, almost every Hiss that saw extensive play suffered a broken foot peg on the rear figure stand) while small enough to be easy to transport and play with. Like the VAMP, the Hiss was pretty much an ideal toy for kids of the day.
The detail on the tank, though, is what elevates even beyond the basic construction quality. While the pins that hold the guns into position are often broken, the rest of the tank had little in the way of moving parts. While it would have been cool to have moving treads, the wheels hidden beneath the tank worked perfectly well and left the rolling tracks to be part of your imagination. The cockpit is well detailed with controls and buttons that make it appear high tech. The sides of tank features molded rivet marks to show where the steel is fastened together. It's a cool little detail that brings more depth to the tank's appearance (which is important due to the overall black color) and adds an element of design that was missing on most, cheaper toys of the day. Two figures could ride on the back of the tank. The platform is large enough to be useful and pose figures less awkwardly than most of the later vehicles which incorporated the same feature. The gun turret is nicely detailed and there is a sticker to show the gun controls. The canopy fits tightly over the cockpit and is easily held in place. The entire package is a marvel of toy engineering and holds up remarkably well more than 30 years later.
The Hiss Tank was a staple of international release. Hasbro repainted the Hiss for the Sears exclusive SMS in 1985. But, the tank was also released in Brazil, Argentina, Europe and Japan. Palitoy released an exclusive coloring of the mold called the Hyena and released it with Red Jackal. In 1991, the canopy was retooled for the Septic Tank. Hasbro retained the mold in modern times and released a Toys R Us exclusive version in early 2001, a convention exclusive tank in 2002 and then a KB exclusive crimson version in late 2004. Oddly, though, Hasbro would not revisit the mold again. In the modern line, remakes of the Hiss have been rather ubiquitous, but they have gotten some really nice repaints that are sadly missing from the vintage line. Hiss collectors will keep themselves occupied for a long time tracking down all the international and packaging variants. (There are sticker variants as well between the retail release and mail away versions.) But, the general look of the Hiss was kept consistent and there are really only three materially different color schemes: black, red and the 2001 purplish-blue.
Hiss Tanks are not expensive. Nicely conditioned tanks, with the blueprints run under $25. Just the tank alone runs between $15 and $20, usually depending on the condition of the gun mounts or stickers. For a vehicle that is as popular as it is and as important as it is to the Cobra army, that is a pittance and there's no reason why any army building collector doesn't have a convoy of Hiss Tanks to transport his troops. But, collectors are fortunate that such an iconic and important piece of Cobra equipment is also so ubiquitous. There's no excuse for anyone to not have a Hiss convoy as large as they want except for sheer indifference to the toy's availability. If only we'd gotten a couple of more repaints in the 2000's. But, when the original is as perfect as the Hiss, it's hard to not just be grateful for what it is. 33 years later, this vehicle still remains the backbone of my Cobra vehicle motor pool. I'm not alone in that which is a testament to the incredible quality of this toy.
In August of 1983, my brother's best friend who lived around the block from us had a birthday. For this birthday, he received most of the 1983 Joe line. Aside from the awesome Joe figures from that year, he got the full gamut of Cobras. Destro, Major Bludd and the FANG were great starters, but he also got the first Hiss Tank I had seen. The tank was perfect for kids of the day. It held 4 figures, could move fast and was armed to the teeth. It was the ideal weapon for Cobra and was something for which the Joes had no real answer since there was only one MOBAT in the neighborhood and no one ever wanted to play with it. A few weeks later, I recall zooming his Hiss down the sidewalk as we waited for the first G.I. Joe cartoon to air. That's one of the driving forces behind the early memories of the tank. Oddly, I recall the Hiss Tank and the adventure outside leading up to the cartoon moreso than I remember the cartoon itself. That Christmas, my brothers and I got most of the rest of the G.I. Joe line, too. While we shared the HQ and my younger brother got the Battle Bear, I got an APC and the Hiss Tank. Immediately, the Hiss was opened and my Cobra forces now stood on far more equal ground with the Joes.
The greatness of early Cobra was the uniformity. The Cobra Trooper and Officer were blue. (Along with the Viper Glider and Viper Pilot.) Cobra Commander was a lighter shade of blue. Destro was black with red highlights. Major Bludd was black with brown. The Hiss Driver was red. The FANG and the Hiss tank were red and black and black, respectively. Sure, you had the white SNAKE armor. But, even that was standardized as a Cobra color in 1984 with advent of the CLAW. Cobra moved away from some of the standardization as the line progressed. But, that early core cemented the idea of Cobra to me. They were the blue and black brigade: fearsome terrorists (usually heavily Russian in the early '80's) who were willing and able to destroy the American way of life. The Hiss Tank gave them power. No longer were they some guys with Warsaw Pact small arms trying to infiltrate a town. Now, they could roll their armor against any American city and impose their will while the populace waited for the military to arrive and turn their town into a ravaged war zone.
My favorite quality of the Hiss Tank is the durability. The Hiss is sturdy. As such, my original Hiss survived in pretty good shape while most of the vehicles which we acquired at the same time suffered damage and wear. With few moving parts and a generally strong design, the Hiss withstood the constant play a 10 year old could put on his favorite toy. That strength, though, is also a likely reason why vintage Hiss Tanks are cheap today. On the surface, it is the most popular Cobra vehicle and is army built heavily. Yet, they remain relatively cheap. The surface reason is that Hasbro sold a LOT of Hiss Tanks in the early 1980's and then the tank had a very long life as a mail away as well. However, I think the fact that good conditioned Hisses were common survivors of childhood collections meant that fewer found the trash can back in their release window. Broken toys were thrown away in my home and many of friends faced the same policies. If the Hiss didn't break, it was more likely to survive and be available for the adult market.
In my childhood collection, I had three Hiss Tanks: two black versions and the Sears SMS. This convoy formed the backbone of my Cobra army for years and years. For a time, the Hisses were replaced by STUNs. But, I was always brought back to the Hiss because I had so few Cobra vehicles in general. But, as a vehicle, the Hiss was pretty much perfect. The cannons were large enough to plausibly destroy smaller Joe vehicles and do damage to the perimeter defenses around Joe bases. But, they were also small enough to be used for anti-infantry purposes. They could elevate to shoot down aircraft and the gunner was, relatively, protected for a Cobra vehicle. The Driver was exposed. But, the sloping bulletproof canopy was uses as a shield that could deflect most small arms fire away from the cockpit. The Hiss was large enough to hold four figures (though, at some point, almost every Hiss that saw extensive play suffered a broken foot peg on the rear figure stand) while small enough to be easy to transport and play with. Like the VAMP, the Hiss was pretty much an ideal toy for kids of the day.
The detail on the tank, though, is what elevates even beyond the basic construction quality. While the pins that hold the guns into position are often broken, the rest of the tank had little in the way of moving parts. While it would have been cool to have moving treads, the wheels hidden beneath the tank worked perfectly well and left the rolling tracks to be part of your imagination. The cockpit is well detailed with controls and buttons that make it appear high tech. The sides of tank features molded rivet marks to show where the steel is fastened together. It's a cool little detail that brings more depth to the tank's appearance (which is important due to the overall black color) and adds an element of design that was missing on most, cheaper toys of the day. Two figures could ride on the back of the tank. The platform is large enough to be useful and pose figures less awkwardly than most of the later vehicles which incorporated the same feature. The gun turret is nicely detailed and there is a sticker to show the gun controls. The canopy fits tightly over the cockpit and is easily held in place. The entire package is a marvel of toy engineering and holds up remarkably well more than 30 years later.
The Hiss Tank was a staple of international release. Hasbro repainted the Hiss for the Sears exclusive SMS in 1985. But, the tank was also released in Brazil, Argentina, Europe and Japan. Palitoy released an exclusive coloring of the mold called the Hyena and released it with Red Jackal. In 1991, the canopy was retooled for the Septic Tank. Hasbro retained the mold in modern times and released a Toys R Us exclusive version in early 2001, a convention exclusive tank in 2002 and then a KB exclusive crimson version in late 2004. Oddly, though, Hasbro would not revisit the mold again. In the modern line, remakes of the Hiss have been rather ubiquitous, but they have gotten some really nice repaints that are sadly missing from the vintage line. Hiss collectors will keep themselves occupied for a long time tracking down all the international and packaging variants. (There are sticker variants as well between the retail release and mail away versions.) But, the general look of the Hiss was kept consistent and there are really only three materially different color schemes: black, red and the 2001 purplish-blue.
Hiss Tanks are not expensive. Nicely conditioned tanks, with the blueprints run under $25. Just the tank alone runs between $15 and $20, usually depending on the condition of the gun mounts or stickers. For a vehicle that is as popular as it is and as important as it is to the Cobra army, that is a pittance and there's no reason why any army building collector doesn't have a convoy of Hiss Tanks to transport his troops. But, collectors are fortunate that such an iconic and important piece of Cobra equipment is also so ubiquitous. There's no excuse for anyone to not have a Hiss convoy as large as they want except for sheer indifference to the toy's availability. If only we'd gotten a couple of more repaints in the 2000's. But, when the original is as perfect as the Hiss, it's hard to not just be grateful for what it is. 33 years later, this vehicle still remains the backbone of my Cobra vehicle motor pool. I'm not alone in that which is a testament to the incredible quality of this toy.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
1984 Scrap Iron - Around the Web
Scrap Iron was originally planned to be Alpine. You can see the pitons still on his leg. But, he became a classic Cobra and the rest is history. Here's the best on the web of him.
Scrap Iron Profile
Scrap Iron at JoeDios.com
OG13 Review of Scrap Iron
Scrap Iron at JoeADay.com
Scrap 1984 Toy Commercial
Scrap Iron Video Review
Scrap Iron at 3DJoes.com
Scrap Iron Profile
Scrap Iron at JoeDios.com
OG13 Review of Scrap Iron
Scrap Iron at JoeADay.com
Scrap 1984 Toy Commercial
Scrap Iron Video Review
Scrap Iron at 3DJoes.com
Thursday, November 10, 2016
1991 Sci Fi
I started reviewing G.I. Joe figures in 1999. These days, pretty much every collector that's still around is at least familiar with all the figures released in the vintage Joe line. In 1999, though, that was not the case. The vast majority of collectors stopped collecting at 1987 and had little desire to learn anything about the figures released after that year. If you wanted to buy Joes made in 1987 or earlier, they were plentiful. You could find a good deal of 1988 and 1989 collections online from students who were selling off their childhood toys for beer money. But, anything made after 1989 was actually pretty hard to find. It wasn't uncommon to go weeks without seeing any 1990 or later figures offered for sale. Individual figures were nearly impossible to find unless you bought a large lot. But, since these lots often sold for under $2 per mint, complete with filecard figure, it wasn't a huge burden to pick up the extras for the sake of the figure you did want.
My childhood was immersed in pre 1988 Joes. A decade later, I could still fully equip the entire line from memory. I had a passing knowledge of 1988 and 1989 figures as I was still dedicated to the comic and my younger brothers bought enough items that I owned cardbacks and catalogs. After 1989, though, my only real resource regarding Joes were the fleeting memories of a kid down the street who had some figures that I had seen when I babysat him and his little brother. From here, I recalled Big Ben and Metal Head. But, I couldn't have told you if they were released in 1990 or 1991. So, when I returned to Joe collecting, my primary focus was to acquire later edition figures that I had not owned as a child. (I still had pretty much all my childhood figures and, while they weren't mint or complete in many cases, I considered them good enough at the time to satisfy my collecting goals.) In short order, I acquired most of the 1990 through 1992 line. As I did so, I discovered the quality of these figures was easily up to par with that of the figures from the '80's. While most collectors at the time would not have entertained the thought of these figures supplanting the vaunted 1985 and 1986 series, I found that there were hidden gems among these years.
In my zeal to overshare everything, I started a website to showcase these figures. 17 years ago today, that site went live with the review of a 1990 Decimator. The purpose was to tell the story of later figures and "prove" there was life in the tail end of the Joe line. 7 of the first 10 profiles I did were of figures made in the 1990s. While I did showcase a large volume of '80's figures, too, the first year of the site was heavy on figures from 1990 through 1993. I doubt this had little impact. It was only as more collectors whose childhoods occurred in the 1990's came of age and the older collectors ran out of pre-1988 figures to buy that interest in the line's later years began to flicker. Now, most collectors can find favorites in any year and the real dichotomy remains between the construction styles rather than the release years.
Among the figures I acquired in one of those early lots was the 1991 Sci Fi figure. In my amazement at the Crimson Guard Immortal, Desert Scorpion, Topside and Salvo, this figure slipped through the cracks and fell into obscurity. If you peruse the thousands of photos on this site, you will see the figure very rarely appears. But, if I opened the 1991 figure drawer looking for a photography subject, there were so many great figures from which to choose that I would overlook Sci Fi. Plus, I really liked the 1986 version and that was my default if I wanted the character. But, like many 1991 figures, Sci Fi is a solid figure worthy of a second look.
The original Sci Fi figure did not have a removable helmet and was rather bulky and bright. The 1991 version solved those issues and gave collectors a drastically different view of the character. Sci Fi's head was fully visible and his helmet was now removable. The helmet still features the open face of the original figure. But, does have goggles and what appears to be some mouth protection. The base uniform is grey with black details. Just so you remember that this is a 1991 release, though, Sci Fi also feaures bright yellow gloves and stripes. He's more muted than the 1986 figure, but still has some color to him that showcase his release year.
The mold isn't overly detailed, though the head sculpt is quite good. The figure pretty much has a vest and wrist gauntlets. That's it. Sans helmet, Sci Fi isn't much to review. With the helmet and his full complement of gear, there is a lot more there. But, Sci Fi is definitely an example of capable minimalism. He works despite his simplicity. The basic colors work well together and the splash of color gives him depth. There's just enough here to create a nice toy without overdoing it.
Hasbro's dedication to accessories started with a few, sporadic 1987 figures. You saw it again in 1988. But, it expanded in 1989 and, by 1990, figures were laden with gear. Sci Fi is no exception. He includes a removable helmet, backpack, laser rifle and two hoses. If this isn't enough, there is also a spring loaded missile launcher and a yellow missile. The silver pack and gun add to the futuristic nature of Sci Fi's specialty. But, the rifle later appeared as a stand alone item in so many multi colored weapon trees in 1993 and 1994 that it's uniqueness was lost. The missile launchers of 1991 were designed to be more realistic and less intrusive that those that would come later. So, the launcher plugs into a hose and generally fits the look and scale of the figure. Overall, the gear enhances Sci Fi's look and makes him much stronger as a release.
For me, this Sci Fi is one of those background figures that you need to make the line work. He's not going to be anyone's favorite. The lime green original took chances and created a figure that you either love or hate. This version inspires neither such emotion. It is one of the multitudes of figures that simply are. They are great to have around in dios or manning vehicles. And, you need them for that. But, he's not a figure that you notice or go out of your way to include in a collection. But, that's ok. The Joe line's strength was the army of figures and characters who filled in behind the main players. You had a figure for every occasion. That's what lead so many kids to buy them all. You may not have wanted this Sci Fi. But, you probably wanted a laser trooper. So, when you saw this guy, you'd, eventually, buy him.
Hasbro seemed to have a reluctance to redo some of the original 13 Joes. Stalker, Snake Eyes, Hawk, Rock and Roll and even Scarlett got multiple vintage versions. Clutch, Grunt and Zap eventually saw new versions, too. Short Fuse, Breaker, Grand Slam, Steeler and Flash did not. (OK, Grand Slam got a repaint, but that's not really a new version.) Why these four characters were ignored while others were not is a mystery. Maybe the designers didn't like them. Maybe they just liked the replacement characters better. This Sci Fi could easily have been Flash. But, the same could be said for the V1 of the character, too. My affinity for Flash was his original outfit being so different from the other, carded figures'. So, I don't mind this being Sci Fi over Flash, even if Sci Fi is a bit more obscure.
This Sci Fi was only made by Hasbro. He was released in the U.S., Europe and various Asian countries. The figures are no different, but the packaging can be quite fun to track down. In 1993, Hasbro repainted the mold in white and included him as the pilot of the Starfighter. This is a nice remake of Sci Fi and is also worth owning. The figure then disappeared until 2001. Hasbro resurrected the body and added a new, Cobra head and released the figure as the now unappreciated Laser Viper. That marked the end of the mold. Sci Fi would have been a nice member of the Anti Venom set and it's hard to understand how Hasbro could remake the same mold over and over while neglecting an easy repaint that was right before their eyes. This body painted like the V1 would have been a hit in the 2000's. But, like so much in that time period, it was simply not meant to be.
Sci Fi figures are not expensive. You can get a carded version for around $20. Mint, loose and complete with filecard figures usually run around $7, with some going cheaper if you skip the filecard or one of the easily replaced hoses. Dealer pricing runs around $11. But, the figure isn't overly difficult to find and appears with enough frequency that the extra price for expediency isn't really worth it. The figure is a good addition to a collection, though. He's the least gaudy of the vintage laser troopers and his gear is solid. The removable helmet is a nice touch and adds some depth to the figure. He's one of those guys that is great to have, but you don't miss him if he's absent
My childhood was immersed in pre 1988 Joes. A decade later, I could still fully equip the entire line from memory. I had a passing knowledge of 1988 and 1989 figures as I was still dedicated to the comic and my younger brothers bought enough items that I owned cardbacks and catalogs. After 1989, though, my only real resource regarding Joes were the fleeting memories of a kid down the street who had some figures that I had seen when I babysat him and his little brother. From here, I recalled Big Ben and Metal Head. But, I couldn't have told you if they were released in 1990 or 1991. So, when I returned to Joe collecting, my primary focus was to acquire later edition figures that I had not owned as a child. (I still had pretty much all my childhood figures and, while they weren't mint or complete in many cases, I considered them good enough at the time to satisfy my collecting goals.) In short order, I acquired most of the 1990 through 1992 line. As I did so, I discovered the quality of these figures was easily up to par with that of the figures from the '80's. While most collectors at the time would not have entertained the thought of these figures supplanting the vaunted 1985 and 1986 series, I found that there were hidden gems among these years.
In my zeal to overshare everything, I started a website to showcase these figures. 17 years ago today, that site went live with the review of a 1990 Decimator. The purpose was to tell the story of later figures and "prove" there was life in the tail end of the Joe line. 7 of the first 10 profiles I did were of figures made in the 1990s. While I did showcase a large volume of '80's figures, too, the first year of the site was heavy on figures from 1990 through 1993. I doubt this had little impact. It was only as more collectors whose childhoods occurred in the 1990's came of age and the older collectors ran out of pre-1988 figures to buy that interest in the line's later years began to flicker. Now, most collectors can find favorites in any year and the real dichotomy remains between the construction styles rather than the release years.
Among the figures I acquired in one of those early lots was the 1991 Sci Fi figure. In my amazement at the Crimson Guard Immortal, Desert Scorpion, Topside and Salvo, this figure slipped through the cracks and fell into obscurity. If you peruse the thousands of photos on this site, you will see the figure very rarely appears. But, if I opened the 1991 figure drawer looking for a photography subject, there were so many great figures from which to choose that I would overlook Sci Fi. Plus, I really liked the 1986 version and that was my default if I wanted the character. But, like many 1991 figures, Sci Fi is a solid figure worthy of a second look.
The original Sci Fi figure did not have a removable helmet and was rather bulky and bright. The 1991 version solved those issues and gave collectors a drastically different view of the character. Sci Fi's head was fully visible and his helmet was now removable. The helmet still features the open face of the original figure. But, does have goggles and what appears to be some mouth protection. The base uniform is grey with black details. Just so you remember that this is a 1991 release, though, Sci Fi also feaures bright yellow gloves and stripes. He's more muted than the 1986 figure, but still has some color to him that showcase his release year.
The mold isn't overly detailed, though the head sculpt is quite good. The figure pretty much has a vest and wrist gauntlets. That's it. Sans helmet, Sci Fi isn't much to review. With the helmet and his full complement of gear, there is a lot more there. But, Sci Fi is definitely an example of capable minimalism. He works despite his simplicity. The basic colors work well together and the splash of color gives him depth. There's just enough here to create a nice toy without overdoing it.
Hasbro's dedication to accessories started with a few, sporadic 1987 figures. You saw it again in 1988. But, it expanded in 1989 and, by 1990, figures were laden with gear. Sci Fi is no exception. He includes a removable helmet, backpack, laser rifle and two hoses. If this isn't enough, there is also a spring loaded missile launcher and a yellow missile. The silver pack and gun add to the futuristic nature of Sci Fi's specialty. But, the rifle later appeared as a stand alone item in so many multi colored weapon trees in 1993 and 1994 that it's uniqueness was lost. The missile launchers of 1991 were designed to be more realistic and less intrusive that those that would come later. So, the launcher plugs into a hose and generally fits the look and scale of the figure. Overall, the gear enhances Sci Fi's look and makes him much stronger as a release.
For me, this Sci Fi is one of those background figures that you need to make the line work. He's not going to be anyone's favorite. The lime green original took chances and created a figure that you either love or hate. This version inspires neither such emotion. It is one of the multitudes of figures that simply are. They are great to have around in dios or manning vehicles. And, you need them for that. But, he's not a figure that you notice or go out of your way to include in a collection. But, that's ok. The Joe line's strength was the army of figures and characters who filled in behind the main players. You had a figure for every occasion. That's what lead so many kids to buy them all. You may not have wanted this Sci Fi. But, you probably wanted a laser trooper. So, when you saw this guy, you'd, eventually, buy him.
Hasbro seemed to have a reluctance to redo some of the original 13 Joes. Stalker, Snake Eyes, Hawk, Rock and Roll and even Scarlett got multiple vintage versions. Clutch, Grunt and Zap eventually saw new versions, too. Short Fuse, Breaker, Grand Slam, Steeler and Flash did not. (OK, Grand Slam got a repaint, but that's not really a new version.) Why these four characters were ignored while others were not is a mystery. Maybe the designers didn't like them. Maybe they just liked the replacement characters better. This Sci Fi could easily have been Flash. But, the same could be said for the V1 of the character, too. My affinity for Flash was his original outfit being so different from the other, carded figures'. So, I don't mind this being Sci Fi over Flash, even if Sci Fi is a bit more obscure.
This Sci Fi was only made by Hasbro. He was released in the U.S., Europe and various Asian countries. The figures are no different, but the packaging can be quite fun to track down. In 1993, Hasbro repainted the mold in white and included him as the pilot of the Starfighter. This is a nice remake of Sci Fi and is also worth owning. The figure then disappeared until 2001. Hasbro resurrected the body and added a new, Cobra head and released the figure as the now unappreciated Laser Viper. That marked the end of the mold. Sci Fi would have been a nice member of the Anti Venom set and it's hard to understand how Hasbro could remake the same mold over and over while neglecting an easy repaint that was right before their eyes. This body painted like the V1 would have been a hit in the 2000's. But, like so much in that time period, it was simply not meant to be.
Sci Fi figures are not expensive. You can get a carded version for around $20. Mint, loose and complete with filecard figures usually run around $7, with some going cheaper if you skip the filecard or one of the easily replaced hoses. Dealer pricing runs around $11. But, the figure isn't overly difficult to find and appears with enough frequency that the extra price for expediency isn't really worth it. The figure is a good addition to a collection, though. He's the least gaudy of the vintage laser troopers and his gear is solid. The removable helmet is a nice touch and adds some depth to the figure. He's one of those guys that is great to have, but you don't miss him if he's absent
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