1993 Star Brigade Sci Fi

Star Brigade is one of my favorite Joe concepts.  For a young adult collector who had missed most of the figures released between 1990 and 1994, all of the figure molds seemed new.  The concept of Joes in space was also not that much of a stretch as Star Wars was starting to come back and the sci fi element of Joe that had been present since 1982 wasn't really out of place.  And, even if I didn't want to use the figures as astronauts, many of the molds were very close to the pilot figures that I had always wanted when I was a kid.  Upon finding them at a closeout store, I had to have more.  And, as the 1990's wound down, I found myself snatching up cheap Star Brigade figures at every chance I had.  In this buying spree, I would up with several 1993 Starfighters.  While the ship was just OK, the pilot included, Sci Fi,  is a visual treat that works spectacularly with the space theme.

Sci Fi is interesting as he's the only Star Brigade member to have two, distinct uniforms.  Most Star Brigade figures saw repaints of their 1993 molds.  But, Sci Fi got this 1993 repaint of the 1991 Sci Fi figure and an all new figure in 1994.  There's no real reason for this.  But, Sci Fi had the "space-y" name that could be co-opted into the new series.  And, the figure was futuristic looking.  And, the helmet really works for a space pilot, too.  All of that added up to Sci Fi being a logical choice for the pilot of the 1993 Starfighter.  

The color scheme chosen for this figure somewhat matched the vehicle he was intended to fly.  While the Starfighter was just a mostly recolored 1988 Cobra Stellar Stiletto, the new white coloring made it stand apart from the original design.  And, Sci Fi's white and blue color scheme blended nicely with the ship.  This made Sci Fi a good match for his ride while also hearkening back to the 1983 Ace as a pilot in an all white motif.  The end result is one of the Joe line's more obscure releases.  But, also one that has a lot of different uses and is an excellent way to really make a photo pop due to his limited appearances.

Sci Fi includes two accessories.  The first is his helmet.  It is the same helmet mold from 1991, but cast in white with blue paint.  It's a nice helmet that fits on the head extremely well.  The second is the laser rifle from 1991.  Sans pack and hose, the rifle is pretty useless.  I've never really liked it.  But, part of that is I was introduced to it in the Battle Corps era and the peg on the back of it for a hose was never explained or used in the Battle Corps figures.  The pack, rifle and hose, though, make a pretty nice rig.  And, they look great with the 1991 Sci Fi as well as this 1993 repaint.  Even the 2001 Laser Viper's accessories make for a good companion to this figure.  So, there are easy options to improve the figure and make him more useful.

By 1993, Hasbro wasn't too keen on including drivers or pilots with their vehicles.  But, the 1993 series had more vehicle drivers than the 1992 series.  Still, the slots used for the 1993 vehicle drivers were all repaints of prior figures.  This was likely due to lower production runs of the vehicles that precluded the expense of sculpting an all new figure for the release.  The reused molds add to the perception of 1993 as a repaint year.  But, all of the vehicle drivers offer something drastically different from their mold's original release.  Repaints done right are always welcome and the 1993 series delivered in that regard.  The fact that this Sci Fi matches the coloring of the Starfighter is an added bonus and makes him feel like he was designed with his ship in mind.

This Sci Fi mold got two uses in the vintage line in 1991 and 1993.  It then re-appeared in 2001 as the body for the Laser Viper.  This worked well enough since the Laser Viper's coloring was drastically different from the Joe figures.  And, he included a new head, too.  That was the end of Sci Fi, though.  While the Laser Viper could have used a repaint (maybe in the unproduced color scheme), the real shame is not getting this 1991 mold in 1986 colors.  This mold would have certainly lent itself to green, black and silver.  And, knowing that Hasbro molds like the 1992 Duke, 1991 Low Light, 1992 Wild Bill, 1992 Ace, 1992 Mutt and others, the fact that they didn't update the newer molds in the colors of the V1 seems a missed opportunity that collectors would have loved.

1993 Sci Fi figures aren't overly expensive and also seem to be relatively common.  Mint, loose and complete figures run between $10 and $15 on the open market.  The helmet is the expensive piece as you can get incomplete figures for under $5.  Bagged figures are relatively available, too, but will run $25 or so.  The Sci Fi figure is very prone to discoloration and the white plastic holds stains.  So, you'll find a lot of figures with solid paint and joints that look terrible due to the plastic's poor qualities.  But, for the price, this is both a great Sci Fi figure and distinct enough to own even if you have the 1991 version.  

Funskool Night Viper - Around The Web

Starting in February of 2001, Funskool figures were massively imported into the collecting community.  Within a few years, dozens of dealers offered Funskool figures for $3-$5 each.  Of the many army builders that Funskool offered, it was the Night Viper that grabbed the attention of the collecting world.  At the time, Night Viper figures were starting to get incredibly expensive.  For a short time, he was the most expensive army builder in the line.  But, the supply of Funskool figures helped solve collector demand for the character since the Funskool was very similar to the Hasbro release.  Collectors army built these figures in droves.  And, it was one of the very few figures that would still sell out at online dealers into 2002.  There's not a ton of material on the figure out there.  But, here's the best I could find of the Funskool Night Viper from around the web.

Funskool Night Viper Profile

Russian Funskool Figures Including Night Viper at Dragon Fortress

Funskool Night Viper by Nekoman

Funskool Night Viper by JoeMotion Videos 82

Funskool Night Viper by Prince Adam

Funskool Night Viper by silentinterlude

Funskool Night Viper by toynostalgia1982

2018 Hollowpoint - Red Laser Army Factory Custom

Factory custom figures fill a few different roles.  Their main point of existence started as cheap army builders in different color schemes.  In time, they morphed into a wider array of army builders in more obscure colors.  Their final evolution was into a series of "new" characters created from a library of parts.  As this occurred, many collectors morphed out of seeing factory customs as a way to just supplement a collection and began collecting factory customs in and of themselves.  In the past four years, hundreds of unique figures have been released.  Some are amazing.  Some are bizarre.  And, some are headscratchers.  The figures created by Red Laser tended to still follow this trend, even as they moved more into characters and collectibles that Hasbro never made.  One of the amazing entries, though, is Hollowpoint.

In looking at this figure, I was visually drawn to him.  The basic color palette is nearly identical to 2017's the General figure.  Again, there, I found the color compelling.  Then, it finally hit me.  Hollowpoint is, basically, the 1985 Flint figure.  The black shirt, green camo pants, bullets on the chest and even the black beret all hearken back to Flint.  Flint being my favorite figure, it's no wonder that I'm drawn to figures like Hollowpoint.  The complementary colors really help bring the design to life.  And, as they were not too often used in the vintage Joe line, the combo doesn't yet feel overdone.  

Hollowpoint's true origin, though, is the unproduced 1997 Rock and Roll figure that appeared on the back of the Stars and Stripes Forever set.  The Stars and Stripes set was supposed to be drastically different than what was released.  And, a repainted 1983 Rock and Roll was supposed to be among them.  But, Hasbro couldn't find the mold in time and, instead a repainted 1986 Roadblock body with a 1986 General Hawk head amalgamation was released as Rock and Roll instead.  Hollowpoint nearly corrects that mistake.  The figure's paint job is heavily based on the unproduced 1997 Rock and Roll figure.  But, the Stalker head provides a bit of diversity.  Really, I'd have preferred a Rock and Roll head on the body.  It's not only truer to the 1997 release, but would have been truer to a Hollowpoint homage as well.  As a replacement for the 1997 Rock and Roll, this Hollowpoint is good enough.  And, had he come with a Rock and Roll head, I'd have no real reason to offer any differing characterization for the figure like I can with the race changing Stalker head.

Hollowpoint made his character debut in the Built To Rule series that was released in 2003.  This figure had LEGO like blocks on his arms to make him compatible with the vehicles.  He also had a Rock and Roll likeness for his head.  The character then returned as a club exclusive in their subscription series.  Again, the similarity in look to Rock and Roll was maintained.  This Red Laser Hollowpoint follows the standard look with blonde hair and goatee.  But, he's not as shaggy as the later Hollowpoints.  The figure ends up not really being Hollowpoint and not really being Rock and Roll, either.  But, that's OK.  The overall look is good enough that you can find a roll for the design.  And, if you happen to have an extra Rock and Roll head lying around, you can make yourself a perfect 1997 Rock and Roll figure.

Hollowpoint includes a remade M-60 and bi-pod that are based on the 1982 Rock and Roll machine gun.  This time around, it's colored in grey.  I tend to like alternately colored accessories just because you can find different fits for different characters.  Truth be told, though, I associate the Stalker head so closely with Stalker overall that I prefer to use a Red Laser M-32 with this figure instead of his included M-60.  It's an odd leftover from childhood where I find it difficult to use the original 13 Joes with any gear other than their own.  I've tried many photos of them with different weapons.  But, in the end, I always return to the classics.

Quality wise, Red Laser figures are pretty good.  The arm rivets are a bit larger than vintage Joes.  But, the figure hold a pose without issue.  Also gone is the plague of the 2017 sets and Hollowpoint can easily hold his weapon.  This is a major improvement that makes the 2018 set substantially better than the 2017 releases.  The paint masks are tight and well developed.  In short, this Hollowpoint looks and feels very much like a vintage Joe figure.  And, he seamlessly blends with vintage figures.  That's really all you can ask of a factory custom.

It's fairly hard to find any Red Laser Army figures for under $20 these days.  Every now and then, you'll find someone selling some leftovers for less than that.  But, the figures don't last long.  Today, you can get the figure between $20 and $30 depending upon whether you want him today or have some patience.  With Red Laser being done with Joe homages, figures like Hollowpoint are done, too.  It's unlikely we'll ever see an operation as devoted to delivering oddball and obscure characters like Red Laser was.  In a different world, he'd have been able to create three more sets since 2018.  As that didn't happen, we're left with a still solid legacy of great figures like Hollowpoint that collectors would never have otherwise seen.

1989 Countdown - Around The Web

Countdown was the first Joe astronaut that was released on a single card.  Oddly, this was a case when Cobra got a carded specialty first.  But, Countdown was worth the wait and remains one of the top astronaut sculpts in the line.  He's sleek, properly colored and includes amazing gear.  He got a few repaints, some of which are equally as nice as this figure.  Here's the best of him from around the web.

1989 Countdown Profile

1989 Countdown by nightforcetunnelrat

1989 Countdown by atticagazette

1989 Countdown by python.patrol_benny

1989 Countdown by Slipstream80

1989 Countdown by Hit and Run

1989 Countdown by dantedmc

1989 Countdown by Formbx257

1989 Countdown by gijoecbarcelona

1989 Countdown at JoeADay.com

2001 Crossfire

Taste is subjective.  All collectors have irrational favorites.  And, everyone has one figure that just bugs them for some reason.  I do not like Crystal Ball.  But, I do see the quality of his overall sculpt.  Big Boa is the worst figure in the vintage line.  But, I also acknowledge that I feel that way because he was such a good character and I was super disappointed that his figure didn't live up to his filecard.  There are, though, a select few figures that are objectively bad and have no redeeming qualities at all.  20 years ago, Hasbro released one such figure.  I was shocked to find, though, that, at the time, a lot of other collectors loved him.  And, even two decades later, people rush to defend a figure that has no intrinsic value whatsoever.  But, I will remain steadfast that the 2001 Crossfire is just a terrible figure and, subjectivity be damned, anyone who likes him is just wrong.

The A Real American Hero Collection (ARAHC) started off with a bang in the fall of 2000.  Joe returning to retail was huge.  But, Hasbro went a step further to find some favorite molds and characters, paint them well and include all their original gear.  The second wave was even better as it expanded the mold library and brought in some later figure sculpts that followed the same formula as Wave I.  But, a troubling pattern started to emerge with Wave II.  Too many of the Joes used the same color palette.  Gone was the retail visual complement that Hasbro strove for with the vintage line.  Instead, all the figures looked the same.  And, when Wave III debuted, the pattern continued into a full blown issue.  Wave II was starting to stagnate at retail.  (Though, that was all the fault of packing 4 Big Ben/Whiteout packs per case.)  Wave III, though, saw a lower production run and, generally, sold through just due to lower numbers.  But, Wave II had done in the line and the banality that was Wave IV heavily found its way to discount and closeout stores.  Hasbro listened too much to some people who had a very limited and narrow view of Joe.  And, the sea of olive green was just too boring to sustain a line at retail.  In 2002, Hasbro moved more towards a vintage Joe approach with coloring and the line was hugely successful for a couple of years.

Backing up to 2001, though, Wave III was actually pretty well anticipated by the collecting community.  It featured two new army builders (always welcome in those days!) as well as a redone Cobra Commander and Destro.  On the Joe side, we saw a repainted Low Light, Wet Suit and Torpedo.  The classic 1984 Roadblock mold returned.  Though, with a new name.  Also in the wave, though, were two "new" figures.  One, Sure Fire, used the amazing 1992 Shockwave body.  (And, kind of sullied that mold for a long time.)  The other, Crossfire, was an amalgamation of parts.  But, like Sure Fire, he included a newly sculpted head to denote the new character.  Sadly, both these heads were just terrible.  Both had receding hairlines and while Sure Fire's head was too small, Crossfire's was too big.  Both look out of place with the rest of the parts and stick out as a newly minted part created by sculptors less talented than those who worked on the vintage Joe line.  

Crossfire suffers from many ailments.  His pasty, balding, middle aged white guy head has always sucked.  In fact, it's kind of embarrassing.  Hasbro designers completed failed on all the new heads in the ARAHC line (We'll toss in Volga from 1998 as well as most of the Comic Pack heads, too.)  If the rest of the figure was good, then the new head could be somewhat overlooked.  But, the rest of Crossfire is just as much a mess as is his head.  His chest and arms are from the 1990 Big Ben.  Remember, at the time, the 2001 Arctic Big Ben was pegwarming all over North America.  And, the colors chosen for Crossfire were reminiscent of the 1990 figure while also being worse at the same time.  He was also given flesh colored hands.  The fact that Big Ben has gloves sculpted onto his hands didn't seem to bother the Hasbro team of the time.  They're not as bad as Dialtone's hands.  But, it is still noticeable.  Speaking of Dialtone, Crossfire uses his legs and waist.  The slim 1986 sculpt is not a good match for the 1990 torso.  So, Crossfire appears off balance.  The legs are also nearly the same green as the 2000 Dialtone figure.  So, again, the entire ensemble just felt tired.

Crossfire's torso and legs are different shades of green.  They are not complementary shades.  They are just different enough to make you think that the top or bottom has discolored from the sun.  He also has gold bullets with silver belt details.  Again, this is a color contrast that makes the whole figure look confusing.  Lots of color is usually good on a figure.  But, when it's clashing colors that simply distract from the mold's details, you realize that this wasn't a figure with a lot thought put into his design.  It was a cheap way to reuse parts and create a "new" character without trying too hard or blowing the budget on a lower production wave of figures.  

The final indignity of Crossfire was his complete lack of weapons.  He didn't include a helmet.  His only gun, the 1991 Dusty rifle and stock, had become commonplace and even overused by 2001.  Personally, I use it exclusively as a Cobra weapon after the 1998 Cobra Infanty was released.  So, it was good to have a spare of two when Hasbro stopped giving Vipers decent weapons in 2002.  Crossfire didn't even have an obligatory backpack.  Supposedly, Crossfire had all sorts of specialties.  But, he got no gear to prove that out.  His pack mate, Double Blast, got a lot of gear.  And, it wasn't uncommon for one figure to have a large amount of gear in the ARAHC packs while the second figure got barely a pittance.  But, with Crossfire, it just stung since the gear added nothing to the figure.  The 2001 Leatherneck's Richard Nixon head was saved by including a helmet.  Crossfire just gets to look like a guy who's slowly drinking himself to death with cheap gin.

Despite three plus paragraphs describing just how terrible Crossfire is, collectors somewhat liked him.  Some used him as a Greenshirt.  Others found use for him in various dio stories of the day.  All of these people were wrong.  Crossfire is a figure that deserves to be ridiculed and should be forgotten on the scrap heap of terrible Joe ideas.  But, things like this are what make collecting fun.  I can jest about others being wrong in their opinions of this figure.  But, it's not malicious.  At the end of the day, I own this figure and am publishing an article about him more than two decades removed from his release.  Those who like him can still like him.  The things about him that bug me may be endearing to others.  And, remember, my favorite figures tend to have neon colors.  So, how valid can my opinion be, anyways?!?  My biggest issue is, knowing the molds that Hasbro had available to them at the time, we got Crossfire instead of Mutt or Bullhorn or Salvo or Rock and Roll.  Any of those figures would have been preferable.  But, in Hasbro's feeble attempts at something "new", they created something completely forgettable.

Crossfire's code name didn't help.  The Crossfire was an obscure 1987 radio controlled vehicle that is most famous for producing Rumbler.  On top of the reuse, though, Hasbro wasn't overly creative with names in the early 2000's.  In short order, they released Crossfire, Surefire, Crosshair, Sideswipe, Side Track and Sidetrack.  The names all blended together into a cacophony of banality that made all the characters lamentable.  

Dealers try to get $20 for mint and complete Crossfires.  But, they won't sell until the price drops to around $10.  Left to the open market, he's a $5 or $6 figure.  You can get carded versions of he and Double Blast for under $20 still, too.  (Dealer pricing hovers around $30, though.)  At $5, I guess this guy's an ok addition.  I paid $4 for him at retail in 2001.  I felt ripped off back then.  And, there's not really a circumstance where I'd have actually bought a Crossfire figure had I not wanted the Double Blast and been a completist two decades ago.  But, your mileage may vary.  Lots of collectors still enjoy him.  And, figures for $5 are almost unheard of in this market.  So, if you're missing Crossfire, it's as good a time as any to acquire him...even if he has no use.