1993 Headhunter Stormtrooper

One of the most common themes that I've promoted throughout the history of this site has been the hidden quality of many of the later release Joe figures. While I have long conceded that many of the color schemes used on those figures from '92-'94 were less than stellar, the figure designs themselves were of equal, or greater, quality than many of the figures from collector favorite years. Recent repaints of some of these later molds have shown how a hated figure, redone can become a very nice piece of a collection. However, even in the neon years, there were a few figures that were just done right. They are few and far between, especially as a retail release, but can be a great way to add some depth to a collection without sacrificing the standards laid down by previous Joe years. If an average Joe collector has one figure from 1993 in his collection, it is usually the 1993 Cobra Commander. If he has a second figure from '93, though, it tends to be the Headhunter Stormtrooper.

This figure is nothing short of incredible. He combines solid colors, a cool concept and an incredible mold into a package that creates one of the best Cobra figures ever released. He starts with an awesome head sculpt. He has Range-Viper-esque skull teeth molded into his mouth socket which are bracketed by insect-like pincers that give him an other-worldly, frightening look. His more bulky body sculpt is accentuated by spikes on his arms and chest. These are, according to the filecard, body armour that is designed to fend off would be tacklers in an urban warfare type environment. His chest is covered in molded on weapons and additional body armour that leave you with the impression that an army of Headhunter Stormtroopers would not be something you would want to run into in a dark alley. The subtle blends of charcoal grey and blacks give an overall dark impression of the figure, but his golden highlights bring him to life. Really, photos don't do the figure justice as his darker elements tend to be lost in a digital image.

The Headhunter Stormtrooper serves a dual role in my collection. As I have but one of him, he sees some time as the Headhunter field commander. He is in charge of the Cobra Headhunter units as they sweep the streets and alleys of an attacked urban center. His units follow behind the more aggressive and less thorough Alley Vipers and ensure that the "Cobra Urban Death Squad" of which he is a part completely finishes their duties. At some point, I'll probably promote the character portrayed by the figure (much like I did with the character portrayed by Decimator when I promoted him to Urzor) and find a named Cobra for him to take over. Until then, though, I like this guy's look at the lead of a Headhunter unit.

Many collectors (at least, those lucky enough to have multiples of this figure) use the Headhunter Stormtrooper as an army builder. In this capacity, the figure also works incredibly well. He is the unique figure whose mold allows him to be both unique enough to be a named Cobra character yet uniform enough that he can also function as an army builder. Again, the versatility is the extra little attribute that pushes this figure beyond just having a cool mold in good colors. I think that figures who take a few chances often end up being among the best in the history of the line. As most of the new re-releases of classic molds have been vanilla, that would be something for Hasbro to consider as they go forward. From the looks of the upcoming Python Patrol, though, the Hasbro designers are getting a little bolder. The end result appears to be something very interesting that has the potential to become a collector favorite. Looking back at the success of figures like the Headhunter Stormtrooper helps nurture the same ideas that made this figure work and gives them a better chance to be incorporated in still-to-come figures.

I've noticed something in the past year or so in the Joe hobby. When I first joined the online Joe world, the general consensus was that the last great Joe year was 1987. There were even a few people who said that '87 had some serious problems. Recently, though, I've seen that consensus "last great year" move from 1987 up to 1990. In fact, there are more and more fans who are even saying that the '91 basic figure assortment should be on equal standing with all the prior years. What has happened is that the the influx of new fans to the online Joe world are now of the age where their childhood memories consisted of figures from later in the line. Their only exposure to the '82-'85 years was either through hand-me-downs from older siblings or re-runs of the cartoon. As such, much of the nostalgic flair for many of the earliest figures has simmered down while many figures from the late '80's and early '90's are starting to see their popularity rise.

I would love to see the Headhunter Stormtrooper re-released. He, along with the original Headhunter, would be a most welcome repaint in the new series. However, like the Headhunter, the Headhunter Stormtrooper mold was sent to Brazil. Around 1995, he was released down there in a very similar color scheme as a glider pilot named Asa Negra. The figure is similar to the American figure and makes for a neat companion piece to any Headhunter army. Unfortunately, many of the figure molds that were sent to Brazil for these late release Brazilian figures were probably not returned. We have not seen any figure molds from those series of figures in the re-releases. With the knowledge that Hasbro has had some difficulty in re-acquiring molds from South America, it is very possible that both the Headhunter and Headhunter Stormtrooper will not ever appear on American retail shelves again. It is unfortunate as both these figures are great examples of later American figure molds done right that the collecting world has relatively ignored.

***Update 1/23/09***   The Headhunter Stormtrooper mold did reappear in 2008. Instead of a cheap retail release, though, the figure was offered in an expensive convention set. Worse, though, was that the figure from 2008 is a worse color scheme than this version from 15 years earlier. (The convention figure also featured the legs from the Rock Viper rather than the original legs.) It was nice to see the mold again, but seeing it a substantially worse rendition than the original was a disappointing waste of a high quality mold. Maybe it will appear again one day in much better colors. But, for now, this original version remains the best edition of this mold that is available.   ***End 1/23/09 Update***

Headhunter Stormtroopers can be expensive. Scanning Ebay, you can find carded ones for around $25 while loose, mint, complete figures go in the $15-$18 range. These prices make the Headhunter Stormtrooper the most expensive regular, retail release figure from 1993. However, you can get lucky. I found a carded Headhunter Stormtrooper on March 8th, 2003 at a used book store in Mesa, Arizona for $8.00. (They also had a 1994 Metal Head, 1993 Mutt (himself a hard figure to find!), a 1993 Headhunter and a 1994 Cobra Blackstar all for the same price.) Most 1993 figures found retail release in odd outlets. As such, there are still a whole lot of carded '93's out there that are sitting in weird second hand stores just waiting for a collector to find them. The great thing about the Headhunter Stormtrooper is that he isn't a character that the average toy dealer/collector/seller knows much about. While they will sell easy-to-find versions of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow for ridiculous prices, they may not be aware that the current items of high desirability in the Joe world are the army builder figures. As such, guys like the Headhunter Stormtrooper are often modestly priced at outlets that are not frequented by Joe collectors. This makes the possibility of acquiring this figure for much less than the going rate a distinct possibility. With a figure of this quality, though, I wouldn't mind paying a bit more. The Headhunter Stormtrooper is one of the coolest figures released after 1992 and is certainly a deserving figure to be in anyone's collection.

I've got one Headhunter Stormtrooper. While I would like more, I know that anyone reading this page isn't going to let them go cheap. ;-> Do you like this figure? Who is your favorite figure from 1993?  Let me know.

1994 Razor Blade

Back in 1996, there were pretty much no Joe toys left on the shelves of traditional retail stores. You could find a few figures here and there and an occasional overstock vehicle or two, but most all the mainstream stores had sold out the prior year. However, a closeout store called Big Lots still managed to have some good stuff. Even into late '96, you could find many of the 1994 Joe vehicles (as well as the full range of Sgt. Savage figures) in their stores. It was here, among Armor Bots and Sgt. Savage Grizzlies that I found a neat little toy called the Razor Blade.

The Razor Blade is a small attack chopper that holds a single figure. It was one of the few new vehicles offered in 1994. The line's imminent demise lead to a more modest toy line that year. Despite its late manufacture date, though, the Razor Blade still fits in well with vehicles from any year of the line. It has sturdy construction, a realistic military color scheme, some great play features, and heavy detail. It does certainly not display the full range of realistic play features that were hallmark of the earliest Joe vehicles. But, it does have many of the qualities that made the original vehicles so much fun. In that regard, the Razor Blade is really a vehicles that most collectors should consider adding to their collections.

When I first acquired the Razor Blade, I thought it a great replacement for the V1 Locust. During my teen years, my much younger neighbor had a V1 Locust chopper and I thought it was awesome. However, I wasn't buying Joes at the time and I never got one. (I'm still missing one, today.) However, I had memories of the that toy and liked the idea of small, mobile, one man attack chopper that would be able to engage targets both on the ground and in the air. For this purpose, the Razor Blade was perfect. It is a smaller toy that allows for more maneuverability and greater play value. As such, it quickly became my Joe air power of choice. Even today, the Razor Blade is Joe's first line of defense against Cobra's Firebats and AGP Pods. It's smaller size allows for greater ease of use and fits better against the smaller, more mobile Cobra aircraft.

The Razor Blade is not without its problems. First off, it did not include a pilot. It's a small point, but something to consider. On top of that, like the Snowcat, the Razor Blade has no main guns. It only has a side mounted spring loaded missile launcher. It also has pegs for 4 additional missiles on the sides. The lack of gun, though, was almost enough for me to skip this toy. However, the launcher, when loaded with a missile, looks enough like a side mounted cannon that I've been able to use it as such. This has gotten me past the offensive weaponry problems and allowed the Razor Blade to assume a greater role in my collection.

Perhaps the coolest feature of the Razor Blade, though, is also its most forgotten. The Razor Blade also includes a long string, a top mounted pulley and a plastic contraption that is intended to be airlift gear. The purpose of these accessories was that the pulley would be mounted to the copter. It could then slide down the string at a waiting figure who was wearing the airlift gear. The top bar would then be picked up by the chopper's skids and the waiting figure would be lifted away to safety. While the intent was really cool, you can imagine how well this worked in practice. It was nearly impossible to get it to work correctly and by virtue of putting the toy on the string, it took away from the Razor Blade's effectiveness as a helicopter. I would have much preferred it to have simply had a winch on the bottom of the body that could have been utilized similarly with the airlift gear. Still, if you are looking for a complete Razor Blade, be sure it includes all of these pieces as well.

It's actually kind of tough to find a mint, complete Razor Blade. The chopper was produced in much lower quantities and much of the run was clearanced out rather than being sold at traditional toy retail outlets. As such, few collectors have the Razor Blade. However, even fewer collectors care. Unfortunately, there are a few other small copters in the Joe line that are more fun to own than the Razor Blade. As such, aside from those who really want to find this toy, there isn't much collector demand for the Razor Blade. That's nice, though, as you can find Razor Blades for decent prices when you want one. As a toy, it is a neat little piece of a Joe collection. While it has its drawbacks, they are not so great as to preclude enjoyment. By 1994, even making it to that point leaves the Razor Blade as a success.

I like the Razor Blade. Have you ever seen one with silver highlights? If so, let me know.

2003 Scalpel

As far as the toy line goes, Cobra has always been missing something. While the nameless ranks of Cobras have grown to dozens of specialties, there was always one figure who was missing. This specialist was represented in the Joe line all the way back in 1983 and is so important that it is hard to believe it is still missing. While Cobra is often portrayed a heartless organization that has little care for its soldiers, the sheer financial investment in a Viper alone would be enough to warrant the creation of a medical Viper of some sort. While that highly desired figure is still missing from the line, 2003 has finally given us a true Cobra doctor. He is not a mad scientist, but a real, true medical doctor whose purpose is to heal wounded Cobras. The best part about this figure is that he has a characterization on par with those of the line's glory days. Not cliched and very needed, Scalpel is quickly becoming my favorite figure of Wave 5.

As a character, Scalpel is well conceived. He is a medical hack: a doctor with a farcical education and an elicit past. However, his character avoids being overly cliched. The fact is, his filecard suggests that Scalpel is a very good doctor. It is in this point where I was a made a fan of this character. The evil doctor who does bad work has been done to death in pulp fiction. Having a medical mercenary who is actually competent, maybe even gifted, is a notion a little different from what one would expect. It is that freshness of character that is breathing new life into the Joe line. While the older characters were well done and deserve continued existence, well done new characters, like Scalpel, show that even a toy line with a legacy like Joe can still show ingenuity. Bright spots like Scalpel are just further proof that the new line has a place in the Joe pantheon and is very capable of sustaining another long retail run.

As a figure, Scalpel has many high points a few low ones. First off, his is brightly colored. While this may be considered a detriment to many, Scalpel is actually colored in the same manner as you would find medical personnel in a real hospital. As such, for him, the color is not only realistic, but it works. The red and white details only accentuate the primary blue color and showcase the mold's details. As a mold, Scalpel is modestly detailed, but they are all done with purpose. As such, the figure looks as someone with his specialty would be expected. Unlike many of the Wave 5 figures, Scalpel is also well proportioned. He looks very much like a classic Joe figure and does not have the exaggerated limbs or appendages that were prevalent on earlier figure waves. His face is well done and shows an intensity that you would hope to see on your own surgeon's face. He still has the youth, though, that separates this character from more well established Cobra characters.

Scalpel's accessories are both nice and bad. He has a small saw attachment on his right wrist. Aesthetically, it is perfect. It folds up nicely when Scalpel does not need it, but provides a neat little feature that adds to the character. He also has a helmet with a visor. With it on, Scalpel looks cool, but, in my opinion, no more so than when he is bare-headed. He also includes a knife. The most interesting, and maddening, accessory, though, is his shoulder pads. On the back of the pads are two hooks. Apparently, these hooks are for carrying wounded out of harm's way. In form, they look neat. In function, they are totally useless. Instead of utilizing the traditional backpack hole on the figure, Scalpel has another small hole above his screw slot. You insert a peg on his shoulder pads into this slot. However, this is not adequate to keep the pads on. Just moving the figure causes them to fall off. Don't even try to use the hooks for their intended purpose and this would not only move the hooks around (they are on ball joints and move rather freely) but knock the pads off of the figure altogether. As an idea, this feature was neat. As a real accessory, though, it did not work and will be the source of many a child's frustration as he tries to play with the figure.

There is one little detail on the Scalpel figure that grabbed my attention. He has a very slight pink scar around his left eye. It is not as pronounced as Xamot or the Flying Scorpion's, but it is there. To me, it suggests that Scalpel's Aryan appearance may be less the result of genetics and more the result of identity altering surgery. My characterization of Scalpel has him as an understudy of Dr. Mindbender. Mindbender's character has been defined by his penchant for appearance changing surgery and is known to push the envelope of what is medically acceptable. Going from the old sculpt Joe history, Mindbender ran into a little problem as he changed his countenance, though. He could not make himself look totally human. He was always left with grotesque scars that would have made him a pariah. Scalpel, though, changed all that. With his medical skill and Mindbender's lack of professional ethics, Scalpel is the doctor who made Mindbender look human again. I explain away Scalpel's slight scar as his first attempt. Mindbender, his vanity making him ever wary of further attempts to save his face, wanted to see proof of Scalpel's work. In order to ensure that he was capable of performing the complex operations Mindbender would need, Scalpel altered his own appearance. Mindbender, though, ensured that there was one slight little problem. This would leave the scar on Scalpel's face and remain a constant reminder to Scalpel that his medical skill was no match for Mindbender's ruthlessness. How this will play out in time will be a nice way for me to keep the Scalpel character near the front of my collection.

There are two versions of Scalpel. The first version of him has a painted flesh head. He also only comes with one of the spikes that attaches to his shoulder pads. The later version has a molded flesh head and both spikes. It appears that the first version will be the lesser produced variation. However, both of them are ample enough that there shouldn't ever be too much of a premium ever attached to one head over the other. Aside from that, Scalpels are readily available for retail prices right now. Going forward, I do not see Scalpel being a heavily sought after figure. While cool, he just isn't that major of player in the Cobra world for people to flock to him heavily. (Of course, were a new Joe cartoon to come out and Scalpel play a major role in that, his popularity could change dramatically.) This isn't a bad thing and it does not detract from the overall quality of the figure. Instead it just shows that it will still be possible for collectors to acquire nicely done figures like this one for some time. I do not want every Cobra figure released to either be a faceless army builder or a rehash of an established character. New blood like Scalpel is a great way to keep the Cobra ranks fresh without sacrificing the evil organization's legacy.

Scalpel is a great figure. I know some are using him as a Medi-Viper. I, though, will continue to use him as a new character. How will you use him? Let me know.

1985 Snow Cat

Maybe it's the fact that 48 of the past 49 days have had snow on the ground. Or, it could be that I was recently waxing nostalgic for the old days. Or, it could be the recently re-released version of this vehicle that is a Toys R Us Exclusive. Whatever the reason, I've been wanting to pull out my old Snow Cat.

The Snow Cat was the second Joe arctic vehicle to be released. Unlike the Polar Battle Bear, though, the Snow Cat was designed to be a major arctic force. The toy itself fell into the mid-range Joe vehicles at the time when those showcased far more detail and playability than their price point would at first indicate. As such, this toy is full of the type features that have made it a fan favorite. The "ski-pedos" remain a nostalgic favorite among many fans. Their simple concept created a play feature that even those who haven't seen a Snow Cat for many years can still remember. Aside from those, the vehicle featured a cockpit that could hold two figures. You could then arm it with at least 4 more troops on the outside foot pegs. (10 if you removed the ski-pedos.) The vehicle is nicely detailed and features many other smaller attributes that make it very realistic and fun to use.

The Snow Cat also continued the tradition of cool Joe vehicle drivers. Frostbite was a nicely detailed figure who perfectly fit with the Snow Cat. He also came with a unique rifle that was one of the coolest accessories produced in the line up to that point. It was this guy alone that fueled my interest in Frostbite. Over the years, I acquired extra Frostbite figures for the sole purpose of having spare examples of his gun. Going forward, this is a strategy that would be good for Hasbro to remember. One of the great features of the vintage Joe line was the vehicle drivers. The new vehicle drivers don't have anywhere near the coolness factor those old figures showcased.

From the minute I first acquired this vehicle, I felt it had a fundamental design flaw: the vehicle has no guns. For many collectors, this simply isn't a problem. For me, though, a vehicle without guns was simply not something I could really enjoy. I'm not much of a vehicle person. I prefer figures. As such, even as a child, when I did use a vehicle, it was usually in conjunction with several figures. As such, vehicles usually squared off against infantry troops rather than wheeled entities. A vehicle without guns was simply at too great a disadvantage. The later Cobra Wolf addressed this glaring need with the very cool gun turret that it sported behind the cockpits. The Snow Cat, though, just seems too poorly armed for me to use it as a stand alone entity. It has always needed either another vehicle that was properly armed with guns or a contingent of heavily armed Snow figures. In my estimation, though, that is the only area where the Snow Cat fails.

The Snow Cat suffers from 4 common trouble spots. First off, the steering wheel is often missing. Second, the windshield wiper is also commonly lost. (Plus, the nook that holds it to the canopy tends to break on more "played with" examples.) On top of that, the vehicle's signature ski torpedos are often also missing. If you manage to find a Snow Cat with all of those items intact, you still have to check the missile turret. The four pegs that attach the launcher to the shaft are VERY brittle and tend to break. As such, finding a mint, complete Snow Cat can get problematic. You will also pay quite a bit more for a mint, complete Snow Cat for these reasons.

The Snow Cat mold was re-used several times. It was released in 1988 as part of the Tiger Force subset. It was also released again as part of the Street Fighter line. The changes made to the mold for that release have been inherited by the new Snow Cat. Seeing a vehicle mold four times in less than 20 years is a testament to the Snow Cat's popularity. I still like to have my original as I don't have an arctic Joe vehicle (aside from the mighty Blockbuster tank!) that I like better. Seeing as how collectors seem to be enjoying this new Snow Cat, I don't think I'm alone in enjoying this mold.


Do you like the new Snow Cat? Let me know.

Funskool Cobra Commander

If there is one character who made the entire concept of G.I. Joe A Real American Hero work, it was Cobra Commander. Without him, Joe was just another simple military unit. While the characters had neat names and in depth bios, a good guy without an enemy can only sustain people's attention for so long. Cobra Commander's introduction in the very first issue of the comic immediately established the most important element to any storyline: conflict. He was the figurehead enemy who Joes could pursue, politicians could venerate and people could loathe.

For that reason, I've long considered having a usable Cobra Commander figure one of my top priorities in my collection. Over the years, the exact figure version has changed. However, the main character is still in place. While the '93 version is still my main figure when Cobra Commander is in a base or dealing with his underlings, it is this uniform that he dons when he goes into battle. This look is much different from most people's visions of the Commander, but makes sense to me as his classic look is so well known that its appearance in combat would be immediately recognized. This look allows the Commander to oversee his troops without drawing the focus of the opposition.

This version of Cobra Commander is nearly identical to the American version. The differences are very subtle: The Funskool figure's mask is more opaque. He is cast in a darker shade of blue. And, he lacks the Cobra sigil on his chestplate. Beyond that, though, this figure and the '91 Cobra Commander are nearly identical. As such, this figure is a perfect fit for anyone who wants a slightly different uniform for Cobra Commander but doesn't want to spend copious amounts of time tracking down the slightly tough to find 1991 Cobra Commander. While some may complain of Funskool quality, I've found this figure to be well done. Most of the figures taken from '91 molds that I have in my collection don't fact the quality issues that figures made from other year's molds have displayed. As such, I have no qualms recommending the Funskool version of this figure.

From my first return to Joe in the late '90's, I was fascinated by this figure. He was not a version of Cobra Commander that I knew. He was, though, a slightly more battle ready Cobra Commander figure. I've long associated the '86 Cobra Commander (Battle Armour) with being a Cobra Commander impostor. As such, I've never really used that figure as the same character for which I use my 1993 Cobra Commander figure. This mold, though, allows me to use that character, though in a more battlefield oriented setting. The battle helmet gives the aura of protection to the character and makes it more believable for this figure to be among the field troopers. However, it still maintains its air of regality that lets you know that this figure is someone important. Due to the mold's obscurity, though, this uniform for Cobra Commander is seldom seen. Most collectors aren't terribly interested in it and make it the second least popular Cobra Commander figure. As is my norm, though, I've found this mold to have some virtues. As the image of Cobra Commander in his more classic uniforms becomes more and more commonplace, figures like this one offer a breath of fresh air. They add that little something to dioramas or artwork that makes is stand out a little more from the ever growing stockpile of online Joe media.

One odd thing about Cobra Commander is that he wasn't really utilized in most international arenas. He was never released in Argentina and has only recently become a more vital player in India. This mold, though, was planned for release in Brazil before it was sent on to India but never actually saw production even though he appears on Brazilian cardbacks. (In fact, many of the '91 Joes that are currently in production in India were released in Brazil, too.) While international variations of other major characters have become highly sought after, internationally released Cobra Commanders remain rather low on the collecting "hot" meter. Perhaps it's due to the lack of significant variations on the figures, but it seems odd that so major a character wouldn't have the fan base that would actively seek out all of his incarnations.

Many of you probably found this site through the Feature Character Spotlight on YoJoe.com. Cobra Commander was a fitting choice for the first spotlight. Hopefully, response to this initiative will be great enough to warrant future spotlight characters. If you found this idea a useful addition to the online collecting world, please let me or any of the other participating webmasters know.

As this version of Cobra Commander is currently being produced by Funskool in India, he is readily available for affordable prices. This is nice as the American version of this figure is kind of tough to track down. (He also used to be rather pricey.) As with all Funskool figures, for the price, they can't be beat. Figures like Cobra Commander, who are close to their American roots, are an excellent way to grow a collection. This version of Cobra Commander may not be the most popular but is a nice representation of the character that you can use without fear of breaking an irreplaceable figure. For that reason, I like him and continue to use this figure as my battlefield Cobra Commander. with a little more exposure, maybe some other collectors will as well.

I'm well set for this figure and don't need anymore of him. What version of Cobra Commander is your favorite? Let me know.