2004 Night Force Beach Head

Beach Head has always been a popular character. I think it mostly stems from the overall quality of his original figure. From there, the character was able to spawn a loyal fan following even in the wake of some less than familiar molds. Beach Head was one of the most requested Joe characters for inclusion in the new Joe line and has already had 3 figures and 2 distinct molds made for him. For many collectors, though, nothing really compared to the original Beach Head mold. Despite the hard-to-top quality of the original color scheme, most collectors wanted to see a repainted original Beach Head. Fortunately, when this finally happened, the figure was well done and a perfect addition to a Beach Head collection.

Much has been written about the Night Force. Some people hate it with a passion. Personally, I think it one of the best done repaint sets we've seen out of Hasbro since the original line. The figures feature intricate details, sharp colors and a mold selection that hasn't (at least to those who only collect American figures) been overused. The 6 figures on the team look like they belong together. However, unlike the Tiger Force set, these figures also work well on their own or mixed in with other, vintage figures. That is what makes the set so successful. The figures are Night Force, but they are not limited by that role. The original Night Force figures all blended together and got boring after you had three or four of them. This new set, while maintaining some consistency, doesn't portray that same similarity. That's not to say the set is perfect. The total lack of creativity on the part of the included accessories is almost enough to sink the entire concept.

Every theme pack released prior to Night Force featured at least a few of the figures with updates of their original accessories. Night Force did not. While the weapons were at least black, they were the same ones we've seen over and over again and they don't go with these figures. The characters in the Night Force set: Flint, Roadblock, Short Fuze, Tunnel Rat, Beach Head and Tracker (released as Action Man in the set) all featured unique accessories that were so well done that they became part of their characterizations. (OK, maybe not Tracker, but his raft does make the figure!) For Hasbro to completely skip even any of these accessories in this pack shows, in my opinion, a low regard for the collector market and a laziness that is really starting to appear in other areas of the line as well. Hopefully, the management over there will get someone in place who can right the ship before things sink too far. (Remember, the '94 Joe line was actually pretty good but the crap of '93 had made it impossible for the concept to be salvaged. I hope history is not repeating itself.)

The Beach Head mold hasn't had quite the history of some of the other members of the Night Force set, but it has been around. Aside from his American release, the figure saw a long production life in India. There, Beach Head was produced in a few different paint schemes, the most common being the lime green version that was re-offered in 2002 and 2003. Beach Head, though, was among the original 18 molds that Hasbro re-acquired from Funskool. This NF Beach Head is the Funksool mold with updated date stamps and copyright information. Going forward, my guess is that this figure is going to end up being overused. It is a fan favorite and has appeared in the Night Force set and is slated to appear in the upcoming Convention set (probably in Tiger Force colors) as well. Hasbro has a very bad habit of overusing good molds rather than trying to find something new. They did it with the Viper, Alley Viper, Roadblock, Mirage, Firefly and a variety of other figures. Rather than leaving well enough alone, I would expect that Beach Head's legacy will be tarnished by the sheer multitude of times that Hasbro will produce this mold. It's sad as figures that should remain collector favorites are done to death and is another reason why I think Hasbro's reacquiring of molds from Funskool will, eventually, be regretted by collectors.

In my collection, figures of this mold serve multiple purposes. I'm a notorious Joe army builder and I do like to have a few extra Beach Head figures around for use as S.W.A.T. troopers or a tactical commando unit. Mostly, though, I use this mold as Beach Head and have him part of a small team of Joes who are mostly used for the dirtiest and nastiest missions. This figure looks like someone who would mostly work on highly dangerous and secretive projects so I add him to any missions that would require something like that. This figure works in whatever regard I choose. I just have to re-accessorize him so that he has equipment fitting his mold.

In the long run, I think that this Night Force set will prove popular. The combination of excellent molds, great colors and the Night Force name will definitely make this set one that future collectors will want to track down. (Even if it is all Joe themed!) While I don't think these sets will sell out before the end of the year, I do think that they will move more quickly than the Tiger Force sets did and could rival the Python Patrol in terms of popularity. As always, if you want a set, I recommend getting one now. They are shipping all over the country and can still be purchased online for $20. Night Force is a theme that always sits well with collectors and this set only continues that tradition. If all the future repainted ARAH-style Joe offerings from Hasbro continue to exhibit this type of quality in design, then I will gladly put up with delays in production. (The accessory problem, though, definitely needs to be addressed!) I think that collectors are going to consider this set one of the key pieces of any post-original line Joe collection. It is an honor well deserved.

2004 Crimson Sand Viper

For the most part, the new sculpt figure that Hasbro has produced have been decent. A few molds have been terrible, but an equal number have been great. One area where Hasbro has succeeded, though, is in the fact that they repaint their great molds frequently. I know that many collectors are down on repaints as a method to expand the Joe line. My opinion, though, is that, done right, repaints can add a vital element to the Joe mythos without expanding the character base at too great a rate. In many cases, the repaints are something drastically different from the original figure's paint scheme and allow a mold to be used in more areas. A great example of this is the Crimson Sand Viper.

The Sand Viper mold is top notch. As a figure, the Sand Viper offers a superb sculpt, intricate detail and quality design. As a testament to his overall desirability, many collectors have army built the original Sand Viper in numbers that far outpace their intentions for a figure who is so limited by his specialty. The mold was just too cool to not buy in bulk. However, the desert theme on the original Sand Viper meant that this figure was somewhat limited in his role. That limitation, though, has been alleviated with the release of this Crimson version. Done in basic crimson and black, this Sand Viper is at home in most any combat arena and allows the Sand Viper mold to move beyond his desert intentions and truly utilize the sheer evil promoted by his design.

I will say that Hasbro has been very repaint happy in the new Joe line. I am of the feeling that any one mold should only be repainted a maximum of three times before it is retired. One is the original paint scheme. One should be a themed paint job like Night Force, Tiger Force or Python Patrol or an environmentally specific paint job such as desert, jungle or arctic and the final should be something completely different from either of the other two paint jobs. Each repaint should be at least 8 months removed from the prior and the repaints should be packaged in different ways to help promote the diversity of the different color schemes. I think that if Hasbro followed a similar scheme, then you would hear less complaints about the repaints and I think you would actually see some excitement over a properly done repaint.

As this figure is crimson, a lot of collectors will use him as the Sand Viper leader or as a smaller squad of elite Sand Vipers. I have yet to fully determine this guy's use in my collection, but the sheer sense of danger created by his color scheme has me wanting to find some special place for him. In the long run, though, I think this Sand Viper will end up as a specialized Cobra infantry trooper who will be above the rank and file Neo-Vipers but not quite to the elite levels that define the upper echelon of Cobra's organizational structure. I think he will be useful in that role and that type of scenario lends itself to smaller numbers of this figure as he is more elite than your typical infantryman.

This Sand Viper has (at this point at least!) only been released in a special 3-figure value pack. Not every retailer out there, though, ordered this set so some collectors, depending on their local source for toys, may not have adequate access to this item. The good news is that it is available online. As a set, the Value Pack is a great idea as you get three figures and a helicopter (though it's a crappy one!) for around $11. That's a great deal for three unique figures. The problem, though, is that the other 2 figures in the set, Recondo and Wild Bill, are both Joes who have about zero trade value on the second hand market. This, in effect, makes this version of the Sand Viper an $11 army building figure. In this case, that is a double edged sword. The high price point discourages ridiculous army building and helps keep this figure available, but it also is a stronger deterrent for the more casual army builder to acquire only a few extra Sand Vipers. At this point, Hasbro has yet to really figure out the best way to get collectors the army-building figures they want in a way that is equitable, affordable, and easy. My feeling is that the best way to sate this collector demand is to offer some army builders via mail order. That way, massive army builders will be able to stockpile their troops without adversely affecting those collectors whose army building ambitions are more modest. This approach would not endanger the retail validity of Hasbro's current offerings as the figure molds offered via mail order could be 18 to 24 months removed from their initial retail release. Collectors could not ignore retail army building figures as they would have no idea of the smaller subset of army building molds that would, eventually, end up being offered via mail order. In my opinion, this would be the best case scenario for giving collectors the army builders they want without resorting to scalper-friendly army building packs or other retail gimmicks that never seem to accomplish the intended result.

1991 Mercer

A long time ago, I profiled the 1987 Mercer figure. In that profile I mentioned how that figure was a mainstay in my collection for many years. To this day, he is more representative of the Mercer character. However, the 1991 version of Mercer is, while different, a very nice figure. His look is conducive to many uses and I have found that it is this mold's versatility that makes him worth another, closer look.

The thing I like most about this Mercer mold is that he looks like a Cobra. His uniform style and his basic color scheme make him look more like a Cobra villain promoted from the Viper ranks rather than a Joe. As such, I've often used this figure as a new, named Cobra villain. His bearded countenance gives can be construed as a villainous device and Mercer's overall look allows him to transcend the basic uses that limit most Joe figures. In that regard, Mercer also works well as a double agent. His look could be Cobra. Therefore, he is easily used a Joe spy who has infiltrated Cobra and is slowly leaking intelligence to the Joe team. In this role, I have found the greatest depth for this character. Aside from him being a spy, he also serves the larger purpose of moving my Joe world along. With Mercer in place inside Cobra, my Joe leaders feel more at ease with Cobra's operations. As my Joe leaders are much younger than those used by most other collectors (I've had people like General Hawk retire in order to make way for newer characters.) they tend to be somewhat reckless in their appraisals of a situation. While they are proud that they have a spy inside the Cobra inner sanctum, they will not consider the possibility that Cobra may have spy inside the Joe leadership cabal. I haven't decided where this plot point is going to go, yet, but my Joes have been taking a beating in recent years and I think this is going to be another object lesson for them.

This Mercer figure was released around the world. Aside from the US release, this figure was also planned for release in Brazil (though it never was actually released) and is currently available in India. The 1991 figures were only released for 1 year at retail in the US. This explains there relative scarcity when compared to other figure years. It also explains why just about every figure from 1991 has been re-released in other parts of the world over the years. Hasbro had to recoup the costs of these molds. The single year retail release in the US may not have been enough to do it. As such, most of the '91 figures were released in Asia in Asian packaging and were then shipped off to Brazil. There, many were released again. From Brazil, many of the molds made their way to India. In looking over the 40-some-odd Funskool figures currently available, you see that a lot of them (Desert Scorpion, Crimson Guard Immortal, Incinerator, Cobra Commander, Grunt, etc.) are from 1991 molds. Most of these figures, though, were released in colors very similar to the original American releases. As such, you don't see a high demand for many of the foreign versions as they aren't something too terribly different from the American figure. The world wide availability of these figures, though, has helped to keep the American figures from getting too expensive or hard to find.

A few years ago Mercer figures, along with the rest of the '91 figures, were pretty hard to find. They were cheap when you did come across them, but you had to do some searching to track them down. Now, though, it seems that these figures are out there in ample quantities. As such, it doesn't take much to track a Mercer figure down. And, if you do have trouble, it's easy just to jaunt over to an online Joe dealer and pick up a Funskool Mercer or two. Either way, the figure is one that can add needed depth to a Joe collection. He is not a major character and never will be one much beyond what has been done with him in fan fiction. That's a nice role for him, though, as it leaves the Mercer character open to interpretation and he can become just about anything in any collection. Naturally, this is one of the primary reasons I like this figure.

I'm well set for Mercer figures. I would like, though, to see the original Mercer mold return to retail. I think he could be an interesting take on an old character. Do you?

1983 Destro

Destro is one of the most important characters ever created in the Joe line. He stands like a giant over the entire Joe story line and plays important roles in all areas of Joe media. He is one of the most popular characters among collectors and enjoys a status above all but a select few members of the Joe canon. It is his problematic nature that makes Destro so interesting. He was one of the few characters who was ever explored with any depth.

As I've said in some of my earlier Destro profiles, I have developed a problem with Destro's character. To me, it is inherently flawed and that has kept from using the character in the way he was originally envisioned. Among my vintage Joe figures, Destro is now more a consultant than a true combatant. He works in conjunction with my newer Cobra leaders as a mentor who guides them through some of the murky waters of Cobra's internal politics. He is no longer the powerful Cobra leader but someone who works behind the scenes. He is still respected by the more senior Cobra officials, but they do regard him with less than the sense of awe that he once inspired in them. This has, though, now freed me up to use this character in more subtle ways.

I have fond memories of this figure. Back in 1983, this version of Destro was among the most sought after new figures among my circle of friends. His unique look and interesting accessories made him the one figure that everyone wanted to have. I fondly remember using him as the pilot of the FANG copter one fall afternoon as I eagerly awaited the very first G.I. Joe cartoon to air. While I rarely use any of my early '80s, many of them do hold fond memories for me. Figures like this Destro were an integral part of my childhood. While these figures now often seem dated among a toy line that has spanned 2 decades, the memories I associate with them will never leave. I think that's the primary reason why I still collect Joe figures. I like the concept of collecting something, but acquiring things that bring back fond memories is why this hobby remains so important to me.

This Destro mold travelled the world over. After his release in the United States, the mold was used to create the Red Jackal figure that was part of the European Action Force line. (Destro was later released there, too.) From here, he went off to South America where Destro was released in both Argentina and Brazil. After that, the track runs cold as the Destro mold was not seen again. It could still be rotting in a South American warehouse or it could be sitting on a shelf at a Funskool factory in India. Wherever it is, it has not been used in a LONG time. Personally, I don't see any reason why Hasbro should make any effort to track this mold down. The 88 Destro is, in my opinion, a better mold and one who would be better suited to a re-release. I don't think Hasbro could improve upon this original Destro version and any attempt at a repaint would probably ruin the effect this original figure has on collectors. I see no point in repainting molds if the repaint is not an improvement. The '88 figure could be given greater details and a silver mask that would totally recharge that mold. The same can not be said for this original figure. He's significant enough in his own right to stand on his own as a figure release. If Hasbro is going to track down any missing Destro molds, my suggestion would be for this later version rather than his original incarnation.

Destros are not hard to find. He was released at the height of Joe's popularity and was among the most sought after figures of his day. As such, there are tons of them out there. His paint is, though, somewhat brittle so finding a mint specimen can be a challenge. There is also a date stamp variation on the Destro figure. Some collectors swear it is a tough figure to find, but my experience has been that few collectors care about something so trivial and that the rarity of the variant figure is greatly overstated. At any rate, this version of Destro is a staple in any Joe collection and remains a fan favorite. To this day, I pull this figure out every now and then to represent Destro. He is one of the few figures released before 1985 who still sees any significant use in my collection. That is a testament to the quality of this figure's design and why I feel he should be left alone.

This version of Destro is a classic. As such, I don't want to see a repaint or remake of him until we've seen one of the '88 version. Do you agree?

1985 Dusty

I've long been adamant that the later years of the Joe line were every bit as good, figure wise, as the early years. Time and time again, I've profiled figures from the latter half of the line in an effort to showcase the quality of those later years that is often overlooked. That does not mean, though, that I can not appreciate those figures who were truly ground breakers. While I'm kind of an anti-1985 collector who is somewhat sick of all they hype surrounding that year, I can not deny that the figures who were introduced 19 years ago still stand as major turning point in the line's long term success. As such, many of the '85 figures have withstood the test of time better than even those figures released in 1986 or 1987. Among these classics is the 1985 Dusty.

Back in 1985, I was heavily into Joe. Star Wars figures were a thing of the past for me and I was concentrating on Joe, solely. My two best friends were also Joe collectors and we had an informal competition among us as to who could find each new figure first. For some reason, I was won most of the races that year as I had my own disposable income and parents who shopped at stores that stocked toys frequently. I had been the first to get Airtight, Footloose, Snake Eyes (That was a BIG one!) and many other figures. Among the last figures for any of us to find, though, was Dusty. For some reason, none of us found him until the late spring. (Lady Jaye and the Snow Serpent, though, were the last figures that any of us found.) I found a lone Dusty figure in a KB Toy Store in the mall. My mother didn't want me buying the figure as I had spent a lot of money on Joe toys in the previous weeks. (While the money was mine, I was also only 11, so my parents still had some influence in how I spent it. Plus, my younger brothers had no money so when I bought something for myself, my parents often ended up buying them something, too. To this day, I'm not sure how that was fair....) I convinced her, though, that I wanted this figure and that I wouldn't buy any more Joes for a month. (That came back to bite me about 2 weeks later when I did find Lady Jaye and Snow Serpent and the hasty promise I had made kept me from getting either of them.) The end result was that I bought the Dusty figure and added him to my collection.

Almost immediately, I could tell that Dusty was special. The complex desert cammo pattern, the intricate gun with the cool, removable bi-pod, and, of course, the signature cloth head piece made for a figure that, despite his somewhat limited specialty, quickly became a cornerstone of my Joe missions. He joined with Flint, Snake Eyes, Alpine and Footloose to become my primary mission team. They battled Eels and Crimson Guards on the front steps of my parents house (I pretended it was a giant waterfall with mountains on both sides.). They fought Firefly and Scrap Iron in the jungles that were my parent's backyard. And, they patrolled the floor of my room atop the Bridge Layer so they could see Cobra attackers approaching from the dark green carpeted hallway. Really, 1985 was, for me, the last year that Joe was simply just fun. In 1986, I entered Junior High and things like Joe toys were no longer cool. While I still collected, I was much more sub-rosa about it. That left me with a sense that the sheer innocence of the year before was now gone forever.

I think that one of the reasons I've so long campaigned against the greatness of 1985 was due to the situation above. While I had great fun with Joes in 1985, it marked the turning point in my collecting life. That, I think, has sullied the year for me in a way that transcends the toys and has left me with the notion that I don't really like that year. Now, almost two decades removed from then, I can better see 1985 as a Joe year for what it was: one of the best Joe years ever. I was fortunate to have been able to buy and play with those figures when they were fresh on the retail shelf. And, this profile has brought back many fond memories associated with these figures. But, I suppose, this profile is already sappy enough.

As far as Dusty goes, this is the definitive mold. However, that is not to say that the later Dusty figures were bad. The 1991 Dusty, which is kind of hard to find mint and complete, is also a nicely done figure. He lacks the definitive characteristics that are the hallmark of this mold, but is still a great desert figure who offers collectors a little diversity in their desert ranks. The later repaints of Dusty, though, move away from his desert theme. The figures are still nice, but are not in line with the specialty that made Dusty famous. They do, though, give collectors a chance to use the character outside of desert settings. The new sculpt Dusties are also nice. They show an homage to this original mold, but have an updated look that makes the figure more modern. Going forward, I would suspect we will see Dusty in another new sculpt mold at some point.
Like many of the earlier Joe figures, Dusty has lost much of his prominence in my collection. I simply don't use the figure that much, anymore. I think this is mostly due to the fact that this mold saw so much use back when I was a child that I have "played him out" so to speak. As such, I just don't have much left to do with the mold. There are later desert figures who I never had the opportunity to use all that much who I want to take Dusty's place. That doesn't mean Dusty is irrelevant, it just means that he is somewhat "retired". Now that I again live in a desert setting, perhaps this Dusty will get some more use.

The Dusty mold appeared in the U.S. twice: as this figure and the Tiger Force Dusty. From there, he was shipped to Brazil. Around 1991 or so, Dusty was released in Brazil in colors similar to his American Tiger Force outfit. The figure was named Felino and he joined Marujo (Tiger Force Shipreck) Ar Puro (Tiger Force Airtight) and Duque (Tiger Force Duke) as part of the Brazilian Tiger Force. This figure was distinct, though, in the fact that the trademark cloth headpiece that was Dusty's calling card was missing. It gives the figure a different look, but, in my opinion, makes him less desirable than even the common American Tiger Force Dusty. I'm not sure of the mold's whereabouts now. Both Airtight and Shipwreck were sent from Brazil to India where both of those figures were produced in the mid to late '90's. The Duke mold somehow made it's way back to Hasbro prior to 1994 when it was used for the Chinese exclusive figures. As such, Dusty's mold could be in Hasbro's hands (though I find that unlikely as we have had several ARAH-style mold Dusty figures released since 2000 and none of them have been this fan favorite mold), it could still be in Brazil, or it could be in India. At this point, the mold has not appeared for well over a decade so it is difficult to track down. This version of Dusty, though, is one that I think collectors would welcome back and it would be worth Hasbro's time and effort to unearth it.

Dusty figures aren't too hard to find. Mint and complete, though, they can be a bit pricey. Dusty's tend to have broken crotches and the bi-pod from his gun is almost always missing. So, you'll have to spend a bit more than you might otherwise have liked in order to get a nice one. As far as desert figures go, though, Dusty is still the best representation of that environment. No later desert themed figure has even come close to matching the originality and distinction of Dusty. That alone makes him one of the key figures in the Joe line. It is an honor I find fitting for a figure of this quality.

Were Hasbro able to re-acquire this mold, would you like to see this version of Dusty re-released? Let me know.