1990 Rampart

1990 was really the beginning of the end of the Joe line. For some reason, the first batch of collectors really cut the line off at 1989 and tended to lump all figures not made in the '80's into meaningless categories. As more younger collectors have come aboard, more of the later figures have begun to at least get a little respect. This has lead to some longer time collectors to relent their position and start to explore some of the great features that later Joe years had to offer. 1990 is easily on par with many of the line's "classic" years in terms of figure quality, coloring and accessories. Many of the 1990 figures have play features that I wished for back in 1985 and 1986. Among these figures was the oddly designed Coastal Defender: Rampart.

Rampart features a solid color scheme of basic brown with a greyish/brown jacket. His most distinguishing element, though, is the bizarre head gear that he wears. It could be a combination of sun protection and blast protection from his gear. The overall result, though, is that the figure's head is misshapen and stands out among other Joe figures. The mold's biggest problem, though, is that the torso is rather scrawny. Rampart is supposed to carry this big machine gun and portable missile launcher. Yet, he is among the slightest built figures since 1982. Yet, his legs are more bulky like those of his contemporary releases. This makes him appear disproportionate and takes away from the overall aesthetics of the figure.

Rampart's accessories are decent if unspectacular. While many of the 1990 figures had amazing complements of accessories, Rampart's are somewhat drab in comparison. He does include a large gun that features a hole that can be doubly utilized for the bipod that is included as well a mount that fits on the peg molded onto the figure's waist. Rampart also includes a second bipod for his gun that I've always used to support the back. But, there may be other ways to configure the weapon. He also includes a missile launcher with two missiles. (One of which snaps onto a peg on Rampart's leg.) This device was the forerunner of the spring loaded launchers that appeared the next year. The missile itself had a small peg that fit through a hole on the back end of the launcher. The idea was that if you flicked this protruding peg with your finger, it would simulate a firing missile launcher. (The 1991 Crimson Guard Immortal featured the same idea.) It wasn't much of a gimmick, but it all the more appreciated now after Hasbro went the spring loaded route the following year.

It isn't much of a commentary on a figure when the most memorable aspect of it was a custom figure that utilized its parts. However, this is the case with Rampart. My most lasting impression of the Rampart mold was Evilface's use of his head on an Alley Viper custom figure. Aside from that, I can't remember any significant uses of Rampart in the fan community. (I'm sure someone will send me one, but my point is that I don't recall any. :) ) He is just a figure who isn't strong enough to carry a scene. That isn't a fatal flaw, though, as the Joe line's hallmark is the quality of its supporting cast. It's just that Rampart isn't up to par with figures like Alpine, Barbeque, Mainframe or Fastdraw who fill similar niche roles on the team. That is his problem. When picking figures, Rampart is just too far down the list: even when the situation calls for his specialty.

The real question is, what role does Rampart play? While his filecard makes him out to be a video gamer who likes to shoot down missiles, I think that role is too limited for a Joe. He is technically classified as a Coastal Defender. However, the vast nature of a coast pretty much makes it impossible for one man to defend it himself. I see Rampart as two things: a coordinator of coastal defense and a stationary infantryman whose purpose is to hold a position. He is armed with light anti-armour weapons and a heavy machine gun that combine to give him enough firepower to delay an oncoming assault. He is not the end all defense against an attack. Instead, he is the just the first line. He carries weapons capable of slowing the enemy down enough for his team to arrive in support. As such, his role requires a person with a slightly "different" personality. Rampart has to be brave to the point nearing stupid in order to effectively perform his duty. That isn't to say that he's dumb, he just lacks a rational comprehension of what, exactly he's required to do. This leads to my portrayal of Rampart the character as a guy who simply doesn't care about his personal safety. He very much feels he is indestructible and is the type of person who wouldn't realize his life was in jeopardy until he was already dead. It isn't a very deep characterization, but Rampart's specialty is such that he isn't used enough for me to develop his personality any further.

The Rampart mold saw a number of releases around the world. Aside from being released in the US and Asia, the mold was also sent down to Brazil where it was released in a color scheme similar to the American figure around 1993. (You can see a comparison of the 2 in the last picture.) From there, the Rampart mold has disappeared. It is unknown whether it is still rotting in South America, sitting on a shelf in India or is back under Hasbro's control. Rampart's Brazilian contemporaries have not turned up anywhere else in the world, either. So, it is difficult to surmise the fate of the mold. This isn't, necessarily, a bad thing. Rampart's mold might be able to be used in some interesting Frankensteins. But, I don't think a Rampart repaint would be the best thing Hasbro could churn out when there are so many other 1990-1993 molds that are in dire need of a repaint.

Ramparts are not too tough to find. As he was a Joe, no one really spends too much time looking for one. However, as he was released in 1990, he is a bit harder to find than many other figures. As such, you now see complete figures in the $8-$11 range as opposed to half that for equally obscure figures from more common years. At the low end of that range, Rampart is a decent buy. The figure mold is cool enough and the colors blend nicely with many other figures. He isn't a figure that most people have on display so he adds a touch of uniqueness in that regard. Personally, I like the figure for what it is but certainly would not have gone out of my way to acquire one did I not have a few samples already. Rampart is just one of those transitional figures who is almost a must have but was produced in such a way that he just misses the mark.

1997 Destro

Destro is, arguably, the most complex character in the Joe world. While Snake Eyes and Cobra Commander both have their issues, Destro was always portrayed as being stuck in a morally ambiguous morass: unable to allow his penchant for evil to be overridden by his honor nor able to allow his desire to be good to be overruled by his inbred greed. The conflict created a character that most collectors have latched on to and enjoyed since his first appearance in 1983. Through the years there have been classic Destro figures, great Destro figures, bizarre Destro figures and terrible Destro figures. Unfortunately, this version falls closer to the terrible category than most. But, he also fits squarely in the bizarre. As such, I felt the 1997 version of Destro was worth profiling.

In December of 1992 I went to a Toys R Us during my lunch hour. I checked over the Joe section for the first time in 2 years and was amazed at what I found. I bought a few new figures that day but was most excited about my new Destro. I had long liked the Destro character and the chance to get a new figure of him that was in the classic colors (I didn't much care for the gold Iron Grenadier look at the time.) was too much to pass up. I bought the figure, opened him up and started to realize that, while nice in the sense that the character had a new look, the mold had certain limitations that really knocked it down a few notches from my initial impression.

While this mold has some nice features, it is also overly stylized for most collector's tastes. It features an incredibly high collar, an ostentatious necklace and shoulder and knee pads that make the figure look like parts of his outfit came from the wardrobe trucks of the worst Medieval genre movie in Hollywood. The entire figure is bulky...except for the head. As such, Destro looks like a cartoon character whose body is blown up to be out of proportion with the head. For a guy who wears a steel mask, that doesn't quite work and really takes away from the entire figure. The head, though, is decent enough and can be used on other bodies to build more creative Destro figures. As parts, the mold works much better than it does as a whole.

When collectors think of Destro, they usually think of the V1 mold followed by the version 2. These are the 2 distinctly classic looks of Destro. This mold originally was used to pay homage to the V1 and mark Destro's return into the Cobra fold. In my collection, I tend to use this coloration of the mold just for the fact that it is so distinctly different from his other incarnations. However, even that use is limited. These days, I see Destro as mostly retired from active combat duty. Instead, he remains a political force within Cobra. Being too controversial to ever lead Cobra, Destro, instead, makes his mark as a senior advisor to just about all of the Cobra hierarchy. While he will help out the current Cobra Commander, he spends most of his efforts helping the younger generals who are in charge of South American operations. In this advisory role, Destro has become an icon to the next generation of Cobra and has probably secured a legacy within the organization that is greater than that of the original Commander.

And now we come to the most interesting part of this figure's history: the Pimp Daddy version. In 1997, Hasbro originally painted this Destro in leopard spots. This figure was actually photographed for a Toys R Us advertisement and has lead many collectors to have "Rocket Firing Fett Syndrome" where they swear they saw the Pimp Daddy Version at retail. It is highly unlikely that any PDD's were released at retail in the US. The only carded samples that exist have come from Asia. But, some were carded. The fact that only a few of the PDD's have shown up, though, suggests they were not mass released. While most collectors would be astounded at the number of PDD's that were produced, it is still a small number in comparison with regular release retail or even convention figures. The mystique of the PDD, though, is such that is has become the most famous unreleased Joe figure and that has lead it to price points that are probably unrealistic were the true production numbers known by the general collecting base. As such, I keep my eyes open for PDD's as they do show up for very nice prices from time to time. You just have to be ready to pounce when they do.

After 1997, this mold was used again in 2001 and 2005. Also, in 2005, the head was plated in gold and used for the convention Destro. None of the body releases have done anything to really elevate the mold in collector eyes. The more versions of it that are released, the more collectors realize the limitations of the mold. While, in 1992, this was a decent update to Destro, by 2006, collectors are left wanting more when they know there were better Destro molds available that Hasbro could have chosen for release over this version. This figure, though, does feature decent colors. He is one of the few version of Destro where the good laird is decent enough to cover his bare chest. That alone makes the figure worth owning. The deep maroon hues set against the black highlights make the figure more imposing than other colorations of this mold. The crowning achievement, though, is the chromed head. This was the first time this mold was released with a head that wasn't painted and the bright, shiny chrome sets the figure apart. (Though, most collectors agree that the head is vastly undersized for the body.) The overall effect achieved with this figure is a nice update to Destro's classic look. You know this is Destro the second you lay your eyes on him. For a character who is as visually powerful as Destro, that is a hallmark of some success.

In 1997, this figure was a HUGE pegwarmer along with the rest of the Joes. By 2001 and 2002, though, collectors had forgotten this and mint, complete versions of Destro were fetching close to $20 on the second hand market. Now, though, demand for the figure has sated and they can be routinely purchased in the $7-$10 range. At that price, the figure is worth owning just for the chromed head and non-traditional coloring. When I'm looking for a different take on the Destro character, this if the figure I use. That is rare, though, so this isn't a figure that's become vital to my collection. I think that is doomed to be his fate. Collectors will get one of these but I think the heyday of this figure has passed. That's not really a bad thing, though, as most of the subsequent Destro releases have surpassed this one. Those that haven't, though, are real stinkers. For me, this will remain my odd Destro for when I want to add depth to a dio. Other than that, though, he isn't a figure who holds great importance in my collection.

1984 Blowtorch

Blowtorch is one of those early Joes who has kind of fallen to the wayside. Most people own his figure, but the character did not reappear in any form in the U.S. for 18 years after his initial release. Blowtorch is a specialty that is somewhat difficult to use in the modern military world and often feels like a throwback of sorts. Plus, his bright colors really turn many collectors off to the quality of the mold. He is, though, a figure who is well done and has earned his place among the early Joes. It's not a figure I use all that often but is a mold I enjoy.

My first encounter with Blowtorch was early in 1984. A schoolmate of mine had returned from California after Spring Break with a treasure trove of the new 1984 Joes. This initial brush with the figures lead to a months long quest to fill the gaps in my collection. Through the year I acquired more and more of the figures. I don't, specifically, remember when my youngest brother picked up his version of Blowtorch, but I do remember a friend of mine and I finding a wallful of new Joes at the Children's Palace at the Castleton mall in Indianapolis. While I don't remember which figure I got that day, I do remember my friend getting the Blowtorch. He used the figure as a diver in his pool since Blowtorch had the airmask. My brother acquired the figure some time later but quickly destroyed the figure's accessories and I learned that without his flamethrower or mask, Blowtorch wasn't that interesting a figure.

These days, what do you do with a flamethower? Really, they don't have much place in my Joe world as Blowtorch's equipment just seems antiquated. Someone walking around a battlefield with 2 easily punctured tanks full of pressurized, highly explosive liquids does not seem like a sound idea. As such, I now use Blowtorch in a more supporting role. Being in an area where wildfires are common, I see Blowtorch more as a civilian Joe who helps with backburns and things like that. He consults with police and fire departments on procedures and protocols for their encounters with explosive and highly flammable materials. And, he, occasionally, might still see some combat duty when he is called in to create a fiery diversion that will allow his overwhelmed comrades to escape a bad situation. But, Blowtorch's days as a full fledged combat soldier in my collection are done.

The Blowtorch mold is actually very well done and features an incredible amount of detail. The bright orange and yellow colors somewhat detract from them as the little details are lost under the strong hues. The figure is more bulky than most of his contemporaries and that is to be expected due to his wearing of the fire suit. The overall mold is well thought out except for the fact that Blowtorch has a patch of bare skin under his neck. Had this been painted white or yellow, it would make more sense. But a character who wears such protective gear would hardly go out with some of his skin exposed. Where the figure really shines is his accessories. 1984 really brought the accessory complements of the Joes to new levels. The line was flush with development money from its retail success and the designers took pride in topping themselves. As such, Blowtorch features a helmet, mask, pack and flamethrower that all interlock with each other. The mask plugs into the figure's chest while it also fits snugly around the helmet. The helmet features grooves that hold the mask in place. The flamethrower plugs into the backpack and the figure just looks well put together.

If you look at the photo of Blowtorch in the 1984 product catalog, you notice a major difference with the figure's mask. In the picture, you can see that the mask has a black hose as well as open eye slits. Every production level figure that I've ever seen has just a solid molded mask that is all yellow. It is likely that the early photos were still kitbashed mock ups rather than full blown production pieces. (You'll note some other accessory (Ripcord's mask) and figure differences (Cutter) in that catalog as well.) But, the inclusion of these items provides an insight into the vision the designers had for the figure, even if the technological constraints of the time precluded them from being realized.

The Blowtorch mold has a long history outside the U.S. After his release in the U.S. and Europe, the mold was sent down to South America. There, Blowtorch was released in Brazil and Argentina. Plastirama, though, took the mold a step further when they used it twice more. Once on the carded TNT figure and then again on the vehicle driver Backstop. From there, the trail of the Blowtorch mold ends. He was never released anywhere else in the world again and it is likely that his mold continues to rot away in a South American warehouse. This isn't terribly unfortunate as the mold has some limitations and isn't really the type of thing that lends itself to a repaint. I would have liked to have seen a newer take on Blowtorch through a new mold. The two subsequent Joe flamethrowers, Charbroil and Ice Cream Soldier, were decent but would have been preferable were at least one of them an homage to the Blowtorch character. We have seen Blowtorch in the new sculpt figures, but he was done in the oddly proportioned Wave 3 and hasn't become a figure that most collectors consider to be well done.

These days, Blowtorches aren't too expensive. Despite his being over 20 years old and having some brittle accessories, complete Blowtorches are quite common on the second hand market. Usually, you can get them under $8 or so and you can often find them cheaper in lots. He's a figure that most collectors are content to only have a single version of in their collections. His price reflects this. When I first returned to collecting, I wanted to get a complete Blowtorch rather quickly. Once I did so, though, I kept on getting them in more and more lots. At one time, I had 8 of the figure with at least 5 complete. He's just that common of a figure that he really isn't difficult to acquire, even if you're not trying to! These days, Blowtorch is pretty much an afterthought in my collection. It would have been nice had the Anti-Venom Charbroil been named Blowtorch, but, even then, he would not have been a figure that would have gotten any more use. He's just a character and figure that are difficult for me to find a purpose for these days. His lack of dio appearances suggests that I am not the only collector who feels this way. It doesn't make the figure any less interesting or well done, Blowtorch is just a specialty that isn't in much demand these days.

2000 Law & Order

Back in early 2000, Hasbro let it be known that they were bringing Joes back to regular retail outlets. They leaked the potential names of 10 figures who would comprise the first wave. The list contained the usual suspects of high profile characters as well as a few second tier entries who really filled out the assortment nicely. Among these was Law: one of my all time favorite figures. As such, I had high hopes for the new version and, when the first pictures were finally shown, was not disappointed in the slightest. The new version of Law was an improvement over his original incarnation yet still included all of the great accessories that marked the original figure. Once the figures hit retail, I quickly army built Laws faster than even the Firefly/Undertow packs. To this day I hold this figure in high regard as it remains the best version of the great Law mold.

Law remains the perfect Joe cop. He is an excellent policeman rather than Mutt's pseudo military look. He looks like a real MP and has the gear to back it up. As such, he has long found use as an army builder in my collection rather than a character. Even as a kid, I ended up with 3 Laws and I used them as my Joe police squad. Early on, they were mostly used to arrest Cobras. But, as I got a bit older, they also began to play the role of internal military investigative police. They would go after rogue soldiers who either were going to endanger the Joes or after Joes themselves who had violated military rules. From there, their role expanded into the police force who served under my security officer figures who were always portrayed by Dialtone. This has been, perhaps, about the only aspect of my Joe collection where I have developed characters as deeply as those I have developed for my Cobra hierarchy. For some reason, the aspect of dutiful lawmen chasing down criminals has lead to a large part of my Joe world. For the most part, I don't view these policemen as anything more than guys doing a job. They don't really think about the motives of those whom they pursue, but they react to any violations of the law. As such, they are very prone to mistakes and often overreact to the most benign situation. Basically, they are very good at creating conflict where there is none. As such, they can be either a disruptive or a beneficial force depending upon how they react to a situation. This creates heightened tension for the Joes when these guys are involved as the Joes can never be sure if the police will make the situation worse or if they will help. It's just an added little part of my Joeverse that makes things a little more interesting.

As a figure, Law is very solid. He features a bulky, unzipped vest that could be taken to be ballistic or just stylish. He has a nice, big badge and a tear gas grenade molded onto his chest. His upper body is topped off by the shoulder mounted pistol holster. He also features handcuffs molded onto the back of his pants as well as a loop on his belt where he would hang his nightstick. Where the figures really shines, though, is the accessories. Law includes a basic helmet and silver Uzi that nicely complement the mold. He also has a nightstick that is better designed that Mutt's and that is actually useful with the figure as he can hold it. Finally, Law is topped off by his dog Order and a leash. Personally, I only use the dog as a very specific accessory for a scene where a dog might be used. (Such as a checkpoint or at a prison intake.) I don't use it as an everyday accessory with the figure, but it is nice to have available.   The Law mold saw several uses and each of them was very good in its own way. The original '87 figure features a nice use of color. It looks like the type of policeman who would be used as basic security. They would be very visible and would be the type of presence needed for your basic police duties. The '90 Super Sonic Fighter is more militaristic and makes for a perfect field police officer. I also use this version as a higher ranking police officer as this is probably the most difficult version of Law to find. This 2000 version is simply the best overall version ever made with the muted blue and white that really make the figure stand out as police. And, finally, the Funskool version from India also features a nice, dull brown color scheme that blends well with the 2000 figure. Plus, the Indian version features a cool mustache that brings some diversity to the Law ranks.

One of the things that has happened in the more than 5 years since this figure was released is that I have found a new appreciation for the ARAHC figures from 2000-2001. While the new sculpts figures have been nice, I consider them a line unto themselves. When you compare the ARAH style releases we have seen at retail since 2002 with those from the ARAHC, though, you realize how lazy Hasbro got with their later releases. While these early figures stagnated as the line progressed, they at least continued to include the original accessories from the mold's first release as well as complex, if uninspired, paint applications. Since then, ARAH-style Joes have suffered from horrid accessories and less and less detailed paint masks. In 2000, many collectors found reasons to complain about the ARAHC figures. Little did we know how good we had it then.

This version of Law is insanely easy to find. The first wave of the ARAHC figures wasn't nearly as rare as people thought it was. If that wasn't enough, Law and Dusty were then re-released in cases of Wave 2. Wave 2 was probably the most overproduced wave of Joes in the entire ARAHC series and was available at retail for more than a year. As such, many stores ended up clearancing out their final stock and many people were able to snag great deals on Dusty/Law 2 packs. Now, most dealers will still sell the figure for ~$5 just because it doesn't really pay for them to handle a figure for much less than that. Even at that price, though, this is a good figure of which to acquire multiples. Personally, I simply can't use this version of Law as anything other than an army builder. That's just what he is to me.

Unproduced Sky Patrol Low Light (Wal Mart Exclusive)

At the 2003 Toy Fair, Hasbro showcased a set of 6 figures that were slated to be Wal Mart exclusives. They were based on the Sky Patrol concept and each of the 3 Joes and 3 Cobras would have included a working parachute. The paint jobs that were showcased were enough to get collectors interested in the figures. But, as the year wore on, there was no additional information regarding the release date. As the year wore down, it was finally announced that due to safety concerns over the parachutes, the Sky Patrol figures had been cancelled. Instead, Wal Mart carried an exclusive series of Urban Cobras and Desert Joes. But, the saga of the Sky Patrol figs was not quite done. In late 2003/early 2004, a Storm Shadow appeared on Ebay. It was blue and red and unlike anything collectors had seen. Shortly thereafter, large quantities of the unproduced Sky Patrol figures appeared all over Ebay. It seemed that Hasbro had actually produced a small production run of the figures and they had become available to Asian Joe sellers. In the ensuing year, many collectors had occasion to add the figures to their collections for varying prices. Naturally, I finally decided it was time for me to do so as well. As Low Light was the only newly minted mold offered in the series, I felt he was most deserving of a closer look.

The Low Light figure has a historically solid mold and his reuse would have been a welcome addition to a line of ARAH re-releases that had become all too stale in terms of mold choice. Low Light also came as quite a surprise. The Low Light mold had been last seen in Brazil and it did not seem likely that he would appear in the modern line. As such, I speculated that the ultimate Wal Mart Low Light would simply be a rehash of the '91 Low Light that had just been used in 2001. When this figure actually appeared, it was was greeted with joy at the mold's existence, but dismay that it's use was relegated to relatively hard to find unreleased figure. That sentiment still exists today as collectors are still waiting for this mold to make its next appearance.

Low Light was originally released in the U.S. After that, he was sent to Brazil where the figure was released in colors similar to the American version. In 1989, Estrela actually produced the Slaughter's Marauders Low Light that was sold in the U.S. The repainted Low Light was also released in Brazil and is one of the few figures who saw multiple releases in South America. The mold, though, never resurfaced. A few of the Slaughter's Marauders molds did, eventually, show up in India. But many others did not and were presumed lost. When this figure appeared, it showed that Hasbro had re-acquired the Low Light mold. It was a welcome addition to a stable of ARAH-style molds that was becoming too predictable. An interesting aspect of this Wal Mart Low Light, though, is that he uses the exact same paint mask as the Slaughter's Marauders Low Light. This is significant as the SM paint mask was used in Brazil. However, subsequent to the Brazil release, an exclusive SM Low Light appeared in Europe. This showed that a Hasbro subsidiary had re-acquired the mold and the paint mask which is why it was available for this figure. It would also suggest that, with a little digging, Hasbro probably also has access to the V1 Spirit and V1 Mutt molds. Why the Low Light mold has not been used in the three years since this figure first appeared, though, remains a mystery.

In my collection, Low Light remains true to his intended purpose. He is a sniper and a sniper only. He rarely goes along on infantry missions unless their job is to get Low Light to a target. I also see Low Light as an infiltration specialist who is capable of sneaking into enemy compounds to get the best shot at his target. However, as I thought more about Low Light, I took a deeper look at the type of character he would have to be. While his filecard suggests a great inner strength that originated in him conquering his childhood fears, I felt that the character would have had to grow beyond that to handle his role as a sniper.   When I look at Low Light's character, I see a man with great responsibility. As a sniper, Low Light has the duty of, basically, playing God to his targets. He holds their lives in his hands. How would a man deal such pressure? My take is that Low Light is a righteous man. At his core, if he believes someone to be truly evil, he can reconcile his taking of their life. Unfortunately, such evilness is rarely so black and white. While it is easy for Low Light to eliminate a murderer or rapist, it becomes more difficult when his target is an individual whose deeds Low Light is unsure of. It becomes incredibly difficult to kill a man who, while he may have done some bad things, could also be a husband and father to people whom he has not victimized. This puts Low Light in a great moral quandary. While he has a job to do and his killings could save many lives, he is still the man who must deal with the knowledge that he took another's life in a way that prevented his quarry from even knowing his life was about to end. While some may be able to simply shrug off this responsibility by not thinking about it or drowning it in inebriants, others would have to find a way to reconcile their duty. This is how I see Low Light dealing with it. And, as such, it then stands to reason that Low Light would simply not be able to kill indiscriminately. I see him taking shots that seriously wound his targets and saving his fatal shots for those whom Low Light feels are truly evil. It still makes him effective at his job, but allows him the moral leeway to live with his actions.

While Wal Mart Low Light's aren't too terribly tough to find, I would suggest simply buying a V1 Low Light if you are just after a good representation of the character. Tons of these unproduced Sky Patrol figures made their way into collector hands. While most of the attention was on the army builders, though, the Low Light held his own and was usually the most expensive Joe figure. It was tough to get him delivered for under $20. As of the writing of this profile, that is probably a lowball price. Until Hasbro re-uses the Low Light mold for a new version of the character, it is unlikely that the collecting community will see a large drop in interest in this version of the character. That isn't to say that a huge quantity of these could suddenly show up and kill all demand and aftermarket pricing for this figure. But, it isn't likely that this unreleased version will ever become a retail figure with this paint scheme. My take is that this isn't a bad thing. I remain of the opinion that the Joe line as a whole needs to have a few rare pieces. If everything is common and expensive, then nothing in the line is special. As such, I like to see some unreleased figures, rare variants, or obscure releases and hate straight reissues or "new" figures with paint schemes heavily based on an already existing figure. It gives collectors something to shoot for. As a kid, the items I enjoyed the most were the ones that other kids did not have. It was not an elitist thing. Instead, it was an appreciation of owning something a little different that wasn't the same thing everyone else had. That attitude continues to this day and I remain of the opinion that having rarities and items that are difficult to acquire is what makes this hobby enduring.