2008 AWE Striker

The AWE Striker is a mold that I have liked since I was a child. I first acquired it in the summer of 1985 and it became my de facto jeep: surpassing my aging VAMP. It was immediately put into action and was the main small vehicle I used during that time. Unfortunately, that original AWE Striker didn't last too long in my collection. And, for some reason, the AWE Striker was one of the few vehicles that I did not re-acquire during my heavy Joe buying days in the late '90's. As such, this vehicle remains a sentimental favorite of mine and is a piece that I've long wanted but never obtained. Now, a retail version in colors similar to the original has become available for the same price as the last straight re-release from 7 years prior. That was a deal too tempting to pass by and, for the first time in more than 2 decades, I have a nicely conditioned AWE Striker in my collection.

This version of the AWE Striker is a much brighter green than the original version. If seen only in a distant picture, the green could easily be mistaken for the Funskool AWE Striker that is rather common in the collecting community. It is definitely a brighter color than most collectors would have chosen, but still works in the context of the vehicle. Hasbro also did some retooling of the base vehicle. The main difference is that the footpegs in the side rails have been redone to fit the feet of the Anniversary sculpt figures. They are far to skinny for ARAH style foot pegs and this does impact the usability of this new version with vintage figures. Fortunately, the seats were not affected and ARAH figures are still the same tight squeeze in the seats they have always been. There are other slight modifications to the mold, but they are not the type of thing that really impacts the toy one way or another. The vehicle is true to the vintage design (which the 2004 version was not) and retains the spirit of the original release.

As a toy, though, the AWE Striker is somewhat fragile. Shortly after I first acquired the AWE Striker, I was playing with it in my room. At the time, we had these ancient beds. They didn't have covered box springs since the metal coil springs were directly underneath the mattress and were part of the basic bed frame. For sleeping, these were terrible. For playing, though, they were great. The coiled springs worked perfectly as jail cells for Cobras or Joes. Hidden underneath the bed was a platform where figures could hide and that could serve as the command center for any faction. Naturally, this became my default Joe base. On this day, I had my fairly new AWE Striker trying to outrun a HISS Tank. The Joes were heading straight for the bed "base". I zoomed my AWE Striker as fast as I could and had it just make it under the bed ahead of the HISS tank's cannons. Unfortunately, I forgot to measure the clearance under the bed in relation to the height of the AWE Striker's cannon. When the AWE zipped into safety, the bottom of the bedframe sheered the top cannon right off. Fortunately, the toy wasn't completely broken. But, the clasp that holds the cannon in place was damaged and my AWE Striker's gun forever drooped after that. For a time, this wasn't much of an issue. But, the more I used my original AWE Striker, the less integrity the gun mount retained. Within a few weeks, the top cannon would simply fall off. Back then, I wasn't too keen on gluing things into place, so this defect lead to the AWE Striker's ultimate popularity demise.

The missing gun wasn't enough to deter my younger brothers, though. They still used the AWE Striker somewhat frequently. Ultimately, the broke the front axles that allow the front wheels to move. This lead to the wheels resting in different directions. However, one of my brothers did come up with a rather ingenious way of fixing this problem. He took the steering mechanism from an old Ferret and inserted into the front of the AWE Striker. It actually fit and he then had a jeep with the wheels and front axle from a Ferret. It was an odd combination of colors and the smaller Ferret wheels make the AWE Striker look like one of those jacked up custom cars you see in magazines. My original AWE Striker remained this way until I finally stripped the usable parts and threw the main body into the dumpster just a few months ago.

In 1987, my interest in the AWE Striker was re surged when I started buying the Action Force comics that my local comic shop was importing. Action Force ran about 2 years behind the American line and at that time, the 1985 figures were being featured in all the original stories and toy advertising that was in those comics. I distinctly remember a short dio on the back cover that featured the AWE Striker. By this time, though, the AWE Striker was gone from American retail shelves and I was left with my beat up, old version that had been retired 2 years prior. This made me want an AWE Striker more than ever. But, I was not able to acquire one before I pretty much quit collecting in 1988. When I returned to Joe collecting, though, complete AWE Strikers were relatively expensive. As such, it wasn't an item I went after since I was focused on buying up figures and vehicles that I had never owned rather than trying to replace the broken items my childhood. By the time the 2001 release came around, though, I was in a bad spot and couldn't buy it. I managed to trade for the included figure, so that was enough. The 2004 version was just too terrible for to have any interest. So, the chance to acquire this version was one I decided to take advantage of. Now, I have an adequate display model for my 1985 figures. It is nice to have this vehicle back in my collection. Now, I just have to find the space to display it with the appropriate figures.

These days, I'm more interested in vehicles that display well rather than those that, necessarily, play well. As such, some great vehicles like the Whale and Mauler don't make the cut in my display collection because they take up large amounts of space and only display a few figures. The AWE Striker, though, does not have that problem. It adequately displays 4 figures (at least two of whom can be fully accessorized) and only occupies a small footprint in a display case. It is the type of vehicle that I enjoy since it isn't a space hog and allows the focal point of the figures to be adequately viewed. In this regard, it surpasses the VAMP since the VAMP can only hold 2 figures and they are not as exposed as the driver and passenger in the AWE Striker. (Though, in combat, I could see the VAMP being the preference since the driver and crew are not nearly as exposed as they would be in the AWE Striker.)

It is no secret that I'm not a fan of the Anniversary style figures. In total, I don't really care about them as they don't really affect me either way. However, one of the things that irks me to no end is the constant praise heaped upon these figures by collectors. You would think that each and every figure was a pristine piece of art. Nowhere to do you see people taking Hasbro to task for the mistakes and poor quality that does appear in the line. I think that many collectors feel that the constant praise will either make Hasbro notice them and allow them to be become an "insider" or that any negative comments will end the line and we will be back to more peaceful days of late 2006. Regardless, the Crankcase figure that is included with this vehicle is simply terrible. That isn't bitterness or spite talking: this is just a bad figure. Now, it could be that this is a result of the fact that this figure was cobbled together on the cheap to meet a price point on a low production run. But, the other 2 figures in the exclusive vehicles are straight up repaints and it makes no sense why some of the parts were chosen. When compared to the other Anniversary figures I've sold off, Crankcase is a complete loser. First off, the figure's right fist is molded shut. This not only means that he can't hold an accessory, but it also means he can't grip the steering wheel of his vehicle. Were this just a single carded figure, it would be one thing. But, this figure was specifically included in a vehicle that features a molded steering wheel. Using a mold that precluded the figure from gripping the wheel is a tremendous mistake and one that simply can not be excused in this modern day of toymaking. Aside from that, the figure looks like he has a pot belly. The horrid chest joint matches with the torso to create a bulge and Crankcase looks like he ate too much at Thanksgiving. Aside from these 2 glaring defects, the figure is at least true to the original spirit of Crankcase and it is nice to see such an obscure character make an appearance in the new line.

The AWE Striker has seen a good life. After it was discontinued at retail in the U.S. in 1986, it showed up in Brazil. The mold reappeared again in 1991: only this time in Eco-Warriors colors. Hasbro dusted the mold off again around 1995 when they retooled it slightly for use in the Stargate Movie toy line. Subsequent to that, the mold was sent off to India where it was released by Funskool for many years. Hasbro either re-acquired the mold or had another one available and released the mold to retail in the U.S., only this time in all black, in 2001 as part of the A Real American Hero Collection. It was then released again in 2004, this time with a retooled top gun and with Dial Tone as the driver. This 2008 release marks the 3rd time we've seen this vehicle at retail in 7 years. Frankly, that's enough. There are enough other vehicle molds that have yet to appear at retail since the vintage days that would be much more exciting than yet another AWE Striker. But, of the releases of this mold, we have yet to see an AWE Striker really live up to to its "All Weather and Environments" tag. I could stand to at least see this make one more appearance in desert colors since the dune buggy aspect of the toy's design would lend itself to desert terrain. We've seen from other lines as well as the recent Joe releases that Hasbro isn't shy about repainting usable vehicle molds. So, it is entirely possible that we'll see another AWE Striker before too long.

Target ordered roughly 16,700 of each of the three exclusive vehicles. To put this into historical perspective, previous exclusives like the Operation Crimson Sabotage, the TRU VAMP and the TRU version of the AWE Striker all saw production runs of around 10,000 units each. As such, these Target vehicles have been produced in larger numbers than we have historically seen. But, we have also not seen vehicles released under the 25th Anniversary banner. However, it seems that the hallmark of the 25th Anniversary toy sales is the packaging hearkening back to vintage days. While single carded figures seem to sell strongly, items that feature non-vintage inspired packaging like the comic packs languish at retail. (The box sets were even clearance fodder while single carded versions of those same figures released during the clearances still sell strongly.) I know that my local Target store had an endcap of 2 cases of these exclusives by the registers. On the third weekend they were there, I bought this AWE Striker and it was the first vehicle they've sold. (The cashier who works in front of the endcap even remarked as such.) As such, I don't think these items have strong long term value potential. Usually, it is the figures that drive aftermarket pricing and Hasbro has already proven they are very willing to re-release 25th Anniversary style figures ad naseum until market demand is sated. As such, even if one of the figures from these sets become popular, it is pretty much a given that we will see that figure either singly carded, repacked with a new vehicle/comic/gift set or retooled into a superior version at some point in the future. As for the vehicle itself, this is the third modern release of the AWE Striker and there is no indication that it will be the last. Hasbro has the mold and will continue to use until it simply won't sell anymore. For me, $10 was too good a price to pass up for a new AWE Striker that was true to the original. While this vehicle could be released many more times, it will certainly not be at a price point below $10. So, for that type of bargain, this vehicle really is a no-brainer for even a hard core vintage fan like me.

1983 Cobra Trooper

Sometimes, the original is simply the best. In the case of the Cobra Trooper, there is an understated excellence to the figure design that simply was unsurpassed in the subsequent history of the line. Sure, other figures had more detail, better accessories or more intricate paint applications. But, none were so simply effective at portraying their purpose than this original Cobra Trooper. It remains the iconic look for the basic Cobra...even if it is not the combat ready outfit that evolved to the Viper. It features the faceless enemy clad in a dominant dark blue color using Soviet weapons during the height of the Cold War. It was the perfect enemy to the group marketed as the Real American Hero. Today, the figure remains among the most popular and well liked molds ever produced. It has remained relevant while most of his contemporaries have faded into obscurity by their later incarnations. The original Cobra Trooper personified the evil of the Cobra organization and conveys the incredible danger this group poses to the free world.

My first encounter with this mold was in the summer of 1983. I was just getting back into Joe. Naturally, my focus was on acquiring the Joe figures who were released that year as well as the Cobra characters. A neighbor of ours, though, had both the Cobra Trooper and Cobra Officer. Being young and not knowing the difference between the 2, I took the Cobra Officer with his AK-47 to be the more standard Cobra soldier and thought the trooper to be the more elite since he had a sniper rifle and a much more intricate mold. I was a bit dismayed to learn the opposite was true but still feel that the trooper should have been outfitted with the AK as that was the more infantry related weapon that the standard troops would have carried. To this day, it doesn't make much sense for an infantry soldier to carry a sniper as his default weapon. However, the look of the Dragunov in the Trooper's hand is one of the indelible images of the line and I simply can not use any other weapon with these Troopers.

This figure, though, was not added to my collection until 1985. One summer day I went to a Kohl's store in a mall and found this figure and a Cobra ASP. These were not toys I normally saw at the local Toys R Us and Children's Palace stores. As such, I bought them both with my lawn mowing money, took them home and quickly made them central to my Joe world. Cobra now had a trooper that was capable of overwhelming the Joes while the ASP made Hiss tanks that much more dangerous. In this role, the figure thrived. By late '85, my original was heavily worn and I had broken his thumb. By '85, it was rare for a figure in my collection to get that type of use, but it showed how central the Trooper was to my collection. Unfortunately, when I went to replace the figure in 1986, he was gone from retail for good. This didn't much matter, though, as the Viper was released that year and it was an adequate replacement for this original figure.

Today, I actually prefer the old blues as my standard Cobra infantry forces. There is something about the simplicity of the blue jumpsuit that seems more Cobra to me. I still see Cobra as that underground organization shown in the early days of the comics rather than the full blown military-industrialist nation with a defense budget that would make the Pentagon jealous. I think that's why I prefer this look for the standard Cobra soldier. It isn't full of expensive, technological gear and perfectly portrays the wearer as a terrorist not be trifled with. Of course, I prefer the 2004 version of this figure just due to the fact that they are more pliable, newer and more readily available. This original figure, though, remains a personal favorite and one that still gets taken out from time to time. I prefer this original mold to the newer incarnations when I'm pairing them with the original versions of Major Bludd, Destro, Firefly or Cobra Commander. The Trooper complements those classics very well and always makes for a great photo when they are used together.

The Cobra Trooper mold is incredibly detailed. Originally conceived in late 1981, the figure was titled Cobra Commando or Trooper and features: a modified Russian Dagunov Sniper Rifle, a bayonet, a grenade launcher on his chest and 2 grenades for that launcher on his left arm. The most interesting item, though, is the piano wire that is sculpted onto the figure's right arm. This is a minor detail and one that many collectors simply overlooked or misinterpreted over the years. However, it is a ruthless reminder of the villain this figure is meant to portray. It also shows just how terrible the original designers wanted this character to be. There was no grey area as to his motives. This was a person of pure evil and the type of villain that would be difficult to integrate into a children's toy line today.

Take this figure, paint him brown and remove the mask and you have a reasonable portrayal of a Nazi. It is likely this was the intention of the designers. The Nazis are the one group whose symbolism marks evil and through the '80's, this was a common representation of evil in many mainstream properties. While Cobra couldn't be Nazis, the early visualization of the Cobra organization was very Nazi-esque. Many troopers were drawn in the early comics with buzzed blonde hair. The Cobra salute was eerily similar to the Nazi salute. The Cobra parade ranks that were shown in the first comic issue conjure up images of Nazi rallies. All of this was done to adequately portray Cobra as evil. It made the Joes that much greater heroes to be battling a terror that was reminiscent of the worst evil the world has ever known. As the line evolved, this imagery was downplayed and slowly went away as Cobra became more diverse in terms of colors, uniforms and characters. However, those early images were what defined Cobra to me. The fanatics who stayed aboard the doomed submarine in issue #8 of the comic showed the type of devotion that a mixture of heavy propaganda, outright brainwashing and intense fear of failure. I viewed Cobra Commander as a charismatic leader who could command this type of loyalty. As Cobra grew, this became harder to maintain in the comics. But, to me, it is the lasting image of Cobra and the basis for how I see the entity today.

In my collection, the Cobra Trooper is the basic backbone of the Cobra army. To me, these guys are simply the "relaxed" uniform for Vipers and I view the Troopers and Vipers as interchangeable. Recently, I've been on a heavy kick for Joe figures made prior to 1986 and, as such, this Cobra Trooper has become more central to my collection. Mostly, though, I still use the 2004 version of the Trooper as my basic grunt. But, that's mainly because I have three dozen of them and they aren't as brittle as this figure is. However, as I set permanent displays, I find that the original Cobra Trooper is my preferred version. The added detail on the arms simply makes this figure stand out and places him above his subsequent incarnations. One of the things I now lament is not buying many more of these figures when they cost about $12 each back in the late '90's. Instead, I was spending my money on newer army builders. While those new figures have seen price gains equal to the Cobra Trooper, I find that I don't have as much need for 6 Desert Scorpions as I would for 2 additional troopers. Oh, well.

This mold has a long and distinguished history. So much so, that it is likely that Hasbro actually had more than 1 Cobra Trooper mold in their possession. The straight arm figure was released in the US. But, from there, that mold went to Argentina and then on to Brazil. While those figures were in production, the swivel arm Cobra Trooper was being released in the US (the Trooper was the rare 3 year release as he was produced through 1985, though in lower quantities in the final year) and Europe. In 1989, Hasbro dusted off the swivel mold again and released it in the US as a member of Python Patrol. (It should be noted, though, that this figure was actually named Python Officer.) That mold then surfaced again in Brazil around 1993 when the Python colored Trooper mold was released as Vibora. After that, the arms were never seen again. In 2004, Hasbro actually recast the torso for this figure and released it in the TRU exclusive set. Later in '04, though, the original head and torso were used for the Comic Pack Trooper. This mold was used again for the Night Watch Trooper in 2005. Following this mold around, it seems likely that the entire original swivel mold was lost in Brazil in the early '90's. Hasbro wanted to get the figure out to collectors, though, so they remade it. However, after that, they found at least part of the original mold...likely just the head and torso. This allowed them to reuse those pieces, only now combined with other arms and legs as the original legs were either lost, misplaced or simply deemed insufficient. There is no trace of the original swivel arms which is why I suspect they were lost in Brazil.

At this point, though, I don't think there is much reason for a return of this mold. While I would, personally, like to see a Cobra Trooper painted in grey to match the Stinger Driver or in crimson, I don't think that these are figures whose absence I would lament too greatly. The 2004 Infantry Team put a lot of high quality Cobra Troopers into the market and that was only augmented by the comic pack Trooper (many of which were clearanced for $5 each....) and the Night Watch (which lingered at retail for nearly a year...). There are always collectors who missed out on these figures and I'm sure that many of them would like to see the Trooper return. However, as ARAH releases are sporadic at best these day, each mold that is released takes on greater importance. As such, I don't want to waste a valued mold slot to just get a repainted trooper. There are many other figures I'd rather see done first.

Back in 2001 through 2003, a mint, complete Cobra Trooper was going to run you a minimum of $25. Incomplete and off condition figures would still go as high as $20. After Hasbro released the Cobra Infantry Team in 2004, though, secondary market prices on the Cobra Trooper fell to around the $15 mark. Today, that is about the price you'll pay, though, occasionally, you'll still see one crack the $25 barrier (usually, a perfect mint figure that is complete with filecard will reach this price). At the cheaper price, though, these guys are a no-brainer. Given the choice of two 2004 Troopers or one vintage Trooper for the same price, I'll take the vintage every day. This is a figure that simply must be army built. Of course, every other collector knows this, too. But, as Hasbro has offered many retail alternatives in recent years, many collectors are out of the market for the vintage figures. This keeps prices below where they should be for a figure of this rarity and quality. I just hope they stay that way for a while.

Armadilha (Brazilian Exclusive Alley Viper Commander)

I've long had a soft spot for Brazilian figures. They simply offer so much to a collection. Due to the overall exotic allure of the figures, even mundane, poorly colored molds can take on new collecting importance. Such is the case with Armadilha. On the surface, this figure is a barely repainted 1993 Beach Head figure. But, this Brazilian release features just enough superficial differences for him to be a major player in my collection. Of course, the most important difference is that Armadilha is a Cobra. He is a Cobra that is unique to Brazil and he has no American counterpart. Frankly, there are a lot of Brazilian figures who were released as Cobras in South America even though they were Joes in the US. Of them, though, only Armadilha has really gained widespread notoriety.

Many collectors simply regard Armadilha as an Alley Viper commander. This likely came from the fact that Armadilha was released in the same wave as an Alley Viper (Mortifero) in Brazil and that Armadilha includes yellow versions of the Alley Viper's accessories. There is no indication on the figure's filecard, though, that he is associated with the Alley Vipers in any way. However, many modern collectors have simply accepted Armadilha in this role. As the Alley Vipers lacked a true commander, the ascension of Armadilha is a logical step in filling this void in the Cobra hierarchy. In the few instances where you will see Armadilha appear, it is almost always in this capacity as leader of the Alley Viper forces.

In my collection, Armadilha is still evolving. Years ago, I concocted my own leader of Cobra's urban forces when I acquired Relampago. I like Relampago in that role and am not willing to move him aside for Armadilha. I've always viewed this mold as more of a maritime character than anything. As such, I could see Armadilha becoming the leader of the Lampreys. Unfortunately, in that capacity, Armadilha's use would be limited. While the Lamprey is one of my favorite molds, it is tough to use in my desert environment. He could also become the land commander uniform for the leader of the Eels. In this role, though, his use would even more limited as it is rare when I use my Eels outside of water settings. And, it wouldn't make much sense for Armadilha to change out of his diving suit while those in him command did not.

However, as I spend more time looking at the figure, I do find myself linking him in with the 1997 Alley Vipers. Those figures are my favorite coloring of the Alley Viper character and are somewhat elite since they can be tough to track down. So, I could see Armadilha evolving into a lesser Cobra commander who's sole charge is an elite group of Alley Vipers. They would be the highly specialized division of the Alley Vipers, the guys called into an area first, or after it has gone so bad that standard troops no longer are sufficient. This would allow me to keep Armadilha as more of a combatant. I have enough politicians in my Cobra ranks and, every now and then, it's nice to find a Cobra character who is on par with the Joes. Cobra wouldn't be all troopers and leaders afraid to risk their necks in combat. They would have to have combat commanders. Ultimately, I think that is the role that will occupy Armadilha's time.

Quality-wise, Armadilha is right in line with his Brazilian contemporaries. His paint masking is not as tight as those on the American version of the mold, but it is still better than you would find from Funskool. (The last few waves of the Brazilian Joe line show signs of the paint masking quality slipping as the you will find slight over spray and inconsistent application of the paint on most samples of the figures.) The plastic is close to American figure quality, but is still a bit more brittle. It is much easier to break this figure's thumbs by simply using his accessories than it is to break those of an American figure. But, Armadilha isn't so fragile to render him useless. Like all Estrela figures, you simply have to handle this figure with a bit more care.

You can see a photo below that compares Armadilha to the American Beach Head figure. Armadilha has brighter green pants and the blue on his arms is slightly richer than Beach Head's. The true difference lies in the figure's under coloring on the chest and face. Beach Head is a much brighter green. Armadilha is quite dark and that more subtle base makes quite a difference in the appearance of the two figures. With the dark coat on his upper body, Armadilha's brighter green pants are actually a nicer offset than the more subdued green on Beach Head. That gives Armadilha some nice depth and allows him to be a figure that is more recognizable in photos and dioramas. The rest of the figure has the same black trappings as Beach Head and Armadilha does not feature any painted details that are not present on his American counterpart. (All Brazilian figures from Armadilha's era simply use the American paint masks, though the colors may be slightly different.)

Armadilha's accessories leave a lot to be desired. While he does include versions of the Alley Viper gun and shield, they are colored bright yellow. He also includes the standard spring loaded missile launcher and yellow missiles. This entire series of figures from Brazil basically mimicked their American counterparts in terms of accessory colors. So, Armadilha has yellow accessories to match Beach Head, Anjo De Guarda has blue accessories to match Keel-Haul, etc., etc. It's an unfortunate trend but one that is easily rectified. A simple swap of Armadilha's yellow accessories for the fairly easy to find black versions from American Alley Vipers simply makes all the difference in the world. (Much like the '93 Beachhead with the black backpack from the original and the black gun that was released in 2002 is an entirely different look than the same base figure with yellow accessories.) As such, a figure sans accessories isn't one to pass by should the price be right.

Loosely translated, Armadilha means "trap" in English. Now, a code name like "Trap" is fairly unimaginative and lame. But, in Portuguese, the name takes on a different dimension. Knowing the meaning behind Armadilha's name gives the character more depth. The commander of an elite unit of Cobras who is known as "Trap" connotes the type of missions that Armadilha and his men would undertake. It brings a bit of mystery and intrigue to a character who, were he named in English, would be somewhat forgettable. That's why I try to incorporate foreign names whenever possible. Many of these characters would blend into the background without a great name. And, their foreign moniker often provides the distinction that I crave in my collection ranks.

Armadilha marks the last appearance of this mold. It is probable that the mold died in Brazil and will never be available again. In a way, that's too bad as the mold is very high quality and someone with a vested interest in new figure design could easily turn this mold into something special with just a few new colors. Alas, that will likely never happen. In the meantime, though, the idea of the Armadilha character could easily be resurrected into a newly amalgamated figure. Armadilha has enough fame that he wouldn't be just a random homage to foreign figures and enough collectors know of him to make a new figure appealing enough to consider. I doubt it will happen any time in the next few years, but it is a possibility that, were it to come to fruition, I would like to see.

Armadilha is the hardest figure of his wave to find. Time was that all 8 of the figures from this wave and one immediately preceding it were equally easy to find. In time, though, collectors slowly absorbed the Armadilha and Mortifero figures. After that, Tiro Certo started to disappear. Now, Armadilha is rarely seen for sale with his contemporaries. But, when he is, the figure isn't pricey. Even MOC, Armadilha is still available in the $20-$25 range from American sellers. There were a lot of the later series of Brazilian Joes who were imported to the U.S. As such, there is stock out there that can be had. For my money, that's a fair price to pay for an exclusive Cobra character from Brazil. In fact, it's about the cheapest price you'll pay for an exclusive Cobra character from Brazil! But, Armadilha's similarity to the American Beach Head figure definitely keeps interest in the figure lower than it otherwise would be. The reality is that you can buy a MOC version of an exclusive Brazilian Cobra character for less than the going rate of several of the shorter run 25th Anniversary Joe figures that will still be shipping for months. But, that gives the savvy collector a great opportunity to add this figure to their collection without breaking their budget.

2000 Funskool General Flagg

It's hard to remember now, but there was a time when Funskool figures could only be purchased by importing them from Asian toy dealers directly. As such, the figures tended to be expensive and were tough for many people to find. In late 2000, I found a website that was selling many Funskool offerings for decent prices. I ponied up the international shipping and waited for nearly a month before a package arrived at my home. Inside were many of the most popular Funskool figures of the day. But also included was a new figure. One that hadn't been publicly shown prior to that time and the one figure of the bunch to whom I most looking forward: General Flagg. Of course, this was all made moot in Feb of 2001 when American toy dealers began importing massive quantities of Funskool figures to the US and offered them for about 1/3 of the price I paid. It wasn't fun to see the same figures that cost me $80 now available for $28, but I quickly got over it and started taking advantage of the cheaper prices and domestic shipping.

General Flagg is one of the better done Funskool exclusives. He features only a smattering of unflattering colors and his accessories are the same as the American figure. He is obviously based on the design for the V1 American figure, but with just enough color change to produce a drastically different take on the General Flagg mold. The copper jacket is a color that's not often seen in the Joe line and it makes this figure visually distinctive. The green pants are a bit bright, but they are not to the point of being neon and they blend nicely with the copper from the torso. The black and yellow highlights give the figure some depth and showcase some of the detailing that the mold offers. There is a red holster on the figure's waist that is a bit out of place, but it is small and relatively unobtrusive. As an overall figure, the copper allows this General Flagg to stand out a bit more in a group of Joes. The American figures are also well done, but they can blend into the background when showcased with more prominent characters. As such, I like the copper and lighter green as they give this figure more prominence and allow him to hold attention in a group shot that is befitting a general.

This version of General Flagg includes the same accessories as the American version. For me, the only accessories that matter are the hat and gun. The Funskool hat, though, can be problematic. It is made of a more rigid plastic than the American hat and is harder to afix to Flagg's head. It can be done. And, when done right, it does stay. But, when the hat fell off one of my Flaggs, I gave up rather than spend an hour trying to get it securely back on the figure's head. Flagg also includes a missile launcher that is powered by a rubber band. The Funksool version is brighter green, but still equally useless as the American design. It is a reminder of times when action figures first needed gimmicks to succeed at American retail. If you get the rubber band that powers the mechanism into place, though, the launcher does work adequately enough. For a child, it probably has some play value. For a collector, though, it is an inconvenient annoyance that has to be stored away in order to keep a complete figure.

Quality-wise, my General Flagg figures are in the top tier of Funskool figure quality. However, part of that is when I first bought the figures. My original Flagg was manufactured in 2000: before Funskool started getting sloppy with the figure quality. As such, that original figure is on par with American releases in terms of paint applications, construction and plastic quality. My later General Flagg was from very late in the Funskool production life. As such, it is also of high quality. I do not own a Flagg made during the time when Funskool let their quality lapse. But, in seeing complaints about Funskool figure quality, I rarely saw General Flagg as an example of poor workmanship. Funskool quality seemed to vary by figure and date. Some figures simply were better than others. (I have yet to see a Funskool jet-pack General Hawk that didn't have poor paint applications.) General Flagg seems to have been one of the lucky molds that produced higher quality output. So, that's something to keep in mind if figure quality has been a reason you were avoiding buying more Funskool product.

The General Flagg mold was one of the first figures I purchased back in late 1992. I wanted the character of General Flagg...even if this figure is, technically, only related to the original character from the classic comics. Plus, he had a really cool gun. When I got the figure home, I found that it was a perfect rendition for my own custom Joe commander: Col. Deadeye. You see, I had long since retired Hawk and now used a new leader in his place. My backstory was that Col. Deadeye and Hawk were the 2 finalists to lead the new top-secret military team. But, the higher ups simply couldn't decide between the two. While Hawk was more decorated and a better political choice, Deadeye had better international connections and was well respected by world military leaders. Each candidate would have been a great leader of the Joes and it was nearly impossible to distinguish between the two's credentials.

In the end, General Austin and the original General Flagg put together 2 distinct military units: one what would respond to domestic threats and one that would work internationally. However, Cobra intervened. When Cobra kidnapped Dr. Burkhardt on American soil, the mission fell under the jurisdiction of General Hawk. But, since Cobra took her off American soil, they had a decision to make. In the end. Joe ended up remaining the primary domestic response unit, but was also solely responsible for fighting Cobra...wherever Cobra may be. In time, that lead to the larger roster and budget for the Joe team. Meanwhile Deadeye's Brigade continued to operate around the world. They worked top secret missions in Argentina, Brazil, Germany, the U.S.S.R., China, Vietnam and the rest of Southeast Asia. Their missions were more highly classified than the many that were undertaken by Joes and many of the members of Deadeye's Brigade found their way there since they were "dead" to the rest of the military and the rest of the world.

This all came crashing down in late 1986. Deadeye's Brigade was running a training exercise in the Rocky Mountains. Unbeknownst to them, Cobra had intercepted top secret government communications telling them that an elite covert unit was going to be training in the Rockies. Thinking it was the Joes, Cobra laid an ambush. Deadeye's Brigade was trapped at the bottom of a small cannon while Cobra basically tore them to pieces. Less than a quarter of the members of the Brigade survived...Deadeye being among them. At that point, Deadeye's Brigade was disbanded. The surviving members worked alongside the Joes from time to time, but were more often called upon to consult with international military forces in super secret missions. When General Hawk retired from the military in late 1995, Col. Deadeye was the only choice to replace him. Since then, Deadeye has overseen the Joe team (though, when he took command, there were less than 2 dozen remaining members) and is now the full commander of the fully restored Joe squad.

As a character, Deadeye is more secretive and mysterious than Hawk. It is hard for his new subordinates to get close to him. Some, like Flint have succeeded. Others, like Falcon try hard but are simply unable to break Deadeye's tough exterior. Deadeye himself is no longer prone to action. He works his top commanders with great precision and is rarely called into combat. (One of the reasons the younger Joes have trouble bonding with Deadeye is because he only trusts fully those along whom he has fought. Being out of combat, it is hard for the new recruits to get that type of experience with him.) He is, though, an astounding military tactician and is remarkably well connected around the world. (Aside from being one of the best friends of the British Witch, Deadeye is also close to Manleh, Dragonsky, was close to Col. Brekhov and counts many diplomats and politicians as friends. Those who have been fortunate enough to have been invited into Deadeye's private office for a drink usually notice that the bottle of vodka Deadeye serves is from a private distiller bearing the seal of the president of Russia....) Deadeye is an astute tactician who is able to match the moves of the modern Cobras who are lead by Ramen. This figure is, as you can see, one of the integral pieces to my collection and represents one of the major forces behind my Joe collecting.

The General Flagg mold has a short, but somewhat significant history. After it was used twice in the US for the 1992 and 1993 General Flagg figures, parts of the mold were then used by Hasbro to create the exclusive and collector favorite Chinese Major Bludd figure. This Funskool version of General Flagg appeared sometime around 2000 in India and was produced there for many years. Now, it is likely that the mold is back in Hasbro's hands and could be used for future projects. As the mold is high quality and not one that most collectors find great use for in their collections, I would like to see it return either as an amalgamation or just a new take on Flagg. If that doesn't happen, though, I've got three great versions of this mold available as the character, so I can't complain too much.

Like pretty much every Funskool figure, General Flagg features some variants. The most noticeable is that his gun and missile are available in either bright orange or black. It seems the gun was originally black, went to orange for a while and then went back to black. The missile is the same. You can find any combo of orange and black accessories if you look around hard enough. The figure itself has a very obscure variant where a few of the Flaggs that came bagged as vehicle drivers have reversed paint applications on the crotch piece. More subtly, though, Flaggs produced at different times have slightly different shades of the same colors. While you can't really notice it on any one figure, if you put Flaggs from different production runs next to each other, you will see slight differences in the green pants, copper coat and his eyes and eyebrows.  Whether these are truly variants is up to the individual collector. But, it is something to keep an eye out for.

These days, most of the online Joe dealers who sell Funskool are sold out of General Flagg. But, this doesn't mean that he's terribly hard to find or all that expensive. MOC, you can still buy them for around $5 before shipping. As this mold of General Flagg isn't all that popular, I don't see this figure increasing all that much in price. I still find this figure the best version of General Flagg and a distinctive way to use the character. But, I don't think a large portion of collectordom is going to join me in that opinion. So, that will likely leave this figure as one that can be used for unique purposes in each collection. These days, there really aren't enough figures like that. Today, I struggle to relive the excitement I had when I first added this figure to my collection. That lack of flair keeps this figure below the radar in the collecting world, but allows for a figure that, with a little work, can become a unique addition to any collection.

Ninja-Ku (Argentine Exclusive Black Ninja)

Foreign Joes are a mixed bunch in terms of their design. Some are great. Others are different, but not, necessarily better than the figures from whom they were created. Others are pretty much the same as their American counterparts. And, some are just terrible. Each country that produced exclusive Joes has some of their native designs firmly in each category. In the case of Argentina's Ninja-Ku, the figure is simply great. It is a figure that is an incredibly unique repaint of one of the most significant molds in the history of the Joe line. The fact that this design appeared in Argentina but not in the US is one of the great oversights in the original line and makes this figure a must have in the modern collection.

The Ninja-Ku figure is a straight repaint of the V1 Storm Shadow mold. It is cast in dark black plastic and features minimal gold details. Really, the figure is just two colors. But, for a masked assassin, those colors are all that are needed to create a figure that instantly recognizable. The most distinguishing feature, though, is that the figure is black. Ninja-Ku's skin color that shows beneath his mask is purposely dark and that little detail only enhances the mystery of the character. Aside from that, there's not much to the figure. He only features 3 paint masks and would be kind of boring were perfect mesh of black and gold not such a perfect fit for the character's intended specialty.

How does Ninja-Ku fit into a collection? As such a distinct figure, he is certainly a necessity and a figure who will stand out in a display. However, is he an army builder? A unique character? An enemy of Stormshadow? An ally? The figure's filecard is fairly clear that Ninja-Ku is an individual and is allied with Cobra. He is a stealthy assassin who can "hide in shadows". It's a fairly simplistic character but one that works given the context of the figure's design. The biggest mystery, though, is the figure's skin color. The card art shows what appears to be a Caucasian behind the mask. But, the figure is obviously the first black villain released in the Joe line anywhere in the world. The fact that the character is known as Cobra Black on the card also implies that the character is supposed to be black. So, that adds just another level of desirability to this character.

Ninja-Ku's accessories are the same as the American Storm Shadow...kind of. Argentine figures are notorious for accessory variations and Ninja-Ku is no exception. Some versions have gold swords. Some have nunchuks. Some have golden backpacks, others have black. It's possible to make a case that a Ninja-Ku figure is complete with a wide combo of accessories and accessory colors. (Satan is the same way.) But, the figure should have some accessories. Mine includes 2 small golden swords and gold nunchuks. He has a black pack, but as the figure was opened, I can't be sure that the black pack was an included accessory or something that was added in later by the original owner. (Though it is apparent that the black pack is from Argentina...) It is up to the individual collector to determine the completeness desired for a Ninja-Ku figure. Personally, I wouldn't settle for anything less than 2 swords and nunchuks (as those weapons are referred to on the figure's filecard), but I'm sure there are carded Ninja-Kus out there with less in the way of included accessories.

There were three distinct colors of the Storm Shadow mold released in Argentina: red, black and white. However, in 2002 and 2003, a large number of well done fake blue Storm Shadows appeared on the market. These are customs and nothing more. They were well done, though, and many collectors were fooled into thinking they were something more than simple hand repaints done by an enterprising Argentine con artist. From time to time, you will still see blue ninjas in various people's collections. These are the fakes and should not be confused as legitimate pieces. You can still find the blue ninjas from time to time and some collectors do buy them as they are interesting display pieces. But, they should only be purchased and priced as a custom and not as a "rare" foreign exclusive.

In my collection, ninjas have never been much in the way of major players. Even Storm Shadow has found his role heavily reduced from typical Joe canon. Ninja-Ku is likely to suffer the same fate. As a lone assassin, the figure is cool and can have its uses. But, the need for such a specialized role is very small and a figure like this will likely see little use for that reason. As a display piece, though, Ninja-Ku is great. He perfectly blends with a pre '86 Cobra display and works perfectly as another member of the early Cobra hierarchy. Even though the Hasbro produced Black Dragon Ninjas aren't up to Ninja Ku's quality, they make perfect soldiers for Ninja-Ku's command. (An army of Black Dragon Ninjas behind Ninja-Ku and an army of Red Ninja Vipers behind Satan would be a nice way to display a ninja army.) As such, it is in that way that Ninja-Ku sees use today. The figure is somewhat brittle and is relatively expensive to replace. So, I don't really want to take him out in the rocks and water for fear of breaking or damaging the figure. In a display, though, I can enjoy the look of the figure and the way he blends with other, early Cobras without the concern for the figure's condition.

This mold was quite the world traveler. After it was used in the US, it was sent on to Argentina. There, it was released as Satan, Ninja-Ku and Cobra de Hielo. After those figures, the mold was sent on to Brazil where the mold was released in colors very similar to Cobra de Hielo. After that, the mold was returned to Hasbro where it was used in the early '90's as the Ninja Viper mail away figure. The mold was showcased in the 1997 15th Anniversary 3 packs but was not used after that until 2004. In 2004, Hasbro at least tried to pay homage to these Argentine exclusives by releasing the Red Ninja Viper and the Black Dragon Ninja. These figures were red and black paint jobs of Stormshadow. But, they both are far inferior to the Argentine originals. Ninja Ku simply blows the Black Dragon Ninja away and anyone who thinks the figures are similar enough to forego the more expensive foreign figure is shortchanging his collection by overlooking the superior figure from South America. At this point, the mold could still be used to resurrect the characters of Ninja-Ku or Satan. But, if the original Storm Shadow mold is to return, I would only want to see it in new colors (like Cobra blue!) and with all the original accessories. Anything less than that would be a cheap letdown.

In the late '90's, South American Joes were hard to come by. When one of the first carded Ninja Kus appeared on Ebay, it sold for over $400. To put this into perspective, back then most high quality, MOC 1982 straight armed figures could be purchased for well under $100 each. So, for the price of the Ninja-Ku, you could have bought a MOC V1 Snake Eyes, MOC V1 Scarlett, MOC V1 Cobra Trooper and still had enough left over to buy a complete set of loose, mint, complete with filecard Night Force figures. When put into those terms, the price for this figure was...well...nuts. But, at the time, there was no way to know that just a few years later there would be a large warehouse find in Argentina and cases upon cases of figures that included Ninja Ku would become available to the entire collecting community. But, it serves as a lesson for modern collectors who are now faced with some tough choices in regards to expensive aftermarket figures. Would you regret paying $200 for a figure if, three years later, it was available for $40? For most people, the answer is no. But, the hard realities of a fickle toy market make scenarios like that probable. So, it has to be something that the modern collector considers. I know I pay what I feel a figure is worth to me. I don't have a Cobra De Aco because a common straight arm figure like that is not worth $100 to me. But, a Mickey Mouse Cobra Commander was worth $90 to me several years ago and I don't regret paying that even now that the price for a that figure has been halved.

There is a great fallacy in the Joe world in regards to this figure and his companion Satan. Many collectors think these figures are "rare". Truth is, they are not. What they are is popular. You see, Ninja Ku, Satan and Cobra De Hielo all shipped in the same case as Sokerk, Sparta and Destro. Those three figures are easy to find and were available for about $10 each MOC for many years. The difference was that the three ninjas were substantially more popular than the others from the same case and thus sold out first and for higher prices. Back in late 2000, you could easily get Satan and Ninja Ku carded for about $25. By the end of 2001, that price was $45 or so. Now, Satans routinely sell for $100 for a MOC specimen and around $70 for a loose, mint and complete figure. Ninja Ku figures typically sell around $70 for a MOC and around $40 for a mint, loose, complete figure. Those prices are high, but they are indicative of the figures' popularity. Hasbro has tried but failed to capture the essence of Satan and Ninja Ku and that has kept collector interest in the Argentine originals very high. Long term, this isn't going to change. These are figures that will always be among the highly desired foreign exclusives. The prices, though, have likely peaked and the only future growth will be mostly inflationary. So, if you missed out on these figures back when they were cheap and plentiful you can still buy one today. You're going to pay more, but at least you're not going to have to worry that these figures will disappear forever like some of the other Argentine figures.