1986 Zandar - Around The Web

Zandar is a product of his time.  He was a figure who was designed to be some sort of underground rocker.  The fact that he was designed by well positioned toy designers helps define why he's just so out of place.  The figure hasn't aged all that well.  But, at the same time, has some interesting value just because he is so odd.  As this figure is a hold over from my childhood, I'm more forgiving of his design than if he were a 1993 release.  There's some good Zandar content out there, much of it with him and either the Dreadnoks or siblings.  So, enjoy!

1986 Zandar Profile

Busted Diorama

Zandar by thedustinmccoy

Zandar by cobra_florence

Zandar by strikeforce_codename

Zandar by ronnie_trickshot

Zandar by thedustinmccoy

Zandar by evilface

Zandar by yojoe_collectibles

Zandar by thedustinmccoy

Zandar by nostalkid

Zandar by Sintechness

Zandar by thedustinmccoy

1983 Zap - Random Photos of the Day

The 1983 Zap is a fun figure.  His brighter green helps him stand out among the original 13 Joes.  And, his antiquated weapon actually works in the context of the Joe team.  He wasn't a figure that I really had when I was a kid.  Both his thumbs broke on a straight arm version within hours of his opening.  But, I've kept this figure intact for two decades and still enjoy him more than most of the early Joe figures.

Sadly, the brittleness of Zap has lead to his extreme expense in modern times.  Before he was a $100+ figure, I had a lot of fun getting him out for photo shoots.  These days, though, I'm more careful as a simple slip would cost me way more than this figure is worth to replace.  So, the 1997 Zap has become the proxy for this original figure.  But, here's some pics of him back when the figure was still a reasonable acquisition.

1989 Snake Eyes - Around The Web

The greatest sin of the 1989 Snake Eyes is that he's not the 1985 Snake Eyes.  That doesn't mean, though, that this is a bad figure.  Far from it.  For younger collectors, this is often their vision of Snake Eyes.  And, I'll argue that this version best meshes Snake Eyes' Commando and Ninja personalities into one design.  My personal story on this figure is detailed in the first link.  It explains why this figure is difficult for me to really adopt as an iconic Snake Eyes.  There's tons of great content on this guy out there, though.  So, enjoy!

1989 Snake Eyes Profile

1989 Snake Eyes by thedustinmccoy

1989 Snake Eyes by tituslester32

1989 Snake Eyes by Slipstream80

1989 Snake Eyes by Hit and Run

1989 Snake Eyes by jogunwarrior

1989 Snake Eyes by ironman3719

1989 Snake Eyes by _toyler_

1989 Snake Eyes by formbx257

1989 Snake Eyes by HCC788

1989 Snake Eyes by _toyler_

1989 Snake Eyes by yojoe_collectibles

1989 Snake Eyes by _toyler_

Rarities - Funskool Calcium Sandoz Croc Master

In my profile of the Funskool Croc Master figure, I mentioned a Calcium Sandoz repaint of him done in dark colors.  Well, here it is.  The figure is actually a very dark green with black pants and golden eyes.  The overall ensemble is an amazing look for Croc Master and would have been one of the more sought after repaints had it been a standard carded Funskool release.

Sadly, this figure only exists in the Calcium Sandoz construction.  So, he has those odd, blocky, straight arms.  They ruin what would otherwise be an amazing figure.  The color palette, though, almost makes up for it.  I love the golden eyes as they brighten the figure's face and help offset the dark undertones.  In general, this look is in line with Croc Master's character.  But, it also brings something more sinister to the table.

It appears this Croc Master doesn't include the whip.  But, he does have the crocodile.  Were these figures attainable, it would be worth it to swap the arms for some bare arms from another figure to make a really solid Croc Master repaint.  But, at several hundred dollars these days, that's not really a viable outlet for a different take on Cobra's Reptile Trainer.

1991 Heavy Duty Around The Web

Heavy Duty was not originally meant as a Roadblock replacement.  But, because he was used as such in the 2000's, many collectors wrote off his figures.  His original release in 1991, though, should not be disregarded.  It's one of those figures that's of excellent quality, but understated and not the star of his release year.  His gun rig is ridiculous.  But, that's what makes the entire figure fun.  But, giving him different gear also shows that the mold can be useful.  Here's the best of the 1991 Heavy Duty from around the web.

Heavy Duty Profile

Heavy Duty by thedustinmccoy

Heavy Duty by strikeforce_codename

Heavy Duty by playfulmonkeycosplay

1991 Heavy Duty by thedustinmcccoy

1991 Heavy Duty by elevatemetoahigherhuma

1991 Heavy Duty by joes_by_james

1991 Heavy Duty by thedustinmccoy

1991 Heavy Duty by 1action_figure1

1991 Heavy Duty by thedustonmccoy

1991 Heavy Duty by elevatemetoahighterhumanform

1991 Heavy Duty by myplasticshots

1991 Heavy Duty by gijoebarcelona

1991 Heavy Duty by thedustinmccoy

1991 Heavy Duty be elevatemetoahigherhumanform