1988 Secto Viper

Back in 1988, I was pretty much out of Joes. I bought a couple of figures that year, but was pretty much done by the time summer rolled around. However, my youngest brother still liked Joe toys and picked up a couple of smaller vehicles and such throughout the year. I was also still avidly reading the comic. From these two sources I became familiar with a bizarre new Cobra vehicle called the BUGG. This thing is an interesting array of bubble shaped pods colored in odd shades of green and yellow. It was meant to be a tracked submarine whose primary use would be to defend the coast of the newly created Cobra Island. While this thing is very, very odd to look at, it has become a fan favorite vehicle and is about the only unrealistic, neon vehicle that has any real fan support. Alas, while I've always wanted a BUGG, I have yet to own one. However, while the vehicle eludes me, I have managed to acquire the very cool driver of this weapon: the Secto Viper.

The Secto Viper is the only Cobra deep sea diver type figure ever released. While I've used the Toxo Viper as a deep sea diver to battle Deep Six, Hasbro never really released any sort of Cobra diver who wasn't your basic frogman. While I know that this isn't a specialty that is high on most collector's wish lists, it is a gap. It is filled nicely, though, by the Secto Viper. As you can see from the photos below, the level of detail on this figure is amazing. The large, bulky torso is supported by the presence of air hoses that terminate around the head and can be explained as built in recycling gear. With his helmet in place, this figure is very identifiable as a diver. However, Hasbro wasn't just content to have a bare, nondescript head inside the clear dome. The went the extra step to actually sculpt a unique head for the figure that is complete with small detailing on the mouthpiece that just makes this guy that much more believable. As with other divers, as well, this guys neon yellow color scheme can be forgiven as he would mainly be used under tropical waters off of Cobra Island.

When I first saw the Secto Viper upon my return to collecting, I was surprised that the mold had not been reincarnated as a Star Brigade figure. The bubble helmet and bulky sculpt would have been fantastic as a new Cobranaut. Alas, it didn't happen and the underwater specialty remains the only version of this mold that was released. Of course, just because he wasn't released as an astronaut doesn't mean that he can't be used as one. In fact, during my Star Brigade crazy days when I amassed any astronaut-like figure I could find, I picked up extra Secto Vipers with that intended use in mind. Before I was ever able to get the Defiant, though, my interest in the space themed Joes diminished and I returned the Secto Viper to his original specialty. Still, though, if you are inclined to the space themed elements of Joedom, this figure is an excellent addition to your astro ranks. For me, though, he remains a Cobra deep sea diver. However, in recent weeks I've started making the Lamprey figure into less of a vehicle driver and more of a Cobra maritime infantry trooper. (It allows me to use Lampreys more often!) As such, I've been looking for new Moray drivers. As my deep sea adventures are now limited (no pool!) the Secto Viper had really not seen much use. As such, I'm thinking that my Secto Vipers will now become the definitive Cobra aquatic vehicle operator. I've said before that I like uniformity in my Cobra vehicle driver ranks. Making the Secto Viper a standard operator allows me to use him more while freeing up my Lampreys for more robust duties.

One of the main reasons why I wanted profile the Secto Viper is because he was only available as a vehicle driver. In the vintage Joe run, almost every vehicle came with a unique figure who was only (at least originally) available with that vehicle. As a kid, I bought several vehicles that were less than stellar because I wanted the cool figure that was included with the larger piece. The vehicle drivers as a whole tended to have very cool sculpts and often took chances that would later be incorporated into the rest of the line. With the new sculpt Joes finally on the shelves and the prospect of a large scale Joe revival now more reality than fantasy, old lessons like this are best remembered. I've passed on almost all of the vehicles that have been released in this new sculpt wave. Why? The vehicles themselves are kind of interesting, but the figures included with them are just uninspired repaints of figures that are currently sitting on the shelves. If, instead, the vehicle drivers were uniquely sculpted characters that showcased some real creativity or talent, then I would be much more inclined to buy the vehicle with whom the figure was packed. Hopefully, as the line matures, the days of the unique vehicle driver will return and we will be treated to awesome new sculpts rather than lame repaints.

Secto Vipers aren't too hard to find. For being included with a higher price point vehicle and never being offered via mail in, they are surprisingly available. However, if you want one mint and complete, though, the search gets a lot tougher. The Secto Viper helmet is a frustrating piece to track down. His unique little gun is even more so. As such, if you can find a mint, complete Secto Viper, he will cost you more than just about any other figure from his year. Still, though, that price won't be outrageous, it will just be high enough to preclude you building any Secto Viper armies. In all, though, I've found this figure worth his price. He is very cool, even if his specialty is less than stellar. I've always felt a BUGG fully equipped with a contingent of Secto Vipers would be very cool. I don't think I'm alone in thinking this. As such, there will be many collectors out there who either have multiple Secto Vipers or want them. Should the opportunity to add this figure to your collection arise, I would take advantage of it. He is a great addition to any Cobra army as has proven even more versatile that I had first anticipated.

I'm always interested in additional Secto Vipers. I also need a couple of their helmets and guns. If you have any of these available, email me.

1993 Sub Zero - Arctic Commandos Mail Away Exclusive

1993 was the year of the mail in. By 1993, Hasbro had lost its focus with the Joe line. They released nearly 100 figures to the market that year and none of them had any real direction. With the line's demise a possibility, Hasbro turned to mail in premiums to help move old stock that was clogging the retail shelves and diminishing retailer's confidence in the line's selling potential. 1994 was on the horizon and that was G.I. Joe's (as a concept, not just ARAH) 30th anniversary. Hasbro wanted the brand to be front and center for this milestone but was hampered on the 3 3/4 end by the surplus of product that stores just couldn't liquidate. To help facilitate retail sales, Hasbro offered nearly a dozen new mail in exclusive figures that required the flag points from the shelf warming product. However, day glow neon color schemes and poor character choices limited the mail in figures' appeal and the demand simply was not realized. (This was not the case, though, in 1994 when they offered Joseph Colton as a mail in exclusive.) As such, the retail product sat on the shelves well into 1995 and the mail in figures ended up being liquidated at insanely cheap prices so that huge quantities ended up in the hands of dealers. (Many of whom still have large stocks of these figures today.) Lost in the disaster that was 1993, though, are a handful of excellent figures. Among them are a few mail ins that I've already profiled. Of the mail in sets, perhaps the most ubiquitous and well know is the Arctic Commandos. While most pine away for some of the Snow Serpent figures from that set, it is one of the Joes who will be my subject today: Sub Zero.

Sub Zero was originally released in 1990. Like most 1990 Joes, he has a good sculpt and awesome accessories. However, he did suffer from one little flaw. To complement his basically white design, the designers chose to augment him with powder, baby blue. While it kind of works for an Arctic trooper, it does limit the figure's appeal. When you couple that with the fact that Sub Zero is an Arctic trooper and they, as a whole, tend to be much less popular than other figures, it is easy to see why this figure has been largely overlooked by the fan community. The 1993 Arctic Commandos set, though, finally offered us a Sub Zero with better color choices. While the new dark blue color would blend less with white snow, it does make for a more aesthetically pleasing figure. It also highlights the strong points of the figure mold. Showcasing lighter colors off of a darker base shows the level of detail that this figure still received. It also helps to make him more believable as a true Arctic soldier.

For me, that's what this figure is. He is just another Arctic soldier. He is not named and I utilize him as an army builder for the Joes. Snow battles are fun and this figure offers a range of specialties that make him vital for my Arctic operations. He can be outfitted with the original Sub Zero's accessories (he has a great machine gun and a large pack) and made into a more specialized Arctic gunner. I also give him smaller, lighter rifles and make him the basic Arctic foot soldier who forms the frontline against a Cobra Arctic attack. His darker colors also work well if you want to use him as vehicular support for your Arctic tanks. He has a wide range that you can take advantage of if you utilize his lack of characterization in Joe media to create your own persona.

Had Joe survived to 1995, there would probably have been another Sub Zero figure offered. As the Battle Rangers figures would have brought Joe back towards its more military roots, it appears that Hasbro was also going to offer other, smaller subsets that would follow the same theme. YoJoe.com has a picture of mocked up box art for a set of proposed Arctic Commandos that would have been released in 1995. From the box art, the set would have come with a repainted Mudbuster jeep (which is a fun toy to have!) and a repainted Locust helicopter. (The one from the '90's, not the '00's.) It would also have included two figures. One appears to be a repainted 1993 Beach Head. The other figure appears to be this very version of Sub Zero. The color scheme closely matches what was released on this figure and the Beach Head appears to be holding the version of Dodger's gun that was this figure's matched accessory. Whether that figure would have been a third repaint of the Sub Zero mold or just a retail release of the mail in exclusive figure will probably never be known. At any rate, it is just another footnote to what Joe would have become had it made it into 1995.

The 1993 mail in Arctic Commando set is not hard to find. If you are patient, you can usually get an entire MIB set of 4 figures for under $20. (Be sure any complete set includes the Dee Jay figure. He was bagged separately and is often missing from most of the Arctic Commando sets that tend to be offered.) As you get the super cool Snow Serpent as well as this figure, it is money well spent. Really, it is easier to find this mail away figure than it is an originally colored, complete, mint Sub Zero. As I like this color scheme better, though, that's not a problem. This guy is a great example of an obscure original figure that was redone as a more obscure mail in. As he is readily available, though, he makes a great way to add a lesser known, but high quality figure to your collection. A guy like this tends to be what I like most about Joe collecting. Sure, finding "rare" and expensive figures is fun, but the guys like this make the hobby. You can use them for their intended purpose with no fear of a high replacement cost. As Joe prices continue to rise as the new releases gain popularity, figures like Sub Zero are a breath of fresh air that remind you of why we got into Joe collecting in the first place.

I've got all the Sub Zeros that I need. I would, though, like another Artic Commando Dee Jay, or the International Action Team mail in set. If you have any of those for trade, email me.

2002 Shock Viper (Wave V Internet Exclusive)

In the next couple of weeks, you are going to see and hear a lot about this figure. Some people will love it. Others will hate it. Many, many more will complain about the manner in which the sale of this figure was dictated by Hasbro. To me, all of that will be inconsequential. Why? Simple. I had the opportunity to get another classic repaint for my collection. When it all comes down to it, that's what I want. It is figures in this style and this articulation that are the basis for my Joe collection. Any opportunity to acquire another new figure like this is welcome. As such, I present to you my take on the latest Cobra army builder: the Shock Viper.

Like just about every new figure that has been produced since 2000, the Shock Viper's filecard sucks. If they wanted to make them flame throwers, they should have just used the original Incinerator mold and code name. As such, in my collection, the Incinerators will remain the only Cobra flame throwers. With that firmly in place, I was left with the problem of what to do with my Shock Vipers. The mold, originally used on the infamous Ice Cream Soldier in 1994, is excellent and is of a color scheme that just begs me to use it. However, they don't fit the traditional military soldier role that are so well defined by other Cobra Troopers. They are also not conducive for use in urban settings either. What, then, was I to do with this new, cool figure?

The more I thought about it, this guy's purpose finally hit me. With a name like Shock Viper, he needed a function of some importance, but also some mystery. What better use for a Shock Viper than as Cobra's internal police? I always figured Cobra to be chock full of people of incredibly shady character. As such, crimes against their own would be rampant. Cobra would need some sort of internal police force that would keep their own members in line. As I thought about this function for the Shock Viper,though, it dawned on me that this guy seems a bit more elite than a base security trooper would be. Rather than making them the base police force for Cobra, I envision these guys as more of a secret police force. They are a gestapo who serve at the will of Cobra Commander or his cronies. They help keep the Commander's political enemies at bay as well as gather intelligence about his rivals.

As with most of my figures, though, I foresee these guys being less loyal to the Commander than they are to the character portrayed by the Flying Scorpion figure. I see these guys acting as his personal police force who will ensure that his rivals don't get the opportunity to plot against him. Like most people with large egos, this character has just taken another step towards what will either be total achievement of his goals, or complete and utter failure. In the long term, I actually see this figure taking the role for the Flying Scorpion that the Funskool Desert Scorpion plays for Cobra Commander. They will be his personal bodyguards as well as the secret police. If you are not a member of his small cabal of commanders, then the Shock Vipers are not a group of people you want to see!

There are a lot of rumours and innuendos circulating about this wave. I wish I were in a position to debunk them, but I'm not. Time will be final factor in determining the extent of these figures' popularity. In the short term, though, Hasbro did not have any major retailers who wanted to purchase this wave of figures. This was mainly due to the fact that the new Joe vs. Cobra resculpts were already available. (I still think these were rushed to the shelves post Christmas so that Hasbro could get Episode II figures into production.) Without major retailer support, this line was doomed. Fortunately, online retailers stepped up and kept this wave from being cancelled. That meant that while collectors got an opportunity to buy this wave, it also provided a chance for scalpers and speculators to swoop in on what they perceive will ultimately be a valuable wave of figures. As such, you will find people charging (and paying!!!) outrageous sums of money for these figures. Once the full production run is out in the market, though, I don't think the prices will stay that high for long.

I'm sure this is the part you've all been waiting for: this figure's availability. I will be blunt. If you are currently paying upwards of $25 for this figure MOC, you are an idiot. That is the bottom line. At least two major online retailers who are stocking this wave have yet to receive their shipments. After they have gotten their figures, mailed them out, and ensured they are, indeed, out of stock, then you might start to get a little nervous. Personally, I think that you should wait until at least May before you panic if you don't yet have these figures. As anyone who attempted to order these figures from SmallJoes.com on Feb. 15th knows, there is a high demand for these guys. You can be sure, though, that the demand is fueled by the perceived scarcity of this wave. When all is said and done with this wave, I imagine that it will have been produced in greater quantities than many other figures from even the vintage line. It will be the fault of speculators and hoarders if an amount close to the full production run doesn't make it to the collectors who want them. In the end, though, the stigma of this wave will always persist. As such, they will, most likely, remain as some of the most expensive members of the repainted Joe club. It is unfortunate, but, if you are informed and know where to look, I think these figures will be available in the future. Speculators lose money if they hold something too long and hoarders eventually have to sell. When they do, I think the opportunities to acquire these figures for reasonable prices will be there.

I like the Shock Viper. His purpose in my collection also lends itself to a smaller number of them. Still, I would like one or two more. If you have any Shock Vipers you are willing to trade, email me.

1992 Roadblock

Much has been made of the new Joe releases. While everyone has their opinions of the figures made between 1997 and now, most people agree that classic characters seem to retain the most popularity. It seemingly makes no sense that an immensely popular character like Roadblock would not make an appearance in these new releases. Sure, we got Double Blast, an original Roadblock mold. But we never got to see a new version of one of the most recognizable and popular characters to ever grace the Joe world. (Roadblock was another rare crossover character that has appeal to both comic and cartoon fans.) The speculative reasons for this are many. Hasbro may have lost the copyright to the character's name. As was proved with the '00 Tomahawk, though, simple problems like that can be creatively worked around. The real reasons for Roadblock's disappearance may never be known. It could be oversight. It could be that a high ranking executive has it in for this character. We may never know. For some, the slight is an injustice that taints the integrity of the line. For others it is just a footnote as the line matures and attracts a new generation of fans.

I've long liked the Roadblock character. From the earliest days of 1984 when he first graced my collection to my unending search for his 1994 Star Brigade version, Roadblock has been a staple of my collection for a long time. The character's complexity and unique attributes allowed him to transcend most other Joes in terms of characterization and popularity. As such, his various figures were always featured in my collection. (In 1988, I had all but quit Joe collecting. I only bought 2 figures that year: Hit and Run and the Tiger Force Roadblock.) Usually, though, it was the original mold of the figure that I used. In recent years, though, I've moved away from using any figures made prior to 1985. The smaller, less detailed molds just don't interest me the way figures from the line's later years do. I hate the '86 Roadblock and have never used that figure. The Star Brigade figures have always been army builders as rescue personnel, firefighters, or pilots. That really left me with only one choice if I wanted to use Roadblock, this '92 version.

Like many people, though, I didn't really have a use for this figure. I thought the mold was cool, (Most of the 92 molds are. 1992 is really a great year for Joes, but too many people just overlook it.) but hadn't really associated the figure with the Roadblock character. As has happened many times, though, it was another Joe fan whose showcasing of this figure brought him to my attention. In General Hawk's fabulous dio-story Power Struggle, he uses this mold of Roadblock. Seeing this figure used in that capacity opened up a new mold for me. I pulled out my '92 Roadblock and armed him with the accessories from the Tiger Force Roadblock. At that point, I had a new figure to represent Roadblock in my collection.

Since then, I've found this figure to be a nice addition to my collection. While the classic Roadblock mold is still a great version of the character, it is this later mold that allows for him to be better utilized with the later year figures that tend to see the most use in my collection. This, of course, raises another issue. For me, the newest Joe figures are the most interesting. Frankly, most of the pre '88 figure molds have been played out. I consider them boring and overused. When I see some of the lists of figures who are planned for release in 2002, I am excited that it appears that many later characters and molds may see production. The reasons for this are many. Personally, I'm sick of having the same figures repainted over and over. I want some variety. If you look at a snapshot of '92 figures, you will see some very realistic paint jobs, but they still offer stark color and contrast. The newly sculpted Joes bring that feeling back. The repaints we have been getting are just the same color scheme applied to very boring and mundane molds and frankensteins.

I won't lie to you and tell you that the recalled version of this figure isn't hard to find. It is. Some collectors put the total number of recalled Roadblocks at around 10,000. However, he came out at a time when lots of kids still opened, broke and lost their toys. As such, whatever the production numbers on the recalled version of this figure, you can be sure there are far fewer than that today. Carded, a recalled Roadblock can fetch $100 or more. Loose, well, the interest just isn't there and you see a significant drop off. Without the recalled accessories, though, this figure is pretty easy to find. He was shipped in ample quantities and can be found in many lots of later year figures. There are two important things of note about this figure, though. As far as the figure itself goes, there are absolutely no differences between the recalled version and the corrected version. The figures are identical, only the accessories are different. (There is also a repaint of this figure that was released in 93 that has some neon highlights. This is from a different year and not, in any way, related to the '92 version you see below.) While talking about the accessories, a couple of years ago, the machine gun itself was the most desired of the "rarer" accessories that came with this figure. The recalled version was the only figure ever released with this gun in the U.S. In the past year, though, Funskool figures have become quite common. The very cool machine gun that came with the recalled Roadblock is currently available with several different Funskool figures, including a repaint of this classic '92 mold, for very cheap prices from a number of online Joe dealers. With this advent, the desirability of the machine gun has gone down as Funskool offers a cheap way to acquire it. (Much the way I did. The gun you see in the figure's hand below is taken from a Funskool Red Dog.) With all that in mind, this guy is still my most used version of the Roadblock character. Given a chance, I think you will find him in a similar role in your collection as well.

I like this version of Roadblock. However, I'm not really into accessory variations. As such, I don't need any more. Also, Roadblock never had an really interesting foreign variations made, so I don't need any of those, either. What is your favorite version of this character? Do you think Hasbro should attempt to bring back the Roadblock name to the new Joe line? Let me know.

2002 Cobra C.L.A.W.S.

Since these figures were first found at retail, it seems that everyone and his brother has had an opinion about them. The nature of my site being what it is, it is fitting that I, too, offer my opinion of these newly sculpted Joes. My problem is that so many others have already done this that anything I have to say seems like it's been done. However, I have this figure and still think my opinion of him is something poignant, if not uninteresting. I'm not going to pay attention to packaging, or accessories. Frankly, I could care less about stuff like that. Packaging is opened to get at the figure and accessories can, and will, be changed. All I'm concerned with is the figure.

I've decided to do things a little differently with this profile. Rather than my usual diatribes, I'm going to offer pragmatic looks at what I like and what I don't like about this figure. After that, I'm going to let my overall opinion be known.

First off, what I like about this figure:

1. The Color Scheme.

Let's face it, the repaints that we've gotten since 2000 have been poorly colored, at best. While the molds have changed, we've gotten the same Joe figure several times. Why does every Joe from Duke to Big Brawler have to be colored the same. Back in my profile of Sidetrack, I said that his color scheme was great, but it didn't need to used on every other figure. That's what Hasbro has given us. What collectors have forgotten is that vibrant colors are not always unrealistic. Look at 1986 or 1987. Those figures are classics that are held as the pinnacle of the line. Look at the colors of those figures. Tunnel Rat, Falcon, Outback, Dial Tone, Hawk and Beach Head are all excellent figures that feature vibrant and eye-catching color schemes. When I look at my box of re-release figures from 2000 and 2001, all I see is drab, boring color schemes that aren't exciting.

When I saw these new figures, the first thing that jumped out at me was the bright, vibrant colors that they featured. This figure has 5 different colors on him and they blend perfectly. The red, gold, black, and brown create a realistic body with highlights that accentuate the incredible details on the mold. The best part about the figure is the green eyes. It is a small feature that adds some depth to the figure and shows an attention to detail that has been lacking since at least 1992.

2. The details.

Love or hate these figures, you can not deny that they are super-detailed. Each figure features tons of pouches, armbands, details and strappings that make the figure seem more alive. In some cases, the detailing has been overdone. However, this amount of detail shows a dedication to the line that has been missing. It shows there is some creativity being applied to these guys. While some may think it is misapplied, just having some creative minds behind the Joe product bodes well.

3. Working holsters.

For a lot of people, this might not be a big deal. For me, this is awesome. When Hasbro first had a working holster on Cantina Han Solo figure back in 1998, it was a grand harbinger of things to come. Since then, I've bought several Star Wars figures just because they had working holsters. Back in 1986, I wanted to hollow out the holster on Hawk's leg so that I could have it work with his pistol. Now, 16 years later, Hasbro has finally given me a play feature I've wanted. I love the look of the working holsters and think them a great addition to the toy line.

4. The Joe Vs. Cobra packaging.

I am an army builder. Everyone knows it. Why would an army builder espouse a packing strategy that is inherently detrimental to army building? Simple. I see the collector favorite army builder packs as a detriment to the hobby as a whole. Here's why. If Hasbro ships a case of 12 figures with 2 of them being an army building pack (Don't fool yourself with the thinking that, "well, they should ship army builders in a higher ratio". If they do this, then you have shortpacks. Suddenly you have otherwise mundane figures becoming hard to find since people buy up shortpacks to sell at a profit on Ebay. This is a blight just as bad as the army builder packs themselves.), those 2 packs are quickly purchased by the first collector who happens by them. Now, you are left with 10 less desirable packs sitting on the shelf. Multiply this by the number of cases a typical toy retailer receives and you have instant pegwarmers. In order to get more army builders, the stores order more pegwarmers. Then, the shelves clog with the pegwarmers and the new waves of figures are ordered in much smaller quantities thereby creating an artificial shortage. This is exactly what happened to Star Wars figures in 1998.

Hasbro shipped cases of Imperials that were about 50% army builders. These figures quickly sold out and retailers ordered more figures. This was fine until the buying public had had enough of the Emperor and Grand Moff Tarkin figures. Suddenly, these figures, plus a couple of other non-army builders in the same case became overwhelming pegwarmers. As such, after June of 1998, almost no new Star Wars product shipped to stores. Collectors and parents got frustrated because the only figures that were available were ones that had been out for months and no one wanted anymore. Suddenly, the figures that were scheduled to come out in late 1998 became incredibly scarce and demand soared. The final wave of figures was cancelled until the Fan Club stepped in and offered it for a very high mark up to the serious collector. The only way for the stores to clear the pegwarmers was for them to massively discount the figures and take huge losses. Thus, the retail confidence in the Star Wars brand was heavily damaged. The final insult occurred in early 2000. By then, the stores had cleared most of the pegwarmers. That finally allowed the cases of late 1998 figures to come to market. Toys R Us bought the figures for a song and sold them for a drastic discount. Imagine a collector's surprise and anger when he walked into a TRU store and found hundreds of the "rare" Mon Mothma figure he had spent $20 for on Ebay staring him in the face for a paltry $2 price tag. This is the aftermath of the army building two pack. Packaging one Joe and one Cobra together will not deter serious army builders. It will deter the casual army builder, though, and allow for kids to actually find figures they want on the shelves and allow for new waves to be sorted into the retail market in the most efficient way possible. I've had no trouble finding all of the new Joe packs and I live in toy hell. That shows the distribution system is working.

Now, the section most of you are probably interested in, what I don't like about the new figures:

1. The new construction.

Like this one is a surprise. I was the one who called the day the pictures of the prototypes for these figures were released "Black Thursday". That was a bit melodramatic, but I do miss the O ring. From the torso up, these guys aren't bad. I don't even mind the swivel waist. What I can't stand is that the legs don't allow the figure to sit. I like to put my figures in vehicles, or at base stations. This new construction really hampers my ability to do that. However, with the return of the O ring imminent, this criticism will go away. I'm anxiously awaiting the first photos of the new sculpts with the O rings. I think they have incredible potential.

2. The "buff" look and proportionality.

Frankly, the heads and chests of these figures aren't too bad. I don't mind some figures being broader in the chest since that's the way real people are. You can see from the photo below that the most of the figure fits with the original figures. He is slightly differently proportioned, but not so much that he can't fit in with older figures. Some guys, like the Heavy Duty that comes with CLAWS, though, are just too wide. The feature that is poor across the entire wave, though, is the arms. Every one of these figures would have arms bigger than most body builder's legs! The arms are just way too big and hinder proper movement. They must be corrected. Once again, though, I refer you to the Star Wars line. Back in 1995, all the figures were released in this same style where they all looked like they were on steroids. After collector backlash, the buff style was toned down. By 1998, most of the original figures had been resculpted in a less buff style. I'm giving this time. I think this wave was rushed to retail so that it wouldn't be delayed by the release of Episode II figures. As such, there is still work to be done. I would imagine that by wave III or IV, this problem will be solved to collector's satisfaction.

3. The accessories.

This point is kind of moot. As I said above, I think these guys were rushed to retail. As such, there just wasn't time for new accessories. It has been stated by Hasbro that Wave II will have new accessories. That is certainly welcome news.

4. Figure choice.

Almost every figure choice Hasbro has offered since 1997 has been second guessed by the collectors. I like some of the choices in this wave, but others are more problematic. Does Cobra really need a new character like CLAWS when there are so many awesome Cobra troopers that have never been remade? The preliminary names for Wave II of the new sculpts seems to have more classic names in it and should include some characters that have desperately needed a remake.

5. The Joe Vs. Cobra angle.

While I like the Joe vs. Cobra packaging, I don't like the angle. It will get old and tiresome very quickly. I don't really care why Gung Ho and Destro are mortal enemies. I can come up with more on my own. I'm afraid the creative minds behind this are going to get pigeon-holed by this gimmick. Perhaps, though, that will change with 2003. Hasbro seems to like changing its packaging every year or so. (I wonder how much they paid to get that bit of marketing genius?) As such, next year could offer a different packaging style that would not be so confining.

One thing you may notice in the above write up is how often I refer to Hasbro's Star Wars line. I think the comparisons are apt for a number of reasons. The largest reason, though, is that Star Wars is a mature toy line. The people who have been into Star Wars since their childhood are moving out of their 20's and into a different phase of their life. I think we are seeing it run its course. After Episode III is done, I wouldn't expect to see any Star Wars toys on shelves any longer. Joe is a very young toy line, from a "collector" standpoint. As such, many of the growing pains that afflicted the Star Wars line have yet to manifest themselves in the Joe line. They will happen and these new sculpts are the first signs of it. I think the POTFII line is a great blueprint for what this new Joe line will experience. Hopefully, we the collectors, have learned from previous mistakes. (Beware of what you ask for. You just might get it.) If Hasbro has learned some, as well, then the future of Joe looks bright and I see more potential for the coming years than there was back in 1982.

I don't know if it's obvious or not, but I don't mind these new figures. However, I think much of that is because they have already announced the return of the O ring and the other construction problems can be easily fixed with more experience by the designers. I think Hasbro is putting some money behind this line. That always offers hope. As for the CLAWS figure, though, I don't think he'll ever be an integral part of my collection. I could one day see the 10 figures that are currently shipping being on display in my toy room. I don't see them lying in my base after seeing some use. I don't have the army building bug with these guys like I do with classically articulated figures. We'll see if that changes when the next wave of new sculpts come out.

CLAWS are currently available. They will only become more available as the year moves on. However, Hasbro has a very large plate of toys for the year 2002. As such, you probably aren't going to see long shipping lives for most of these figures. Buying them now is probably your best bet to avoid future Ebay price gouging. Remember, there are tons of Joe figures and little thing called Star Wars Episode II coming this year. There are going to be lots of figures that are shipped to retail. In order to do this, other figures will have to have production halted. Most of us collectors were caught off guard when the Firefly/Undertow pack was pulled from production. If you are looking to build armies of any of the new Joes, that would be a lesson well remembered. Beyond that, to each their own. If you don't like the figures, fine. If you do, that's fine, too. I don't have the problems with these guys that most others out there seem to. It's a toy line and I'm past the point in my life where I take a toy line seriously. That being said, I think 2002 will still be the most interesting year ever to be a Joe collector.