1991 Mercer

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

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

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

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

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

1983 Destro

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

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

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

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

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

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

1985 Dusty

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2003 Venom Cycle

When I first saw the Venom Cycle, I was underwhelmed. It looked like an OK vehicle, but nothing that really warranted any special attention. It looked, to me, a way for Hasbro to further push Viper repaints on collectors. After some time, though, I discovered that this small vehicle actually does have some redeeming features and is fun to have around.

In the past, I haven't been too high on motorcycles that were released in the Joe line. The RAM was cool, but I always found it a little too confining as it could really only hold one figure. The Silver Mirage was a cool concept, but the toy sucked. Mine fell apart every time you tried to use it. The whole thing was just brittle and not fun to play with. The one "motorcycle" I did like was the Dreadnok Cycle. While it's colors were awful, the bulkier sculpt with the mounted turret gun were great fun to use. I adopted this vehicle as a full-fledged Cobra weapon and had it manned by a Motor Viper and, oddly enough, a V1 Viper. This was my Cobra patrol vehicle for years.

When I first opened a Venom Cycle, it hearkened back to both the Silver Mirage and the Dreadnok Cycle. It has the sidecar mounted gun pod like the Silver Mirage, but has a bit more bulk to it like the Dreadnok Cycle. While not a perfect mesh of the two, it had more redeeming qualities than I had at first anticipated. My main problem with the design is that it is a bit too large. The Venom Cycle would be a better fit for the new sculpt figures as their larger proportions are better suited to the cycle's size. However, the size issue is not enough to render the Venom Cycle useless. ARAH-style figures still work on it without too much of a stretch. (I just use the slightly larger proportion as a side-effect of Cobra's reinforcing the cycle to make it withstand the harsh beach terrain it was designed to patrol.) The other problem I have with the Venom Cycle is that the gun in the sidecar is a spring loaded missile launcher. Instead of a cool sculpt gun, we are left with a monstrosity that is hard to reconcile. With the missile in place, the gun can work, but it takes away from the look of the vehicle and makes it a bit less useful to me. Finally, the Venom Cycle is a Sound Attack vehicle and has the built in sound chip and speaker. It isn't something that gets in the way too much, but adds unnecessary weight to the Cycle and is probably responsible for the cycle's larger size.

While these problems prevent this cycle from being a true classic in the Joe line, it does have some really neat features as well. One of the things I like most about the Venom Cycle is that it is heavily armoured. This gives it a bit more credibility in its purpose as the driver is not too exposed to enemy fire. (Granted, it's still a motorcycle, so there is always a lot of exposure on the part of any rider.) The cycle also has little storage baskets built onto the back. While not as useful as they might be, they are a nice touch that gives this cycle a little more detail than most of the other new, smaller vehicles that have been released since 2002. The one area where the Venom Cycle is really neat, though, is the side car. This can detach and be transformed into a stand alone gun station. This feature gives the Venom Cycle another purpose in my collection as it can now also be used to transport mobile gun stations on the battlefield. These can be used as coastal defenders, outpost watch stations, or strategic, mobile emplacements.

Another area where the Venom Cycle does succeed is in the area of the driver. While I tend to like uniformity in my vehicle driver ranks, I can accept the inclusion of a Viper with this vehicle. It makes sense, to me, that Cobra would utilize its basic infantry troops as motorcycle patrolmen on the shores of Cobra Island. As such, I can see this brown and blue Viper as someone who aspires to the Motor Viper corps and is using the role of patrolman as a stepping stone to promotion. This version of the Viper is basically the 2002 Forest Viper with brown highlights instead of green. I call him the Funskool Viper since he is the same color as the Funskool Law figure. While he is unspectacular in color, he does work as a more muted member of the Cobra Viper Corps. He looks decent in desert of even forest settings and melds well with the forest Vipers from the prior year.

Overall, the Venom Cycle is not up to par with classic Joe vehicles like the Ferret. It is, though, a step in the right direction as it seems that it shows a bit more thought than the first round of Alpha vehicles. Unfortunately, it seems that vehicles like the Venom Cycle aren't all that popular. They hang around at retail for long periods of time and, even when they include army builders, get rather stale in stores. I think the price point on these is a bit much. A small vehicle with one figure for $10 isn't that much of a better deal when you can get 2 figures with accessories for $8. I have a feeling that Hasbro's rationale behind changing Alpha Vehicles packaging to window boxes instead of carded toys is to give the consumer a better concept of value. Carded, these things competed with figures and were easily lost in the shuffle. Boxed, these vehicles are easier to see and stand out on the shelves. So far, it appears to be working as the first assortment of 2004 Alpha vehicles seems to be moving a little better than those from last year. We'll see how the rest of the year goes, though.

Venom Cycles, despite their inclusion of a Viper as the driver, were very easy to find at retail. Most stores had them hanging on the shelves through Christmas of 2003 and some people were lucky enough to get them for deeply discounted prices in post-holiday clearance sales. This means that a lot of collectors got their fill of this vehicle and I don't foresee a strong long term demand for them. (That's not true, at this point, for the repainted Crimson Venom Cycle which was rather hard to find at retail.) This is good, though, as it allows collectors to acquire a Venom Cycle or two for affordable prices. (And, if you don't want the Viper, you can probably find people willing to sell you just the cycle for almost nothing.) I've found that this cycle goes well with both new and classic sculpt figures and adds a nice element to a Cobra arsenal. The Venom Cycle is surely not a classic when compared to everything released in the Joe line, but it is one of the better offerings we've seen since Joe returned to retail.

Were you able to find the Crimson Venom Cycle? Let me know.

1990 Sky Patrol Skydive

It's been a long time since I've profiled another member of the Sky Patrol subset. The main reason is that, of the six figures that comprised this subset, I only have three of them in my collection. (In fact, I also have three of the Brazilian Sky Patrol figures which means they match my American numbers!) As Sky Patrol isn't a large part of my collection, I haven't been compelled to profile another member. All the figures in the set are, basically, repaints. However, I've recently only had access to a small number of my Joes. This has taken me back to the earliest days of my collecting when I only had a small numbers from which to choose and I was much more creative with what I had. Among the small number of figures I can get to right now is the 1990 Skydive.

Skydive is just a repainted Gyro-Viper with a new head. (All of the Sky Patrol figures used recolored existing bodies and newly sculpted heads. However, the dark blue color of his flight suit really makes this figure stand apart from the Cobra with whom he shares a mold. This really allows Skydive to take on a characterization beyond that of many simple repaints and makes him the type of figure that I have found a use for in my collection.

I see Skydive as the type of character that other Joes have a problem getting along with. I see him as prick who is very confident in his abilities and makes no hesitations about letting everyone else know that. As such, he is difficult to befriend and is often ridiculed behind his back. However, the brashness that makes him so unlikable as a person is exactly what makes him a great soldier. I see Skydive as a man of unparalleled bravery and ability. In the field, he always gets his job done and those who serve with him find him a real asset when in combat. This leads to a problematic approach with this character. He is great to be around in situations of intense danger, but is almost despicable in any other setting. Those Joes who have served with him and seen him in action will gladly do so again, but those who have never been in combat with Skydive are hesitant to undertake a mission with him. His social presence starts to override his professional demeanor. I use this dichotomy to delve a bit deeper into the characterizations of both Skydive and those he comes into contact with. It is just another small element that gives my Joes a little more depth than just some happy-go-lucky team who always gets along.

One area where Sky Patrol really excelled was in their accessories. Just about all of the figures came with a nicely done contingent of guns, helmets and other items that really made these figures stand out. Of course, they all also included a working silver parachute pack. The final expectation was that these figures had tons of play value and would be quite popular at retail. That did not, though, turn out to be the case. As Sky Patrol figures were higher priced than regular Joes, they sat around a bit. Once a child had one of the figures, there was little incentive for a parent to buy them another. This scenario replayed itself every time Hasbro tried a gimmick that raised the price point of a figure. (In fact, it still plays out today as the Alpha vehicle assortment sits, unsold, in stores around the country. In comparison to 2 figures for $8, a small vehicle and 1 figure aren't a deal at $10. Maybe the new packaging will help.) The unfortunate side effect of this is that Sky Patrol figures really don't get the credit they deserve. The helmets and weapons that were included with Sky Patrol figures were among the most original and well conceived in the entire line. It's just that no one seems to know that.

Sky Patrol (or at least a Sky Patrol inspired concept) was set to return to retail in 2003. The set of six figures (Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Duke, Lowlight, Alley Viper and Hiss Driver) were to a be a Wal Mart exclusive. However, Hasbro could not get the parachutes that would have been the selling point of the figures to pass safety standards. (This is also why the 2003 Sgt. Airborne does not include a parachute even though his backpack still has the handle where the strings would have been attached.) This lead to the cancellation of the Sky Patrol figures and Wal Mart's release of their new sculpt repaints. However, the 6 "cancelled" figures have shown up (as full production level samples) in a number of areas. This leads me to believe that we will see this subset at some point in 2004. I am guessing that it will end up as a Toys R Us exclusive after the Night Force and Cobra Troop Builder sets are released. I think it would be nice to see Sky Patrol again. Even if the parachutes that were the hallmark of the original figures can not be released to retail, having the subset updated with some new blood would be a good way to give modern collectors another nod to the line's past.

Time was that Sky Patrol figures were hard to find mint and complete. When you did find them, the competition for them was heavy and the prices reflected the demand. Now, though, a lot of that has changed. While the Sky Patrol figures are still rarer than other 1990 releases, you can find them, even in good condition, for decent prices. As most of the figures are rather well done, come with nice accessories and are different in appearance from other Joes, they are a nice way to fill out even the largest Joe roster. I'm hoping that the next few months will allow me an opportunity to finish off my Sky Patrol set. I think they are a great subset and the type of figures that bring greater depth to dioramas and a collection in general.

I'm really hoping that we see a Sky Patrol redux. If it does happen, would you rather have it be all Joes, all Cobras or a combination of both? Let me know.