1984 Action Force Laser Exterminator

Posted on October 20, 2020 by mwnekoman

Action Force Laser Exterminator

I’ve found that over the years, while collectors put a huge focus on the recolored figures that showed up in Palitoy’s Action Force, less focus is placed on the vehicles. This is par for the course with Joes, as vehicles always come second to the figures. Still, the Action Force line really cranked out some classics out of both Joe molds and their own original molds, and the Laser Exterminator is a good example of that.

The truth is, I acquired this vehicle along with my other Red Shadows vehicles basically as a gift from good friend 00zxcvb, back around 2012 or so. It was a total surprise and probably one of the most generous things I’ve been sent by friends on the internet (Which is among a lot of nice things that friends have sent me!). In a hobby that broadly consists of consumerism and buying stuff from strangers on eBay, it really puts into prospective for me the value of sentimentality when it comes to toys. Many of my favorite pieces in my collection are things I didn’t even pay for.

This vehicle was my first experience with the HAL mold, and I have to say it’s one of my favorites among the early Joe vehicles. It’s a fun toy that looks good and has some pretty fun gimmicks. The turret can rotate in any direction, and also point upwards almost 90 degrees, so it’s fully functional as an artillery unit. Of course, it’s a towed weapon too, which adds options for using it with other vehicles. For a moderately small item that supports one gunner, there’s a fair amount the HAL can do, which makes it much more fun than something like the FLAK.

I think the leg mechanisms are worth some criticism, however. The turret is propped up by the two hooks used for towing it, as well as a third leg that stabilizes it. The tow-hook legs are kind of cumbersome and have a tendency to flop around, while the third leg really doesn’t have much holding it in place- hence why it’s usually missing. The later ASP had much better legs, but to be fair, this vehicle’s older, so maybe they learned as they went.

The colors are really nice on the Laser Exterminator, maybe even nicer than the HAL’s. The bright red is eye-catching, but more than that, the vehicle’s details really come across thanks to the contrasting charcoal and red plastic. The HAL is mostly a dark olive color, so you really don’t get to see just how much detail is featured on the different pieces. The standard HAL was far more realistic, but the colors here are a pretty good example of how brighter tones can be to a vehicle’s benefit when used tastefully.

Laser Exterminator’s are pretty cheap and easy to get. In general, Action Force pieces aren’t all that rare, and most of the collecting focus is on the figure molds. So, the Red Laser who was included with the vehicle will cost you a lot, but the vehicle itself is really only worth around $30. It’s pretty tough finding one with the stabilizer leg and computer, so that will run the price up every now any then. Usually, the worst thing about buying Action Force items is having to pay for shipping from the UK, which will typically cost you as much or more than the vehicle will.

Action Force Laser Exterminator Links:

Forgotten Figures

1984 Cobra Commander

Posted on September 29, 2020 by mwnekoman

1984 Cobra Commander

There’s a lot to say about Cobra Commander. To a certain extent, you can argue he’s the central character of the GI Joe story line. After all, GI Joe’s plot entirely centers around countering and defeating Cobra, and by association, Cobra Commander. Of course, he’s also one of the most prolific characters too, with almost as many toy iterations as Snake Eyes, and in ARAH alone, more.

When I started collecting vintage figures, this Cobra Commander was among my first dozen or so acquisitions. At the time, I remember being ecstatic to own another figure besides Major Bludd that was so old, as it felt cool to collect figures that were a decade older than me. Given that, I don’t have many memories of doing much with this figure besides photographing him a lot. It’s weird, because other figures I acquired in the same period like Major Bludd and the Lamprey, bring me a nostalgic feeling for how exciting it was to buy old Joes back then, whereas this figure I’ve kind of just taken for granted. Of course, I partly attribute that to the fact that I already had several other Cobra Commander’s that were pretty good.

I really like the figure’s deco, it’s striking yet at the same time blends well with the early Cobra cast. With that said, it’s to be forever compared to the original CC color scheme, and those colors are ultimately my preference. The light-blue coupled with a bigger focus on a contrasting red color is both more interesting and iconic than this figure, which is dark and relies on gold for most of the secondary coloring. It’s not without it’s own merits and some like the more regal look of these colors, but to me, the brighter ones are better.

The sculpt’s an area where the figure again really shines, namely for new head. Among his ‘82 contemporaries, it was fair to say V1 Cobra Commander had a more interesting and nicely unique design, and that holds up well with the hooded version. The hooded head sculpt is well done on this figure. It’s simple, but portrays an ominous look fitting of an anonymous terrorist leader. It seems like a simple thing to get right, but when compared to subsequent hooded commanders, that wasn’t always the case. A few examples from Valor vs. Venom and the early 25th line show how it can be done wrong, and while I love the Talking Battle Commander/Battle Corps sculpt, it’s certainly a lot sillier looking than this one.

Like with V1 Cobra Commander, your only accessory here is his laser pistol. In ways, you could look at this as being kind of boring. In other ways, it was a charming example of a figure with a part that had play value built in to it, as well as expanding the character from just what could be seen in the toys. Being able to store the pistol on his back was a neat way for them to add a little more interest to an otherwise less action-oriented character. As well, the fact that Cobra Commander had a unique, sci-fi gun as his personal weapon over the Soviet surplus his legions came armed with, spoke to the character.

This would be the last V1 CC repaint besides Red Laser to come out, and sadly the 3rd party producers have yet to tackle this mold, either. I personally think it’s a shame as there’s a lot of potential left in the Cobra Commander mold, plus you can pretty easily make some army-builders out of him, too. The fact that the mold’s remained untouched all these years at the very least has prevented it from becoming diluted, but I’d still like to see it done up in the canceled ‘97 color scheme, or black and silver like some of the later CC’s.

‘84 Cobra Commanders have always been easy to obtain figures, and thankfully they look like something that’s going to stay that way, too. Last couple of auctions I saw for this figure ended around $10, which is pretty fair given the craziness of the market as of late. For one with a bit of paint wear, I got mine for $4 or $5 dollars as I recall, which was about a decade ago.

Cobra Commander Gijoe Hasbro ARAH vintage action figure

I did dioramas a lot differently 11 years ago.

1984 Cobra Commander Links:

1984 Recondo

Posted on July 1, 2019 by mwnekoman

1984 Recondo

In the overall story of GI Joe, Recondo seems pretty unimportant. I can’t remember a major moment in the cartoon or in the comics that had a lot to do with him, but despite that his figure is still one of my favorites.

I think a large part of Recondo’s appeal is that he’s a fun and broadly usable figure. As a Jungle Trooper, his area of expertise is fun and relatable to most who would acquire him as kids or adults, and he isn’t alienated from the rest of the cast in a way like Snowjob. It’s a completely different motif, but the underlying charm is quite similar to Footloose.

Growing up I had almost no attachment to the character. The most obvious reason for this is because he had no more figures past the ‘88 Tiger Force repaint. But another reason could be because he didn’t get much screen time in Sunbow. Overall, he received less screen time than characters like Cross-Country and Wild Bill (thanks to Half the Battle for a convenient chart showing this) and only had a major role in about two episodes. So I didn’t ever have much interest in him until I got into collecting vintage more, and I still forget him a lot.

Recondo has a few small variants out there, which is an interesting obscurity to look out for. There’s at least four color variants on the paint used for his camouflage and watch. The hue of the paint ranges from olive to a vibrant green, and the thickness of the stripes can vary as well. Nothing major, but something to look out for should you ever acquire an extra from a lot.

His parts are few, but pretty cool regardless. He comes with a rucksack and a M14E2X, which is basically an M14E2. The gun has a nice wrap sculpted on to it for some added detail and it’s a pretty unique look, especially for a 1984 figure. Meanwhile the backpack features a nicely sculpted handle that can even be held by the figure, which is a nice touch.

Mint complete Recondos should run around $10, which isn’t very much for a cool figure that’s this old now (35 years!). With that said, his camo can be prone to wear and it’s quite common he’s erroneously paired with his Accessory Pack riffle and listed as complete, so these things can complicate finding a decent example.

gi joe arah hasbro vintage 1984 recondo cobra snake eyes stalker V1 version 1

1984 Recondo Links:

Forgotten Figures

3D Joes

Recondo by Scarrviper at ARAH Gallery

Joeaday

Yo Joe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We4kfVRkqek

1984 Wild Weasel

Posted on March 12, 2018 by mwnekoman

Overall, I’d have to say 1984 was one of the strongest years in the line for ARAH. The GI Joe and Cobra characters introduced in this year would remain icons for the brand in the decades to come, and are probably among the most popular. Today’s subject, Wild Weasel, may not be as beloved as Firefly or Zartan, but is still probably the most highly regarded Cobra pilot.

No doubt, part of his appeal is likely the fact that he was included with the Cobra Rattler, which is by far one of the coolest aircraft in the line. Larry Hama also made good use of the character, with some memorable issues of the comic featuring Wild Weasel such as #34. Wild Weasel comes of as a competent and serious adversary, a nice contrast to the simplistic and thug-like nature of a character like Copperhead.

The actual toy itself is a good one. He’s cast in crimson red plastic that really stands out through the canopy of his Rattler and other vehicles. The details are also really strong on the figure, with his black accents, silver Cobra sigil on his arm, blue undershirt, and the detailed maps featured on each of his legs. I think comparatively, the painted details are standard for the year he came out in, but the tampographed maps really set him over the top.

Like a lot of the 1984 Cobras, Wild Weasel’s sculpt is very detailed. The torso in particular is covered in seams, belts and pockets with my favorite detail being the open collar. The open collar was one of those kinds of details that helped define him as an individual with a bit of personality and helped set him apart from generic troops like the HISS Driver.

Similar to other early vehicle drivers, Wild Weasel came with no parts. I still don’t have a Rattler in my collection, so this can make Wild Weasel a little tricky to use from time to time. Personally I think V1 Destro’s pistol is generic enough that it can make a decent side-arm for him, though Scrap-Iron also provides an alternative weapon that could compliment him from the early line. Regardless, it’s nice that the production budget for the figure went more into his painted details then a forgettable gun most examples wouldn’t have anymore.

Wild Weasel’s are dirt cheap oddly enough. Mint figures with their filecard on occasion will go from $5 to $10, but usually the former. Even without his Rattler, there’s plenty of Cobra planes he makes a sweet pilot for, so I can’t imagine not acquiring one. Compared to his contemporaries that’s really cheap, making me wonder if I overrate his prominence a bit. More likely, it’s a good example of this figure being overshadowed by collector favorites like Zartan and the Stinger Driver.

1984 Wild Weasel Links:

Yo Joe

3D Joes

Forgotten Figures

JMM’s Comics Home Page

1984 Copperhead

Posted on September 28, 2015 by mwnekoman

The 1984 Cobras were the characters that really stuck with GI Joe for a long time. Although many more underrated characters would come out in the later eighties and into the nineties, there wasn’t a single year with so many classics of the same quality as there was in ‘84. It’s really appreciable how at this point in the line, even the vehicle drivers were nice, desirable figures, as is the case with copperhead.

It is presumed that Copperhead is native to or otherwise intimately familiar with the Florida Everglades. Intelligence sources venture a guess that he raced speedboats in high stakes races in Monaco and Japan. His major weakness is gambling. Odds are that he got started by placing bets on his own races. Apparently he compounded his folly by selling his services to COBRA in hopes of paying off his bookies.
Gung-Ho says: “Sure. I know the type. They’re all around the Gulf Coast. Trash. Drifters. They can drive a swamp buggy like the devil himself, rebuild a V-8 with a coat hanger and spit, fight all night and raise cain ’til the cock crows. They got a heart fulla gimme and a mouth full o’ much obliged . . . .”

-Copperhead’s filecard

Copperhead has a cool character with his gambling addiction that partially keeps him in Cobra. It gives him a sort of darkness and a bit of grit that makes him a more interesting character. I always saw Copperhead as more of a crook than the average Cobra, with a fair amount of skill to compensate. It seems like he’s one of those characters whose just a bit easier to imagine in a story than some others. It’s a real shame how the cartoon wrote him out early on, or at least until the DIC episodes (But no one cared about those, honestly.).

Copperhead is fairly buff for a figure from the earlier portion of the line, which gives him a little extra character and really helps to break him apart from the other figures that shared a similar build. I never really knew what was going on with that mask of his, but at the very least I like the look of it. His silver Cobra symbol really finishes the figure off nicely, with a nice contrast to his green color.

This version didn’t include any accessories, although the later Python Patrol repaint chose to pair him with parts from Leatherneck. Although the backpack was perfect, I’ve always really questioned him having an M-16. It could just be that I really hate the particular M-16 included with Leatherneck, but Copperhead just looks better to me with different guns. I’ve paired him with an AK-47 in the past, though thinking about it logically a smaller gun would probably be easier for him to handle while in the water. A Marauder’s G36c seems to fit the bill rather nicely, but when I want something less modern the AK-74U also looks pretty good.

Do you like V1 Copperhead? Feel free to drop me a line on Twitter.