I've been on the excellent GI Joe podcast, FlagPoints, a couple of times and have communicated with a couple of the hosts through Twitter quite a bit. Rob, one of the hosts, also has an ambitious blog called Joe-A-Day, and yes, he has been updating it every day ever since he started. He might push it to 11:59:59 pm on occasion, but he gets an entry every day.
Rob started adding 12" Joes recently and has included some of the larger versions of the smaller characters. I sent him a Tweet about an extra set of 12" Bazooka and Dr Mindbender figures that I had and wondered if he would be interested. He sure was! So we worked out a deal that involved a RET Joe trooper and some cash. I reinvested the cash into new weapons from Marauder, Inc. You should go there after reading this excellent review and buy some of his products! Not now, after you have read this review and left a snappy comment!
And are you checking out FlagPoints and Joe-A-Day on Twitter? Do it! What about the Joe-A-Day website? Do it! And listen to FlagPoints!
So what's the big deal about this GI Joe Trooper? Is he really as good as everyone around the GI Joe community is saying? Almost, but not quite. If you want to check out other reviews, there are plenty of other review sites. My personal favorite is General's Joes. Check him out - but read my nonsense first!
These first two pictures are of the trooper fully loaded. This is a very unique figure because he can carry everything that he comes with. I have to use Marauder stands because Hasbro didn't include a stand in these higher priced figures and he can't stand on his own fully loaded. hell, he can barely stand on his own without any weapons!
Here is the full load of the troop's gear. A gas mask, a shovel, the backpack, a grenade launcher, four pistols (2 small, 2 large), two knives with a double sheath, a rifle, a helmet (swaps with bare head), and a cape.
A cape? Really? And it's a lovely shade of blue. there are other versions that have a tan cape and tan gas mask.
This is a crazy amount of gear and it's a testament to the creativity of the Hasbro design team. It is really creative how everything works together.
Good job again, Hasbro!
Sorry for the blurred images. I was rushing and should have retaken the images. Plus my old eyes are blurry at close range, so I didn't notice. You'll get the idea.
Knives drawn and ready rumble. Not bad! The knives are bit small for his grip, but they work.
Grenade launcher - nice two handed grip. Easily done.
Rifle - great with the two handed grip. he can almost sight down the scope.
The two larger pistols. The right hand has the freed trigger finger. I imagine you can carefully cut the left hand trigger finger free.
Small pistols - nice.
The shovel and the gas mask. Bright blue and orange. Yeah, okay, I guess. They both look fine stuck in their locations on the backpack.
Fully loaded, this Joe trooper thinks that he is ready for anything.
Zombie vipers? Bring 'em on!
Well, what about 8 Zombie vipers, smart guy?
"Aah, aah... no fair! I can't reach all my weapons!"
Maybe not being so overconfident can be beneficial to your health. And maybe having a massive amount of weapons shrouded in a cape is really not the best plan of action.
Final thoughts: I like this figure, but it's not one of the best every done. Hasbro did a great job on this guy and he may have been something intended as part of the 30th Anniversary line and was just pushed into the RET line. So much of the body style is similar to the 30th figures and not some of the less articulated figures in the Wave 1 RET series.
He has the swivel and pivots in his wrists, the double articulated knees, and rocker ankles. Cool features to the body, but not really that helpful to the figure. This particular trooper is a bit loose in the joints and tends to feel a bit floppy.
I do like this figure and would like to get a couple more when the toys return next year. I just didn't get the "Wow" feeling about this guy that I had expected.
He needs Marauder weapons - GO HERE!
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