FSS 4.0 Reveals: Interrogator

The Club has finally resumed the reveals for the remaining FSS figures. With the new subscription due date of July 15th, I hope they get busy with the rest of the reveals.

There seems to be mixed reactions, as usual, from the bits of the GI Joe fan community that I frequent. More butt-hurt, I suppose, because the figure doesn't look exactly like original or the parts choices aren't the best. "I would have used these parts..." Cry babies...

I think the Interrogator looks pretty good. The only issue that I have right now is that the head/helmet seems a bit too low on the neck. Hopefully, that's just an issue with this mock-up image. I think the color combination looks good. Not too thrilled with the accessories, but the gear has never really been a strong point with Club figures. 

I'm interested in the idea that he has a removable helmet. What does he look like underneath? Hopefully something cool from Boss Fight!

Dr. Mindbender Update

I finally had a few minutes to work on my plan to upgrade Dr. Mindbender. 

I used the hands and legs from the Club figure, and the head of course, on the Dr. Rex body. Not bad. I like him.

I don't recall this character's name from Hellboy II, but he works pretty well as one Dr. Mindbender's lab rats.  

The Future of the FSS

My thoughts at least...

Somebody posted these composite images of various GI Joe figures on various GI Joe Facebook pages and just slammed most of them. 

"I don't like any of these guys."

Well, why did you waste the time to make up the images and then post about your displeasure? Troll...

I liked the pictures enough that I thought that I would consider the potential of each character in terms of future GI Joe Club FSS releases. Some have already been done by the Club or recently by Hasbro.

I thought I would list each figure from each image and give a few thoughts about each. (top to bottom, right to left)

Row 1:

Frag Viper - recent Club Convention exclusive figure, don't think they'll make general release

Alley Viper - recent Hasbro releases during PoC and Retaliation

Annihilator - recent Club Convention exclusive figure, don't think they'll make general release (I'd love to get a few!)

Backblast - great character, would love to see an update

Countdown - cool character, probably doubtful with astronaut gear

Darklon - recent Club Convention exclusive figure, don't think they'll make general release

Dee-Jay - least favorite BF2000 figure, but if the Club ever did a Convention set with an update to BF2000, they'd have to bring him back

Deep Six - awesome figure, but doubtful that the Club or Hasbro would revisit this version

Row 2:

Dogfight - I like this guy, I'll take an update

Downtown - same situation, I'll take an update

Gnawgahyde - recent BBTS exclusive as "Gnaw"

HEAT Viper - recent Hasbro 50th figure, decent

Hot Seat - doubtful from either the Club or Hasbro

Long Range - doubtful from either the Club or Hasbro

Aero Viper - maybe? Pilot figures are probably pretty easy

Track Viper - maybe from the Club? Just make the helmet look like a human head could actually fit in it!

Payload - awesome original sculpt, something close to it will probably never be seen again

Row 3:

Recoil - yes please!

Rock&Roll - yes please! With the mini guns!

Scoop - yes please! I like the character

Snake Eyes - this version has been done by Hasbro

Stalker - yes to the arctic ranger!

TARGAT - would be great as an FSS figure, don't know if the Club could repro the back pack

Wild Boar - blah, don't care

Windchill - yes please! With the quality of the Club's Frostbite please!

Night Viper - recent Hasbro Retaliation/50th release

Row 1:
Claymore - Club Convention exclusive
The Fridge - doubtful, don't care
Mercer - recent BBTS exclusive (exceptional!)
Red Dog - recent BBTS exclusive
Taurus - the Bull... recent BBTS exclusive
Golobulus - with Pythona as the Club membership figure next year... a Convention set in the works?
Nemesis Enforcer - been done by Hasbro, maybe the Club could re-release and update paint apps?
Royal Guard - maybe the Club will tackle this one? I'd hate it because I would want several!
Row 2: BattleForce 2000 2100!
Avalanche - Club revisit? Convention Set? That would be cool!
Blaster - Club revisit? Convention Set? That would be cool!
Blocker - Club revisit? Convention Set? That would be cool!
Dodger - Club revisit? Convention Set? That would be cool!
Knockdown - Club revisit? Convention Set? That would be cool!
Maverick - Club revisit? Convention Set? That would be cool!
Super Trooper - Yes! Club Membership figure? Sure! Do it!
Skystriker - recent Club Convention figure
Row 3: Sky Patrol
Airborne - Club revisit? Convention Set? That would be cool!
Airwave - Club revisit? Convention Set? That would be cool!
Altitude - Club revisit? Convention Set? That would be cool!
Drop Zone - Club revisit? Convention Set? That would be cool!
Sky Dive - Club revisit? Convention Set? That would be cool!
Static Line - Club revisit? Convention Set? That would be cool!
Steel Brigade - Hasbro PoC & 50th release, great figure!
Steel Brigade Commander - recent Club Convention figure

Row 1: The Original Crew! 
Breaker - Hasbro release
Cobra Trooper - awesome 30th/PoC upgrade. Please, someone reuse the mold!
Flash - modern update needed
Grunt - modern update needed
Grand Slam - modern update needed
Row 2:
Hawk - revisited by Hasbro as the General
Steeler - current Hasbro 50th figure
Rock&Roll - I'd rather have a version 2 update
Scarlett - modern update - reuse the Resolute body mold!
Snake Eyes - version 54 is the best, that is all
Row 3:
Short Fuze - modern update needed
Stalker - recent Club Convention figure, head being used as Jammer for FSS 4.0, keep this character active!
Clutch - modern update needed, keep this character active!
Zap - modern update needed
Cobra Officer - similar to Cobra Trooper upgrade, same basic body, keep it alive!

Row 1:
Mutt & Junkyard - Hasbro from 2008, could use a modern update
Cover Girl - Club figure from FSS 1.0
Gung Ho - 50th update by Hasbro - on the way!
Lowlight - nothing better than the PoC update by Hasbro
Row 2:
Wetsuit - this version kinda done by Hasbro in '08, the Club did a land uniform version in 2011 as a Convention exclusive
Flint - recent 50th update
Beach Head - recent 50th update
Leatherneck - recent 50th update

I guess I don't have many suggestions for future FSS releases. Eventually, the Club is going to run out of ideas. Will Hasbro allow them to do more new characters? Could they turn to some Adventure team type figures with new "vintage" style head sculpts? Mike Power in 4" scale? That would be cool!

Just an exercise in imagination. How about your thoughts?

GI Joe Club Dr. Mindbender Review

I figure it's about time that I get caught up on my lame reviews. This year's "free" membership exclusive figure is a new version of Dr. Mindbender. His look comes from his appearance during the cold weather/BET sequence of the GI Joe animated movie. 

While the overall look of the figure is great, I'm still not terribly excited by the figure. I'm just not really digging the poofy purple coat. I know it looks pretty close to the design of character, but it still doesn't work for me. I wonder what Dr. Mindbender's favorite color is? I'm pretty sure this is the Renegades Cobra Commander body with the added poofy elements. 

The accessories are decent enough, nothing overly impressive, but they work. I'm going to have to print a sticker for the good Doctor's laptop.

The head sculpt is the real winner for this figure. Another Boss Fight creation that just captures the character. 

 While the paint apps are a bit off on the mustache, it's not anywhere near being 50th Anniversary Leatherneck bad.

Here's my current Mindbender in my collection. I was able to randomly pick up a white lab coat Dr. Lewis from the Rise of Cobra collection and nearly immediately was able to make a deal for the Dr. Mindbender figure from the Defense of Cobra Island set. That's a damn fine head sculpt and has served me well.

But now, I think I have my new Dr. Mindbender. The head sits a little high on the neck, but it will work. My only issue that I have is that the Rex body is just so much smaller than the more modern bodies. I'm working through my various bits and pieces to see if there is an alternative body. The criteria being that I have to be able to use the white lab coat. I'm not much into doing huge body part switches, so I'll have to figure something out.

Yeah, this is a pretty good look for Dr. Mindbender. I've got to make sure that I keep the lab coat. None of this bare chested, purple pants nonsense.

For now, the purple party dress body will go into the parts bin and I'll stick with the lab coat version.

What are your thoughts on the new Dr. Mindbender?

The Leader

Sometimes you just stumble across a figure that you just can't leave in the store. Once in a while, I'll swing by the local 5 Below and see if they have anything of interest back in the toy section. The GI Joe figures are long gone, but sometimes oddball treasures can be found.

I came across this figure of the Leader from the Avengers line. I've never seen the figure anywhere else, so for $5.00, why not? Somehow, I've got to be able to integrate him into my bizarre twisted world. Based on the look of the figure straight out of the package, he definitely has an alien vibe about him. I don't integrate too many super heroes into my GI Joe toy world, so he can possibly fit in as maybe some sort of alien?

The articulation of the body isn't too bad. There's pivoting knee and hip joints, rotating shoulders and elbows, and the ball and socket neck. No waist movement or any hand or feet movement.

Just look at that head sculpt! So awesome! (crappy picture aside)

Or maybe he's just Dr. Mindbender after a bad day in the lab? The socket in the head is a bit larger than the standard neck post for Joe figures, so there will need to be something added to tighten the head onto a neck.

I'm thinking his future lies as a Cobra scientist gone bad. What are your thoughts?