FSS 8.0 Line Up

The final line up for the Figure Subscription Service has been released! I'll try to update as the Club releases their reveals.

Code Name: CAPTAIN GRID-IRON
Looks good! Great parts choices. I wasn't sure how they could pull of an update, but he looks decent.

02. G.I. JOE MOBILE MISSILE SPECIALIST

Code Name: FAST DRAW
This guy was going to be tough. Most people figured that the Club would go with the rocket backpack from the PoC Duke figure. Makes sense. I'm not really crazy about the use of the Blowtorch vest and helmet. Not terrible though.

03. RED SHADOWS WEAPONS TECHNICIAN

Code Name: RED LASER
I don't know much about the Red Shadows and the various characters associated with them, but I do like the way the Club is reusing the Cobra Commander build. Looks good!

04. G.I. JOE BATTLE CORPS COMMANDER

Code Name: BULLET-PROOF

OMG!!! He doesn't have a removable helmet!!! Deth of teh line!!! Oh, my childhood!! Oh wait, I was in my 20's by the time Bullet-Proof came out. I think he looks pretty dang good. It's a decent reuse of the Dodger head sculpt and works just fine. Sure, there are other heads that may have worked, but did the Club have access to them? I don't know and most of the critics have no clue either. 

05. COBRA SHOCK TROOPS COMMANDER
Code Name: LT. CLAY MOORE
Yeah... not so much with this character. Not one of the better builds from the Club. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but this one just isn't working. Interesting choice of parts that seems to be eliciting a strong negative reaction from the fan base.

06. G.I. JOE V.A.M.P. DRIVER

Code Name: LANCE "CLUTCH" STEINBERG 

Oooh, let the butt hurt flow! It seems as if the Club tries to reproduce the vintage figure by using modern era parts. It doesn't always work out that way. First of all, the 1st wave of GI Joe characters, in terms of sculpting, were crap compared to later figures. Sculpting just improved throughout the history of the brand. In trying to replicate that original look, the Club chose some interesting parts. I think Clutch turned out just fine. He's not one of the strongest designs of this wave, but he'll do.

 

07. G.I. JOE ARCTIC ATTACK SOLDIER
Code Name: GREG "BLIZZARD" NATALE
A decent update to another snow trooper. Oh, the amount of butt hurt in regards to the choice of the head is breathtaking. OMG!!! Why didn't they make this or do that? Here's the deal, at least in my opinion. The Club is heading into being shut down at the end of 2018. The only thing they'll have left to do is to ship out the remains of FSS 8.0 and liquidate whatever inventory they have left. There's probably no time or money left to be put toward new tooling. I have no clue as to how the crew at the Club runs everything, but they've done it out of a genuine love of the brand. I think Blizzard turned out just fine. I suppose if I didn't like it, I could out to Walmart and buy GI Joe figures. Oh wait... #casuals

08. G.I. JOE DEFIANT SHUTTLE PILOT

Code Name: PAYLOAD (this guy is going to be a tough one to recreate)
Yup, Payload proved to be a tough one to do. Again, the amount of butt hurt has been near epic proportions. Quite a few folks actually like the design. I'm one of those who likes the design. Oh, but Payload is a pilot, not a space marine. Shut the hell up, he's a GI Joe, he's a soldier. Get over it.

09. COBRA B.A.T. LEADER
Code Name: OVER KILL
Based more on the VvsV version of Overkill, this design is well done. I'm not too crazy about the web gear, but I'm sure that I've got other pieces I can switch it out with. I'm really digging the robotic skull!

10. G.I. JOE L.R.R.P. TROOPER
Code Name: RECOIL 
Interesting design for Recoil. Thankfully, the Club didn't go with baby blue weapons that the original figure had. I'm guessing the Club couldn't do a new head sculpt to match the original hat, but this version with the removable helmet looks just fine. The camo pattern is nicely done!

11. G.I. JOE NINJA COMMANDO
Code Name: BUSHIDO (the snow ninja... oh boy...)
Well, yeah, this is certainly Bushido. One of the more goofy looking of the Ninja Force members, the Club did a decent enough job on him. Predictable build. Decent job on the helmet. I'm wishing I had jumped on the Zombie Initiative set when it was being clearanced by the Club. I've had a weakness for the modern era ninja figures, so he works for me.

12. COBRA MERCENARY
Code Name: MUNITIA
I don't really know much about the character, but this is a solid build. Well done by the Club!

13. XXXXXXXXX??? No hints yet as to yet about who this might be.