FSS 5.0: Ambush & Scoop

Well, the mystery is over! The delayed 2nd shipment of FSS 5.0 finally arrived. It's Ambush and Scoop!

Let's take a quick look at these two figures. I have mixed emotions regarding both of these characters. Ambush was decent enough back when he first appeared, but he never really connected with me as a great character. Scoop was quite different; I really liked the character. Of course, there's his first animated appearance in which he is initially a traitor to GI Joe. I don't recall the whole story, which is probably a good thing.

To me, the idea of an embedded combat journalist is a great idea for a GI Joe character, especially in my personal twisted GI Joe world. More on that later when I get down to the Scoop figure.

In terms of the Ambush figure, I'm just generally indifferent to the figure. I try to be a Club loyalist, but I'm really not very thrilled with their build of Ambush. There are just too many odd issues. I know, I've said it before and I'll say it again - I don't know the process that the Club has to go through in the design of the final figures.

See? He looks pretty slick, all loaded up with all of his gear. Sure, the weapons don't match what he originally had, but I don't really recall what they were and I don't feel like looking them up, yojoe.com has your answers! 

The head sculpt is great! It was originally used for General Mayhem figure that came with one of the Convention sets. Repainted, it works great for Ambush. It would also make for an awesome Abraham custom from The Walking Dead (pre Lucille encounter of course).

Here's the primary issue with Ambush - that neck... He's got an extra vertebrae in there, I suppose. "Giraffe neck" seems to be the current descriptive term for these types of situations.
Another issue is that the forearms are a bit too long and just make his arms seem a bit too long. Gear him up and pose him and he'll be just fine. The Club also chose the two=part torso first seen in a Dusty figure from the 25th Anniversary series. Those body styles are a bit dated. Perhaps the Club could have gone with another more modern body. I don't know.

Next up is Scoop. In my bizarre twisted GI Joe world, he's on the top of Cobra's hit list of GI Joe personnel, much more dangerous than Snake Eyes or Roadblock after he burned his souffle. Scoop, along with Mainframe and Sparks, are extremely dangerous, because they get inside the Cobra data structure and find the evidence that Cobra isn't this benevolent protector of the American people. Mainframe and Sparks are the computer geeks, while Scoop gets the video evidence of Cobra atrocities. 

I really need to write more about my crazy world.

 So how did the Club do with the figure? Well, he's quite orange, but I don't have a huge issue with the color. The Club  reused the head sculpt from Sky Patrol Airborne from the Convention set... last year? Unfortunately, for both characters, the helmet is part of the head sculpt. A little tragic, but I'm sure it's a cost savings to the Club.

While it's great that the Club used the camera from the boxed set from several years ago, it is a bit outdated in terms of modern technology. A more modern camera would have been better, especially one that Scoop could have actually held. Again, that would require new tooling from the Club. I'm okay with the camera. He does also come with a microphone and a green walkie talkie that was temporarily misplaced for his photo shoot. Pretty much outdated tech, but the Club uses what it has access to.

I'm also glad he comes with a weapon. These guys are members of GI Joe. You don't just walk off a Hollywood set (Quick Kick) or the circus (Star Duster) and become a GI Joe. You are active military and you get recruited to the team. Then you go through the training process. I've seen hints of special forces training, it ain't easy stuff. I'm sure nearly all of the team goes through it. I have my doubts for some of the characters. I wouldn't expect Admiral Keel Haul having gone through the ground troops training sessions.

So for these two figures, I'll have to give a "thumbs up" for Scoop, and a "thumbs half up" for Ambush. We're up to eight figures having been released from the Club for FSS 5.0. That means that there are five more to go, with the unrevealed #13 in that count. Or is #13 truly unrevealed? The Club did reveal that it would be a female character.

Someone got the wrong stand with their Scoop figure and it had "GI Jane" on it. Hmm... I'm interested. Am I upset at the spoiler? Hell, these are just action figures, big deal. I'm interested to see the build of the figure? What's the head sculpt look like? Are they going to use the ample torso from the Pythona figure? Time will tell!

GI Joe Club FSS 5.0 Reveals

All the shenanigans seem to have settled down about the reveals for the Club's FSS 5.0 set of figures. I've been it a bit of a funk lately, at least in relation to toys and stuff. Surgery, new job, moving... it's all piled up to make for an interesting summer. The toys and this silly blog got put to the side for a while.

I've signed up for FSS 5.0 and have previously been a part of FSS 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0. I figured that I might as well throw out my two cents about the troops for FSS 5.0. Nothing better than sharing your opinion on the internet, right?

I loaded the pictures as to how I had saved them, not in the sequence that they were released. So, what the hell? Let's get going.

First up is Ambush. I wasn't really a huge fan of the original figure and I think that the Club did a decent enough job in capturing the essence of the character. As has been pointed out elsewhere, his neck seems extra long with that head propped up on that collar. Maybe it's just a pre-production issue and hopefully it will be resolved. In general, I'm in favor of this figure.

Next up is the Viper based on version 4 from 1994. I really didn't like the original figure much. I'm sure I bought a few, but nowhere near the amount of regular Vipers that I would have bought back in '86. Now we have another troop builder from the Club. I can't really fault the Club, primarily because the Cobra figures were largely the troops, with the individual personalities being a smaller amount. I think the figure looks well made, but I just don't know yet if I'm going to keep him. The design doesn't really fit into the design of the current modern Vipers or Cobra soldiers. Right now, I'm thinking he's going to head to the secondary market. I'm thinking I should be able to turn him for a decent profit.

Next up is Charbroil, another figure that wasn't terribly exciting in his original form. I think the Club did a decent job with him. I like this design over the Hasbro Blowtorch design. Charbroil is a keeper.

Next up is Darklon. The Club used the character in one of the recent Convention sets and he looked pretty good. I don't recall the build and I'm too lazy to go look it up right now. I think the Club did a great job; I think the parts choices work. I've always liked the character and will be pleased to add him to my collection.

No, this isn't Gung Ho. This is his Action Force counterpart, Gaucho. The original Gaucho was just a repaint of the original Gung Ho, so... yeah... Easy figure for the Club. He's way too much like Gung Ho for him to fit into my GI Joe world. I don't know what I'm going to do with this figure. Keep or sell? Time will tell. 

Next up is General Flagg. I like the design from the Club. Not sure how well that hat is fitting on his head, but the build looks pretty decent. I'm looking forward to adding him to my team.

Raptor? The Club decided to tackle Raptor? They certainly did and they did a damn fine job. I've seen customs in which the jungle viper "wings" were used for Raptor customs and I'm pleased that the Club went the same direction. The "wings" work great for Raptor and I'm excited about adding this goofball to my Cobra lineup.

I have always liked the character of Scoop. A combat journalist always sounded like a cool part of the team. Those odd combat jobs, like the journalist or the combat engineer (Tollbooth) always appealed to me. I think the Club captured his look well enough, but I'm disappointed that the head sculpt has a non removeable helmet.

Sneak Peek in his more accurate colors is up next. I liked the FSS 4.0 Tiger Force version and this guy looks just fine as well. Lazy on the part of the Club? Yeah, maybe, but it makes sense. I'm not sure why Tiger Force came out before this regular version, but either way, this figure works. I'm pleased to add him to my team.

Next up is Steel Raven, from the Club's comic story. Loosely based on a SKAR character from GI Joe: Extreme. Wow! The Club dipped into the mutant cousin/line of GI Joe? Not bad! There's been some criticism about Steel Raven looking like a female Major Bludd. Yeah, maybe. Whatever. I think she looks pretty good and well designed. 

Next up is Xamot, from the "Shattered Glass" storyline from the Club's Adventure Team comic. Whatever the backstory, we have one of the twins in a business suit. I'm quite pleased with this choice. Does the Club have plans for Tomax? Maybe in the future? 

Next up is the biggest source of nerd rage of FSS 5.0 - Salvo. This is the first concept from the Club and the Joe fan community exploded in a fury of outrage! Personally, I didn't care too much at the time. I've always imagined that the Club has to use what Hasbro allows them to use. Apparently the fan base interpreted the somewhat bulky original figure with the idea that Salvo had to be a big dude. Nerd outrage ensued... But the fan base did a good thing. They politely went to the Club's forums and reacted in a positive fashion, which resulted in...

This new version of Salvo. The Club offered up a design using the Retaliation Roadblock torso which gives Salvo much more bulk to him, much more in line with the muscular original figure. I've got to admit, the fan base did a good thing and I'm really hoping that the Club can create this version of Salvo.

Finally, there will be the mystery 13th figure. The Club has revealed that the figure will be a female figure and a "highly requested GI Joe team member." So what does that mean? Sounds interesting, I'm looking forward to seeing who it will be.

I was pretty much sold on FSS 5.0 from just the original line up and the release of the preproduction designs further completed my buy in of the line up. Right now (only considering the 12 named figures), it looks like there are ten solid keepers, with the Viper being a probable sale and Gaucho being on the fence as to what his final fate will be in the end.

My only real complaint with the Club and the FSS figures is the lack of communication. I don't want to know all of their business, but keep the fans updated on production and expected shipping delivery times. Just give us something once in awhile. Please.

One last question - Will the last figures from FSS 5.0 be released before the 2017 Convention? I certainly hope so.