Marauder Task Force Review

Just getting my two cents out there...

I am a huge fan of Marauder Inc equipment. If you've never heard of them, then I really don't know why you are here. They've been "sort of" a part to my internet claim to fame in recent years. I did a review of some of their weapons way back in 2010 and that particular post has been my most visited post around the world. Oddly enough, when you do an image search for "types of guns with names," the picture on my post usually shows up in the first few slots on Google. The down side is that my original image was "borrowed" and used on various lame sites to promote whatever firearm agenda of the site. Ha! Toy Guns!

Marauder recently started up a Kickstarter with the intention of creating their own line of action figures. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take part in that start up, but I knew I would get involved as a customer! There was a brief bump in the road in the release of the figures, but they recently sent out all the packages to the Kickstarter backers and added the figures to their store.

I ordered one figure in the dark green color palette and most of the gear that goes along with the figure. You basically order the various bits and pieces to build your unique figure.

You start off with just a basic pre-painted body. The body has the typical articulation as a modern GI Joe figure. The ankles pivot and swivel. Double-jointed knees. Waist pivot joint, not the mid-waist joint. Rotate and pivot hands. Pivot and rotate elbows. Ball and socket head. 

The head selection is impressive. There is only one style pf sculpted unmasked head, but it is molded in varying skin tones and hair colors. The face is good enough to work with any of the skin tones. The other heads are primarily various masked heads in various deco patterns.

There's a pretty big assortment of head gear as well. There's a few different styles of helmets and a beret. Each item comes in colors that can be matched to the basic body style.

There's also a nice selection of holsters and sheaths. You can buy individual pieces, but they do have sets with one of each that make shopping more convenient. One cool aspect about the simple holsters is that there are left and right holsters. Double carry, baby! No pistols or grenades are included with these sets, but they are available elsewhere on the site.

There's a huge assortment of pockets and pouches, each in the different color palette of the basic body. I went with the set just to get everything. 

While the weaponry is located elsewhere in the store, I wanted to buy a new item for my new troop. I went with the ACR Assault Rifle with the full load of add-on sites and scopes. While I like the idea of the folding stock, I'm not too crazy about it in-hand. The joint doesn't stay put and tends to move around a bit too much. Not a huge deal.

There is also a selection of modular vests to complement your figure. I chose to go with the armored vest and shoulder pads.

For me, I needed one particular item to properly enjoy this figure. My damn reading glasses. Shit.

The key to what will be the huge success of these figures is the modular functionality of the figures. There's a socket in each upper arm, one in each thigh, and one in each lower leg. This allows for the various bits and pieces to be added according to the desire of the owner. And that is damn cool.

Here's my troop loaded up, with his hat and goggles.

A different load out with a holster on each hip.

At this point, I'm almost satisfied with the load out for my troop. While the pieces do remain fairly secure, Marauder recommends gluing the pieces on in order to secure them.

I think this is his final load out; I don't have him in front of me as I write.

One thought came to mind as I was putting this guy together. I recalled the old Twilight Zone episode, "The Soldier." Crude effects and costume, but still a powerful story.

"Nims qarlo clobregnny prite arem aean teann deao."

Are these figures expensive? Yeah, they are. They're more expensive than the Club's FSS figures and are better because Marauder is all in-house design and they are not reliant on the demands or constraints of Hasbro.

Are they worth it? Hell yeah! But these are not toys for little kids. These are designed more for the adult collector. Maybe a teen aged collector, but seriously, how many of those are out there right now?

Are they a threat to GI Joe? I don't know. After considering the upcoming "50th" releases this August, I'm less inclined to pick up the troop builders or the previously released characters and save up $$$ for Marauder Task Force figures. Hasbro should take notes from Marauder Inc; they've tapped into a market that may take a few dollars from the Hasbro coffers.

I highly recommend these if you are a fan of the military action figure! I've added enough links for you to go begin building your own army. 
Go there now and buy some!!
Then come back and tell me your thoughts!

FSS 4.0 Reveals: Outback - Tiger Force

Next up from the Club reveals for FSS 4.0 is Outback. Wait a minute, doesn't Outback have red hair? Yeah, he does, but for this release, the Club went with the deco from the Action Force version.

There's been the usual amount of butt-hurt going around the online community about the choice of parts. It looks like this figure is using the older 25th Anniversary torso. There's probably another choice for the torso from a more modern figure that could have had the same or very similar effect. The arms have been updated to include swivel/pivot hands and that's a good thing. 

The head is one of my biggest issues. It's another excellent sculpt by Boss Fight, but it just looks a little too big for the torso. While Outback looks cool, he's not one of the strong points of the reveals for FSS 4.0.

I don't want to sound like a Club apologist, but I don't know their side of the story. What are the reasons why they choose specific body parts? How limited of a selection do they have based on Hasbro's input? The Club does have issues. Personally, I think that communication has been one of their biggest issues. Last year's FSS 3.0 was a long drawn out release of figures. Just a quick email to state"Hey gang, we're running behind." Something just to let folks know what's going on. The monthly newsletter isn't enough and is not quick enough.

Personally, I would like to see a series of articles in the Club newsletter regarding the design process of either an FSS set or a Convention set. What are the criteria and constraints in the design and production process? I would be very interest to know.

Because knowing is half the battle.

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?