I’ve had my nose buried in other projects this week and the G.I. Joe Collectors Club has unleased two more BattleForce: 2000 reveals: Dodger and Blaster.
Like they’ve been doing from the start, they seem to be sticking really close to the vintage aesthetic, and the designs are, for the most part, really solid. I am a bit concerned about the Photoshop mock up head sculpts, especially the ones with the non-removable helmets, as I fear they may suffer from Static Line syndrome.
While many folks complained about Static Line’s permanently attached helmet, I wasn’t all that distraught about that component, but more about how the attached helmet almost looked like it was a part of his head. Whoever is sculpting these heads doesn’t appear to be accommodating for the actual shape and size of the head underneath the helmet and the result is an almost “squished” look where the helmets are far too small and way too tight.
Time will tell what the actual finished product will look like, I hate to make judgments based purely on a Photoshop mock up, but that’s all we have to go on at this point.
One question I really do have though – WHERE’S BLASTER’S MASK???? Seriously that was a really awesome element to the original figure. Very disappointed that they couldn’t find some way financially to include that, choosing instead to retool exact replicas of vintage accessories. Curious choice on that one, I have to admit.
The builds for these two figures are pretty decent, though as I mentioned above I’m a little confused as to why money would be invested in retooling exactly replicas of the classic weapons when a 30 second trip to eBay will find any replacement you want for pennies on the dollar.
Regardless… we’re now a good chunk of the way through the reveals and so far I’m liking the majority of the BattleForce: 2000 stuff, but am still really questioning the choice to include 9 Battle Android Troopers. Let’s see what the rest look like.
Keep watching GIJoeCon.com for updates and see the previews below!
I’m with you on the heads. Dodger’s tiny helmet makes him look like a jockey.
Dodger has been one of my most wanted since the modern era kicked off…he’s terrible. The limbs are ok but that head! That torso! Shite.
Dodger’s arms clearly don’t fit that torso. I hate having non-removable helmets but if they insist on going that route they could at least make it look realistic.
I think what is missing on Dodger is his helmet mic, the vintage one had that silver microphone coming off the left side that really gave him that space marine look. He is missing that, he also needs more grey and brown on him, too much green. Blaster does need his face mask for sure. I am curious to see how they do Blocker.
Dodger and Avalanche also appear to have the exact same face. The Photoshop is pretty bad every year but this year, whoa. Nice green eyebrows and pink skin on Dodger.
OMG, these figures are dogshit LOLOLOL