Kim "Jinx" Arashikage - Figure Subscription Service (Wave 1)

While fans across the web were lamenting the fact that this Jinx didn't fully resemble the classic version that they all loved and wanted, I was jumping up and down for joy that we finally had a version of Storm Shadow's cousin that didn't look totally out of place on the next generation battle field. No slippers, no weird long coat, just an aggressive looking female ninja in a stealth body suit with arm blades and a machine gun.

The fact that she pulled some obvious influences from Valor Vs. Venom and Sigma 6 was only a bonus. Then the fact that she came with some previously canceled accessories from City Strike Scarlett was only an even bigger bonus. Yeah, Jinx was just one big bonus.

Getting the figure in hand, Jinx delivers on almost every level. Using the Resolute Scarlett body as a base (which was repurposed for City Strike Scarlett as we all know by now) she has great range of motion, very nice detail, and can be used in any number of combat situations. The figure is sleek, but still manages to have excellent sculpted detail in the pouches, knee pads, and texture of the suit itself. This is a great reminder of how terrific the G.I. Joe: Resolute figures really were, and somewhat ahead of their time.

If there is one point of debate on this figure it's the fact that her neck is just a little bit long, and I can agree with that. With the head retooled from a Valor Vs. Venom version, it looks somewhat small and out of place perched up on top of that long neck. It's a somewhat minor complaint from an overall great looking figure. The head does work well, I just wish perhaps she had a scarf or something to better conceal the neck length.

The paint deco of this figure is simply perfect. A great balance of reds and blacks with just a little gray and tan worked in as nice call backs to both Valor Vs. Venom and Sigma 6. At first I was having a really hard time seeing what everyone else was seeing when it came to comparing this figure to the VvV version, but once I took the side by side shot, the comparisons were evident. That's a real testament to how the Club was able to apply the deco to such a different figure, yet make it a great homage to the older version.

Of course Jinx wouldn't be Jinx without her trusty dragon logo, and it's right here on her chest as it should be. I love the nice combination of black along the legs, red on the inside, complimented by the leathery brown sheaths and light gray.

ACCESSORIES

As mentioned, this figure really shines when it comes to the weapons she comes with. The tonfa swords, sword sheath and sword all come from City Strike Scarlett, a figure that was initially planned for the Rise of Cobra line, but got canceled during the transition to the Pursuit of Cobra theme. It is great to get these weapons out into collectors' hands and I'm glad the Club was able to make this happen.

Along with the canceled accessories, Jinx also comes with a great grappling hook, a pair of nunchuks, and a silenced MAC-10 submachine gun. All of these accessories function great with the character, and lend some nice elements to the stealth suit aspect of the character. Lastly, she comes with a handy blindfold so she can train with blind master, or even wear it as a headband. Nice touch.

In one fell swoop, the G.I. Joe Collectors Club managed to make not only a great figure that can work in modern day G.I. Joe military operations, but also throw in some bones for the canceled City Strike Scarlett, and nice homages to Valor Vs. Venom and Sigma 6. The fact that all of this is accomplished in one figure and it's done so nicely makes Jinx one of the highlights of the FSS in my mind, and a certain early favorite among the four figures I have received so far.

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