Spy Troops Wave 1 (Wave 5) - Recondo
For some unknown reason I cannot describe, the moment I saw Recondo back in 1984, I immediately loved the character. I don't know why, but something about him made him one of my first stars in the G.I. Joe universe, and his portrayal in the comic book only increased that opinion. Very swiftly, Snake Eyes, Flash, and my custom figure of "Mad Dog" were supplemented by Recondo, and he became a staple in my Joe universe at even that early an age. As I'm sure you've noticed if you follow my Dio-Stories, my love for the character and figure continues to this day and I use him whenever I see fit.
When I heard the figure was being re-released for Wave 5, I was very happy to hear, but a little tentative about what the figure might end up like. Would this be a Recondo I could know, love and use, or would Hasbro do something drastic?
The answer was...all of the above. :) The first pics of Wave 5 I saw, I immediately thought Crosshair might be the Recondo of my dreams. The boonie hat and accessory complimented looked almost too good to be true. In fact, it was. But when I finally saw the actual Recondo figure...well, my feelings were mixed. Without the moustache and with a cap instead of the boonie hat, I just didn't know what to think. This looked like some kid, not like the grizzled Jungle Warfare expert leading my missions for the past 16 years. Sure, the figure looked cool...the colors were good, but man, it just didn't look like Recondo, and I immediately had a distaste for the figure. It looked like my trusty '84 Recondo was going to have a few more years left in him...
But then I actually GOT the figure. Things changed.
Just fooling with the figure, this is a figure I can USE. He's got swivel wrists and swivel calves, making him one of the more poseable of the new 2002/2003 figures released to date. His mold is GREAT. Baggy army pants and kneepads...some great boots. But the torso is what really makes the figure cool. The chest pad is adorned with numerous pouches and weapons...this Recondo is ready for action!
Still, though, there was something about the face...I can deal with the Joes losing and gaining some facial hair here and there...that stuff happens. But the baseball cap just didn't seem right to me. Didn't scream Jungle Warfare like his old hat did. Still, the figure was almost too cool not to use!
Top this mold off with some pretty neat colors...tans and browns and greens, very reminiscent of the old Recondo's color scheme. The camo pattern on the legs is rock solid...the apps throughout the rest of the figure look nice as well. Overall, this figure comes together very, very nicely, and even though my 16 years of use with this character has somewhat forced my mind to see Recondo with a 'stache and boonie hat, this figure is very quickly growing on me. I'm starting to see him as Recondo...a shaved and more modern Recondo, but Recondo nonetheless. All in all, everything in this figure does come together to mean Recondo to me, facial hair and hat or not. I can see him being used as he should be used...
But to ease the transition a little, I added some minor changes to one of my 'Condo's...Made him look a little more "retro". :) While I think this figure is great as it is, the retro look adds something as well, I think, and does seem a LOT more "Recondo-esque". Still, even without customization this figure is cool, and one of the nicer figures in Wave 5.
