Spy Troops Wave 1 (Wave 5) - Tunnel Rat
Tunnel Rat has always been a favorite of mine for reasons I can't really describe. His figure just seemed very cool to me as a kid, and his accessories were absolutely great! Not only that, but his representation in the G.I. Joe Movie actually wasn't half bad...all in all, he's been pretty cool no matter which medium he's appeared in. As a short, but fiery Army Ranger and underground combat expert, Tunnel Rat really shines...but does this new figure live up to it's history?
For the most part, yes. The mold is a fine one, but nothing stunning. He's got the typical army pants and vest, all adorned with the requisite pockets and pouches. His face is sculpted well with lots of character, and his ever-popular bandana is still present. The goggles hanging from his neck are a nice touch, and I really love the addition of the twin pistols at his waist. Hasbro did that differently enough that they really stand out and really look cool.
His non-descript mold is really more made great by the colors and paint applications, though. The brown camouflage is very nicely applied, and I like how it came out. The green shades are also fairly appealing, and match Stalker's colors as well, which make these two a cool pair of infantry squad members. The little touches of gray and black here and there also add some variety, with the silver pistols making things stand out just enough. His green camo bandana is very nicely done, too, and the little touch with the rank on his left shoulder is a cool point to notice.
So all in all, the figure is...well, good. He's nothing to write home about, and I'm honestly not sure if he'll see more use than my original Tunnel Rat figure. His Spy Troops gear is kind of neat. I like the shield and helmet quite a bit! Very cool Cobra gear, but it has a hard time working for me as a real disguise...I mean, the Joe logo on his arm is still in plain sight! :) Still, with a little imagination, the disguise could work, and overall, the figure is a nice one, but like Chief Torpedo, there just isn't anything really amazing about him. He'll remain a standard infantry staple, but may not see much solo action.
