Spy Troops Wave 5 (Wave 8) - Heavy Water
Between Pit Viper and Heavy Water, I think everyone was trying to guess what these new guys’ specialties would be…and everyone seemed certain that Hasbro was too dumb to use Heavy Water as a Toxo-Viper-ish figure…they were certain he was a water trooper. But, Hasbro surprises us again, and gives us a figure that is just as his namesake implies- a radiological weapons specialist. Not only that, but he blows the original Toxo Viper figures right out of the aforementioned “water”.
With his elaborate tubing and bizarre helmet design, Heavy Water immediately caught everyone’s eye, and darn near everyone thought he looked pretty neat…myself included. But I wasn’t ready for how out and out awesome this figure was when I got it in my hands!
Personally, I’m not a big fan of super-specialized troopers. You can only find so much use for water troops, snow troops, desert troops and the like…and unfortunately, toxic environment troopers are no different. But when I do find a use for these figures, I will use them DEFINITELY. Where to start, really?
First of all, it definitely appears that they used the ’92 Toxo Viper’s head as a basis for the overall shape of this figure’s helmet and just took it to the next level. Broadening the helmet a little and adding a wicked red visor covering most of his face, he’s got the intimidation factor down right away. Combine that with the intricately molded gas mask built into the helmet, and immediately the figure’s use seems obvious, and yet they still manage to retain a threatening image. Very, very cool head and helmet sculpt.
The body they also did a fantastic job with. Hasbro managed to find the perfect line between bulk and sleekness, as this figure is large and massive without being oversized and unusable. He still retains a very full freedom of movement even with the elaborate armor and larger limbs. As a matter of fact, this large size only increases the intimidation factor…I can completely picture these guys storming down a hall with some hapless guards trying to defend against them as they literally pound right through them…some very cool images that will need to be incorporated into diorama form soon.
The chest armor is simple, yet effective and the large gauntlets look very neat, as they do on his partner in crime, Heavy Duty. Not only is this armor nice and bulky, with a really solid feel, but it is scattered with nice assortment of screws and dials and other little accoutrements which only add to the detail. Combine this all with those great hoses (which actually stay on remarkably well!!) and you have an excellent COBRA specialty troop, who I only wish had a less strict specialty.
His colors are used to their fullest extent as well. Rather than the popular purple base of old, Hasbro took the green shade from the ’92 Toxo Viper and made that the prevalent color, which was an excellent decision on their part. With the black bodysuit underneath it, the figure looks the part he’s supposed to, yet isn’t obnoxiously colored. Add to all of this, their excellent personification on the filecard, and these are can’t-miss COBRA troopers who will now become a staple in my army…now I just need to find some biological weaponry for them to steal… :/
Do not hesitate to grab this two-pack. I honestly feel that Heavy Duty may be a pleasant surprise, and you cannot go wrong with Heavy Water. Please pick this pack up, you will not be regret it.
