Scarlett - Future Noir

Future Noir Scarlett is basically Black Widow, but I'm okay with that. When you consider the origin of the G.I.Joe comic as a failed pitch for a Nick Fury based team book, it seems likely that she was based off Black Widow to begin with, so why not?

Like most of the Future Noir versions of the Joes, Scarlett is younger and "cooler" than the original, in a Buffy the Vampire Slayer kind of way. Instead of a crossbow, she has a mini-bow on her arm and throws little light dart things. She's less serious than the way Scarlett is usually portrayed, but still familiar.

I used the Heroclix Manhunter, which tool some work since she had a textured mask. I had to sand the face a little which resulted in a little loss of detail. I used a small piece of a paperclip to make the bow on her arm.

More office supplies put to good use.

-c

Roadblock - Future Noir

As a kid, I found Roadblock's rhyming on the cartoon a bit tiresome. So, it's kind of funny that I like the Future Noir version of him because he does some very similar rhyming. Maybe it makes more sense because the Future Noir version is into conspiracy theories and stuff, so the rhyming just makes him seem a little unhinged. In the cartoon, it was just...weird.

Since Future Noir is a Black & White comic, and Roadblock isn't featured on the cover, it's hard to guess what color his uniform should be, so I went with what I felt like he would wear.

I guess his right arm is armored? Not really sure.

Pretty much just repainted Heroclix Crossbones with some green stuff goggles.

-c

Baroness - Future Noir

Back in 2010, IDW created a 2 issue G.I.Joe special called Future Noir that was a different take on the normal Joes. To me, it felt like G.I.Joe crossed with Nextwave or maybe even Buffy. Since nothing else came from that special, I assume it was not that successful, but I found it interesting.

At least enough to paint some minis for it...

Future Noir Baroness is similar to regular Baroness, but with a whip. Luckily for me, the Heroclix Viper mini has a while and a very similar look, which made it easy to create this version of the Baroness. All I really had to change was the red collar.

I decided not to try to add her glasses as the Future Noir Baroness glasses are weird little angled things that would be a pain to make.

-c

S.A.W.-Viper - Cobra Heavy Machine Gunner

The infamous S.A.W.-Viper. Responsible for killing more Joes in the comic than any other character ever, I think. That was a pretty terrible story arc.

I don't remember where I saw it, but someone referred to the S.A.W.-Viper's resemblance to Marvel's Paladin. By coincidence, I was already planning to paint the Heroclix Paladin up as S.A.W.-Viper, so I consider that fortuitous.

Pretty much the only mods I did were to make his helmet using green stuff.

He better not kill any of my Joe minis though...

-c

Toxo-Viper - Cobra Hostile Environment Trooper

The Toxo-Viper was not a figure I was fond of when it came out. His design looked to me like some kind of Totem pole or Hawaiian mask.

But over time, I've grown to like the look.

For Toxo-Viper, I started with the Heroclix Zod from the Man of Steel set and added his pack and a few mods to his helmet with green stuff.

After painting, I think it came out pretty darn good.

-c

Star-Viper - Stellar Stiletto Pilot

The Cobra Star-Vipers didn't see much action in the comics or the cartoon, which is a shame because they have a really nice uniform. A very "Space Navy" kind of look.

I think 1988 was the year I started losing interesting in the Joe toys. I know I had some of the figures from that year, but not all of them. And I don't think I had many of the vehicles. So, I'm not really sure if I ever even had this guy. I don't remember having the Stellar Stiletto, but I might have gotten the Star-Viper in a trade. Who knows?

I originally based the Star-Viper mini off the minor character in the comic who infiltrates the Joe base and is mostly shown without his helmet but instead with a small bandage on his forehead (from the implant.) After painting that version though (again using the Heroclix Red Robin), I decided I wanted the helmeted version more, so I slapped on a helmet of green stuff.

I suppose I could have done a second one with the helmet, like I've been doing with the M.A.S.K. miniatures, but...eh...

-c

Cutler - Aerodynamics Program

Cutler was a minor character in Tron: Uprising, but a cool one. The episodes where he shows up are pretty significant and his relationship with Beck gets...complicated.

Without getting too spoilery, when Cutler left Argon City, I wasn't sure we'd see him again. When he returned toward the end of the city, let's just say, I was surprised...in more ways than one.

For Cutler, I used the Heroclix Tyroc. I mainly picked that mini because I liked his pose. He looked tough, like Cutler. On reflection, I could have tried to make his hair more of a flat top like Cutler's but...

-c

Mara - Vehicle Maintenance

For a series about Tron, where the two main characters are Tron and Beck, the other characters get plenty of opportunities to shine. In Mara's case, I would argue that she gets THE best scene in the series.

In the final episode, as the guards start to surround Beck and Tron and are ordering the other programs out of the way, it's Mara that stands up to them. She's the one who starts the revolution.

The hardest part about make mini-Mara was getting her hair right. Took a little work with the green stuff to get that little flip in her hair.

-c

Zed - Vehicle Maintenance

When I first started watching Tron Uprising, I was a little afraid that Zed was just going to be played as the nerdy, comic relief character. But I was happy to see that he got a lot of character development and got some really great scenes.

Plus, I think it's pretty clear that he and Mara were going to be an item, right?

Translating the Tron Uprising style to miniatures can be tricky. For Zed, I wanted someone a little shorter than Beck or Tron, so I used the Heroclix Timber Wolf. I used green stuff to (try to) make Zed's weird bowl cut. I think I kind of got it.

Any guesses who will be next?

-c

Mongolian Warrior - Phantom Brigade

Cobra raising the spirits of the dead to use as an army might sound outlandish, but for the Sunbow cartoon, it was pretty routine.

The Mongolian Warrior was one of three spirits brought back by a gypsy to serve Cobra Commander. She rode a spectral horse and fired icy arrows. She could even make it snow! So, she would fit right into a D&D game as is.

For the Mongolian Warrior, I used a Heroclix Mirage and added her skirt with green stuff. I see I forgot to give her those arm guard things. I used a different picture for reference when painting though, so it's possible I picked a scene where the animators for got to add them.

Stranger things have happened.

-c

Teiko Sasaki - G.I.Joe Trainee

In the Sunbow episode "Cobra Quake", Quick Kick and Bazooka (?) are in Japan, training new Joe recruits. We don't see to much from most of the recruits and they don't even get names, but the one that *does* get a name is Teiko.

This episode is pretty much the only time Teiko appears, other than a mention in G.I. Joe vs. Cobra: The Essential Guide, and she plays a stereo-typical Japanese female roll. It would have been nice to see her come back as a full fledged member of the team. Oh well...

For Teiko, I used the Star Wars Miniatures Czerka Scientist and just painted everything white except the boots, which I painted to look like pants and bare feet.

-c

Mara - Mermaid

Technically, Mara isn't a mermaid. She's a former Cobra Eel that was experimented on by Cobra scientists (probably an early attempt at what would later be perfected with the Hydro-Vipers.)

But Shipwreck calls her a mermaid, so why not?

The Sunbow cartoon introduced tons of non-figure characters. Some great, some not-so-great.

Mara was a good one though. She had a good enough back story that they brought her back later (sort of) for "There's No Place Like Springfield." She was also smarter than most Cobra soldiers.

For Mara, I used Heroclix Colleen Wing. Her skintight costume works well as a Cobra wetsuit and her long hair fits Mara. I trimmed her katana down to be more like a knife. Mara with a katana seemed a little too much.

Also, I tried to make he skin a little purplish like the cartoon.

She kind of looks like an X-men character now.

-c

Cliff Dagger - Demolitions Expert

Cliff Dagger fills one of the essential slots in an 80's cartoon evil organization: the Dumb Guy.

The dumb guy's role is to screw up at important times to make sure the bad guys don't win for good. Cliff Dagger was an expert at it.

For Cliff Dagger I used a Heroclix Hired Henchman and added his Torch mask with green stuff. I tried to make the mask look accurate, but I'll admit he kind of looks like a rabbit.

A dumb rabbit.

-c