Croc Master - Cobra Reptile Trainer

Croc Master or Bane?
Bane or Croc Master?

Which came first?

I knew when I stared this project who I would use for Croc Master. It was just a matter of finding the Bane Heroclix at a reasonable price.

Croc Master is another one of the divisive figures from the '87 line, like Raptor and Crystal Ball. Some didn't like the idea behind him, but I thought he made a great partner for Raptor. Plus, I figured a guy with a crocodile was kind of the equivalent of Mutt & Junkyard.

Although, there has been some question on whether his pet is a croc or an alligator...

-c

Chuckles - Undercover

Chuckles was a new Joe introduced in G.I.Joe the Movie and boy did he get screwed!

In the comic, Chuckles was a crafty, intelligent undercover agent who was involved in several important operations. In the movie, he couldn't speak (apparently) and was just kind of a muscular goon.

Poor Chuckles.

For Chuckles, I knew the main thing I wanted in a mini was a shoulder holster. I could have just made one with green stuff, but I decide to use the Heroclix Gotham Undercover. The Heroclix mini has a tie so I figured, if Chuckles was going to wear a tie with a loud Hawaiian shirt, it would need to be very 80's looking.

So...white tie.Maybe I should have added piano keys to it to make it *really* 80's.

-c

Golobulus - Cobra-La Leader

If there's anything that divided G.I. Joe fans, it was Cobra-La's inclusion in the G.I.Joe cartoon movie and what it did to Cobra Commander's back story.

I was kind of on the fence about the movie at the time. I didn't like the retcon, but thought the Cobra-La toys were kind of cool. Besides, what could be more Cobra than a snake-dude.

Now, I consider the movie to be like an Elseworlds or What If story. There's some good ideas in there...along with some lousy ones too.

For Golobulus, I used a Heroclix Lava Man and replaced his legs with green stuff. I made a half-hearted attempt to pattern the snake body like the figure but decided it was too much work. I also added his armor and eye patch thingy with green stuff.

COBRA-LALALALALALALA!

(Had to do it.)

-c

Cobra Commander - With Battle Armor

Is this the only Joe figure that, instead of having a military specialty listed, has a "With _____"? If not, I think it might be the first. Why didn't they at least put "Cobra Leader with Battle Armor" or something?

There's a whole big discussion you can get into about who is *really* in the battle armor, but no matter who it is, suddenly Cobra Commander is even more menacing.

I wasn't sure when I picked the Heroclix Taskmaster how it would come out, but I'm pleased that it works as well as it does. I altered the head a little and added the hose with green stuff. The shoulder holster works wells as a variation on the hip holster of the original figure. And Cobra Commander with a sword? How awesome is that?

Very awesome.

-c

Gung-Ho - Marine Dress Blues

After a break of almost a month, it's time to get back into some G.I. Joe miniatures. And today's repaint is an interesting one.

Gung-Ho's Marine Dress Blues is the first time I remember a figure being issued purely for decorative or ceremonial reasons. After all, if he's going into battle, I'm sure Gung-Ho would feel more at ease in his usual fatigues. But in this outfit, he's ready for a parade or perhaps as a guard.

For Gung-Ho, I used the Heroclix Happy Hogan miniature. I'll admit, I'm kind of forcing the jacket, but the pose works as well for a salute as it does for...well..whatever the heck Happy Hogan was doing.

-c

Hardtop - Crawler Driver

When talking about Keel Haul, I said I thought the U.S.S. Flagg was an urban legend. The Defiant Space Complex, another HUGE play set, I know was real because this one I had. Yeah, really!

The Defiant was so big, it came with two figures: one to pilot the ship, and one to driver the gantry. And I got it for Christmas when I was...honestly...too old to be getting toys for Christmas anymore. (Or so they say.)

Anyway, Hardtop was the driver and it is surprisingly hard to find good miniatures with hard hats. Hardtop was kind of an experiment then, to see if I could make a hard hat, and it came out pretty good, other than the back being uneven where I tried to make his earpiece thing. I was glad I had a chance to use the Lex Luthor in coveralls that I've had sitting around for a long while.

I suppose I could have made him more baby blue, but I think the darker blue looks pretty good on him.

-c

Zanzibar - Dreadnok Pirate

Maybe I should have saved Zanzibar for 'Talk Like a Pirate Day". Then I could do the whole post in pirate jargon. That wouldn't be annoying at all.

Much like Crystal Ball, when I was a kid and they introduced Zanzibar I  was like, "Sure, why not?" Why *wouldn't* the Dreadnoks have a pirate? If G.I. Joe and Cobra can both have ninjas and other stuff, why not pirates.

Now, I just wonder why we didn't get more showdowns between Zanzibar and Shipwreck. These guys are made for each other!

Oh well.

Anyway, for Zanzibar I used another pirate, the space pirate Raza. I added Zanzibar's shoulder pad things with green stuff and also used some to make his pants more like the figure. I neglected to add his purple handkerchief around his leg, but I think I got the other 95% close enough.

Oh yeah...

Arrr...

Crystal Ball - Cobra Hypnotist

According to many sources, Crystal Ball is the "most maligned figure" of all the vintage G.I. Joe line. I've never really understood why though. Sure, he's a hypnotist with red eyes who dresses like a wanna be vampire. But is he *that* different from a shape-changing biker, a chrome-headed arms dealer, or a ninja? Last time I checked, those were exactly everyday professions either.

I never had a problem incorporating Crystal Ball into my Cobra lineup. I figured he and Dr. Mindbender would get along great.

Oh sure, at first I bet they hated each other: Dr, Mindbender is a man of science, where Crystal Ball favors pseudo-science and mysticism. But I bet after a while, they came to appreciate each others approaches and they probably became friends.

The rest of Cobra probably kept their distance from the pair though...

Anyway, I had considered using a Ra's al Ghul miniature for Crystal Ball at first, but this Doctor Strange Heroclix had his mystic circle thingies, which I thought could stand in for Crystal Ball's hypno-shield.

I thought about trying to add his fur collar thing with green stuff but...to much trouble..

-c

Fast Draw - Mobile Missile Specialist

I had Fast Draw when I was little and I always kind of disliked him, but I wasn't sure why until I decided to paint a mini version of him.

There are 3 reasons I don't like Fast Draw:

1) The original figure's chubby face just looks a little goofy to me.

2) He is a soldier who goes into combat with nothing but TWO MISSILES. After he shoots them, what is he supposed to do? He doesn't have any other weapons, so I assume Fast Draw just leaves. He's probably always the first guy back at the Joe base after a mission.

3) I didn't realize this until I was painting him, but Fast Draw's colors and design look like a He-Man figure. Imagine him at the scale of other He-Man action figures. He would fit in perfectly. All he needs is a name like "Rocketor" or "Two-Shot".

Anyway, even though he wasn't one of my favorites, I still made him. I used a Halo Spartan with Dual Magnums and added the missile pack, hoses, and visor with green stuff.

Now he's ready to shoot his two shots and get back to HQ.

-c

Psyche-Out - Deceptive Warfare

According to some, Psyche-Out was a sign of the science fiction direction the Joe team was heading (which a lot of people didn't like.)

I didn't care...he was a new Joe with new gear, that was enough for me.

When I saw the Horrorclix Ghostfinder, I knew exactly who it would be. All it took was a little paint.

I opted not to paint on Psyche-Out's weird space chest piece though...or his weird antenna backpack.

I guess I do have some limits.

-c

Update:

Changed my mind about his chest piece and added it with green stuff:

Raptor - Cobra Falconer

Raptor is one of the most maligned figures of the original G.I.Joe run (possibly second only to Crystal Ball). I for one, think that's just not fair.

Raptor has a classic comic book origin story: the accountant who gets a little *too* into his hobby and tries to make money doing it. He could be a Batman villain.


When I was a kid, I imagined he used those talons on his boots as his weapon...that he would swoop one a Joe and give them a good clawing.

That being said, I do like how Larry Hama portrayed him in the Marvel comic. He was basically a falconry otaku who dressed up as a big bird to calm his falcons. Otherwise, he was kind of a spaz.

Raptor was on my list of "Figures I'll Paint if I Can Find a Cheap Enough Option", and I did find such an option: the Mage Knight Wereraven. Again, this is a mini that almost asks to be turned into a Joe: he's got the gloves, the necklace, no shirt, the talon feet. Of course, the wereraven head *is* his head, not a mask, but close enough.

At the risk of tooting my own horn, I think I'd made Raptor a bit of a badass.

-c

Mercer - Renegade

Some minis I paint because they are my favorites...some, because I have extra minis lying around. Guess which one this is...

I guess there's nothing wrong with Mercer, but he just didn't stand out when mixed with other (better) Joes. It probably didn't help that he came packed with 2 guys that would probably be horrible  stereotypes if I could figure out what they were stereotyping.

Anyway, for Mercer, I used an extra Punisher Heroclix I had left and it works pretty well. Pants could be brighter blue. Could have added details to his shirt. I suppose I could have green stuff'd him a flattop.

But I didn't.

-c

Update:

While I didn't give him a flatop, I did add some more detail to his legs and chest with green stuff:

Starduster - Jet Pack Trooper

Starduster was never featured in the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series or the cartoon, which may be why he was one of my favorite Joes. Unlike most of the characters, he's almost a blank slate, so I could decide his personality for myself.

As a figure, Starduster was put together from repainted parts of previous figures. Fittingly, my Starduster is an amalgam of 3 different Heroclix: The body is from Crossbones, the head is from the Punisher, and the jet pack is from Major Maxim.

I decided not to repaint the Punisher head...which I kind of regret now. Looking at it in the photo, the Punisher has some seriously *crazy* eyes.

-c

Crazylegs - Assault Trooper

Crazylegs was the one figure I can think of that had a molded on helmet that I wished had been removable. Something about that red, round helmet was just a little silly.

Using BoShek from the Star Wars Miniatures, I was able to get my wish.

Now that I think about it. If you put Crazylegs' round helmet on BoShek and make it black, he'd look like a Spaceball.

-c

Tunnel Rat - Explosive Ordance Disposal

Another Recreational Conflict miniature, from their S.P.R.U. line, and this time the slightly smaller size works in its favor: it's Tunnel Rat.

Tunnel Rat, at least in the cartoon, is supposed to be a little smaller than the other Joes. At least if you consider the G.I.Joe Movie canon, which not everyone does.

The mini I found, C.J., works pretty well for Tunnel Rat: he has the bandana, the short sleeve shirt with gloves. Too bad he tucked his pants in his boots, although that might make more sense when crawling in tunnels.

I suppose I could have tried to mock up a backpack for him, but I think this look works just fine.

Too bad he doesn't resemble Larry Hama a little more, but what can you do at 28mm?

-c

Jinx - Ninja Intelligence

Another departure from the metal miniatures, this time coming from the Heroscape line.

Jinx, Ninja Finance Clerk! Ok, she's actually "Ninja Intelligence" but I love the little detail of her Secondary Specialty being Finance Clerk. Those are the kind of details that really bring the characters and the Marvel comic alive. (Thank you, Larry Hama!)

For Jinx, I found the Heroscape Otonashi figure. (For the curious, "otonashi" is Japanese for "silence", which is appropriate for a ninja.)

A simple repaint and rebasing. I like the little pony tail, which reminds me of some of the more recent Jinx figures.

The scale seems just slightly smaller than some of the others, but I think that is just the figure, not the Heroscape line itself.

Alternatives? Well, there's no shortage of female ninja minis, so if you really insist that Jinx have a naginata, there's probably a mini out there for it.

Good hunting!

-c