Its time for the next Joe!

[kl241]

Can't wait to see who they F up next.

 

[DPrime]

Yea Shockwave is a good choice. Hope they keep the original camo pattern and colors.

To what extent though? I always thought - even as a kid - that what they were going for was some kind of digital camo pattern.

Now that digital camo is all the rage, we'll probably see some form of that, not big Tetris-looking blocks. The size of the camo pattern on the original was in all likelihood due to scale issues anyway, so I don't think they need to slavishly copy it.

Also, the Night Force version of the figure is much more popular than the original (as cool as he was) among the GI Joe collecting community. Would you be terribly disappointed if it was based on that version? It's pretty awesome. Either way I think they can pull it off.

All in all, while I really love the original figure/character, I think it's kind of a cop-out on Sideshow's part. He was by no means a "classic" or iconic character and quite frankly I don't think the line needed to get into anything past 1986, at least not yet (and even then, I'm hard pressed to think of anyone necessary other than Hawk and Beach Head, on the Joe side at least). Sure, if this line takes off SW-style, why not, but at this point in the game, I suspect the primary reason for him being chosen is that he's EASY - i.e. no face sculpt. I can't help but think that it's a lazy choice for Sideshow, though I have no doubt it'll turn out to be an awesome figure.

He'd better have his hat on top of the ski mask, though. Much as I liked Firefly, it WAS pushing it in terms of character recognition, and I don't think anyone wants some generic SWAT officer guy here.

 

[EVILFACE]

I'd rather them make 86 Low Light instead of Nightforce Shockwave.

The original figure with the light and dark blues with yellow accents looks much more interesting.

 

[Penn]

Yea Shockwave is a good choice. Hope they keep the original camo pattern and colors.

To what extent though? I always thought - even as a kid - that what they were going for was some kind of digital camo pattern.

The size of the camo pattern on the original was in all likelihood due to scale issues anyway, so I don't think they need to slavishly copy it.

All in all, while I really love the original figure/character, I think it's kind of a cop-out on Sideshow's part. He was by no means a "classic" or iconic character and quite frankly I don't think the line needed to get into anything past 1986, at least not yet

I think the original camo colors would be cool I think it would be interesting if they utilise the colors and the pattern elements to produce a perhaps more fully realised digital camo like you say.

Sideshow are probably doing that character because they feel they can do those kind of masked bdu dressed characters more comfortably, isn't it? But I don't know how far up the list Shockwave is but I doubt he'll be coming out right after beachhead somehow.

Personally I hope the exclusive comes with his Electronic Battle-flash Battering Ram Tank. Kinda.

 

[karamazov80]

Shockwave (or "Shockblast" as Hasbro now calls him) would be a mistake. He's not nearly classic or well known enough. Yes, he would make for a great "modern military" figure, which is apparently what Sideshow is looking to do with some of these figures, but they could just as easily modify Beachhead, Stalker, or Rock N' Roll into a barely recognizable, modern interpretation of a Joe whose name we are familiar with.

 

[corin7]

I'd rather them make 86 Low Light instead of Nightforce Shockwave.

The original figure with the light and dark blues with yellow accents looks much more interesting.

This. Sooo this. Though there are dozens of characters I would like to see before even low light.

 

[MANDO]

While I wouldn't turn down Shockwave could we please see another Joe with a face first? I think Lowlight would be an excellent choice especially since we're getting the Sniper Trooper. He was of my favorites as a kid too.

 

[ProgMatinee]

I'm not sure how this will come off, but I'd really like to see a minority Joe character such as Stalker, Roadblock or Spirit. After that I would like to see a female such as Lady Jaye or Scarlet. Joe squad is so diverse, I really don't want to see them start out the good guys with Snake Eyes, Duke, Beachhead, Flint, Rock and Roll, Gung Ho, Shipwreck and Snow Job (even though I like them all).

 

[MANDO]

Stalker's still my #1 most wanted Joe. Stalker was pretty much a badass throughout the the Marvel run, and even if you hated the Tundra gear the character still stayed cool. He'd be a great link between Snakes and Storm, similar to how FF is. And to top it off he was one of Hamma's favorites characters.

Unfortunately, I strongly doubt SSC will release a second Ranger so close to Beachhead.

 

[teemu]

more faceless joes!! I cant wait!!

 

[corin7]

Stalker's still my #1 most wanted Joe. Stalker was pretty much a badass throughout the the Marvel run, and even if you hated the Tundra gear the character still stayed cool. He'd be a great link between Snakes and Storm, similar to how FF is. And to top it off he was one of Hamma's favorites characters.

Unfortunately, I strongly doubt SSC will release a second Ranger so close to Beachhead.

Yeah and we aren't getting the first one until 3rd quarter next year at the earliest. Ug. I would love to see Stalker sooner than later. I am really hoping for Scarlett soon as well. But knowing SS they will probably release another Cobra after Beach Head, so the earliest I could hope for that is 2011.

 

[thenammagazine]

I'm not sure how this will come off, but I'd really like to see a minority Joe character such as Stalker, Roadblock or Spirit. After that I would like to see a female such as Lady Jaye or Scarlet. Joe squad is so diverse, I really don't want to see them start out the good guys with Snake Eyes, Duke, Beachhead, Flint, Rock and Roll, Gung Ho, Shipwreck and Snow Job (even though I like them all).

I agree with you 100% on every one of those except Spirit. He was such an insulting stereotype. I'd rather see Airborne, who was also Native American, but didn't have the demeaning aspects to the character.

 

[DPrime]

Shockwave (or "Shockblast" as Hasbro now calls him) would be a mistake. He's not nearly classic or well known enough. Yes, he would make for a great "modern military" figure, which is apparently what Sideshow is looking to do with some of these figures, but they could just as easily modify Beachhead, Stalker, or Rock N' Roll into a barely recognizable, modern interpretation of a Joe whose name we are familiar with.

I agree. I mean, Duke proved they can do an excellent face sculpt. There's really no reason we couldn't get a nice bearded Rock and Roll or Stalker. Sculpting the face would definitely take more time and money but the clothing and gear would be much easier.

And that's another thing - would Sideshow HAVE to call this Shockblast? I can conveniently ignore that little name change in the 25th line by throwing out the packaging and ignoring/hiding the file card but I don't know... When I spend $120 on a (new) figure I don't want some cop-out codename that was changed for some kind of copywrite reason.

Stalker's still my #1 most wanted Joe. Stalker was pretty much a badass throughout the the Marvel run, and even if you hated the Tundra gear the character still stayed cool. He'd be a great link between Snakes and Storm, similar to how FF is. And to top it off he was one of Hamma's favorites characters.

Unfortunately, I strongly doubt SSC will release a second Ranger so close to Beachhead.

Which would be stupid, seeing as how different they are, visually.

If anything I'd MUCH rather have a Stalker in my collection than Beach Head. He's a much more important character in my opinion.

 

[DPrime]

I agree with you 100% on every one of those except Spirit. He was such an insulting stereotype. I'd rather see Airborne, who was also Native American, but didn't have the demeaning aspects to the character.

I don't think there was anything demeaning about how Spirit was portrayed. He definitely had some stereotyped aspects, no doubt about that - but so did Stalker, Roadblock, and many others...

I think Spirit's a great character, and would be a great figure for Sideshow to work their "modern" magic on. I'd love to see how he turned out.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and Airborne would be a great choice too, but I think I'd want him more or less how he appeared originally, '83 style.

 

[thenammagazine]

And that's another thing - would Sideshow HAVE to call this Shockblast? I can conveniently ignore that little name change in the 25th line by throwing out the packaging and ignoring/hiding the file card but I don't know... When I spend $120 on a (new) figure I don't want some cop-out codename that was changed for some kind of copywrite reason.

Something like that would be completely out of Sideshow's hands.

 

[FLOSI]

No interest in Shockwave. Wasn't really in to Joes when he hit...

 

[kl241]

If anything I'd MUCH rather have a Stalker in my collection than Beach Head. He's a much more important character in my opinion.

QFT. Stalker would make an awesome figure and if the sculpt is anything like Lando it will be a home run. Just give him some camo BDU's and the beret and maybe the jet pack as the exclusive. We not only need more Joes but we need more sculpted character heads instead of faceless masked troops. They really need to diversify this line and alternate releases evenly between Joe and Cobra because I'm losing interest in this line fast.

 

[Skiman]

I agree with you 100% on every one of those except Spirit. He was such an insulting stereotype. I'd rather see Airborne, who was also Native American, but didn't have the demeaning aspects to the character.

U really hated Spirit didn't you Nam

 

[thenammagazine]

I don't think there was anything demeaning about how Spirit was portrayed. He definitely had some stereotyped aspects, no doubt about that - but so did Stalker, Roadblock, and many others...

I think Spirit's a great character, and would be a great figure for Sideshow to work their "modern" magic on. I'd love to see how he turned out.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and Airborne would be a great choice too, but I think I'd want him more or less how he appeared originally, '83 style.

If Stalker came with a bone through his nose, a Zulu spear and a cheetah print loin cloth, you'd have a better argument. Again, Airborne is a better choice for a Native American character and he's not insulting in the least:

U really hated Spirit didn't you Nam

Yes, I did. I don't know why, he just always seemed like a spit in the face to Native Americans.

 

[ProgMatinee]

I don't remember how he was portrayed in the cartoon, but visually, I don't think Spirit is too stereotypical to the point of insulting. He's got a lot of Native American design elements, but its not like he came with a bottle of whisky. The elements like the hunting knife, the eagle, and a dart gun always seemed to be nice elements that tied to his job function and not just his culture. I don't really find him too different than Shipwreck in that regard.