RET Crimson Guard (1:18, Hasbro)

Name: Crimson Guard

Line: G.I. Joe

Series: Retaliation

Scale: 1:18

Producer: Hasbro

Year of release: 2013

As we already established, when Cobra is in need of a team of specialists, devoted to their work and always focused on the mission at hand, the M.O.O.K.S. come into play.

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Yet sometimes the task at hand involves activities of the intelligence department rather than the spec-ops team and then one might wanna consider using troops with more… intelligence. So when even the very best are not enough, who can Cobra Commander deploy? Well, the best of the best of course, the elites themselves. Crimson Guards.

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The famous and fan-favorite Siegies, said to have their faces surgically modified to resemble the great Commander himself, creme de la creme, highly trained both in combat and espionage, are equally effective when infiltrating a small American town as your friendly neighbours and defending the base against a single female intruder from Cobra La. Even though they are most often seen just accompanying the Commander looking elegant during various ceremonies or being slaughtered as the last line of defence, they are described as being clever schemers and profiteers and skilled assassins at the same time. And we fans swallow it all gladly and without any doubts whatsoever. Why? Because they totally look the part! You immediately buy their awesomeness when looking at those cool red uniforms and mysterious black masks.

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The leaders of the Crimson Guard Corps are of course Tomax and Xamot, but what about officers? What if you need a number of Siegies in action – somebody has to act as the immediate commander. It’s not really stated clear in the lore but I am convinced there have to be some ranks among the Guards, even if they all are the top dogs of Cobra ranks. I like to perceive the hero of this review as the best of the best of the best, as the Crimson Guard Officer.

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In fact he is just an updated version of the character, released as part of the Retaliation line’s third wave (and another catch that I managed to grab during the LCC). As many others from that wave he has nothing to do with the movie franchise but that’s how Hasbro’s recent product release policy rolls and it’s no big deal, unless you really care about the packaging and are bitter to find the Rock‘s face on the card instead of a more nostalgic image. I just care about the figure itself so moving on.

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At first he just seems to be a slightly retooled version of the Siegie from the 25th Anniversary line, so why do I see him as an officer? You’ll probably understand where my sentiments come from a bit later, now let’s just take a look at what’s changed.

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The torso is the same and it defines the basic look, which is good as the new guy can easily fit among older squad members. He sports a silver ornate cord instead of a golden one which discretely but effectively makes him stand out from others reinforcing my idea of a higher rank. Not sure why they decided to make this cord a simple strip of plastic instead of that nice braid-like sculpt that they obviously already have, though. Odd. His arms are those of a Shock Trooper, often used for other figures due to their generic and universal mold. They work just fine giving the new Siegie a more muscular look. You can immediately tell which of these Guards spends more time in the gym than in the conference room. The holster is on the right thigh now and, more important, it holds his gun really well, which is a welcome change. What bugs me a bit is the fact it is a pistol. To be honest I think I’d rather again go with a revolver as I really like this ceremonial feel of older Siegies’ firearms. I also still can’t decide whether I dig the new boots. The grey kneepads are fine but what’s below looks much more… combat ready. The 25A Guards pulled off this elegant horse-riding boots look which again added to the elite concept. On the other hand the new helmet is definitely shaped better, without this weird feeling of being vertically stretched.

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Speaking of the helmet… it doesn’t come off, sadly. The idea of having a Fred head under there is great and, as a huge fan of the comic pack Siegie-with-a-face version, I’d like to see this employed for the new figure as well.

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But if you have an older Fred-headed Siegie handy, you can easily make the swap.

 

Overall RET Crimson Guard effectively combines essential pieces of the old mold with newer parts to both successfully convey the classic look and mend the 25A line’s articulation flaws and deficiencies. The only problem I have with the base figure is a minor thing that I’m not even sure is really there…

 

While posing him I often had to adjust his position to have him standing upright and I finally came to the conclusion that his left leg is a tad longer than his right one. It’s nothing as drastic as the case with my Jazwares Mortal Kombat figure, Sub-Zero, who has to be posed in a smart way not to look ridiculous. Below you can see both guys with both of their legs straightened and standing upright – you can see their left legs have to be positioned outwards in order to counter the length difference.

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With Sub-Zero it’s obvious and I read that other people had this issue with their figures of him as well, but Crimson Guard… I dunno, I see it but maybe it’s a bad joint or maybe it’s only this single figure’s problem or maybe I had a bad posing day heh. Anyway, moving on to the accessories.

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The backpack is the same. Not sure if they reused the mold or if it only looks a lot like the old one but generally it’s the same thing: Cobra emblem on the outside, hollow inside, nothing much, it’s there, that’s all. Here you can also see a knife in a sheath. This Guard means business, he comes prepared for all kinds of combat situations. And when I say all

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…I mean all! Holly crap, this guy’s packing!! Carbines of various sizes, the pistol and the knife that he carries on him and… is this a sword?? Oh yeah, it sure is! A sabre to be exact. Well, I guess we have no alternative but to try it all out.

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The new Siegie holds one-handed guns without any problems and thanks to wrist hinge joints system (write wrist bending up and down and left one bending outwards and inwards) he can pull off more realistic poses like aiming a pistol at a target in front of him while holding the weapon close to his chest.

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Those wrists also come in handy while using the medium rifle with a front handle installed. Now the large rifle is a bit… extraordinary with this large arching magazine attached at the butt. I have no idea if it’s based on an actual weapon or if it was created by Hasbro designers, either way I’m not too fond of how that clip looks. But it is usable by the figure.

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I think it may be considered a new version of the bayonet-bearing long rifle that the 25A Guard used, both as a chic-looking and close-combat-efficient weapon, effective during all HQ encounters other than the one with Pythona. It kinda works but due to that oversized ammo clip and lack of silver paint on the knife I prefer the old one instead.

And now on to the most amazing piece of equipment that the RET Siegie carries around. And if you think I mean the sabre… you are wrong.

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A tactical vest! And a really neat one, with detailed pouches sculpted all over and a tiny Cobra emblem where there usually is a security company’s logo or a police unit’s badge. And I really dig the color – darker, more on the cherry side than the Siegie’s uniform, just the right tone to both stand out from the rest of the figure and at the same time perfectly go with it by matching the color of the holster and another pouch on the leg.

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A look at the back of the vest. Fantastic details continue to amaze! Also notice the holster hanging there. I guess if you really miss the old Guard’s revolver then you can use this place to store one but that’s not its intended purpose.

 

 

The sabre goes there which is an interesting concept because that way no hanging scabbard limits the Guard’s freedom of movement and the weapon is secured. The holster-scabbard is attached on a tiny swivel joint which allows for it to be moved back in case the sword’s blade gets in the way, for example when sitting down.

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The only downside here is how the sabre’s hilt practically prevents the knife from being stored in its sheath. Yes, you can pull the sabre back and put the knife in but it’s highly impractical.

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It’s great how the Siegie gains a field trooper feel when wearing the vest. Yes, he is still red all over and carries a friggin’ sword, but now I can so much easier suspend my disbelief and imagine a small squad of those tearing through a South-American jungle in order to gain access to some forgotten drug lords’ stash or even assault a distant G.I. Joe outpost. That’s why I see this guy as a good material for a Crimson Guard Officer. Sure, you can buy a bunch of them and create a whole updated team, but if you (like me) still have a few old Siegies around and/or (like me) don’t indent to army-build the new ones, then you might consider his unique gear set as an officer’s or a bad-ass commando’s setup.

The vest doesn’t limit his articulation at all and when you combine a sword with the extra wrist joint… Just look at him fence Cobra’s best!

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And Cobra’s bestest, heh heh.

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Well, at least the outcome of these duels is always the same so it surely means the amazing level of victor’s skills, right?

Of course, being a modern G.I. Joe figure (that didn’t fall victim to the recent cost-cutting strategy) the Crimson Guard can do a lot, regardless of the flak jacket and sabre present.

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Being a winner in all categories he also was given a stand, unlike many Retaliation figures, but it’s completely bland and blank – no name, no sculpting, nothing, so I decided to borrow one from an older squad-mate.

Oh and as far as squads are concerned…

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He comes with a customization/personification kit. Those are stickers that you can use to assign him to a division and with a rank of your choice.

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I haven’t decided yet which stickers to use for him and if I’m going to mess around with them at all (the word ‘mess’ is rather accurate concerning my poor motor skills and such precise task) but if I get down to it the other guys’ shoulders can be the first source of inspiration.

Some of the Retaliation wave 3 figures are called Ultimates, as in being the ultimate representation of a certain character. I can surely understand this bold statement concerning Cobra Commander v53 orĀ Storm Shadow v49 (isn’t it funny how around number 50 they finally manage to nail the ultimate version??), as those figures do seem hard or even impossible to improve using current technology (of course bear in mind these still has to be produced as an averagely priced toys and not exclusive collectible figures that you’re afraid to breathe on). To be honest I’m not sure if this Crimson Guard is considered one of those, but regardless of that, does he deserve to be? Hmm, hard to tell, really.

On one hand he has been effectively upgraded in terms of articulation and choice of parts while remaining perfectly recognizable as the very familiar design. And his equipment adds to that: when used it brings this chief of security or field commander look and without it the Siegie still looks like a Siegie and even fits in with older brothers in arms. On the other hand I notice and would gladly improve minor things like the lack of removable helmet, pistol instead of revolver and those too army-ish boots that don’t necessarily go with an elegant fund-raising banquet in Castle Destro.

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But you know what, let’s face it, those ‘setbacks’ are nitpicks, mostly based on personal preferences. And apart from the helmet issue, I don’t really see much space for improvement here. I don’t deem myself a G.I. Joe authority enough to proclaim what is ultimate and what’s not, but in my humble opinion this guy is pretty close to perfection.

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Summary

Strong and weak points:

+ great modern articulation and posability

+ absolutely stunning tactical vest, both in design and effect on the figure

+ two alternative looks: combat ready or regular Siegie; both work just fine

+ reshaping of the helmet turned out very positive

+ fair amount of various weaponry, including a sabre

+ working gun holster and sabre scabbard-holster

+ an interesting idea of personalizing each Siegie using insignia and division decals

+ they threw in a stand (can’t believe I actually listed that as a noteworthy merit, sigh)

– lack of removable helmet and (probably) a Fred-faced head underneath

– boots look more combat-ready than elegant which doesn’t fit the dignified guardsman image as good as the 25A’s did

– the small pistol looks more common and trivial than the 25A’s long revolver

– the bayonet-bearing rifle’s design is a bit awkward and lack of extra paint on the blade is rather noticeable

– the backpack could use an upgrade as well, the hollow inside is disturbing

– the knife can’t remain sheathed when the sabre is holstered

Who will like it:

those wanting a better articulated and slightly retooled version of the character; those keen on having a more dynamic and intimidating Siegie commando; those liking the idea of a visually different but still fitting in Crimson Guard officer

Who won’t like it:

those viewing Siegies only as frail businessmen occasionally wearing their uniforms purely for ceremonial reasons; those considering the option to remove the helmet as a must-have

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TCW Boba Fett (1:18, Hasbro)

Name: Boba Fett

Line: Star Wars

Series: The Clone Wars

Scale: 1:18

Producer: Hasbro

Year of release: 2010

As this is my first actual review let me start by explaining a thing about packaging. In short: I don’t care about it. I know many reviewers start their reviews by showing the packaging but those I buy always get ripped to pieces and go straight to the trash bin, unless it’s some elaborate Japanese figure’s box handy for storing 30 spare palms, faces and accessories. Other than that: no MITB or MOC for me! I often buy figures that were already open for cheaper shipping or used ones if I manage to find rares in good shape. I only care about displaying them in a way I enjoy them and occasional photo shoots.

Ok, with that out of the way let’s start the review with the picture of the packa… GOT YA! Naah, I’ll get right down to the figure. This one is for some reason disliked by many collectors. Actually I know the reason, I just can’t justify this figure not being liked or at least not being given credit where its due.

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Oooh, many of you probably shouted, THAT Boba Fett! Yup, that one. The kiddo. But before you leave uninterested – give him a chance. Why do you cross him out to begin with? Because he’s just a kid, you say.

BOB_02Ok, fair enough, he is. But he also is… a Mandalorian kid! And one raised by Jango Fett himself.

Remember that it was THIS guy, this very kid, who grew up to be… well, Boba Fett, the man we all fear and love.

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BOB_04And how did he get there? We all know now that he wasn’t either speed-grew as clone troopers were and he started his rough bounty hunter life rather early. So it’s obvious that the foundations of his character and future awesomeness lie in the past, in his early teenage years. In the harsh training performed by his father.

[click the comic’s page to enlarge it]

I really like that aspect of Boba’s life, part of which was described in the Blood Ties comic book that I keep referring to here in form of screenshots. And this figure really fits that image.

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The figure itself has an interesting design. Boba’s face is based both on the image of actor Daniel Logan, who played him in Attack of the Clones and on the animated model from the Clone Wars series. The result is the mixture of both: a kid who looks mean and bitter but can also raise sympathy as a child trying hard to be tough in the cruel galaxy. He sports what seems like a part of a Mandalorian armor, namely the twin chest pieces and is packing his dad’s pistols (or ones just like them).

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BOB_07I heard people calling that both cute and ridiculous but I think it does make sense: after all Jango wanted his ‘son’ to learn the ways of Mandalorians, so why not start the teachings by making him accustomed to the tools of the trade, piece by piece?

[click the comic’s page to enlarge it]

As for those who wonder why he is wearing only a part of the whole armor… you really have to ask? Here you can also see that a Mandalorian helmet seems in scale with him even though he sadly can’t wear it without having the hair sculpt modified.

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If you really hate the armor you can take it off and… the figure still looks really neat. Underneath he sports a dark grey jumpsuit with realistic details in the chest area, like wrinkles, a small collar and visible seams. Dressed like that he fits nicely with his father not wearing the armor either which can translate to them attending a martial arms training or simply spending time together (like they did before Obi-Wan so rudely interrupted them on Kamino).

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I guess one could consider taking the belt off and aiming for the look of Boba posing as a Republic clone cadet in the Clone Wars series (or simply – use him as a young clone), but I haven’t found any info on the belt being completely removable (some customizers did cut the lower part off, though) and I was too afraid to destroy the figure so I haven’t tried that. I know, weak of me, sorry to disappoint.

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In terms of poseability Boba just rocks – he’s even got ball-hinged hips and despite small size can compete with the best Star Wars figures up-to-date.

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He’s got a jetpack, which is a tad smaller than his father’s, which doesn’t exactly correspond with the whole ‘using Jango’s equipment’ idea, but I don’t mind seeing how it doesn’t impede his poseability even one bit, making him perfect for action poses wearing full gear.

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Time to check how lil Boba fits in with other, adult, Mandalorians.

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Now, in my book that looks just great, like a scene straight from an Open Seasons comic book or a novel by Karen Traviss. But if you are more a fan of George Lucas’ vision and are not into Mandalorians depicted as a clan of warriors-mercenaries, then you might consider this figure rather in the aspect of the Clone Wars TV series, namely the awesome Boba’s 3-episode mini story arc from Season 2. Here is an image attempting to represent the scene where Boba talks to Aurra Sing in a shady cantina:

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Ok, I think that I did what I could to convince those of you who won’t brush this figure off just for being a kid. I think it works both as a young Mandalorian learning his trade and a teenage bounty hunter staring his career. It also has some generic uses, considering his face is that of a young Republic clone. And if you liked Boba in the Clone Wars series and/or in the Attack of the Clones movie then this figure is for sure the best 1:18-scaled version of that character in that time of his life – and I highly doubt they will upgrade him – he’s that good.

 

Summary

Strong and weak points:

+ great representation of a character from the movie and the TV series

+ neat and believable design of a Mandalorian gear for young members of the clan

+ fantastic poseability

+ holds his weapons and wears his jetpack without any problems looking great all the time

+ can be used as a young clone

– features a kid

– not sure if the belt comes off completely (probably not)

– can’t wear a Mandalorian helmet (due to the hair sculpt)

– the jetpack is not the size of other Mandalorian figures’ packs (slightly smaller)

Who will like it:

all seeking a young Mandalorian or clone character: customizers, dioramas and dio-stories creators; those who want such a character displayed on their shelf; those who like to play with their figures and need a poseable young Boba for certain scenes and setups.

Who won’t like it:

those who are more into a ‘tough and cool’ characters as this IS a figure of a kid, no doubt about it.

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