G.I. Joe Classified "Night Force Edition" Big Ben, Wolf Spider, Tunnel Rat

It's been a minute since I posted on any G.I. Joe Classified, but I recently bought another haul of them, including these Night Force Edition" figures, Tunnel Rat, Big Ben, and Wolf Spider. Before we get too far, full disclosure: I know nothing of the characters in this post. I had some of the first 3.75" G.I. Joes in the early '80s but it didn't go far beyond that. That said, the Classified line is so good that I bought a lot of what came out the first three years, pumping the brakes in 2023 to focus on Masters of the Universe and Mego. I had to come back, though- these three figures are great examples as to why...

Tunnel Rat 

I won't bore you with the packaging for all these, but the others looked like Tunnel Rat's, basically. I've heard Hasbro is going back to a plastic window, but I probably care a little less about that as I typically open my action figures.

The bandolier, purse, and sidearm holster somewhat crowd the figure's torso, but he looks cool. Oddly, the mainline release of this figure has camouflage makeup on his face and arms instead of this Night Force Edition. I'm told the likeness on this figure is of Larry Hama, longtime G.I. Joe comics writer.

 

Tunnel Rat has a ton of great accessories, including a sniper rifle with collapsible bipod...

In the dark, Cobra Officers are no match for Tunnel Rat ...!

Below, Tunnel Rat with my Marvel Legends Gamerverse Stealth Captain America...

Parth "Wolf Spider" Varma

Wolf Spider came with an alternate mask that's okay, but the helmet with night goggles is the look/mode that interested me. Hasbro included a small cord for him to rappel with, which was way too much fun...

Wolf Spider came with a small sidearm and a knife, but I love the shotgun with collapsible stock- I wonder if there will be an alternate colorway of this Night Force Edition... 

David "Big Ben" Bennett

Big Ben lives up to his name in stature- this big figure comes with three respectable firearms, including a sniper rifle with a removable cartridge and collapsible bipod. And the silencer for his sidearm holsters into a loop on the back of his belt. Nice.

Perhaps his most fun accessory was the alternate gas mask head...

I'd been sitting on this Action Force Weapons Pack Bravo in anticipation for all the Joes I bought in 2022 and never opened, so I thought now would be a good time to bust that out. My only real complaint about the Classified line are the rubbery weapon accessories, a lot of which are lacking any paint deco. They aren't all bad, but the Action Force accessories are amazing...

My Marvel Legends "What If" Captain Carter would be a good battle partner for Big Ben!

Below, the Night Force crew with some dollar store bikes I customized. It was fun to bust out some more G.I. Joe Classified, some of the best domestic action figures out there, well worth the $24.99 retail tag. Recommended!

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Figures Toy Co. JLA Batman

 This "Justice League of America" edition of Figures Toy Company's Mego Batman has a few differences from the original Mego Batman, including the scalloped cuffs as opposed to oven-mitt gloves, blue shorts, and a much smaller chest emblem. The pupiled eyes are important to me because the Mego Batman of my '70s childhood was this version, not the first version with removeable cowl. Below, Figures Toy Co. JLA Batman and Vintage Replica Batman, and again with my Mego 50th Anniversary Batman...

While I'm a black trunks sort of Batman fan, I do love the bright colors of this JLA Batman, but hated the miniscule chest emblem. I opted to procure a larger Mego style vinyl sticker to cover it and outfitted him with some Figures Toy Co. '66 Batman handcuffs and batarangs. Another outstanding Mego Batman in my collection.

JLA Batman apprehends Mego 50th Anniversary Joker with Mego Robin...

Below: JLA Batman with my variant Mego 50th Anniversary Robin 

and Figures Toy Co. Mego Batmobile replica...

I have no idea how Figures Toy Company was able to produce such faithful replicas of all these Mego toys, but wonder if they can continue since Mego was reborn in 2018, and recently reissued more exact replicas of past DC Comics figures. I don't know what that looks like on paper, but it allowed me to have the Batmobile and a pupil-eyed Batman. And finally, JLA Batman with a couple other 8" Figures Toy Co. DC heroes, Shazam and Green Arrow!

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MEGO G.I. Joe Storm Shadow Vs. Snake Eyes

I had my eye on this set since it's solicitation in 2021, only biting the bullet a couple weeks ago when I purchased it for $14.99 on Hasbro Pulse, a 63% discount on its original price. While I'm somewhat a casual G.I.Joe fan, I often dabble when it comes to Mego properties, and these two deluxe figures were a steal. Check out the video:

Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes came with an unusually large cache of accessories for the typical Mego figure, and also enjoy the benefits of Mego's newer bandless body. They can also stow most all their weapons on the figure, in pouches on the belts, backpacks, and in holsters.

The waiting game paid off for these two beautiful figures, but they are every bit worth the original asking price. When Mego reappeared on the scene in 2018, I only bought some of the newer 14" DC Comics characters, eventually moving into their newer 8" line. It's possible we won't get any more G.I. Joe Mego figures and I'm fine with that, though I'd love having a few more. A Cobra Commander/Destro 2pk would be my next pick, possibly followed by a Duke/Scarlett 2pk. Dare to dream, Mego lovers!

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McFarlane Toys Super Powers Manga Batman

 

I haven't bought many of these McFarlane Toys Super Powers figures, but this Manga Batman was to good to pass up with his unique styling and fantastic backing card art. Pictured below are the Super Powers Batman and Nightwing I picked up last January:

I'm keeping this figure on the cardback for now, stuffed onto the Batman shelf in my glass detolf cabinet- yes, it's obscured by the huge 13" DC Direct Batman Beyond figure, but that's a favorite of mine from way back. Other figures of note in the photo below: 8" Mego 50th Anniv. Batman, 10.5" Applause Batman Returns vinyl figure, 9" Hasbro Masterpiece Edition 1st Appearance Batman, and my 10.5" Sofubi Vinyl Batman by Medicom.

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Turtles of Grayskull Sla'ker

I've actually had the first two waves of the Turtles of Grayskull for months, but Sla'ker's arrival demanded action, so we're starting here. Faker was a favorite Masters of the Universe action figure of my childhood, so this bizarre '80s mash-up really grabbed me.

Sla'ker came with build-a-figure parts for Metal-Boto, and an over-sized collector card- not sure I'll find all the other parts to assemble the BAF, but most of this can be interchanged with the MOTU Origins, a play feature throughout the line that made it an instant favorite of mine in 2020. Sla'ker's armor is removeable, as is the shell, which doubles as a shield. The headband/mask ribbon pegged onto the head is articulated as well.

Below, Sla'ker with my MOTU Origins Faker, dwarfed by the over-sized Turtles of Grayskull figure. Both have tampographs of their control panels printed on their chests. Super fun having these together!

I never had a Snake Mountain in the '80s, but Sla'ker fits great with this fantastic playset!

And finally, Sla'ker Vs. my Playmates Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 

who just showed up in the Party Wagon! More Turtles of Grayskull later!

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Mego 50th Anniversary WGSH (Wave 18)

I was super-excited about getting these Mego Wave 18 World's Greatest Super-Heroes, which included some bonafide B-Tier DC heroes and villains like Red Tornado and Dr. Fate! None of these were produced during Mego's halcyon days in the '70s, but they really capture the spirit! Check out the video:

There was also a Bizarro included in this wave that I could have pitted against my Mego 50th Anniversary Superman, but I just never cared about that character. I'm much more a fan of Brainiac!

As much as I loved Mattel's DC Retro-Action figures back in 2010, the quality of the figure construction can't match the new Mego figures. That said, the Retro-Action Two-Face is still a treasured item in my collection...

Below, Nightwing joins my modern Mego Batman and Robin for an evening patrol!

Below, Deadman, Firestorm, Dr. Fate, and Red Tornado team up with Aquaman, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, and Shazam- what a great time to be a Mego fan!

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More Imaginext DC Super Friends!

I found a bunch of these 2021 carded Imaginext DC Super Friends figures at 1/2 price at Walmart, and though I've tripled(?) the number of Imaginext Batmen in my collection in the span of a couple weeks, I found another I needed. Like my Scarecrow 2-pk  Batman and my Bat Signal Multi-Pack Batman, this blue Batman has a translucent chest that can be lit from behind,

This Imaginext Batman is special because he looks like my Imaginext XL Defender Blue Batman:

This Mr. Freeze looks a little different that the others I've seen recently- 

he reminds me a lot of the 6" Power Attack Ice Blast Mr. Freeze I used to have ...!

This is a cheery Batgirl!

Catwoman from my Bat Signal Multi Pack would make a good sparring partner!

I had a Flash in a 3-pk vehicle set with Green Lanter and Hawkman many years ago, 

but this Flash is a little more dynamic in his color and sculpt..

The blind bag Superboy Prime I got recently doesn't have a translucent torso unfortunately, 

but he pairs well with this Supergirl- their colors are quite complementary!

The sculpt on this Black Adam is really special, made more so by his black/gold deco- Wow!

But before you go, I also found this oddball/old stock  Batman/Man-Bat 2-pk as well.

They also have translucent torsos to light from behind...

It's crazy I had just found the new blind bag Man-Bat with the different deco...

And another Batman that is very much like the new blind bag Batman I just found ...!

I prefer the blind bag Batman more (left, but this light-up version has it's own appeal...

And just like that, I have an Imaginext collection again! I'll be on the lookout for any new/interesting DC Imaginext in the future- minifigs like these are fun to photograph!

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