Backblast (2005)
Backblast? Isn’t this Avalanche? Welcome to the 2000s world of replaced and lost code names. It’s not the first time we’ve seen things change as far as molds and names. Remember the ’84 Roadblock mold becoming Double Blast for the collectors series? This time however the file name matches the older Backblasts from 1989 and 1993. I wonder why this wasn’t just named Avalanche, since he’s always been a cold weather ops guy. I suppose the helmet and bandolier looked enough like Backblast’s to make someone think it would be a good switch.
I didn’t initially care for the The Battle Force 2000 crew, but the more I revisited the figures, they began to grow on me. I found their accessories and futuristic weapons interesting. They were also equipped with visors or mics, and when one of these crucial bits are missing, it looks odd. Backblast ends up with a couple of vestigial posts sticking out of the left side of his helmet.
I really like the color combination here. Color blocked uniforms were a design theme in the Winter Operations set, and Backblast has a uniquely repainted uniform from it’s original release. I like the dark jacket being different from the rest of the outfit, although the red blocking gets a little wonky since the jacket mold doesn’t go all the way around the waist. The camo on the legs is a nicely subtle pattern that’s not too noticeable at first glance.
Not to beat a dead BF2K driver, but the mold is just too recognizable to be a stand-in for another Joe. Now a full repaint set of the ill-fated team, that would have been nice.
Could have been Blocker with those colors. This was the weakest member of an otherwise underrated set.
Weakest? What was transparent Mirage doing in the set? I mean, it’s interesting…but as part of the snow team…is he Iceman?
I agree with what you’re saying, but the weakest member in this set was Snake Eyes. Now, if his uniform had been painted in white, like the way that it was on the drawing that is on the front of that box thing, then that would have been different.
Sub-Zero deserved a new release more since the comic packs already gave us an arctic Snake-Eyes.
Actually, the weakest figure in this set was Snake Eyes. And the easiest to find in the snow, especially by a sniper.
”Maybe Backblast(2005) is 1990’s Avalanche’s, action figure distant cousin?-Who Knows?
Just look at those boots! Those are awesome! All sins are forgiven.
Were I planning this set, I would have gone with this lineup:
-Snow Job (yes, SNOW JOB, not another use of the mold with Frostbite’s name slapped on)
-Frostbite (using the Battle Corps mold)
-Iceberg (using the Battle Corps mold)
-Blizzard
-Stalker I would have kept
-Snow Storm, replacing Mirage
I’d suspect Battle Corps Iceberg was another lost in South America mold.
I agree with your list. But I would prefer if all the figures had on white snow camo uniforms, with a few small details on the uniforms painted in colors that are not too bright, or visually distracting. I don’t mind Mirage, but only if the figure was given another torso that is molded like a cold weather jacket, or coat, and a waist piece that matches the length of that jacket. As for Mirage been invisible, I feel like it could have been done better. Also, why not make more snow repainted versions of the classic o-ring Joes, and Cobra characters? Figures like Rampart which were already designed fully clothed, with a jacket, or a coat, could have easily been repainted for a snow environment. Other figures that were not designed fully clothed, could then use other figures molds. It would not have been that hard for the Hasbro folks to have done awesome repaints of the classic o-ring figures back in the early 2000’s. Just look at what they did with that snow repaint of Big Ben from 2000.
This one, and the other figures in the set, looked better on the drawing on the cover of the box. Or whatever that thing is called. They didn’t even bother painting a mustache on this figure.
“… the mold is just too recognizable to be a stand-in for another Joe. Now a full repaint set of the ill-fated team, that would have been nice. …”
I agree!
I had the 1993 Backblast from off the pegs back in the day. I really liked that figure, it got a lot of use. When I was doing a “only one of each character figure” collection trimming project, and as much as I liked 1993 Backblast, I went and bought a very nice 1989 Backblast figure.
1989 Backblast, for me, has just really nice coloring, nice details. The knife sheath is a fine thing, although it does stick out, but the original arms longer muscular detail fit with the overall tall physicality of this figure. I guess for me just an overall cool original design from 1989.
2005 Backblast…., I couldn’t, still can’t, stretch my imagination that far to call that this figure Backblast. That’s Avalanche.
The new figure coloring for 2005 really didn’t add anything new for me to make even a possible new Avalanche figure a thing here…, 1987 Avalanche I still found to be the better figure; as well as the only BF2K figure I have never had. 2005 Backblast/Avalanche didn’t really fit into the winter operations set up I had.
The snow shoes were a really nice accessory inclusion in this set.
So many “could have been more” interesting observations I have to the whole set here, too.
“I couldn’t, still can’t, stretch my imagination that far to call that this figure Backblast. That’s Avalanche.”
It was the same thing for me with the Ninja Force Red Ninja. I really don’t think I had that much fun with the figure, because I couldn’t get over the fact that it’s 100% Dice in different colors. Don’t get me wrong. Dice is one of my favorites, but this Red Ninja thing was just a disappointment.
I had passed on this set back then, but shoot… that note about the bandolier and helmet now do make me see how this could be a cold-weather dress version of Backblast. Darker color painted on eyes, brows and a mustache would’ve helped!