Croc Master (2008)
Croc Master, being part of the Cobra class of 1987, sometimes gets the business from collectors. The year is often cited as the beginning of the Real American Hero series’ downhill slide from the heights of early 80s greatness. If you look back at the year as a whole though, there are quite a few fantastic figures, and some that have become tops on many fans’ lists of favorites.
Croc Master stands out as one of my favorite Cobras since his debut in ’87. Even the 2005 version is a great figure. He’s a unique named character with a distinctive look and purpose, something that Hasbro managed to give Cobra forces each year back in the first few years of my childhood collecting. I do enjoy army builders, but there’s something about the individual characters that appeals to me. Maybe it’s the rogues gallery aspect, or the similarity to the Joe team in terms of a group of colorful individuals.
Croc Master is an example of the 25th anniversary style successfully making an older design fresh. The modern construction style lends itself to making taller and bulkier figures, and that ability serves Croc Master well. He’s as menacing a figure as one would expect from the original concept and card art. That’s quite an accomplishment, considering he looks like some kind of freaky croc or gator fetishist. He’s also been given a bit of an embellishment with his equipment, as he’s now carrying a breathing tank on his back. There’s even a wicked cool croc bite scar on his right bicep.
Even the croc gets in on the improvement act, with a more detailed paint job, hinged jaw, and a generally more dangerous looking demeanor. If only all of the modern era figures could be this good.
I always really wanted Croc Master growing up but could never find him, so this version had a lot of childhood brain hype to live up to and the 25th Anniversary style was just amazing. I think I might have been a little disappointed with the original CM because, like the first Roadblock, he was the same size as everyone else. However, with the new construction style they could make Croc Master bigger and nastier. Plus, I absolutely love the scar details on his arms and the restitched spot on his mask. Those things really add a lot of character to a guy who already oozes character and makes him even more intimidating. The new croc is great and I really love that great whip he comes with. Add in the big revolver and you have a guy who knows how to work with animals but at the same time can bring either people or an out-of-control croc down.
Wow, 3 25th figures in a row! I really have a new found appreciation for the master crocs since the 25th. He is also a huge hit with my son who has a soft spot for animal companions.
Great figure! Much improved over the original, especially the accessories and croc.
I’m thinking once I make the 1990-1994 poster, and then the book, I’m going to double back and find the best modern interpretation of every 1982-1989 figure I can find.
Thanks for the continued inspiration!
Another acquisition from TJ Maxx. I think I got him the same day I got Mutt and Junkyard.
The hands should’ve been reused with a lot of figures whose original versions were bare-handed. Some that come to mind: Cutter, Wet-Suit, Rock N’ Roll, Dusty, Tele-Viper, Chuckles, and Falcon
I said the other day that Croc master is one of my Mothers favorites thanks to a prop in the Bond film Octopussy
If you think GIJOE took flak in 1987, look at Transformers you have robots with little people living in their heads and in their guns
But 1987 with Joe also had some gems. I think its just down to Cobra-la blocking peoples vision.
As the 25th stuff has never been available down here, i made my own one out of an R.O.C drill pod driver. The croc he has is from Schlei [or however thats spelt]
I know it might sound steriotypical but my best freind once fought off a croc. It was lurking near her car and she chased it ooff with a rake
I remember getting the vintage Croc Master at a Service Merchandise, off all places. He and Big Boa were tough to find in the Chicagoland area back in ’87.
The 25th update was an awesome improvement on the original. Gotta admit that I thought the restitched spot on his head was a paint flaw until KB pointed it out. I ended up with an extra Croc Master from BBTS and they both had it. Duh! His accessories are even cooler here with the addition of a breathing tank and gun. The articulated croc is well worth getting an extra figure so he can have two of ’em as he did in the fourth yearbook story. (Lolita and Tiffany!)
@Skymate: I lost interest in the Transformers after the ’86 movie where all my favorites were killed off. But worse yet, those freaky Headmasters, Targetmasters, and worst of all, the Pretenders then showed up to kill the line dead.
It was only years later that I found out how the original cars from ’84 and ’85 were actually from the Japanese Diaclone line and used to include miniature drivers as well. That sort of blew my mind as the Transformers turned out to be a bunch of different toy lines combined into a single brand.
@Clutch it wasnt so much the death of Optimus that upset my 3 year old self as it was the shuttle massacre. My first Transformers was Prowl followed by others such as Ironhide, Wheeljack, Starscream and just about everyone one else who was either blown to peices or just written out of the later episodes. If there was any redeeming quality about the ’86 movie, its that it acclimitised me to death at a young age. I remeber in primary school when Lion king came out and everyone was upset about Mufasa [or however its spelt]. I would then direct everyones attention to Transformers 86 movie which is the worlds first animated snuff film.
Whereas Transformers could be rebuilt it was a lot harder to do that to Duke. I guess thats why he had to go into a coma. Or they could have given him the six million dollar man treatment.
Despite popular belif it wasnt the Masters toys that caused a large drop in Transformers popularity in the late 80’s it was the lack of more cartoons.
As for the Pretenders those guys suck like broken vacuum cleaners. I hope to have Submarauder one day as he is the worst Transformer ever. He is bright pink and his “boat” mode is the robot mode doing a yoga pose
This figure is worth is for the updated croc alone! If Hasbro is going to package an animal with a figure, it’s gotta be able to open its mouth to attack. I’ll forgo moving limbs for a hinged jaw.
@Skymate: That’s a great idea for a custom Croc Master! A little less “just skinned a croc” and more “armor plated”.
Great “Modern era”‘s action figure!