Shipwreck (2003)
Spy Troops was a series that held promise with a great concept, but was ultimately wildly uneven in execution. The idea of clip on accessories to transform Joes and Cobras into the opposing force was novel and fun. I enjoy added play value, especially when the feature isn’t molded into the character in such a way that it restricts movement or interferes with the design. Some of the disguises in the series were actually pretty effective. That’s not quite the case here, but I still dig it for the fact that it’s Shipwreck masquerading as Cobra Commander. The GI Joe logo on his thigh is a dead giveaway, but give the guy credit for trying.
This Shipwreck was included with the Conquest of Cobra Mountain playset, parts of which were remolded from the Star Wars Episode II Geonosis battle playset (you can even still see battle droid parts molded in the set’s floor!) The figure mold was part of the previous series, and as such has a strong comic book animated feel. The design is based closer to Shippy’s Devils Due look, and (again) is a look that would be nice to see in a modern interpretation. Without the Cobra Commander disguise, of course.
I just bought the “Conquest of Cobra mountain” playset. Nice set! But this Devil’s Due Publishing version of Shippy (I have 3 or 4 of him) has got too big hands!
It’s funny to see Star Wars droids and super battle droids on the ground floor of a hidden Cobra facility! Hasbro, what were you doing!?
Hasbro (and most every other company) is notorious for recycling playset molds.
Shipwreck’s disguise is actually something you’d expect from the Sunbow version. Cobra Commander helmet and the G.I. Joe logo… Nice going there, Hector.
Yeah, if not for those hands, I’d probably like this figure.
B.t.w., a nice beginning for a new decade of Joes!
I wouldn’t mind seeing Hasbro revisit the Spy Trooper aspect for the 30th Anniverasry line with one or two figures mingled among the revamped RAH and ‘Renegades’ figures (like the Universe 2008 Transformers line featured characters from various toy lines). Maybe something to think about for the 35th Anniversary line.
Haha, the Joe logo on his thigh!
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I love the pure audacity behind this one. No one at Joe HQ thought to warn Shipwreck that dressing up as Cobra’s head honcho might not be a bad idea?
Duke: “I’m sure no one will notice the underlying stench of parrot crap!”
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