Skyduster (2008)
What’s in a name? With the GI Joe brand since the Real American Hero era’s end, it seems at times a mire of copyright and/or trademark clearances. Mainstay characters like Hawk, Stalker and Scarlett have all been subject to moniker juggling. Heck, even lesser knowns like Starduster have had their code names go incognito and back again over the years.
Skyduster is the name this time. We didn’t have to down box after box of Action Stars cereal to get this guy, just pick him up at Toys R Us in a mostly lackluster three-pack along with Capt. Ace and Wild Bill. Duster’s not looking totally like his old self, and I for one miss his funky camo pants. Guess there’s no Nice Pants coverage for Mr. Sky D. In an odd twist that we don’t usually see with convention figures, the same character showed up as one of the next year’s attendee exclusive figures. Did they just run out of ideas, or was someone at the club a big fan of jet packs?
My copy of the figure has been the victim of some unfortunate molding accident, and his face is a little pushed-in. Not that the head sculpt was pretty to begin with; his mug is really a face only an advanced jet fueled rocket pack could love. He really should have stuck with the opaque black visor of his mail-in version.
Mine didn’t have any head issues, though I wish he did have that camo on his pants and that his badge was painted.
So why does he come with a knife?
I can live without this guy. I never sought him out in the 80’s since I didn’t eat the cereal.
The head sculpt blunder on this version is inexcusable, though. He looks like he’s getting ready to have his Klingon makeup applied. QC at Hasbro in recent times has left a lot to be desired.
Good lord, his face! Looks like someone forgot to wear their helmet while off jet packing and ran into some trouble.
It’s weird that the original Starduster was a mish-mash of parts and it worked pretty well. This figure is a similar hodgepodge but kinda misses the mark. Camo would’ve helped. He’s so bland and part-cloned that he almost feels like a knock-off.
I like mine!
I have two 87 versions. I’d love to seeS tarduster re-issued POC/3th style and retro-art on the card. If fact there is a company that sells repo cards and bubbles to put your Joes on display! http://www.beggarscanyontoys.com/
I’m not to familiar with the original, so I’m kind of digging this one. With the baby blue suit and jetpack, he sort of looks like a background character from the COPS cartoon.
I like the idea of having this figure, but in execution he’s got floppy limbs and a helmet that refuses to stay on his ugly head. At least he has that distinctive powder blue color I like. I really wish I could afford the original, but this will have to do.