Airtight (2011)
1985’s Airtight was the first figure I posted one year ago. He represented for me the strangeness that’s been a part of the small GI Joe line since early on in the Real American Hero line. While some have decried the use of bright colors near the end of the RAH run, I still posit that electric hues on Joe figures have been with us before the 1990’s.
I feel a bit of vindication, since the 30th anniversary line incorporated the poster child of not only early bright colors, but also early strange specialties with the Joe team’s hostile environment trooper. In the midst of the post-movie series’ subdued hues and gritty heroes, Airtight stands out like a beacon of hope for those of us who don’t mind a little flash of color and weirdness among our olive drab defenders.
Like other modern interpretations of the classic small Joes, Airtight includes some upgrades. First off, he has a removable helmet, which is something I’d always wanted to see on the old figure, although I would have liked an alternate head without the hazmat hood. He also features the newer pivoting wrists, which I think are an even bigger modern improvement than the double-hinged knee joint. An alternate backpack gives the figure another display option, a common inclusion these days, and a fun added accessory.
The old sniffer rifle is still around, and they even helpfully included an old-school hollow plastic hose to connect it to his backpack. I like seeing that. Upgrades are nice, but some things you just shouldn’t change.
Hasbro made a 30th Anniversary figure of Airtight NOT for the fan demand left over from the 25th but because they knew Joe A Day’s 1st Anniversary was coming up and they wanted to supply an updated figure to celebrate with you. Really, it’s true.
Awesome figure, great citation of the A.R.A.H. Airtight!
I really want this figure–thank you, dumb distributor problems.
Congratulations on blogging 365 days straight—and not going insane! LOL! Here’s to another 365 days of pure GI Joe joy!
what she said!
The 2011 version of Airtight is everything the 1985 original should have been and then some. Excellent choice for a full circle run on your site. Happy anniversary and best of luck in the future.
I never realized it until just now looking at the picture you have here of his head, but doesn’t his face look a little like Beavis? Maybe I’m the only one who sees it.
Anyway, congratulations on completing year 1, looking forward to as many more as your sanity will allow!
But how many kids will remember the 30th Airtight after another 25 years? None, because no kid ever saw him in a store. Yes I am a little bitter
He’s good. I have no idea what to do with him. But he’s good.
Would have been better with a darker shade of green. Not because that was how the original was done, but because it would look less cartoony. The Renegades design mantra seems to be, “Contrast? What’s this ‘contrast’ you speak of?”