Eels (1992)
What’s even cooler than sharks with frickin’ lasers attached to their heads? How about robotic sharks with frickin’ missiles in their mouths?
Whereas the ’85 Eels were the embodiment of the early RAH line’s quasi-realistic military with a sprinkling of adventure, the later Eels evidenced the toy for the sake of toy sensibility of the line’s final years. In place of grey, black and red, we’ve got Cobra blue and bright yellow. There’s no shortage of aquatic themed elements on this figure, from the fin shapes to the trident weapon. I’ve often thought that quite a few of the Joe divers, even early ones like Torpedo and Wet-Suit, resembled civilians in dive gear. But this Eel truly looks like he could only be a villainous frogman, and not a snorkeling vacationer or Shark Week documentarian. The file card explains the difference in looks. Those new fins all over the suit are functional; they can tear through the hulls of ships. The new Eels are also experts with the latest technologically improved gear.
I can’t go too long without discussing the accessory that sets this Eel apart from all other Cobra divers, and even all other Joes. Can any other accessory rival the amazing missile-firing robo-shark? I certainly can’t think of one. Oh, and not only does it fire missiles, but the robot shark is also a backpack. I thought Star Brigade Duke’s backpack was the coolest ever, but I may have just changed my mind.
To further cement the new Eels’ greatness, the troopers’ secondary specialty is piloting the most incredible Cobra vehicle ever produced–the Rat!
Now I’ve got to get one of these for the RAT I got at a thrift shop!
Also, a lot of people easily overlook a pair of reused accessories with this guy–the fins are the same as the 1990 Undertow.
I have absolutely loved everything about this figure since I first laid my eyes upon it as an eight year old. Killer sculpt, those fins, and the trident was such a cool weapon. That head design, especially, is so simple yet effective.
Never got this guy back in the day, the Undertow and Hydro-Viper had me covered with Cobra underwater shenanigans.
I liked the way this figure was drawn in the comics. I’d buy a remake.
I think the Matt and Chad custom site repainted this figure in black and grey.Looked awesome.
They did, it was part of the latest Joecustoms.com Group Project: Repaint Central. Here’s the Eel in question:
http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/customs_xml_single.php?t=gp&d=repaint&c=eel
Here are the others they did:
-Battle Corps Claymore
http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/customs_xml_single.php?t=gp&d=repaint&c=claymore
-Dino-Viper
http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/customs_xml_single.php?t=gp&d=repaint&c=dinovipers
-Land-based Eel
http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/customs_xml_single.php?t=gp&d=repaint&c=eelsland
-Faisco
http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/customs_xml_single.php?t=gp&d=repaint&c=faisco
-RAH-style Zanya
http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/customs_xml_single.php?t=gp&d=repaint&c=zanya
I love that Dino Viper
the colors suck but I dig the design. I do, I really do. and tearing into ship hulls? that’s bad ass
Those repaints are awesome. Give me the ’85 red, black & gray any old day.
Andrew Wildman drew a few issues of the comic featuring these guys. I wouldn’t mind them so much if they hadn’t come out during the neon era. Also, I wasn’t sure if this review was tongue-in-cheek until you mentioned the Rat…
Well, only the Rat comment was tongue in cheek.
You could rig a Playmobil water motor into the tail of the shark and turn the Eel/shark backpack combo into a heck of a bathtub torpedo.
Terrific figure!
I actually realized this Eel did have adequate camouflage underwater. They look like they could blend in with a coral reef. v1 Eels blend in with the cool, dark open waters of the sea or lakes, the colors of sharks, eels and various big fish, but Eels v2 would seem to fit in with the clownfish & anemones of the sea.
I love everything about this character from the mold to the colors to the accessories, etc. It might not be as iconic as the original ’80s Eel, but this has always been my favorite version. And what’s not to like about a robot shark that shoots missles?