General Flagg (2004)
Deaths in comics have become tiresome. Every major character who’s killed off, no matter how much the writers repeat, “yes he’s staying dead”, don’t stay dead. Even Captain America’s Bucky, long held out in the “staying dead” camp, was brought back to modern comics. General Flagg, the Joe team’s commanding general, was the first member to be killed in action in the comics, and he’s also notable as one of the precious few characters in comics that remains dead.
The comic pack series of the 2000’s were a great way for comic fans to finally get some oft-requested characters in toy form. Not only were comic-styled Joes who differed from their original toy versions made, but some comic-only characters finally became immortalized in plastic. General Flagg, while not as highly demanded as others like Kwinn and Horrorshow, was still a welcome addition to the Joe ranks.
A dress uniform or business suit mold has been on many Joe fans’ wish list for years. While it was never truly achieved within the Real American Hero line, Hasbro made some noble attempts with the tooling that was available. A suitable torso (pun intended) appeared with the release of Headman in 1992. This double-breasted zoot suit wasn’t a perfect representation of a miltary dress jacket, but it was a decent approximation. The field pants taken from Big Ben of course don’t translate as well, and seem out of place. The 1987 Gung Ho dress marine pants would have been a better fit, but one would assume that the parts simply weren’t available for use.
Like most of the comic packs, the newly sculpted head is a very good representation of the comic depiction. The General’s usually stern expression is well represented, and the removable cap is a nice extra touch.
In a strange mix-up, the file card describes the Battle Corps General Flagg, who was the son of the Joes’ commanding general.
General Flagg is one of my favorite characters from the early issues and it was a real shock to see him die, especially after he’d come so close to it in issue #5. I never understood how he could have a son who looked his age just nine years later, but Hasbro goes by their own canon at times. My first issue of G.I. Joe was #12, and this figure times two + a Hawk head swap is a great way of recreating the Pentagon briefing scene in #12 where I first met both Hawk and Flagg in their dress uniforms. Every issue with Flagg in it (including his funeral) is highly recommended.
He’s a decent figure, though you’re right about the Gungho legs. I especially like how they turned the pocket hankie into some kinda chest candy. Maybe Flagg works at the Golden Arches in the Pentagon’s food court? 😉
I think most of the newly scupted heads for the comic packs were done too small. They just don’t fit in with the rest of the vintage stuff.
Very good figure. The sunglasses vary so widely it is funny to see how they are positioned from figure to figure.
A agree that the heads on the comic pack figures were too small for the bodies, but I give Hasbro credit for putting the comic packs at all since I do enjoy most of the ffigures.
I agree.
Not a bad figure. I like that they made him especialy if your a fan of the first year of JOE Comics.
I would like to see a box set in military dress uniforms that has:
1. Colonel Sharp.
2. Gen. Hawk
3. ACE
4. Duke
5. Gen Flagg