Hasbro’s 25th Anniversary G.I. Joe line continues to expand this fall, with their latest wave of vehicles, featuring new repaints of previously released molds from the classic Real American Hero line. One such vehicle is the repainted A.W.E. Striker, with driver Leatherneck
Make no mistake, the A.W.E Striker is indeed awesome.
The engineering of this item is fantastic, allowing for a vehicle that’s great for both collectors and kids. The vehicle features a four wheel suspension, which allows it to bounce over rough terrain. It also features front-wheel steering, a highly detailed engine and swiveling cannon. It is a well-designed piece that is also open and allows figures to be easily inserted and removed all while sitting in perfect view. As an adult with hands larger than that of a 7 year-old, I really appreciate this about the Striker. The only criticism I have is about the blasted decals. Many decals were included to put on the bars of the vehicle, and they just did not stay affixed to the plastic. This was fine by me as I like the vehicles with fewer decals, but some collectors may find this problematic.
Leatherneck is equally as cool as his pimped-out ride. I know some fans would have liked this version of Leatherneck to be in his classic colors, but Hasbro chose to release the figure in his out from the limited, TRU-exclusive “Special Mission: Brazil” set from the late 1980’s. Frankly, I prefer the deco they chose for two reasons. First, the original green camo deco would have clashed with the repainted Striker. Second, the “Special Mission” figure was ultra rare by the time I was turned onto G.I. Joe, so I never had a shot at finding him. This version of Leatherneck chosen by Hasbro is a shout-out to older fans and appropriately compliments the vehicle and I wholeheartedly support their decision. Here’s hoping the rest of the Brazil team sees makes it to shelves in the future!
Looking beyond the outfit, Leatherneck is also just a great figure. He features clean, crisp paint apps and a highly articulated, well-sculpted body. There’s a definite re-use of parts from the 25th Anniversary line, but they are masked well enough not to make him appear like a simple repaint next to the other figures. An added bonus to the figure is his accessories. When I first opened the box, I was hoping for the inclusion of a M-16. Then I found the bag that included Leatherneck’s filecard, blueprints, and base… lo and behold, there was also a handgun and rifle! Big kudos to Hasbro for this choice, for it makes the figure complete. It would have been easy for them to just give him the pistol and include the rifle with a single-carded version in a later release, but Hasbro is not skimping on this line. They provide a major value with every purchase and as silly as it sounds, the inclusion of the additional weapon was a huge bonus for me. I really feel like I have a full and complete version of the character.
Given my abundant satisfaction with nearly every facet of this item, I cannot help but once again recommend collectors get behind Hasbro’s current G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary line. If you haven’t heeded my previous recommendations on the DVD Battle packs HERE and HERE, then start your collection with this excellent vehicle release . At $16-$20, it’s a great value, especially since single carded figures on shelves are running anywhere from $6-$10 these days. This is another example of Hasbro’s dedication to value and quality in the G.I. Joe line, and it’s well worth picking up.
You can read more of C.J.’s musings on film, toys and music over at stunksstage.com.