Dial-Tone (1990)
Dial-Tone was among the repaints for the Sonic Fighters sub team. His presence makes sense, as his specialty fits in with the team’s concept. Even his backpack isn’t too bad, although it is huge like all the others. That’s to be expected considering the technology of the time. Thankfully, it’s removable.
The colors are quite good this time around, with a deep blue, black and grey scheme. It’s not quite dark enough to stand in as something like Night Force, but nevertheless I like the change in the color palette. It certainly works better than the Mission Brazil outfit. The Sonic Fighters in general I think don’t get quite enough attention for the solid repaints they are. The Joes at least fare pretty well all around.
The Sonic Fighter concept could be revisited in the modern era. Sound and light technology has improved so much, and other technology can be worked into toys. Some video game properties are crossing over into toys with things like Skylanders and Infinity, incorporating toys into the modern kid style of play. Hasbro could surely dream up some similar way to capitalize on the breadth of colorful and interesting characters within the GI Joe universe. The idea may not sit well with collectors, but it would be another way to get the brand back into the target demographic’s eye again.
I have the v1 Dialtone at the centre of my class of ’86 lineup. He’s missing all his gear so he’s armed with this ones rifle.
The Skylanders idea might work. If the figures were fully articulated and able to detach from the stands
I agree 100% with you about Hasbro needing to get behind a serious gaming push. That’s where the audience is, and if you want to win new fans of the under 30 crowd, then video games are the answer. Look how many Halo toys there are. Games can sell toys!
Great colors–solid figure!
Same here, on all opinion about the video game compatibility.
Interestingly enough, when I got an extra SF Dial-Tone with a broken chest, I came up with a great way to salvage the rest of his parts. The result is my work-in-progress Sonic Fighters version of Sparks, based on the recipe of the 2007 convention figure, made up of the following:
-Head from Comic Pack Breaker (since in the cartoon Sparks had brown hair)
-Torso from Comic Pack Snake Eyes (the one with him, Grunt, and Zap)
-Arms, waist and legs from SF Dial-Tone (I need to get a pair of cleaner arms)
-Helmet from 2007 Duke painted black (since it’s originally from Comic Pack Breaker), black Skydive pistol from the Battle Corps Leatherneck or Dino-Hunters Low-Light, and the comm-pack/hose/antenna/microphone from the Anti-Venom Task Force Lifeline.
Whaddaya guys think?
@ Acer
Funny about Sparks isnt it. He was created as there werent enough characters so the writers needed someone other than Breaker to do computer stuff but by the time of the second series he was relegated to working in a tv station [see Grey hairs & growing pains]
Anyway it sounds like an interesting custom
This is a nice repaint.I’d like to see a display of all the vintage molds in all the different versions there are. Most every figure has a repaint of some kind.
@Acer: Sounds like a great alternative to the pricier convention Sparks from a few years back.
I’m a huge fan of the original Dial-Tone figure and the various repaints we’ve gotten since his ’86 debut have worked out well for the character. I think the gray and black used here for his torso and arms makes him a perfect fit for the Night Force series. Even his dark blue and black waist and legs work nicely when compared to the lighter green pants of, let’s say, NF Sneak-Peek. I think this might be my second favorite version, easily topping his Brazil pack predecessor.
Video games might be the next best option for the brand at present. Movies have done very little for toy sales in the long run and TV cartoons aren’t as popular as they were during the Sunbow years. Following the example of something like Halo might be the way to go.
Sonic fighters could be a really interesting modern day idea, in my mind here as the “non-lethal” weaponry exploration side to the mind-controlling ultra low frequency waves (I’m picture video game red alert 2 with Yuri taking over troops minds!).
I like that the hair color stayed on this Dial Tone repaint.
From what I read, Sparks was a planned then cancelled toy. Hasbro told the series writers to stop using him after his figure was cancelled (a scanned copy of the writer’s “bible” crosses his name out and says “use Breaker”). This wouldn’t be unusual, a few characters/vehicles debuted in the toon before getting toys: Flint, Lady Jaye, Shipwreck, AVAC and Firebat and even proto-Sharcs and Rattlers in The MASS Device.
@NegaT
For a few years now i’ve had a nagging suspicion that the writers got General Flag and Colonel Sharpe mixed up as Sharpe looks like Flags comic book counter part and Flag looks like one of the jugglers.
Dial-Tone, like Psych-Out, I think seemed better suited to the Sonic Fighters than most of their fellow Joes. 1991 made better use of the backpacks and accessories though Dial-Tone (along with a classic Viper) seemed to be the best from 1990. I think the colors were better than the 1986 original, which, while not garish, something seemed slightly ‘off’ (maybe the cream-colored sleeves?).
And you’re right, Special Mission Brazil Dial-Tone looks the 2nd most garish. Leatherneck & Wet-Suit are nice alternate palettes. Love Mainframe though (looks like a border guard or checkpoint guard in some sleepy Latin American military dictatorship in that outfit) even if he’s the most garish of that bunch.
As for revisiting the Sonic Fighters idea, I concur. The line needs to broaden beyond collectors if it is to grow/maintain its appeal. Look at the success Transformers had. Sometimes it’s necessary to do things which alienate a part of the hardcore audience that tend to be more favorable to a younger demographic (I recall this with the purist no-fantasy Joes vs. the creeping sci-fi/fantasy influence Joes and the less overtly military role Joes of the mid-late ’80s. Same for sci-fi shows. Sometimes episodes which adults hate the kids love. A few classic Outer Limits episodes come to mind [Eck, I Robot, Adam West vs. the sand shark on Mars, Ikar and the episode with one of the most cryptic titles in television]). Same goes for baseball teams and mascots (usually only the most embittered, who feel it makes their team look less tough, are opposed to a decent to great mascot. Not talking about some of the horrid mascots that were swept under the tarp though). Such things are a point of entry into a series or franchise for people. Of course, sometimes such efforts can fail (Mega Marines, AKA G.I. Joe meets Play-Doh). The effort is not to alienate the existing audience trying to reach out to a new audience (some video games, tv shows have done that. Stargate Universe, Final Fantasy XIII come to mind with that). In that regard, I think launching it as a sub-team/sub-line to the main line would be safer.
Great colors!
I love the Dial Tone and this is the only version I’ve never reviewed. (Mostly because the only one I’ve ever had is in bad condition.) But, this is probably the best version of Dial Tone in terms of usefullness. (Though I’m still partial to the BJ’s Dial Tone…) I really should get a high quality version to round out the Dial Tone collection.