Carcass (1994 Star Brigade)

Carcass is a perfect fit into the whacked-out end of the Real American Hero era, coming from the second series of Star Brigade, in which the fiction suddenly included interstellar travel and an alien empire. The figure design itself, which recalls something I think I may have doodled in the margins of my third grade English workbook, crosses an alligator with a hammerhead shark and even throws in a little Major Matt Mason bendy-armedness for good measure. My favorite element–the attack ribs! This guy must have been the rejected Red Lobster mascot for his home galaxy.

Why can’t I avoid thinking about Micronauts when I look at this figure? Probably because it has such a vibe that’s close to the Micronauts alien figures like Membros. You remember, the guy with the big exposed brain, right? Anyway, I probably think of the Micronauts because of this figure’s plastic, which incorporates a solid cast color along with translucent. It’s no secret that I’m drawn to translucent plastic, kind of like how a cat is attracted to shiny objects.

Finally, check out this out of place and pointless observation: Carcass’ head is the same rough shape as a Star Trek: the Next Generation Romulan Warbird. You’re welcome.

13 comments

  • Wow. Hard to believe that was a Joe figure as we sit here in 2012. That translucent plastic was genius, though. Make it translucent neon yellow, and Shadow Tracker would have a perfect army builder for a jungle ambush hit squad.

  • You covered so many bases on this guy that I’m almost inclined to seek him out now. Hasbro’s designers certainly weren’t resting on their laurels when the time came to dream up the Lunartix Empire.

  • Dak the Knomadd

    If not for the construction of the waist and legs, there would be no telling sign at all of any relation what-so-ever to G.I. Joe. Honestly, before this post had you simply shown me a picture of the upper half of this guy I would have been absolutely sure of him being from the Micronauts line.

    It’s almost as if they know full well that the ARAH line was ending so just went all hell-bent caution-to-the-wind with it. I would bet there was a certain catharsis for creativity that felt liberating. I would also wager that the design team never fully expected any of this stuff to go further than their own musings.

  • The arms make the fig useless. But the design is good. The black Mexican version is much better but rather pricey these days. Still all the lunartix figs have good designs…even if they aren’t in line with the joe mythos.

  • I actually plan to incorporate the Lunartix Empire (and the Manimals) into my fanfic-verse–the three Lunartix mercenaries look like something Dave Cockrum, Keith Giffen, or maybe Roger Slifer would come up with.

  • Really not sure about these guys but I’m a completionist so I have to have them. They’re creations of Dr Venom in my Joeverse though, rather than interstellar bounty hunters. Slightly less wacky…

  • Predacon is friggin’ COOL but this dude not so much

  • I know with absolute certainty that I will never own this figure!

  • D’awww. How could you be threatened by a goofy grin like that?

  • My kid would probably love this figure, and most of the Lunartix guys. I haven’t gotten the urge to chase him down, though.

  • Pingback: Joe A Day » Coil Crusher (2004)

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