Jodie “Shooter” Craig (2016)
Shooter makes it to action figure form for the first time since her obscured one-panel cameo appearance in Marvel GI Joe issue #1, and ten years after her full reveal in the pages of the Devil’s due GI Joe Declassified mini-series. This figure’s file card doesn’t hint at her historic importance as one of the original team members who participated (albeit behind the scenes) in the mission to rescue Dr. Burkhart. Since she didn’t appear in any subsequent series, you can imagine what happened to her during the mission. Some would call this a retcon, but I think it’s a creative way to get some diversity into the mythos.
I’m a bit rusty on the modern figures, particularly those released in recent con sets and FSS series, so I can’t be sure what elements of the mold are new. I want to say I’ve seen the bottom of the legs on Renegades Scarlett, but the origins of the rest elude me. It looks like the top half of the figure repeats from the female Cobra trooper included in this year’s other three-pack. Obviously, the head is newly produced, and like her pack-mate Falcon, Shooter has some real personality in her portrait.
The accessories are pretty amazing, if a bit fiddly. The sniper rifle breaks down and stores in a case. Shades of Bullhorn’s rifle case, but much more intricate. I couldn’t get the figure into much of a sniper pose, but the rifle is amazing nonetheless.
Man, that’s a big pistol.
This strikes me as a figure that could have used a splash or two of color. Even making the web gear more contrasting would make her stand out a bit more.
The all black uniforms don’t make for great toys. They get kind of boring. So, even being a “new” character, she loses points for originality and is more likely to just get blended into the sea of modern releases rather than standing on her own.
A Guile Suit a la Spytroops and the Hat a la VvV Shopwreck could have given us the full look sans face camo.
Is she hard to pose? Those feet are so small its a wonder she can stand up
Saying there early Joes we never saw, that’s intriguing. Taking an artist’s in joke and making what was clearly an image of a male character into a female one, AND placing her in issue #1’s events it too retcon. Yeah, Hama did it and he also made a comic pack story where Scar-Face is inexplicably somehow alive 20 issues after he died.
The figure is bland. Wolf Squad is a boring version of Night Force. We have a new guy running the line who is fan of GI JOE, but I’ve disliked most of his ideas thus far.
I love her face!
I like the head sculpt and it goes to show that the people at Hasbro can make female faces that aren’t overly manly when they want to. And she came with some great accessories. Not a fan of the body, though. It looks way too small. I don’t mind a figure being dressed all (or mostly) in black as long as it’s not the entire group dressed in it. Otherwise, it’s harder for each figure to stand out. I feel the same way about most of the ’82 Joes. Way too many guys in basic green with only Snake-Eyes, Stalker, and Scarlett and the two with the vests having any real individuality to catch your eye.
I am a big fan of this character and the toy. Yes it is a retcon but it is well done. I like it when retcons are done in a way that is bith organic and clever. I found her story in declassified to be moving and heroic. Hama has said that he based the character in a lady he knew in the military, and she sent several of her kids to the military as well. Great stuff.
I personally love the figure. There aren’t enough female figures and particularly African American females. The face sculpt is very good and I really like the black outfit which matches her comic appearance in declassified. This one if a pure win for me. I was initially more excited about a few other figures in the 50th wave but Shooter has turned out to be my favorite.