I was looking at my Cobra Disguise Flint the other day, and wondering why Hasbro hasn't done a version of a Cobra foot soldier without the mask on. Maybe something like the multi-packs of green shirts from TRU a few years back, with the removable masks like Major Blood and CP Beachhead have. But, I wondered how many people would want to see the troops without their masks on. Is part of the appeal the generic, anonymous trooper?

So, would you want to see an version of the Cobra blue-shirts without their mask on?

Yep. The nameless, faceless masses that Cobra Commander "recruits" are part of the mythos that is G.I. Joe. Once you put a full face to a figure then you'll want to give him a name, then a backstory and next thing you know he's a full blown character and the idea of generic soldiers is lost.

Now if we weren't getting named characters like Major Bludd (though it took 3 tries to get him right) the Twins and the like then yeah maybe a Cobra general or something would be nice. But there are enough "names" in the Cobra hierarchy that I don't need my soldiers to have identities. And when I do want someone special, well that's what customizing is for, right?

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well here is the problem in a sensible light of day
and i talked with spectre about this.

It reaches a point where if i am army building and i don't do that too much these days anyway, that if i have too much detailing on generic troopers i see no point to it because for dio or set up purposes only a few really need say a removable clip or helmet. So to me with Marauder for instance i really don't need to get 20,30 guns with removable clips, just 2,3 for the sake of close up or variety.

A mask? yea that is ok to have for 2,3 troopers but after that it is pointless IMHO.

I would much rather have
a. a female trooper
b. a big hulking trooper type that is larger then the others
c. a trooper with the white tank top

that sort of variety would work more for me.

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Answered no because I have no interest in 25A figures, but I also agree with Rasputin.

the appeal is the fact that you can't see their faces. So no.

BUT! I wouldn't mind some diversity in the ranks, and different "builds".

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In the end, I voted yes. I agree with the reasons why they are better nameless, and would like to see diversity in the ranks (gender, stature, etc - imagine a fat cobra trooper). But, I would also like some generic heads to have around my Cobra base displays, or to mix in with some troops in a battle (you can't tell me with all that fighting, and no one ever getting shot, that someone doesn't get hot with the mask on).

I'd buy one.

Having said that, there's no reason Hasbro couldn't release a Cobra Soldier with two or more heads. With the release of the latest Beachhead, Hasbro has set a precedent. Besides, the 25A figures already have removable helmets, so a head w/out a mask is the next logical step.

They could always make the head in different flesh tones, too.

Sure. Why not? They'd just be generic looking skinheads or buzzcuts anyway.

While we're on the topic, does anyone think the Eel and the diver wearing a mask under their breathing apparatus is a bit silly? If their was a clear need for a generic maskless villain trooper face, it probably would have been the Eel.

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Wouldn't it be like clone troopers? You could have minor characters and basic troops.