I think there's some shades of dissappointment or simply not being impressed that are being misinterpreted as outright hate or anger here.

Since everyone I know is caught up in baseball fever right now, I'll try to use an appropriate analogy to describe how I feel about this figure.

He's a ground-rule double.

The figure itself is an approximation of the character it's supposed to be. It's got gray pants, a blue shirt, a life-vest and the right color helmet.

But the pants don't look much like the original figure's pants nor does the shirt really look much like the original shirt -- and they so easily could have. That would've made the figure a walk if not for the cool head.

So on its own merits, it's a single.

What elevates it to a double is the custom potential. Because it doesn't look too much like who it's supposed to be, you could easily swap in new heads on a few of these guys and have a decent Flagg crew.

Of course, there's no way the club prices this attractively enough that most customizers would pick up multiples for fodder. So it's really only technically a double.

I don't hate it. It doesn't suck. But I couldn't justify buying one at more than $7 - $8.

I suspect there are a lot of folks like me who, if the club shows us three or four triples and a home run might feel better about paying for this to get those. But if the Club were to announce pricing and start selling subscriptions tomorrow without showing us anything better than what we've seen so far? I predict a lot of unsold subscriptions.

I think Spin nicely summed up the attitude toward Topside, though I feel like grading him as a double is a bit generous. Maybe he makes it to second base on an error or a fielder's choice.

I don't expect ME updates of vintage figures to necessarily be 100% faithful to the original. But, as I've come to understand as I evaluate potential customs to make, I want to see updates that I can readily identify as being a specific character. While I don't think that all of the new 7-pack figures are the best that they could be, I can look at almost all of them and immediately know who they are intended to represent. When I look at the Topside image, I feel like there's not really any details that establish this figure as him rather than a generic Navy sailor character. The head and helmet definitely match up well enough, and I do like the choice of gun. The colors appear to be pretty close to correct, but there is nothing particularly distinctive about the colors. I'd say the vest and the boots are the most distinctive parts on the original figure (I don't find the gloves, lack of rolled-up sleeves, or the lack of rocket launcher dealbreakers), and neither part is well represented on the Club version. I think that even if the Club had done the word "NAVY" across the top of the vest in large letters, that might have been good enough to pass the test. But, as is, if you put this figure next to Shipwreck and Cutter, I don't think he'll stand out much. With the vest and boots, I think he would have nicely complemented them while still looking unique.

I agree with most people here. Not a bad choice of character, but meh as far as execution goes. So far, I'm looking at the subscription figures and thinking:

Quarrel: Will make my own
Topside: Will make my own
Nano-BAT: I have zero interest in this character

So right now, it's looking like no subscription for me. But I'm waiting to see what the club has planned for the other figures.

OB

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made my own Tospide over the weekend

I wanted a 30th style update to the modern looking figure the 1990 figure was, not a new Topside that look like it stepped out of the 80's.

I gotta agree with OB.
The club has just not "wowed" me with the current revealed three figs.
None of these has created a "gotta have it." Nice though they are, they are not "must haves."
Plus, with the price having yet to be finalized, but suspected to be in the $20's, I am still on the fence, but with the current reveal, trending towards not subsscribing.
Will continue to monitor and see what ultimatley the price and full line up is, but so far, meh

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Super disappointing there was only 1 new sub figure revealed over the weekend. Theres no reason they couldn't have shown a couple more off. Even one more. Instead it was just Topside... and the Nano BAT and Quarrel AGAIN.

Nice! That repainted Recondo vest looks great in orange. Topside looks like he's a bit seasick, though

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I actually like that Topside figure (as potential custom fodder), but the prospect of having to slog through a repaint of a crappy Scarlett figure and a BAT isn't all that appealing. I hope their strategy isn't to show a few figures and hope that people will sign up with the idea that things will get more interesting as they go along, because based on what we've seen, they're going to have a tough time selling those subscriptions (Joe fans' well-deserved reputation as a notoriously cheap group won't help, either). Time will tell, I guess.

Close up of the head posted on Facebook.

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Kinda looks like David Lane with blonde hair.

*stands back to watch the fan rage fire erupt*

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Rather like that head sculpt. It could possibly still work as Rock 'N Roll.

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Meh

Not a bad sculpt but it's nothing special.


I wonder who they'll use it for again in the future (probably with a different hair color)?

If it was a "true" homage it would have yellow eyes and lids.

Actually, a Grand Slam might have been a better choice...

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I knew it looked familiar! Can't wait for the Brian Savage unmasked CC...