Heres a new thread series: Correcting The Wrongs Of The Past.

In this scenario, we'll take an existing part of Joe mythos that is largely frowned upon, and see what, if anything could have initially been done to make it a totally awesome idea.

We'll start with Eco Warriors, a team of specialists that fight pollution.

I think this team would have been fine with Ozone, Clean Sweep and Airtight. I really saw no need for BBQ or Deep Six, or Flipper the dolphin.

The first change would have to be changing the Eco Warriors theme to an overall chemical warfare theme.

I think Clean Sweeps uniform is actually perfect for a chemical warfare soldier, and his accesories are interesting. Besides a paintjob make over, I think he would be left as is.

Airtight could be redone, even a v1 repaint would be ok with a white uniform, amd make black or grey trim and helmet.

Ozone. The originals unform makes no sense for its use, I think. If this character were to be included, a complete and total make over would be in order. Possibly using the Eco Warriors BBQ in white or grey, with black/grey trim.

Cesspool I think is a good character. I didn't care for his actual figure that much, and personally went with a more 'Evil CEO' version:
http://www.joecustoms.com/customs/custo ... 10&id=2563

Toxo Vipers are perfect for this line, although I really don't like the v2 uniform. I think the original painted in white would be much, much more acceptable.

Toxo Zombies I thought was an awesome idea, but the pink really kills it. I think taking the same idea and using it on the Toxo Viper 1 and keeping all the colors the same would make for a more acceptable flow and mix.

Sludge Vipers, dont really see a need for them.
Septic Tank...dont see a need for this either. Perhaps a chemical tanker wouldve made more sense.
Toxo Lab: great idea, "LASER BLAST" execution and coloring. Using even a modified TBP couldv' been much cooloer with some storage tanks and hoses everywhere for a more 'industrial' feel.

Overall I think the Eco Warriors idea was a good one. The bad choices of coloring, gimmicks and cute dolphins kinda ruin it for me. What are your thoughts on ways this idea could have been better?

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Yeah I liked the basic idea of the Eco Warriors. A chemical terrorist attack is a real possibility and has happened elsewhere. It's not a far stretch to have Cobra put a Zartan, Destro, Major Bludd, etc. type of character incharge of a chemical warfare division. Cesspool worked, but he needed a better look. Having vipers assigned to him isn't out of the question either. The zombie idea is fine and could really be made into something cool if written right and the figure were done right. Heck it would be Cesspool's own BAT pretty much.

I've wanted to make a Toxo Lab actually. I had thought about doing a custom, then with all these ideas of making various bases and such, I've considered making one that I could make for everyone, not just me. I haven't come up with an idea yet though and I have enough projects to get off the ground before I try that one.

But yeah it could be a real nice idea. Hasbro could make it into a really great sub-line.

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Cool idea for a topic,ZombieGuide.

I like everybody's ideas so far, but I think this version of the Eco-Warriors should include Barbecue because Firefighters can be Hazmat guys too,plus what if a Cobra jet (for example) was shot down and burning? Is it's fuel producing toxic fumes?

I'm another that likes Cesspool. Keep his head,design a new uniform and he's gold.

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great thread!

I can't really think of any additions other than the ones already mentioned.

....except maybe the Version II BATS might have fitted in this catagory, seeing as theyre not alive, toxic chemiclas wouldnt affect them. (plus the original black/ yellow color scheme would fit.)

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Great idea....maybe some packs with poisonous gas backpack canisters, or chemical 'flamethrower' type weapons.

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Joes:
I redefined their use: CBR weapons inspection/disposal /retrieval team.

Characters I kicked:
Flint: Why in the first place?
Ozone :I though he looked more Astronaut
Deep Six/flipper: The joe navy is already short handed

Characters I added:
Airtight: No Brainer
Biosferra: South American Character-(CBR Trained)
Pure Air: See above
GI Jane: Physicist and should be competent with CBR weapons


Characters retained:
Clean Sweep
Barbecue

Vehicles: A 1:18th Scale Fire Engine, Makes more sense than an AWE Striker w/ a water cannon...

Cobra: Arbco Chemical Co
Characters Retained:
Cesspool: CEO and totally agree on the business suit look, did the same thing with an old headman body
Toxoviper: Again I agree on using the V1
Toxozombie: Contained in a building, unleashed to defend installations (mindless and hungry)
Sludge Viper: Use the V2 Toxozombie individual Character: Leader of the Toxovipers

Characters added:
Dr. Venom
Neurotoxin

Vehicle: If I could Find a Delivery Truck/ Tractor Trailer Tanker
Parasite: Looks the part for a viper ride

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This is a long read, but it was a very good topic.

I got out of the Joe game before the Eco Warriors, but the overall concept idea was great. I don't have any of these in my collection now, but if I were to make this something I would have got into the first change would be the colors. I really don't care for the super bright colors. If they would have done a more real feel to it with white or dark red uniform overall for the Joe team and maybe something more menacing for Cobra I would have been more into it.

I would agree with the focus change of the team too. Anti-chemical, biological, & environmental terrorism, I think fits better and children would have understood it too. Also give the team members certain specialties under that focus. More like what pertains to the focus of what they are fighting or causing like Chemist, Geologist, Aerologist, etc.

Accessories would be the next item of change. The water firing backpack idea was cool, but I would have made it less bulky and changed up the cannon part into something they might have really used. On the water firing cannons, I would have placed them on a tri-pod or something like that. Maybe include something that could have been connected to a vehicle (tanker or something) for added supple of water.

GI Joe Side:
I liked the idea of having a main character for a leader, but I don't think Flint fits the bill. I don't really know who I would replace him with, but that would need to be done. Flint’s parts were okay for the team too. Also would have included a full hooded helmet and a less futurist gun.

Barbecue I thought fit into the team, and I would see him being a smoke jumper to some sort in this unit. Fires themselves can be a major environmental hazard, so having a firefighter on the team would make since. Parts choice was all wrong though. Version 1 would have been a better choice over what they gave him. He needed an axe. Not so much like version 1, but they are a smoke jumper’s best friend.

Clean Sweep works for the team and the only changes I would have made would be the accessories. Again I think the connecting to a vehicle part would be really cool here for the drone thing. Also would have made the drone something a little different.

Ozone was a good name, but I agree with the parts they used. Eco-Warrior Barbecue body would have worked here. He needed something a little more set for his title too. I might have included a weather balloon or something like that in with him.

Now I would have added 2 new members to this group too. First, I think a biologist would be essential to a team like this. Would have been a character you could include the dolphin in with as well as some other cool accessories. Flipper the dolphin was not a bad choice to include in the team, but the execution of the toy was. If it wasn’t a lame water squirting toy, it would have been much better. If the water squirting part needed to be included, it should have been something placed inside a better sculpted dolphin.

Second would be some sort of Medical field/Veterinarian. This is a must to be part of the team. You would need a member of this caliber for this team. With all the biological & chemical hazards the team would face every time they went out, you need someone that would be able to help right away in the field by your side. Not to mention the thread to wildlife and that sort of think. Maybe include another animal into the mix, as if I remember figures that had cool animals went faster than the ones that didn’t, even is the figure was not so cool.

Vehicles:
I don’t think the Eco-striker cut it. Color was bad and it didn’t have enough room for what a team like this would have needed in the field. I might have started with a retooled APC for this team, because it’s amphibious, AWD, and has the room for a mobile work area whatever the team could need in the field. I would add a work/lab area inside and the top would be changed to look armored or no soft like the original. Replacing the top cannon with water firing unit would need to be done too.

I would replace the Eco-Striker with a Stinger (retool), as I don’t see the AWE Striker small frame being useful enough for the teams needs. Why the Stinger, because it has the platform on the back for figures. The doors would be changed to be less soft looking and water firing cannon would replace the missile launcher.

A team like this would need some air transportation too, but I can’t really find anything that would work other than the Tomahawk, and I think that is too big to be in a sub-team like this. It could work though if my idea of the team would have taken off.

Maybe something with a dozer blade would be needed too. Maybe adding a blade to the Mauler or MOBAT and changing the turret. Even the Wolverine or Bridge Layer might work for a base to something along these lines.

Cobra Side:
I think the Cobra Eco-Warriors need a new name. Something like Hostile Environmental Warfare Division. I don’t know, maybe someone can offer up something better. Also I would add certain

Cesspool works for the leader of the Cobra team, but part choice needs to be reassessed. Maybe include some shoulder armor that the helmet attaches for a complete enclosed suit.

I think the team would need a second in command too, so I like the name Corrosion. He could be a new character. I wouldn’t use Dee-Jay for him though, like the International one used. Might have gone with something like the version 1 Toxo-Viper and retooled it some.

Dr Mindbender would be a member, if you like the idea of the Toxo-Zombies. Reason being that you would need someone like Mindbender to develop a way to control them. I don’t know what parts I would use. Maybe he would be a totally new design.

Toxo-Viper would be my main force, but I never liked the version 2. I would have gone with the version 1 and repainted them to match the unit. Their accessories would be changed to fit the format of the rest too, with water firing gear.

Sludge Viper would be my water Toxo-Viper unit. Their accessories would reflect that too, but with the water firing gear.

Toxo-Zombies would be the Vipers that have been over exposed to chemical, biohazard, radiation, etc. Parts here would change to reflect the nature of the unit and accessories to match. Maybe even add some robotic features to them, as for life-support, etc.

Newly added would be the Smog Viper, being my air Toxo-Viper. These would use the version 2 Toxo-Viper model. Maybe some changes, but overall they would fit the bill. Accessories would be like the others with the water firing gear.

Vehicles:
I liked the uses of the HISS, but it was lacking and the name was just lame. I would have not made the cannon so large and included a tanker trailer or retooled the back of the HISS to a tanker.

Also the MMS or ASP could have been used here for added environmental hazard weapons on Cobras part. These of course would reflect the rest, with the water firing format.

Now here comes the odd part as you would need a tow vehicle for the MMS or ASP, especial if the HISS has the tanker trailer, so I would ether add the Stinger or Wolverine into this slot. If I used the Stinger, I would most likely strip it down. Removing the doors and roof for whatever was left type look for the unit, as I see this unit not getting anything of value. If the Wolverine was used, I would retool it to fit the water firing format.

For air & sea power, I would retool the 83 FANG and Moray and retooling them in the water firing format.

Last I really like the idea of the TTBP being used for the Toxo-Lab. I could really run with that idea. Make it a drilling platform, lab, etc. This has so much potential and would be ten times as better as it was. Add some chemical silos to one of the weapons platforms. On top of that you could add the water firing weapon on like a tower. On the underside you could add other tanks, maybe drill housing. In the armory you could change that to a Toxo-Zombies lab for Mindbender or something like that. I could almost go on forever on this.

If what I had down here went over well, I might think about continuing it another year or so. This has given me so many ideas I might start making customs of these. This was one great topic.
momaw nadon

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I always liked the Eco-Warriors idea, not the execution. As others have succinctly stated in this thread, all-out chemical warfare would have been a better and entirely realistic approach. I always liked Cesspool's figure and character, and still include him as a vital member of my personal Cobra Heirarchy, right up there with Destro and Zartan. He is in charge of Cobra's Advanced Chemical Weapons division, which immediately puts him at odds with both Destro and Mindbender. I gave him some Sludge and Toxo Vipers and called it a day.

On the Joe side Id have obviously included Airtight and removed Flint, and left the others as-is.

Dang! There are enough excellent ideas here to really do something with the Eco-Warriors ReDux.............

Mmmmmm...........................now I'll have to find some fodder....................................

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....

Brilliant. You've just given me an idea...

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Isn't that the way it was shown in the comics originally?

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I would add Al Gore as the next Celebrity Joe.

Cesspool would also be working on a new weather dominator in order to create natural disasters.

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