Dosser, Carnage717, BadAsh and I were in chatz today and the topic came up about International Variants done in a 25th form. Would that be something people were interested in and if so, how should they be released?

Personally, I love the idea of international variants done in 25th form. From the "red ninja" (I call him something else) to Ninja-Ku (which I still don't have ) to the upcoming "Pilot Scarlett" it seems like Hasbro could do something with it.

Now, I know most of you may be reading this and punding your fists on the keyboard saying "NO MORE REPAINTS!" and to a degree, I agree with you. I'd much rather get iconic characters like Dr. Mindbender out than see a whole wave of international repaints. With that in mind, I think you could easily do as Dosser suggested with a "bonus wave" of six figs that were all international characters. I came up with the idea of a box set like the very first Joe and Cobra ones that were internationally themed. Like a AF box set or a Red Shadows box set. Complete with it's own packaging and released to mass market.

Would you like to see this? If so, who would you like to see in a box set or wave and would you do a theme, or mix them up with your faves?

Here is a list of international figs for those (like myself) not too familiar with them.

http://www.yojoe.com/international/

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Jammer
Goucho
Quarrel
Red Jackal
Red Laser
Blades
Cobra de Aço

That's my main list.

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IF they are going to do repaints anyway I think it is a really neat way to address collectors who care about these figures and make money ona repaint.

Personally I'd go for a "best of"
Cobra de Aco is a neat looking figure that doens't match anything GI Joe did in the states with those molds.

Put Major Bludd's head on arctic Snake Eyes and you have instant Chinese Maj Bludd.

Once they do Outback a Tiger Force Outback is a must. The Flak release kind of makes that last part moot.

Marujo or TF Shipwreck would be cool and easy too but not a must for this set.

Even if they don't release Sgt. Slaughter they could find a way to sneka in Super Cop with 25th General Hawk parts.

I don't know when they'll release Cesspool, Recoil, Scoop, and Dee Jay but when they do Flying Scoprion and Abutre Negroare a must.

Who wouldn't buy a crimson Water Mocassin if they released it repainted?

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I think its easy to say Deaco would be the easiest thing to put out there that is unique.

I want to say mortal but as soon as you do the debate starts about what to do make him more cybernetic or a straight up repaint of SE.

For the most part I am not a fan of international repaints, but Deaco would be cool I think.

Totally disagreee with you, pluver. Carn came up with a really good idea in regards to that but I'll let him talk about it.

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Agree with the TF Shipwreck. This one is easy to do, and they already have some 25th TFs.
Quarrel is by far the best repaint of the Scarlett mold. Colors actually makes sense and the skin color + hair color is a great match. Ugly figure turned into a great figure by simple repaint.
TF Outback as well maybe?

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I suggested this exact idea to Neal at Hasbro during the Hasbro/JoeCustoms dinner at the 07 convention, possibly as retail exclusive sets and using the U.S. names of the characters. The stores get more versions of popular characters, while we get the international characters.

if handled like pilot Scarlett I'm all over them. New bits added to old molds is always a good thing.

Though i would prefer actual character changes. I want quarrel, not night ops Scarlett.

but quarrel would be an easy Scarlett repaint with a new head, and weapons with a bit more European flare.

Really any of them I'd like to be more then just a repaint. I definitely want them to fit into the regular Joe Universe though. Maybe as UN appointed team members, specialized in some way. With the counter parts being cobra operatives that are either from or operate out of these other countries. Red Shadows would become a specialized cobra unit.

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I've been trying my best to customize these guys, staying true to the card art where I can... the results have been iffy. Lots of problems painting joints with these new figure compared to the vintage/new sculpt guys. So if Hasbro would just make the job easier on me... yeah, I'd go for it!

Funskool Tripwire. Not joking. I love this figure in a way most others can't comprehend, since I love bright colors sometimes and many others don't.

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Couldn't agree more. Extra points if "Bomb Squad" is still on the chest. I <3 that.

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I agree. I would rather them be those old international characters than straight repaints of said G.I. Joe characters.

Maybe they could be online exclusives like the Extreme Conditions sets?

I completely agree with both of you in having the same characters and not just repaints. I apologize for not being clearer about that. As far as online exclusives go, I would hate that. Just because I never seem to be able to order something in the brief few hours it's avaialble.

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I'd love Red Shadows or Action Force, but to do 'em right would require more new parts than I think would be worth it, especially the Shadows. But some of the more interesting foreign repaints could be great. I can't remember whether the Python Patrol Airborne was Gathilo or Relampago, but he looked cool, a decent Mortal is possible and De Aco would be cake (though I already have a custom one, so he's not as desired for me) So yeah, I'm all for 'em, even if it's just a way for Hasbro to save some money.


Still waiting for someone to do a Claymore though, since they have all the parts.

Well if we wouldn't mind Indy figure parts they could use the German soldiers for Red Shadow troopers.