I only have one of these babies and I haven't opened it yet because I try to keep one carded version of figures if I can. I was thinking about this figure and it seems crazy that it was so short lived, especially with the prices it goes for due to high demand. I know it doesn't fit in with the movie line, but perhaps we will see this figure again down the road. I can see people buying scores of these, especially if they do multiple repaints and perhaps multiple base bodies to differentiate them, heck, maybe even some Zombie Joe Troopers.

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Hasbro did say that they wanted to jump on the zombie bandwagon, but until they figure how to do it properly, the zombies will stay in the vault. This might explain why the zombie viper didn't show up in repacks and later waves.

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Well there seems to be an awful lot of characters carrying around canisters of chemical X or Z or other substances. I can't see why one of these chemicals couldn't start some sort of a zombification to at least a few people (maybe just have some people susceptible to it).

I also had the thought of maybe Doc accidently creating a zombie formula. This would be based on the Valor vs Venom theme. GI Joe rescues some venomised cobra creations and Doc is working on finding a way to reverse the venom and change them back. While working he accidently causes further mutation and it leads to the creation of zombies. Since the venomised people are part animal the attack/predatory part of the zombie is explained as the beasts would want to find food and the like. I just like the ironic twist that it would be something created by GI Joe, they created this problem and who knows may have to team up with cobra to take down the zombies and make a cure or just finish off the zombies.

Then the idea of nano-bots from the first movie. There would be a real different (I think, I hope this idea hasn't been done already) take. Nano-bots take over the person and when in control of the brain begin (either on purpose or just accident as these things should be unpredictable) and those infected start to die or just live but start to decay and the nano-bots just have the survival mode of the brain kicked in and they go out hunting for food.

Just a few ideas.

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Find a way to make the legs pop on and make Zombies and BATs into build-a-figures.

With those guys, a spare arm or torso isn't even useless. And I could see several paint schemes that would work to mix & match different waves together to make additional ones.

Talking Zombies. These are not mine, wish they were. Not a clue who made them but he needs to be hired by Hasbro to produce a sub-line of Zombie Joes.

Those are well done. But the part of me that doesn't like battle damaged toys is the part that isn't crazy about Zombies. I also look at battle damaged helmets that are still on decaying heads and have to wonder how they are still on there. They can lose a tightly laced boot. And helmets are made for withstanding impact. Yet zombies of all kinds are walking around with broken face masks and cracked helmets. I would think that the damage to those helmets would usually remove the whole thing rather than leaving just enough to stay attached to 90% of the living dead. Helmets and armor don't just decay.

When it comes to Zombies, I don't think you're supposed to put much thought into things like that. If you start picking apart at the details, you'll just go nuts.

MOD EDIT: IMAGE REMOVED.

SERIOUSLY, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANY GRAPHIC LIKE THIS BEFORE ON THIS SITE?

Man. WHAT are you thinking !?!

I think those are Ratfink's customs.

Since my original post I discovered who's they were. His name is Richard Whipple he has some really nice stuff. Here is a link to his customs album on Face Book

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 853&type=3

Actually, I think notpicard makes a valid point.

In every movie I've seen where they are dealing with a haz mat situation, they are always making a big deal about not getting a rip or hole in their suit so they don't get exposed to whatever nasty thing that will turn them into a zombie. If someone suffers a catastrophic suit failure, like catching fabric on a nail or sharp corner, then they start altering their walking pattern, dragging a foot, which catches on things and becomes disheveled.

I have not seen one case of a clothing reacting to a virus.

Now, if someone had their helmet mask torn off by something big/fast/and savage, then there would be damage to the suit, exposure and so on.

So yeah, I get what he is saying and I agree.

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Also known as Ratfink, as iwbeta pointed out yesterday.

Giving the Joes and Cobras something to fight besides each other (human targets) is an interesting idea. Kind of a common enemy kind of thing. The BATs allowed the Joes to combat an enemy without worrying the constraints of violence as much. Bio-Vipers in the Renegades cartoon served a similar purpose. A zombie virus outbreak makes sense in a military setting. I like the idea but also understand how it might be a hard sell to parents of young children.

As for the clothing, beyond just the common rips and tears a none caring zombie would have you also have humans trying to defend themselves. The zombies would face explosions, gun fire, being run down by cars, knives, swords, bow and arrows, and pitch forks. You wouldn't expect a zombie or its clothes to look crispy clean and new.

I mean, yes, I get it, an explosion or gun shot that could shatter the facemask of a kevlar riot helmet would probably also take that zombies head off just by force alone. But you also have to imagine that if it didn't kill the zombie then they would get back up with a shattered helmet still somewhat intact. And as action figure makers and customizers, sometimes there are just limits on what you can and can't do with a figure and have it still be an action figure.

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I'd also add that making a design choice based on style and appearance over function and practicality is kind of a staple of the non-12" G.I. Joes, no?

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Something also to consider with zombies in GIJoe. We can assume Compound Z probably might weaken materials too. As a gas, it is possible to have an abrasive nature. It would explain why the human "prune up" and rots almost instantly when exposed. So clothing might rip easier. Helmet could break and damage just from them bumping into stuff. You might also say that if something caused an issue for the zombie, it would tear away at it. So if a facemask was scratched up and it couldn't see, it would claw at it until it were broken or shattered. Belts, boots, anything. This would easily answer all questions when someone "takes liberties" in designing.

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Ehh, I was never a fan of the zombie concept in GIJOE. There's so much firepower in that universe, you so much as sneeze zombie and Cobra Island is nuked. And like every popular figure, Hasbro short-packs it.

http://www.cracked.com/article_18683_7- ... ickly.html

the zombie viper is the only figure i have been interested in in like the last 5 or 6 years that wasnt an exclusive. but i had every bit as a hard of a time getting one as if it were an exclusive, they definately seem popular and i dont understand why they havent sent more out.

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