Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Action Figure Review: Chip "Raptor" Talon & General Ledger from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 


   Two toylines have absolutely swamped me with cool releases lately: McFarlane's DC Multiverse and Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series. I actually don't buy everything from the Classified Series currently (I've skipped some of the Retro releases, didn't back the Rattler, and am holding off on the Stinger due to space at the moment), but I do pick up most of them, even some of the crazier characters. 1986 and 1987 were my first years collecting the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line as a kid, so some of those weirder characters from that era are some of my favorites. I love the earlier characters ('82 - '85) because of the comics and their prevalence in the franchise but they were mostly gone from toy shelves when I was a young lad. I'm way more nostalgic for '86 - '91 since those are figures I had. Raptor (who has now been give the real name Chip Talon) is an accountant who works wonders for Cobra financially. He's also a falconer who is obsessed with birds. The original figure is one of the most bizarre ever from the vintage line but he's been reworked quite a bit here. He's never been a major character (he only had one figure in the vintage line and a 2017 Collector's Club subscription service figure) but he did play a fairly large role in the comics for a bit during the storyline of Cobra Commander being assassinated, replaced, and then rediscovered. Raptor died in the Marvel Comics. How? Botulism. Yeah, that's pretty wild. What other comic book character can you think of who died of botulism? Let's check out Chip "Raptor" Talon & General Ledger after the break...






The Facts: Chip "Raptor" Falcon

Height:6 1/2 inches

Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, boot swivels, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, ball jointed drop down hips, ball jointed waist, hinged mid-torso, butterfly pecs, swivel/hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, forearm swivels, swivel/hinge wrists, ball jointed neck base, and a barbell jointed head.

Accessories: Pistol, knife, hood, 2 claws, and C-M2 Daedalus Jet Wing Pack.







The Facts: General Ledger

Height: 1 1/2 inches

Articulation: None

Accessories: None

Non-Scalper Price: $35 dollars


The Positives:

* This is a pretty impressive update of the vintage Raptor action figure. The Classified Series Raptor is still instantly recognizable as the character but he's been nicely modernized and updated. While being an atypical figure (not a straight up military based character), he's a great example of the updating I like to see in the Classified Series. His tattoos are  new and quite cool, the vest is much improved over the mantle and cape of the vintage figure, and his gear does look like it provide some better protection, especially those gloves. I also love the giant falcon belt buckle. You might say you like birds but Raptor lives that love every day of his life.



* I've probably mentioned it before here, but as a kid Raptor served as Mola Ram when I played Indiana Jones (General Hawk v2 was my Indy). If you removed the hood of the vintage toy (which was glued on but came off easily) you'd find that Raptor was bald. This version isn't, though. He's sporting a very modern undercut hairstyle that looks like a trendy mullet or a bird tail or something. His domino mask is pretty cool and definitely makes him looks rather stern. 



* Here's a shot from the back so you can see the back of his vest (with multiple feather colors) and his funky hairdo. Oh, and while the vest isn't' really removable without risking tearing his necklace, you can see that the tattoos go all the way around his body as well.







* Raptor just ain't Raptor unless he's dressed like a bird of prey. The hood fits over his head and stays on quite well. It's pretty creepy looking, too. If someone character in a horror movie wore something like this it'd definitely be a frightening look. Raptor definitely reminds me of someone who would be a member of a villain squad in the Metal Gear Solid series. 






* Here's a close up of his cool falconry gloves with the feathers popping out of the cuffs and the tats on his chest and biceps. I dig the look. He's definitely legitimately cooler than the vintage Raptor.








* Raptor has a sheathe and a pouch on his thighs but they're not removable due to the feathers popping out of his boots. Speaking of his boots, they have a talon design on them, like they're a birds foot. It's not extreme where it seems to really affect his stance, but it is a pretty wild looking detail. The Figure Subscription Service actually gave their take on Raptor odd talon-like feet, too, by using the feet from the 2009 comic pack Destro. These are tamer, but still pretty interesting. 





* While most Classified Series figures are pretty standard when it comes to articulation, there are a few unique spots to point out for Raptor. First, you do have a bit of reduced movement in his shoulders at the pectoral hinges due to the vest. I didn't really miss it since he's not using any twohanded weapons or anything, but it's worth noting. Raptor does have forearm swivels, however, in addition to swivel/hinge wrists. This allows you to better pose his gauntlets so he can hold General Ledger easier. It's a neat little extra. Otherwise, he moves as well and is as solid and sturdy as nearly every other figure in the line.






* Raptor's pistol is a type we've seen a few times in the line. It's a solid accessory and the slide even gets a paint application to give it a little more pep.










* There's a holster on Raptor's belt that holds the pistol securely. The belt sits loosely over his waist but you can work the strap around his waist a bit so it stays lower and doesn't bounce around. 











* This is a cool little knife. I can't remember if I've seen it anywhere else before, so it could be reused from another figure. I was expecting Raptor to have something more talon-like. You know, one of those curved blades. Nothing wrong with this one, though.









* It's kind of weird that there's not a sheathe, but just a loop for the knife. It does stay in place, though, and the pack has lots of pouches for Raptor to carry stuff around. Maybe birdseed, ammo, and extra rolls of calculator tape?







* Let's talk about Raptor's C-M2 Daedalus Jet Wing Pack, a large upgrade from fabric wings and coil of rope the vintage figure came with. This thing is quite large, fairly detailed, and nicely articulated. I immediately noticed similarities in this pack and the wing-like jetpacks from the Marvel Legends MCU Sam Wilson Captain America and the Vulture, but this is a completely unique accessory and not a repaint of something previously released. The structure and design really does mimic wings. 






* Just for realism a harness would have been nice, but the jet wing pack does stay on Raptor really well. It's much tighter and more secure than most Classified Series backpacks. It's also able to fold up so Raptor can wear it without the wings fully extended. He stands pretty decent with it on, too, so if you just want him on your shelf alongside the rest of the Cobra crew you're good to go.




* These things really are nicely articulated. There's a swivel at the base of the wing, then two different hinges, then another swivel. You can make some dramatic flight poses, especially if you have a fight stand. The wings are dark brown but have silver bladed tips, making them something of a weapon themselves.













* When you look at the jet wing pack up close there really are some cool details. You've got some printing ("RIP WING" and "C-M2"), maybe some lights of some sort, and quite a few paint applications. No weaponry, though, which is kind of odd, but I guess Raptor's more of a recon guy than a fighter.











* Raptor's falcon gets a name this time around, too: General Ledger. That's pretty funny considering that Raptor is an accountant and the name does sound like a military name and title. You know, like naming your dog Sergeant Bark or your cat Major Major Mittens. He's a solid figure with no articulation or anything, unlike Spirit's eagles. He is wearing a falconry hood which is a neat little detail.





* There are holes on both of Raptor's forearms which Major Ledger can plug into. He does look cool sitting there with Raptor, just chilling out and waiting for a target. 




* Raptor also comes with some claws, fitting for a guy who is obsessed enough with birds of prey that he wears a bird costume. These are the same claws that Nunchuk came but they honestly make more sense with Raptor than Nunchuk. 


The Negatives:

* I have a couple nits to pick with Raptor, the first being his claws. Yeah, they look cool and I do like the idea of him being able to swoop down and attack like a bird of prey himself. Unfortunately, they don't really fit with the hands he has. The gloves seem too thick, so they just sit at weird angles. I wish Hasbro thought about these things and tested the fit of accessories before they finalized stuff. I've noticed things like this a couple times lately. 



* Considering he gets a name on the package, General Ledger is a bit disappointing. Spirit's eagles came with extra wings for soaring. General Ledger doesn't even get a removable hood like the Raptor figure in the 1/18th scaled line did. Also, the peg on General Ledger's feet that is used to plug him into Raptor's forearm is rubbery. It's a paint to get in. 




   I'm quite impressed with Raptor. It would have been nice if General Ledger had some alternate spread wings or the ability to turn his head and if Raptor could hold his claws better, but for updating the vintage figure into he Classified Series era and aesthetic? Bravo. Raptor is sold as a deluxe figure and for the size of his C-M2 Daedalus Jet Wing Pack it seems mostly justifiable. They have a huge wingspan and a lot of articulation. I'm all for Hasbro updating the looks of characters, especially some of the more unusual ones like Raptor and Crystal Ball (who is coming, yes indeed). He's a Great and a 1/2 figure. 




These are the first figures of Raptor and General Ledger I've reviewed. For more G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews check out the following:


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2 comments:

  1. CarniviusNovember 7, 2024 at 6:38 AM

    I had the original figure as a kid cos I thought he was cool (I liked bird costume folk like MotU's Sorceress or the team from Gatchaman/Battle of the Planets) but as I got older I realised he's a dork. This figure makes him a lot cooler though. But yeah the falcon is really disappointing. I used to 'fly' the original one around and then land on his arm. This one? It does nothing. It's basically Monty Python's Dead Parrot sketch.

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    Replies
    1. Barbecue17November 8, 2024 at 12:48 PM

      I really don't know why Hasbro used a super basic Falcon when they've already kind of created a template for birds in the line with Falcon's eagles. I would think they could reuse parts of it for an updated version of Shipwreck down the road.

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