He might not be a spooky action figure but Zartan is definitely dressed up! A master of disguise, Zartan always looks a bit different and his 1993 Ninja Force variant (known to A Real American Heroes as Zartan v2) gave the Dreadnok leader a black leather vest, neon green pants, and a bright orange mohawk. At the time it seemed like just part of the neon craze of the early 1990s where action figures were trying to capture the attention of kids with brighter colors and popular themes, but really, this was a version of Zartan that actually fit in better alongside of his Dreadnok subordinates. While the original Zartan looked rather lowkey and somewhat mystical at times, the rest of the Dreadnoks borrowed their styles liberally from biker gangs, punk subculture, and post-apocalyptic films like
The Road Warrior. With the Ninja Force Zartan, Hasbro's Joe team took a swing and dressed Zartan in punk fashion. It may not have been much appreciated at the time but over the years it has become more popular. Ninja Force is Target's current G.I. Joe: Classified Series subtheme and I also have the other two 2-packs in hand (so don't worry, they're coming). I'm impressed by all of them! The Classified Series has really taken those vintage designs and concepts and improved them. Let's take a look at Ninja Force Zartan and see what all he offers. Join me after the break...
The Facts:
Height: 6 and a 1/2inches
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, swivel/hinge wrists, ball jointed neck base, and a barbell jointed head.
Accessories: Compound bow, 2 bow strings, quiver, sickle, short sword, long sword, sheath backpack, studded wrist band, arm guard, sheath thigh, and 2 daggers.
Non-Scalper Price: $28 dollars
The Positives:
* I really like this figure. Wow I usually like my figures "Classified" up a bit with more modern gear and such, I don't mind more faithful adaptations when the original figure was a more bizarre or unusual character. Zartan still looks like a punk inspired guy, just with more detailed equipment. The neons have been toned down a bit, giving him green pants that feel a bit more grounded. His vest is a separate piece that sits over his torso; while it's not removable it definitely looks like a legit heavily decorated and personalized vest with custom chains and lots of zippers. The fit is excellent and it looks properly sized. One upgrade is that he's now sporting the Dreadnok logo on his belt. Fierce!
* This is a really cool portrait for Zartan. The face matches up with the other Zartan figures we've received in the Classified Series (I think this is the fifth, right?) but the facepaint is incredibly different and, of course, he's sporting that massive mohawk. It's really impressive and it even has a color gradient showing a darker color near the roots. The eyes aren't just all white, either; they're very pale and have a hypnotic look to them.
* Here's a look at Zartan's new toned-down pants. They're still quite stylish and still probably a gut punch to the establishment, but they're not so bright that you have to wear sunglasses when you look at them. He's also sporting some heavily armored steel-toed boots with matching kneepads, all in purple of course. If you're going to run with the ninjas you gotta make sure your thighs are protected.
* Zartan is sporting a really cool studded wristband on his left hand and an arm guard that looks like it has blades over his right forearm. It definitely looks reminiscent of something that the shredder might wear.
* The articulation is excellent. I kind of feel like a broken record when talking about the articulation in this line but it's always so consistent and well done that I just don't have a lot to say. Zartan doesn't have a lot of extraneous gear on him so he's pretty uninhibited when posing him. The vest blocks that mid-torso hinge, but everything else is free and they make up for that.
* While the weapons in the vintage Ninja Force line felt pretty haphazard, though plenty were included with each figure, Zartan did fittingly come with a crossbow. In the comics, he famously killed two major figures with one: The Hard Master and Serpentor. This compound bow is new and is way nicer than any that have come before it. The design is better, it's easier to hold, and it looks like it has an arrow nocked in place ready to go.
* What if you don't want an arrow already nocked in place and, rather, you just want Zartan toting his bow around? Well, that's covered here. The bowstring actually swaps out, giving you a relaxed string. There's also a small quiver of arrows that can attach to the bow, similar to the vintage toy accessory (which was a repack from the vintage Storm Shadow v2).
* Zartan's quiver might have some orange highlights but the rest of the accessories have more realistic black and silver colors rather than the neon orange of the vintage toy. Zartan's sickle looks nasty and now has a handguard for additional protection.
* His two swords are included, one shorter and one longer, and both with different hilt designs. They're both quite impressive and look rather ornate and masterfully crafted.
* To store both blades, there is a removable double sheath that fits on his back. It plugs in and both blades have a spot to keep them close in hand.
* Lastly, he has two small blades. They have the loop on the bag like kunai, but the blades are more traditional looking.
* Need to store these two away? Like the vintage figure, both blades can tuck into this pouch on Zartan's left thigh.
I'm really liking all of the Ninja Force releases in the Classified Series (last year's Slice & Dice set was incredible) and everything from this year's Target exclusive subset seems amazing, too. Ninja Force Zartan takes the unusual vintage figure and really makes something just a bit better out of it. Is he the classic Zartan? No, of course not, but he's a cool take on Zartan in a different disguise, perhaps. More punk than the heavy metal vibe of the Cold Slither Zartan, this guy is excellent. That compound bow is a really impressive accessory, too. You'd be hard pressed to find a better figure with better accessories and a more unique design at this price point than Zartan here.
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