Karate was king after I was a child which might be why it by no means stood out as odd to me that Fast Kick was working into battle shoe-less. It’s a type of issues that sticks in my grownup mind that I’ve to actively ignore with a few of these retro-properties, however these little oddities are additionally form of the enjoyable of it in a manner. Let’s check out G.I. Joe Categorised Fast Kick!
The field artwork right here is very nice with a pleasant illustration of Fast Kick screaming whereas flipping his nunchaku round and the scene render is a enjoyable reference to his first look within the cartoon with each the Leopard Seal and Storm Shadow that he fought in his first look. He really beats Storm Shadow within the present which appears nearly unimaginable to think about lately since Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes have been elevated to mythic ranges of martial arts invulnerability over time.
Fast Kick comes with a very good quantity of stuff together with a pack, two swords, two nunchaku, two fists, two knife fingers, a chocolate bar, an alternate head, and a throwing star impact piece.
The throwing star impact is neat although I’m not 100% positive the way it’s purported to go. It’s forged in blue translucent plastic with the lead star painted silver. I believe the very best I received it to look was throwing it out along with his arm prolonged behind him, however I consider ninja stars as extra of flicked factor than a full arm throw. I wouldn’t have minded only a star by itself although which may be too small of a bit to incorporate.
The fudgee bar is one other reference to Fast Kick’s first look within the Sunbow cartoon and really options a powerful quantity of sculpted element within the little chocolate segments and crinkled wrapping paper. The crinkled foil has in impressively shiny paint and I actually like that they’re working Sunbow components into the road. Whereas my favourite iteration of G.I. Joe media has been the Hama comics, Sunbow was an enormous a part of my childhood love for the road too, in order that at all times brings me pleasure.
The pack is forged in pink plastic and options some good sculptural element within the pouches, straps, and clothes wrinkles. There isn’t a paint element, nevertheless it stays on pretty properly and may retailer his two swords. It’s a little bit shocking to me that they went with a pink pack over the classic black, it’s uncommon that these fashionable figures are extra colourful than their classic counterparts.
The quick swords are forged in a reasonably stiff plastic that holds its form properly and the blade and pommel are painted with a fairly shiny silver. The pommel design matches the design on the nunchaku, lending each weapons a bit extra of a elaborate really feel than they’d within the classic line.
The nunchaku appear like reuse from Nunchuck so I’ve the identical points with them as I really feel like they’re bit on the small facet by way of stick size (ahem). Generally I would favor an actual chain on a toy nunchaku, however I do just like the mid-flight poseability of an all plastic chain too. In the end I believe these look greatest hanging on his belt as a bit of additional 3D element. I do like that he received a pair of swords and nunchaku because the classic solely got here with considered one of every.
The alternate fingers are very welcome additions to this character particularly, but additionally the road basically. The Joes want to have the ability to punch individuals, particularly their martial artists, so I’m glad to see them do that a bit extra usually these days. I might love if he had extra open fingers as properly, the kind of partially open hand pose Bruce Lee would do whereas preventing? I’m undecided what you’ll even name that, however the fist and chop are very appreciated.
My favourite accent is the alternate head with the extra windswept hair and the angrier expression. He completely appears like he’s mid WOO! or another martial arts cry. I’ve seen complaints that this head isn’t totally different sufficient from the extra impartial expression, however I disagree. That is so excellent for the character and as a fan of martial arts films I admire the trouble to offer him a preventing face aside from only a yell. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t have minded a yelling face as that will match this present and classic card artwork properly.
Fast Kick does have a reasonably easy design, so I’m impressed with how a lot care and element went into the sculpting right here. To begin with, the physique appears all new to me and the musculature has an amazing lithe really feel with a lot of muscle striations and veins. I’m considering they could re-use this torso with the upcoming Zandar. Even the ft look very lifelike with vein and bone particulars. The pants get some panel and seam particulars, whereas the sash will get some rivets and thread and the belt a lined texture making for a extra polished general look.
Articulation may be very good within the categorized normal with the neck and waist ball and sockets getting particularly good motion and he can get into most martial arts poses you need. Fast Kick has:
- Swivel/hinge shoulders, wrists, hips, and ankles
- Swivel biceps, thighs, and mid-calf
- Double hinged knees and elbows
- Hinged butterfly pecs and drop-down hips
- Ball and socket head, decrease neck, and waist
Paint is sweet with many of the physique being forged within the right shade of plastic and two stable face prints. I do like that they added a little bit of grey element to the perimeters of the pants with a sample so as to add a bit extra curiosity to his pretty plain costume. I’m impressed at how the strands of hair that fall over the scarf are painted on the alternate head, that’s good element permitting the rising solar emblem to indicate by. On the impartial portrait, they form of missed a strand so it’s not fairly as good.
Fast Kick was a favourite of mine rising up, so I’m a bit predisposed in direction of liking this determine, but additionally to be a bit hyper-critical if it doesn’t meet my expectations. Fortunately I believe they knocked this one out of the park and he’s a blast to play with and pose. I really feel like I’ve been saying this quite a bit with this current wave of Joes, however he’s in determine of the 12 months territory for me proper now.
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