Review by Fred Meyer & Chris Chung
Pics by Fred Meyer
 

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

The city is overrun with hordes of the walking dead.  The public services infrastructure has all but collapsed rendering civil service assistance all but useless. (That’s what happens when we try to “fundamentally transform America…)  Pockets of survivors are becoming smaller and smaller as the hordes increase in number.  It could very well be the end of days.  (Well, we are a country in decline…)  Suddenly, a call comes in on a radio channel thought long-dead.  Civilians, few in number and desperate for help, are looking for anyone to help them escape the shambling nightmare.  Their location is across town on the other side of the most heavily infected area and time is of the essence.  It’s time to load up the Zombie Hunter VAMP and get to work.

So dramatic!

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

There are certain characters and vehicles in the G.I. Joe mythos about which I cannot be objective with.  Yes, and that reminds me, the Whirlwind won its injunction and the restraining order is active.  You are to stay away from it at all times.  There’s just too much childhood nostalgia and too many backyard adventures firmly imprinted upon them.  The original VAMP and all of its subsequent version and upgrades is one of those items.  Not only did I love the original, but every subsequent four wheeled engine of justice that has shared the moniker all the way up to the present day.  I was especially thrilled by the Pursuit of Cobra VAMP Mk II and by the Retaliation Ninja Combat Cruiser which served as a modern day “Mark 2” to the “Mk II”.  Therefore my glee was near unadulterated when I saw the Zombie Hunter VAMP which merged the best parts of the most recent versions into a vehicle truly worthy of the legacy of the VAMP.  (See, told ya I was a fan!) Mmm...yes, how droll.

I also like the VAMP, but not as much as you.  But that could be because when I got my first one for Christmas back in 1982, the left rear wheel broke off later that afternoon and my folk’s didn’t allow me to exchange it for a new one.  So much for “sturdy construction for rugged play”.  I guess that incident of shoddy construction slightly tainted the VAMP for me.

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

For all intent and purpose, this is the Ninja Combat Cruiser with the primary turret of the PoC VAMP Mk II in place of the missile rack.  It retains the NCC’s armored doors, roll cage, and roof assembly and lacks the working winch of the PoC model.  No loss there.  The winch was actually more encumbering than useful, at least in my experience.  It’s a large, solid, four wheel drive vehicle that looks like it can traverse most types of terrain and still take a fair amount of punishment.  In other words, this is the vehicle that could hit a few abandoned cars on the way to rescue civilians and not even have to slow down for a group of Compound Z infected walkers.  Apparently someone at the Club had the same thought as the paint apps include some patches of “blue splatter” that could only come from the afflicted!

In real life, the NCC/VAMP is based on the Japanese Self-Defense Force Komatsu LAV.  Curious why a Japanese vehicle would have been a modern staple in the PoC launch instead of an American one, but I suppose the precedent is there, as the original vintage VAMP was based on the Italian Lamborghini Cheetah.

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

One of things that drew me to this version of the VAMP was the color scheme.  Rather than the green of the PoC or the dark turquoise of the NCC, this version is molded in slightly metallic silver for the body with the roof, doors, and details in black.  Even better the smoke grenade launchers on the back are produced in red which provide a nice splash of color.  The topside turret, the vehicle’s sole weapon, is has been given a gold colored barrel that really makes the weapon POP when placed on the roof.  I’m not entirely crazy about the “splatter effect” on the wheel wells but I can learn to live it.  The same goes for the “Zombie Hunter” logo on the hood.  Personally, I would have rather just had a nice G.I. Joe logo there as I found the anti-ZH to be a bit, well, anticlimactic.  Still, those are my only complaint about this vehicle other than the fanboy complaint that it was available exclusively at the convention.  If it wasn’t, I’d have owned three or four by now!

I was drawn more for the roof and doors. I like having my crew cabin protected.  Aesthetically, the colors are much better than the NCC, but I found the giant anti-zombie symbol on the hood obnoxious.  If it was a sticker, I would have never put it on, but it’s a tampo, so it’s on there permanently.

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

As I said earlier, I find it very hard to be objective when it comes to any version of the VAMP.  The original 1982 version was my very first G.I. Joe ARAH purchase and it has remained one of my favorites ever since.  This latest version, with its ample seating for four, armored doors, and top-mounted chain gun is the version that I wanted ever since the PoC version hit the stores.  It’s a ruggedly-designed vehicle that is idea to serve as the work horse vehicle of the modern G.I. Joe team.  It’s also a visually-striking convention exclusive that I knew I had to own after Madmac41 visited one weekend and showed me the one he’d recently acquired.  More so than any other vehicle offered at the convention in 2014, this is THE one to own.  Again, I’m not entirely unbiased but I absolutely love this vehicle and cannot sing its praises enough!

The VAMP is okay, but when you break it all down, what’s really different about this?  The deco.  Krylon Fusion paint can give you the same look and a fraction of the price.  With three prior modern VAMPS released, this seemed like unnecessary overkill.

The Bottom Line:  Oh, who am I kidding?  Of course I recommend this vehicle!  It’s the one time that the secondary market prices didn’t make me cringe.  Don’t break the bank on it but know that it’s going to be a great addition to any modern collection!

As for me, unless you are like Fred and are a big fan of the VAMP, there’s really no need to get this one if you already have one or two others, as all the parts are interchangeable, and you won’t have to pay anything extra. 

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunter Vamp

 

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