The preview for the GIJoeCon 2018 Slaughter’s Marauders Spirit dropped yesterday!
SLAUGHTER’S MARAUDERS
TRACKER with EAGLE:
SPIRIT IRON-KNIFE & FREEDOM– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure.
– Modern Era Update of Character in original SM design.
– Features exclusive NEW Head Sculpt with ponytail hairstyle.
– Includes removable harness, scoped dart rifle with cartridge,
knife, backpack with dart cartridges, and G.I. Joe Logo Stand.
It’s funny… I didn’t expect to be blow away by Spirit… and yet here I am.
The 2011 Slaughter’s Marauders Spirit was a fun update of the 1989 original version. It borrowed the classic color scheme but leaned heavily into the “Predator Billy” Pursuit of Cobra Spirit that took the fandom by storm. As such, I questioned the Club’s decision to update Spirit once again in the GIJoeCon 2018 set. I was wrong to do so.
This version fully embraces the 1989 classic Marauders version but isn’t just a repaint of the 25th Anniversary version. Instead, the Club opted for a brand-new head sculpt that evokes the 1992 Air Commandos version so strongly that I can’t help but think we’ll get him in the inevitable FSS 8. While I’m not crazy about yet another reuse of the G.I. Joe tracker’s signature dart rifle I can’t help but love the rest of this build.
Seriously Club, you surprised the o-ring off of me. Nicely done!
I can only image what we’ll see next week for Major Bludd and Sgt. Smasher…
With only two previews remaining here’s the roster of this year’s set:
Slaughter’s Marauders:
- Footloose
- Hardball
- Mutt & Junkyard
- Sgt. Smasher
- Spirit & Freedom
Python Patrol 2.0:
- Major Bludd
- Python HEAT Viper
- Python Lamprey
- Python Laser Viper
To get your own Python Peril: Marauders to the Rescue boxed set and to register for GIJoeCon 2018, visit the REGISTRATION page at GIJoeCon.com today! (The initial assortment has SOLD OUT but the Club is apparently working on a second production run.)
So, here they basically took the 50th Spirit, swapped out the lower legs with those of the 25th, and crafted a new head to put atop it?
Yes, and the boots swap was a great idea.
I don’t know if Spirit will be on FSS 8, specially on Air Commandos version, but I’d love to see a Classic reedition using these combined legs, this head, Kwinn’s torso and arms (painted on that grey-blue of 50th collar) and on the 50th skintone.
To make it more stellar, Club could remold the dart gun with a decent grip!