The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has revealed the preview for the FSS 8 incarnation of BAT Commander Over Kill!
COBRA B.A.T. LEADER
Code Name: OVER KILL
(Inspired by the 2003 version 2 action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, harness, “human” face mask,
neckerchief, gauntlet, claw hands x 2, rivet gun,
hand-held assault weapon, and figure stand.
Sometimes, there’s so much to love about a figure that I don’t know where to begin. This is one of those times.
I’m pretty unapologetic when it comes to my love of the Valor Vs. Venom era of G.I. Joe. It was a time when the line straddled a delicate line of appealing to both kids and adult collectors and it did it well. The toys were rugged and build for kids but there were enough nods to the line’s past that Collector’s were happy. Yes, there were some design and proportion issues but it honestly felt like the brand was moving FORWARD in a way that I’ve not really seen since. It embraced the old while still attempting the new.
Case in point: Over Kill.
Released in a two-pack the 2003 Over Kill was a different take on a 1992 character. The vintage character was a full-on automaton that was featured in several DiC era episodes. (The less said about those, the better.) The Valor vs. Venom era Over Kill was more cyborg than purely machine and this even carried over to his subsequent 2005 version although the character’s humanity was decreasing with each release.
The point is that Over Kill was a new take on a classic theme and it worked– right now to his appearance in the Valor vs. Venom animated feature. This is that Over Kill to a “T”.
The base body appears to be the Rise of Cobra Accelerator Suit Duke – right down to the forearm weapons. The helmet comes from the PoC Cobra Trooper and the scarf from 2009 Desert Viper. However, this is where it gets really interesting… The harness is from the 25th Comic Pack modern Storm Shadow and the insanely cool robotic head is from the 2013 SDCC exclusive Bludgeon figure! I can’t even go into the rest right now– simply because my head is swimming! Alternate heads?!!! YES PLEASE!!!
Seriously– this just might be my favorite FSS 8 reveal yet!
And, for those filling out their BINGO cards, here’s the full roster for G.I. Joe FSS 8:
- Blizzard
- Bullet-Proof
- Bushido
- Captain Grid-Iron
- Clutch (1984 version)
- Fast-Draw
- Lt. Clay Moore (Cobra)
- Munitia
- Over Kill (2003 version)
- Payload
- Recoil
- Red Laser
- 13th Bonus Figure – ????
To sign-up for the series and get your own Captain Grid-Iron, visit the FSS 8 sign-up page before May 2, 2018 today!
Actually, the charger so seems to come from ROC Cobra Commander, and the human head is simply one of those Zartan’s alternate face masks. Just an FYI.
I meant “torso,” not “charger so.” Damn voice to text, lol.
I noticed that torso after I published the article but I’ll make the update. Same goes for the mask. I don’t think I’ve ever taken either of those Zartan masks out of the parts bin years.
Good catch however and AWESOME handle. I love “the Human Tornado!”
Thanks, man. Big Rudy Ray Moore fan, here. Dolemite is da man! The Human Tornado should be required watching for all school children.
And yeah, I’m pretty sure no one has ever used those Zartan masks. Like, ever. I’m probably just going to display Over Kill with the Bludgeon head and that’s it.
BTW, if you’re interested in what Over Kill might look like with the Bludgeon head, I posted a quickie Photoshop job on HissTank. Check it out:
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachments/g-i-joe-news-rumors/181749d1524778804-spoilers-fss-8-0-gi-joe-collectors-club-discussion-fss8overkill-robot-head.jpg