True story: I can remember when I got my first Steeler action figure. It was back in 1982 around Christmas and my Mom decided that the original MOBAT looked like something I’d enjoy. Christmas morning rolled around and I unwrapped the original Joe battle tank with reckless abandon. However, an interesting thing occurred as time passed. The MOBAT saw less and less use in my play battles while its driver Steeler saw more and more action. For years, the 1982 Steeler was a mainstay of my childhood and so I was excited to see his name on the roster for the Crimson Strike set. Did this exclusive figure live up to decades of childhood nostalgia or was he a bit of a bust? Read on, Joe fan, and find out one collector’s opinion!

Steeler, like everyone else included in this set, is comprised 100% of previously tooled pieces. That’s not necessarily a bad thing but fans expecting new parts might end up a bit disappointed. The good news is that, for the most part, the parts used work quite well together. As far as my eyes can tell, Ralph Pulaski is comprised of the following parts:

• Torso, arms: Cobra Invasion Team Firefly
• Legs: Resolute Roadblock
• Webgear: Resolute Duke

All of the parts are molded in olive drab which does a great job of recreating the original Steeler look. The torso and arms of the Resolute 3-pack Firefly, which was last used on the 2013 Night Force version of Steeler, offer a great range of motion while still being visually faithful to the original design. The web gear from the Resolute Duke figure is “okay” but it’s not a great fit and ends up bumping up against the belt holster far more than it should. It’s a decent piece of gear and does a lot to break up the overall green aesthetic but I’ve found that the figure actually looks great without it. Plus, once the piece is removed a nice painted detail in the form of Steeler’s collar pips is visible for the first time.

If the design has a bit of a flaw, it’s the use of the first Resolute Roadblock legs. Visually, they look fine but these legs were from the first wave of pieces from the second film and they lack any form of ankle articulation. As such, ole Steeler isn’t quite a poseable from the waist down as the other figures in the set. In addition, these legs add a significant bit of height to the figure—which would be fine if he wasn’t expected to sit inside the HISS cockpit. As such, he has to bend his legs as the knees to assume control of the prototype tank. It’s a case of form vs. function and it appears that form won out.

In terms of the head sculpt, Hasbro wisely went back and used the 25th Anniversary Steeler head which has been used consistently for the character since it debuted in 2008. I don’t mind figures reusing body parts but I’d prefer that each character have a unique head sculpt and that the head be carried over to each release. It provides a nice visual consistency and avoids having a display of generation 3 figures resemble a battalion of clone troopers.

For the figure’s kit, Steeler comes equipped with a pistol, his helmet with trademark visor, and an M4 rifle. It’s a nice practical kit and it works well enough for the character although I think that Grunt will end up with the rifle. After all, Steeler’s got a tank to drive!

At the end of the day, is Steeler a worthy addition to a generation 3 G.I. Joe collection? For a standard version of the character, I’m going to go ahead and say “Yes!” The only real knock I have on his design is the use of the lesser articulated Roadblock legs which add extra height but not extra movement. Aside from that, I love the use of the Steeler head for the character and I find that the color scheme is a solid homage to the character’s 1982 roots. Honestly, I’d love to see more of the original 13 updated in this modern aesthetic as you can never truly go wrong with the classics. Steeler will look great in any modern motor pool and I can’t say enough nice things about him. A VERY worthy addition indeed!