G.i. Joe Classified # 78 Tripwire, Aspara and M.A.C.L.E.O.D.
Lol… it’s funny how grumpy and dangerous ol’ klutzy Tripwire looks on his cover art.
Tormod S. Skoog is the Joe team’s explosive ordnance disposal expert. Usually seen with his mine detector, Tripwire checks for any mines or explosive traps Cobra may have left behind before the G.i. Joe team comes rushing through.
As bit of a running gag in most media, Tripwire is clumsy and jittery, making his fellow Joes nervous when he’s supposed to be the most qualified in disarming bombs. Thankfully, Tripwire’s focus always comes through when they need him the most.
I do wish he came with a clear visor just to make him more show accurate.
Tripwire’s head sculpt is pretty decent. He actually reminds me of Major Richard Winters (actor Damian Watcyn Lewis) from HBO’s “Band of Brothers”. We never see what Tripwire looked like without his helmet in the old Sunbow cartoons.
Tripwire comes with two different bomb collars.
Alternate helmet.
Alternate bomb vest.
All suited up for bomb disposal.
For weaponry, Tripwire only comes with a sidearm. No rifles this time.
Naturally, Tripwire comes with his mine sweeper. It’s connected via hose to his backpack.
The mine sweeper can be stowed away on his backpack, along with a mine. Removing the mines from the backpack can be a bit tricky. So be careful. I can’t seem to get mine dislodged from the backpack now. Kind of a weird design flaw here.
The set offers two mines for Tripwire to mess with.
Unfortunately, due to the design of the mines, the pegs make it impossible for the mines to stay flat on a surface. Sheesh…
Tripwire comes with Aspara, his “bomb sniffing rat”. I don’t think it was ever seen in any media until now? It sports no articulation though.
M.A.C.L.E.O.D. (Mobile Armored Control Lever for Explosive Ordinance Disposal)
The robot unit comes with some decent articulation.
For the unfamiliar, the unit’s name is actually pronounced “Mic-cloud”, like the main hero from the old TV and movie “Highlander” series.
Controller for M.A.C.L.E.O.D. Too bad there’re no tampo details for the controller’s display.
Overall, a pretty decent release. Not bad, but not the ideal Tripwire figure I would’ve wanted. The new concepts like the Aspara the rat and the M.A.C.L.E.O.D. robot do add value to the figure and give it a good modern take, but I do find the bomb vests to be too bulky and they get in the way of posing Tripwire. Personally, I would’ve preferred if they had instead given Tripwire a sculpted vest torso to reflect the original figure for cartoon accuracy and reduce the bulkiness of the figure. I’m also not too crazy about the mine being impossible to pluck out of the backpack once you plug it in.
Hasbro’s oddball codename for Tripwire is PHL Alcott. He was released as a Hasbro Pulse Exclusive in the US.
Gold
