We don't use flamethrowers anymore? Okay, so I don't follow real-world military technology all that closely, but why the heck NOT?

Bazookas I knew about, so I agree that we'd have to get Zap something more up to date equipment-wise and change the name of his official specialty.

But speaking strictly from a time-based standpoint, I'd have to go with Mainframe. Few things have advanced more than computer technology. Of course, given how easily lost Firefly's walkie-talkie was in 1984, and its relative size would be considered cumbersome by today's standards, I'm not sure I want to see what a 3-3/4" scale Droid phone or whatever would look like. Blazes, people misplace the full-size versions of cell phones all the time. I volunteer at a large church, and most Mondays, our Lost-and-Found area looks like an outlet store for Verizon and T-Mobile or whatever...

I don't really think some of the uniform criticisms in here are all that valid, since I don't think most uniforms can readily be applied to any given time period, and everybody's got their own opinions here.

But insofar as needing an update to modern standards of technology or whatever, I'd put Mainframe in first place, followed by Breaker, Dial-Tone, and Scoop, just because of the nature of the equipment that they use.

I think they still do. They just tend to be one-shot, disposable affairs, if I recall correctly, something along the lines of a LAW or AT4, making a dedicated flamethrower specialist a bit redundant.

_________________

well its also about time periods of the toys as well as the characters.

ex:

Longarm.

someone in 92 thought it was a great idea to make him bright orange. That Idea would completely tank NOW. However, when the Club recolored him to dark Grey in 2008 it TOTALLY worked, especially with the addition of the EOD robot.

Some people would argue that Bazooka with a football jersey was silly, is Battle corps figure was a step in a different direction (although he looked like a Pro bass fisherman). finally the New Sculpt VvV version was perfect, dressed in military colors, and armored like a person who is around explosives all the time.





.........................

aaaand goes to get the 10 foot pole.

_________________

I was going to go with fast draw. Wire guided misssiles? Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think those are used today ( if ever)

_________________

TOW missiles are still in use and they are wire guided.... and lots of other countries use them as well.

_________________

Favorite response in this thread!

_________________

I stand corrected thank you good sir for the enlightenment

_________________

Trust me Psyche Out is pulling down double duty, and most likely has an entire team of guys in BDU's with Airforce insignia and no rank shown. Probably all wearing really douchey sunglasses.

we don't hear much about them because everything they do is very heavily classified. The leaflets we drop on various countries stay classified until they are actually dropped out of an aircraft. Getting into the mind of the enemy, and more importantly the non combatant locals is a very big part of modern American warfighting. Psyche Out is the man, but most certainly a douchebag. also when you get the level of combat the Joes are qualified for that suicide rate plummets.

As much as I like Blowtorch he needs a black ops update. He is a walking talking treaty violation, but I guarantee he'd be used in the mountains of Afghanistan. Like NAPALM the powers that be would give him a new formula in his tank re name his flame thrower to chemical weapons destroyer especial and call it good.

I think guys like Airtight, BBQ, Toll Booth, Mainframe and Tripwire should be given good solid updates. the joe team concentrates heavy on the name takers, but the specialist could really use some love.

_________________

For looks, Zandar, Zaranna and mohawk Zartan. Its all just too 80s punk.

I think within the next 10-15 years, most of the fighter jocks can hang up their helmets too, its all going to be drones, no more jets that cost as much as 3 new hospitals and require a whole crew to maintain. So last century...

Budo's samurai armor has got to go. Sure, the noble samurai were a force to be reckoned with in the 1980s, but their time is over



I think for the same reasons they outlawed mustard gas and various biological agents: a guaranteed painful death. The idea of burning to death is just so horrifying, soldiers emphatically wanted it banned. A bullet or bomb may or may not kill you quick, but being set on fire is akin to torturing someone to death. (though reports vary on just how much pain you actually feel. I'd rather not even dwell on it).

_________________

Holy frik, DanB, you just opened the floodgates. Awesome way to look at those guys.

exactly.

Tollbooth is supposed to be the Joes Chief Military engineer but then why does he look like Sully, the guy who used to carry Oscar the Grouch around?

...and couldn't he come with more tools than just a hammer?

_________________

see you're talking about the street level dealers, but with Headman and gristle, who are top level officers in the organization, they should look better.

with the sole exceptions of Nino Brown from New Jack City and Iki from Formula 51, most big time druglords wear suits and try to look like legitimate businessman. I would definitely take a gristle head on a SDCC ROC destro body.

_________________

damn straight he did. one of the most interesting takes I've heard in awhile. Where was this kind of inspiration when I was planning my contest figure? lol

_________________

SUPER TROOPER and CAPTAIN GRID-IRON. They never really fit in to begin with and I do not know how you would update them.

Forgive the following heresy, Sgt Slaughter and the Fridge too. We now have MMA - UFC and strikeforce, fake wrestling is yesterdays news. Real fighters should be teaching real soldiers to fight.

I am always a fan of ethnic, black and international soldiers too. Some IDF (Israeli Defense Force) soldiers, some real American Special Forces - Pararescue with red berets and Combat Controllers with black berets. Definitely some modern camo.

How about a line of Afrikan child soldiers from Anglola along with Somali pirates joining the Dreadnoks?

_________________

good point.

There are British, and Australian SAS on the Joes, I wondered why there were no IDF represented. and I think only 2 of the Oktober Guard are former Spetnaz.

African child soldiers may be pushing the PC envelope (although they could have mad a "Hashid" figure from the marvel comics episode). they and the SOmali pirates may be a bit too real of a character to make. (remember when that company made middle eastern freedom fighters? no one else dared touch that paradigm, and they were never made again.)

_________________