“Hey Flint, you need to see this message.”

Something in Stalker’s voice made it clear he wasn’t kidding around.

“It’s using the old encryption codes…”

“What’s so unusual about that? We just changed them last week, how old can they be?” Security had been extra tight since the Cobra Island rescue, Flint knew, but it would hardly be a shocker for an operative off the radar for awhile to use a previous code.

“No Flint, the old encryption codes,” Stalker’s cocked eyebrow sent the message home.

“What the? From who?” Flint stammered. Nobody had used the old codes since before… no, he thought, he would not let himself remember. He worked too hard to forget. “Nobody in EXCAL knows those codes, other than former Joes. And we are all accounted for. It’s gotta be a ruse”

“I’m not so sure pal. This code, it’s… It… can’t be. You said he was killed while I was on the Island?”

ENCODED TRANSMISSION:

Flint I hope you see this before it’s too late. Big attack coming. Cover blown. Murder was setup. Cant explain now. Going to ground. Meet me at the Chicago safe house in 48 hours to bring me home. Rally Joes we need the team together. Inform Knighthawk. do not trust the EXCAL upper command until we can sort things out. Za……

TRANSMISSION PREMATURELY TERMINATED.

“Two days is all we have? What’s the time stamp on that thing?”

“Uh-oh…” Stalker’s low voice rumbled in ominous tones. “72 hours ago.”

“Confirm the origination code one more time.” Flint ordered.

“No doubt about it,” Stalker’s head shook from side-to-side in amazement. “It’s…”

“DUKE,” finished the new voice, coming from the familiar face standing in the doorway. “Sorry I’m late. My ride never showed, and I had to take a cab all the way from Chicago.”




For a little background, I, like many, do not like Duke. It's not the original character or the original figure. I was quite the fan of both as a kid, at least the character as initially portrayed in the comic. But from the cartoon on, I really grew tired of the do-no-wrong hero that didn't even seem to need the rest of the team around him.

I did make a "new" character for my verse called "The Duke," but I was kind of cheeky when I did it, making it a guy who resembled a mish mash of ROC and Resolute Duke, but allegedly having him named after John Wayne. But it wasn't really Duke. For one, because Channing Tatum simply doesn't look like Duke to me (even though he had the right amount of douche for how the character has evolved over the years); and two, I had killed Duke off in my verse (though via the story of an unimportant side character made for a contest a couple years ago - a story most probably missed). But there are simply too many good parts out there now for me to not make a Duke, one that more closely resembles the traditional take on the character. That leads us to this story. I'd love to hear what you think.

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Very nice. Looks like a total bad-ass!

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Figure wise, I like the updated look frfom the classic design.

I like the story too, especially Flint and Stalker in disbeleif sine he always seems to steal their leadership thunder.

What I don't know is if the figure matches the story. After a major war and being off the radar for apparantly a long, long time, he looks relatively well preserved. I know the characters are timeless but after reading the story I kind of expected a more grizzled Duke. Maybe a little grey in his hair and some darker lines in his forehead will give him a little aging. I realize that is super nitpicky considering I actually like both.

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GREAT take on him. Personally I like Duke, and I'm happy to see you take a stab at him.

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I like him -- iconic look to him, without the 'boy scout' feel -- looks like he fits perfectly in your 'verse!

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I agree he's a good figure.I like duke as well but not a top 5 or possibly 10 fav but you did good with him. Nice parts and paints like always, the only dislike is the helmet, looks too small on him

Thanks guys. This is a version of Duke I can live with, as it's not overtly douchey. lol

pluv, you're dead on with that critique. I'll admit that this is one where I made the figure because the parts were there, then decided when I posted him to write him back in. (I really did kill him off in a post about the villain/assassin the Bambino, lol)

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Wow! Great story. Great figure. This is a Duke I would buy. Awesome work as always.

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Now that is a Duke. Rugged and tough looking. Not the goody goody the cartoon potrayed him as. I find no flaws in it at all. My only critique would be a small one and does not detract from figure in anyway. I would pefer the flag on his shoulder to be the other way, stars on left, stripes on right, but like i said, that is a personal perspective thing and in no way affects the outstanding quality of this figure. I too would buy this in a store.

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Very nice figure.
Looks like he took the time to clean up before posing for these pictures.

Based on your story it would be cool to see a figure of Duke while he's on the run.
Hair a bit more wild or longer, face sporting a stubble...

Once again, great background story.

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By the way, where is the parts list?

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I'm not trying to be a know it all or anythign but this came up with some of the vehicles before. The way drbindy has it is accurate according to Army Regulation.

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Super easy on this one. Funny that the recipe is similar to the new General Hawk previewed at Toyfair. I also think darth dre's Flint had a similar base, though I can't recall if he used this torso or no.

Head - newest POC Duke
Torso/Arms - Resolute Duke
Legs - POC Recondo (look much better when the bottoms of the legs are painted to look like boot tops)
Holster - clipped from a Star Trek belt
Bandolier - AIM Soldier
Sub Gun - POC Alley-Viper
Backpack - ??
Helmet - Forces of Valor


EDIT: oh, and thanks pluv. Was going to post something similar, but without all the well researched facts. Mine would have been a lot of blah blah, but yours is on point. That's what separates the men from the Doctors of Knowitallitry.

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I was never a big Duke fan either but I like this version and the back story legitamizes the rough and tough edge he has about him. I would almost suggest he gets some psych therapy but he probably psych the shrink.

Great work.

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thanks Pluv. I did know this, It is why I said it was a personal preference. I was in the US army from 1991-1999. This method of the backwards flag (any flag on a BDU actually) was adopted during the 2nd Iraq war, 2004 or 2005. The military even calls it backwards. I was told it is done this way to show that the troops are never running away. Never quite got that. the flying in the breeze makes much more sense to me. It is also worn this way in a joint nation Deployment only. I am stuck on the joes being from the 80's when that was not the case. But like i said before, personal preference only. i'm stuck in my ways of the old days. lol.


Thankyou for pointing this out.

Edit - I am in no way trying to argue. do not want to sound that way if i did. just wanted to explain my reasoning behind it.

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