HCC788 - 1989 RECOIL - L. R. R. P. - vintage G. I. Joe toy review! HD S02E43

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Sources and Information:
Recoil on YoJoe.com:
www.yojoe.com/a...
Recoil on 3DJoes.com:
www.3djoes.com/...
M203 grenade launcher:
en.wikipedia.o...
AN/PRC-77 Portable Transceiver:
en.wikipedia.o...
M18 Claymore mine:
en.wikipedia.o...
Digital camouflage:
en.wikipedia.o...
Wellington boot:
en.wikipedia.o...
Long-range reconnaissance patrol:
en.wikipedia.o...
Recoil on Halfbattle.com:
www.halfbattle....
GI Joe 1989 Toy commercial 4:
• Video
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington:
en.wikipedia.o...

[@chevy-is-a-good-boy]

The blue accessories (and bright green shades) are what gave this toy character. Thanks for the review.

[@christianhafer9819]

Agreed. This guy complains for the sake of complaining. He says it's a top tier figure. Good. Leave it at that. Then he has to go ahead and say it'd be perfect if the accessories weren't blue. Well, I say Recoil IS perfect, blue accessories and all.

[@agnethaladuff8559]

Very cool action figure, the characteristic features of Recoil is great, a must have for my G.. Joe collection.

[@BLAZE084]

Had that figure! One of the coolest joes I had!

[@TheGreatDayne1983]

This review encouraged me to pick this figure up from Ebay

[@christianhafer9819]

That's what I'm gonna do.

[@ricardobento6474]

Here in Brazil, we had an exclusive figure called Tigor who is basically Recoil with Scoop's legs and waist. The uniform is all orange just like Scoop's and as accessories he has the same M16 with M203 and bayonet this time painted in gray and a tiger.

[@MiKeMiDNiTe-77]

💥Recoils one of the many underrated GI Joe figures, could easily slot into the 88 line much better Recon than Sneak Peek.💥

[@retrogc77]

Great figure. Would have fit in perfect in the earlier years

[@woofan25]

That blue plastic for the gun is the worst. Bothered me then and still bothers me now. That figure looks so much better with the gun swap.

[@HCC788]

+Ben Penserga An odd thing, the original blue color nearly matches the blue color on the Steel Brigade figures. It may have been a natural choice to keep the blue color, but they didn't. They gave Steel Brigade a dark gray version that would have looked great with Recoil. I just don't understand how a figure like Recoil ends up with a blue gun.

[@TheGreatDayne1983]

@@HCC788 Maybe they thought that since he was so realistic they needed something bright to draw the eyes of the kids?

[@christianhafer9819]

@@HCC788 It looks fine. Stop being a whiner. Blowtorch had yellow and green accessories way back in '84. Who cares?

[@mikesmith2718]

Came back to this review today for info on the variants I remember watching this when it was new ! Thanks for everything you do in the joe community !

[@KolorfulDreamsArtKda]

I had this figure as a kid and it was my favorite!

[@bobastu]

Good review. I like how you made the reference to Snake Eyes on the Ferry. I think that's the issue where Fred I sees his unconcealed face, screams, and falls overboard. Good times.

[@affoster79]

Marauder gunrunners has individual grenades, explosives and guns for your GI Joe figures. Most are under a buck! Look forward to your reviews new and old. Keep em coming...

[@HCC788]

+affoster79 I have seen Marauder gunrunners' stuff and it looks good. I haven't taken the plunge and purchased any yet.

[@Tr0nzoid]

I didn't mind the color of the gun. I just liked that it was an M-16. I could look at it and immediately know it was Recoil's.

[@chrismayer3919]

HCC788, HE DOESN'T DRINK BOUBON! (everyone knows he's a gin man) *rimshot*

[@jmsberetta]

cool review,

[@intense_pickle]

ah recoil...the last brand name joe i ever owned

[@ExUSSailor]

I had a Recoil a few years ago. I like the look of the figure, was not a fan of his sky blue weapons. I bought a lot of generic 3 3/4" scale weapons from Ebay, all black, all based on real world weapons. I gave him an M4 carbine.

[@HCC788]

His blue weapons are terribly out of place. I like hearing how people fixed problems with figures, either by customizing or swapping out accessories. As a reviewer, I have to look at these figures as they were originally presented. I would love to give Recoil a different gun and pretend the powder blue never existed. You can pick up some realistic 1:18 scale weapons at Marauder's Gun Runners.

[@christianhafer9819]

@@HCC788 Or, you can just enjoy the great figure that he is, blue accessories and all and stop complaining.

[@affoster79]

I never had this figure growing up. If I did I would have tossed that pistol in the trash the minute I removed the figure from the card. Those pistols were a trademark staple to most of the GI Joe's of 1993. I often wondered id that notch on the side of the pistol was used to attach a small rocket. Its very noticeable on your figure and most have been removed at the last minute. The object on the center of Recoil's chest looks like a flash bang grenade. With all the other types of explosives he is carrying it wouldn't surprise me.

[@HCC788]

+affoster79 I think you're right. It looks like a flash-bang grenade. I'm going to start looking at some of the later Joes. I don't really know much about them, but for the most part I don't like what I see. Maybe there are a few good ones.

[@affoster79]

You might also check out the Cobra Scorpion from 1994. The final year vintage G.I. Joe was in stores. The Scorpion was the only desert vehicle in Cobras arsenal. The colors and design make it more like something to have come out during the eighties than the neon 90s.

[@HCC788]

My goal is to acquire and review every vintage item, so eventually I will get to it! I look forward to it.

[@christianhafer9819]

@@HCC788 If you don't like what you see, why get them? Makes zero sense.

[@joejupiter4138]

The first two file cards list his birthplace as "Fashon Island, Washington," before being changed to "Fashion Island" on the last card. I wonder if they meant Vashon Island. You don't find too many fictional characters in any media who are from islands in Puget Sound. Gives this guy a nice little bit of flavor.

[@stevewillhoite6922]

I know I always carry an extra canteen for my bourbon.

[@samfrito]

Great review of Recoil, HCC. Never had him originally. He is on the Pulverizer package driving, since I was collecting the Battle force 2000 vehicles and figures over the summer, I figured why not get Recoil. His blue weapons are a weird choice of color (and don't get me started on pistol plus doohickey). GI Joe turned down a strange alley that year, but looking back I should have just painted the cool rifle and ditched his goof gun. His uniform is kinda modern, but not clumsily futuristic. Recoil is a great looking figure and does resemble Marvel Snake Eyes with his civvies on. Good choice of figure to review.

[@HCC788]

+sam torres Thank you! Eventually I will review some of the weirder figures that came out later in the line.

[@samfrito]

+HoodedCobraCommander788 Another one I was really impressed with from the same year (and never had during the original shelf years) was 1989 Deep Six. I am not sure if you did one for him already, but he is much cooler in his diving gear that allows articulation. His accessories are awesome and his colors ant bad at all.

[@HCC788]

I haven't done the 1989 deep six-- I've done very few figures later than 1986 so far. But I will check him out!

[@DBUP-l8h]

He's been on my want list for a long time. The only thing that kills him for me is the color choice of his rifle. But, I could always just paint one black. Hell I could give it some pink tiger stripes from all the prestige points he gets for his online kills! Yes, I am making fun of Call of Duty. Great review as always bud! Glad to see some of the later figures getting some time in the spotlight. I can't wait until you get around to reviewing some of the later 90's stuff. I may have to find some of the ridiculous 90's figures and perhaps make a donation if you wouldn't mind covering a horrid figure or two aha! But there were a few hidden gem's during the end of the 80's and during the 90's. Even if the color schemes were terrible some of the molds were very well designed. Perfect for customs!

[@HCC788]

+Silent Wobby I have some plans for 90s figures. Oh yes, I want to shine the light of day on the last few years of the line! But if there are any in particular you would like to see, I'd like to know.

[@JayFamous13]

+HoodedCobraCommander788 On the subject of 90's Joes, I'd like to see you look at the Original Action Team box set. They're pretty easy to aquire MIB. You probably wouldn't have to hunt for accessories.

[@HCC788]

I'll check it out!

[@DBUP-l8h]

+HoodedCobraCommander788 The Flak Viper is one of the best along with the Rock Viper and Range Viper. The DEF and Headhunter figures are good too. Also Zap V2 would be nice to see since I have yet to obtain one.

[@HCC788]

I would like to look at Zap v1 before I look at v2. And you probably know, Zap v1 is... difficult to get intact.

[@agenttexx]

I had Recoil, but I broke the M16 at the muzzle. I didn't care for his second weapon or his hat. I ended up trading him for a vintage Leatherneck.

[@delnoire]

Great review. Nice to see a review of a lesser known joe!As for my personal experience.....I had recoil as a kid, my brother also had one. Both of us generally disliked him and rarely played with him. He was one of the poor joes that were only there for bullet fodder or to be taken hostage or get beaten up before our favorite joes could show up to save the day.I don't know.....as a kid his face sculpt and overall daintiness (doesn't he seem kind of skinny and frail?) gave me the impression he was more of a computer nerd than a combat guy. As a grown up I can definitely appreciate his finer points.

[@HCC788]

+delnoire Poor Recoil. Dainty? I wouldn't say that, but he does have wide, child bearin' hips.

[@MidnightRangeTM]

The weird duel gun looks like a pistol and a shotgun with a “side-saddle” shell holster. There’s a gun called a “master key”, it’s a door breacher weapon for the first police officer or soldier to go into a home. It’s an m4 rifle with a 12 gauge shotgun attached under it. Ya blow the lock off the door with the shotgun & kick open the door then have the rifle to engage enemies. Maybe that’s what they were emulating.......futuristically and poorly.

[@erdio21]

Small critique: too many are top tier figures. If they're all top tier than none are top tier

[@christianhafer9819]

I've seen him put a lot in the middle or bottom tier. Which ones are you watching?

[@adamverwolf9499]

I believe there is a typo on that file card Vashon Island is a real place and I have been there.

[@timf7413]

Maybe it's just me, but Wellington boots seem like the last footwear you'd want if your primary job involved a lot of running. Seems like something you'd give to a specialist that needed something weather/condition proof,not not someone who needed footwear for dynamic action.

[@johnforealdoe8999]

Do you know what LRRPs do?

[@mgvillanmp478]

excellent review my friend yea those blue accessories really offset the figure and that double pistol thing ....never seen anything like that before ..

[@HCC788]

+mgvillanmp478 Looks like something out of Aliens.

[@mgvillanmp478]

+HoodedCobraCommander788 yea strange weapon..

[@christianhafer9819]

@@mgvillanmp478 But cool.

[@adamverwolf9499]

I believe that there is a Typo in the files cards. Fashion Island should be Vashon Island, anyone who's spent any time In the Settle area would know the Vashon Island Ferry.

[@violagreene4643]

Could the weird design of the pistol be some sort of anti-recoil armature?

[@edghlover7535]

That's exactly what it is (i think) lol

[@MrKiet76]

I thought the blue gun is the "ACCESSORY PAK" weapon for Steel Brigade!

[@jakubbuszko3089]

Hi ! This weird pistol looks like scatter 233 fictional " Fallout 1 " pistol with some kind of shotgun , maybe Matersky 12 under barrel shotgun ... But am not sure why they link these guns together ? Good pistol should Q A 93 but if you rally need close combat support give him MP 5 N . By the way the Cobra Hover craft was my first cobra vehicle in my collection . second was " Robot " car How I says before am start collected G.I Joe when I was 9 years old in 89 ...

[@affoster79]

They are actually doing figures now as well. While they are repaints of the same figure. They are going to be releasing a female soldier next year.

[@Mlopez_602]

Loved the figure, still hate the blue weapons and those boots.

[@RabbitEngineering]

Fashion Island, WA is his Birthplace? I think they meant Vashon Island, WA (which is a real place)

[@chrisnwi1209]

very nice figure and one I plan to get seeing as how I'm getting to the 1989 figures in my collecting. like everyone else I agree the color choice for his rifle is terrible and his pistol makes no sense. but for a 1989 figure it's to be expected. Overall though he is a good looking figure. Great job on the review Bryan.

[@HCC788]

+Chris Michalec Thanks! Good timing. Now that I know you're working on 1989, maybe I'll look at more from that year.

[@chrisnwi1209]

Sounds great can't wait to see what you have lined up for us.

[@HCC788]

In the immediate future I feel the need to swing back around to the earlier years. But I'm working on getting some later Joes ready for review.

[@christianhafer9819]

@@HCC788 1989 and 1990 were the last two good years of Joe's. Everything after that isn't worth it.

[@maxbrandt6]

Great review! I much prefer the characters that were closely based on real world military roles then space troopers and....ugh, Power Rangers or penis monsters!

[@hector1011]

Interesting looking figure. I was mainly out of G.I. Joe by 1989. The only Joes I got from that year were Snake Eyes and the Heat Viper. With regards to Recoil, I agree with the comment regarding the weird looking gun and the baby blue rifle. It was stuff like that and the weird Joe colors that made me stop collecting Joes for a while. Nice review HCC !

[@christianhafer9819]

Didn't Blowtorch have yellow accessories?? In 1984??? He's an early figure with crazy colors.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

​@@christianhafer9819In the early years, there was one or two token brightly colored figures so that the eyes of kids would be drawn to the Joe section. Flash (arguably) and Scarlett in 82, Gung-Ho in 83, Blowtorch in 84, Bazooka in 85. By 1986, though, it started to get out of hand.

[@christianhafer9819]

@Ryan Jacobson I don't think k anything is wrong with Recoil. His colors are excellent. His weapons are a little light, but, his accessories don't make or break him.

[@nealg6810]

Great review!!! Recoil looks great but I agree, that pistol is odd!!! Bahaha. You said Bourbon. You think he looks like Dolph Lundgrin?

[@HCC788]

+Neal G Dolph Lundgrin? I wouldn't have guessed that. Maybe under the hat he has a flat top like in Rocky IV.

[@nealg6810]

Maybe. That's what I will go with. Lol.

[@mattlerch531]

he was a cool figure, like you, i didnt like his weapons and i passed him up. pairing him with ambush is great. i would add recondo to that pairing. the thought of stalker, snake-eyes,duke, recondo, pathfinder, recoil, ambush, outback, and tunnel rat out on patrol should instill fear into cobra. yes a canteen of bourbon is necessary for cooking and medicinal purposes.

[@joehodgett3376]

his gear alone is why I never bought Recoil, luckily I didn't have to, my younger cousin got him . I agree he was a good figure, but his gear was the worst colored main line equipment I'd ever seen & we cut off the grenade launcher from the pistol & it still looked stupid. after paining it black. kids like me are why it's so hard for adult collectors to find vintage Joe's we took apart bad figures or broken figures bought a bunch of corps figures cheap for some once in a while good gear, but more importantly O rings

[@affoster79]

There are several good figures from the 90s not much after 1992. Big Bear, Flak Viper, general Flagg, gung ho, roadblock are some that come to mind from 1992.

[@nodtomodley9114]

had no idea digital camo was around in the 80s. I thought his helmet look more like a bicycle helmet.

[@HCC788]

+nodto modley Yeah, I could see bicycle helmet. It doesn't look like an army helmet.

[@christianhafer9819]

@@HCC788 So?

[@christianhafer9819]

I've never seen so many whining beaches in all my life. Phenomenal figure, but because the weapons are blue, you're all complaining about it, and knocking him. Who the hell gives a damn if the accessories are blue? They all can't be black. That'd be boring. Oh, and by the way, Blowtorch had yellow and green accessories in 1984, so weird color weapons were hardly a new thing in 1989.

[@markmierau5189]

yep, always hated the color of his weapons

[@alfonsogarcia8601]

You got it wrong this time it's not a top-tier figure. More like middle.

[@shane3674]

I love the figure but I can’t believe they decided to go with the blue for the weapons.

[@christianhafer9819]

They're cool. Don't be a whiner like the reviewer.

[@shane3674]

@@christianhafer9819 it amuses me that a comment I made three years ago triggered you enough just tell me that 😆

[@christianhafer9819]

@@shane3674 I just saw the video that day. Not three years ago. Hence, why I commented when I did. If there's one thing I hate, it's people who complain for the sake of it.

[@jamesconroy7030]

To me 1987 and 1988 had some terrible figures. 1989 was a big improvement. Then it all went to crap.

[@christianhafer9819]

Nah. 1990 was the last excellent year. Ambush, Metal-Head, Bullhorn, Salvo, a ton of good ones.

[@alfonsogarcia8601]

It's a middle-tier figure.