The paint work on the figure is great. The “RESCUE” on his leg is a little messy, but I don’t mind as the difficulty level there was probably pretty high. I can read it, so I’m good. The rest of the paint work is sharp throughout the figure. I was initially concerned about the lack of silver straps around his shoulders, but that was dumb on my part as there’s no backpack for those straps to attach to. Though I do wonder what happened to that old pack…
The articulation is on par with the 30th Anniversary line overall: ball joints at the head, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, and ankles, double-hinged knees, and the mid-torso articulation. I’d like to see the new “peg-in-foot” ankle joints used more often, but the traditional ball-joints work fine as Lifeline will pose just about any way you want him to. I know the arms are borrowed form the Shock Trooper, but I do enjoy the left ball-joint being put in perpendicular to the right one. It really opens up the gun-holding poses… even for a pacifist.
In addition to the 30th Anniversary figures being well done, their gear is another place where the figures shine. Lifeline is no exception, though some of his inventory might be questionable considering the character.
Lifeline includes a pistol and a rifle. They’re cool accessories, particularly the new rifle, but a pacifist won’t get too much use out of them, y’know? Some folks who aren’t fans of his pacifism may be happy thinking he turned over a new leaf, but a lot of these recent Joes have more guns than they need and that’s the case here as far as I’m concerned. My Lifeline happily donated his two guns to his fellow Joes and he still has plenty of accessories leftover.
Here’s a quick rundown: the aforementioned removable helmet, rifle, and pistol, a great update of his classic “Rescue Case” which still opens but is now designed to hold two included defibrulator paddles and an IV bag w/ detachable tubing. There’s also a syringe which fits into the holsters, a knife, an oxygen tank w/ mask, a spine board with an immobilization strap, and the basic stand. I love all this gear, even if it’s more than he can carry on his own. There’s a ton of play value in the accessories, both in just having them and how they interact – like fitting in the case or attaching to the spine board. He’s got just about everything he needs to tend to your injured figures.
In all, I really think that even the most ardent Lifeline detractor would have to love this figure. He’s a fantastic update to the original and I’m not just saying that because I’ve been waiting five years to get him on my shelves. If anything, that just made it more crucial for Hasbro to get it right. And they did; the sharp design work on the figure itself and the complement of medical-themed accessories has me just about hating the movie figures right now. I really hope that Hasbro can take us back to figures like this whenever the movie line is wrapped up.
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SO sad I never saw this guy in my area. Also loved his backpack. Love the comics.
Lifeline appears to be played by Johnny Depp…
I’ve always loved Lifeline, the figure more so than the character. This is easily one of the best upgrades we’ve gotten in years. It’s everything I wanted in a classic Lifeline and so much more.
Lifeline was one of my regulars back in the 80s, too. (and “lost in storage”.)
I saw this one a couple times, but couldn’t force myself to buy him, even tho most non-movie/toon figures were Ultra-RARE in these parts.
Now that I see all his cool gear, I will kick myself once again for letting him slip through my fingers. sigh…. :/
And being a pacifist doesn’t mean he’s not trained in firearms, just that he prefers not to use them. For example, it’s kinda like the Doctor claiming he is one, but in the classic series, various incarnations (3,4,5) used guns all the time, while the new series he’s balked shooting enemies. Chalk it up to PTSD from the Time War, if you like, but he has used firearms in the past.
I love those last 3 joe figures. Sci-Fi, Airtight, and Lifeline were all home runs. If you’re going to end a series/era of toys, those were three great figures to go out with.
It’s a shame The Rock got such a lame toy. I could deal with the lack of ankle articulation but that molded hand and gun combination just ruins things.
A friend of mine is a huge wrestling/Rock fan, so he bought the single-card Roadblock and the 3-pack with Beachhead and Kamakura just for the “normal” hands to give to Dwayne Johnson there.
There is another Roadblock slated for Wave 2 that looks a lot better, but who knows when we’ll see those.
Great pic with “I can still save this movie”
I was very happy with how he turned out, he was one of those I was upset didn’t get updated as well.
I’m Jelous though, you got 2 zombie vipers, I only got the one that I ordered of BBTS 🙁
“Chicks dig the green shades” and “I can save this movie” are priceless. I freaking love your dio shorts.
Awesome comics, Noisy! Having nabbed RoadRock for a Slaughter custom, I did at least a double take on that stupid right hand.
Really hope we get a continuation of this style figure. Lifeline and Co. have been awesome, near perfect updates as far as I’m concerned!
On my Cobra trooper i realised that the kneepads are detacheable (and this might be the case on any of the figures that use the lower SE leg parts) so maybe just pull gently. It would leave a teeny bitsy hole, but you could display him with the full RESCUE logo. I still got my eyes peeled anytime for a vintage Lifeline, such a sweet figure!
Airtight is right, never shock a flatline.
Just saw the three 30th Ann. figures featured here yesterday, hanging out at Buehler’s (grocery chain) with the Iron Man 1 movie toys. No price sticker, but given their usual markup, it’s probably cheaper to get them on eBay.
Lifeline’s one of the few old Joes I still have. Probably the cereal promo; I got him at a yard sale. Nice figure for the time, but man, the new one’s gorgeous.
NOISY! originally it was going to have a backpack! (sorry for posting an image from other site)
http://www.theterrordrome.com/wp-content/gallery/gijoe-wave-unknown/2011-joecon-hasbro-display-30th-anniversary-gijoe-29.jpg
Great review, great comics!
Yeah, this is one darn good figure, all right. Like you, I donated his rifle to other characters. He kept the pistol, though, for emergencies (shooting into the air to attract attention, blowing off locks, Cobra zombies, et cetera).
Never saw this guy here in the buckeye state. Woulda bought him for sure.
one of the g3 joes that i actually wanted — but never even got a whiff of.
Wow, I’ve never even seen pics of this guy before. Lol. But I want him! Great review, as always. “Not without a hand transplant…” Hahahaha
i always thought dress marine gung ho was a silly figure. it’s like having casual fridays flint, or jogging suit destro, or cobra commander in pajama gear.