And then… Dice finally got the better of me. I read his old bio, about some of his comic appearances, and it just kinda formed an opinion of Slice & Dice in my mind… they’re kinda lame. That may be blasphemy to a hardcore Joe fan, but if there’s ever one universal truth about 80s toy lines, it’s that being lame isn’t always a bad thing. There are some really lame, beloved Joes after all. The same is true for just about every other line too. In some cases, it’s true of whole lines! And in that realization, I sorta unlocked an appreciation for Dice (& Slice too I suppose). They’re like “the other guys” when it comes to Cobra Ninjas. They’ll take it seriously. They’ll try really hard. They’ll dream big. And then Snake Eyes, a reformed Storm Shadow, or Jinx will come along and hand them their ass. It’s their thing. I can dig it.
So Dice stays. It also helps that he’s a remarkably well-done Frankensteined figure even if he’s not exactly on model. On the figure itself, there’s nothing new here. Dice is largely cobbled together from two different versions of Storm Shadow – one version from 2009 even included Dice’s mask, so perhaps Hasbro was thinking ahead or at least paying homage with that figure. Either way, it made a figure of him incredibly easy for the Club to put in the FSS.
Dice did need a head under that mask though, so the rather non-descript ROC “Aqua-Viper Officer” donated his noggin’ for the cause. I normally don’t like reusing specific heads like that, but I couldn’t pick out the Aqua Viper Officer on the street, so I’ll make an exception here.
All the pieces came together well, and were painted sharp, to make a great Dice update The pieces coming from a little later in the 25th & POC lines also gave Dice some great articulation too. Some of the cooler bits like the ball-jointed wrists and reverse ball-jointed ankles aren’t present, but there is plenty of articulation on the figure and he’s a blast to pose. The double-hinged knees and ball-ankles is probably one of the best evolutions in articulation as the Joe line went along.
In addition to his mask and removable harness, Dice also came with plenty of accessories including an axe, a bow staff, two throwing stars, and two tekagi claws. I didn’t remember to take a simple accessory pic, but each item can be found somewhere in the various pictures. Since the accessories are also largely borrowed from the same Storm Shadows the hands are borrowed from, Dice holds everything snugly. I’ve found that I prefer to keep his tekagi claws attached to his arms though. He came packaged that way and the claws just seem to fit with him being called “Dice”. He may have never used them in the comics though, I’ve no idea.
Overall, Dice is a fun addition to what will one day be my Joe shelf (once it’s all unpacked). In additon to being fun, he’s also a great example of a how a company can go under budget, reuse the right parts, and still turn out a fantastic figure without cutting corners. The construction is sound, if a little off-model, and the accessories really liven up the figure.
And yes, it’s true that Dice & Jinx weren’t the figures I was hoping for to kick off the Joe Club FSS, but my figures will come. For now, I’m happy to have found a new appreciation for Dice by means of his getting a cool figure. Though it does mean I’m locked in for getting a Slice now. You just can’t have one without the other. As for Jinx, well, I still think they did a good job on the figure even if I don’t need it. I’ll make sure she gets to a collector that can appreciate her at least.
I loved him as a child, but even then Snake Eyes always won.
It’s just the way of things.
Funny how this guy’s parts getting used all over recent lines (POC, 30th, etc.) of Gi Joe http://www.yojoe.com/action/09/aquaviperofficer.shtml
Never thought i would see that head again. but i like how the sub is using ROC parts extensively! Wish i had the money for them but the international price was just way too much for my wallet.
The domestic price is way to much too! 😉
“Dice-Vipers” LOL!
Wait… You killed Ace! Man, that neat little story went from light to dark real fast.
Noisy, you’re probably a decade or so younger than me since I was 10 when the RAH line debuted. As such, I view the Ninja Force stuff as being more Generation Y than X. And yet, I’ve always liked Slice & Dice on their own. I’m a sucker for mercenary/bounty hunter duos going back to the days of 4-LOM and Zuckuss, so Dice and his partner have always shown promise. We’ll both need to get Slice now once his turn comes up.
Agreed on your points regarding toy lines. Action figure collecting might be one of the few aspects of life where lameness turns into a virtue.
Look for Slice to be available only at Disneyland Japan between 3:00 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. tomorrow.
Yes, I’m bitter and cynical when it comes to collecting these days. Don’t get me started on trying to complete TransFormer teams . . . .
It’s all make believe. Ace is okay. 😉
Hooray!!! 🙂
Great review, excellent photos, and fun comics, as ever!
Jinx . . . man, there’s a sore spot. I just hope that at some point BBTS does a Rawhides multi-pack containing movie-accurate Law & Order, Big Lob, Lt. Falcon, Jinx, Tunnel Rat, Beachhead, and Chuckles (with a brighter Hawaiian shirt this time).
Thanks, Beedo!
That’d be a cool seven-pack!
The photos and story for this review are fantastic! Awesome job!
Thanks, Zach!
I’m sorry, but as cool as Dice is (truth: I don’t think he’s cool at all) he’s definitely not worth 25$ and up. Hardly any of these subscription figures are (maybe Big Boa, but that’s just ’cause he’s so cool.) I can’t justify buying something that expensive with practically no new parts. If others want ’em, more power to them, but they aren’t for me.
I think I’m tired of worrying about what something is worth anymore. If I want it, then I buy it. If I deemed it too expensive, then I didn’t really want it.
I don’t think that will work for everybody, maybe no one but me, but it’s how I’ve come to look at it.
you can’t start nit-picking figures and trying to factor in cost to percieved value. just because a figure shares some or all used parts doesn’t make worth any more or less it’s dollar value. obviously, if you’re getting a figure with ALL NEW sculpt you can percieve that you’re getting a better value for your dollar, rather than a figure with 90% re-use. take Snake Man-At-Arms for instance, the only new sculpt on him was the head and the accessory — I have to admit, with that one I did feel as though I wasn’t quite gettiny my money’s worth — But there are transformers with virtually the same mold, but they do not seem like any less of a value because they are a new, unique character rather than a retread of an old character.
one of the few FSS figs I actually like, but not willing to pay that pricetag for him.
It was a high-priced sign-up be sure. I wanted to do the TF FSS, but they just didn’t make any one really cool enough to be worth it.
Well done figure, but Big Boa has my eye, and that’s about it.
Time to bring 25th/30th/or 31st or whatever they wanna call it back, Hasbro.
Definitely. I was looking forward to getting back to some anniversary stuff post-movie, but the movie has to come out first!
Never had as a kid but had that Snake-eyes and Storm Shadow. Never saw those updates though. Dice-vipers thats funny.
I had a lot of Ninja Force, just never Slice & Dice. For awhile I thought the first figures were the mid-2000s ones. Oops.
Oh man, I seriously can’t believe you’re selling that Jinx. She looks so cool and makes me wish FP weren’t in charge of these.
FunPub just make it impossible for international fans to get their stuff. Not like Matty, who only have some bumps. No, this is straight-up killing the international fandom from ever participating in the fanclubs.
Guh.
Anyway, great review and pics as usual.
Thanks, Sandman.
Jinx does look like a cool figure – I actually wish Quarrel had this same body, but Hasbro already set me up on Jinx. This is a great homage to her VvV days (or whatever banner that 2000s Jinx came out under), but the 30th one is near perfect.
It sucks that FunPub doesn’t do better with international stuff. As big as Joes & TF are you’d think it would only benefit them to do it right.
“but Hasbro already set me up on Jinx.”
Yep, another exclusive not available to international fans. 😀
Dunno what you’re going to ask for the FunPub Jinx (probably a lot?) but if you put her up for sale somewhere let me know…
So…is Jinx spoken for, or are you still looking for a buyer?
I was just going to toss her on eBay, so any offers are welcome. Shoot me an e-mail.