G.I. Joe Renegades: Duke

Presenting Duke from the new G.I. Joe Renegades line. Renegades Duke is the second of the set of four new G.I. Joe figures that I came across thanks to E-bay supplier Victoyoyos. The first of the four features of course was Renegades Snake Eyes. As mentioned, the set of four was purchased for PhP 2,400 (Roughly US$ 13.95 or what you would probably what you'd pay for it on Amazon).

Anyway, Sgt. Duke here is the leader of the G.I. Joe Renegades: A splinter group of G.I. Joes whose exploits are chronicled in a brand new cartoon.The cartoon's opening credits state: "Accused of a crime they didn't commit, a ragtag band of fugitives fights a covert battle to clear their names and expose the insidious enemy that is... Cobra. Some call them outlaws. Some call them heroes. But these determined men and women think themselves only as "Ordinary Joes". And this is their story."

Yeah it's the A-Team.

And hot on their trail is, ironically, 1st lieutenant Flint who turns out to be a long time high-school arch-rival of Renegades Duke.



Renegade Duke's blister pack identifies him as First Sergeant Conrad S. Hauser and his primary weapons/Combat Gear are:

• A Concussion Missile Launcher (Not included)
• Rapelling pack with Grappling Line (Definitely not included).
• Plasma Pulse Rifle
• Plasma Pulse Pistols (He has four of them) 
• Gas Mask

His blister pack reads" Duke i a natural leader who is driven to do what is right, no matter what it may cost him. He is committed to uncovering the evil truth about Cobra Industries, so that he and the other Renegades can clear their names. A born soldier, he earns the respect and loyalty of the other through his heroic actions."

Let's take the time to note that this is the Duke figure before the Revelations episode (Which is the ending of the 26 issue story arc of Season 1) because this Renegades Duke does not yet have a scar across his left eye - a trend that started in the G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra movie and which was kept through the G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra line - as can be seen (Wave 1 Duke) here and in here (Wave 3 Duke)

What's to like about Renegades Duke?

Happily Hasbro is being quite consistent with the flexibility of these new Joe figures. Renegade Duke i just as flexible as the Renegades Snake Eyes down to the new Pursuit of Cobra wrist joints that allow for weapon hyperextension and better handling. Thanks to the new joints - to a certain degree and without his armor on - Renegades Duke can stair down the scope of his Plasma Rifle.

Renegades Duke really loves his Plasma pistols - the Plasma rifle is really, really bulky - and in fact he has four of them. Only one of the Plasma pistols has an edge that you can attach into a slot on Renegades Duke's right thigh. The bad news is that he only has two hands so the third goes on his hip and the fourth pistol will probably go into storage. What's so nice about the stapler guns - and they do look like staplers - is that if he ever runs out of ammunition it does look like you can cause some real damage with them in hand-to-hand combat.

While posing/shooting him, I started to get this strange feeling that someone was watching me. And I have to say with those ice-blue eyes and gaunt features, Duke looks kinda creepy - wouldn't you agree. It took me a while to realize who he looks like - which is so un-Duke like. Renegades Duke looks extremely like James Marsters AKA the vampire Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer - or a young Billy Idol.

Personally I think Buffy should have ended up with Spike and not Angel (I shudder to think that I actually have an opinion on the matter).

Renegades Duke's eyes are so stark ice-blue that you can even see them through his gas-mask. The gas-mask is a nice touch by-the way. It complements his uniform and accessories which are very urban close-combat warrior. I don't know if this is an error or a feature, but he's also the only character I know whose knee pads can be removed. 

What's not to like about Renegades Duke?

Well I think that there are only a few negatives that I can point out other than the fact that I hate the "anime" cartoonish look trend that action figures seem to be taking in this brave new age. The biggest problem I have with Renegades Duke is his body-armor. It restricts movement and his ability to properly wield his Plasma Rifle. And! it makes him look shorter than he actually is.

Still if you love the G.I. Joe Renegades series, then this figure is a must have. You have to have the leader of the Renegade after all don't you?