G.I. Joe Renegades Law & Order

Presenting Law & Order from the G.I. Joe Renegades toy line. As I write this review I can't help but hear the gavel sound effect from the Law & Order TV series - that I really love - every-time I write the words "Law & Order".

So these are actually two characters. Law is Officer Christopher M. Lavigne from Houston Texas, and; Order, a German Shepherd - it must be weird to give orders to Order.

In the comic-book time-line, Law & Order worked originally for the Houston Police Department before deciding to enlist - I'm not so sure he should have been able to take Order with him - because he wanted more fulfillment. They became a Military Police K-9 unit and trained with the Airborne - the modern American Military uses K-9 units in active combat roles as well, a K-9 unit was included in the SEAL team that took down Osama Bin-Laden..

Law would rise to become head of security for the G.I. Joe team.



Law & Order's G.I. Joe Renegades history though is quite different as is dictated in his blister card "Law works as a prison guard with his canine partner, Order. A rookie at the prison, Law is honest and fair. He refuses to join the corrupt warden and guards who held illegal cage fights between prisoners. Law and Order encounters the Renegades when Duke is arrested after being mistaken for a member of a chop shop ring."


This is where criticism starts to plague Law & Order. Because this particular figure was linked to the G.I. Joe Renegades storyline, the action figure doesn't quite match the cartoon. My personal guess is that Law & Order, as with Sci-Fi and Airtight, were originally designed for the 30th Anniversary Series of G.I. Joe. They were never meant to be part of the Renegades toy-line - which also explains why all three don't sport the "anime" or "cartoonish" look.

As a result, most people don't like this particular figure. Among the controversies are:

• He wears a Military Police Brassard, but in the Renegades series, he's non-military. 
• He's a prison guard, yet he carries a holstered pistol that's slightly towards his rear instead of his side. Something that a prisoner standing behind him could easily draw. Modern prisons of the day limit the deadly weapons worn or brought by guards because they can be overpowered. 
• He's a prison guard: What's he doing with a silencer? Who's he going to use that on and should we be afraid that the prison system now gives guards the ability to dispose of prisoners silently?
• Why would a prison guard dog need travel pouches?

There's also a debate as to whether Military-Police have, or should even be wearing, badges akin to the ones worn by non-Military Police. Well the answer is, they do have badges just like police, but they do not usually wear them unless it's a Dress-occasion. But this rule seems to differ per US Military Branch. Some groups, like the Airborne - where Law is qualified, allow badges on their Battle Dress Uniforms - though these badges often ended up lost.

What's to like about G.I. Joe Renegades Law & Order?

Law & Order comes with a wonderful plethora of nice equipment: including what looks to be like the experimental 6MM Knight's Armament Company Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) (Suppressor Optional), a 9mm pistol (Suppressor Optional), a Tactical Helmet with optional Face Shield, a Tonfa, a Dog Leash and Carrier Pouches for Order, Remington 870 Tactical Shotgun with an extendable stock, front-grip slide and a Holographic sight, Handcuffs, Kevlar vest with attached radio and badge, and a wonderfully detailed .44 Magnum Colt Anaconda Revolver. His blister card reads that he should also have an electroshock weapon and a flashlight which he doesn't.

Combine those accessories with Law's modern wrist articulation and you have a wonderful figure with incredible pose-ability:

What's NOT to like about G.I. Joe Renegades Law & Order?

Aside from the controversies that plague this character - especially if you want to keep him in the Renegades lore - Law is also a repaint/rebuild of the Renegades Duke. 

But to be fair they did give him nicer accessories and they got rid of Duke's really creepy looking head in favor of a new head - Though I have a feeling I've seen this head before (I just can't remember where). 

Another really disappointing thing about Law & Order is Order. I love how he's not a naked dog and that they gave him the modern military harness to carry equipment on him, however he only has one piece of articulation - his head - they could have let him do more.

I think I saw this in a movie once.

The last problem is that while Law is wearing hi protective vest, he cannot bring his guns sights to align with his eyes because of the bulkiness of the vest and the radio on his right shoulder - even with the new improved hand articulation. So I suppose he shoots from the hip. 

So is this a figure that should belong in your collection? I think so, just as long as you disassociate it from the Renegades cartoon which totally screws what Law & Order is all about and keep him strictly military.

Law & Order is available on Amazon for US$ 14.99 (Roughly PhP 650 plus shipping). This particular Law & Order was purchased on the black-market here in the Philippines as part of a set of four for PhP 800 (Roughly US$ 18).

And you have to love the handy Hand-cuffs.