GI Joe Retaliation Firefly with Power-Up Blast Board

Presenting Firefly with his Power-Up Blast Board from the GI Joe Retaliation toy line.

I have to say that I'm not really fond of Luges - especially motorized ones. I think that they border on the reckless and irresponsible and that they're road hazards.

But that's just me.

The Cobra Saboteur Firefly finally makes an appearance in the upcoming GI Joe Retaliation movie where he is portrayed by Ray Stevenson - you may remember him from Marvel's Punisher: War Zone (2008) and from Thor where he played - get this, Volstagg.

So immediately you can see that his toy version LOOKS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING LIKE RAY STEVENSON!!!! If anything he looks a lot like Zartan. He doesn't even sport an unkempt beard that Ray sports as Firefly in the GI Joe Retaliation movie.

Major bummer.


It's a major bummer because Ray Stevenson gives Firefly such a devilish grin. Really major bummer. I'm just glad that he comes with an alternate masked head. Hell this version of the GI Joe Retaliation's Firefly doesn't even don the colors of the Firefly in the movie - who wears really dark clothing.

He honestly feels like a Zartan figure with the wrong packaging.

Anyway, his blister card reads: "Evil Cobra explosives expert Firefly lights up the night as he rides his power-charged blast board into battle. Loaded with explosives canisters, the board makes him a dangerous threat to the GI Joe Team."

More like road-kill for the GI Joe Team.

What's to like about the GI Joe Retaliation Firefly?

Well definitely not his facial sculpt.

I do really like the dragon-wings on his back. Some people may think that's cheap or crass, but I actually like them - but of course you don't see that on the packaging and some of us do forget to turn the figure around.

The dragon-wings are actually a part of the Cobra logo as it appears on Retaliation Firefly's left shoulder patch.

GI Joe Retaliation Firefly comes with everything you see here: A Blast Board (Motorized Luge), a spare head - which I prefer - a small side-pistol that fits in his right hip-holster, and what is probably a 50.cal hand-cannon for his left holster; and an "explosive" translucent barrel that can be ejected from the front of the Blast Board.

That's about it. No other weapons, explosives or tool kits that some of his predecessors had. He doesn't even have much strapped to his body. Hell the GI Joe Renegades Firefly has more gear than his Retaliation counterpart.

Firefly's Blast Board (Luge) is actually quite decent as a concept (Dark Lord Note: Please don't mind the visible tack. First time I've ever used Tack)

I can indeed imagine someone as dangerous as Firefly being this reckless and in this much need of speed - I mean if you're going to kill someone, kill them with style right?






What's NOT to like about the GI Joe Retaliation Firefly?

Well we've been taking potshots at the GI Joe Retaliation Firefly since the start of this review so we might as well get it over with. Let's start with Firefly on the Blast Board: He doesn't quite fit on the Blast Board thanks to his holsters which collide with his arms holding the control pegs.

In effect, Firefly is driving with his ass off the Blast Board. Also the Blast Board is doing nothing for his spine. It's gotta hurt to drive this thing without any neck support.

The Blast Board actually comes up with a gimmick. Press the discrete on the back panel behind Firefly's neck and the hand-grips light up. Firefly's arms are semi-translucent so that the light will shine through and it will look like his forearms have a "Power-up Glow", but even in pitch black, this does not happen. the light just isn't intense enough.

The packaging also promises an "Explosive Launching action" for the explosive barrel up front. There's a small button under Firefly's feet that gently "taps" the barrel out of the front of the Blast Board. It BARELY moves. It practically just rolls out. Actually most of the time, it will roll out on it's own as it's hardly locked in place to begin with.







Moving on to Firefly: He's a poorly articulated figure. Because of the "Power-up gloves" Hasbro removed any articulation in his hands. All he has is forearm action. He also does not have the second joint at the knee area. He can still kneel, but he can't do it as well as other GI figures can. His feet also cannot be re-positioned.

So mega-bummer,

This particular GI Joe Retaliation Firefly with Power-Up Blast Board was purchased from Toys R' Us in Galleria here in the Philippines for PhP 599.75 (Roughly US$ 14.62). He's available on Amazon for US$ 17.43 (Roughly PhP 714.63 plus shipping). I'd wait for the price to drop.




Also, this might happen. Honestly, who can see him coming? He's a hazard!!!!