GI Joe Slaughter's Marauders Varujan "Bull" Ayvazyan

Varujan "Bull" Ayvazyan

Presenting Sergeant Varujan "Bull" Ayvazyan of the GI Joe Slaughter's Marauders team.

Sergeant Bull's primary military specialty is listed as Counterintelligence - which we found to be a bit funny given that, given his size, body mass and bald head, he would stick out like a sore thumb in any counterintelligence operation - unlike say Lady Jaye who can blend in.

For more about Lady Jaye, click here.

The answer is that Bull is probably an Operator: he's the guy counterintelligence sends in - quietly or noisily - when all the back and black door operations have failed.

Or he's GRS - a member of the CIA's Global Respose Staff.

Though we have to admit that we've been watching 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi almost on a loop lately.

MORE AFTER THE JUMP

The GI Joe Slaughter's Marauders Varujan "Bull" Ayvazyan's blister card reads: "Varujean "Bull" Ayvazyan was a circus acrobat in Europe who did occasional undercover work for an international police organization. His circus act involved breaking two-by-fours on his own face, a feat that deeply impressed the GI Joe team. They recruited him for his iron toughness and fluency in a dozen languages, and cross trained him in explosives and mountaineering."

Bull's background has always confounded us. He's obviously intelligent - or a gifted savant - given that he can speak 12 languages. But he wakes up one day and tells his mommy:

• "Mommy! I'm running off to join the circus." 
• His mom replies "But what will you do in the circus my little Bull?" 
• To which he answers "I will be an acrobat Mommy!" 
• His mom chuckles and says "But there are so many acrobats already my little Bull" 
• To which he defiantly says "None, Mommy, that break two-by-fours on their faces"  
• His mom pushed him out of the house. 

We considered that he was patterned after Dolph Lundgren: Swedish; Masters degree in Chemical Engineering (It's not true that he went to MIT. He received a Fulbright scholarship to MIT, but met Grace Jones before he left to attend); buff as hell with a military background (Mandatory service). But Dolph didn't run off to join the circus. He ran off because he liked girls - and drugs.

So what possessed Bull to smash two-by-fours on his face? His face, mind you, not his head. And why did the Joes think that this psychotic behavior was GI Joe material?

Varujan "Bull" Ayvazyan

WHAT'S TO LIKE ABOUT THE GI JOE VARUJAN "BULL" AYVAZYAN ACTION FIGURE? 

FIRST: The "Bull" is from Istanbul (Pun intended?) so his presence contributes to the global diversity of the GI Joe Team. Varujan also comes with a very unique head sculpt.

SECOND: "Bull's" articulation is typically high for a GI Joe figure. He does not have though the new wrist joints that started with the POC Joes, but it is enough for a few great poses.

Yes, the "Bull" can kneel.

The "Bull" comes armed with a rifle reminiscent of a custom MP40 with an suppressor and a scope added onto it.

When he's through with his 30 (?) bullets, Varujan "Bull" Ayvazyan falls back on two revolvers. We'll go out on a limb and assume that these are "Raging Bull" revolvers - probably .44 6-shots.

After his 12 shots, the "Bull" falls down to using his knife. THIRD: We're particularly fond of how the knife is located and that he can actually reach it. However he does have difficulty holding such a thin blade.

Varujan "Bull" Ayvazyan

WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THE GI JOE VARUJAN "BULL" AYVAZYAN ACTION FIGURE? 

FIRST: The "Bull" packing light. Meaning he doesn't have any extra ammunition on him. So after 30 rifle shots, 12 pistol shots and 1 grenade, he's down to using his shoulder pads and a knife.

No real armor either. While shock-troopers do have to travel light, they do have to survive and be prepared for a potentially sustained firefight - or be prepared to defend what they've taken. "Bull" arrogantly does not have much on him. Which is why we think he's GRS. He doesn't need to carry much ammunition because he's just there to hold the fort and other people will bring him ammunition. Either that or he's just there to discourage a firefight, not get involved in a sustained one.

SECOND: The "Bull's" shoulder-pads and bright yellow-shirt are really off-putting. Here's a counterintelligence guy who really is screaming "Look at me!" (While I bash my face with a two-by-four). How this guy could be a member of the GI Joe team is really beyond us.

But then it is Slaughter's Marauders - a group that includes a Firefighter as a shock-trooper.

Do check out Sgt Slaughter and his Wathog here:

The Varujan "Bull" Ayvazyan action figure comes with the G.I. Joe Exclusive Action Figure 7-Pack Boxed Set Slaughters Marauders that includes Bull, Falcon, Barbecue, Spirit, Mercer, Lowlight and Red Dog. The Slaughters Marauders set will set you back around $97.50 (Roughly PhP 4,582 plus shipping or roughly PhP 655 per figure).

GI Joe Slaughter's Marauders Varujan "Bull" Ayvazyan