One & Done - SNOW JOB

  

ARCTIC TROOPER - SNOW JOB

    To successfully defend the planet from the evil schemes of the Cobra Organization, the G.I. Joe Team needs specialists for every kind of environment.  Snow Job was not only the Team's first cold weather specialist, but he was the first in the whole line!  Snow Job set the bar pretty high for all other troops in this division.

    Snow Job was released in 1983 as part of the second series of Joe figures.  As the team's Arctic Trooper, he was obviously the first pick to be sent on any cold weather missions.  In addition to his main specialty, his file card explains that he was previously in training to be in the Olympic Biathlon, he is a Rifle Instructor, and he is also a con artist.

    The figure was decked out in a white uniform with some black highlights, perfect for trudging through the snow on the hunt for Cobra operatives.  His head was sculpted with his hood up and wearing black goggles.  He has a full red beard that adds a nice touch of color to the figure.

    Snow Job is one of those figures from the second series that set the bar WAY high for accessories.  He came with a "laser" rifle, backpack, 2 skis and 2 ski poles.  As a bonus, both skis and the poles could all attach to the backpack for storage.  This is just one of those little things that put the G.I. Joe toyline over-the-top.  The rifle also became the standard weapon that ALL the Joes carried in the cartoons!

    Additionally, Snow Job had an unofficial vehicle - the Polar Battle Bear snowmobile.  Released the same year as the figure, the PBB was often associated with Snow Job as he was the only character dressed for winter operations at the time.  

    Snow Job was an excellent figure!  He looked great, he was dressed and colored appropriately for his specialty and he had top-notch accessories!  Plus, I really appreciated that he could hold all his gear at the same time without looking overloaded!  Snow Job, in my book, nabs himself a rating of 5 out of 5 Ski-lift Passes!!!

    As a kid, this was a "must have" figure!  I remember putting him on the Polar Battle Bear to navigate through the snowy terrain.  On the back of the snowmobile was Blowtorch.  The idea in my head was that Snow Job would drive and Blowtorch would melt the snow with his flamethrower!?!?  Not sure if that's how they typically deal with snow in the military... but hey, who knows?

    Unfortunately, this was the only version we got of Snow Job!  He never showed up again in the toy-line.  Why was this so?  Hasbro gave us several different "snow troopers" in the following years.  It's a mystery to me as to why we couldn't have revisited this character at least once.  Of course, the near-perfection of this figure would be hard to top!