SCC Figure Spotlight - DEE-JAY (Versions 1 and 2)

"Yeah, I'll never forget it, up there on Everest...  It was so cold, you know?  Snow was everywhere!  So much, that schools would be closed for days...  I mean, if they had schools up there...  I didn't see any.  I did see a seesaw." -- Doug Heffernan.

COMM-TECH TROOPER - DEE-JAY  (Version 1)

        The G.I. Joe sub-group, Battle Force 2000, was originally released at the end of 1987 and then marketed and included among the full 1988 G.I. Joe line-up.  Their theme was that they were high-tech troopers with new, experimental vehicles.  The team consisted of six characters and their six vehicles (strangely, the six figures were sold separate from their vehicles).  The six vehicles could also combine to make the Future Fortress.

    A seventh member, Dee-Jay, trailed behind the rest of the group and was released in 1989.  He was the lone Battle Force 2000 figure release that year and basically the last of that sub-group to come out.  He served as the team's Comm-Tech Trooper.  

    There was several futuristic elements to the figure for Dee-Jay.  The helmet and body armor had some technical detail on it.  A few of his accessories were part of his uniform... he had an antennae that attached to the side of his helmet and a small cable that fit into the back of his head and also into his shoulder.  

    His color scheme was mainly white, which was found on his helmet, gloves, boots and armor.  He had an undershirt that was olive drab and pants that were part blue and part grey.

    Dee-Jay came with several accessories.  First, he came with what appeared to be a futuristic laser rifle.  There was a lot of detail on the weapon but it looks like it should have come from an old-school science fiction movie.  Battle Force 2000 used experimental, high-tech weaponry, so I guess that would explain it.  Adding to the strangeness of the gun - it was molded in a magenta-like color.  For as odd as the gun looked, it was recolored and re-used a few times with the Battle Corps figures.

    He also came with a blue communications backpack and the previously mentioned small antennae and small hose.  The backpack was rather tall, and stood out pretty far above his head.  The detail on it was pretty good, not as over-the-top as the gun.  

    The hose was a normal G.I. Joe issued hose, just shorter and with a white cap on either end.  One cap fit in his shoulder and the other in the back of his helmet.  I don't understand why the hose went from his head to his shoulder?  Why didn't it hook up to the backpack?  That would have made more sense!  

    I recall getting Dee-Jay back in the day and just not really having a place for him.  I didn't have much Battle Force 2000, so he was basically another Joe communications trooper.  

    As a figure... he's okay.  The sculpting is good but the colors of the figure don't work that well together and the magenta colored gun is out-of-place too.  He's also kind of an extra wheel for Battle Force 2000.  You had 6 figures for 6 vehicles - all that go together to make the Future Fortress.  Then you have Dee-Jay...  Who does he ride with?  Does he drive the extra BF 2000 vehicle, the Pulverizer, released that year?  It doesn't fit with the others either...

    It was a good try... I've seen worse figures, but he still falls a bit short.  I would give Dee-Jay (v1) a rating of 3 Out of 5 Walkie-Talkies.

    It's worth mentioning that Dee-Jay didn't do so hot in the comics either.  Unfortunately, he was introduced just in time to be killed off.  

    ...or was he???

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ARCTIC COMMANDO - DEE-JAY  (Version 2)

    Dee-Jay (v2) was released in 1993 as part of the Arctic Commandos set.  This collection of 4 arctic figures was only available by mail order through the booklet - "Terrifying Lasers Of Destruction".  The set included re-colored versions of Sub-Zero, Stalker, Dee-Jay and a Cobra Snow Serpent.

    So now, Dee-Jay is an arctic trooper.  He doesn't really come with an individual file card... actually it is more of a group file card.  On it, it mentions that the three Joes are on a mission to climb Mount Everest and destroy a Cobra Super-Laser up there.  Dee-Jay specifically has been tasked with planting explosives at the base of this Super-Laser...  Ok.....?

    There is no mention of Dee-Jay's original "communications" specialty.  Yet now we are to assume he is qualified as an arctic trooper, mountaineer AND explosives expert.  Very strange...

    The figure uses the same mold from the first one but now with more of a "winterized" color scheme of white and light blue.  They even painted the technical detail on his chest, which was a nice touch.  The colors certainly have more harmony together then the original figure.  His uniform, however, is not a cold weather uniform!  On his Everest mission, he is going to freeze before he makes it to the first marker!

    Like all the Arctic Commandoes, Dee-Jay (v2) was weak in the accessories department.  He still came with his little helmet antennae (why didn't they just glue it on?) and he had a rifle.  The rifle, however, is not his original one.  It is a gold sub-machine gun that originally came with Tracker.

    He did not have his original futuristic laser gun or his backpack.  He was also missing the hose that went from his shoulder to his helmet.  This is odd because with the open holes on the figure, something is clearly missing.

    Okay... so I really like this figure!  Maybe some of it is the rarity of the figure and some of it is the new colors.  I just think it is really eye-catching.  I just recently came into possession of this figure.  I don't know why I passed on this 4-pack in 1993.  This is an interesting set of figures!

    Unfortunately, the reality is, very little about this figure makes sense.  Why is he an arctic trooper now?  Why does he include the antennae and not the hose?  Didn't he die in the comics along side most of the other Battle Force 2000 characters?    

    So where does Dee-Jay (v2) fall as far as a rating?  For starters, the file card is terrible... Cobra is not going to build anything on top of Mount Everest!  As for the figure... visually, it is great, but in the grand scheme of things - nothing works.  Unfortunately, I have to give him 2 Out of 5 Walkie-Talkies!  Sorry Dee-Jay...