SCC Figure Spotlight - MAJOR BLUDD (Version 1, 2 and 3)

"...and so, let us officially welcome the new "star" of our Cobra Constellation, a fearless fighter, a skilled tactician, a published poet - Major Sebastian Bludd"  -- Cobra Commander (G.I. Joe #16).

MERCENARY - MAJOR BLUDD  (Version 1)

    In series 1 of the G.I. Joe line, Hasbro gave us a basic introduction to the evil Cobra Organization - we got two different Cobra Soldiers and the Cobra Commander action figure.  In Series 2, they continued to expand Cobra, but in addition, they gave us villains that could work for Cobra or on their own.  We got the Enemy Weapons Supplier - Destro and we also got the Mercenary - Major Bludd.

    As a mercenary, Major Bludd was technically not a member of Cobra, rather his services were often hired by them for various evil purposes.  This was more evident more in the comic than cartoon.  The cartoon often presented him as a field commander of the Cobra forces.  The file card describes his military skills and experience.  It also makes mention of his ability to write bad poetry!  

    Bludd was initially released as a mail-in at the tale end of the first series.  An order form was sent out to the kids that had ordered Cobra Commander.  I remember getting the form and LOSING IT!!!  So, I didn't order him...  Luckily, he was released with the standard carded figures shortly after.

    He had kind of a classic villain look with the eye patch and long, thin moustache.  Yet, he also had the look of a soldier with his helmet and body armor.  He had several dog-tags that he wore around his neck - most likely collected from enemies he had defeated.  His main colors consisted of brown and black, which was slightly dull compared to the flashy Destro with his silver head and red ruby necklace.  

    The figure was unique in the way he was missing articulation.  His right arm had no elbow joint or "swivel arm battle grip".  The whole arm was cast in black plastic and appeared to be covered in armor.  Some debate whether the arm was battle armor or a cybernetic attachment.  I think of the comic where Major Bludd cracks Doc in the back of the head, knocking him unconscious, with his arm.  So to me, the arm was it's own weapon in a way.  The lack of articulation actually added something in my opinion.  Also, the hand was molded with the first finger and thumb connected.  This helped with holding his pistol.  

    The Major only came with two accessories.  A rocket pistol and a backpack, both in black plastic.  Looking closer at the backpack, you can see he has extra rockets for his gun molded on it.  As a kid, I was way off... I thought the pistol was a laser gun (like the cartoons) and the backpack was a jet pack.

    In 1983, Major Bludd was an excellent addition to the G.I. Joe Line.  I really liked this figure when he was released!  As time went by, however, more high-profile characters would be released and Bludd would get pushed to the side.  Regardless, Bludd would probably prefer to slide out of the spotlight, then he could continue to craft his diabolical schemes.  I would give the first version of the Major a rating of 5 out of 5 Eye Patches!

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MERCENARY - MAJOR BLUDD  (Version 2)

    We didn't see Major Bludd for many years after the original was released, but he  resurfaced in 1991 as part of the Super Sonic Fighters.  Somewhere along the line, Bludd got his hands on a jetpack and some crazy sci-fi-looking weapons.  Maybe as a Mercenary, he was hired to test the sonic weapons?

    The Major’s new uniform is a navy blue with some yellow highlights and multiple silver grenades all over.  I assume he is rocketing above on his jetpack and lobbing these grenades down on his foes.  Some key elements have carried over from version one.  He wears a black helmet (similar to the first figure) and retains the eyepatch.

    Major Bludd comes with his "sonic" jetpack and two guns.  The jetpack is grey and has two red blinking lights on top.  It also contains 4 different sound effects.  Despite being slightly oversized, I like this accessory!

    His weapons are 2 very strange-looking laser weapons.  The Sonic Disruptor Cannon is a large, grey, 2-piece weapon with two handles.  He needs to use both hands to properly hold it.  He also has a Laser Machine Gun, which is a yellow, futuristic rifle with two barrels.  The grey one looks okay with some great detail, but it’s bulky and looks like it would be difficult to fire while strapped to a jetpack.  The yellow one has a small handle that doesn't fit the figure's hands that well.  I don’t think either one looks like something he would carry.  

    On the cardback, however, Bludd appears to be carrying the same pistol that the Cobra Air Devil came with.  This would have been a much better weapon in my opinion.  Funny that I thought the original figure had a jetpack, and he didn't... and now version 2 actually DOES have one!

    This was a cool version of Major Bludd.  The sculpt is great and the likeness captures the look we got with the original figure.  I like the idea of him stealing the jetpack or being hired to test it out.  The weapons are a weak point for the figure.  The grey gun he has to hold with both hands, which seems difficult when you are flying a jet pack.  he also has nowhere to store it.  Does he just chuck it aside when he's done with it?  The yellow gun is clunky-looking and he doesn't hold well.  A great figure with bad weapons, the good (or bad) Major catches himself a rating of 4 out of 5 Eye Patches!  Just a little off from the original!

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"Throw another Joe on the barby, mate." - Major Bludd, 1994.

MERCENARY - MAJOR BLUDD  (Version 3)

    The third version of Major Bludd was released in 1994 as part of the final wave of Battle Corps figures before the G.I. Joe Line's cancellation.  Like version 2, certain elements carried over while new ones were introduced.  This figure veered a little more to the left though...

    Elements that previously helped define the look of Major Bludd were altered, and not for the better.   The helmet is different and looks a little kooky with the silver, spiked stripe down the middle.  Also, gone is the Major's traditional eye-patch, and replaced with an odd red one that looks as if it is attached to the helmet...?  

    Rather than the muted brown and black of the first figure, or the Cobra-blue of the second - this time Major Bludd got a little more loose.  Now, he was decked out in purple, red and black.  These colors probably would have looked better had they only used one of the colors with the black.  Together, however, the three are an odd blend.  He wears a purple shirt with black sleeves and has purple pants.  Worse yet is the "wearing his red underwear outside of his pants" look??!?! 

    There is one unique feature though that no Joe figure has ever had - a hidden blade weapon is his right arm.  It is visible when you bend his arm at the elbow.  This was a cool addition!  I don't even think this feature was really advertised.  I don't think Hasbro attempted anything like this with any other figures either!

    Unfortunately, Major Bludd is a victim to having to the "dull, un-original weapons tree" accessories.  They include a pistol (Destro v3), a rifle (Rock-Viper), a knife (Shockwave) and two missiles - all in bright red.  Bludd also comes with a standard black Battle Corps missile launcher.

    Again, there are obvious signs that tell you this is Major Bludd - the eyepatch, the moustache, the black helmet... but it is an awkward figure.  I really like the elbow blade, that was a very creative addition!  The rest, however... the colors, the recycled red accessories, the wearing of his underwear outside his pants... it's just all just a bad combination.  Sorry, Major Bludd (v3)... I think you're going to catch a rating of 2 out of 5 Eye-Patches on this one.

    

    I have to admit, considering some of the mistakes Hasbro made concerning updated action figures over the years, I am surprised the patch over his left eye stayed consistent. I’m also surprised Major Bludd reappeared in both 1991 and 1994.  I don’t know about the animated series, but he rarely appeared in the comic book.  In fact, he never appeared in either of his Version 2 or 3 uniforms.  Zartan was a major player in the comic from his introduction all the way to the end of the comic run, and he only got one update in 1993.  Baroness was a key character since the very beginning, yet she only got one figure.  How does Major Bludd beat out those two?  Weird...

Behind The Scenes and Useless Trivia:

--- My childhood friend, Caleb, was full of tall tales...  At one point, in like the 3rd grade, I mentioned that I was curious what had happened to Destro's head and Major Bludd's eye.  He told me that he read in the first issue of the G.I. Joe comic that Destro's head was blown off by a cannon (and replaced with the metal one) and Major Bludd's eye was shot out by a machine gun.  These fellas are pretty tough to keep going after all that!

--- Since you can see Bludd's bare hand on Version 3, I guess it's fair to assume that Version 1's arm was NOT cybernetic. 

--- Apparently at one point, there were plans to add Major Bludd to the Eco-Warriors line.

--- Getting the picture of Major Bludd (v2) with the jetpack was not easy.  Thanks to my son, Nolan, for his help in capturing the Major "flying".  We were losing daylight, it was freezing outside and the wind was blowing all crazy.  But we got some good pics regardless!