One & Done - QUICK KICK

   

SILENT WEAPONS - QUICK KICK

    Many martial artists would be released in the course of the G.I. Joe line.  Majority of them, however, would end up under the "ninja" banner at some point.  The character of Quick Kick took another route.  Quick Kick was a martial artist and he stayed a martial artist.  He didn't have a shadowy, mysterious backstory, he didn't have connections to multiple characters in the Joe universe and he didn't end up in Ninja Force.

    Instead, Quick Kick's story was more simple.  His file card tells that he was rejected by his peers because of his mixed heritage and he didn't have the height to be a basketball player, so he dove into martial arts.  He didn't just learn one style of martial arts, he learned multiple styles.  Later in life he got a job in Hollywood as a stuntman, which is when the G.I. Joe Team found him and brought him into the fold.

    His specialty was listed as Silent Weapons.  It was Quick Kick's job to accomplish his missions and battle any opposition quietly.  He would utilize his various martial arts skills and weapons that didn't make loud sounds or muzzle flashes to successfully complete his objectives!  It is important to note that his file card does mention he is a qualified expert with "All NATO and Warsaw Pact small arms". So he is plenty capable at joining a firefight if the need arises!

    The figure for Quick Kick had black hair and a bandana around his head.  He didn't have much of a "uniform".  Instead, he was shirtless and just wore a red sash containing 3 throwing stars over his chest.  He had black pants and bare feet.

    Quick Kick came with three accessories.  Keeping with his silent weapons theme - he carried a pair of silver nunchakus and a silver sword.  In addition, he also had a dark grey backpack which I always thought looked like the kind of backpack you would take to high school to carry your books in.  It had a slot in it so he could store the sword on it.

    In 1985, both G.I. Joe and Cobra were starting to branch their teams into new territory.  G.I. Joe had recruited a Firefighter, a Mountain Trooper, a Hostile Environment Trooper and then with Quick Kick - an expert with mixed martial arts and silent weapons.  All the while, Cobra is hiring snow troops and a biker gang.  It was a exciting time to be a fan of G.I. Joe!  Some consider it the best!  There were so many creative ideas coming around.  Quick Kick was a great addition to a great year!  

    There is no real drawback to the figure although he does take some criticism due to his bare feet.  I believe the cartoon episode in which he was introduced had him operating in a winter climate...?  That's odd... as a kid I wouldn't have put him on the Snow Cat for any missions.

    While Quick Kick made several great appearances in the cartoon and comic, he never got a second figure.  This is strange due to the fact that the G.I. Joe Line got saturated with ninjas later on.  It is possible, however, he never got a second figure due to the character being killed in the comic series.  He was offered as a mail-in at one point with Jinx as the "Martial Arts Unit" in the mail catalog - Terrifying Lasers of Destruction.

    Regardless, I really liked this figure!  I'm goin to give Quick Kick a sweet rating of 4 out of 5 Baskets full of Mr. Tootsie's Foot Care Products!!!

    So what did you think of Quick Kick?  Did you think he was great?  Or did you think he was overshadowed by characters like Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow?  Did you have him driving your Polar Battle Bear???

Look at that $2.88 at K's Merchandise!!!  I bought a lot of figures from that place back in the day!!