SCC Figure Spotlight - BUDO (Version 1 and 2)
SAMURAI WARRIOR - BUDO (Version 1)
The G.I. Joe Team was always adding new, colorful and unique additions to the group. Sure they had their Machine Gunners, Missile Troopers, Explosives Experts and other normal military positions. By 1988, they also had a handful of martial arts experts and even a couple ninjas. So what other directions could they go? Well, somewhere along the line, someone in the G.I. Joe Chain-Of-Command decided they needed a Samurai Warrior. Enter Budo!!
According to his file card, Budo was born in Sacramento, CA., but his family roots can be traced back to one of the "last great samurai warrior families of Japan". It is unclear when his training began, but on his eighteenth birthday, he received the family swords. He is skilled in several martial arts including having a fifth-degree black belt in Iaido which is "the Art of the Live Blade". His rankings could be higher in all of his martial arts, but he focuses a lot of time and energy on his hobbies like working on his motorcycle and cranking up music of the likes of Savatage! (Okay, it says heavy metal, I threw Savatage in there, ha ha!)
Budo's weapons include a red "crimson" sword, a silver sai, and a silver "ornamental" sword. He also has a red and silver samurai helmet and a brown backpack. The backpack is well-detailed with a row of grenades at the top. It has brackets on both sides to store the sai and crimson sword.
Budo has black hair, with kind of a fo-hawk style, raised in the middle. I'm unsure if this is actually part of his hairstyle but it is used to help the helmet stay put on his head. The top portion of his uniform is a brown and grey samurai-style inspired armor. He wears olive drab pants and brown boots. On his hip he has a small hook for carrying his ornamental sword.
I like the figure of Budo! He has a unique look among the Joes and isn't just another ninja. I like that he has multiple swords to use and that he can store them all. The ornamental sword, however, is sculpted in it's sheath. I'm not a big fan of these type accessories. It's like giving him something that is for looks only and not to be used. They did this with other 1988 figures like Destro (v2) and the Iron Grenadier. Regardless, he is still great figure and I'm giving him a sweet rating of 4 out of 5 Pan-head Harley Davidsons!!!
Strangely, as much as I like Budo, I did NOT have him as a kid. My good friend Deathwish was always after the martial artist characters and was definitely on the hunt for this figure. Budo was hard to find, so we knew when he finally popped up, Deathwish was grabbing him first. So he kind of went off my radar and strangely was the ONLY single carded figure that year that I did not pick up! I did get him as a collector years later, however.
Budo was under-used in the Joe media. Maybe some people felt that the Joe Team did not need a Samurai Warrior, but I thought additions like this were clever. In my eyes, Budo was likely so good at what he does that some high ranking Joe Officer took notice and and was impressed enough with his skill that he was allowed to join the team. I mean, that's what happened in my imagination...
So... what did YOU think of Budo? Did the Joe Team need a guy like this on the payroll? What did he bring to your battles?
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| My kids took a picture of Budo climbing a cilantro plant... Maybe he plans on making up some salsa? |
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| This pic is from the "Menace..." mail-in catalog. |
Budo (v2) did not come with a file card, rather the whole group shared one. It explains that "global leaders" have sent G.I. Joe Team members to stop Cobra threats. Japan has sent Budo "who plans on slicing Cobra into tiny pieces of snake meat." Strange that it is Japan that is sending Budo as his original file card states he is from Sacramento, CA.
Budo (v2) is a straight repaint of the original but utilizes the colors of teal, silver and black with some occasional red highlights. He came with only one of his original swords (the one that is in it's sheath), his helmet (which was now teal, orange and silver) and a figure stand.
Obviously, I never had the figure. I remember seeing the ad in the catalog and being confused if that was really what the figures looked like and the weapons they came with. Anyways, they weren't on my list of priorities and I passed on them. These days they are somewhat hard-to-find. I think they are neat to look at, and their collectability certainly adds some charm, but in the end I'm still just not interested in them. I would give Budo (v2) a rating of 2 out of 5 Pan-Head Harley Davidsons! He's just okay.
So in the end Budo wasn't one of those characters that set the Joe World on fire, but he still had a lot going for him. What are your thoughts on either of Budo's figures?
More going on and on about Budo...
--- For further reading about Budo (v2) and the International Action Force on this blog - Check out: Menace in the Wilderness.
--- Budo was also slated to be included in the cancelled 1995 Ninja Commando sub-group with a new sculpt. His figure was "sort of" available. It was recolored and released with the 1995 Mortal Kombat line as Shang Tsung.
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