SCC Figure Spotlight - LIGHTFOOT (Version 1 & 2)

Whomp!  Crack!  Whoooomf!

"That was an 81 mike-mike mortar and that high "crack" was the spotter-round from a recoil-less rifle!" - Lightfoot, G.I. Joe, Issue #82.

EXPLOSIVES EXPERT - LIGHTFOOT (Version 1)

     In 1988, G.I. Joe brought a new Explosives Expert into the Team - Lightfoot!  Lightfoot basically fell into the same role as 1983's Tripwire.  Someone that knows how to set explosives, but their primary job was to clear areas that might be hiding some nasty surprises and make it safe for Joes operating there.

    Lightfoot's file card explains that he is well-versed in ALL the military manuals pertaining to explosives.  In fact, he has memorized all of them!  He takes his jobs very seriously and has the ability to carefully scan the area for any trace of hidden explosives or traps.  What his file card does NOT divulge is anything about his personality.  He's good at what he does and that's all you really get.

    Most of Lightfoot's uniform was a bright yellow.  He had some protective padding on his chest in black with a green panel above with 3 grenades.  He had black gloves, boots, belt and some kind of bands with cylinder-shaped devices on his biceps.  Down the side of his legs he had black stripes.

    For accessories he came with a blue night vision helmet with red lenses and 2 antennae on the back.  He came with a 3-piece mine detector unit which consisted of a backpack, a flat cable, and a two-handed "detector".  His final accessory was a small boxey-shaped, orange robot with treads and an antennae.  When Lightfoot's hand-held detector was not being used, he could store it on his backpack.  As a small bonus, both the robot and backpack had cool lenticular stickers on them.

"No more adventures!  I'm not going that way!"

    So... let's talk about the robot here.  With various Joes and Cobras coming with animal companions - is this Lightfoot's sidekick?  Is the robot supposed to have a personality or something?  Or did he control it?  Not sure how he would control it when he has both hands on his detector unit.  If the robot WAS a companion, it would have a hard time keeping up with the Joes with it's treads.  Plus, the robot has no arms or visual way to scan or deal with explosives.  So don't totally understand what is going on with the robot.

    In any case, does he communicate with the robot with the helmet?  The helmet has antennas and a mic.  The robot has an antennae.  Maybe he can direct it when a fair amount of distance is put between the two?

    Lightfoot was another one of those figures you could spot on the pegs from a distance.  His yellow uniform shined like a beacon.  I suppose he had to compete with the bright colors of Spearhead and others that year.  He looked interesting enough though, so I picked him up.  Unfortunately, while he did show up briefly in the comics, he never really got much of a chance to shine in any of the G.I. Joe media.  

    Lightfoot wasn't a stand-out character, but I think he was a pretty cool figure.  His bright colors don't bother me. He's clearing a safe path, void of explosives, for his teammates.  So maybe he needs to be easily seen?  I thought all of his accessories were pretty interesting.  The head sculpt was great and thought the helmet had a cool, unique look.  

    On the down side, he didn't come with a weapon, which was a bummer.  I also wish the robot had some arms or tools so you could understand how he helped locate bombs or dismantle them.  Thanks to his file card not divulging much of his personality and his limited media appearances, he's kind of a blank slate.  So Lightfoot here, is going to get a rating right down the middle with 3 out of 5 Gordon Lightfoot CD's!    

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This cool pic of Night Force Lightfoot comes from Wayne Bartley!  Check out his awesome G.I. Joe photography on Instagram at Relinquished1979!

EXPLOSIVES EXPERTS - LIGHTFOOT  (Version 2)

    Lightfoot returned the following year as he was tapped for duty with Night Force.  This was a G.I. Joe sub-group that (obviously) specialized in nighttime operations.  For such missions he would have his uniform and equipment upgraded with darker colors.  

    The Night Force Team was exclusive to Toys R Us stores and there was 2 Waves of figures and vehicles.  The figures were all grouped together and sold in 2-packs.  Lightfoot was part of Wave 2 and was paired with Shockwave.

    The file card art was updated to display his new colors as well as adding a Night Force logo.  The text largely remained the same, in exception for a line about how it's Lightfoot's job to see that all of Night Force's missions "end with a bang!"  

    Lightfoot, as were all the figures in the group, was a straight repaint of the original figure.  The figure's original yellow, was now replaced with brown.  His accessories were now all done in black plastic.  His helmet retained the red lenses and his equipment still had their lenticular stickers.  

    Unfortunately, I didn't know about Night Force till AFTER the toyline had ended.  I was lucky enough, however, to find Night Force Lightfoot in a bin of Joes at a collectable shop.  He had no accessories, but he was still quite a score!  

    I liked the original Lightfoot, but I thought that the Night Force version was even better!  Just the idea of him gearing up for a mission at night with his specially outfitted teammates was cool imagination fuel!  So on that note, Lightfoot (v2) will catch a sweet rating of 4 out of 5 Gordon Lightfoot CDs!!  Nice!

    So what do you think of Lightfoot... either version?  How did he fit into your battles?  What are YOUR thoughts on the robot - it's purpose or how it operates?  Let me know in the comments below!

    What else can we say about Lightfoot???

---  Strangely, some info on the robot can be found on the 1991 Impel card.  On the back it describes the robot as an "airfoil-powered robotic mine detector with a digitized oscillating frequency module and a built-in Geiger counter / spectrometer and scintillometer".  Ohhhhhh, that's what it is!!!  

---  Thanks again to Wayne Bartley for letting me use his pic of Night Force Lightfoot!  Wayne has an impressive collection and an eye for photography!  

---  Lightfoot's detector is odd looking!  When I first saw it I thought it was some sort of "grabbing" claw!?!?

Lightfoot cardback art.  Got this figure at K's Merchandise for $2.97 baby!

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1991 Impel card art.  Still a little surprised they picked him, as he's still a pretty deep cut as far as figure's go!

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Lightfoot's helmet looks kinda weird in this art for the Warthog!