By Destro Designs — Viper Den Studios

Just like movies, sequels to figures can really be a letdown.

Sometimes G.I. Joe Version 2 figures took everything great about an original character and somehow made it even better. Other times, Hasbro took an absolutely iconic design and followed it up with something that made you wonder what the hell happened.

And there may be no better example of that than the Snow Serpent.

Snow Serpent V2 — How Do You Follow an All-Time Classic With This?

The original 1985 Cobra Snow Serpent is arguably one of the greatest 3¾-inch action figures ever made for any toy line.

The uniform. The gear. The weapons. The parachute. The snowshoes. The fur detailing.

It was damn near perfect.

Then came Snow Serpent Version 2.

Now, it’s an okay figure on its own. But when you’re going to slap the iconic Snow Serpent name on something, you better come out with all guns blazing.

Instead, Snow Serpent V2 looks like some souped-up X Games snowboarder looking for a little more action after getting bored doing 720s.

That’s a pretty damn big fall from the original.

Ninja Force Zartan — The Blue Öyster Cult Ninja

Then there’s Zartan V2, better known to most collectors as Ninja Force Zartan.

I’ll say this up front: the modern G.I. Joe Classified Series interpretation of this look is actually a cool-ass figure.

But the original version?

It doesn’t come close to hitting the home run it should for such an iconic character.

Think about Zartan Version 1.

You had the interchangeable masks, the color-changing gimmick, the creepy hooded appearance, and that badass Swamp Skier that broke down and fit inside the original box.

It was weird. It was mysterious. It was totally Cobra.

How do you follow that?

With a mohawked, Blue Öyster Cult-wannabe ninja.

I really don’t think I need to say anything else.

That sentence pretty much nails it.

B.A.T. V2 and Some Other Crimes Against G.I. Joe

B.A.T. V2 is also an affront to the iconic original.

And yes, it totally sucks ass.

The original Cobra B.A.T. looked intimidating, mechanical, futuristic, and dangerous. It was one of those figures that immediately screamed Cobra when you saw it hanging on the peg.

The follow-up simply couldn’t capture the same magic.

Then there’s Low-Light V2.

Now, before somebody comes after me, I’m talking primarily about the card art.

Because y’all already know that Low-Light V2 card art is legitimately some of the worst G.I. Joe packaging art ever produced.

It’s bad enough by itself.

But put it next to the incredible original Low-Light artwork?

It makes me want to ground-and-pound whoever the fuck did that to my boy.

Just the card art, though.

The actual figure is fine.

Mercer V2 also sucks that same ass.

And once you get into things like Sonic Fighters, things don’t exactly improve.

Dial-Tone V2 is meh, and the same goes for a lot of those later-era G.I. Joe releases where the line seemed desperate to chase whatever toy trend happened to be happening at the time.

Eco-Warriors Flint?

Yeah.

A lot of that stuff sucked balls.

But Sometimes Version 2 Absolutely Nailed It

Here’s the thing.

Not every sequel sucked.

Sometimes Version 2 didn’t just equal the original.

Sometimes it absolutely destroyed it.

And there’s one figure that towers over almost every other example.

Snake Eyes V2 — The G.I. Joe GOAT

The most famous G.I. Joe Version 2 figure of them all is obviously Snake Eyes V2.

The original Snake Eyes was already one of the coolest figures imaginable.

An all-black commando.

A mysterious mask.

An Uzi.

No flashy colors.

No nonsense.

He was badass because he looked completely different from everybody else.

So how do you improve that?

Apparently, you give him one of the coolest visors ever designed for an action figure.

Then you hand him a fucking massive sword.

Then somebody in the room says:

“You know what this guy needs?”

A motherfucking wolf.

And just for good measure, strap some grenades across his chest.

Throw all of that onto some absolutely iconic G.I. Joe card art and congratulations.

You’ve created what I consider the GOAT action figure of the 1980s.

Snake Eyes Version 2 didn’t simply improve Snake Eyes.

It helped define what Snake Eyes would look like forever.

Rock ‘N Roll V2 — Bigger Guns, Better Gear, Maximum G.I. Joe

Another Version 2 that absolutely surpasses the original is Rock ‘N Roll V2.

Now, don’t misunderstand me.

The original Rock ‘N Roll is one of the legendary Original 13 G.I. Joe figures, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with him.

He’s an essential part of G.I. Joe history.

But holy hell.

Version 2 came through and upgraded damn near everything.

The hat might not offer the same battlefield protection as the original helmet, but who gives a shit?

It looks fucking badass.

His entire uniform has this incredible larger-than-life late-’80s G.I. Joe feel that, for me, eclipses the original.

Then we get to the weapons.

First, his sidearm isn’t even really a sidearm.

It’s a lever-action Winchester-style rifle strapped directly to his leg.

How awesome is that?

Especially considering it actually attaches to the figure.

But his primary weapons are where things get completely ridiculous.

And I mean ridiculous in the best possible way.

Two belt-fed machine guns.

One in each hand.

With scopes.

Because apparently one gigantic belt-fed weapon wasn’t American enough.

That is so ridiculously G.I. Joe.

And quite frankly?

It’s just so damn American.

Rock ‘N Roll V2 easily lands on my Top 10 G.I. Joe figures of all time.

Storm Shadow V2 — An Awesome Evolution of an Icon

Storm Shadow Version 2 also came through like a champion.

First off, that card art was dope.

I stared at that damn thing endlessly as a kid.

It was incredible.

And remember, during the 1980s, compound bows were the shit.

They were peak Rambo-meets-G.I. Joe aesthetics.

It fucking rocked.

Storm Shadow’s redesigned uniform was also a smart departure from the legendary all-white original without straying too far away from the ninja look that gave the character so much mystery and gravity.

They changed him.

But they didn’t forget who he was.

That’s exactly how you do a Version 2 figure.

Cobra Commander V2 — The Hood. That’s It.

Then there’s Cobra Commander V2.

It’s the hood.

That’s pretty much the whole argument.

The hooded Cobra Commander design became one of the most recognizable appearances in the history of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.

10/10.

No notes.

Beach Head Night Force and the Alternate-Uniform Formula

Now, Beach Head V2 comes through Night Force, and that figure is fucking fantastic.

I absolutely love it.

You essentially get the same iconic character sculpt and identity while giving him an entirely different darker, meaner-looking color scheme.

That’s how you reuse a great design without making it boring.

And honestly, this applies to damn near the entire G.I. Joe Night Force lineup.

Those alternate versions are absolute 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.

The same concept works with Tiger Force, Slaughter’s Marauders, and Python Patrol.

And now we’re seeing similar ideas carried into the modern G.I. Joe Classified Series, including concepts like D.I.R.E. Tech.

The lesson here is simple:

An alternate version of a character doesn’t automatically have to suck.

Sometimes a repaint, redesign, or completely new Version 2 interpretation can make an already great character even better.

Some G.I. Joe V2 Honorable Mentions

Sci-Fi V2 is actually pretty damn cool.

I’d love to see that version translated into the G.I. Joe Classified Series.

And as much as I trash Low-Light V2’s card art, the actual figure itself is solid.

Dusty V2 with Sandstorm?

Aight.

I can roll with it.

Crimson Guard Immortal is fine too.

There are definitely others worth discussing, which is where you guys come in.

What Are the Best and Worst G.I. Joe Version 2 Figures?

I’m sure there are a few I’ve forgotten.

So let me know what you think.

Which G.I. Joe Version 2 figures completely destroyed the originals — and which ones absolutely shit the bed?

Was Snake Eyes V2 the greatest upgrade in G.I. Joe history?

Does Rock ‘N Roll V2 belong among the greatest 3¾-inch figures Hasbro ever produced?

And which sequel figure should have never made it past the concept-art stage?

Sound off and let me know.

And as always, thanks for hanging out, talking toys, and sharing this stuff so other fans can enjoy it too.

— Destro Designs
Viper Den Studios

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