I am officially up to three Mezco figures now. I really hadn't intended to add more, but then I saw a couple of reviews on this Firefly and thought it would be a fun figure to maybe get. Then, while we were on vacation in Aurora Colorado, I found this fantastic comic shop called Monkey Paw Toys. Lo and behold... guess what they had in stock? One of the employees, Dave, actually had bought one for himself and had it at the shop. He ran out back and showed me... and I will admit that the first visit, I only walked out with the G.I. Joe Classified Cobra Island Major Bludd figure. The next day, however, was a different story as my wife surprised me with a return trip and a gift of the Firefly figure. If you are in Aurora, make sure to stop in and see the crew at Monkey Paw Toys! I had a blast talking with the guys and they have an absolutely amazing selection of merchandise!
Introduced as a saboteur and mercenary, Firefly is one of the more mysterious and dangerous members of the Cobra organization, known for his expertise in explosives and stealth. We do, eventually, learn that Firefly is also a trained ninja master.
Firefly's real name, birthplace, and true identity are shrouded in secrecy. What is known is that he operates with near-flawless precision, carrying out acts of sabotage for Cobra. His skills in explosives and demolitions are unmatched, making him a highly valued asset for the terrorist organization. Firefly’s background suggests that he is a master of disguise and infiltration, able to blend into any environment to achieve his mission objectives.
As a mercenary, Firefly works for the highest bidder, but his loyalty to Cobra has been a constant throughout his appearances in the G.I. Joe series. His signature look includes a gray camouflage outfit, a balaclava covering his face, and a host of high-tech equipment designed for demolition and sabotage.
Firefly made his first appearance in the Marvel Comics series "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" #24, published in June 1984. In this issue, he is introduced with the Cobra pilot, Wild Weasel and is sent on a mission to follow a tracking device that Major Bludd had planted on Storm Shadow. Unbeknownst to Bludd, Destro, and the Baroness, Storm Shadow had discovered the tracker and sent it to an obscure address deep in the Florida Everglades. Firefly and Wild Weasel, upon arriving, find themselves greeted by Cobra Commander's newest recruit: Zartan.
Firefly's contributions to Cobra's efforts often involve intricate plots to disrupt and destroy, making him a constant thorn in the side of the G.I. Joe team. His elusive nature and professional skills continue to make him a fan-favorite character among G.I. Joe enthusiasts.
There is a lot to like about this Mezco figure. Without any further ado, let's discuss: Mezco One:12 Collective: G.I. Joe Firefly action figure!
Accessories: 10/10
Oh. My. Gosh. Where do I start? This figure is packed with so much stuff that I honestly haven't even messed with everything yet! Mezco really went above and beyond with all of the equipment Firefly comes with and I'm astonished. I thought the Man of Steel came packed with a lot! So... here we go. Firefly has:
Six pairs of hands: Fists, Flat palm, Open/action, Weapon holding, Item holding, Semi-closed Fist Item holding.
Three head sculpts with different expressions and eye paint.
Two Dynamite Explosive bundles
Three weapon firing effects
One pistol with three removable magazines
One semi-automatic rifle, with three removable magazines
One Barrel/extender/silencer for rifle
Two short blade knives
One combat knife
Two short knife sheathes
One combat knife sheath
One removable thigh holster (for pistol)
One removable thigh detonator pouch
Two "flying" drones
One wheeled drone
Two "smoke/flying" effects for the drones
One removable drone carrying backpack with actual strap clasps
One removable utility belt, with interchangeable pouch options
One pair of removable infrared goggles
Three pairs of grenades (different styles)
One control tablet
Two Detonators
One Walkie Talkie
One Wrist Communicator
One removable "kevlar/flak" vest
Four additional interchangeable pouches to plug into the utility belt
One Cobra Insignia display stand w/removable display post/waist grip.
Mezco Accessory Baggie
I think I got everything! Probably, the only disappointment I had was that he came in a cardboard box. Both of the previous Mezco figures I purchased were in tin containers and I got a bit spoiled, I think. Still, for all that comes with this figure, it's so worth it. Admittedly, the extra belt pouches and weapon magazines mean you'll have them lying around but, if you are setting up a diorama for a base or lair for Firefly, you'll have plenty of gear to really give it an authentic feel. I am incredibly impressed by the equipment packed with this figure and you will be too!
Appearance: 10/10
As if the load out wasn't enough, this figure looks absolutely, positively amazing! Mezco has taken the already excellent design of this character and elevated it several notches. Firefly has always looked sharp in the black/gray camo look, but Mezco has turned this into a very realistic military look. The equipment belt, holsters, and backpack look as if they could have walked right out of an army supply depot given the accuracy and attention to detail. We'll start with the body suit first. One of my chief concerns about Mezco was the durability of the cloth goods, and with most superhero figures, there is legitimate reason to be cautious. This costume, though, feels very durable. It's not the typical spandex, but has a tougher feel to it. It feels as if it were made using the actual material that military fatigues are made from. This helps with durability, but does limit articulation, which we'll discuss later. Let's put it this way... I'm not afraid of leaving him posed with his arms raised or elbows bent, thinking the cloth will be damaged. The stitching is very tight and I haven't found any loose strings anywhere on this figure. The three head sculpts are incredibly well done. The paint details on the balaclava mask are clean, but even more impressive are the features for his eyes and what little bit of his face is exposed. The scars on his left eye are identical on each sculpt, which is important, given that one of the three sculpts actually has a raised eyebrow on that left eye, giving him an expressive look. The accuracy of reproduction for each face is really nicely done. The difference between the other two head sculpts is the paint around the eyes. You'll notice more whites around the eyes on one of the two, while it's less evident on the other. Regardless of which head you choose to display the figure with, you're going to be happy with the fierce expression! Additional impressive aspects of the design are his boots and gloves. Given his predilection for explosives, you'll notice that the sculpted designs of all of the hands and his boots look to have armor inserts for extra protection. The paint schemes are all rendered beautifully and manage to pop with the various grays used. Honestly, for a figure decked out in multiple gray tones, the figure really stands out on my display shelf. The only points of color on the figure are on his exposed skin from the mask and the red Cobra sigil on his backpack. The equipment does have a bit more color differentiation, but not by much, given his need for concealment and secrecy. For as impressed as I was with the Mezco Superman: Man of Steel figure in appearance and accessories, Firefly exceeds my expectations!
Articulation: 9/10
The only real "down" point on the figure is the articulation. Not because the engineering is poor, but rather because of the costume and equipment limitations. I'm actually giving the figure a 9 because I can feel the intended engineering designs when I'm posing the figure, so in all reality, were this a painted figure, without cloth goods, the articulation would be top notch. With that in mind, let's do our breakdown.
The head turns side to side easily, but due to the neck scarf and collar, even with a movable neck joint, looking up and down is fairly restricted. The shoulders can raise to just below a T pose. I could push them a little higher, but the cloth does resist. The design means that a full 360 degree rotation is possible, but won't happen due to the costume. The bicep swivel works well enough and the elbows will bend past 90 degrees. The wrist pegs allow for hinge and swivel, though the cuffs of his sleeves do limit the hinge range. He does have a torso crunch and waist twist but both are severely limited when his flak vest and backpack are in place. Even without, you can see he does have some forward and back bend, as evidenced in the pictures above. His legs will actually do a decent split, which tends to get "pulled" down due to the bodysuit and he can kick forward reasonably high. There is a thigh swivel that does help with posing. The knees can bend, but you won't get far past 90 degrees. There is a boot swivel which helps with posing and the ankles do have hinge and pivot, though the boot design limits how far up the ankle will hinge. Overall, given the type of material used for the costume, Firefly's articulation is about as good as can be expected but the design is strong enough to earn a good rating.
Affordability: 9/10
As mentioned above, I found this at Monkey Paw Toys in Aurora CO. I paid $139.99 for the figure which, for a secondary market purchase, isn't unreasonable. The figure was listed for $112 on BBTS, but is sold out and $120 on Amazon. All in all though, whether you pay the Amazon price or what I paid, you are going to get an incredible figure, worth every penny. I'm not even going to bat an eye at the cost just because I'm so floored by how phenomenal the figure and accoutrements are!
Overall, the Mezco One:12 Collective: G.I. Joe Firefly action figure is a spectacular addition to any Joe collection. There are so many options for playing around with this figure, whether stand alone, posed with other G.I. Joe figures, or centerpiece in a diorama for figure photography. I'm really excited to give it:
10 out of 10 ToyBoxes!
Sure, the articulation and affordability scores are a little lower, but in terms of the sheer fun and enjoyment of the figure and accessories, this is definitely a must-have for any G.I. Joe Collector! As always, I am grateful for your support! Until next time... GEEK OUT!!!