G.I. Joe Comic Two Packs: Racially Uncomfortable?
So a couple of G.I. Joe Resolute comic two packs have been revealed on the internets and they are bringing Joe fans two most requested figures Tunnel Rat and Shockwave, but there’s a problem here. Take a look at this picture:
Now I know that Tunnel Rat is Asian, but don’t you think this is a little over the line? Maybe this is just a guilty white man alarm that’s being tripped for no reason or maybe this is a sculpt that really is a little too… um how to say this… racist World War II era caricature? You decide!
Tunnel Rat comes with Training Storm Shadow who is basically that Sigma Six Storm Shadow that is a Shogun. *Yawn*
The other pack contains Shockwave is who is balls out awesome. He comes with a removable hat and a gas mask and all kinds of goodies that any S.W.A.T. member worth his salt needs to have. I’m sorry, I think I need to go into a full nerd out right now.
And we’re back. Sadly, this set comes with Pilot Destro. Pilot Destro? Seriously, WTF? Since when did Destro need his own pilot’s outfit and why should I want this? They should just as well pack Shockwave with a plastic dog bone and I’d be just as excited and get just as much use out of it.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:29 am
I don’t think the Tunnel Rat sculpt is over the line. It’s not like has giant fangs or devil-horn-ears like those 1940s Popeye cartoons. He just looks like an Asian guy. And from my cursory Google Image search, Larry Hama’s eyes do look somewhat like that.
Actually, he almost looks more like Billy from Predator than Hama…
January 8th, 2009 at 9:52 am
I like the Tunnel Rat figure, in fact I like ‘em all. I think the Storm Shadow is just dying to be made into a “Budo” custom (remember him? I do!)
And my totally nonsexual crush on Destro is well documented. I welcome a new version of him.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Tunnel’s head sculpt looks okay. It’s just a toy but it’s nice to have minorities represented.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Tunnel Rat and Shockblast(wave) look fine to me and unfortunately I have to get two garage figures to get them.
I for one decided after playing with my resolute duke, that I wil not be purchasing a lot of the resolute Joes. I was really upset that they gave “Duke a molded on pistol, and no were to put the pistol that he comes with.
IMHO I think that Destro only need two costumbes. Classic and IG. The rest are just a wastte of plastic. I have a Destro, CC, Snake eyes, Stormshado and Duke for every troup builder I have, and that is just sad.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
@hrdwrkng: Just like they gave Resolute Cobra Commander a sword, and a sheath that can’t hold the sword!!!
Tunnel Rat looks fine… yeah, he looks like a caricature, but still…
Pilot Destro = Crap
January 15th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
This makes me sad. Tunnel Rat is my favorite Joe and when I first saw pics of him finally coming out I jumped for joy. Then I saw the product in Wal-Mart and my heart sank. Oh well, saves me money.
Sam
January 15th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I’m not that thrilled with the Rat either, but, I will still add him to my growing collection much to the dismay of my wife.
January 26th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I’d say a lil borderline. They did make him smaller than any one else. Yes, Asians can be short but they can be giants like Yao Ming. Granted, he is a “tunnel rat” so hence the small stature. I guess it’s all at how you look at it. I just look at it as they made Tunnel Rat which is cool since he didn’t even appear until the 1987 GI Joe movie.
Did we really need another Destro. They should of packaged Shockwave with another SWAT member. Shockwave is one of my all time favorite characters/figs. Did we really need another Storm Shadow? Probably not, but he does look pretty cool. I guess they can never overdue a classic like Storm Shadow.
January 26th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
They should have made Shockwave come with an Alley Viper… but that would be two brand new characters and that makes God angry or something.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:54 am
I really just don’t understand the relivence of shogun stormshadow, or pilot destro. I’ve never seen them appear anywhere in that gear.
January 31st, 2009 at 11:29 pm
I don’t think that it is being racially uncomfortable. For 1, thats how the character was drawn. For 2, a large majority of men of any race will have certain differences in facial depictions and they just happened to give this joe a face that isn’t all American. I would not be offended, nor do I see many people being offended.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:31 am
yeah it’s not like they made his code name tuner rat.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:31 am
oops, missed an ‘N’ in there.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:27 am
Tunnel Rat doesn’t look bad at all. You want Yellow Peril? Go check out Sgt. Misha. I’m surprised Rat’s head is as blocky as it is, but that’s all.
And as for being short? Well, the character’s always been short. It may or may not have been racist at the time he was created (I’m guessing “no”) but now it’s part of his background, and changing it would be silly…