#87: G.I. Joe The Rise of Cobra Destro 2-Pack

Of the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive toys, this is the one I was most looking forward to. Destro is always cool, so a different version is always welcomed. On top of that, this is the only version of Destro that's unmasked, so it's the only way to get a Christopher Eccleston figure in this scale. This is of particular interest since he is the actor that played the ninth Doctor in the recent Doctor Who relaunch. I also figured the ancestor figure was pretty cool.

Normally I don't give much attention to a toy's packaging as it's something necessary yet not what I'm interested in. The Destro set is an exception because it has some really cool packaging. It is designed to mimic a book of the McCullen clan's family history, and within the covers there is a time line of all the clan leaders with a little biographical information about each. Apparently the G.I. Joe movie takes place in a universe where the McCullen clan advanced technology at a much faster pace than in our own, as James McCullen the 18th died in a plane crash in 1846. Inside the "book" the figures are in slide out trays that hold the actual cards in with elastic bands. For some more pictures, I recommend the gallery at Cool Toy Review. I liked this packaging so much that it took a few days for me to even open it and get the figures out. I'm planning to hold on to this, which is something I almost never do.

On to the figures themselves, we have James McCullen IX, the first McCullen to bear the mask that would come to represent the Clan McCullen. One of the most striking things about this figure is how tall it is. G.I. Joe figures are a bit taller than Star Wars figures in general, but this guy towers over them all. If anybody had played basketball in the 17th century, Scotland's team would have dominated, I guess. His mask is removable, and he comes with a sword, a pistol, and a flag with the McCullen crest on it. All the accessories your 17th century weapons dealer could ask for. It's a cool figure with interesting armor, and I wonder how it would have sold if it had been a regular single carded release. I think that he is cool bonus, but the main draw for this set is the other figure.

James McCullen XXIV, Destro, is the current head of the Clan McCullen. As of now, this is the only way to get a movie accurate Destro figure, as the regular version in stores is wearing an outfit that doesn't appear in the movie. He has two interchangeable heads, one normal and one shiny. I'm planning to leave the normal one on for most of the time as that is how he appears for most of the movie, and, again, it's Christopher Eccleston in action figure form. The plastic piece that goes over his torso for his coat and vest unfortunately makes him look a little thicker around the middle than he should, as well as slouchy, but that is my only complaint. Otherwise it's a very cool figure. He also comes with five guns and a MARS briefcase. Now that I have Christopher Eccleston and Ewan McGregor figures in about the same scale, I can start reenacting scenes from Shallow Grave. Bonus!