I had the G.I.Joe bug today and decided to check the local shop to see if any new items were in. There was a large selection of G.I.Joe products to be seen. There was something from 1982 to the present there in all manner of condition.
One of the items I had the most interest in was something I already had, the 2001 A.W.E. Striker.
It didn't seem like all that long ago but it has been since I bought the 2021 A.W.E. Striker. I've had other A.W.E. Strikers, too, like the "Ninja Cruiser". The 2001 version still stands out as my favorite. When I was slimming down my collection, I had two of them. But in my minimalist approach to that project I thought that there wouldn't be two in a small G.I.Joe team type of unique force. I regret that call.
But no matter, I second one is back in my hand and actually just a little bit better than my previous "second" one sold long ago as I had cracked the roll cage near to the point of breaking by the antenna part...., it was still mostly solid and backed up by the other 5-points of solid contact but it could have definitely have gone the rest of the way.
Like the 2021 A.W.E. Striker, I'll open this up and write about it. This was a lot more satisfying of a purchase even as it was more expensive comparatively.
Just look at the box. Bigger isn't always better. There is a lot more packed onto The Real American Hero Collection box and I am not just saying that because I'm old. The same product is essentially in each of these except for the figure.
Inside the box, parts! In plastic bags.
This was fun. I didn't find the 2021 A.W.E. Striker quite this fun for some reason.
This roll cage bar is straight, unlike the 2021 A.W.E. Striker. It is solid.
I think I might leave the antennae on the tree for now. I have other antennae from other A.W.E. Strikers not being used and I have found that if I wanted to put the A.W.E. Striker on a bookcase shelf that was maybe too low, or maybe having to put it into a Rubbermaid storage bin, I would be taking the antennae off.
I had to compare the suspension on my original 2001 A.W.E. Striker that I have had for 20 years with this new out of the box 2001 A.W.E. Striker. The suspension sag of sitting on a shelf or in a box under the force of gravity does bring it down, doesn't it?
All-in-all, nothing new to me all but definitely a fun purchase that didn't leave me with some weird bit of modern less-than-quality thing that would end up bugging me.
Below are some views with my original two 2001 A.W.E. Strikers years before I trimmed back on my collection.
