Packaging: Colorful carded window front. The back of the card is illustrated with some instructions regarding the AT-4 type missile launcher and what makes this item a collectible is the G.I. Joe File Card which is on the bottom of the card and gives all of the pertinent information about DUSTY.
Headsculpt/Figure: The headsculpt looks like one of the new headsculpts released with the Pearl Harbor sets. Added to the head is a few triangles of paint which is supposed to be camouflage but it looks badly done. The camouflage is in brown and black, which is not Desert colors nor Woodland nor Urban style. This figure has a muscle body with Gung-Ho grip. Since this figure has a short-sleeve outfit, the muscle body looks better than the ultra-articulated.
Outfit: a black jumpsuit or light-brown shorts with a black vest and a tan backpack that looks like the vintage parachute packs. The figure is packed wearing rust colored socks and nice climbing boots. Dusty looks like he was a Double-Duty G.I. Joe who was converted into the Cobra vs. Joe line-up. The fact that Dusty does not have a unique headsculpt is a letdown.
Gear: The set includes a pilot's helmet with night visor and a video camera; this has been included in various other sets. There is also the wrap-around sun-glasses and headphone and a large Desert Eagle style pistol and a very large curved knife or sarong? Bob Hope and Bing Crosby used to carry these around in their old "On The Road To" movies.
The newest and most imaginative piece of gear is what looks like an AT-4 but this AT-4 can be used like a large bazooka or it can be taken apart and the front end becomes a compact Stinger type missile launcher. It really fires a missile! Sure, it looks a bit silly and would only work in the world of fantasy and toys, but then, that's what this is! It looks NEATO, and no doubt the Cobra Commander and Destro and Dr. Evil are keeping a low profile knowing that DUSTY is on patrol...
Overall: Great set, too bad HASBRO decided to go on the cheap and use an old head for what is supposed to be a unique character. That is typical of the Hasbro tradition of going one step forward and two steps backward. And YES, the GRUNT figure also uses another old head, and all of the GRUNT gear is the same as the ROADBLOCK gear, so if you get one, why get the other one??
Grade: B+
