Hi Kevin, Very good reflections. Since I saw your video when you first posted it, it has been very easy to me to consciously and consequently not consider Gnawgahyde a Dreadnok any more. He looks amazing by himself, as a 'solo' villain, and doesn't really match with the looks of the Dreadnoks. The Dreadnok are already a good number and didn't really need an additional figure. Gnawgahyde definitely looks like one on the main Cobra bosses in the style of Major Bludd, Dr. Mindbender or Tomax & Xamot or a even like a skilfull specialist as Firefly or Scrap Iron. Kevin, how do you think Gnawgahyde would have fit as external commander to the Python Patrol? This is, not directly belonging to this sub-team, but kind of commanding them as external commander, like Major Bludd was doing to the Cobra troops in the cartoons? I think he would have been a very interesting and charismatic commander to this sub-team giving it more attraction. Of course, Copperhead is the team commander or officer of Python Patrol, but he is kind of low rank among Cobra main characters. Sure, he is interesting but not with the charisma that some others have. I'm sure Gnawgahyde could very suitably be one step above Copperhead, just by his jungle experience, without looking weird. (one of the reasons why sub-teams like the Iron Grenadiers were popular was due to have a charismatic commander). His jungle looks make him being more suitable to be in the same scenarios of these jungle sub-teams or squads: the G.I.Joe Tiger Force, and what can be considered their counter part, the Cobra Python Patrol. I think also this idea could give a better sense to confront Tiger Force with Python Patrol more evenly. Both teams have kind of a jungle theme and Gnawgahyde fits in that environment very, very well. Also confronting Gnawgahyde against Tiger Force Duke or Flint, as commanders, makes better sense than confronting Copperhead with them. Copperhead could, in the meantime, fit very nicely being confronted with Tiger Force Roadblock, for example. As you say, indeed It feels like Hasbro first intention was not to add him to the Dreadnoks, indeed his anti-G.I.Joe tattoo suggests that. This and being part of the 1989 line, the year of the release of the Python Patrol could make these theories plausible.
Sniper rifle, bow, knife, machete...man, did they just copy this guy for Team Fortress? As far as him being a threat to G.I. Joe, I'd say a "Heavy Metal"-like story featuring him in a wilderness hunting the Joes would be a thing to see. The Joes have many wilderness and stealth experts, whereas Cobra doesn't have as many, at least who really feel at home in a wilderness setting--Firefly and Storm Shadow feel more urban to me.
In the DiC cartoon, he seemed to be more of a cobra than a Dreadnok. Same with Metal Head. They both kinda came across as Cobra Commander's lackeys.
Probably one of my favourite figures! I don't know why? Just something about him that I really like! Great video
Hi Kevin,
Very good reflections. Since I saw your video when you first posted it, it has been very easy to me to consciously and consequently not consider Gnawgahyde a Dreadnok any more.
He looks amazing by himself, as a 'solo' villain, and doesn't really match with the looks of the Dreadnoks. The Dreadnok are already a good number and didn't really need an additional figure. Gnawgahyde definitely looks like one on the main Cobra bosses in the style of Major Bludd, Dr. Mindbender or Tomax & Xamot or a even like a skilfull specialist as Firefly or Scrap Iron.
Kevin, how do you think Gnawgahyde would have fit as external commander to the Python Patrol? This is, not directly belonging to this sub-team, but kind of commanding them as external commander, like Major Bludd was doing to the Cobra troops in the cartoons?
I think he would have been a very interesting and charismatic commander to this sub-team giving it more attraction. Of course, Copperhead is the team commander or officer of Python Patrol, but he is kind of low rank among Cobra main characters. Sure, he is interesting but not with the charisma that some others have. I'm sure Gnawgahyde could very suitably be one step above Copperhead, just by his jungle experience, without looking weird. (one of the reasons why sub-teams like the Iron Grenadiers were popular was due to have a charismatic commander).
His jungle looks make him being more suitable to be in the same scenarios of these jungle sub-teams or squads: the G.I.Joe Tiger Force, and what can be considered their counter part, the Cobra Python Patrol.
I think also this idea could give a better sense to confront Tiger Force with Python Patrol more evenly. Both teams have kind of a jungle theme and Gnawgahyde fits in that environment very, very well. Also confronting Gnawgahyde against Tiger Force Duke or Flint, as commanders, makes better sense than confronting Copperhead with them. Copperhead could, in the meantime, fit very nicely being confronted with Tiger Force Roadblock, for example.
As you say, indeed It feels like Hasbro first intention was not to add him to the Dreadnoks, indeed his anti-G.I.Joe tattoo suggests that. This and being part of the 1989 line, the year of the release of the Python Patrol could make these theories plausible.
I looked it up, & apparently the boar is named Clyde, which is weird, cause Clyde is also Gnawgahyde's first name.
Now that you mention it, he does look like a Kraven the Hunter knock off.
cool review
@formbx257 IN THE DIC ANIMATED SERIES HE HAD A PET IGUANA THAT WAS FUSED TO SERPENTOR BY COBRA COMMANDER, USING THE DRAGON FIRE TECHNOLOGY.
Sniper rifle, bow, knife, machete...man, did they just copy this guy for Team Fortress? As far as him being a threat to G.I. Joe, I'd say a "Heavy Metal"-like story featuring him in a wilderness hunting the Joes would be a thing to see. The Joes have many wilderness and stealth experts, whereas Cobra doesn't have as many, at least who really feel at home in a wilderness setting--Firefly and Storm Shadow feel more urban to me.
I to was confused about his affiliation. I used him as a sniper. I really love this figure.
I think he is really a sniper