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REVIEW:
The concept was called K-9 CORPS, and featured the adventures of a team of heroic humanoid dogs in their battle against yet another humanoid dog who wasn't nearly so friendly. The line consisted of eight figures: K-9 Corps team leader Magnum, who was based on a German Shepherd; Eclipse, a Rottweiler; Rabid Fang, a Terrier; Bull Dozer, a Pit Bull; General Taurus, a Bulldog, and Dr. Davis Elliott, the only human figure in the entire lot and the scientist responsible for blending human DNA with canine DNA to create the team. The other two figures in the line included Malice, a Doberman Pinscher who was the main bad guy, and Greyslash, his loyal minion. Lanard, best known for 3-3/4" figures called THE CORPS, actually did a very good job with these. The figures were a little on the cheap side. The bodies, for the most part, used the 12" bodies of their ULTRA CORPS line, which weren't exactly up to the quality standards of G.I. Joe or anyone else, but weren't bad. The sculpts were well-made, well-painted, and the clothes were nicely done. And really, the concept itself was deserving of attention. Greyslash is described as a "wolf-husky mix", but he looks more like what you'd get if you crossed a wolf with the Incredible Hulk. I wouldn't want to be on this thing's bad side, and I doubt very much that it has a good side. The head of this monstrosity is mostly teeth, and a brow so furrowed that you almost can't see its eyes from the front. Not that it's much of an improvement when you can, as they're almost as mean-looking as the teeth. Just to make this critter look meaner, he's done his fur up in a mohawk, and has several piercings on one of his long, pointed ears. The fur goes into almost a lion's mane down to the shoulders. The body, a very distinct sculpt and clearly not based on anything else Lanard has done, is powerfully built, and made to look both muscular and furry. The legs are much more "canine" in appearance and position than the rest of the K-9 Corps figures. Greyslash is wearing fabric trousers in a blue camouflage pattern - very nice in and of itself. He also has sculpted spiked gloves, wrappings on one arms and leg, and spiked bracelets around his lower legs. His main accessory is a length of plastic chain that, because of the rigid plastic it's made out of, manages to make a fair bit of noise. I wouldn't call it "clanking" exactly, but for the side of the figure and the chain, it sounds sort of threatening in its own way. Greyslash also comes with the same accessories that all K-9 Corps figures are equipped with - a trading card, a dogtag that works in a "reader" device (sold with either Dr. Elliot or General Taurus), and a CD-Rom that outlines the concept. The inside flap of the package offers a personality profile for Greyslash, and reads as follows: GREYSLASH - THE MALEVOLENT MARAUDER A savage sergeant who operates from pure rage and engages his cunning only to quench his thirst for domination over humans and the K-9 Corps, Greyslash is the calculated creation of Malice. He may very well be the ultimate weapon of warfare, because his genes are devoid of humanity. He wages battle from his pure instincts. Even fighting in the face of imminent defeat will not stop his uncontrollable rampage. Fortunately for the K-9 Corps, Greyslash's lack of human reason makes him an easier foe to overthrow. Lacking the rational sense of strategic thinking, Greyslash is best beaten by brains over brawn. The character's file card includes some additional physical parameters and details, and reads as follows: GREYSLASH SERVICE RECORD Breed - Wolf & Husky Mix (Genetic Coding Sequence 06K9-XRZ-66Y) Medals: None - he displays the medals of others like trophies of war. Warrants: Wanted for war crimes Distinguishing marks: Persistent salivation; enormous claws Traits: Ruthless, enraged. Will fight even when it's obvious his distempered Marauders are in jeopardy Height: 6'11" Weight: 340 lbs. Collar size: 15" (yeah, right - around his nose, maybe) Weapon of choice: Anchor chain IQ: Too vicious to calculate Combat Score: 345 You ask me, they blew it with that collar size. Maybe 15" around his wrist or something, but not that neck. I wish I could say the overall quality of the toy was excellent, but sadly, I can't. Lanard is a company that produces fairly decent toys, although I've never entirely forgive them for altering their 3-3/4" CORPS figures to go along with newsculpt Joes. But their 12" figures have tended to be on the cheap side, and for all the sculpted and painted detail, the K-9 Corps is no exception. The materials used are, for the most part, rather rigid and lightweight plastic, and for whatever reason, this results in very loose articulation, especially in something as massive as Greyslash. Don't expect him to hold a pose very well. Those huge hands will drag the arms down every time, and he does have some trouble balancing on those legs, even with those gargantuan feet. Granted, the K-9 Corps is not intended as a collectors' line. It's intended for kids, although I'd be a little reluctant to present Greyslash to too small a child, or the kid's going to be traumatized towards dogs for the rest of his life. But if you're expecting anything on the level of Marvel Legends, Street Fighter, or the like here - forget it. The figure looks great (for a horrifically ugly canine-Hulk thing), but the materials used really cause the end result to take something of a dive in the quality department. Still, if you can accept that, and accept the toy for what it is - a well-designed, but fairly cheaply-made item - then overall, the K-9 Corps in general does stand out as a very distinctive concept in its own right in the action figure world. I don't know of any other humanoid canine paramilitary concepts out there, licensed or otherwise, do you? With those disclaimers in mind, Greyslash is still pretty cool - 12"
of really scary-looking canine fury -- and is certainly a distinctive
part of a unique concept that's still available in the action figure
aisles of K-Mart, and certainly has my recommendation! |
