HCC788 - 1992 DUKE v3 - 90's Month! - Vintage G.I. Joe figure! 

I just got this figure and I love him. My favorite version of Duke

Loved this, and the live action Duke was perfect!

I was excited as a kid when I got this figure. Loved the helmet and rifle, fragile though. The handle broke off recently. The red paint was a little strange but it was the 90's and for a 90's Joe I guess it isnt too extreme.

Did Duke just kick Han Solo and Wolverine's butts. What a guy

Somehow, behind Duke there is always a floating debate, and I think it is important to try to find where does it come from. Possibly the origins of this debate come from how the character was conceptually inserted in G.I.Joe. Somehow, there is the knowledge that Larry Hama always had a reluctant opinion to the character of Duke, and I believe it must be because he deeply must think Hasbro basically gave Duke very important things from Hama’s 3 most important and essential G.I.Joe characters (Hawk, Stalker and Snake Eyes): 1. Duke got the looks of Hawk (so much that led to the need of turning Hawk into a brown haired character in many G.I.Joe media) 2. Duke got the conceptual position of Stalker. 3. Duke got the girlfriend of Snake Eyes. (and therefore that special attention and meaning reserved for Snake Eyes). But I believe there is a higher fact that led to these mentioned ones and this one is, and in high degree, even above Larry Hama. The fact is how unexpectedly popular G.I.Joe became after the really first series released by Hasbro in 1982. Somehow, I feel that Hasbro was lacking a very visible hero and a leader, at the same time, but, as said, with a visible face. I have the impression that for Larry Hama, on the other hand, this was not necessary, since he had in mind a more mature and deeper story of G.I.Joe, and second, there was indeed a hero (Snake Eyes), and also a leader, well actually two (Hawk and Stalker), what they just lacked is the visibility and advertisement Duke got from 1983 and so on and Hasbro found so profitable. Let's face it, this was a toy line for kids, and moreover, made by a private company with commercial needs. They needed a not complex and visual hook to the children. And I think Duke was a very smart and not cheesy decision at all. I believe Hasbro realized that the not expected popularity of G.I.Joe made them not highlight the figure of Hawk as a leader enough (he was not even single carded, hidden behind a minor vehicle -the MMS - and his leading features were not very clear, that's not the way at all you make commercial profit of the leader of a toy line) and I also believe Hasbro had the commercial fear that the obscure essence of Snake Eyes would not be completely understood by children (they were wrong, obviously, if that was the case). It seems, after the popularity of G.I.Joe, in 1983 Hasbro wanted an iconic superhero with a face that would represent the team, more than a soldier for the G.I.Joe line. Someone almost at the level of Snake Eyes, but with a brighter aura (paradigm of the dicotomy of the Dark Night and the White Night of Batman and Harvey Dent, for example). I guess for Hama this was too much. I like the idea, though, because I grew up more with superheroes (Marvel and DC comics) before loving G.I.Joe, still at an early age. But I completely understand those that have a more purist approach of army stories. In contrast with superheroes stories, the team prevails over the singularities and if anyone stands out he has to be as cool, unique and complex as Snake Eyes.

Duke '92's rifle is a (fairly good for the time and scale) replica of the HK 33A3 5.56mm assault rifle. As far as the dubious aspects of this file card, could we assume that the usually detail-oriented Hama had stopped writing them at this point?

i mentioned this once on a review u made...and i feel the need to mention it again here. i had a duke version 1 as a kid. one day..i buried him in my yard and forgot about him and when i unburied the next day his blond hair turned into this weird light grey purple color. I NOW HAD A FAKE DUKE! :-D he was a clone implanted by cobra to mess with the joes! to this day my intelligence officers and ninja force teams tell tales of the days they had to fight against fake duke!!!! it was troubling times for my joes ;-) !

I have a lot of fond memories of this Duke. The original was my brother's 2nd figure, but this was my first Duke. The red isn't great, but the sculpting is (see the 2001 version for further proof).

"I've got a date with four hot models at the same time" hahaha great review, this Duke is now my favourite Duke after TF Duke being my fave for years. I agree the red is horrible on the legs but meh it's a top tier figure for me 🇺🇸

Great review! I liked your simple solution to Duke version 4. You get the right camouflage scheme and a removable helmet. If only Hasbro would've done version 4 this way instead. It would've been a home run for sure.

These 90's filecards reminds me of Transformers bios at the time.

Putting Duke v3 head in Duke v4 body was great detail, that makes me want those two versions and do the same.... Yo Joe!!!! And if you put v3 head on a v1 body?..... hmmmm

Great review hcc788. I also consider Duke in my top 15 list

Fantastic review, Commander. While I prefer v4, this is a fun action figure with a cool sculpt.

Love this 😀, looking forward to seeing all your videos

Duke is basically Gary Stu of G.I. Joe.

damn... I remember this Duke figure.

I think red is excellent. It's my favorite color and looks good on the figure.

Am I the only one to think of Doctor Strangelove when Duke is riding the cannon?

Careful with that pistol, Duke. You'll put your eye out.

I use this version for my Marine Recon team based aboard my Flagg

the plastic is definitely brittle, my knife crumbled like old playdoh, only one of my 90s figures with parts falling apart.

Hahahhahahaa...he straddling that thing like a porn star... LOLOL...nice I like the desert look

Kinda like that version of duke regret not getting him as a kid . but you forgot to mention something that after the movie duke v1 was featured in some episodes of Dic season 1( 3 cameo and 2 Major like Mind Mangler and Stuck on You before changing to his v3 which he appeared more frequently in the second season of Dic

With this accessory he's literally becoming a Duke of Hazards.

Duke doesn't do vindows! That's a job for the viper!

Yep!! HCC788 loves ❤️ Cobra LALALALALA

Again, an awesome review! Very entertaining! Thank you!

Me encantan tus videos. haz la reseña del Duke V4 porfa!

Hahhahahhahahahhahahahaaa..I liked the buttkicking part .ahhahhaahhahaaa👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏well done

Lol, great collaboration! "It's big!" Lol. Cool figure as well. The crotch rocket does have a phallic innuendo.

The 1994 Star Brigade Duke head works really well on the 1993 body

Ok Ok look we all know that is not Duke from GI JOE its Duke Nukem's action figure with crotch launcher accessory

Great, great, great review! You managed to make me (almost) like Duke.

Anyone else notice Duke kicking Wolverine's butt

Duke's fallen into a coma....... Falcon we'll do everything we can for duke... yoooooo joeeeee

i don't mind this figure and I agree with the head swap with the next version to make an awesome duke so far 90's month has been awesome I just got my boxed monster blaster apc thanks to gijoburg and you for making me want to see it in person lol

Duke has a serious case of the DSLs in that card art...

I stopped collecting my freshman year of high school because of the direction they took with that 87 movie. (horrible) but I wish I kept going, I'd love to have this stuff now.

great review . one thing you overlooked was that this version of Duke featured heavily in the live action commercials for this era too. and guessing the likeness was that of the actor playing him ?

Crotch Rocket! There are better ways to roast nuts...👏😂

...Duke felt like he needed more armor after the events of the movie.....

I had this figure when I was a kid. I'm somewhat ashamed to say that I was one of the gullible droolies who didn't mind the "crotch rocket" because I was too busy oogling over how big and impressive it looked. Like all of my G.I. Joes, I eventually lost interest in playing with him as a soldier and he became an unarmed street fighter, taking on my Ninja Turtles and others.

Please do a review on Version 4, I still have mine... Lol 👍😂

One eyed willy hahahaha

Thanks for the fun review! This was my Duke. Have you ever done a top or bottom 10? That could be interesting.

6:15 -- can definitively state that it didn't come out like that straight out of the packaging. The gun and knife were a bit more pliable than most guns and knives, but they were solid brown with no stress marks. Mine have just deteriorated horribly over the last 25 years or so. They are both almost entirely white at this point from all the stress marks.

A head (and helmet) swap between v3 and 4 makes for a much better figure.

So this is basically DiC animation Duke

Once again another great review. My son has v2, v3 and v4. Although v2 was customized using the legs of Chuckles. With 90's month almost over, who is going to be next to be reviewed?

Kudos to you for a video well done. Can't believe you fell for the old "eye down there" joke. I would have stopped at "crotch cannon" and leave it at that. OMGodzilla, did Duke just kicked Scarlett in the butt?!? I'm surprised she didn't file a sexual harassment charge against Duke for touching her on an inappropriate location. Lucky Snake-Eyes didn't see that; of course he wouldn't SAY everything about it! Besides, I think she actually enjoyed that love tap!!! Hee, hee, hee.... As always, keep up the great work you do for this channel and Hail Hooded COBRA Commander 788!!!!!!

I'd like to get a classified version of this Duke.

If you haven't reviewed the 90's Dr. Mindbender yet, I'd love to see you review that figure.

GI JOE covered a lot of specialties, I wonder why they never released a Joe version of Dr Mindbender the Army does have Psychological experts or bomb disposal figure ?

Cool video

The only pistol even close to a 78 caliber was a single shot flintlock...

I gotta ask, why do you think so many figures place the side arms for the left hand draw?

this figure would be acceptable if not great without the reddish paint

What is the Best 12' in version of DUKE ???

Why don't you get 3D Printing of the accessories if the original getting too brittle and about to break.

The rife that duke comes with is the G3

your friend acting as Duke is a riot, he should be with you more often, d. as usual, I only like v 1 Duke, but you have made good use of v 3 by using his head on v 4. in Hasbro s place, I d have used the original head mold and changed the mouth grin. the hair dye is awful and ridiculous, I d trust your friend to defend me more than the real Duke, d. Duke and Gung doh must hang at the beauty salon.... this red color scheme looks pretty bad to me as well, while we used to get a lot for our money with the rocket launchers, they looked awful. sitting on it must be an influence of the 'blue oyster' in police academy... good show Commander!

I need 1

5:07 Bizarrely distinctive for a 90's accessory, this is clearly an HK33 type rifle, the version with the folding stock. It being semi-automatic doesn't make much sense, and I don't know what makes it a "commando rifle". Typical 90's mall ninja speak.

😂 Best review ever!

Sorry HCC but this video is a lot like Duke, it does everything right! Flawless!

I’ve done a headswap with the v3 and and v4. Which allows for the v4 to have a removable helmet

I remember when this came out it was not one I actually tried to get and to this day dont own. I didn't like the removable helmet, the absurd missile launcher, the red color scheme and the muscles peeking out. I was so happy the next year when V4 came out and thats my choice as best Duke for all time. I didn't care for his Mr. Perfect credentials from the beginning but did like the Desert Storm look that was resolved in V4 but half-assed in V3. The other thing that seemed odd to me was his legs seemed bigger than the should have been for the 3.75 scale on most figures. I like the helmet better now but the rest of it does not pass muster for me to want to get it. I may just get the helmet and call it a day. I only wished V4 had painted goggles... In 1992 there was also a Electronic Battle Command Duke that had a better filecard than V3 and I never even recall seeing that style of figure back then and wonder if it truly had the "Thousands of commands" the box claimed it could play when you hit the button.

I like the original Duke, the action figure got progressively worse with each version, not crazy about the pasta sauce camo. Seriously, Hasbro?

I have one and trying to figure out what I should sell it for. No box or anything.

Duke is supposed to be an American, this guy is French.

No need to apologize for being critical: it’s all relative. We know you love the love the toy line as we all do.