If there's one flaw with this TMNT x GI Joe crossover, it's that all these characters are identified as "[GI Joe name] x [TMNT name]" instead of creative new mashup name, like Cobra Shredmander or Buzzsteady. If they did get that, though, would you want this one to be the pleasant sounding "Rip-Bop," or the far less intimidating "Beeper"?
In New York City, there's those that hog money or the limelight,
and Ripper is probably the meanest hog of them all. He was expelled from the Technodrome for stealing arms from Krang and spent most of his adult life in various zoological institutions. He is an amateur criminal motivated by fear of the Cobra Commander and a malignant dislike for mutants - except for himself and Buzzer, of course.
Specialty and M.O.*: Edged weapons and stereo tools. Is known throughout the sewers for using his blade like a cross between a fireman's axe and a can opener to unlock gates and crack sewer grates.
*Mutant Operandi
So obviously, the first question is: why Ripper and not Road Pig? Maybe that was too on-the-nose (or "on the snout," as the case might be) for the mutant warthog? That seems unlikely, though, since the impetus behind this mashup seems to be nothing more complex than "they both have mohawks." Bebop does look really good with Ripper's thick beard, though. His tusks are larger and wider than usual, curving up and out.
Instead of Ripper's usual shirt, this figure inherits Bebop's vest. And his turtle shell shoulder pads, which each get eight thick,
blunt spikes sticking out of them. The (sculpted) chain wrapped around the left wrist is a Bebop thing, but the spiked bracelet on on the right is Ripper. As are the grenades and knife on the chest, the gun strapped to the right thigh, and the kneepads on the jeans. So again, they really are doing a nice blend of sources, finding that great balance between both the mutant and military halves of the premise.
Beeper's skin is an odd shade. Buzzsteady just did the usual rhino-gray, but instead of the brown skin he's had in every single other continuity,
this is a very desaturaed beige. It honestly doesn't look bad, or even out of place unless you really stop to think about it; fridge logic, but in visual rather than narrative form. His vest is camo, so there's at least some part of Ripper to be found there, and his exposed belly has a large Cobra logo on it. We'll say again, it's weird they didn't design some hybrid Cobra/Foot thing for this line. The purple of his hair looks great, and since his glasses are a separate piece (permanently glued into slots on his temples), the eyes behind them are fully painted.
Even if you don't count his mohawk, Bebop is taller than his pal Rocksteady - with it, he breaks the 5" mark. Articulation isn't as good as Hasbro or NECA would make, but it's on par with modern Playmates, which
is still better than vintage Playmates. We get a balljointed head, swivel/hinge shoulders and elbows, swivel wrists, swivel/hinge hips, hinged knees, and swivel boots. There's no waist, and the way the hips are done is certainly unusual: instead of the peg part of the joint going horizontally into the pelvis, it goes vertically into the torso. It's basically the same range of motion, though you can't lift the legs to the side unless you turn them first. That does mimic having a thigh swivel, though.
The figure includes a machete
that doesn't actually reference Ripper or Bebop, as well as the kind of spreader Classified introduced. That has a plunger on the back you can press to make the jaws open (slightly), as well as articulated handles so you can try to work it into his hands in a normal way. Operative word being "try." The machete fits in a loop on his back when he's not holding it.
It's a shame Shredder only has two mutant henchmen, since the Dreadnoks are a trio - we've got Buzzer and Ripper, but who would ever be Torch? Not that we expect there will be more of these figures in the future, but maybe there were better choices for Bebop and Rocksteady to be combined with. Their personalities fit with the Dreadnoks perfectly, admittedly, and Bebop is just as much fun as Rocksteady was.
-- 09/11/26
Rip-Bop or Beeper? Tell us on our message board, the Loafing Lounge.
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