Series 6 Year 1987 Total versions of this action figure 9

This figure is from Toyline G.I.Joe 3/4" A Real American Hero

+My Review+
[11 July 2008]

Outback is one of my 10 favourite Gijoes.
I knew about him the first time in 1988, when he arrived in Italy (my country) with the 3rd collection. I was very happy about the Gijoe characters of this new line, especially for Outback and Jinx. I always tried to buy Outback, but it was impossible to found him! Maybe because many children liked him. So, i never had the chance to play with him when i was kid. Some months after he was released, one of my friends came back from a vacation in London with some new Gijoes: there was also Tiger Force Outback. I asked many times to my friend to give me his Outback to play, and in the end, he gave him to me ^^ I was so, so happy! Tiger Force Outback was not so cool like the original one, but, it was better then nothing :) A couple of years ago, i decided to start to collect Gijoes again, and Outback was one of the first to become part of my new collection ^.^
Why i like him so much? I dont know. There are many reasons: first of all, i want him from when i was 12 (now im 32!), then i always thought about him like a Chuck Norris figure, and also, i always liked so much survival, so, everything is perfect about him :) There is also a pure esthetic reason: Outback is a very nice figure! Everything is very detailed, and his accessories are just unique and very original. I like his way to be so simple: white t-shirt, camo pants, and green bandana around his red/blonde wild head ^^

My personal Outback in action!

My personal Outback and Tracker
climbing a giant tree!

Left: Outback with a Gijoe patrol squad.
Right: Outback kick Cobra's butt!!
+Click on thumbnails to enlarge+

+My Personal Ratings+
from 01 (very bad) to 10 (excellent)

56 on 60

+More Pics+

Outback from various Catalogs & Dossiers
+Click on thumbnails to enlarge+

+Filecards+

GW Italian Filecard

American Filecards
- Outback, Night Force Outback,
UK Tiger Force Outback, Outback BC-

+Packaging+

The first, fantastic, unique Outback
1987

Night Force Outback, packaged with Crazylegs
1988

The exclusive European Outback (UK card)
1990

Outback designed for the Eco Warriors, then
packaged as Battle Corps member
1993

Official Battle Corps Outback
1993

+Others Featurings+

Outback was featured also in some vehicles and accessories: in the Mobile Command Center, in the S.L.A.M. cannon, and in all the Motorized Action Packs.

+What it is Survival?+

Survival skills are techniques a person may utilize for an indefinite duration in order to survive a dangerous situation (also see bushcraft). Generally speaking, these techniques are meant to provide the basic necessities of human life: shelter, water, and food. They may prove useful in situations such as storm or earthquake, or in dangerous locations such as desert, mountains, and jungle. Every different situation or location presents a different range of dangers - (see hazards of outdoor activities). An environment may be dry, wet, hot, cold, high altitude, low altitude, desert, rural, urban, wilderness, subterranean, or an island. Techniques exist to fit most situations.
Examples of survival skills include:

-lighting and maintaining a fire
-finding/creating shelter
-finding/preparing potable water
-finding and identifying food
-treating injuries
-climbing, hiking, and swimming
-using specific or makeshift tools
-signaling for rescue
-tracking mental awareness/emotional status

Developments in outdoor equipment and survival techniques have skewed the scale towards man - if he is prepared. However, there is nothing to replace experience in a survival situation. Those who are most prepared physically and mentally stand the greatest chance of survival.

+Outback Origins+

Outback surname "Selkirk" had probably ancient Scottish heritages. Also, there is a kind of cat called "Selkirk Rex" ^^ It was discovered not far from Wyoming, in Montana, around the Selkirk mountain! The cat was noticed as something out of the ordinary by Peggy Voorhees of the Bozeman Humane Society in Wyoming! So, here is the solution of the clue. Outback is a curly cat :P Outback grew up in Big Piney, Wyoming, where he developed his love for the wilderness and his survival skills. Wyoming is the less populated state of USA, and ancient land of lot of Natives famous tribes. Is one of the most beautiful places in United States, and includes places like a part of the Yellowstone Park. Big Piney is a real place, a very small city surrounded by a splendid nature. It is a good place for Outback, but, maybe with a codename like this, it could be better if it was born in Australia ^_^ Anyway, this place seems to be very nice for nature but extremely wild. This give to Outback an experience about cold places, and also deserts, jungles and any other kind of "difficult-to-survive" land.

+Outback & Chuck Norris+

In the past, like today, Hasbro use often faces and names of real people for Gijoes. We have several characters based on living persons. About some of them, we are sure, but... others maybe not. Some Gijoes are very similar to popular actors, musicians, and more. One of this is surely Outback: more then any other Joes is very very similar to Chuck Norris! It could be not a coincidence! Look at this picture: is Chuck from 1985's Missing in Action II. I don't know if im right, but, from when i was kid until today, Outback is Chuck Norris :P

DID YOU FIND...
English errors (sorry, im italian :P), missing data, broken links, or any other mistakes? Did you think something is missing? You have some pictures or info for Gijoe World? Want to help to write reviews? There is some credit i forgot?
Please, write to me!!!

Code Name Outback
File Name Stuart R. Selkirk SN 688-27-4213
Grade E-5 [Army Sergeant]
Primary Military Speciality Infantry
Secondary Military Speciality

Training Instructor
Birthplace Big Piney - Wyoming [U.S.A.]
Operative from 1987 to 1994 Current status Alive

GW Notes Outback is probably a U.s. Army Ranger, and is the first Survivalist in the Gijoe RAH line story. Outback came in Italy in 1988 with the same name as part of the 3rd italian "Forza Irresistibile" collection.

+Character Biography+

S - Size up the situation
U - Undue haste makes waste
R - Remember where you are
V - Vanquish fear and panic
I - Improve your situation
V - Value living
A - Act like the natives
L - Learn basic skills
Excerpt from the U.S. Army Ranger Handbook (1969 edition)

The code name used by U.S. Army Sergeant Stuart R. Selkirk. Outback grew up in Big Piney, Wyoming, where he developed his love for the wilderness and his survival skills. After joining the Army, he served as an intructor at both Survival School and the Jungle Warfare Training Center. He has had extensive experience in Central America and may or may not have participated in clandestine operations in the Mid East. Outback was later assigned to the G.I. Joe team. Most people are intimidated by wilderness and the complete absence of the hand of man. Not Outback. He believes in being part of his environment, not its adversary! He is well aware of the dangers surrounding him in a strange jungle or desolate wilderness and he respects those dangers, which is why he has never been caught off guard.

"I always teach three things: be tough, be dedicated, and kick Cobra Butt!" - Outback

"A covert team that functions at night and lays low during the daylight hours has its own peculiar survival problems. A nice, cozy spot to set up an ambush could alsobe a preferable nesting place for poisonous snakes. A dry streambed might be an inviting place to pitch a shelter if one didn't know about the possibility of flash-floods. It's Outback's job to get the Night Force team to their target, intact and healthy!" - from G.I.Joe Night Force files.

Outback in the jungle!
[image taken from the Benelux Gijoe Dossier n.2 at Gijoe NL]

Comics Biography
Courtesy of Jmm's Gijoe Encyclopedia

Outback first appearance in the Marvel Comic was in may 1987.
The commercial of the comic in tv introduced also the Cobra Pogo, the Gijoe S.L.A.M., and the characters of Armoured Cobra Commander, Raptor, Tunnel Rat and Outback.

Outback met up with the Joes in the Rocky Mountains, after he was dropped off six hundred miles away with a ruck sack full of new survival equipment and food to test out for the Army. When he reached the Joe convoy led by Hawk, he was asked about the food and equipment he was supposed to test. He wasn't impressed: "Sir, with all due respect, all of that crummy stuff fell apart after the first week and that freeze-dried stuff was just plain inedible...I've been living off the land, and living good!" As the convoy rolled on, the Joes were forced to fend off an attack from the new Cobra Pogo vehicle, piloted by Cobra Commander himself.

Outback take a break with Joes friends Falcon, Hit&Run and Tunnel Rat.
[image taken from the Belgian Moovy Paper Commercial Gijoe NL]

A disastrous mission into Eastern Europe led to Outback's most difficult time on the team. Along with Stalker, Quick Kick and Snow Job, he travelled to the Soviet bloc country of Borovia. The mission was top secret and they were told that the state department would disavow all knowledge of their mission if they were captured. A series of events led the Joes to be captured, with only Outback escaping into the sewers of Borovia. He was ordered to get out of the country and ask for help. Stalker stayed behind since Snow Job and Quick Kick were injured, and they were his responsibility. Outback made his way through the Borovian sewers and through the small nation, staying one step ahead of the Borovian Special Police. He barely made his escape to a friendly country bordering Borovia. The government did in fact disavow all knowledge and the three captured Joes were thrown into a Borovian gulag. When Outback made his way back to the Pit in Utah, he was met with suspicion from some of the other Joes, who wondered how he got out while his buddies were left behind to rot in a prison camp. Unable to reveal anything about the mission, Outback couldn't even explain the situation and defend himself. When he was confronted by Leatherneck, In no mood to have the angry Marine yell at and threaten him, Outback pulled a hunting knife on him, warning, "Don't you even begin to threaten me..." The situation was quickly defused by the other Joes, but many remained suspicious. Months later, when Stalker and the others returned after being rescued, Outback felt guilty over leaving them behind. The freed Joes told him he had done the right thing and had nothing to be ashamed of.
[Above, Marvel comic version of Outback]

On his next mission, Outback and Dusty were leading what was supposed to be a simple operation to blow up a hidden weapons cache in the desert. The mission was to serve as a training mission for two newly-recruited Joes, Lightfoot and Mangler. To their surprise, the Joes found themselves under attack by members of  the Trucial Abysmian army.

Outback and others Joes landing with the Tomahawk helicopter
[image taken from the Benelux Gijoe Dossier n.3 at Gijoe NL]

The four Joes were captured, and the unit's overzealous Aman tortured Lightfoot until he revealed the Joes' plans. Most of the army unit left to find the weapons, with the unit's commander, Captain Yusif staying behind to execute the Joes. He had tried to stop political officer's brutality and now let the Joes free, telling them to head for a friendly port. They decided to head for the cache anyway, and traveled across the desert with no vehicle and little food. Dusty and Outback's knowledge of desert survival made certain they reached their goal. They completed their mission, though Mangler was killed insuring his teammates' escape.

[Above, the first Marvel comic issue with Outback: Gijoe n.59 - may 1987]
Outback later participated in the Cobra Island civil war, which the Joes entered on the side of Serpentor. Shortly afterward, he and Ripcord led a group of new recruits to keep Cobra from claiming a newly-formed island not far from the original Cobra Island. They were barely victorious before the entire landmass sunk back beneath the ocean. Later, Outback was one of the small team of Joes observing Castle Destro when Cobra attacked the Scottish castle. Outback continued to work with the team for years until it was shut down in 1994.

Comic notes
Outback appeared in 14 issues between 1987 and 1992:
#59, 61, 62, 64, 67, 76, 80, 86, 87, 130, 131,
and Special Missions #6, 13, and 27.

Cartoon notes
Outback did not appeared in the cartoon, like many of the 1987 characters.

Tv Commercial notes
Outback appeared for the first time in the tv toys commercial in 1987 with the Cobra Pogo/Gijoe Slam commercial. With him, there are also the Battle Armour Cobra Commander, Crazylegs and some re-used animation from the commervial for Gijoe Marvel Comics n.59.

+the Action Figure+

+Click on thumbnails to enlarge+

Original Versions
Outback had basically two versions: the original one from 1987, and the Battle Corps one from 1993. The 1987 figure was available also in the subsets Night Force (1988 in two-pack with Crazylegs) and Tiger Force (1990 only in Europe), and in Brazil in 1993 with the codename "Forasteiro". The 1987 version of Outback share parts of his body with Big Brawler, a 2001 Gijoe character, and also the torso with Super Trooper and Rapid Fire. The Battle Corps Outback from 1993 was first designed for the Eco Warriors subset, but, when the line was cancelled, he become one of the Battle Corps. Then, some of the body colours were changed for a second version, available the same year. In my opinion, the original Outback is fantastic, the Night version is also very cool, the Tiger Force one, not bad... but the Battle Corps/Eco Warriors version are very, very ugly! Its very offensive for a such nice character.

The original Outback, Night Force Outback,
Eco Warriors Outback recoloured after for Battle Corps Outback

International
Outback was available only in Europe with his Tiger Force version (1990). In Brazil, the same Tiger Force Outback was available as a sonic fighter with the name "Forasteiro". Outback had various weapon, but no flashlight for his leg.

European exclusive Tiger Force Outback,
and brazilian Outback "Forasteiro"

Convention
Outback was available also at 1992 Gijoe Convention bagged with different accessories.

1992 Gijoe Convention exclusive Outback
+Click on thumbnail to enlarge+

1987 Equipment [all new]
Outback had a very nice and unique equipment! His gun was a kind of modified HK 53 A3 or an HK 308 (but im not sure of it).

Outback have also a tan web belt of the same color of the huge survival backpack, this gave to him a very "ready for action and survive" appeal :P Also, there is a very rare detail about his figure: he had a hole in the left leg, this hole was used to hold a flashlight accessory. All those accessories transform Outback to a very well equipped soldier, also if his basic figure is very clean and simple. The same accessories were used for the Night Force & Tiger Force versions, but with different colors (except for the gun).

It's interesting that the flashlight after the original version of Outback, was better paint with the lens of different color from the rest.

Others Equipment
1992 For the Gijoe Convention, the original Outback was bagged with the first flashlight and a different weapon: the kayak-gun of 1989 Stalker.
1993 Outback had, as all the Battle Corps figures, a mix of old weapons and a firing missile launcher.
1993 In the brazilian version, Outback have a sonic fighter backpack and also a mix of weapons.

1987 Body
Original Outback body was entirely new.
His body parts were used again in:
1988 All body for Night Force Outback.
1988 Torso for Super Trooper.
1990 All body for Tiger Force Outback (Only in Europe).
1991 Torso for Rapid Fire.
1992 All body (with same colours) for Gijoe Convention.
1993 All body for "Forasteiro" (Brasil Tiger Force Outback).
2001 All body (except the head) were used to create Big Brawler.
2003 His chest, arms, legs and waist were used to create Funskool (India) Big Brawler (in this version, the leg hole for the flashlight was closed).
1993 Body
The 2nd Outback body was entirely new.
His body parts were used again in:
1993 Battle Corps Outback - 2nd edition.

+Price Guide+

Outback is not easy to find "perfect". My personal figure also have a broken gun, and the "survival" logo was faded. So, if you looking for a perfect Outback, be sure to have: the flashlight for the leg, the hole in the leg with no broken parts of old flashlights (:P), the "survival logo" not faded, the gun in good condition (the strap must be unbent and attached), and the same must be for the web belt, sometimes could be broken. As you can read, Outback is a nice character, but not easy to find in good mint condition.
Here is a price guide for the various versions of Outback
You can find Outback 1987 at 12-16$ (loose) or 40-60$ (Moc)
You can find Outback Night Force at 40-48$ (loose) or 140-180$ (Moc)
You can find Outback Battle Corps 02-04$ (loose) or 06-10$ (Moc)

+Outback DTC Gijoe Collection+

[images courtesy of Gijoe Club, Joe Battlelines & Steel Brigade]

I found this version of Outback at the website Steel Brigade, and also reviewed at Joe Battlelines.This version, together with others Joes and Cobra, was created for the 4 wave or Gijoe Real American Hero collection, and then cancelled. Then, Hasbro decided to give another chance to this figure and the other characters of this wave, so, this new Outback was released.
In any case, i dont think this version of Outback is particulary cool: i dont like it at all.

+Outback 25th Anniversary/Modern Era+

This is the last Outback done. Its from 2009 exclusive 7-packs wave 25th Anniversary/Modern Era. The figure is very similar to the original Outback, and it will be sold as part of 7-packs and probably also with the Attack Cannon (F.L.A.K.) accessory. Both the version (i think they will be the same mold), will be released during 2009. I dont like at all the 25th line, but its a good chance to have a perfect-shape Outback weapon :P Mine is broken ;)

+Outback Codename Analysis+

Outback had different names around the World

Rest of the World Outback
France & Belgium Survival
Holland Achterdeur
Brazil Forasteiro

The codename "Outback" is clearly inspired to one of the most wild region of Earth: the Australian Outback. Outback refers to remote arid areas of Australia, although the term colloquially can refer to any lands outside of the main urban areas. The term "outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas deemed "the bush". Note that the terms outback and bush refer to European settlers concepts of the lands of Australia - Indigenous Australians had in many cases a different perception of moving through and usage of the land. The outback is home to the Australian feral camel and dingoes. The Dingo fence was built to restrict dingo movements into agricultural areas towards the south east of the continent. The marginally fertile parts are primarily utilised as rangelands and have been traditionally used for sheep or cattle farming, on cattle station which are leased from the Federal Government. While small area of the outback onsist of clay soils the majority has exceedingly infertile paleosols.