Note: This is not a full review. This simply a more in-depth look at the figures I profiled in my Russian Funskool GI Joe Jamboree post, and is intended as a resource for fans and collectors.

Updated 5/6/21: According to a source in a former Soviet country (who has also translated the card backs), the entire Russian run of Funskool GI Joe figures was released in 1998. The company who assisted in this release, Two Beetles (see their logo on the card back below), likely had a connection at Funskool. Aside from Chuckles, all Russian Funskool figures are nearly identical to their Indian counterparts– only the card backs were changed. Though these were reportedly only produced for a year, they can still be found in former USSR territories. As a fun side note, “beetle” is Russian slang for “swindler.”

Russian Funskool GI Joe TARGAT and Accessories

The Russian Funskool GI Joe TARGAT figure was released sometime around 1998, according to a source in a former Soviet territory.

The figure uses the same mold as Hasbro’s 1989 TARGAT version 1, which was reused for the Star Brigade TARGAT (version 2) in 1993. The Funskool figure’s colors more resemble the Star Brigade version, but are quite different when you compare them side by side. Additionally, the Russian Funskool TARGAT uses the same accessories as Hasbro’s 1993 TARGAT.

As with all Funskool figures, this TARGAT uses a slightly lower quality plastic than a Hasbro GI Joe figure.

Here’s the carded figure:

The card:

Card back:

As with all Funskool cards, the material used is flimsier and more paper-like than a Hasbro backing card. In addition, the Russian Funskool card features no English on the back, whereas an Indian Funskool card uses all English.

Note that the card art is the same as the generic card art Hasbro used for its 1993 Star Brigade lineup. Whether this even is a TARGAT pictured on the card art is up for debate. Though it seems like it could be.

The figure:

Russian Funskool GI Joe TARGAT is primarily cast in copper and purple plastic, with yellow, black, gold, and purple painted highlights. The color layout is largely the same as the 1993 Hasbro TARGAT.

From the side:

From the back:

Other than the Russian card back, the Russian Funskool GI Joe TARGAT is the same as the Indian release.

As far as Funskool figures go, the paint on my copy of the figure is quite nice. The visor hinges up and down easily and maintains its position wherever you decide to leave it.

This copy of the figure has no notable quality control issues and poses the same as any Hasbro GI Joe figure.

The closed visor:

Accessories:

The majority of the Russian Funskool GI Joe TARGAT’s accessories came attached to a “weapons tree” and need to be removed before use.

The figure includes the 1988 Iron Grenadier’s laser pistol, 1989 Annihilator’s submachine gun, and 1990 Rock Viper’s rifle in neon pink. The same pink plastic is used for its two missiles and figure stand.

The spring loaded rocket launcher is cast in red plastic, and the handle/trigger is cast in a pink that mostly matches the figure’s other weapons.

The figure’s visor/heat shield is also removeable, but it comes attached to the toy in the packaging.

The figure all geared up:

Overall, it’s a nice bunch of accessories. Because the original 89 TARGAT was an Iron Grenadier, it’s fun that both the Star Brigade and Russian Funskool TARGATs come with a couple of Iron Grenadier weapons.

The figure holds all of its accessories well and the figure stand peg fits nicely. The plastic used on the accessories is probably slightly softer and more malleable than the plastic used on Hasbro accessories, so some caution may be advised.

The rocket launcher shoots as well as any standard Hasbro rocket launcher.

Though the plastic quality used on the Funskool TARGAT isn’t quite as good as what Hasbro used for theirs, it’s still a nicely done figure that should stand up well to normal play, display, and photography.

Russian Funskool TARGAT Compared to 1993 Hasbro Star Brigade TARGAT

Though the colors on the Russian Funskool GI Joe TARGAT and its Hasbro equivalent are similar in broad strokes, they are quite different when you compare the two side by side.

The figures (L – Funskool, R – Hasbro):

Where the Funskool TARGAT uses copper colored plastic, the Hasbro 1993 TARGAT uses gold plastic. The layout for the purple parts is the same on each figure, though the Hasbro version uses a much more saturated purple color. Both figures use black paint for the grenades on their torsos.

Instead of orange paint for suit piping details, the Russian Funskool TARGAT uses yellow paint.

The Funskool TARGAT has the most of the same paint details as the Hasbro version– only the paint on the upper arms was omitted.

Probably most importantly, the gold plastic used on the 1993 Hasbro TARGAT is notoriously fragile and brittle. I’ve personally broken one just by moving its arm. The Funskool version uses copper plastic, which does not have the same issues as gold plastic from the 1980s and 1990s.

The figures from the side:

The back:

The date stamps seem to be identical, if you care about that sort of thing.

As for accessories, I do not have any of the Hasbro version’s gear to compare. They’ve been lost to time.

As you can see from this screenshot I took from YoJoe.com, the Hasbro 1993 TARGAT’s accessories are much more orange in color.

And, just for fun, here’s the Russian Funskool GI Joe TARGET compared to both the Hasbro 93 and 89 TARGATs.

Some people also say the Funskool Driver and Halibna Exclusive Psyche-Out matches the Funskool TARGAT’s coloration– some even go so far as to say they just used the same plastic and paint for both figures.

It could depend on the individual factory batch for each figure, but mine do not match that closely:

 

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