G2 Packs

The most difficult TDD generation to decode is G2.  These were the first figures with arms -- arms that cannot bend.  They were available in 2003 only.  G2 was just a momentary phase between the armless dudes of G1 and the dynamic, bendable arms of G3.  This page takes a look at how the G2 figures were packaged.

This 8-pack is an interesting place to start...



The first thing I notice is that it is a Toys-R-Us exclusive.  Does this just mean the 8-pack package type? Or does this mean the actual figures within?  Are all these color-variants TRU exclusives? 

The second thing I notice is that the names and numbers are not included anywhere on the pack.  This is very unusual for any TDD release.  I think this is the only package example without names.  This may suggest that the packaging was hastily designed and released quickly to fulfill a specific demand.  Maybe a demand that arms be added to the Dudes? Most likely, several plastic inserts with who-knows-how-many 8-figure combos were used to fill the same generic box.  This further suggests that the G2 figures were released hastily and perhaps temporarily, by design.

This is who we are looking at:
Jack, Dakota, Snake, Dr. Digit, Duke, Lenny, McShanks, and Whiplash.

This is the very first appearance of McShanks (#89), Snake (#91), and Whiplash (#94).  These three characters never appeared in G1 and are brand new to the toyline.  The other five figures are re-sculpts from G1 figures.  They are literally G1 molds with arms added.



Taking a look at the back of the box, we see images of twenty-one characters.  These are all G1 images -- not one character has arms.  This is further evidence of sloppiness.  Why are G2 figures in a box that features G1 artwork? Looking closer, we notice that one dudette appears -- Andie (#3) -- even though we know not a single dudette was carried past G1.  Looking even closer, we see one mysterious character who has never appeared as a TDD figure....



Who is he? Well, it stands to reason that this is an early design for Sturgeon (#123).  The image is worth pointing out because the design is quite unique, and it is odd that this is the only character on the box who had not already been released as a figure. Remember, the box shows G1 images, but contains G2 figures.  My best guess is that the design was altered to appear less like the Universal monster Gill-man, aka The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Maybe this resemblance even led to some kind of delay, with Sturgeon finally being released in G3 -- looking quite different.




Anyway, moving on, I do know that there were some 3-packs released in G2.  These seem to have been made in at least two versions each.  I do not know if one version of each pack was "short-packed" -- meaning that less were intentionally made available, thus creating "chase" figures.

These are the 3-packs:

Cluckers -- Pierce -- Rasta
Marc -- Sumo San -- Dirk
Snake -- Jimmy -- Duke
Doc -- Jack -- Tank
McShanks -- Moto -- Dakota
Whiplash -- Fu Man -- Fletcher

Finally, many of the most unique G2 sculpts are playset exclusives.  

Anyway, if you have any other G2 info, or pictures of figures in the packages, drop me an email:
steverotters@gmail.com