The Corps Elite | Snakebite Rides

03.14.2018 – If you’re into military themed action figures in 1/18 scale chances are you’re familiar with Lanard Toys’ The Corps Elite, which has been around since the Mid-1980s that competed with the more familiar military brand that even had a TV series and a comicbook to back it up. But The Corps Elite flew under the radar and build its fan following through the brand itself without any support from various media that other toy properties have. Until now this brand continue to flourish through its toys that has been around longer than others would recall and only this time gets it due.

For some time The Corps Elite has been available to selected markets in the US as an exclusive to Wal-Mart stores. But not limited to being sold only at Kmart stores in Australia it just so happens most of the assortments is also at Big W retail chains.

They’re colourful in comparison to the more generic but well-detailed quality that M&C Toy brings to their World Peacekeeper range of military themed toys. The Elite Corps have been re-branded so many times over the past decades with most of the toy older figures being reused and repackaged with newer figures.

In the past The Elite Corps were limited to just all-male military themed figures, but this time they are slowly diversifying in incorporating their first female figures either included in three-pack, two-pack, or single carded figures.

Before there were no factions just random characters with different personalities and agendas, but the re-branding of the property this time also incorporates teams much like that well-known military franchise that hasn’t seen much after its last live-action film almost four years ago. Although Lanard Toys did not have the other property has in promoting their product the huge cult following still support this brand despite the inconsistent quality with their recent Elite Corps offerings.













Snakebite | Nasha Raven

What the 3 Pack figure assortment appealing is not only the figures offered, but the attractive price point that makes Elite Corps a worthy buy. With the new rebranding of the product the Elite Corps introduces a pair of female characters for both factions that were originally dominated by male-characters.

Snakebite is part of the new Elite Corps that also introduces a new faction called The Curse and her female counterpart. This new female body is what the future of the brand is all about with the aesthetics and appearance Snakebite is not your ordinary femme fatale with quite a personality as described in her bio card.

The figure was available as a single and two pack set, but what is enticing is the 3 pack which includes her signature motorcycle that also let other Elite Corps or The Curse figures ride it too. The standard female body has limited range of articulation, but in comparison to the male counterparts this is retro-forward for Lanard Toys to making this one of the best action figures for the brand.

With Snakebite and her counterpart Puma this is ushering a new look for the Elite Corps property, but with some hitches which is the quality itself as the motorcycle as seen in the packaging is in silver and grey with neon camouflage aesthetics, but once you open it there will be a downside with the other side being unpainted and the wheels being a bit hallow than solid like the other side.

Her accessories with the pistol and the two knives are great. The knives are made of soft pliable plastic while the pistol/silencer is great that can be holstered on her hip, where there you can keep the gun. The look of the character more rebellious having the other side of her head shaved is impressive.









Ogre | Axle Bros

A member of The Curse this figure looks menacingly good with the aesthetics of an armored villain this is an interesting character packed in this set although his signature weapon seemed a bit oversized but still works that can peg at his back.

The appearance for Ogre is a bit limiting the articulation, but the overall appearance looks solid with that skull spray painted on his torso you can say immediately this is a bad guy ready to terrorize the Elite Corps team. The scar across Ogre’s eye is just right for the character’s aesthetics although the helmet/hat seemed to make it look goofy for some bad guy to be in this look.

There are too many padding on the designs of his armor that makes this figure looks chunky in appearance and it diminishes the appearance of the character being deadly ending up a little bit bulky to take a big gun and blast some good guys.







Buckshot | Austin Colt

This figure doesn’t look like the art work that is based on the character. Based on research this figure has been used in the previous incarnation of The Elite Corps before and reusing this character again without any improvement makes it that Buckshot is just an added accessory to the 3 pack set.

Among the three, Buckshot is the least interesting figure being more of an added bonus that would have been a two pack instead. There’s not much going on with this figure having the same limited basic articulation it would be great if Lanard Toys have improve this figure, but it is understandable with the limited cost in making a new figure seemed not being viable for the brand.

They reuse the same guy not even repainted to a different color retaining what Buchshot was before the re-branding. For a 3 pack set this figure was just happens to be the shoo-in just to make it an interesting set like some of the other assortments for the re-branded The Corps Elite.



The Corps Elite 3 Pack retailed at $9.00 AUD at Big W in Westfield Marion, South Australia. These toys are produced and manufactured by Lanard Toys for more details of the other characters visit TheCorpsHQ.com