Master of Disguise

Code Name:

Zartan

Desimone Guide: #60

Tomart's Guide: #GI5273 (filecard version 1),#GI5275 (filecard version 2)

Zartan's Filecard

Biography from the G.I.Joe Comics Homepage

Figure Description:

Zartan was released as part of the third series (1984) packaged with exclusively with the Chameleon Swamp Skier. He was also sold in 1985, then was discontinued domestically in 1986.

Versions of Zartan:

• Version One (1984)
• Version Two (1993)
• Version Three (2001)
• Version Four (2002)
• Version Five (2002)
• Version Six (2003)
• Version Seven (2003)
• Version Eight (2004)
• Version Nine (2004)
• Version Ten (2004)
• Version Eleven (2004)
• Version Twelve (2005)
• Version Thirteen (2007)

Accessories:

Zartan came with a black pistol, a chest piece, two thigh pads, a mask, and a black backpack.

The backpack opened up like a briefcase and his mask fit inside.

Zartan also came with a sheet of heat sensitive stickers - they were placed on the chest piece and each thigh pad. The stickers turned maroon when cold, aqua at room temperature, and blue when hot. These stickers are very fragile and many collectors will consider Zartan complete even if these stickers are missing.

Click the link to see the figure with all its weapons - All Geared Up!

Variations:

There are no known variations of Zartan the figure.

There are two versions of Zartan's filecard. The first version references Zartan's schizophrenia and multiple personalities. After complaints that the filecard was misleading people into thinking schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder were one and the same, Hasbro changed the filecard and the second version does not mention either one.

Also, there are two versions of the heat sensitive stickers. The early version has color changing characteristics on only one side of the stickers. Later versions had color changing characteristics on both sides.

Body Construction:

Zartan's body mold is entirely original and not made up from previous molds.

Zartan's head was re-used to create Zartan (v3) (2001). Zartan's upper arms and shoulder pieces, just above the swivel arm point, are also shared with Zandar (1986) and Zarana (1986).

Zartan's skin was made of thermal sensitive material that would change color in sunlight and heat. When Zartan's chest and arms were placed in direct sunlight, they turned blue. After removing him from sunlight, the color faded and returned back to its normal skintone. This same kind of material was used with Zandar (1986) and Zarana (1986).

An unusual side effect of the color changing torso is that Zartan's torso is molded into one piece instead of two halves. Ordinarily, the two halves of a G.I.Joe figure's torso is held together by a screw in the figure's back. However, the two halves of Zartan's torso are molded together. Removing the screw has no effect on the figure.

Note that the figure's head only turns left and right - it does not allow the head to look up and down. The heads only turned left and right until the the swivel ball head that was introduced in 1985 (Series Four).

International Variants:

In Japan, Zartan was released individually carded. It was the only time he was available packaged without the Chameleon sled.

Zartan was also sold in Europe boxed with the Chameleon in an Action Man/Action Force box with no artwork. Later, Zartan and the Chameleon were sold in Europe in an Action Force box with traditional Zartan artwork.