by KansasBrawler Ah, the phenomenon of the phantom wave…it’s unfortunate that so many good toy lines release things late in their shelf cycle and consequently some really good figures don’t saturate the market as well as they should. The Joe line has been dealing with that problem since Rise of Cobra. While I won’t equate the Nano-Viper and Kamakura with
Read moreI like the concept of the early days of Cobra and their use of specialized troops that look like the regular infantry with only a few different accessories. The Marvel comic had a few sprinkled throughout the early issues. Simplicity is the name of the game with this figure, and that also plays out in the file card, as these
Read moreby KansasBrawler The final entry into this series of Field Reports of filling in collection holes is unique because this item was actually a part of my collection growing up. I loved the Cobra Pogo Ballistic Battle Ball, to use its full title. The concept of a bouncing, jumping, flying vehicle really appealed to me as a kid. I’m sure
Read moreby Jeremy One of the often overlooked avenues of toy collecting is collecting items that don’t fall under the toy/action figure category. These products, such as magazines, clothes, stationery, etc., can be a fascinating avenue to consider when you’re all burned-out on buying toys. It’s hard to believe now, but during its heyday, G.I. Joe was a cultural phenomenon! Who
Read moreIf a GI Joe toy line has needed someone to fulfill the role of all-around mad scientist plot catalyst, the good doctor is always standing by. He’s been connected to things like the creation of Serpentor, the BATs, mutated monsters, venomized DNA modified troopers, and even a quick reference in the Rise of Cobra film. He’s become almost as ubiquitous
Read moreQuestion: are certain members of Python Patrol meant to be individuals? I know that Cooperhead is, but some of the other figures’ file cards change the terms from previous releases like “these” to “he’s”, and also frequently “this guy” which leads me to believe some may not be troopers, but rather single operatives. Then again, I could be reading too
Read moreSalvo was one of the last GI Joe characters I would have expected when the DTC line was going. With assortments that included much requested new sculpt Cobras like a basic trooper and Crimson Guard, I thought the Joes would be represented with similarly demanded individuals. It’s not that I don’t like Salvo; I think the original is one of
Read moreThe new sculpt era was filled with new troop types for Cobra. I totally dig that. After all, why create a new line if it ends up being solely a recreation of something we’ve already had? At the beginning of this new era, Cobra was free from classically styled blueshirts, Vipers, Crimson Guards, and the like. They were replaced with
Read moreThe first time I saw the original Alley Viper was at a flea market in the early 90’s. I had been out of GI Joe collecting for a few years, and had not yet discovered the wonderful Tomart’s guide that would present me with pictures of all the Joes and Cobras I had missed. The figure was sitting in a
Read moreIs the ’86 Viper mold so popular that collectors will buy it in any flavor? Maybe so, unless the lower half has been replaced with BAT legs. Even then, the right color combo could cause a stir. Just look at the 2002 Crimson Strike Team Viper. The first ever repaint of the Viper is, at the very least, interesting. The
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