My most vivid memory of the Stinger goes back to a friend’s birthday party back in the summer of 1984. At the time, I had amassed a few early figures and some of the first and second series vehicles, including the original VAMP. My friend made out like a bandit for this birthday; the VAMP Mark II and Stinger were
Read more
I often wonder why Hasbro didn’t take more opportunities to throw in bad puns with code names. I know the obvious thought goes to Sgt. Slaughter, but that’s not a proper pun, just a colorful alliteration. No, I’m talking about putting some thought of relationship into the character’s rank and surname. This is the kind of stuff you begin to
Read more
The Sonic Fighters repaints are an interesting lot. Straddling the years of 1990 and 1991, they seem to be of two worlds. Based on older molds, the figures bring back memories of what came before. Equipped with enormous noise-making backpacks and a few strange color choices, they serve as a kind of herald of what was to come. Gimmicks, sub-teams
Read more
By KansasBrawler I don’t know why, but I’ve always been a little fascinated by battle damaged figures. I always wished Hasbro had dabbled in battle damage, especially since they had the B.A.T., which they could damage without making parents uncomfortable since it was a robot. I got my wish with the Defense of Cobra Island set and I was very
Read more
I’ll just leave this right here. Do I really need to say anything?
Read more
Somewhere in an alternate dimension, there’s a Bizarro version of 3DJoes that catalogs and restores the artwork of lines like Devil Warriors. Wait–that’s happening right here, today. Whoa. There’s a scummy sort of beauty to these knock-off packages. They certainly deserve to be seen in better condition than they’re often presented, if only for historical purposes. However, I doubt many
Read more
Last year, Lanard surprised collectors with their first-ever female CORPS! action figures. While these girls wowed fans with their added articulation (including more mobile ball-jointed hips), other new offerings joined them on shelves. Alongside new vehicles, Lanard introduced two new scales of toys to their CORPS! universe. One was a bucket of traditionally-sized “army men” and the other was a
Read more
The hits just keep coming from Earl Norem with this Marvel Storybook cover. Fans of the early issues of the comic will recognize the subject matter here. The Trojan Gambit was the final issue reprinted in this collection, and I can’t think of more dynamic Joe art produced outside of the main line figure packages. Absolutely brilliant work.
Read more
By KansasBrawler I’ve talked before about how much I love the modern versions of Storm Shadow based on the 1988 Storm Shadow. That was my Storm Shadow so any time I see something that references that figure, I have to pick it up. In the 50th Anniversary line, the Classic Clash two-pack gave us a Storm Shadow based on that
Read more
Who’d have thought that Kamakura, Snake Eyes’ green garbed apprentice would show up wearing electric blue? But that’s what you get with Sigma 6; it zigs just when you think it will zag. Since his introduction to the GI Joe mythos, Kamakura has been the victim of both odd color choices and weird gimmicks. Remember the lemon-headed, sword-drawing figure? If
Read more