By Past Nastification Sgt. Rock figures are frustrating. They could have been amazing, but for the flawed arms. I’ve hit on this in reviews before, but the short arm problem merits its own rant. This was to be a review of the medic figure (quick review: I like it), but those arms have an undeniable gravity I have to address.
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By Past Nastification When it comes to naming, sometimes simplicity is best. And sometimes simple is too simple. Two teams in 1:18 scale have lazily laid claim to the group name “Bad Guys”. One of them is “The Bad Guys”; the other is simply “Bad Guys” without a “The”. The Bad Guys. Remco’s The Bad Guys are fully known
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Imagine a time when a few toy lines were so popular that other manufacturers created product not only to capitalize on the popularity of superstar toys, but also advertised them as being compatible with their competitors. Remco was very good at adapting existing properties into lines that could “work with” other popular series. Sgt. Rock was a prime choice to
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I’m having a great time with these American Defense bios. They’re just as insane as the figure designs. Ice Ranger continues many of the themes we saw with Yeti. Very—cool.
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How do you know when your toy line is a big success? When other companies scramble to catch some of your lightning in a bottle of their own. Sometimes it’s successful, sometimes it isn’t. Remco’s Sgt. Rock line, based on the long-running DC war comic, sought to capitalize on Hasbro’s small scaled GI Joe relaunch. The company even went as
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No, it’s not the title of an 80s Turkish action film knock-off pastiche of The Karate Kid and Rambo (but it should be). It is a wonderful knock-off set of action figures inspired by both GI Joe and Rambo. Either way, what’s not to like? It’s Remco Joe! RemJoe! I sucked up a bunch of these two-packs at K-Mart back
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It’s finally Halloween, and I couldn’t let the day escape without some serious classic monster love. For me, the perfect way to spend at least part of the day (aside from taking the kids trick or treating) is to watch a few classic Universal monster movies. My love for monsters goes back to my childhood, and began with toys. The
Read moreHey kids, tell mom and dad to run you down to the local K-Mart (you know every neighborhood has at least one or two) and grab the latest American Defense figures by Remco! They play with ALL 3 & 3/4 inch soldiers! Choose from pilots, infantry, flamethrowers, karate and ninja fighters, even guys who vaguely resemble Rambo! K-Mart, the Savings
Read moreFeast your eyes upon the gloriousness that is Enemy Leader, a part of also-ran American (and National) Defense’s Demon Enemy line, and also released in the similarly packaged Commando Ranger (and Demon Ranger) line as “The Killer.” Whatever moniker you choose, isn’t this the most beautifully realized four inches of plastic that have ever been popped out of a steel
Read moreI can’t lie, I think this is Airman John, the pilot character in Remco’s GI Joe wannabe, American Defense, but I can’t be sure. The mold was repurposed many times for the line and its offshoots. Just off the top of my head, Remco also produced US Forces, American Force and US Military using the same group of molds. There
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