Zartan has always intrigued me, both in his design and as a character. First showing up in 1984, the master of disguise was a mystery from the beginning. I remember seeing his picture on the back of another figure’s card, yet not seeing him hanging on a shelf peg. My 11 year old self was surprised to find him on
Read moreThe early 2000’s seem to be a forgotten part of the history of the Joe line. In 2000, Joes returned to stores in what was labeled as a special collector’s edition. The figures released in this new line were a big departure from the neon colors seen at the end of the vintage line. This time out, there were more
Read moreRepaints. If you ask collectors about things that bother them about their hobby, it’s a word that often comes up. Many see them as a cheap way for toy manufacturers to get a new toy on the shelves with little added expense. Take figure A, slap a different color of paint on him and presto-change-o! you have Figure B. I
Read moreLifeline is the Joe team’s Rescue Trooper (sounds better than medic I guess). He’s actually the vintage line’s second medic. The first was Doc, released in 1983. What I find most interesting note about Lifeline is his portrayal as a pacifist in the comics and cartoon. However, his action figure included a pistol, and his card art prominently showed him
Read moreHey, it’s another mail-in! This figure, like his GI Joe Steel Brigade counterpart, is an action figure with a personalized background. Again, kids could make up a code name and specialty. Being that he comes to us from that Day-Glowiest of decades, the 90’s, he has no compunction about going into battle looking like this: Some Joe collectors like to
Read moreEver collect cereal box tops as a kid to send away for a cheap plastic tchotchke, or eat 10 horrible subway sandwiches just so you could get the 11th horrible sandwich free? If you were a kid buying GI Joes during the 80’s and 90’s, there were similar offers, only the results weren’t so disappointing. In fact, they were downright
Read moreAs a follow-up to the previous post, I’m also sure that the question is asked, “What about the ladies?” Well, women have been part of GI Joe since the 60’s. Okay, so she’s a nurse. Hey, it was the 60’s, give them credit for trying. When the 80’s came around, the Joes had a few women as combat troops. Not
Read moreI’m sure somebody somewhere has asked, “Which one is G.I. Joe?” Good question, and one that didn’t have an answer until 1994. Until that time, at least as far as the figures go, there was no one actually called G.I. Joe. They were all identified as Joes or part of the Joe team. For the 30th anniversary in 1994, Hasbro
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The Joes’ original Hostile Environment specialist hails from the second great improvement year in the line–1985, when Hasbro added neck ball articulation. In 1983, when they introduced a bicep swivel, it was emblazoned on the packaging as “Swivel-Arm Battle Grip.” I don’t know why they didn’t use they same kind of ballyhoo for the neck ball. I think “Head-Nod Battle
Read moreA daily reflection on a GI Joe figure that strikes my fancy. Any era, any style. Official, knock-off, or spin-off. Stay tuned; with hundreds to choose from, it promises to be an interesting ride.
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