by KansasBrawler Hands down, the figure I was most looking forward to out of the Defense of Cobra Island set was the Alley Viper. I have fond memories of that orange and blue urban assault trooper and Hasbro really ran with the ball there. However, and this surprises me most of all, that version of the Alley Viper didn’t make
Read moreToday, it’s another entry focused on GI Joe toy packaging. Over the years, my interest in toys has evolved from an appreciation of the playthings themselves, to their marketing and packaging. The situation is a bit odd for me, considering that I generally open new toys when I buy them. I have a few choice items that I’ve bought with
Read moreIt’s been over a year since I posted a GI Joe inspired haiku here. I guess nothing has really struck me in a way that was truly inspiring. When I recently took a shot of a Luminos that I picked up on eBay, I was saddened, yet moved by the strange beauty of this broken toy. Inspiration struck… Translucent pieces
Read moreThe custom toy hobby has always fascinated me, both as a collector and a creator. Over the years, I have delved into super hero customs, Star Wars and of course GI Joe. The customizing community often creates joyful little bundles of fun, producing figures and vehicles that most likely would not be possible via normal production means. I’ve covered a
Read moreWhat sort of non action figure product did Hasbro license out during the years between the Real American Hero years and the small Joes relaunch? How about horribly sugary and absolutely unhealthy drink snacks? Yeah, thanks for the diabetes, guys. Is this the stuff Outback drinks when he’s out in the wilderness? I’m sorry, he most likely drinks water. But
Read moreThe multi-pack figure concept has been a huge part of the Lanard CORPS! marketing strategy for most of its history. A cursory search for carded figures often turns up three packs, eight packs and even twenty-four packs. Yep, at one point, you could buy twenty-four CORPS! figures in one fell swoop. Amazing. The line continues to throw numerous repackagings at
Read moreby KansasBrawler Figures like Cutter are what really killed me about the 25th Anniversary line. I loved Cutter growing up (though my only version was the really awesome D.E.F. version). The figure I had was great and reading his filecard, I found out he and I shared a birthplace. That was really awesome to my kid brain and it’s still
Read moreAs mail-ins go, the later issue Steel Brigade figure is pretty interesting. The original is by no means a slouch, and by the 90s had been quite a novel approach to offering kids a special figure. Though no parts were chosen by the young fans, the bio and specialties were generated from choices marked on the order form. I can’t
Read moreWith all the focus on the Crimson Guard as an elite force of Cobra soldiers, it’s a bit surprising that the group didn’t get another official officer figure until this Toys R Us exclusive. Part of the Senior Ranking Officer sets, it’s a flashier repaint of the 25th Anniversary CG mold. The same year saw the release of a silver
Read moreHere’s an oddly sedate cover for a coloring book. Lady Jaye, Mainframe and Roadblock staking out what appears to be a Cobra submarine base. Not exactly the bombastic cover of Marvel issue #1, is it? How can you produce an action coloring book and not have one single person on the cover flying at the viewer? Oh well, maybe the
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