Major Barrage, like some other later new sculpt line figures, pioneered some construction elements that were later incorporated into the 25th Anniversary and modern series. The pinless shoulder joints and ball jointed head were improvements that carried into successive lines, abd are still in use. He also breaks away from the generally standard figure height, and towers over other figures.
Read moreIt took a while, but Dr.Mindbender finally found a respectable outfit. The shirtless, caped, purple pants jackboot look caused too much snickering around Cobra Island that he gave up and put on a lab coat, like any self-respecting mad scientist. Mindbender played a large role in the fiction of Valor vs. Venom. His V-Troops were an essential part of the
Read moreI wouldn’t have thought that Zartan, of all the old GI Joe designs, could have been made integrated into the modern era’s realistic approach to what was essentially a sci-fi military toyline. A hooded, facepainted master of disguise decked out in half-shirt armor, riding a waterski–how could this design and concept work in the post-movie line? By putting a nomadic,
Read moreHow’s this for a regal Destro? After years of supervillain disco chic and Scottish swashblucker ensembles, the famous weapons supplier’s look was reimagined for the Resolute animated special. More than any other, this is a Destro in command. Right off the bat, I’m reminded of a previous Destro design that wasn’t translated to action figure form. The Sunbow series put
Read moreThe second iteration of the now overused AWE Striker was the lone vehicle of the Eco Warrior Joes. It would have been nice to see a more enclosed vehicle, like the APC or the Warthog, but the Joes don’t care about getting sprayed with toxic goo on the battlefield. Ultimately, this version of the venerable Striker mold functions well as
Read moreHere’s one I probably could have saved for the next nice pants week, but I couldn’t resist. Introducing the ultimate forgotten classic, Desert Patrol Stretcher–I mean Low Light–I mean Dusty. All I can think of when I see the head on this figure is, the possible title for a SyFy original movie: “When Turtlenecks Attack!” Does anyone have any idea
Read moreLeave it to Destro to finally give us an enemy trooper who wears sensible pants. I wouldn’t think that tank drivers would normally wear khakis, but then again their boss is known for odd fashion choices. The Ferret sports one of the most incredible helmets in all the line. Looking like a cross between a Roman and Cylon Centurion, it
Read moreYou may think I’m crazy, or that I simply have no taste, when it comes to my appreciation of the more strikingly colored 90’s GI Joes and Cobras. Considering how many of them that I’ve already covered, I should probably pace myself. I wouldn’t want to run out of them too soon, and be forced to write about more 1982
Read moreRemember when Ripper traded in his trademark can opener rifle and jaws of life for a missile launcher? The 2000’s series, made a valiant effort to produce 12 inch versions of both classic and new Joes and Cobras. Ripper had been in the 3 & 3/4 GI Joe vs. Cobra series, and though he had changed up his attire, looked
Read moreAs the Joe team’s second undercover operations specialist, Mace looks more the part of police officer than soldier. That’s due to his original planned designation to be part of the second series of the Drug Elimination Force, or DEF. Like his teammates for that assortment, he came equipped with a decidedly cover blowing accessory, the helmet mounted missile launcher. Whereas
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