I’ve become fascinated with the period following the end of the Real American Hero line. I can remember when the announcement was made that the old line was ending, but a new one was coming. While Sgt. Savage may not have been the ideal replacement for twelve years of small Joes, I gave it a chance. Though scale, articulation and
Read moreWho would have figured that Metal-Head would get the remake treatment at the tail end of the Real American Hero line? I suppose it was to be somewhat expected, considering his prominence in the DIC cartoon. Speaking of which, although he was quite the goof in that series, I found him to be a bright spot in what was an
Read moreWill I ever stop lavishing praise on the 1991 series of figures? Not until I’ve covered them all. Even then, I probably won’t stop. I can’t say this enough: it’s my favorite year for Joe figures in the 90’s, and within the top few years of my overall favorites. There was so much great stuff going on in ’91, even
Read moreIt took a while to get another battle ready version of the team’s most famous Marine. After his initial version, 1987 gave us the well done but limited use dress version. I can only assume that another Gung Ho in fatigues was not a priority after producing another fighting Marine in Leatherneck. While this version doesn’t go for a straight
Read moreAs much as I appreciate and enjoy the figures from early in the Real American Hero period, some of those older figures don’t quite fit in when displayed alongside some later releases. As the line went on, sculpting styles, proportions and color palettes evolved. I like to think of it as a natural progression, much like changes in fashion. You
Read moreThe domestic release of Blizzard is another figure that I pined for back in the days of my return to Joe collecting. He was another snow trooper, a speciality that always did (and still does) spark my interest. Much like other figures of the years I missed, he was also packed with an abundance of gear. He can also store
Read moreAccording to the file card info, this is the Oktober Guard member usually known as Daina. Was there another rights issue going on, or did the Hasbro team at the time just think that Daina needed a proper code name? Then again, is it really her, since the hair is red? This figure is light years better than most anything
Read moreI had thought that Stars and Stripes Breaker would be the pinnacle of bad Joe figures. It was lazily produced and ineptly accessorized. It was unadulterated, high octane action figure poo. Could another figure come close to it in sheer disappointment? Duke comes pretty close, especially considering the classic mold on which he’s based. Duke came packaged with a reproduced
Read more1994 was such a bittersweet year for a Joe collector, well, at least for this Joe collector. Having jumped back into collecting just three years earlier, not only was I starting to gain some ground on picking up the figures I had missed, but I was excited at the prospect of new figures on the horizon. Those prospects fizzled out
Read moreAs much as the Interogator was an incredible figure attached to a throwaway vehicle, the Heli-Viper tips the scales back. You wouldn’t think that Hasbro would spend a lot of effort including a great newly designed figure with a vehicle that was all gimmick. I’m sure the designers figured the kid that bought it would zip the thing into a
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