By KansasBrawler Growing up, I always wanted the original B.A.T. figure. It came out just a little before my time in the Joe brand, but it was still shown on the cardbacks of some of the earlier figures I managed to find. However, for whatever reason, the original B.A.T. eluded me. I had the 1991 version and I really do
Read more
Some figures sell themselves based on concept, others need a boost from their packaging. Buzzer didn’t need any help to snare me back in the day, although I will say the in-your-face chainsaw helped steer me a bit toward his favor over the other ‘Noks that day. The unique feature to the packaging art here is the presence of a
Read more
Released as a member of the mail-in International Action Force four pack, Big Ben was repainted to reflect the more colorful palette prevalent in the last two series of 90s Joes. His original 1991 version is one of the best of that under-appreciated bunch. By the 2000s, collectors had been treated to several more releases of the character, and I
Read more
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
Read more
I’ve said this many times over the history of the blog: I miss o-ring GI Joe figures. While I don’t have a problem with the modern figure construction, I simply prefer the style and sensibilities of the older guys. Some of the allure is nostalgia, since they’re the Joes of my childhood and some of it is an appreciation of
Read more
By KansasBrawler I’ve mentioned before that I’m not super into foreign Joe figures. While I think they’re interesting variations on things we’ve seen in America, I generally don’t think they’re something I need to track down. However, there is one exception to that rule—the international Sky Patrol figures. I’ve always been strangely fascinated with those figures, especially since the international
Read moreTalk about the early days of online GI Joe exclusives. The BAT pack was offered way back in the comparative dark ages of the early oughts. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. It’s not like the set was an alt.toys.gijoe exclusive or something. Regardless, it’s crazy to think that the set is nearing fifteen years old. Dang. That means I’m old
Read more
In the 90s, Lanard Toys (makers of the GI Joe inspired series The CORPS!) produced an assortment of figures based around a futuristic athletic theme. To say it was high concept is an understatement. The best I can describe it is as Mad Max meets Rollerball. And I mean the original versions of both films, but especially Rollerball. James Caan
Read more
Boys won’t play with female action figures. That’s a familiar refrain to toy collectors. It’s true, to a certain extent. However, in the 80s I think boys changed their minds when they saw the Baroness. Here was a female character who more than held her own against the male heroes and villains, both in the comic and cartoon. The card
Read more
By KansasBrawler Like I talked about with my review of the 25th Anniversary Battle Damaged Snake Eyes, I’ve always been a little conflicted on my opinion of battle damaged figures. Damaged costumes are cool, but represent a very limited window for the character. However, as I discussed in the Kre-O review of it, the B.A.T. is a character that lends
Read more