For your consideration: Toxic Zartan. Before you hit the ‘Back’ button on your browser, for a moment, take Sigma 6 out of its place in GI Joe history as the line that supplanted an improving small scale line in 2005. Put the mostly god awful cartoon series out of your mind. Look at the figures purely from a toy perspective,
Read moreIn remembering back to the time of the new GI Joe 2002 series, there was a clamor by fans for the well known classic characters of the 80s. Most folks also wanted to see their favorites decked out in their old duds as well. Flint obliges, although he’s more than a little odd looking, like some other figures from later
Read moreThe second iteration of TARGAT is missing two essential elements of its initial version. First, they’re apparently no longer affiliated with the Iron Grenadiers (at least it’s not mentioned on the file card) the TARGAT troops nevertheless make a welcome second appearance. Most everything else remains the same as far as the troops’ function. The specialty makes a lot of
Read moreLeatherneck? Really? Though I generally enjoyed the 2001 series of figures, this one strikes me as quite a lazy attempt at creating something new. Just one year before, the entire ’92 Duke mold was re-released. To repurpose the top half, slap on a new head, and give him Roadblock’s pants just makes me wonder if they really even cared on
Read moreAll was not lost in 1994 and 1995 for fans of GI Joe and ninjas after its cancellation. There were two continuations, at least of some Joe molds, in the Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat lines. I recall finding the Mortal Kombat figures at the now defunct Kay-Bee Toys. Generally located in malls, the stores had a history of two
Read moreWhenever a new version of a GI Joe toy line is released, you can’t hit the toy aisles without running into a Duke figure. Love him or hate him, the team’s top sergeant is ubiquitous. Heck, the guy can get offed five minutes into a feature film and still get prominent place on the movie poster. That’s staying power. It’s
Read moreThe Python Patrol sub-set was responsible for some of the weirdest Cobra uniform color schemes of the time. While the set has a unifying palette of colors and patterns, they’re not commonly placed on the figures in the same way. All featured a snakeskin pattern, but some were across pants and shirts while others were only on small parts like
Read moreIs Thunder one of the most forgotten of the early 80s GI Joe drivers? I don’t know why, looking at his figure. While he may not have been as colorful as others, his uniform and accessories were unique for the time. Outfitted in a very realistic looking uniform with flak vest and chest holster, he has some of the most
Read moreWell, I really really thought I was done with the snow themed figures a few days ago. Along came spring, and along with it, another snow storm. For the occasion, I broke out another fella in white. This time it’s the second version of Iceberg. In 1993, I was fully into GI Joe and action figure collecting as an adult.
Read moreWay back when I started this blog, I covered a figure actually code named GI Joe. I’m sure every kid at some point asked the question, “Which one is GI Joe?” It’s a logical question to ask, since that’s the name on every package. Of course, the generation prior to the Real American Hero era understood that GI Joe was
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