Just how big was GI Joe back in the 80’s? Let’s see: huge toyline, multi-year cartoon and comic book. All of those are hallmarks of a monumental property. The ancillary licensed merchandise is what I find telling about just how ingrained the Joe line became in the public consciousness. Sure, Star Wars, He-Man, Transformers and other children’s entertainment of the
Read moreBelieve it or not, the end of the Real American Hero line produced a few nice vehicles. Although the line was going the way of less intricate multi-part kits and also incorporating spring loaded action features, several of the releases transcend these elements and emerge as solid and fun vehicles. The Ice Snake continues the long tradition of GI Joe
Read moreWhat’s my favorite element of Tiger Force, the GI Joe jungle sub-team? Is it the awesomely recolored jungle deco version of Flint? How about the super cool re-purposing of the Rattler and Water Moccasin as Joe vehicles? Maybe even the exotic and captivating overseas exclusives? Nope. It’s Tiger Force Roadblock’s helmet. No other figure accessory for the offshoot team is
Read moreUpdraft is the pilot of the Retaliator, one of the weirdest craft in the GI Joe arsenal. Advertised as a “Bomb Dropping Rescue Copter!”, the Retaliator was a helicopter with a working winch and a rotating tail with grabbing claw that pivoted out of the tail section. An odd-looking copter with impossibly short blades, it resembled a dragonfly more than
Read moreFor a lot of adult Joe collectors, the environment specific characters often get some grief because of their perceived “limited” uses. Torpedo, Dusty, and Snow Job are useful in their specific roles, but outside of them are relegated to the sidelines. Torpedo looks a little ridiculous running through the jungle in a wet suit, and Dusty is out of place
Read moreThe 1993 Joe series was a monstrous year in terms of total figures, with over one hundred individual figures released among the regular line, drivers, mail-ins and the Street Fighter spin-off. The Battle Corps series in itself saw 36 figures, a great many of which were redesigns or repaints of existing characters. Joes and Cobras alike were refreshed that year,
Read moreWhen I cover figures from the spring-loaded missile launcher era of GI Joe, I normally don’t include the launcher in my pictures. They often seem like a tacked-on accessory, not to mention nigh impossible for most figures to hold unsupported. However in Duke’s case, the missile launcher works, and dare I say it–I like it. Several of the ’94 Star
Read moreIn the previous post, I mentioned my first Joe figure, and how it changed me from a Star Wars kid to a GI Joe kid. When I think back on getting my first GI Joe figure from a store, I can still smell the tires. Tires? Yes, tires. The smell of tires takes me back to the 1980’s and my
Read moreI remember back to 1982, and it was a time when Star Wars was the big thing for me. From 1979 to 1982 I was all about Star Wars. If it was a birthday, Christmas or any occasion where I could get a gift, my wish was for anything from that galaxy far far away. However I do remember seeing
Read moreThe General is one unwieldy vehicle. I’m not just talking about the fictional sense of how the heck it moves around, let alone manages to make turns, but in the size of the toy itself. Yes, the USS Flagg is monstrous, and the Defiant is a giant unfolding behemoth of a playset, but the General is an absolute beast of
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