Over the years, we’ve not covered one of the most integral elements of the 1980s Joe toys: blueprints. These little extras, printed on the reverse side of vehicle/playset instructions were yet another tool in Hasbro’s world-building arsenal. If a kid were so inclined they could pore over the more technical aspects of their new plaything. Another brilliant low-cost marketing feature that made the line so unique and interesting.
Even a mail-in like the MANTA got the treatment. Such things made the Joe toys seem much less disposable than others of their time. I certainly took good care of my collection, even the paper instructions.
By the end of the Real American Hero era, the blueprint concept had become an afterthought. Rather than being printed on the back of the instruction sheet as a dedicated item, some were stuck on the first page and others left off entirely (I'm looking at you, Cobra Rat!) While…
Continuing on from yesterday, I neglected to mention the inspiration for going back to coverage of a catalog, and specifically the first year. When recording a recent Flag Points episode, I was struck by memories of the Christmas catalogs of old, sometimes also known as Wish Books. I would spend…
As a kid, I had a problem with the old Falcon glider. Mine didn't really fly all that well, and was fragile as all get out. I think I threw it only three or four times before a rudder broke off. As an adult collector, I would love to have…
Such a useless item. First really useless item in the line. It sounds fun on paper. But an armed wind surfing board is harder to work in stories and battles than Hasbro might have thought. The cartoon and the comic both gave the MANTA a token appearance at least.
My brother and I both had one and even when we had very few Joes items, it did not see much action.
”G.I.Joe MANTA .excellent sea vehicle to go along with Torpedo or Shipwreck.Did make an appearance with Flint /Lady Jaye, in the ”Aude De Cobra perfume episode, 1985.”-”Never owned one, but have heard a lot of positive and negative comments about the item.”
Blueprints always made the vehicles a little bit more plausible. At least until the team got loose with their descriptions in the late ’80s. I’d compare weapons between vehicles to see which was more powerful, and I only realized the Skystriker had so many guns because of the blueprints. The MANTA prints sell it hard, but it’s still a crazy little vehicle. And I’d argue the 30 cal. gun is really just a 9mm based on the copy of Stalker’s HK 54.
The Manta was the first “cheap” Joe toy I remember. It fell apart so easily and wasn’t much fun. But, EVERYONE had at least one and most kids had a couple.
Such a useless item. First really useless item in the line. It sounds fun on paper. But an armed wind surfing board is harder to work in stories and battles than Hasbro might have thought. The cartoon and the comic both gave the MANTA a token appearance at least.
My brother and I both had one and even when we had very few Joes items, it did not see much action.
”G.I.Joe MANTA .excellent sea vehicle to go along with Torpedo or Shipwreck.Did make an appearance with Flint /Lady Jaye, in the ”Aude De Cobra perfume episode, 1985.”-”Never owned one, but have heard a lot of positive and negative comments about the item.”
Blueprints always made the vehicles a little bit more plausible. At least until the team got loose with their descriptions in the late ’80s. I’d compare weapons between vehicles to see which was more powerful, and I only realized the Skystriker had so many guns because of the blueprints. The MANTA prints sell it hard, but it’s still a crazy little vehicle. And I’d argue the 30 cal. gun is really just a 9mm based on the copy of Stalker’s HK 54.
The Manta was the first “cheap” Joe toy I remember. It fell apart so easily and wasn’t much fun. But, EVERYONE had at least one and most kids had a couple.