Should a Cobra pilot really be considered an army builder? I know the answer is yes in the common sense, as a generic trooper type of which Cobra may employ hundreds. But as a collector, is it at all useful to pack them with infantry types when the pilot is for the most part useless without his signature vehicle? The
Read moreIf a GI Joe toy line has needed someone to fulfill the role of all-around mad scientist plot catalyst, the good doctor is always standing by. He’s been connected to things like the creation of Serpentor, the BATs, mutated monsters, venomized DNA modified troopers, and even a quick reference in the Rise of Cobra film. He’s become almost as ubiquitous
Read moreToylines based on movie properties often end up with figures that either don’t resemble their on-screen counterpart, or that flat out don’t exist in the movie. The resemblance issue is often caused by the lead time needed to produce toys. For example, the first wave of GI Joe Retaliation toys were all a best guess on the part of the
Read moreThe hits just keep on comin’ with another Defense of Cobra Island multi-pack figure. It’s another fine marriage of parts that serves to make one of the most odd looking Cobra troopers of the past into a more cohesive and menacing looking figure. Again, like his pack mate Lamprey, the Range Viper benefits from being based on an old figure,
Read moreSometimes I can be a little harsh when it comes to the 25th anniversary figures. It’s just that some of the figures ended up a little less than stellar, thanks to parts reuse and the like. I tend to be more of a fan of the o-ring style, but I still pick up the modern figures as well. However as
Read moreBet you didn’t know that there was a GI Joe figure with poo flinging action. Okay, it’s really called a gut bomb, and I suppose it’s more along the lines of throwing vomit or a hair-ball, but can you blame me for making the connection? After all, the toy looks somewhat ape-like, and we all know the fondness our primate
Read moreThe STUN was an odd-looking vehicle, but the colors made it seem more streamlined. I wasn’t a fan of it as a kid, even though it was heavily used in the Sunbow animated series. It was meant as a fast-attack vehicle, and I can see that, but I always thought it looked more like something to be driven in a
Read moreIf you were collecting the early 2000s GI Joe lines, there wasn’t much competition to pick up whatever you wanted. Sometimes there was a bit of a shortage of army builders, or of a variant here and there. For the most part though, it was generally clear sailing to pick up entire waves in one go. That changed with the
Read moreAs an action figure collector, I’m a sucker for variants. Some folks don’t care for repainted and re-released figures, preferring to stay with the main versions of their favorites. Not me. I’ve always gone in for the recolors and remolds. I think I can trace it back in general to the Masters of the Universe toys. I know that even
Read moreWhile the name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, Night Creeper Leader is one of the more memorable looking late Real American Hero line Cobras. There’s no mistaking just what part of the venerable vintage small Joe line he hails from. The man apparently likes the color orange. Night Creeper Leader appeared first in the infamous DIC produced animated series.
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