Space Shot Awakens
Well, this is as close as I could come to a Star Wars figure on this evening of the premiere of Episode VII. Digging back into the vaults tonight, so check out Star Brigade’s answer to Han Solo right here.
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1988 Sears Wishbook
I was out of GI Joe collecting by1988, and wasn’t paying attention to catalogs any longer. Too bad, since there were some great toys, and still a decent spread in the Wishbook.
Read moreCobra Viper (2006)
I was stoked when I first found out about the DTC Cobra Viper Pit set. Here was an army builder pack of Vipers that not only gave us something close to the old color scheme, but also looked to have solved the problem of the funky leg molds that plagued the previous re-release versions. Well, sort of. While the thighs
Read moreCobra CLAWS (2004 Walmart Exclusive)
I’m a sucker for interesting repaints. The Walmart exclusive Valor vs Venom two packs paired some of the more mundane molds with a couple of the better figures of the era. The Cobra CLAWS I found to be an odd concept. The toy itself features a unique character design, but bears the mark of many new sculpt era figures–weird proportions.
Read moreThe Power of Packaging: Operation Shadow Ops
I like almost everything about the short-lived and mostly forgotten Adventures of GI Joe 2010 line. The packaging did a fine job of trying to create a world for these toys. The only problem–no bad guys to fight. This particular set seems inspired by the modern take on the Mission: Impossible franchise.
Read moreUnknown Steel Brigade
While looking through the inventory of GI Joe pics I’ve collected over the years, I happened upon this image that I captured from an eBay auction many years ago. If you were collecting Joes during the new sculpt era, you may remember that new releases were fairly regularly previewed via online auctions coming out of China. Some of the figures
Read moreMARS Invades Iron Grenadier
By KansasBrawler As a Joe collector, I’ve always loved everything about the Iron Grenadiers. I remember using my vintage Iron Grenadier figure a lot as a very dangerous bodyguard. I’ve also previously mentioned my slight obsession with the vintage Night Viper figure since I never found him when I was a kid. When I first saw reviews of the M.A.R.S.
Read moreMove Out!
I found this Remco Sgt. Rock ad inside the final issue of Brave and the Bold from 1983. I recall these and Remco’s Warlord being more prevalent than Joe ads, but maybe I just had more DC comics back then. The illustrations look much more impressive than the actual toys were, thanks to the amazing Joe Kubert.
Read moreMan of Action (2007 re-issue)
I’m pretty late to the party when it comes to the classic Adventure Team figures. Although I was old enough to see them a couple of times as a kid (through older neighbor friends) I didn’t have an older brother to hand down his Joes for everyday play. For that reason, I had little experience with or attachment to them.
Read more1990 Consumers Distributing Catalog Spread
Now we’re getting into the catalog years that I surreptitiously followed as a burgeoning adult collector. First off, I’ll admit it–I bought 1989 Batman toys. Okay, maybe just Batman and Bob the Goon, but can you blame a kid collector turned teen comic geek? Getting into comics after dumping the toys of my youth actually led me right back into
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