Some driver figures are classics, to the level of the regular single carded characters. The early Real American Hero years are a perfect example of the drivers being as well developed and as much a part of the cartoon and comic stories as the main liners, when guys like Clutch and Wild Bill were integral parts of the team. As
Read moreWhy does this figure fascinate me? Perhaps it’s because he comes from a time when GI Joe wasn’t at the heights of popularity of the 80s, yet was a bold move in terms of being offered as a mail-in for a new line. The Hasbro direct program of the Real American Hero era was a juggernaut in terms of extra
Read moreMy interest in toy collecting has something of a historian slant to it. I find the behind the scenes stories of creation, production, and even cancellation to be fascinating. With GI Joe, those stories are being unearthed constantly thanks to the efforts of some seriously dedicated fans and collectors. It seems like every toy line has that mythical final series
Read moreThe final assortment of the Real American Hero era included some unsung figures that transcend their 90s origin. That decade at times gets some unfair derision among collectors. While there were a large amount of ridiculous and strange ideas going on, with every sort of sub-team and action feature you could think of, the figure output for those last few
Read moreThough I have a great fondness for the Sunbow cartoon, I do have a bone to pick with its portrayal of Bazooka. Did he have to sound like such a dunderhead? The file card describes him as a decisive fast thinker, and maybe he is to some extent (witness the ending of the Bazooka Saw a Sea Serpent episode), but
Read moreFunny enough that one of my favorite Roadblock figures was released in the Valor vs Venom era. Looking back at those last few years of the relaunch series, I find myself missing the idea of Toys R Us exclusive figure packs. Even though the sets were repaints, and many had issues, it was still nice to know that a major
Read moreThe first of three Lady Jaye figures released in the 25th anniversary series, this version follows closely to the original 1985 figure and its card art. Her most…uh…distinguishing feature is her impressive decolletage. If you ever needed a sign that the modern GI Joe lines are aimed at collectors, Lady Jaye is equipped with two good reasons. So the question
Read moreI’m torn. I really like the vintage Dial Tone figure, but I have a hard time liking this one. The old Dial Tone had a very unique look, from his outfit to his weapons and accessories. He was another one of those 80s redesigns that kept life in the line. The concept of a communications specialist that worked so well
Read moreCan you believe it took seven years to get a new Duke mold in the ARAH line? Pretty amazing considering the GI Joe poster boy he would become in later lines. I like this Duke a lot. Though the color scheme isn’t an accurate desert camo, the tan and red work together well. My only complaint about the mold are
Read moreSome of the art of customizing, or creating a new figure using either paint, sculpting, or mixing of parts, is the effective choice of said parts. To have an idea in mind, and to make the right choice from thousands of possibilities in the various GI Joe line, is a daunting process. It’s made even more of a challenge when
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