Blocker (1987)
In 1987, the year 2000 seemed so far off. I’m sure some people thought flying cars would be the future. In fact, they’ve been saying that since the 50’s, and I’m getting upset about it–hey, future–where’s my flying car?
In the GI Joe universe, they apparently thought the future would be crazy looking modular vehicles which offered their drivers no combat protection whatsoever. This group of futuristic experimental vehicles (and drivers–sold separately) was called Battle Force 2000, which will henceforth be referred to as BF2K because I’m a lazy writer.
Blocker is the driver of the Eliminator, a jeep-like vehicle that featured a removable truck bed that could function as its own separate vehicle. Trust me, it’s not as cool as it sounds. All of the BF2K vehicles feature this ability to split in two. The six vehicles in the series could also combine to form the Future Fortress, which was billed as the “world’s most indestructible stronghold!” It’s not as cool as it sounds either. In fact, the fortress is downright destructible, as its pieces don’t even attach together. They just sort of lie there next to each other. Cripes, I could set the MOBAT, Wolverine and VAMP up in a square and call that a fortress, too.
Blocker, like the others in the BF2K sub-group, is an unwieldy design. If the future meant big helmets and clunky armor, then the future is now–or 1987. The team did not fare well in the comic as all but one of their members were killed in action.
Oh and for all two of the BF2K fans out there, I know he’s not pictured with his correct silver gun. It’s okay, take a deep breath. Feel better? Good.
Yikes, no love for the BF2K! If I recall correctly they were supposed to be in opposition with Destro and the IGs just with infinitely lamer stuff. I do have a soft spot for the ill fated BF2K teaam though, when I got back into the vintage stuff a few years ago that was the first subset I completed
The letters page of issue 113 of the comics (the issue where their “indestructible” stuff got itself thoroughly exploded) is home to my fondest memory of BF2K.
There is a letter that ends with “Let’s keep G.I. Joe going until Battleforce 2000 is a bunch of antiques”. This is replied to directly with one of the best comic letter replies I have ever read: “As for Battleforce 2000-well, it’s probably not such a good idea to be hitching your wagon to their star…” Classic!
Personally, I am fairly indifferent with regards to BF2K. 86-87 was about the time I had decided I was “too old” to play with toys (oh, the irony). Aside from the appearance, and subsequent disappearance (sorry I couldn’t resist), in the comics I was all but oblivious of the team.
I have a soft spot for the BF2K figures. The weapons were lame, but the designs of the figures themselves I thought were quite cool…especially Dodger, and Blaster.
The vehicles were pretty terrible, and find little use from me with the exception of the Sky Sweeper and Vector.
’87 was the year that for the most part G.I.Joe jumped the shark.
I was the same way when they came out, my Joe consumption was drawing to a close. I remember seeing the BF2K vehicles on the promos that came with a vehicle I got and thinking that they all looked like garbage. Or parts of some larger vehicle they never produced! I do remember years later a solo BF2K figure, I think his name was Dee-Jay on the back of a blister pack. Your teammates are all dead and now you show up?!?
BF2000 blew it on account of the poorly designed vehicles and even worse Future Fortress concept. (Did Hasbro even bother to check that the parts connected?) But I had the figures and enjoyed them a lot by integrating them into the main Joe team. Blocker was a favorite. I had the version without the visor and thought he looked cool. He would often be paired off with Hit & Run. I liked his camo (as with most of the others) and the fact that he was one of the taller, more imposing Joes. His gun really sucked though. BF2000 had a great intro in the comic series and I was rooting for them to make it. But alas, we’ll always have Dodger.
Wow! That was the harshest Joe A Day review I’ve read so far. However, it sounds like BF2K had it coming to them. I mean who bills their vehicles as turning into a playset, but doesn’t bother to make sure they connect? I would have been disappointed too!
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