When I was a kid, I had checked out a toy history book from the local library (from the reference section not to be taken from the building–shhh! Don’t tell anyone!) and it had old 60s and 70s catalog pages printed throughout. The 12 inch Adventure Team Joes were featured prominently, and I remember being enthralled and perplexed about the
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Aside from a starkly decorated Sears exclusive, Hasbro’s Atomic Man didn’t get the benefit of a coffin box. Instead, like other later line releases, he was packaged on a blister card. Granted, he got a nice pose out of the deal, but the fully painted box of old was surely missed. The UK got a throwback of sorts with its
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I’ve always had a thing for GI Joe pilot figures. Ace, although he spent a lot of time in the cockpit of his Skystriker, was a favorite of mine as a kid. Years later, when I began to collect the 1960s GI Joes, I gravitated toward the Scramble Pilot and even the Air Police. At the same time (the mid
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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.
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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.
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The 2002 relaunch of GI Joe afforded collectors with the opportunity to build their forces in two different scales. Among small scale Joe fans, the redesigned line often gets short shrift. I am still a fan of the period, not only due to the memories of collecting a new line at its beginning, but also for the interesting redesigns of
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After creating the Hall of Fame body for GI Joe’s 12 inch ressurrection at mass retail, Hasbro utilized the new buck across of quite a few of its other lines. Everything from the relaunched Star Wars, to other licensed properties like Aliens and Street Fighter had GI Joe bones beneath its skin. Hasbro’s Universal Studios Monsters Signature Series was another
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The creepiness continues as we lurch toward Halloween. Longtime readers know that I like to feature the also-rans that sprang up around the success of the famous Hasbro brand. Lanard’s CORPS! started out in the 80s, and continues to this day, has put out its share of odd figures over the years. Where the Joes fought drugs and protected the
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By YT I will always remember the excitement I had seeing the first pictures of Rock N Roll and Zartan at Sideshow’s SDCC display. I was new to collecting 1/6 figures but even I could see Sideshow was stepping up their game. I still feel those 2 figures were the pinnacle of the Sideshow Joe line. What can I add
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By YT I am a huge fan of the Sideshow GI Joe line, I own every figure except one and I shouldn’t. This figure is one from the, I should have passed column. He has several positive features and a lot of drawbacks. His gear load-out is impressive, typical for Sideshow. He has several firearms and edged weapons all well done. He
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