On the ninth Joe A Day of Christmas, I lamely found something that relates to the number nine. Look, people, this holiday theme thing is harder than it seems. So to start over…on the ninth Joe A Day, it’s the 1982 nine back. I’m surprised that there’s not as much focus on cardback versions in Joe collecting as there is
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A recent post on Hisstank featuring a set of custom original thirteen Joes in tan a la Grunt and Clutch got me to thinking about those two guys, and how much I like the tan repaints. I’ve covered ’84 Clutch once before, so why not share a few more thoughts? Tan Clutch is one of my most fondly remembered Joes.
Read more1994 was a sad year for this GI Joe collector, especially since I was an adult who had come back to the line just a few years before. The rug was pulled out too quickly for me. I had been excited to see each year’s new offerings, even though I had a different purpose for my little plastic men than
Read moreWhat was the deal with the geometric camo in 1988? Shockwave, Repeater and Storm Shadow were sporting the odd patterns that year. Shockwave however went one better and threw in some yellow. It certainly adds interest to the figure, and makes for a unique and memorable looking toy. I was intrigued by the figures’ looks when I spotted them at
Read moreOkay neon naysayers, here’s where it started, way back in 1986. This is where Joe got a lime green infusion of highlighter-esque hues. Sure, Airtight was released a year earlier, but I don’t consider his suit in the same way, since bright yellow is a common hazmat color. No, Sci-Fi is wearing his green just because. For some, between the
Read moreThe Tiger Force figures, taken as a whole, seem a little haphazard. While there are common elements among the figures, the colors and application of tiger stripes vary widely. Maybe the higher-ups just sent out a big box of uniforms and let the troops pick what they wanted. It wouldn’t surprise me, given the team’s usual dress standards. Seeing the
Read moreHappy Halloween! Some folks may ask on this spooky holiday: are there any monsters in the Real American Hero era of GI Joe? Of course there are, thanks to that most wonderfully ridiculous and toyriffic of decades for Joe, the 90s. These weren’t just monsters either, but Mega Monsters. This was the decade of the extreme, after all. As further
Read moreWhat can I say about Shipwreck? He’s probably one of the more divisive characters in the GI Joe fan world. Some his can’t stand his portrayal in the Sunbow cartoon, citing his nature as comic relief in many an episode. I’ve never had a problem with the guy, especially once I became an adult. I didn’t find him all that
Read moreThe new Skystrikers are real beauties, opined Stalker in the first line of the Sunbow series’ GI Joe animation. I echo his sentiment, and would add that they’re also quite photogenic. The Skystriker photos were my favorite of the many shots in the ’83 catalog. The plan and elevation style inset shots show off the detail and scale of the
Read moreThe next section in the landmark ’83 catalog is all about battlefield equipment and vehicles. The Joe and Cobra teams’ arsenals expanded in their second year, and the battefield equipment assortment was the first to be spotlighted. The ingenious weapons accessory pack made its first appearance, and though the weapons were recolored, I still got a lot of use out
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