The 1980s were a grand time for playset fans, as most major toylines received at least one HQ or similar item as a play environment for their figures. GI Joe was no different, even in only its second year of the relaunch. The amazing Headquarters Command Center dominates the next section of the 1983 catalog. It sits on the same
Read moreContinuing from yesterday’s post about the 1983 catalog, it’s the section that first greets you at the top of the pamphlet. This section got the most attention from me way back when. I still have a very vivid memory of going to get a haircut, and waiting for what seemed to be an interminable amount of time. I’m sure it
Read moreI thought the mail-in Sgt. Slaughter was a pretty nice looking figure as a kid. I actually didn’t even have him until years later, but my best friend had sent away for him. I remember being impressed with the size of the figure, as the Sarge towers over pretty much every other GI Joe figure of the time. The paint
Read moreYeah, now here’s a blast from the past. I had one of these cool vehicles back in the day. It was quite an exciting toy, since the actual GI Joe line at that point only had the MOBAT, which although it was very cool as a motorized tank, wasn’t quite the same. This thing was remote controlled! How cool is
Read moreMuch like the redesign of the Viper in 1994, the Ninja Force Night Creeper took one of the more iconic looking Cobra troops and changed it up just in time for the Real American Hero era to come to a close. It’s a shame too, as style on display with this figure really suits the function of the troopers, as
Read moreWhen I started collecting GI Joes again in the early 90s, there were some toys from my youth that I had somehow forgotten about. The Sears exclusive Dreadnok vehicles were one memory that had mysteriously vanished from my mind. I know that I must have seen them in the Christmas catalog that year, as I pored over each store’s version
Read moreWhat happened here? Low Light hit the hair dye. One of the strangest changes of the reimagined figures over the years, fans still wonder why Low Light went from a clean shaven blonde to a grizzled raven haired soldier. Somebody just wasn’t too concerned with toy continuity. Not surprising, since a market of vocal and nit picky adult collectors didn’t
Read moreDial-Tone was among the repaints for the Sonic Fighters sub team. His presence makes sense, as his specialty fits in with the team’s concept. Even his backpack isn’t too bad, although it is huge like all the others. That’s to be expected considering the technology of the time. Thankfully, it’s removable. The colors are quite good this time around, with
Read moreWhat could be better for an aspiring world dominator than to literally build his own army? Almost as ubiquitous a front line Cobra trooper as the famous Viper (especially in the second season Sunbow cartoon) the Battle Android Trooper still resonates with collectors. Creating an easily disposable enemy combatant, not only was a step toward answering the concerns of TV
Read moreSpirit got his due in the 90s with a newly designed figure, and a command as well. The leader of the Air Commandos, a group of figures who piloted gliders, the long time Joe team member shows up in an interesting 90s uniform. The original Spirit is one of the more iconic figures for those of us who grew up
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