There’s a charm about the original thirteen Real American Hero GI Joe figures that transcends the differences between the early figures and later releases. Say what you will about the repeated parts and simple sculpts and paint schemes, but I still love the class of ’82-83. I find it hard to pick out a favorite among them, but every time
Read moreI sit here tonight in the midst of a snow storm in May. More than a little odd for my corner of the world, and inspiring in a way. The last time I took photos in the snow was back in December. I figured I would tuck them away until the snowy season rolled around again, but I couldn’t resist
Read moreNemesis Enforcer. Sounds like the sort of thing you’d see as a knock-off Masters of the Universe villain.They say that Cobra-La was a placeholder name that was left without being changed, and Nemesis Enforcer seems generic enough to be one as well. In the movie, Nemesis Enforcer was a hulking presence, who easily dispatched many Joes, including Roadblock. He even
Read moreYesterday’s entry was one of the more obscure driver figures, and today’s is one of the better known. If you were around in the 80s for the small Joe line’s beginnings, you’ll remember this figure, and his vehicle. Though some of today’s collectors scoff at repainted figures and reused vehicles, I find that if they’re well done, the result can
Read moreSome 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 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 moreQuestion: are certain members of Python Patrol meant to be individuals? I know that Cooperhead is, but some of the other figures’ file cards change the terms from previous releases like “these” to “he’s”, and also frequently “this guy” which leads me to believe some may not be troopers, but rather single operatives. Then again, I could be reading too
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 moreWow, did Cobra ever branch out their specialized troops in 1989. Talk about diversification. The year gave rise to urban ops, night troopers, anti-tank specialists, land and air drivers, not to mention several funky Iron Grenadier types. Kids who wanted to troop build must have been in hog heaven. By the way, did anyone troop build back then? I think
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
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