Knowing The Battle: GI Joe Vs Cobra

20/08/2024

GRUNT inspects the JUMP Launch Pad and Control Console!

The JUMP was initially released in 1983 without a figure and then later reissued with “Silver Pads” GRAND SLAM. Both JUMP sets were identical. The JUMP was also available through Hasbro’s Flag Points mail-away program through 1985. I figured that a shot with the JUMP set with an original Joe, THE OG JOE, showing the setup with the hand controller and JUMP backpack stored would be a nice addition from the very early years of The Real American Hero line! 🇺🇸

18/08/2024

A pair of Destro’s Elite ANNIHILATORS prepare to take flight in search of the G.I. JOE team! If they happen to run into some resistance from COBRA, that won’t be a problem either as THE DEVASTATOR converts from a Thundering Helicopter into a Tank!

11/08/2024

Forget “Once A Man”, I want a 3-pack with this Cobra-La chick and these guys from the 1987 G.I. Joe animated movie!

#1987

10/08/2024

Exclusive 1991 European Edition of SPIRIT in completely different colors. A very unique version that wasn’t used anywhere else. He comes with his eagle FREEDOM 🦅 and the same accessories as the Slaughter’s Marauders US V2 figure.

The file card reads “SPIRIT” on the English portion but strangely calls him “INDIANA” on the other languages section. Still, it’s clearly a very cool variation of SPIRIT!

09/08/2024

FLASH maintains GI JOE’S position behind the MISSILE DEFENSE UNIT!

One of the great things about the RAH line was the enormous amount of play sets and world building features. The Battlefield Accessory Sets added some exciting elements to make fun displays with ready to go diorama packs. Plus the price was around the same price as a single figure too, quite a value!

The 1984 MISSILE DEFENSE UNIT included:
1) BRICK TARGETING WALL
2) EX-83A 55MM MISSILE LAUNCHER
3) EX-83 PEDESTAL UNIT
4) TRI-PAK MISSILE CRATE
5J FIGURE POSING STANDS
6) SIGN POST
7) EX-83 55MM LONG RANGE MISSILE

03/08/2024

My cat Pepper decided she loves the new Techno-Viper! I think she likes the Purple figures especially.

28/07/2024

Checked a local SoCal Target yesterday and they had 8 Tiger Force Roadblock & Tripwire sets on the shelves. I’m assuming that’s a full case. Only one Naugahyde set however. I have a feeling that the TF sets may stick around for a bit as they are two figures that have been released before, with this being the 4th (or 5th Roadblock if you count the V1 repaint). That said, if you want to add them to your collection, I wouldn’t sleep on them or wait for clearance prices. The Classified Series is all over the place as far as distribution goes and exclusives are such a tricky thing. $54.99 is not cheap. It’s a tough choice for me personally as I am still far behind with my collection. So many Classified figures at this point and a bunch of new preorders and releases coming up. It was famine for a little bit and now it’s overwhelming to be honest, especially with the $325 Rattler HasLab in progress.

26/07/2024

While Hasbro Pulse doesn’t have it officially listed as funded, The Rattler HasLab has officially reached the 9000 initial number and is now FULLY FUNDED! At least for for the first amount of backers needed to get the Rattler into production. Now we need another 9000 or so to get this project unlocked with all the Tiers, and hopefully Hasbro will add some surprises along the way as we still have 45 days left until the campaign ends on September 9th. 9000+ backers in about 20 hours after launch, pretty impressive Joe fans!

27/02/2024

The Cobra Hydro Sled! Released in 1986, this little vehicle was a big success and one of the funnest additions to Cobra’s array of attack weapons. It was perfect for two figures, particularly the Cobra Eels and had 2 missiles plus a mounted assault weapon on the front. Simple design and a great bargain back in the day.

27/02/2024

FIREFLY (V1) French Card from ACTION FORCE / ACTION MAN. On the back of the card is an offer for a Free GRUNT figure with 5 “Medals”, equivalent to the US “Flag Points”. The Firefly figure is pretty much identical to the US version.

26/02/2024

It’s the 4th Anniversary of Hasbro’s announcement at Toy Fair 2020 of the G.I. JOE CLASSIFIED Series! And now we’re reaching 150 figures released or announced plus the HasLab HISS, multiple vehicles and much more to come! What a ride this has been, lots of ups and downs, frustrations and highlights, impossible to get figures to $5.99 close out deals. I’m still trying to catch up but it’s certainly been fun to have Joe back!

25/02/2024

Do You Have What It Takes? Be A Part Of The Special Forces - Join Cobra!
From famed DC Comics (and others) artist Ant Lucia.

16/02/2024

CHARBROIL (V1 1988). Probably a lesser known character, especially when compared to BLOWTORCH, Charbroil came with a lot of accessories to make Cobra burn! There is a variation on this figure, the eyes are either red matching his eyebrows or black that contrast much better. Charbroil has only had a few versions, the most notable being a NIGHT FORCE deco that was part of a 2-pack with REPEATER in 1989 as a Toys R Us Exclusive.

15/02/2024

12/02/2024

You’ve seen the leaked images of the new Sgt. Slaughter, Low Light and Spirit in “Mad Marauders” deco multiple times in your GI Joe IG feed, so here’s what Spirit’s other eagle’s name means.

12/02/2024

It’s another Super Bowl and CAPT. GRID-IRON is sad that the football season is over. Maybe he’ll lead the ARMY Vets from the Joes to victory again in the annual G.I. Joe Fish Fry Football Game!

24/01/2024

1984 Mutt and Junkyard Action Force French Card by Palitoy. Under the Action Man banner, the Mutt & Junkyard figures were pretty much the same as the US release. On the back of the card is the group of figures available at the time as well as an offer for a free Grunt action figure with 5 Medal Points, the Palitoy version of Flag Points. The promotion was handled by General Mills France.

16/01/2024

Barbecue Unmasked! And it’s Bill Burr? Actually makes a lot of sense as the comedian and actor is from Boston as is Barbecue. This simple but clever head swap from the Star Wars “Migs Mayfield” Black Series Mandolarian figure. Credit to Reddit user ### for the original post.

08/01/2024

“EC Comics” Horror Homage Cover variant for IDW’s G.I. JOE #216. Shipwreck trapped on a boat against the fury of the indestructible B.A.T.!

07/01/2024

Anyone ever make the very simple Zartan in Cobra Commander disguise custom figure?

05/01/2024

3-D Printed 1/12th scale FLAK! This Field Light Artillery Cannon is actually much bigger in Classified size than one would initially think! Could we see this from Hasbro at some point? Time will tell but for now, it’s the fans who are making the most out of expanding the line’s range of vehicles and accessories!

26/12/2023

Reports of the next Transformers X GI Joe crossover set are showing an Optimus Prime / MOBAT with General Hawk 3 3/4” figure. No pics yet but the first question people are asking is whether Prime will be green to match the Joe’s tank or will it be red, white and blue like Prime. We’ll know shortly but sounds like a fantastic combination for both toy line fans!

26/12/2023

My first G.I. Joe! Christmas 1974, age 4 1/2”. The beginning of a lifetime of collecting!

#1974

25/12/2023

Santa, darling. You know that I’ve been a good girl. Don’t let listen to those moron G.I. Joe fools!

🎄

22/12/2023

COVER GIRL and her Wolverines, with ACE and his Skystriker in the background. From a SOLD OUT massive 6” x 2” illustration by called “83 GI JOE COLLECTION”Jamie has been doing some great art work featuring GI JOE characters and it’s been exciting to see what he comes up with, it’s always special!

22/12/2023

SOLD OUT! Missed out on this Firefly (V2) at half off, but that’s how the game is now.

I am really blown away by how many Classified figures are being cleared out by the Big Box retailers. I expect Christmas sales but there have been some brand new figures that are now gone at half price or less. Will they be restocked or are the waves just pouring in at a ridiculous rate?

It’s clear that Joes are overpriced and now not only is it getting harder to keep track and up to date, some may just be moved in and out, gone. Whether they show up next fall at Ross or Ollie’s, who knows. It feels like there might be some waves that just won’t be easy to get later. We’ll see, it’s all so confusing and troubling for the line and for collectors.

22/12/2023

1988 COBRA IMP. Small tank that has some firepower and could easily be made into 1/12” scale for Classified. And even Toxo-Vipers can drive them!

#1988

20/12/2023

1986 - Sgt. Slaughter (Argentina) from the “Heroic Commands” GI JOE line released by Plastirama. Translation of the File Card into English is pretty interesting - who’s “Alan Heavy”?

18/12/2023

Maybe this is a simple question to answer but I don’t have a clue. So, a user posted this coin on Reddit last month and no one came up with where this coin came from. It’s not the 2023 Super7 “Recruitment Coin” that gained you “special access” to the Super7 store in San Diego. That coin is shown on the 2nd page here. And the 2022 Super7 coin was RED, same writing and markings as the gold 2023 coin. The mystery coin has a “1982” marked on it and the Cobra Commander and overall design is very different. Is this an early sample? It looks flatter, less “minted” than the Super7 coins. Any one know what this is? And if I just missed wildly not knowing, that’s the other half of the battle! Yo Joe!

15/12/2023

DIAL TONE (V1 1986). I did a little mix-up of the card art for fun. Definitely one of my top favorite Joes!

#1986