Spike Spiegel
Member
Yeah, that's right people
ACTION. FIGURES. Not characters, as seen in the comics and cartoons; if I did say that, then I'm pretty damn sure nearly every response would end up listing the same group of Joes. No, I'm talking strictly about the action figures themselves, from the 3 ¾" A Real American Hero series that continues to this day (at least, until Sigma Six drops). I want to know the Joe/Cobra action figures that you liked best, or played with the most, or begged your mom for days to let you have, or felt was the coolest or coolest-looking, or had the best accessories, or whatever. It's up to you to decide the criteria by which your list is made, but remember: action figures, not characters.
Please separate your lists by Joe/Cobra alliance. Also, you don't have to list any "Honorable Mentions" or vehicles if you don't want to; it's okay to just do a "Top 5" of Joe/Cobra action figures. And finally, for characters that have had multiple versions over the years (Snake Eyes, for example, has had... what, 20 versions?), it might be best to give the specific version, or describe it well enough so that the rest of us know which one you're referring to.
Can't remember? Visit www.yojoe.com and let the nostalgia rush in!
Here's my list. I put a lot of thought into it, and I hope you do the same with yours.
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GI JOE
1. 2002 Snake Eyes / 1989 Snake Eyes - Hear me out for a sec, here. I know I said "pick figures, not characters;" but as my favorite character, Snake Eyes was THE Joe that I played with most. That said the 2002 version is, IMO, the best Snake Eyes figure made to date. An incredible sculpt with lots of detail, spot-on paint scheme, tons of articulation (even ankles!), and a cool assortment of accessories. It just screams "Badass!" But I'm an adult now, and it's not the same as when I was a kid, and back then my favorite Snake Eyes was the '89 model. That one's design tied into an awesome storyline from the comic, and it came with some really great accessories. Plus I really liked that sword
2. 1989 Stalker - Now this is a case of "most bang for your buck." If you'll scroll down on that link, you'll see yeah, that's right Stalker came with a kayak. A freakin' KAYAK! It even had a machine gun mounted on top. How awesome is that? I wasn't too keen on his weapons being white, but they still looked cool and they matched his outfit. Needless to say, Stalker and his boat spent a lot of time fighting naval battles in our house's bathtub.
3. 1987 Falcon - Forget about the cartoon version, forget about Don Johnson for a sec, and just look at the figure. For me, Falcon was a case of everything just clicking, I guess. He sports a simple, functional, realistic design that worked with the military theme without being flashy or over the top. The shotgun - a rarity among Joes - easily fit into his hands, and the long handle meant it wouldn't fall out. The backpack was small, and featured a slot for his combat knife. In fact, the only bad part of his design was that antenna, which was EASILY lost within seconds of removing the figure from its packaging. Falcon just worked for me.
4. 1989 Rock 'n Roll - I had a hard time choosing between this guy and Repeater when making this list, but in the end, when it comes to heavy Joe firepower you've gotta go with Rock 'n Roll. Besides, Predator beats Alien right? Just look at this dude's accessories to see why I chose him: two belt-fed Gatling cannons with an ammo backpack, and a shotgun. Simply awesome, and a major upgrade from the M-60 he once sported. Jesse Ventura, eat your heart out.
5. 1988 Blizzard - Aaaaaaand I bet you're all saying, "Who?" right about now. I must admit, even to me this is an oddball choice. But of all the snow Joes, Blizzard was my favorite for two reasons: those spiked snow shoes, and that backpack. Because the spiked shoes fit most Joes (I usually put them on Snake Eyes), and the backpack became a rocket sled when assembled. Cool features, and the figure didnt look too bad either. No ski poles, but just a great combination of accessories and figure.
Honorable Mentions: 1984 Spirit (cool accessories, eagle companion, great design except for the ponytails), 1988 Hit & Run (awesome accessories, realistic weapons, crappy paint scheme), 1986 Sci Fi (futuristic design, neon green suit, crappy accessories)
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COBRA
1. 1989 Night Viper - How's that for a #1, eh? This guy came near the end of my GI Joe days, yet he fast became my favorite Cobra figure ever; in fact, I often disregarded his status as a Cobra and sided him with the Joes on my play adventures. He's got a great paint scheme, cool design, an awesome helmet feature w/ the night vision goggles, and his weapon can be affixed to his leg! I used to load this guy up with weapons, turn out the lights in my room, and let him loose on the unsuspecting Cobra ranks not unlike a certain stealthy videogame character of today.
2. 1984 Storm Shadow - Don't worry, I'm not disregarding my own rules Storm Shadow was a great character, to be sure, but he was also one of my favorite figures to play with. From a design standpoint, he was probably the most interesting of the early Cobras, and the fact that he was a ninja didn't hurt either. But what really puts him over is his accessories. Two Japanese swords, a bow, nunchuks and one of the best backpacks EVER. Not only was it unique looking, it held every one of Storm Shadows weapons and looked cool doing it. Incredible design. I just wish he had come with a claw like the 1988 "good" version.
3. 1989 Alley Viper - Ah, the Alley Viper. Clean design, not so keen on the paint deco, but just take a look at those accessories! Cool-looking backpack, a functional helmet device (blast shield!), wicked looking assault rifle, and a SHIELD! Now, other GI Joe characters in the past have had shields, but this one this one worked, and it fit the character.
4. 1987 Croc Master - Just look at him. Black mask, reptile skin clothes, big yellow eye on the belt buckle it works well with his schtick, doesn't it? Plus, he's the only (?) GI Joe character to come with a whip, which for Indiana Jones fans like me was a big plus. What else am I forgetting? Oh yes AN ALLIGATOR! He came with an alligator! Now maybe it's just me, because Im from Louisiana, but any action figure with a freakin' alligator on a leash is tops in my book.
5. 1986 BATs - Heh. I ended up getting about 5 of these before my mother caught on to what I was doing and told me "no more, mister." And what I was doing was building an army of cannon fodder for my Joes to mow down, with these wonderful little droids. I mean, you had to get a bunch of them anyway, to recreate the cartoon battles and because those little arm attachments kept getting lost.
Honorable Mentions: 1983 Destro (cool design, silver head, crappy accessories), 1986 Viper (best Cobra footsoldier, crappy accessories), 1990 Rock Viper (awesome backpack, big honkin' sniper rifle, crappy design)
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VEHICLES/PLAYSETS
1. 1986 HAVOC - If you didn't have one of these in your GI Joe collection as a kid, then you either didn't really love GI Joe or you were just plain unlucky. This was THE vehicle to have, and with good reason. The HAVOC looked incredibly cool, had a ton of features, was bristling with weaponry, could accommodate a small army of Joes, and best of all had a hidden hovercraft docked inside! Plus it came with Cross Country, who along with Wild Bill is one of the Joes best vehicle drivers ever. This thing was, as the young kids say today, DA BOMB.
2. 1982 VAMP / 1982 RAM - I know I'm cheating a bit by putting these two together, but mentioning one without the other would be an injustice. These were the first two Joe vehicles that I ever had, and in all the years that followed they still remained a favorite at playtime. That kind of longevity says a lot about them, IMO. They were the ultimate light-attack vehicles for the Joe team, the perfect blend of design, simplicity, and durability. That last one is especially true; whereas the later motorcycle (1985 Silver Mirage) would easily come apart, the RAM was one tough sonovab*tch.
3. 1986 Conquest X-30 - I've got a feeling that a lot of people are going to question this one, or cite the Skystriker as their favorite, but for my money the Conquest was the best Joe fighter aircraft ever made. Why, you ask? Because the Skystriker was too fragile, had too many moving parts to lose or break, and was just too damn big to handle for my small child's frame. By comparison, the Conquest was smaller, more solidly constructed, had fewer moving parts, carried a comparable level or armament, and was easier to maneuver than the Skystriker. That puts it over on my list, easily. Plus, Slipstream just looked better than Ace.
4. 1987 Mobile Command Center - For several years I had been begging my parents to buy me a playset for my Joes, and when the Defiant made its debut they finally caved by buying me the MCC instead. No matter; this enormous, three-tiered mobile base soon became the centerpiece of my Joe collection, and the focal point of my play adventures. And why wouldn't it? It's no aircraft carrier, but it's still pretty freakin' big, and unlike that monstrosity you can fold it up into a cool battle vehicle. There was even a bay on the ground level to park my VAMP, and a prison to hold Cobra Commander.
5. 1983 HISS Tank / 1983 FANG Chopper - This pair makes my list for the same reasons as the RAM and VAMP. They were the first Cobra vehicles I obtained, and they remained a favorite for years. Simple, functional, durable designs, without a lot of the hassles or fancy crap that they insisted on adding to future vehicles. They just worked, and even at that tender young age I could appreciate that sometimes, simple is best.
Honorable Mentions: 1990 Cobra Hammerhead (last GI Joe vehicle I ever bought), 1984 Water Moccassin (best GI Joe water-based vehicle, liked it so much I bought another one years later), 1986 Cobra Terrordrome (best GI Joe playset EVER, too bad I didnt own one), 1986 Air Chariot w/ Serpentor (only way to get Serpentor, flimsy construction)
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So there you go. Have fun!
Please separate your lists by Joe/Cobra alliance. Also, you don't have to list any "Honorable Mentions" or vehicles if you don't want to; it's okay to just do a "Top 5" of Joe/Cobra action figures. And finally, for characters that have had multiple versions over the years (Snake Eyes, for example, has had... what, 20 versions?), it might be best to give the specific version, or describe it well enough so that the rest of us know which one you're referring to.
Can't remember? Visit www.yojoe.com and let the nostalgia rush in!
Here's my list. I put a lot of thought into it, and I hope you do the same with yours.
---------------------------------------------------------
GI JOE
1. 2002 Snake Eyes / 1989 Snake Eyes - Hear me out for a sec, here. I know I said "pick figures, not characters;" but as my favorite character, Snake Eyes was THE Joe that I played with most. That said the 2002 version is, IMO, the best Snake Eyes figure made to date. An incredible sculpt with lots of detail, spot-on paint scheme, tons of articulation (even ankles!), and a cool assortment of accessories. It just screams "Badass!" But I'm an adult now, and it's not the same as when I was a kid, and back then my favorite Snake Eyes was the '89 model. That one's design tied into an awesome storyline from the comic, and it came with some really great accessories. Plus I really liked that sword
2. 1989 Stalker - Now this is a case of "most bang for your buck." If you'll scroll down on that link, you'll see yeah, that's right Stalker came with a kayak. A freakin' KAYAK! It even had a machine gun mounted on top. How awesome is that? I wasn't too keen on his weapons being white, but they still looked cool and they matched his outfit. Needless to say, Stalker and his boat spent a lot of time fighting naval battles in our house's bathtub.
3. 1987 Falcon - Forget about the cartoon version, forget about Don Johnson for a sec, and just look at the figure. For me, Falcon was a case of everything just clicking, I guess. He sports a simple, functional, realistic design that worked with the military theme without being flashy or over the top. The shotgun - a rarity among Joes - easily fit into his hands, and the long handle meant it wouldn't fall out. The backpack was small, and featured a slot for his combat knife. In fact, the only bad part of his design was that antenna, which was EASILY lost within seconds of removing the figure from its packaging. Falcon just worked for me.
4. 1989 Rock 'n Roll - I had a hard time choosing between this guy and Repeater when making this list, but in the end, when it comes to heavy Joe firepower you've gotta go with Rock 'n Roll. Besides, Predator beats Alien right? Just look at this dude's accessories to see why I chose him: two belt-fed Gatling cannons with an ammo backpack, and a shotgun. Simply awesome, and a major upgrade from the M-60 he once sported. Jesse Ventura, eat your heart out.
5. 1988 Blizzard - Aaaaaaand I bet you're all saying, "Who?" right about now. I must admit, even to me this is an oddball choice. But of all the snow Joes, Blizzard was my favorite for two reasons: those spiked snow shoes, and that backpack. Because the spiked shoes fit most Joes (I usually put them on Snake Eyes), and the backpack became a rocket sled when assembled. Cool features, and the figure didnt look too bad either. No ski poles, but just a great combination of accessories and figure.
Honorable Mentions: 1984 Spirit (cool accessories, eagle companion, great design except for the ponytails), 1988 Hit & Run (awesome accessories, realistic weapons, crappy paint scheme), 1986 Sci Fi (futuristic design, neon green suit, crappy accessories)
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COBRA
1. 1989 Night Viper - How's that for a #1, eh? This guy came near the end of my GI Joe days, yet he fast became my favorite Cobra figure ever; in fact, I often disregarded his status as a Cobra and sided him with the Joes on my play adventures. He's got a great paint scheme, cool design, an awesome helmet feature w/ the night vision goggles, and his weapon can be affixed to his leg! I used to load this guy up with weapons, turn out the lights in my room, and let him loose on the unsuspecting Cobra ranks not unlike a certain stealthy videogame character of today.
2. 1984 Storm Shadow - Don't worry, I'm not disregarding my own rules Storm Shadow was a great character, to be sure, but he was also one of my favorite figures to play with. From a design standpoint, he was probably the most interesting of the early Cobras, and the fact that he was a ninja didn't hurt either. But what really puts him over is his accessories. Two Japanese swords, a bow, nunchuks and one of the best backpacks EVER. Not only was it unique looking, it held every one of Storm Shadows weapons and looked cool doing it. Incredible design. I just wish he had come with a claw like the 1988 "good" version.
3. 1989 Alley Viper - Ah, the Alley Viper. Clean design, not so keen on the paint deco, but just take a look at those accessories! Cool-looking backpack, a functional helmet device (blast shield!), wicked looking assault rifle, and a SHIELD! Now, other GI Joe characters in the past have had shields, but this one this one worked, and it fit the character.
4. 1987 Croc Master - Just look at him. Black mask, reptile skin clothes, big yellow eye on the belt buckle it works well with his schtick, doesn't it? Plus, he's the only (?) GI Joe character to come with a whip, which for Indiana Jones fans like me was a big plus. What else am I forgetting? Oh yes AN ALLIGATOR! He came with an alligator! Now maybe it's just me, because Im from Louisiana, but any action figure with a freakin' alligator on a leash is tops in my book.
5. 1986 BATs - Heh. I ended up getting about 5 of these before my mother caught on to what I was doing and told me "no more, mister." And what I was doing was building an army of cannon fodder for my Joes to mow down, with these wonderful little droids. I mean, you had to get a bunch of them anyway, to recreate the cartoon battles and because those little arm attachments kept getting lost.
Honorable Mentions: 1983 Destro (cool design, silver head, crappy accessories), 1986 Viper (best Cobra footsoldier, crappy accessories), 1990 Rock Viper (awesome backpack, big honkin' sniper rifle, crappy design)
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VEHICLES/PLAYSETS
1. 1986 HAVOC - If you didn't have one of these in your GI Joe collection as a kid, then you either didn't really love GI Joe or you were just plain unlucky. This was THE vehicle to have, and with good reason. The HAVOC looked incredibly cool, had a ton of features, was bristling with weaponry, could accommodate a small army of Joes, and best of all had a hidden hovercraft docked inside! Plus it came with Cross Country, who along with Wild Bill is one of the Joes best vehicle drivers ever. This thing was, as the young kids say today, DA BOMB.
2. 1982 VAMP / 1982 RAM - I know I'm cheating a bit by putting these two together, but mentioning one without the other would be an injustice. These were the first two Joe vehicles that I ever had, and in all the years that followed they still remained a favorite at playtime. That kind of longevity says a lot about them, IMO. They were the ultimate light-attack vehicles for the Joe team, the perfect blend of design, simplicity, and durability. That last one is especially true; whereas the later motorcycle (1985 Silver Mirage) would easily come apart, the RAM was one tough sonovab*tch.
3. 1986 Conquest X-30 - I've got a feeling that a lot of people are going to question this one, or cite the Skystriker as their favorite, but for my money the Conquest was the best Joe fighter aircraft ever made. Why, you ask? Because the Skystriker was too fragile, had too many moving parts to lose or break, and was just too damn big to handle for my small child's frame. By comparison, the Conquest was smaller, more solidly constructed, had fewer moving parts, carried a comparable level or armament, and was easier to maneuver than the Skystriker. That puts it over on my list, easily. Plus, Slipstream just looked better than Ace.
4. 1987 Mobile Command Center - For several years I had been begging my parents to buy me a playset for my Joes, and when the Defiant made its debut they finally caved by buying me the MCC instead. No matter; this enormous, three-tiered mobile base soon became the centerpiece of my Joe collection, and the focal point of my play adventures. And why wouldn't it? It's no aircraft carrier, but it's still pretty freakin' big, and unlike that monstrosity you can fold it up into a cool battle vehicle. There was even a bay on the ground level to park my VAMP, and a prison to hold Cobra Commander.
5. 1983 HISS Tank / 1983 FANG Chopper - This pair makes my list for the same reasons as the RAM and VAMP. They were the first Cobra vehicles I obtained, and they remained a favorite for years. Simple, functional, durable designs, without a lot of the hassles or fancy crap that they insisted on adding to future vehicles. They just worked, and even at that tender young age I could appreciate that sometimes, simple is best.
Honorable Mentions: 1990 Cobra Hammerhead (last GI Joe vehicle I ever bought), 1984 Water Moccassin (best GI Joe water-based vehicle, liked it so much I bought another one years later), 1986 Cobra Terrordrome (best GI Joe playset EVER, too bad I didnt own one), 1986 Air Chariot w/ Serpentor (only way to get Serpentor, flimsy construction)
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So there you go. Have fun!
