What it takes to join Cobra

Cobra Troopers negotiating an urban environment

When discussing terrorist groups, there are two types that you hear about most on the news: Domestic Terrorist Organizations (DTOs) and Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Either of these can be self-sustaining, or state sponsored groups, and they can range from a disorganized band of informally trained civilians, to professionally trained mercenaries, and former soldiers in a highly trained organization. There are currently seventy-two groups listed as Foreign Terrorist Organizations on the FBI’s Counter-Terrorism website.

All are independent groups working in specific countries or regions of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Central and South America, Europe, and Southern Asia. Some are off shoots of the same organization, with various regional identities having no formal ties to the host organization that they claim to represent. What isn’t on the list is one group that has evaded detection for years, and operates in the shadows on every continent.

It began as an attempt for revenge by a mentally deranged business entrepreneur from Springfield, Illinois. His brother lost his life in a car accident as a result of driving while intoxicated, and it started him down a dark path to revenge. He sold his home out from under his wife, stole her savings, and abandoned her and their son. He began financing domestic terrorist operations right here on American soil, and within just a few years his plot for revenge had evolved into a multi million-dollar enterprise.

He began investing in everything from communications to pharmaceuticals, to infrastructure and transportation. This shadow organization soon eclipsed even the most well-funded criminal and terrorist groups anywhere in the world. No one knew who they were, or where they were located. The scant intelligence that was gathered from other terrorist organizations all pointed to someone and something much deadlier, and much more powerful than anyone could imagine. That threat is Cobra. It is an emerging global entity, with assets, informants, and operatives in every country, and in every sector of society.

it is the single largest terrorist organization in the history of the world, and its exact numbers are unknown. As part of our ISR mission, we have pieced together intel from a source in Kosovo who is familiar with their recruiters, and what the requirements are to join Cobra. To begin, no one approaches Cobra, they approach you. Depending upon who you and where you are, it may be an invitation to a business dinner, or a football game. For others it’s a meeting outside of town at a local pub. Each candidate has already been screened for their background and familial history and ties, and then offered an opportunity to change their lifestyle.

Those who accept, are further evaluated for their loyalty before being whisked away to an undisclosed Island for training. Here we have learned that all Cobra recruits go through the same month-long assessment and selection process. We’re told that their training was designed and run by a former Blade with the New Zealand SAS Regiment, and that recruits are evaluated on a scaled back version of the Regiments selection process. If they succeed, they must undergo another psychological evaluation, before swearing total allegiance to Cobra Commander, the organizations founder and DeFacto leader.

If a candidate fails or is rejected by Cobra Commander, they are killed, and their bodies are either burned on the island, or weighted down and dumped off shore. Candidates who pass are put through Cobra’s infantry training program, which involves extensive small arms and small team tactics training. Depending upon the needs of the organization, some recruits receive advanced training in tracked and wheeled vehicles, demolitions, and target interdiction. We have also learned from our source that Cobra has its own Special Operations unit called Vipers.

These soldiers are said to be experts in Close Quarters Battle, urban combat, and desert warfare. They are also reported to train in Psychological Warfare operations, and used for Direct Action Missions. They are for Cobra what G.I. Joe is for the United States. These soldiers are reportedly hand-picked for a year long, advanced selection and training process, before being allowed to become a Viper. According to our source most recruits are sent back to their homes upon completion of their training, to be utilized as assets as needed.

This expansive network of human informants and operators loyal to Cobra Commander gives him unprecedented access and reach, into every sector of the world’s governments and societies. According to our source Cobra Commander is determined to rule the world through blackmail, fear, and intimidation. Their ability to continue to strike at targets and escape unseen means that there is more at play than we realize, and that puts us behind the curve. Now that we know what it takes to join Cobra, maybe we can use that to our advantage in the near future.

What it takes to become a G.I. Joe

I have been a fan of G.I. Joe for the past thirty-nine years, and tonight I want to discuss a subject that I have never seen anyone address until now, and that is what it would take to become a member of G.I. Joe if they were a real military unit. I am writing this article as a subject matter expert on the franchise, and taking information from the cartoons, comics, live action films, and toy line. I’m also basing it upon my knowledge of the special operations community, having spent the past thirteen years training with retired military special operations personnel.

To begin, we’re all familiar with the tag line that “G.I. Joe is America’s daring and highly trained special missions force.” The key is Special Missions Force, or Unit. If G.I. Joe were real, then it would be classified as a Special Missions Unit, or SMU. These are Tier One Special Operations organizations that conduct classified operations such as Direct Action, Hostage Rescue, Special Reconnaissance, and eliminating High Value Targets, or HVTs.

SMUs recruit candidates from Tier 02 and Tier 03 military units, but are not limited to them for selecting the right candidate. An example of a Tier 02 unit would be the U.S. Army Green Berets (Special Forces, Airborne) while a Tier 03 unit would be the 82nd Airborne Division. Candidates must meet a minimum set of requirements for that specific SMU in order to attend their selection course, and usually requires them to be a certain age, rank, and be able to meet a minimum physical training standard, as well as qualify for a Top-Secret security clearance.

Depending upon the unit, selection will vary, but is most often a month-long course designed to test a candidate’s abilities and commitment. They are looking for individuals who can think for themselves, and outside of the box. They must not only be able to endure physical stress, but they must also demonstrate the mental discipline required to complete selection as well. Candidates are constantly evaluated throughout the selection process by both the cadre’, as well as clinical psychologists who are watching the candidates during selection.

Those who complete selection usually undergo a lengthy psychological evaluation, followed by a six-month long training course specific to that unit. The attrition rates during selection can be greater than ninety percent, and as high as fifty percent during the unit training phase. So now that you have a basic understanding of what a Tier One unit is, and what is required to join, what would that look like for G.I. Joe? Would it be the same, would it be different, or would you be selected right off of the street?

To begin, G.I. Joe is classified as a compartmentalized unit within the United States Army, and does not fall under any conventional chain of command. The Commander would report directly to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), who in turn would report directly to the National Command Authority (NCA). G.I. Joe would be considered a Tier One unit, because that classification exists to determine the funding of the units within the Special Operations community, more so than it does to identify with their skill levels.

G.I. Joe was in fact inspired and modeled after a real-world Counter -Terrorist Unit, and that would be their primary role. That however, is where the similarities between G.I. Joe and other Tier One units would end. Despite being a U.S. Army unit, G.I. Joe would in reality be a multinational strike force, comprised of candidates from Special Operations units from around the world. These would be the very best of the best men and women in their respective fields of expertise. G.I. Joe itself is an acronym for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, and it would be the first and only unit of its kind.

It would require unprecedented diplomatic authority and immunity in order to carry out its mission, and would also become the most secretive unit in any military known to exist. In many ways, G.I. Joe operates and is structured as its own branch of the military, having both the assets, capability, and personnel to deploy anywhere in the world, by air, land, and sea. Where other Special Operations units would be required to coordinate and rely upon other conventional military units for logistical support, G.I. Joe would have no such requirement.

They would operate out of a fixed, permanent base at a classified location in the United States, as well as being forward deployed on their own aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Flagg (CVNJ-99). In addition, such a unit would be expected to maintain a small operational contingency deployed in strategic locations around the globe. G.I. Joe would maintain and operate their own air and land assets as well, meaning they have the capability to deploy to and operate in any environment, and be there in under eighteen hours of getting an alert. Their unique capabilities set the G.I. Joe team apart from any other unit in existence. As General Hawk stated to Duke in The Rise of Cobra: “when all else fails, we don’t.”

So, who would be qualified to go through the selection process for G.I. Joe, and what would that entail? To begin, G.I. Joe would not limit their candidates to a particular unit or branch of the military. They would select candidates based upon the needs of the unit, and would set similar standards as those in use by current Tier One units around the world. A candidate would have to meet certain requirements such as age, experience, qualifications, and rank. Trust is paramount within the ranks of G.I. Joe, and having the right people is key to their success and survival. I know of at least one civilian (Agent Helix), who was recruited to the G.I. Joe team, and both her existence and identity were kept secret from the rest of the unit.

That would be unprecedented in any other modern unit, in any military that I am aware of, but not within the ranks of G.I. Joe. The needs of the unit would dictate who is selected, and candidates outside of the military may be the exception to the rule, but they would not be excluded. The selection process itself would also be much different, as candidates would not be told the identity of the unit that they are volunteering for. They would be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, and would undergo an extensive security screening conducted by Counter Intelligence operatives within the G.I. Joe unit, before being accepted to selection.

These highly trained agents would conduct interviews of the candidate’s family, friends, and neighbors, as well as looking at their criminal and financial backgrounds. They would look at every area of their lives, seeking out any reason that the candidates would be disqualified from being trusted to become a unit member. Due to the needs of the unit, team members might also seek out candidates that they have identified through current military records, and attempt to evaluate them through selective and informal exercises and tests, without them being committed to the selection process.

They would do the same for any civilian they may have identified who meets both the physical fitness standards, as well as possessing the skillsets that they are interested in or looking for. Once a candidate was approved for selection, they would receive orders to report for selection, and would be discreetly transported by commercial means to a pre-disclosed location. Upon arrival the candidates would meet up with a cadre’ member who would then escort them to the training site. Unlike other units, G.I. Joe would conceal from the candidates where their training would be conducted, and how long it would last. They would be kept in the dark, and would be briefed on only what they needed to know for operational safety, security, and training purposes.

Each candidate would be evaluated with a preliminary physical fitness test on day one, and upon successful completion of that, they would then continue the selection process. Unlike other SMUs however, selection for G.I. Joe would not be a rehash from their old units. Candidates would be evaluated through continuous evolutions designed to engage their thought process, while under extreme physical duress and stress. The cadre would be looking for individuals with a passive aggressive personality, who could keep their composure while under stress. The candidates would be required to conduct land navigation exercises over mountain terrain, wearing heavy rucks, while under an imposed and unknown time limit.

They would be tested on their ability to problem solve under fire, and conduct missions while rescuing downed team members. The cadre’ would want to know if the candidate meets their standards, and if they have the right attitude and mindset. If the candidates successfully complete the selection process, they would go on to complete a psychological evaluation, and if selected, would then continue their training with the G.I. Joe unit. Like other SMUs, G.I. Joe would conduct a six-month Operator Training Course, divided into training blocks for specific skills. Candidates would receive advanced training to become surgical shooters with small arms and sniper rifles, breaching, and Close Quarters Battle.

They would conduct Combined training exercises putting all of their skills to work, and then move on to more specialized skills training that is specific to the G.I. Joe team. If the candidates successfully completed the Operator Training Course, they would then be assigned to an operational team within the G.I. Joe unit, where they would continue to train when not deployed. So now you know what it would take to become a part of G.I. Joe, America’s top secret and highly trained Special Missions Unit. Next week, we will look at what it takes to become a member of COBRA!

My thoughts on Cosplaying for Star Wars, and The Rebel Legion

For years I had looked with envy at countless images online of Star Wars fans who cosplayed as their favorite characters from the franchise. It was something that I wanted to do, but couldn’t afford, and wasn’t confident enough to attempt to make on my own. Still, the desire was there, so I began doing research to determine where to begin. One of the first sites that I looked at was the Rebel Legion, which is an “official” cosplay group of sorts for characters within the Rebel Alliance.

To be accepted in the Legion, your cosplay has to meet their requirements of being screen accurate, right down to the identical materials used for the outfit on screen. They of course state on their website that it is meant to be a guide, however it still must meet their approval in order to be accepted, and then there are other requirements for membership as well. Being Autistic I knew that I could not meet their requirements, so I began to consider alternative options for creating a unique cosplay.

I knew that I did not want to cosplay as any of the known characters on screen. It always bothered me how all of the images that I came across were people dressing up as the same character! Though I understood their love and passion for the character, i did not share their desire to emulate them. I wanted something bland, normal, and yet unique. I wanted something that matched my personality, but was still within the Star Wars universe.

In early 2019 I had begun writing the manuscript for a Star Wars legends novel entitled Star Wars Rebel Destiny ( That manuscript was recently completed, and awaiting to be reviewed by the publisher). In the novel one of the protagonists is a member of the Alliance Army SpecForces, so In October of 2019 I set out to make a cosplay outfit based on my description of the character. Rebel SpecForces operating on a non-permissive world would not be in camo fatigues like the guys on Endor, but rather civilian clothes. Cargo pants, utility shirts, and civilian jackets.

They would be carrying blaster pistols, and have rifles that could easily be broken down and concealed in a backpack or other bag used by the local populace. They would have bandoliers for their weapon power packs, which could easily and quickly be stowed in the same pack, and then quickly removed when needed. Unlike bulky body armor, bandoliers are lightweight, simple, and easy to carry and conceal.

Building off of that, I went out and purchased a Wrangler long sleeve outdoor shirt from my local Wal-Mart. I began by using a pair of scissors to cut off the excess collar, and creating a stand up collar for the shirt. I then removed the buttons from the front of the shirt, and the flaps on the chest pockets. I used Khaki fabric of identical color to the shirt, as well as Velcro to create a flap to secure the front of the shirt and the pockets. I then rolled the sleeves halfway up, as this seems to be used often by characters within the franchise.

I ordered an Olive Drab Mosin Nagant bandolier from Amazon, and used a pair of existing Grey Wrangler cargo pants. I did not have the ability or material to create a rectangular belt buckle, so I used an existing Trainer’s belt by 5-11. I used an identical and larger sized belt for the gun belt. For the sidearm I chose to go with the Poe Dameron Nerf blaster, which is a replica of the Eirriss Ryloth Defense Tech Glie-44 Blaster Pistol. Though used on screen in the sequels, it was widely in use during the Galactic Civil War. I disassembled it and repainted it in Black and Gunmetal using Kyrlon spray paint. I made a holster for it using craft foam and Plasti-Dip.

Glie-44 combat blaster pistol and holster

For the blaster rifle I used the Cassian Andor Nerf blaster, which is based upon the Blastech A280-CFE. This is an updated and more powerful version of the standard A280 rifles used by the SpecForces on Endor. I completely disassembled it, and then used Krylon and Duplicolor spray paints to repaint it in Gunmetal Grey.

I completed my cosplay of the Rebel SpecForces character in time for Halloween, and went out that day and took some pics in a local Pine forest. I was extremely happy with the results, and took more photos the following month. Though I haven’t attempted any cosplay since then, it did allow me to learn some things first hand, and I got to experience all of the thrill of the moment that I was looking for. Still, I would have really liked to have shared that experience with other cosplayers who wanted to bring that Star Wars Battlefront vibe to life.

I think that the Rebel Legion is good for what it is, but it’s not the right outlet for me. I do not entirely agree with their standards, though I do understand why they exist and are utilized. I think that there should be an option for those like myself who want to cosplay in a group, but are not required to adhere to strict rules for background or general characters, and that isn’t seeking to be in the public eye through events, parades, and the like. The one notable aspect of the Legion is that they are involved in charities, which I wholeheartedly support. They are in a unique position to be able to carry out such things, and I applaud them for it.

My goals are focused entirely upon cosplaying for the purpose of photography and role playing. It allows me the opportunity to be immersed in the Star Wars universe in a more tangible way, without being involved in a group or organization.

My thoughts on the G.I. Joe Classified Series

Introduction

2020 was a very devasting year for many, but there was also good in the midst of the bad. One of those things was the release of the G.I. Joe Classified Series line by Hasbro.

When I first learned about this line in 2019 I was both excited and skeptical about it, having only rumors to go on.

When the figures were first released in June of 2020, the demand exceeded supply, and stores were quickly stripped bare by collectors and scalpers alike.

The Target exclusive Cobra Island sub-line fared no better, with limited inventory, and some stores putting out stock before the street date.

This caused confusion, and led to Hasbro redacting the street date by a week, allowing inventory to be placed out for sale.

What followed was a merciless attempt by scalpers to get their hands on as much inventory as possible, forcing collectors and consumers to turn to eBay as their only source for these figures.

This allowed scalpers to inflate aftermarket prices by as much as five times or more the actual MSRP of the figure, forcing collectors to meet their demands if they wanted to obtain them.

It was and is a serious blight on both the toy industry, and collector community alike.Early on I managed to snag several of the Wave 01 figures from an area Wal-Mart and GameStop twenty miles away, before their inventory disappeared.

I was eager to get the new Target exclusive Beachhead and Cobra Troopers, and began waiting for their release date.

I live in a rural area, so the nearest Target store to me is roughly fifty miles away. My first trip there last year proved to be a nightmare.

They had inventory on hand in the stock room, but the management present was not aware that the street date had been lifted, and because of that they refused to sell me any of the figures.

I would make several more trips over the following months, with nothing to show for it but an empty gas tank.

I finally caved in and purchased two of the Cobra Troopers on eBay for a whopping one hundred dollars each! Thankfully, that would turn out to be the worst experience that I have had with the Classified Series line to date.

Meet our demands, or you’ll never have us in hand!

Overview

The G.I. Joe Classified Series is possibly the most successful line of figures within the franchise, since the debut of the three and three quarter inch scale A Real American Hero line in 1982.

Each of the figures is based on the six inch scale, with each figure being scaled according to their character’s stature in relation to each other.

They boast thirty six points of articulation, and include at minimum one weapon, and at least one accessory, with most having several of each.

The figures also feature updated appearances and uniforms, which are based upon their original A Real American Hero designs from the 1980s.

Most of the weapons are futuristic, and are scaled down replicas of some Nerf blasters. This was done intentionally, to steer the line away from being seen as promoting firearms and violence in play.

This has been a point of debate among adult collectors who grew up as fans of the original G.I. Joe cartoons, comics, and toy line.

The idea is that G.I. Joe has always stood as a symbol of morality, pitching good versus evil on the battlefield.

The individual weapons, aircraft, armor, and boats were all portrayed as implements of war, and each episode of the cartoons and comics depicted G.I. Joe fighting Cobra forces.

The idea that depicting either G.I. Joe or Cobra using actual weapons has any bearing or negative influence over the hearts and minds of today’s youth, simply has no foundation in reality.

The Classified Series figures are not the first G.I. Joe line to be designed in the six inch scale, but they are the first to go into production.

A previous line based loosely on the G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra figures was drawn up nearly ten years ago, but never went into production.

It is unknown why that line was cancelled, however it proves that the concept for a six inch line of G.I. Joe figures was seen as a valid direction to take the franchise.

Recently it was revealed in the updated Linkdin profile of Hasbro’s Senior Marketing Director Irvin Ducournau, that he was responsible for the development of a global brand strategy ( G.I. Joe Classified Series ) planned for three to five years.

If that’s true, then that would make the G.I. Joe Classified Series the third longest running line of action figures produced for the brand by Hasbro to date.

And if sales are any indication, it is has quickly become by far the most popular line as well.

My Assessment of the line

One thing that I strive for when I do a toy review is to remain unbiased in my report. I usually spend dozens of hours reviewing a single figure, including their in universe history, their production facts, as well as looking at other reviews.

Ultimately my assessment is based on my personal in hand experience with the toy. That includes addressing quality control issues that have been previously reported by other collectors and consumers, as well as offering my own opinion.

Overall I think that the G.I. Joe Classified Series has exceeded my personal expectations of the line, and it certainly lives up to the hype on social media.

I will say that my primary point of concern is with the weapons being made of soft plastic, as most of them have a tendency to be warped beyond the ability to correct.

If I could offer any suggestions for future waves, it would be to either include two weapons with every figure: a sidearm and a rifle, or to offer a weapons pack as a separate expansion kit that could be purchased at retail.

This would give collectors an additional means of outfitting their figures, and offer an attractive feature that would enhance the collector experience.

*G.I. Joe Classified Series Duke with warped rifle*

I think that the design team has done a tremendous job with this line, and so has the marketing team.

Their color choice, design, and layout on the packaging are both eye catching and simplistic. I also like the redesigned character abilities icons on the side panel, as it gives collectors an added feature to their experience with the figure.

I have found that some of the complaints by collectors and consumers are both biased and unfounded.

Conflict among collectors

First, when you are speaking about collectors, you are referring primarily to adult collectors who have been and are life long fans of G.I. Joe.

People collect for a myriad of reasons, but there are some of us who are more versed in this world then others, and can be considered subject matter experts when it comes to toys and toy collecting.

To that end, I want to address this issue:

There are some who use social media to compare the Classified Series with it’s only competitor, Action Force.

Any collector or influencer like myself, is going to offer their opinion when there is a standard to compare something to, but unfortunately that isn’t the case here.

The reason being is that the Action Force line of six inch military style figures has yet to be shipped from the manufacturer, and no one has these figures in hand to compare them to the Classified Series figures.

*Action Force? Is that* *like the girl scouts?*

Second, Action Force is a brand new start-up by a former employee of the Hasbro design team. Their target demographic is the adult collector community, whereas the Classified Series is marketed to collectors age four and up.

That means when designing these figures they were incorporating features that would appeal to a much broader consumer base than what Action Force is doing.

You also have to take into consideration that G.I. Joe has been around in one scale or another for the past sixty four years.

Action Force on the other hand is a new line, from a new start-up. The name Action Force originated in 1982 with Palitoy in Great Britain as a response to their failed Action Man line.

The new line was composed of multinational figures, but would soon include their own rebranding of G.I. Joe’s as well.

Once their trademark came up as available, it was purchased by Valaverse, and used to rebrand the Action Force line. The first wave of figures were offered through a kickstart campaign.

The video reviews that have been posted to social media sites like YouTube have mostly been of a biased nature, and used to promote the Action Force brand, while debasing the Classified Series.

With no Action Force figures in hand to actually compare to the Classified Series, these unprofessional reviews are of no merit to the collector and fan communities.

At best they demonstrate the polarizing views associated with individuals who have no regard for professional culture or ethics, and who offer no insight into the product itself.

Conclusions

The G.I. Joe Classified Series has brought new life to an old friend, and renewed interest among fans. It is a modern take on an eighties classic, that we all grew up with and loved.

In many ways it allows us to reconnect with our childhood, and experience emotions and familiarity with a far better time in our world, than the days in which we live.

The Classified Series has in fact, taken G.I. Joe fans by storm, and made our dreams come true. Despite opposition from a few, the G.I Joe Classified Series is here to stay.

Haslab RazorCrest

*Finalized Production Prototype of the RazorCrest*

Controversy has arisen like the Sith themselves over the most recent crowdfunding campaign by Hasbro; namely their Haslab Vintage Collection RazorCrest.

Originally intended to be a Disney Parks exclusive toy, the Vintage Collection RazorCrest was rushed into the Haslab domain when their intended project, a Dagobah swamp playset, received less than enthusiastic reviews at an early showing.

Initially fans were presented only with Gray Scale CAD renderings of the RazorCrest, and not actual images of the finalized prototype.

Before the Hasbro marketing team could blink, they had collected 9.8 million credits from twenty eight thousand backers to fund their latest idea.

The excitement throughout fandom would soon cease, however, as the shadow of the dark side was revealed.

*Gray Scale 3D Rendering of the RazorCrest*

During The Mandalorian Season Two Episode Six, Chapter Fourteen (The Tragedy), We find Din Djarin and Grogu on the Jedi homeworld of Tython, being attacked by remnant Imperial forces.

The defining moment of the episode sees the RazorCrest destroyed by a single blast from a turbolaser, with Din left speechless as his ship is vaporized in front of him.

Like Din Djarin, Backers of the Haslab RazorCrest were also left speechless, and quite frankly confused about the whole matter.

Many wanted to know why Hasbro would go to such lengths to release the RazorCrest, only to see it get destroyed within weeks of starting the campaign?

Many fans were angry, seeing it as nothing more than an expensive marketing strategy to keep fans buying toys from The Mandalorian.

For those of you who are not aware, toys for Star Wars are planned anywhere from eighteen months to three years in advance of their release, and the design team at Hasbro often works closely with the staff at Lucasfilm on their development and production.

The RazorCrest is no exception, so it stands to reason that Hasbro could have known that the iconic ship would soon meet it’s demise, a fact that did not sit well with many backers, which in turn caused them to withdraw their support.

Unlike the Millennium Falcon , the RazorCrest is a fairly new ship to the Star Wars universe, and seeing it destroyed so soon had a negative effect upon fans.

This was even more true with those who backed the Haslab project, having paid nearly four hundred dollars up front to secure their toy, and ensure it’s production goals were met.

Now it seems that Hasbro may have made an error in how they chose to release it. To be fair, any time a new concept for a toy is proposed, there are many considerations that must be reviewed.

Among these are production costs, and marketing. If it is approved to move forward, then an in house prototype is created, usually by 3D printing, and further analysis is made, along with revisions to the proof of concept model.

If it gets approved for production, then contacts have to be made for the tooling to be designed and produced, along with the actual production facilities,as well as the design and production of the packaging.

A production schedule is created, and a shipping date is given. All of which happen years before you actually see a toy on store shelves.

Like any other industry, there are financial risks involved with sales, and over the past eight years alone Hasbro has incurred an estimated five hundred million dollars in losses due to poor sales of their Star Wars brand toys.

One of the things that their marketing team would point out is that the bulk of their sales are from adult collectors and fans, rather than from parents buying toys for their kids.

This is one reason why Haslab was created, in order to give fans the toys that they really want, which would otherwise not get produced.

They began two years ago with Jabba’s Sail Barge, which saw nine thousand backers paying five hundred dollars each for the massive collectible.

Hasbro cashed in with five million dollars on that project, and I would guess that half of that was counted towards profit.

This time around Hasbro had three times as many backers for the RazorCrest, with almost double the money for a ship that has only been in existence for one tenth as long as the Sail Barge.

Clearly, the project revealed where the hearts and minds of Star Wars fans is at. That is, until they saw their new toy vaporized on screen! So what happens next?

“*I might need a ride back to Navarro…”*

Undoubtedly the project will move forward, and backers should still receive their product by fall 2021, barring any unforeseen circumstances that would interfere with production.

That being said, there are tens of thousands of fans out there like myself who will miss out on their chance to own the RazorCrest, simply due to cost. That is the downside to crowdfunding.

Not everyone can afford the total cost up front, and not everyone can afford to pay within the limited timeframe provided.

Whether Hasbro did or did not know about the ship’s demise is irrelevant in my opinion, as true fans of the show are still going to collect what they want, when they can.

The real issue here is the availability of the toy, and what could Haslab do differently? Given the lead time, I think that what is needed is a separate website that is financed in part, by an annual membership fee from collectors.

This would provide an opportunity for the design and marketing team to present fans with opportunities to provide feedback and input on future projects.

It could also provide them with a secure portal to set up a payment system for future Haslab projects. Doing so would ensure the projects still get funded, while allowing more fans to take part, and be able to share in the fun of having their own special toy for their collection.

It would also help to deter scalpers who are making money off of the current project, by offering it for twice the retail cost on the secondary market.

Even if we don’t see Din Djarin in another model of the RazorCrest , the ship will go down in history as one of the most iconic within the Star Wars universe.

And if you didn’t get in on the Haslab project, don’t fret, as there are always plans for 3D printed models like the one that I own online.

Here’s a link you can check out by Fine_Engineer with his free plans for the RazorCrest : https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4607202

*My 3D printed RazorCrest from the files provided on thingverse by fine_engineer. The ship was upscaled 150% to accommodate the Black Series figures.*

The Mandalorian: Season Two Finale

This morning I watched The Mandalorian Season Two finale The Rescue, and I wanted to share my thoughts on it, as well as my thoughts on where the show may go next season.

To begin, I have to say that it was an incredible story, that had an appropriate balance between the action and the drama taking place.

The Mandalorian Season Two has been much better than the first season in my opinion, and has been much more fascinating overall.

The most important aspect of Season Two in my opinion has been Boba Fett; the writers decision to bring him into the narrative was probably the smartest move that they made.

What I didn’t care for was Bo Katan’s criticism of him, saying that he isn’t a Mandalorian, because he is a clone of Jango Fett.

If you notice in his response, Bobba always responds with Jango being his father, because that is who he really was.

For whatever reason Jango wanted a descendant, an heir, a son, and the only way that he could have that was by asking for a clone of himself to raise as his own.

Other than being a clone, Bobba was unaltered genetically, making him for all intents and purposes human.

It also means that according to The Way, Jango had chosen to raise him as his own, and this in itself made Boba his heir.

It also means that because Jango was a descendant of Jaster Mereel, that Boba is the direct descendant and heir to the throne of Mandalore, and not Bo Katan as she claims.

This presents an interesting angle to the narrative for Season three, since Din is in possession of the Darksaber, which by birthright should belong to Boba Fett.

The other aspect of the Season Two finale that I want to discuss Is Din, and his relationship with Grogu.

In all honesty I was not expecting Grogu to be rescued this season; my thoughts were that the show would follow a similar arc as The Empire Strikes Back, and end in a cliffhanger.

Surprisingly, the ending was presented in such a manner as it could continue, or it could be end the show if they so chose to do so.

That being said, we know that there is a third season planned, so where will the narrative go from here?

My guess is that there are niue answers forthcoming from Dr. Pershing and Moff Gideon as to what exactly they were doing with Grogu, and why they neede his blood.

I also expect that at some point we will see Grogu and The Mandalorian cross paths again, possibly at the end of Season Three as a final farewell.

With that being said, I think that the remaining stories still revolve around the answers surrounding Moff Gideon, and possibly Din having to go on a series of missions that in some way either assist the Jedi, the New Republic, or both.

I also expect to see a continuation of the narrative between Boba Fett and Din, or at least having their paths cross again.

Boba Fett has become more than a supporting role in the show, he is now just as important and prominent as Din Djarin.

The Mandalorian has all of the elements present that make it what George Lucas always envisioned for Star Wars to be.

It has the action that we see in the Flash Gordon serials of yesterday, but it lacks the feel of a science fiction western.

Whatever your feelings and thoughts are, The Mandalorian has captivated millions of fans worldwide, and forever established a new hero in the Star Wars mythology.

Quintessa: The Key of Cybertron

transformers-the-last-knight-1551477143 — *Quintessa* in *Transformers The Last Knight*

For those of you who actually enjoyed the live action Transformers films, I wanted to share a thought with all of you about the continuity of the movieverse plot.

Like many fans, I enjoyed the live action franchise, despite there being questions that were left unanswered at the ending of Transformers The Last Knight.

One of the most divisive of these is in regards to Quintessa, who she is, and where she comes from. After all, we learned from Optimus Prime in the first live action film that the AllSpark created worlds, and filled them with life, and that was how the Transformers race was born.

If that is correct, then someone intelligent was responsible for the creation of the AllSpark. That someone is most likely Quintessa.

According to an interview with Lorenzo Di Bonaventura (https://www.slashfilm.com/transformers-the-last-knight-credits-scene/) Quintessa is or was at some point human, but if that’s true then what is she now?

To answer that we have to look at the intro to Transformers Age of Extinction, where we are introduced to an armada of alien vessels entering the atmosphere of prehistoric Earth.

Here we see them deploying objects which hover above the ground, and are then detonated, turning organic material into molten metal.

We also are given a glimpse of these aliens onboard their ship, who are clearly biological entities, with mechanical enhancements.

We later learn that these devices Cyber form entire worlds, and the Living Metal is harvested and returned to Cybertron where it was used for among other things, to build the Transformers race.

Arcam’s Razor dictates that the most reasonable explanation is the correct one, and operating on that theory we can presume that the race of creators visited worlds which were uninhabited by sentient life, and Cyber formed them.

I suggest this because in Transformers Revenge of the Fallen we learn that the Thirteen Primes set out to find uninhabited worlds on which to build Star Harvesters.

Rotf-starharvester-2 — *Cybertronian Star Harvester constructed on ancient Earth*

These devices would detonate a local star, capturing it’s plasma and converting it into raw Energon. Doing so was the only way in which they could recharge the AllSpark once it was drained.

So unlike the Transformers themselves which rely on liquid Energon which has been processed from the ore, the AllSpark as Ratchet claims in Transformers contains raw power, which cannot be controlled by any Transformer themselves.

It leads us to consider then that the Creators used the Thirteen Primes to harvest power for the AllSpark, and set them over the race of Transformers, who were most likely used as laborers to do the creators bidding.

The only element that is left in question then is Quintessa, and it is clear from the interview with Lorenzo Di Bonaventura that they have already established a backstory for her.

Based on his statement, we can gather that Quintessa was originally a human being from Earth. We can also presume that she most likely survived a Cyber forming mission by the alien race, who captured her and retuned her to Cybertron.

There she was studied, and somehow integrated with their own technology, turning her into a life form unlike anything that was previously known.

This transformation gave Quintessa abilities and knowledge that no human would have been capable of having, and thus made her an asset to their race.

Quintessa would have eventually learned of Unicron’s existence, and known that in the future that she could not defeat the creators alone.

Thus she created for them a race of laborers using the AllSpark, with the intention of having them destroy both the creators and Unicron in the future, leaving only Quintessa to rule over Cybertron.

It would become her ultimate act of vengence from being taken from her world, and having it seemingly destroyed.

The eventual rise to power of Megatron, and his rebellion of the creators was most likely an uncalculated event for Quintessa, but one that she allowed in order to fulfill her own purpose.

Like the Fallen and Vector Prime, Quintessa appears to have the ability to teleport herself through the fabric of time and space, if only over short distances.

We could then surmise that she hid herself within Cybertron during the war, most likely surrounded by Autobot guardian knights who were oblivious to her intent.

Those who were escaped before she could kill them. The war ended as the AllSpark was launched into space, and without it Quintessa did not have the power to restore Cybertron on her own, leading to the events in each film.

The movieverse plot involved Megatron recovering the AllSpark, and the Fallen using the Star Harvester to recharge it’s power.

They would have then used the AllSpark to revive Sentinel Prime in order to teleport Cybertron to Earth, allowing Quintessa to kill Unicron once and for all.

Had Transformers 6 been written, we may very well have seen Unicron’s power harnessed by Quintessa to complete her original goals.

This summary has taken me nine years to complete, believe it or not, as I spent hundreds of hours doing research on this subject. I hope that it provides a takeaway for all of the movie verse fans, as well as presenting a closer look at things for those who were critical of the live action films.

Cybertron awaiting 91263 High Quality and Resolution Wallpapers — Cybertron restored and departing Earth

A visitor’s guide to Galaxy’s Edge

star_wars_galaxy_s_edge1000x750 — *The Millennium Falcon arrives at Black Spire Outpost on Batuu*

With an early spring upon us, you can bet that many families will be planning for early vacations this year, and that includes trips to Walt Disney Land in California, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park in Florida.

Both of these parks continue to change and expand their attractions to entertain guests, and the latest hype is all about their new immersive Star Wars themed attraction called Galaxy’s Edge.

In this blog, my goal is to provide you with a bit of history on what exactly Galaxy’s Edge is, how it was built, and what specific attractions and features it includes.

I will also provide you with insight into plans for both parks, and let you know if it’s worth your expense and time. So, strap in, and let’s see what all the hype is really about.

Concepts and Imagineering

Modeled after the Black Spire Outpost on the fictional world of Batuu, Galaxy’s Edge is an ambitious collaboration between Disney and Lucasfilm, which was first announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger at the D23 Expo in August of 2015.

Construction on both sites began in April 2016, with the Anaheim park opening first on May 31st 2019, followed by the Florida location on August 29th of the same year.

Both locations encompass fourteen acres of land, and cost around one billion dollars to construct at each park. Both sites occupy areas that were formerly shut down for other attractions.

In addition, certain areas of both parks had to be redesigned to allow for the new Star Wars themed area to be constructed.

Galaxy’s Edge features two attractions, Rise of the Resistance, and Smugglers Run, as well as cast members from both the Resistance and First Order who interact with guests.

There are also thirteen food vendors and shops, which I will provide a brief summary of in the following paragraphs.

Star-Wars-Galaxy-Edge — *Galaxy’s Edge Concept Model*

Galaxy’s Edge was originally designed to be an environmentally immersive experience, allowing guests to participate in actual role play scenarios with cast members.

They would receive an assignment upon arrival, and visit different areas around Black Spire Outpost in search of clues for their next assignment.

Guests were meant to encounter actual Holograms of characters in broad daylight, and witness lightsaber duels between Jedi and Sith.

Autonomous droids were planned to randomly wheel themselves about, while guests would be hunted down by Stormtroopers.

In addition, there was a life size animatronic Dewback that guests could ride on. Although Disney submitted various patents to the U.S. Patent office for new technologies, none of these planned concepts have yet to become a reality.

For fans who knew about them like I did, it was a severe disappointment. Currently there are plans to open a massive interactive hotel experience called the Halcyon at Galaxy’s Edge in Orlando.

Construction has already begun on the project, and it will be a multi-day immersive experience involving interaction and role play amongst guests and cast members.

So what do you really get for your money? Read on.

What a piece of junk!

Nestled among the towering spires of the outpost is a life size reproduction of the Iconic Millennium Falcon.

At one hundred feet in length and one hundred thirty feet wide it is the most prominent feature of Galaxy’s Edge, and it’s also serves as the entrance to the Smuggler’s Run attraction.

This attraction allows up to four guests to serve in various roles who must work together as a team to fly and fight the Millennium Falcon through a mission.

Though there are guests who visit Galaxy’s Edge just to have their picture taken in front of the Falcon, it isn’t alone.

Scattered around the location you will find several T-70 X-Wing starfighters, as well as an RZ-2 A -Wing Interceptor.

Since the First Order maintains a presence on the planet, you will find several of their ships present as well. There are heroes from both sides present to greet and interrogate you, and if you aren’t careful your activities will be closely monitored by the First Order.

The second attraction in the land is known as Rise of the Resistance, and in my opinion isn’t that great. Guests essentially are seated in a droid controlled transport and “ride” through various scenes with special effects. In all honesty I was not impressed by it.

Millennium-Falcon — *The Millennium Falcon at Galaxy’s Edge*

Food and Merchandise Vendors

The following is a brief synopsis of the thirteen on site food and merchandise vendors located at Galaxy’s Edge:

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo: A full service restaurant inside of a functioning hanger bay.

Kat Saka’s Kettle: An outdoor food stand where guests can purchase a unique snack made from popcorn.

The Milk stand: If you’re a fan of Blue Bantha Milk, then this is one place where you’ll find it!

Oga’s Cantina: Probably the most awesome place in the park, it’s a restaurant and Cantina with a full size bar, where you can sample drinks from across the galaxy.

ogas-cantina-review-interior-1-1024x682 — *Oga’s Cantina*

Ronto Roasters: Another outdoor food vendor featuring grilled pork and sausage wraps.

Bina’s Creature Stall: This is a shop full of plush animals and creatures from throughout the galaxy. My favorite: The TaunTaun!

Black Spire Outfitters: One of if not my favorite shops at Galaxy’s Edge, it offers travelers the opportunity to purchase the exact garments worn by the natives of Batuu!

Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities: Travelers will find ancient artifacts of both the Jedi and Sith in this fascinating shop, including Holocrons and Khyber Crystals.

Dok-Ondar-Banner — Dok-Ondar an Ithorian shop owner

First Order Cargo: If you’re looking to join the First Order, then this is the place to buy your equipment and uniforms.

Mubo’s Droid Depot: Another favorite of literally every guest, you can build your very own BB or R2 droid here from a variety of parts in various colors, and get a backpack to carry it in!

Resistance Supply: If you want to get in the fight, then this is the place to get equipped to do it!

Savi’s Workshop: This location bears the most attention, as it is the number one location visited by guests.

Here you pay to go into an ancient shop that serves as a front to hide it’s true purpose, as a supplier of the most ancient and forbidden weapon in the galaxy: a lightsaber!

Guests are lined up, and make several choices while in line, before being ushered to a work station.

Here a cast member walks the guest through what I can only describe as a spiritual experience of constructing a lightsaber from real metallic parts, and choosing a crystal to power it.

The final act is to install their lightsaber hilt into a port where it connects to a blade that the guest has chosen.

There are various colors and crystals to choose from, and each crystal is unique in how it gives a lightsaber it ‘s color, light, and sound effects.

Rare crystals can be purchased at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. Though expensive, it is truly a once in a lifetime experience and worth the cost.

Star-Wars-Galaxys-Edge-Savis-Workshop-Handbuilt-Lightsabers-1 — *Savi’s Workshop*

Toydarian Toyshop: a shop featuring hand made toys from around the galaxy.

Is it worth my time and money?

Now that you have a better idea of what Galaxy’s Edge is all about, you’re probably asking yourself is it worth the extra cost?

To be fair, any trip to the Disney parks is expensive, meals included. On average, it costs one adult about two hundred dollars for park admission for one day, three meals and drinks, and a snack.

For the younglings, you get to save about ten percent of that cost. If you plan to buy collectibles and souvenirs, then you should research their cost and plan accordingly.

The bid ticket items are the build your own lightsabers which go for around $225.00, as do the Resistance fight suits and Jedi robes.

If you want a professional photo in front of the Millennium Falcon, a cast member can snag one for you for only fifteen dollars!

If you’re super rich and have money to throw away, you can buy Stormtrooper armor for just under seven thousand dollars, or a full size radio control astromech for twenty five thousand dollars ( No, I am not kidding).

If that’s too much to take in, you can grab a Blue Milk for a whopping eight dollars, and head for the next transport home.

Blue-Milk-Green-Milk-Galaxys-Edge-e1559333552129 — *Bantha Milk anyone?*

Overall I would say that yes galaxy’s edge is worth the cost, particularly if you have kids. Everyone knows what Star Wars is, and there’s something there that almost anyone can enjoy and relate to.

While there you’re hear cast members use certain phrases to refer to real world items in universe (a cell phone is a data pad, the restroom is the fresher), and they will readily interact with you at any time.

It’s a great way to escape all of the negativity of everyday life, and that’s one of the reasons that Walt Disney designed his parks the way that he did. It’s meant to be a form of escape, and who couldn’t use an adventure in a galaxy far, far, away?

Star Wars update for Collectors

In the image below is a figure released in Q3 of 2019, the Imperial Stormtrooper from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

It’s a figure that I wanted to use as a troop builder, and had planned to buy at least two squads of them ( sixteen figures in all).

Recently I couldn’t find it at retail, so I began searching for it online, and I have to admit that I was both shocked and upset by what I found.

On average the figure was selling for roughly thirty dollars, which is more than double it’s original Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price ( MSRP).

I ended up buying three of them for sixty five dollars on Ebay; far short of my intended goal thus far.

I wanted to take a moment and share with everyone some details on this figure, as well as some of the factors that may have contributed to the small fortune that I’m preparing to invest into a group of Stormtroopers.

Though there have been many variations on this figure released over the years, this one has been considered the best sculpt yet, Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why it’s value on the secondary market has more than doubled in less than a year.

Generally speaking, you don’t see too many figures that jump in value in such a short period of time, without them being considered rare.

Moreover, the Vintage Collection consists of super articulated figures, with many being re- released with Hasbro’s proprietary Photo Real technology for collectors.

Still, it’s hard to grasp a Stormtrooper being catapulted to such demand; or is it? One of the things that you have to learn as a collector is that a figure is essentially worth what you are willing to pay for it.

It is still a toy, however toys in general can become extremely collectible, and Star Wars is certainly no exception.

When action figures for A New Hope were first revealed in 1977, they sold out before they were even produced, causing Kenner to issue early bird certificates for the following year.

Star Wars toy sales continued to exceed expectations through 1983, before beginning to decline after the release of Return of the Jedi.

The line was revived in 1995, where again, it continued to see demand among collectors. Though Hasbro had plans to cancel the line in the early 2000s, it didn’t happen, and the brand has been on store shelves ever since.

Beginning in 2015 sales began a sharp decline, and Hasbro has lost an estimated 500 million in revenue in Star Wars toys over the last five years.

The sequel films by Disney have raked in the cash, but have not been received well by fans. In addition, Hasbro has made changes to the Star Wars line, which has also affected what they produce and in what quantity.

Generally speaking the bulk of Hasbro’s toy sales for Star Wars comes from adult collectors, so it only makes sense to invest more into marketing to collectors than kids.

Until 2019 Star Wars always featured a basic assortment of figures that were 3.75 inches in height, and had a minimum amount of articulation (five POA in most cases), as well as playsets and vehicles to accompany them.

star-wars-the-force-awakens-3-75-inch-action-figure-snow-and-desert-wave-4-stormtrooper-squad-leader-pre-order-ships-feb-2016-9 — *Basic Assortment figure from Star Wars The Force Awakens (2015)*

Last year that changed with the discontinuation of the 5 POA line, which most likely was done as a cost saving measure due in part to poor sales.

The focus then, was placed upon the highly successful Vintage Collection, an ongoing line of super articulated and highly detailed 3.75 action figures.

The line initially ran from 2010 until 2013, before being brought back in 2018. It is now Hasbro’s only 3.75 production line for the Star Wars brand.

The Vintage Collection also features vehicles and ships that are more accurately scaled, and highly detailed, with multiple features for collectors.

One of the aspects of this line has been to re-release certain figures, and the Imperial Stormtrooper is one of those.

Taking the Stormtroopers from Rogue One as a guide, the new Vintage Collection figure has been referred to by collector’s as the most detailed version of the trooper yet, and perhaps that is one reason for it’s increase in value.

e0370-sw-vc-w6-e4058-imp-stormtrooper-01 — *The Vintage Collection Rogue One Stormtrooper (2019)*

Other factors may be due to poor distribution by retailers, particularly Wal-Mart, who is known for placing these figures on clearance within a couple of months of being released.

Another factor may be a limited production run, which would have contributed to greater demand on the collector’s market.

Also to be considered is future product being halted by the Coronavirus outbreak. Though Hasbro had already shifted some of it’s production to Vietnam in 2017, it is conceivable that they were still using production facilities in China, which have all been closed for the foreseeable future.

This means that all planned waves will be delayed, and this was made clear at New York Toy Fair this past weekend. Often future waves will feature at least one repack, and the Rogue One Stormtrooper is one of those.

The final aspect that drives cost on the secondary market is scalping, which unfortunately is an all too common occurrence.

There are people out there who are fans or otherwise, and who keep track of the values of these figures, and use that to take advantage of people like myself who couldn’t find the figure at retail, and are then forced to pay whatever they demand in order to get it.

Sadly, there are online toy retailers who do the same thing. Ultimately, it’s up to you as a collector to decide if you’re willing to pay what a buyer is asking, or to wait it out and see if the price drops within the next quarter.

Generally speaking if the item is out of production you can expect the value to continue to increase, and with it it’s cost on the secondary market.

This is when you have to learn to patiently search every site and every listing in order to get the best price for a particular item.

Though time consuming, It’s quite fun in it’s own right shopping for toys. Before I became disabled I used to drive hundreds of miles and spend an equal amount of money searching for action figures and vehicles for my collection.

I hope that this article has both entertained and informed you on some of the aspects of collecting Star Wars action figures, and why they sale for what they do.

Perhaps you aren’t a collector or fan, but perhaps now that you have gained some new insight into what drives those of us who are, you will have gained a new appreciation and understanding into toy collecting as both a hobby and a passion. Until next time, Good hunting, and May the Force be with you!

What Happened to G.I. Joe ?

What happened to G.I. Joe? It’s a question that I’ve found myself asking more than once over the years; particularly since G.I. Joe The Rise of Cobra hit theaters back in 2009.

I’m a big fan of the franchise, having grown up watching the cartoon, and owning most of the original toys from the 3.75 line, as well as some of the Hall of Fame twelve inch figures in the nineties.

G.I. Joe represented the pinnacle of boy’s toys, and was a great moral example to all of America’s youth, finding fans in both it’s intended market, as well as with young girls.

That’s right; G.I. Joe kicked ken’s ass out of the doll house and stole Barbie’s heart from day one, and we’ve never looked back!

All kidding aside, that’s how great G.I. Joe became, and how fun it was to play with them. So what happened to America’s favorite hero?

In all honesty, that depends on who you ask, as well as what their involvement is in the franchise. In this article I’m going to present a brief overview of the history of G.I. Joe, and attempt to answer that question based upon the Intel at hand.

Humble Beginnings

G.I. Joe was originally created in 1963 by a licensing agent in Manhattan named Stan Weston. Mr. Weston actually made the first prototypes of a twelve inch action figure himself.

He eventually showed them to an executive at Hasbro named Donald Levine. Weston subsequently sold the license for G.I. Joe to Hasbro for One hundred thousand dollars.

Whether or not Weston was entitled to a percentage of any of the profits in his contract is unclear, however the success of G.I. Joe is not.

One of the most important decisions made by Hasbro early on involved the marketing of their new product. It was not acceptable to call G.I. Joe a doll, as no parent would buy their son a doll made for boys.

Instead, the term “Action Figure” was used by Hasbro to describe G.I. Joe, and the figures were subsequently marketed with the trademark “America’s movable fighting man” on their packaging.

The first figures hit store shelves in 1964, and featured an Army Soldier, a Marine, a fighter pilot, and a sailor. These figures were produced until 1969.

7500 — *An original G.I. Joe action figure*

In 1970 Hasbro made changes to the G.I. Joe line in response to the ongoing negative criticism of the Vietnam war in Southeast Asia.

The line was renamed “Adventure Team”, and departed from military themed service members to provide action and adventure characters from various settings.

Along with the name change Hasbro also incorporated several innovations, including life like hair and beards, as well as a new mold for the figure’s hands dubbed “Kung Fu” grip, allowing them to better grip accessories.

G.I. Joe saw success in other nations as well, due greatly to the figures being licensed by Palitoy Limited, an English toy manufacturer who produced the figures under a license agreement with Hasbro.

The Palitoy figures were released under the title of “ Action Man” from 1966 until 1984, and were distributed in other nations as well by various companies.

A Real American Hero

1982 would see the G.I. Joe toy franchise return in a new smaller format of 3.75 inches. These figures were the same scale as the current Star Wars action figures, but with more points of articulation.

Tie-in marketing was pioneered with the G.I. Joe line, as the launch of the new figures was incorporated with the animated cartoon series, as well as an ongoing comic book title.

Ancillary sales were also generated during this time from other merchandise such as lunch boxes, clothing, and role play toys.

Reducing the scale of the figures to 3.75 inches also had the additional benefit of allowing Hasbro to design and produce vehicles and play sets for the figures, and this toy line became the most popular toy lines for boys during it’s run.

It continued throughout the eighties and nineties until it’s cancellation in 1994. Though the primary line for G.I. Joe had come to an end, Hasbro would revive the franchise for various limited assortments that were primarily marketed to collectors.

Each of these sub lines ran for a year to four years, and carried on the G.I. Joe line from 1997 until 2009.

gijoeplaidstallions — A G.I. Joe toy ad from 1982

The Rise of Cobra

2009 was a great year for G.I. Joe fans, as we got to see our childhood heroes on the big screen. For the first time ever, the story of G.I. Joe had been turned into a live action movie.

The movie was directed by Stephen Sommers, and opened to audiences on August 07, 2009. It was number one on it’s opening weekend, and It went on to gross three hundred million worldwide, but received a lot of criticism as well as fan backlash.

One of the most agreed upon negative aspects of the film was the actor Marlon Wayans, whose character Ripcord did not resemble the original character, and spent the entire film attempting to flirt with Scarlett.

There were other aspects of the film that detracted from the original G.I. Joe that fans have come to know and love, and the numbers reflect that.

Hasbro released a product line to coincide with the film’s release which was well received for the most part by collectors, and has gone on to nearly triple in value on the secondary market today.

1024x768-beret — *General Hawk from G.I. Joe The Rise of Cobra*

G.I. Joe Retaliation

G.I. Joes next outing at the big screen was more of a soft reboot than a direct sequel, which featured new characters and an absence of the overall science fiction aspect that was prevalent in the first film.

It was a more realistic movie, however it suffered from some very critical mistakes. The first problem to arise was the change in directors. John Chu had never directed an action movie, though he is quoted as being a fan of the franchise.

I think this hurt this film severely, and had the studio brought back Stephen Sommers to direct the sequel, I think that a more successful film franchise would have been established.

The next error maxe by the studios was to push back the opening date from June 2012 to March 2013. The stated reasoning was to convert the film to 3D, however rumors gave a different reason.

Due to the late decision to move the release back, the marketing campaign was in full swing, including with Hasbro.

The toy giant had already shipped product to retailers nationwide, and toys were already on store shelves and being sold when Hasbro issued a recall of the merchandise.

It was finally decided to allow current stock to sell down, and toys were re-shipped again in March 2013. The film opened to mostly negative reviews, which did not sit well for the franchise.

default — *Snake eyes in G.I. Joe Retaliation*

G.I. Joe Snake Eyes

With the failure of two major motion pictures based upon Hasbro’s most successful toy line, you can imagine that fans were left feeling disappointed and frustrated.

To compound that, anytime toy sales don’t meet projected goals, then things get cut, and so it has been with G.I. Joe.

To make matters worse, it seems that studio execs haven’t learned anything from their past mistakes, as a third G.I. Joe movie is set to be released this summer.

This time it’s an origin story of the character Snake Eyes, and rather than abide by the character’s origins as creator Larry Hama had written, the character will now be an Asian male, rather than a Caucasian Army Veteran.

I suspect this decision was made to appeal to the Asian film market, rather than to try and reboot the franchise for the G.I. Joe fan base here in America. Fans here are already upset about the decision, and the film hasn’t even finished production yet!

G.I. Joe versus the cultural and political foes

So why did G.I. Joe quietly disappeared from store shelves, and cease to be the cultural icon and best selling boy’s toy line in America?

First, the original cartoon came to an end in 1989, followed by it’s successor in 1991. Shortly there after in 1994 the G.I. Joe Comic series came to an end, and with it the toy line.

Though there have been at least a dozen separate G.I. Joe sub lines released by Hasbro, none of them saw the success that the originals did, and were mainly purchased by collectors.

From a cultural standpoint, the G.I. Joe brand as a whole saw a decline in interest due in part to a change in what young boys were being presented with.

New cartoons and toys with an emphasis on technology steadily became the norm, until cartoons have all but vanished.

Gone are the daily cartoons in the morning before school, and in the afternoon to keep kids entertained. These were both prime slots for brands like G.I. Joe.

The action figure craze of the eighties has been replaced by cell phones and tablets and video games.

Moreover, there has been a fundamental shift away from the ethics and morality that my generation was raised to abide by.

Boys today are not raised or taught to become strong young men and future leaders; rather they are deprived of the masculinity and sense of manhood that we are inherently born with.

God made us to be men and women, and in today’s society people have abandoned that moral compass in favor of pretending to be something that they are not.

In addition to these factors, we have also seen an increase in military conflicts and violent crimes committed with firearms, which no doubt have caused executives at Hasbro and other companies to question the results of producing military action figures and vehicles bristling with weapons.

That in itself is evidence of the mindset of the culture in which we live. In closing, I would say if anything our young children need a positive role model to look up to, and something to give them a sense of right and wrong that they can relate to.

A renewed G.I. Joe cartoon and toy line would be a great way to do that. It would help them see what I saw growing up: good versus evil, right from wrong.

Choices and the consequences, as well as courage, discipline, honor, integrity, and valor. These are the characteristics that G.I. Joe presented to my generation on a weekly basis, and they could again. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. Yo Joe!