Introduction

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 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 coined by Levine 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.

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 rooted 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 had the additional benefit of allowing Hasbro to design and produce vehicles and play sets for the figures, and this helped drive G.I. Joe as one of the most popular toy lines for boys during it’s run.

The line continued throughout the eighties and nineties until its 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.

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.

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.

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!

For months now the anticipation and excitement surrounding Disney’s new live action Star Wars series The Mandalorian has permeated social media; but was it all for nothing, or is it a new era in the Star Wars universe?

I first became aware of the project last year, and I began to follow the development of the show through inside sources, who leaked information and set photos from time to time.

I must admit that after reading all of the leaks and news reports surrounding the series that I was both excited and optimistic.

One thing that I saw from the first trailer was the fact that this show appeared to have the creativity and imagination that the Original Trilogy is known for, and that the sequel films sorely lack. These initial impressions were confirmed tonight as I watched the first episode on Disney Plus.

The show is set five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, and thirty years before the events of The Force Awakens.

The galaxy is splintered after the fall of the Empire, as the New Republic seeks to restore freedom and a peaceful, galactic government. The euros in the Outer Rim however, remain hostile, lawless, and unpredictable.

The opening sequence of The Mandalorian brings us face to face with a character who is both new, and yet familiar. Wearing Beskar armor similar to Boba Fett, we see our protagonist standing in the midst of an icy waste land, with a tracking device in hand.

His actions and demeanor don’t disappoint, as we follow the anti-hero on a quest that takes him to unsavory worlds where he meets with people that we don’t trust, and neither does he.

There are dark tones of desperation, and lighter moods of well balanced humor. All of it feels and looks like the Star Wars created by George Lucas.

Indeed, there is a wild west type atmosphere to what we see in The Mandalorian. There are dusty streets occupied by vendors, with the poor living in the shadows. It’s a desperate time for all, and many have chosen to profit from it any way they can. The Mandaloria. is the ultimate gunslinger, and his presence commands everyone’s attention.

I have to say that The Mandalorian has quickly become a personal favorite, simply because it is so authentic and real!

While watching the show I could picture myself living in that kind of environment, on a particular world. I didn’t get that with the sequels.

The only modern entry into the Star Wars franchise that is on level playing field is Rogue One.

The Mandalorian delivers a well thought out story, and features great acting and great cinematography. Most of all, it  takes us back to that era a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away where we were all captivated by Star Wars. Perhaps now, we can be captivated once more.

The weapons used in the Star Wars films are as iconic as the characters that weild them, and often leave us intrigued about their design and origin.

Today I am going to share some of the real world weapons that have served as the basis for many of the props used throughout the Star Wars saga.

The Original Trilogy

Beginning in 1976 with filming of A New Hope, the prop armorers at Pinewood had to develop realistic blasters that reflected an in universe feel to them.

George wanted weapons that appeared real in their form and function, while also being rugged and well worn. For this the armorers turned to surplus weapons stores.

Most of the weapons they selected were from World War One and World War Two, AB’s were British and German in origin.

One of the most prominent was the Stormtrooper blaster, which was designed around a British Sterling L2A3 Mark 4 submachine gun. This post- WW2 era weapon was used by the British Military from 1953 until 1994.

It featured a collapsible and folding stock, as well as a side mounted magazine well to accept a thirty round curved, box magazine.

To make the Imperial Blastech E-11D used by the Stormtroopers, the props department added linear shrouds over the barrel.

They left the stock as is, while adding greeblies to the side of the weapon, and they used WW2 tank scopes for the sights. The thirty round magazines were replaced with short, straight mags For screen use.

For the Rebel Fleet Troopers the armorers made their Blastech DH-17 blasters by utilizing the same Sterling machine gun.

They removed the barrel shroud and replaced it with a shop made prop barrel, and they also removed the folding stock and magazine well.

An extra rod was attracted to the top of the receiver, and a single point scope was added to most versions of the weapon.

Princess Leia’s Drearian Arms Defender sporting blaster was built around a Russian .22 target pistol with a modified barrel.

Han Solo’s iconic DL-44 Blaster was based on a WW2 C96 Mauser. It too, featured heavy modifications with a muzzle device, a heat sink in front of the mag well, and a side mounted targeting scope.

This particular prop had three different versions used by Solo in each of the three films. All had slightly different barrels and muzzle devices, and different scopes.

Ponda Baba’s blaster was an SE-14c ( Also used as a sidearm by the Death Troopers in Rogue One ) which was made from a Swiss Rexam Favor Mark 5 submachine gun.

The barrel and stock were removed, while an extension was added to the rear of the receiver, as was a scope.

The Stormtroopers patrolling Mos Eisley were all armed with modified MG34s, MG42s, and at least one trooper with a modified Lewis Machine gun.

In The Empire Strikes Back we see the Rebel ground forces carrying Blastech A295 carbines, which are modified versions of the German MP44 machine gun.

Later in Return of the Jedi, the Rebel soldiers are seen carrying the A280, which was made from a cast of the M-16 rifle.

Boba Fett is seen carrying a unique blaster, which actually began as a Webley & Scott No.1 Mark 1 37mm flare gun. The end of the barrel was plugged, and greeblies were added as well as a scope.

Rogue One

In Rogue One, the Rebels primary weapons are again based on the M-16. This includes Cassian Andor’s Blastech A280-CFE, as well as the larger A310 rifles and A300 carbines used by the Rebel Pathfinders.

Jyn Erso’s iconic Blastech A180 blaster is actually a modified Luger 9mm Airsoft pistol. A larger diameter ported barrel has been added, along with greeblies on the bottom and sides of the weapon. Interestingly, Jyn’s blaster is modular, however we never see it configured as a rifle on screen.

Functionality

During production of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, most of the weapons fired blanks to assist with visual cues for the actors, as well as aiding the visual effects artists during post-production.

This was not continued during filming of Return of the Jedi. It is however, used again during Rogue One, in the form of airsoft guns.

The image below captured during filming shows Jyn Erso firing her A180 blaster pistol at a Stormtrooper.

You can clearly see the gases being vented around the charging handle as the action cycles during firing.

Conclusion

These are just a few examples of the real world firearms that have been used by the props department of both Lucasfilm and Pinewood Studios to create the weapons of the Star Wars films.

The armorers took inspiration from the tragedies of warfare, and designed an array of space age blasters that would go down in cinematic history.

In Star Wars The Last Jedi we are introduced to a young A-Wing pilot with the Resistance, Lieutenant Tallison “Tallie” Lintra.

Tallie is a squadron leader from Pippip three, where she learned to fly from her father, who used an old RZ-1 A-Wing as a crop duster.

Tallie is mature for her age, and a competent leader, but unfortunately she only gets twelve seconds of screen time before she’s seemingly killed.

Yep, that’s right: one of the newest and most fascinating characters of the entire film buys the farm when a concussion missile fired by Kylo Ren detonates inside the hanger bay of the Raddus.

The question is, did she and the other pilots really get killed? To answer that, we need to examine the factors involved with this incident.

First, we will look at the weapon being used, then at the Raddus itself. Finally we will examine Tallie’s A-Wing fighter to determine what if any chance she had to survive.

Concussion Missiles

Starfighters are generally equipped with weapons designed around ship to ship engagements, such as medium or heavy laser cannons.

These weapons are normally supplemented by kinetic energy weapons such as concussion missiles, mag pulse warheads, and proton torpedoes.

The assortment and type of weapons payload depends upon the size and type of fighter, and what role it is designed for.

In The Last Jedi, Kylo Ren is flying a TIE Silencer, which is an updated and more heavily armed variant of it’s predecessor, the TIE Interceptor.

The TIE Silencer was designed to both engage enemy fighters, as well as capital ships. The Silencer is equipped with four Concussion missiles, and Kylo Ren flies into the Raddus‘ amidships area, which protects the hanger bays, before firing two of these missiles.

We see on screen as both missiles penetrate the magnetic field and detonate inside the hanger bay. The Concussion missile is designed around a solid penetrator they can pierce a ship’s hull, before the warhead itself detonates.

The destruction is caused by the concussion wave from the blast, as it rapidly expands outward in all directions.

The Raddus

The Raddus was an MC85 Mon Calamari star cruiser, purpose built for the New Republic Defense fleet as a warship.

It was larger than the preceding MC80c class, better shielded, and heavily armed. After it was retired from service during the New Republic draw down, it found it’s way to the Resistance as a gift from the Mon Calamari government.

The Raddus was equipped with a newer, experimental shielding that could withstand heavy bombardment from enemy weapons.

It’s weakness was in the hanger bay. When it was attacked by Kylo Ren, both of his concussion missiles struck the interior bulkhead of the hanger bay before detonating.

The delayed detonation instantly ignited nearby fuel cells and munitions, which in turn destroyed most of the vulnerable fighters on the flight deck.

Had the missiles simply detonated inside the hanger, the resulting blast would not have caused the same amount of damage.

In either case, the blast would have destroyed the magnetic field, opening up the hanger to the vacuum of space, which would have instantaneously extinguished any fires In the bay.

At the same instant the ship’s systems would have detected the pressure and temperature change, instantly sealing the blast doors to the hanger bay.

Tallie’s A-Wing

Tallie Lintra was flying the RZ-2 A-Wing Interceptor, the latest evolution of the ship designed by Kuat Systems Engineering.

Among other features, the RZ-2 incorporated a reinforced canopy, and armored hull. The cockpit was also protected by it’s own individual deflector shield generator.

On the flight deck, it’s unlikely that Tallie would have powered up the deflector shields, however she did have her canopy sealed.

Another advantage was in the positioning of her fighter; it was parked beside Poe’s X-Wing, near the back of the hanger bay.

During the attack scene, we can actually see Tallie’s A-Wing as it is slid across the deck, slamming into the bulkhead before the blast doors automatically sealed.

So what happened to Tallie Lintra? What we aren’t shown on screen is that as soon as those blast doors closed, the hanger bay was exposed to the vacuum of space to extinguish the fire inside of it.

The instantaneous depressurization of the hanger bay would have blown everything inside of it out into open space, including Tallie’s A-Wing.

The most logical conclusion is that Tallie was not killed, merely renderd unconscious from a concussion.

She and her fighter would have drifted out into space along with the other debris. The First Order would not have considered inspecting the debris field, as their objective was to annihilate the Resistance fleet.

As for her fighter, the hull most likely was intact, but not flyable. Presuming that the cockpit remained pressurized, Tallie would have had enough oxygen onboard to survive for roughly thirty six hours before succumbing to oxygen deprivation.

So technically, Tallie could have survived. The question is, did she? If you want to find out, you’ll have to wait for the upcoming novel Rebel Strike to be released. Good luck, and May the Force be with you….