This is a topic that I have wanted to share for a very long time and have tried many times to do so. In each instance I would mess up, and then give up. The anger and frustration of not being able to adequately express myself, or feelings of inadequacy, always ruined my efforts. To be fair, this is not going to be a pic laden post, but rather a very introspective and personal look at how and why I got into collecting.

I was raised by my great-grandmother, and we lived in an old two-story house that she rented. Granny had an adopted son named Robert, who was my uncle. He was deaf and disabled due to several serious health problems which negatively affected his ability to lead a normal life. He had no friends, and he felt left out by the family. Because of this he suffered with depression and stayed to himself. He would sleep for most of the day, and only come out at night to eat.

Robert’s life was very sad, but I learned at a very young age that he was an extremely talented person. He collected comics and had hundreds of them neatly organized and stored away. I have seen issue number one of many that would make him rich if he were alive today. To get them, my great-grandmother would make weekly trips to a locally owned drug store where she bought her medicine, and once a month she would have someone take her to Kmart or Roses in a neighboring town.

Robert was an extremely talented artist and could draw anyone or anything. He collected and built model cars, often kit bashing them before anyone knew what that was outside of the special effects industry. He also collected toys. Robert’s room was upstairs, and to get there you had to walk up a flight of stairs to a large landing. There was a door that led outside onto a balcony, and his room was off to the right. I remember going into his room and being amazed at what I saw.

There were toys everywhere, all neatly organized and displayed. There were action figures and vehicles from every franchise that you could imagine from the 60s, 70s, and then early eighties. Micronauts, Battlestar Galactica, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, G.I. Joe, Star Trek, and yes Star Wars, and so many more! I was not allowed to touch his toys, and granny explained to me that Robert would often take them out to play with, and then he carefully stored each one of them in boxes. He had several large appliance boxes that he kept them all in to protect them.

Often when he would come downstairs, I would run up to Robert and hug him around his leg and hold on for dear life as he attempted to walk into the kitchen. He would reach down and pick me up with one hand, smiling and shaking his head. He would sometimes bring one or two of his toys’ downstairs and allow me to play with them, and then come back and get them later. I remember one instance where he brought down the original Colonial Viper and Cylon Raider from Battlestar Galactica, and we had a mock dogfight downstairs, walking around the room.

Robert is also the first person that I know of who could kit bash and make custom action figures. This was in the days before super articulation, and he would often disassemble figures, and then use a hobby knife to cut the hands or feet off of one, and glue them onto another. He would repaint them and make custom figures. He once did this with a Cobra figure and a Falcon from Masters of the Universe. He cut the wings off of the bird and glued them onto the back of the action figure, then repainted the figure to match the orange, blue, and white paint scheme.

I went through a very traumatic event at age six, which caused me to become introverted at a very young age. I was molested by an older male student in the bathroom of a private Christian school. I also witnessed things that scared me, and both of these events combined caused me to grow up fearing people, particularly adults, and specifically those in a position of authority. To this day I am afraid of adult men who are authority figures, because of what I went through as a child. It is just one of those things that I did not discuss until twenty-six years had passed, and by then I could not overcome the fear, despite trying to do so.

I was left traumatized, and to this day I still have flashbacks of what happened to me. I was also bullied in school, beginning in the first grade. By the time that I got into middle school, the bullying and harassment was a daily experience. I was in different classes with the same kids, who would call me names, laugh at me, throw objects at me, and spit on me. They would slap me in the back of the head while seated, or while standing in line to go to lunch. I was shoved in the bathroom frequently where I would fall into puddles of pee and beat up on the playground.

I would try to stand around teachers, and some would let me, and others would not. They would make me walk away, and when I did, I was jumped by more than one student. They would do the same thing after school while waiting on my ride, or if I had to walk home. I hated school, and I did not want friends, because I was rejected by everyone. Even the teachers and principals would laugh at me, calling me a tattle tale. They knew that was not the case, and I was afraid of them too. The only place that I felt safe was with my great-grandmother.

During this time in middle school, I came home one day after being beat up to find that my uncle had given me his entire toy collection. I was in disbelief, as I looked at the boxes in my room and dining room. Granny never told me why he chose to do that, but I believe that it was because my uncle’s depression had gotten the best of him. I was happy and excited, and I thanked him, and of course he smiled back, but I was too young to appreciate and recognize the value of what I had been given. as time passed many of them would become broken or missing parts, and others sold or thrown away.

Robert was eventually sent to a home in another city to live, and As I got into high school the bullying only continued every day. In February of 1995 granny went home to be with the Lord. It was the most devastating thing that I had experienced at that time, and I felt so lost without her. My mom and I were forced to move in with my grandmother, and everything that I had was lost. All that was familiar to me, and safe, was now gone. I had no one to turn to that I trusted, and nothing from my childhood remained but a few good memories, and many bad ones.

Over the next few years, I came across the new Star Wars Power of the Force toy line by Kenner while out at a store with my mom. Seeing them made me think of Robert, and all of the toys that he had given me and trusted me with. Mom began buying me some of the figures, and despite not having any room for anything, I had a small trunk at the foot of my bed to keep them in. I collected several of the figures and smaller vehicles, and in 1999 I got my first job. I continued to collect them for a couple of years, before giving them to a co-worker for her kids.

I wouldn’t collect any more toys again until 2007, and the first figure that I got was the 20th Anniversary Edition Optimus Prime. From that moment on I began to collect toys from every franchise that I grew up with. G.I. Joe, Halo, Star Trek, Star Wars, and Transformers were the main focus of my collection, and by 2012 I had a collection valued in excess of $5,000. That same year I got married, and I was very happy, but it would be short lived. The girl that I married was unfaithful to me from day one, and I spent a year and a half trying to save someone that didn’t want to be saved. I was abused, and beat up by ex-wife, her mother, and her stepfather whom she had been in an affair with.

She left me for someone else, and I was left in the hospital with a concussion and fear. My ex-wife hated my toy collection, and despite doing everything for her because I loved her, I thought that if I sold them, it would prove to her that I loved her, so I did. I sold my entire collection for $250, as well as selling almost everything else that I owned at the time. I was heartbroken, and sad, and at that point I had no intention of ever collecting toys again. Two years went by, and I learned of the new Star Wars film soon to be released, The Force Awakens.

Though I had not bought any more toys, I still liked to look at forums and pictures online of how others customized toys and reviewed them. It was something that I wanted to try, and so I sold some things and went out and bought the two new X-Wings from The Force Awakens toy line. I was excited, and it made me feel like a kid again. I slowly began to remember some of my childhood, and two very special Christmas’ when I was very young. How I longed to go back in time and be there again! I did not have a real smartphone at the time, or any camera equipment for that matter, but I was excited and wanted to try to do a toy review.

So, I stacked some books on top of my desk, and balanced the phone on its side against more books and filmed my first review of those X-Wings. The lighting and sound were bad, and the quality of the video was poor, but I enjoyed it. Out of that came the idea for my Youtube channel, Orion’s Belt Creations. I posted videos over the next several years, until I sold my collection once more to pay a debt. I again had no intention of collecting again, but I did. Over time I have slowly began to rebuild my collection, and now I have more toys than I did before.

I started a new professional YouTube channel, Dark Horizon Creations, and got serious about improving the quality of my reviews. I also invested hundreds of hours into learning how to customize toys and take pictures of them. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with Autism. After spending six years trying to get help, I was finally able to get the answers that I needed. Having that diagnosis gave me insight into why I couldn’t keep a job, and why I had difficulty in social interactions and settings.

I have lived a life full of trauma from an early age, and throughout those experiences I could always come home to granny and my toys. They are what made me happy, and what took my mind off of what I was experiencing at school, and sometimes at home. To this day when my feelings have been hurt, and I’m crying, I can sit down and start working on a custom toy, and pour all of my energies into that. Some of my best work, be it creative writing, custom projects, or toy photography, have all been born from a place of pain and rejection.

There are many reasons why I collect toys, but of them I think that it is that connection to those years back in my childhood that mean the most. They are a thread that keeps me tied to a place that I miss every moment of every day. If time travel were possible, I would be gone in an instant, and I would choose to live forever in those years.

So now you know why I collect toys. It’s not about money, or popularity, it’s about memories, and one day when my life is said and done, it will be my love of toys that people remember me for.

WARNING: THIS BLOG MAY CONTAIN IN-GAME SPOILERS FROM THE HALO INFINITE CAMPAIGN, WHICH MAY FOREVER RUIN YOUR CHILDHOOD.

Introduction

The 2021 Christmas season has arrived, and with it the release of Halo Infinite. After being delayed for the past year, I have to be honest in saying that I had become concerned that the game itself, as well as the franchise, may be in trouble; thankfully that was not the case. So does the game live up to the hype, or is it a failed attempt at a soft reboot for the franchise? That’s what I am going to answer in my blog. I will say up front that I am not an expert gamer, nor will you find me live streaming on Twitch, but I am a fan of the Halo franchise, and have been since I first played Halo 3 in 2009.

I actually have not played any games for the past year, as I didn’t have a console, and I received an early Christmas present this year in the form of an Xbox Series S! I have to be honest in saying that I had no idea that I was getting one, as they were impossible to find, and I couldn’t afford one. I was also uncertain if I would get to play Halo Infinite at launch, and I did! Just being able to take part in such an awesome event is both fun and life changing in itself, and something that I have never been able to experience before now.

Campaign Overview

To begin, the campaign consists of fourteen missions for you to complete, which takes about twelve to fourteen hours depending upon the difficulty that you choose. I played with the game set on easy, so that I could enjoy the game and story as it progressed. In addition, you will find that there are a total of fifty-four additional objectives to complete, which include: twelve forward operating bases (FOBs) to liberate from the Banished, seven Banished outposts, twenty distress calls from UNSC Fireteams, and seven High Value Targets (HVTs) to eliminate.

These are present during each campaign mission, which cannot be replayed after you complete them. Once you complete the campaign itself, you can go back and complete any of these objectives that you missed. I have to say that my initial impressions of the game are that it is the best title in the franchise to date. It has superb audio and graphics, and the frame rate is seamless. Most importantly it is entertaining and fun, and has a very similar appearance and feel to Halo 3, while remaining its own unique entry into the franchise.

It took me five days to complete the campaign, and that was done playing an average of three hours a day. I really had fun playing this game, and the experience left me longing for more. I have no idea when we will see the first DLC drop, however I can tell you that a trademark has been filed already for something called Halo: The Endless. I have no idea if this is a future DLC, but I hope so! What follows is a breakdown of some of the major aspects of the game and story.

Characters

To begin, anytime that I play a video game the first thing that I look at are the characters and the story. With the Master Chief we have followed his journey since Combat Evolved made its debut back in 2001. The Master Chief has become the quintessential sci-fi hero of all time, with a very atypical background and personality. His story has been balanced and intertwined with that of Cortana from day one, and they complete and complement each other perfectly.

Knowing who the protagonists are, we next turn our attention to the banished, whom we meet in Halo Wars 2. Out of all of the adversaries that the Master Chief has faced over the years, Atriox and Escharum may prove to be more than his equal. Any adversary in the Halo franchise has been well balanced against the Master Chief and the UNSC, but these two present a threat that we have never seen prior to now, and I loved it. These characters make you feel like you are being threatened by them yourself, and it is awesome.

The Story

The second aspect of any game that I look at is the story. Anyone can draft a decent story to a game, but it takes emotion, passion, and research to craft a story that makes you feel like you are a part of it, and Halo Infinite does exactly that. From the opening battle at the beginning, to the cliffhanger at the end, I hung onto every moment of this game. I wanted to know more about the Weapon, the fate of Cortana, and how Zeta Halo fit in to the narrative. You can have all of the greatest in sound effects and visuals, but without the depth of creative storytelling, all you really have is an arcade game to pass the time.

Gameplay Physics

Next, I want to talk about the physics of the gameplay in Halo Infinite. The familiarity of the game’s controls are all present, allowing the player to jump right into the game with little to learn. I liked the ability to adjust all of the control settings, including the dead zone and the speed at which the horizontal and vertical movement is controlled, which provide a more realistic and snappy response when scanning the environment, and moving from one target to the next.

Weapons

Weapons manipulation is spot on, and the venerable MA5 has been replaced with the MA40. The M6 is out, and it’s been replaced with a much more realistic sidearm, the VK50 Sidekick. I didn’t feel like the Sidekick had the knockdown power of the M6, and that is due to the difference in caliber. The Sidekick is chambered for a ten-millimeter cartridge, whereas the M6 is chambered for the fifty-caliber pistol cartridge. The standout weapon in this game is the new VK78 Commando assault rifle, which is the first assault rifle in game that isn’t a bullpup. It fires the 6.5 Creedmoor round, and features an angled mag well, holographic sight, and it is a beast!

Audio

The game is recorded in 7.1, and I found it to be an immersive experience. The vocals are all clear and crisp, and the sound effects are among the best that I have ever heard in a video game. This is due in part to the extensive real-world recordings done by the sound team. They went out and made recordings of actual firearms, explosions, aircraft, and vehicles to incorporate into the game’s audio. No sounds that I am aware of were recycled throughout the game, and each sound is unique to a specific event or object during gameplay.

Graphics

The visuals were just as impressive, with incredible color ranges, detailing, lighting, and shading. For a sci-fi shooter, Halo Infinite is as real as it can get. The game is running at thirty frames per second on the Xbox Series S, at 1080P resolution. You can switch the game to performance mode, however it’s still going to output at 1080p, and not 4K, which is not an issue that I care about. I have a Hisense forty-three-inch 1080P LCD LED television, and that’s good enough for me. In all honesty, I don’t see what all of the fuss is really about with 4K and 8K anyway, and I don’t see where it would make any real difference in how the game looks.

Technical Issues

As for bugs or glitches I only experienced one episode of a Brute freezing in place early on during gameplay, and that was it. There was no loss of audio at all. I did however experience audio and video out of sync when recording game clips to my console, and still have not determined why it happened, or how to resolve it. To be fair, this same error has occurred when recording clips from Titanfall 2, and is not exclusive to Halo Infinite, and should not be used to reflect any criticism upon the game or its performance.

Final thoughts

Earlier this year, I stated that we would see Cortana either pretend to be the weapon, or else take over her matrix in order to have a second chance at her existence. It turns out that we see her story come to an end in Halo Infinite, and I don’t think that it was what any of us were expecting or wanted. I was really hoping that we would see the Master Chief somehow save her, but the fact is the damage is done, and there just wasn’t any way to bring her back. Her actions solidified her demise, and fans were left with a heart-breaking goodbye. I did not agree with or like this decision at all, and I believe that redeeming her would have been a more perfect ending.

Instead, they replaced her with what is essentially a duplicate copy of Cortana, so I’m uncertain how that is going to play out in the future. The Weapon as she was called initially, was designed for the very purpose of capturing and removing Cortana if she became rampant, which is exactly what occurred. What surprised me was to see that she chooses to call herself Cortana at the end, which is only alluded to. Both characters are voiced by Jen Taylor, so it’s anyone’s guess how this all plays out in future DLCs. The Weapon is an innocent, happy character, and we see her being led in a way by the Master Chief, which we never saw happen with Cortana.

Prior to Infinite, my favorite game in the franchise was Halo 4, and I think that if I had a choice, Cortana’s story would have ended there. I think the rampancy story arc got out of hand and took the franchise in a direction that became less clear and determined. Infinite allowed them to bring a conclusion to that, while quietly resetting the course of the franchise along more familiar paths that are reminiscent of those in Halo 3. The issue that I have with that, is that keeping future gameplay confined to Zeta Halo will get old fast. No one wants to be stuck playing as the Master Chief on a ring for the next ten years.

If the franchise is going to move beyond all of the questionable events from Cortana’ s arc, then we need to see an expansive and open world gameplay that is not confined to a ring, or a single planet, but one that takes the player on a journey across the stars. Inevitably, I also think that we need to see the Master Chief retire. There is a lifetime of emotion, feelings, and memories that have gone untouched for him, and a story along those lines would help the staying power of the character if he’s around. Ultimately, I think that we need to see new characters brought in, that can take the reins from the Master Chief and move us forward beyond a singular hero.

Halo Infinite is full of action, depth, and emotion, but the real question is how will it surpass the legacy of the games that it is built upon? 343 Industries has stated that it is the last main entry into the Halo franchise for at least ten years, so how will that work? What is their plan? Not everyone plays or wants to see another Halo Wars title, and if this is the last game for at least ten years, is this the final entry of the Master Chief? If not, then what could be next for him, and why? Halo Infinite Leaves us with as many questions as we had before its release, we can only hope that the franchise doesn’t go down like the Infinity in a ball of fire.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.