I have these great childhood memories of my brother "sending away" for exclusive mail-in toys. He would be constantly collecting UPCs, cereal box tops, Bazooka Joe wrappers, and reading the Free Stuff For Kids books. We always suspected he would grow up to be a problem gambler or an extreme couponer (he didn't luckily). But I was always kind of jealous of the toys he would get. I remember Mumm-Ra coming in the mail, and well as the G.I.Joe Major Bludd and Super Trooper. But the most intriguing one was easily the G.I.Joe Steel Brigade soldier. The big gimmick for this mail-away toy was that it was supposed to be You. The toy would come with a personalized filecard and an iron-on patch to wear. It's was a very cool idea. The toy itself was a little generic. It had a new (helmeted) head with repurposed body parts from other characters. When I saw this Steel Corps 2-Pack advertised, the memories of that old forgotten toy resurfaced. And finally there's a female trooper too. Let's check her out below!
UNITING ALL WOMEN OF PLASTIC
Showing posts with label G.I.Joe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label G.I.Joe. Show all posts
Thursday, July 30, 2026
G.I.Joe Classified - STEEL CORPS TROOPER!
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
G.I.Joe Classified - PYTHON PATROL VYPRA!
I remember very fondly when the Python Patrol faction was released in the Hasbro G.I.Joe toy line. I was just about losing my interest in all things 'Joe (it was 1989 and I, along with the rest of the world, was renewing their obsession with Batman). But those Python Patrol repaints sucked me right back in. It seems silly considering how young I was at the time, but I found the nostalgia for those re-used original sculpts irresistible. The cartoon explanation of the faction was pretty generic (magically-induced camouflage) and the actual deco with yellow (geometric) diamond patterns and splashes of red, wasn't very snake-like at all, but the alliterative name, Python Patrol, and seeing all those old figures again was all my young brain needed to get me fully obsesssed. This Python Patrol Vypra figure is a repaint of the Cobra Blue Ninja. It's amazing to get a female character in the faction, even if we had to wait 34 long years. I hope they repaint one of the Classified Valkyries now too. Let's check out Vypra below!
Monday, July 27, 2026
G.I.Joe Classified - COVER GIRL!
It's amazing how the G.I.Joe Classified figures just keep getting better and better. This Vintage-Card Cover Girls figure from last year (in her M.A.S.S. Device design) is probably the best looking female figure in the line so far. It's very rare to see a sculpted smiling face that doesn't look creepy, but this figure achieved it in spades. She comes with two heads and two separate hairpieces to give you four unique display options. When she first came out I had several preorders arrive on my doorstep only to find some very unfortunate paint errors marring my figures. I kept buying her desperate to find one without crossed eyes or a crooked mouth. I eventually found a booth at NYCC with about 15 of her and and I finally found my good one. The sculpt was just too good to not go the extra mile hunting a great paintjob. This blonde version of Cover Girl only appeared in the first 5-episode G.I.Joe miniseries in 1983, but her popularity is still strong 40+ years later (3 figures in the last 4 years!) Let's check out Cover girl below!
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
G.I.Joe Classified - SNAKE-EYES!
In 2016, IDW Comics introduced a new Cobra recruit named Dawn Moreno in the pages of G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero. Dawn caught the attention of all the baddies and was eventually mentored by Cobra Commander, Baroness, and Storm Shadow. But when she goes in for Dr. Mindbender's brainwashing program (to fully indoctrinate her), she is accidentally given Snake-Eye's memories. Already a skilled fighter, she now has all the basic skills and knowledge of an Arashikage ninja. She continued training with Storm Shadow (and his mother!) but the good memories of Snake-Eyes were too potent and she eventually joins the Joes. (This costume didn't appear for a full year - in issue #244). I regularly noticed this new Snake-Eyes gracing the covers of numerous comics over the years (I just counted 18!) and her design always caught my eye. But I admit it was actually this figure that made me truly become obsessed with the character. Her masked head is perfection. Let's check out Dawn below!
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - LADY JAYE!
Lady Jaye has always seemed like one of the simpler characters to be made into a cartoon-accurate toy. She has a classic 2-tone green military uniform, a short haircut, and her signature weapon is a classic (looking) javelin. But her first figure inexplicably had a hat, a single-color bright green uniform, and they turned her simple javelin into some sort of gun. It was still a great toy and probably the best of the vintage female figures, but you never realize how off it was until you see this new Super7 ReAction+ version. Before this, the closest thing to a vintage-style cartoon-accurate Lady Jaye was her 5th version from 2006, but that was in the era where all the figures had disproportionately small heads. This new figure is perfection. It makes me excited to see their take on an update Scarlett - who suffered the most from the limitations of the 80's toy design. If this Lady Jaye and the previous Jinx are any indication, she will be great. Let's check out this classic Lady Jaye below!
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - LADY JAYE!
I love the trend of holiday repaints in all the Hasbro toylines. The Christmas and Halloween Star Wars figures have been a fun annual gimmick to hunt down in various stores. The unfortunate thing for me is that they've rarely involved female characters. I was theorizing with some friends this winter that the 250th Anniversary of the United States this year would likely prompt some patriotic repaints. And by Toy Fair time in February, I was proven right. We learned of Hasbro G.I.Joe and Transformers Walmart Exclusives in Red, White, and Blue, and also a Walmart exclusive wave of Super7 Reaction+ G.I.Joe figures. I was thrilled with this announcement because the Super7 set featured a never-before-seen Lady Jaye sculpt. Of course, as of today's announcement we now have seen images of a traditionally-hued Lady Jaye coming in the next Reaction+ wave, which is very exciting because I desperately want an O-Ring hatless cartoon Lady Jaye. Let's check out the 250th Anniversary Lady Jaye below!
Sunday, May 17, 2026
G.I.Joe Classified - CRIMSON BARONESS!
Right around 2002 was when I started collecting toys as an adult. I had just moved to a new city, had adult income for the first time ever, and was feeling super nostalgic about my youth. I started with a goal to get every female G.I.Joe ever. The only vintage one I still owned at the time was Baroness, and she was always my favorite character. The modern Valor vs Venom style G.I.Joes at the time were not very appealing to me, but it wasn't long until I realized that there was a steady flow of vintage-styled figures as convention exclusives and various collector packs. Later that year was a convention exclusive Crimson Strike Team set featuring red deco'd vintage re-releases of Baroness, Xamot, Tomax, and a dozen Vipers. I had never considered a Crimson Baroness before but I instantly loved it. Apparently everyone else did too, because every 3-4 years thereafter, we got another red Baroness. This Classified 6-7" scale version was part of the SDCC 2023 set with the Crimson Twins. Let's check her out below!
Monday, May 11, 2026
G.I.Joe Classified - COBRA C.L.A.W. PILOT!
A really fun thing about G.I.Joe in the 80's was the vehicles names, especially the Cobra vehicles with their reptile-themed acronyms. The bad guys embraced this trope early (the Joes didn't start for a few years, and they never really had a cohesive theme). But Cobra gave us gems like: F.A.N.G. (Fully Armed Negator Gyrocopter, H.I.S.S. (High Speed Sentry), S.N.A.K.E (System Neutralizer Armed Kloaking Equipment), A.S.P. (Assault System Pod, and C.L.A.W. (Covert Light Aerial Weapon). Once again, Hasbro's G.I.Joe Classified team has found a way to get us another female soldier. There was never an original C.L.A.W. pilot, so I don't believe the design of this figure has any vintage references. I really like the red Officer's Helmet. It's visually very bold but fits in the with the Cobra soldier aesthetic nicely. I find myself pondering what troop builder should be next. The obvious answer is a generic green shirt female, but an Iron Grenadier or Python Patrol would be fun too. I can't wait to see what's next.
Friday, May 8, 2026
G.I.Joe Classified - COBRA VALKYRIES!
I normally pay no attention to troop builders or generic trooper characters in my favorite media properties. There are two strong exceptions though: Hellfire Club soldiers in the X-Men comics and Cobra Troopers from the G.I.Joe cartoon. Those blue-clad, laser-firing idiots were in every episode and I loved them. Something about their black face masks and flared helmets made them the perfect bad guy fodder. Plus I have always been obsessed with the Cobra insignia which is emblazoned so boldly on their chests. There were occasionally female troopers in the cartoon, but they didn't get the action figures treatment until 2007. I was so excited to get these, but I was a little bummer that they were in stylized black costumes (we eventually got blue ones in 2017, but I was never able to get them). When I realized the Classified line was here to stay, I couldn't wait for a female Cobra Trooper. I purchased them right away but didn't open them for three years. Let's check them out below!
Sunday, May 3, 2026
G.I.Joe Classified - CRIMSON GUARD!
I love how the G.I.Joe Classified figures are getting more and more "classic" looking as the line continues. When the Classified series started six years ago, I felt they were pretty stylized. The characters always had all the defining characteristics; Scarlett had her red ponytail and Destro had his silver mask, but there were often so many added details that the character identity got muddy. I often viewed it like gritty modern video game versions of the classic characters. Even the earlier Cobra Trooper figures had excessive straps, holsters, and body armor which, while actually realistic, dampened the nostalgic factor significantly. But more recent figures like this Crimson Guard soldier are perfect. She is instantly recognizable as one of the elite guard of the Crimson Twins. There are tons of added details, but nothing distracting. I realize this classic aesthetic may be limited to the Vintage Carded line, but either way I am here for it. I can't wait to see who the next lady might be. Let's check out the Crimson Guard below!
Friday, May 1, 2026
G.I.Joe Classified - COBRA H.I.S.S. GUNNER!
A funny thing about my memories of my G.I.Joe collecting hobby in the 80s was the importance of the folded product catalogs that came in the vehicle boxes. In the years before the internet and an overabundance of retail stores, this was pretty much the only way to see the vast array products available. It was in these catalogs that one of the biggest sibling debates of my childhood began.. "who exactly was that blurry red guy driving the H.I.S.S. Tank???" My errant guess was Scrap Iron. My brother swore it was Wild Weasel. The magnifying glass didn't clear anything up. It was ages before we saw one in real life and refused to admit we were wrong. But ever since that mystery I've been obsessed the toy. Although, I sadly never owned one. When the 2022 G.I.Joe Haslab H.I.S.S. campaign started, I was ready to back it just for the main (male) Driver. But when the female Gunner character (in the same deco) was added as a stretch goal, I was hooked. Let's check out the Cobra H.I.S.S. Gunner below!
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
G.I.Joe Classified - COBRA FERRET SCOUT!
One of my favorite things about the super-popular G.I.Joe Classified toyline has been the inclusion of unnamed female troop builders, pilots, and drivers. As a massive fan of the G.I.Joe cartoon in the 80s, I viewed the Cobra Troopers as massively iconic. They were in nearly every episode... but only sparingly included females. I was also nuts for the toys and always desperately wanted an army of Cobra Troopers and Officers (I never got any). I also would see the Cobra Stinger vehicle in stores that came with a gray Cobra Trooper, and I was obsessed. When the Classified line first showed their Stinger with a gray driver, I was hoping we'd somehow get a female version. Then we saw this new Scout for the Ferret ATV. The vintage Ferret never came with a figure, but I distinctly remember friends of mine always having Baroness be the main Ferret driver during battle play, so something about the female Scout seems correct to me. I think she's awesome. Let's check out the Cobra Ferret Scout below!
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - DAINA!
Super7 has given us yet another unlikely neglected character from the original G.I.Joe cartoon.... Daina. As young superfan of the G.I.Joe cartoon in the 80s, I loved the episodes when the Joes would clash with the soviet heroes, Oktober Guard. They were only in two episodes (about a year apart). The first was an episode about alien abductions called The Invaders and the second was the famous Arise Serpentor Arise. I always lean toward Sci-Fi themes (as opposed to straight-forward military plots) in my G.I.Joe fandom, so these stories were some of my favorites. The Oktober Guard's lone female member, Daina, was a standout. She was reimagined as a blonde mercenary decades later in the comics (which is where all her previous toy decos come from), but this raven-haired, sherpa-lined sharpshooter version from the cartoon was always my favorite. She is just the latest addition to the deep-cut characters in the Super7 Reaction+ line. I can't wait to see who's next. Let's check out Daina below!
Friday, January 23, 2026
Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - ARCTIC SCARLETT!
In the second episode of G.I.Joe, The M.A.S.S. Device Part II, Slave of the Cobra Master (September 1983). Scarlett, Snake-Eyes, and Snowjob (and others) head deep into the Arctic to seek a red radioactive crystal (one of the three elements needed for the M.A.S.S. Device). The scene is relative brief, but memorable - especially because it is so early in the vast G.I.Joe canon. Super7 seems to love G.I.Joe The Movie and The M.A.S.S. Device. The number of ReAction figures they've made based on these two storylines is pretty amazing. A figure of Scarlett in an arctic parka was not on my bingo card at all, and if pressed I could come up with a handful of never-before-made characters I would have taken in place of her, but now that she's in my collection I'm pretty happy to have her. The exciting is that their character choices are getting so obscure that I have no idea what might be coming next. (I'm always hoping for Oktober Guard and more Cobra-La though!) Let's check out Arctic Scarlett below!
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - MARA!
Sometimes my childhood memories don't hold up to my adult scrutiny. As a kid, my absolute favorite episode of G.I.Joe was "Memories of Mara" (S1E45, Nov 15th, 1985). The story featured Shipwreck rescuing a blue-skinned woman from the ocean. You're led to believe her hue is due to cyanosis, but during CPR attempts, he realizes she has gills on her neck and climbs back into the water with her to continue his revival attempts. Turns out Mara was an escaped Cobra Eel lab test subject. She was supposed to be amphibious, but accidentally turned out completely aquatic and unable to breathe on land. As a kid I found this concept mind-blowing and one of the first mer-people I ever saw represented in my cartoons. As an adult, it's a pretty odd 22-minute story with some major logic holes. But even still the nostalgia is palpable with this new figure. Despite me begging for her on forums for years ("Please! Such an easy re-use of parts!"), I never expected to actually get her. Let's check out Mara below!
Sunday, October 19, 2025
G.I.Joe Classified - PYTHONA!
As a kid I was always mimicking the cartoon characters I idolized. It wasn't necessarily blatant or intentional. I wouldn't hold a stick aloft and shout "By the Honor of Grayskull" or anything so obvious. In fact, I think it was largely subconscious. I went through a phase where I couldn't pass a broomstick without performing some type of acrobatic vault. I realize as an adult I was mimicking Diana from Dungeons & Dragons. I once leapt off a dresser fully expecting to glide across the room to my bed a'la Princess Peach in Mario II (I was on crutches for months), and most disturbing to my young classmates, I went though a phase in 1987 where I chased kids around the playground with worms and slugs acting out all my Pythona fantasies. The opening sequence of G.I.Joe the Movie (1987) features the mysterious Pythona stealthily infiltrating the Cobra Terror Drome with a menagerie of gross biological weapons: electric eels, shellfish, tentacled larvae-like things, exploding spores, and her own acid-tipped claws.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - PYTHONA!
I think Pythona was the character that first made me realize the desparity between male and female action figures in the 80s. When G.I.Joe the Movie first aired on TV (serialized) in 1987, I tuned in and taped it every day that week. The first episode seemed dedicated to this new intriguing character named Pythona. It wasn't long before I saw toys at the local Hills department store dedicated to the movie. There was a 3-Pack of Cobra-La characters, including Golobulus, Nemesis Enforcer, and a Cobra-La Royal Guard. It seemed like a blatant mistake to exclude her considering she received more screen time than any of the others. So, despite my love for all things Cobra-La, I never got this set. It just seemed like an incomplete roster without Pythona. Like the Fantastic Four without Sue or the Power Rangers without the Pink and Yellow Rangers (both of are common toy exclusions). But who could have guess that 38 years later that Pythona void would be filled so spectacularly. Let's check out this beauty below!
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - COVER GIRL!
How crazy is it that after 40-some years, this original version of Cover Girl is getting so much attention. I frankly never understood why she got the weird redesign after her 1983 debut. I assume it had something to do with Hasbro's avoidance of long hair on their figures. But giving her short auburn hair just made her look like a variation of the Scarlett toy. Considering she would have been the only blonde main character as well made this a very confusing decision. But it seems like this "M.A.S.S. Device" design is finally getting some attention with three figures in a few short years. I bought this Reaction+ O-Ring figure just shy of a year ago. I bought so many versions of her because her eyes were always off-center, and by the time I secured a good one, the "newness" excitement was gone and I never opened her until this week. The new Pythona figure lit a fire under me and made me finally free these ladies from their packaging. They're pretty great. Let's check out Cover Girl below!
Monday, September 29, 2025
Super7 Reaction+ O-Ring - JINX!
G.I.Joe was the first action figure line that captured my attention as a youth.. mostly because it included a decent amount of the female characters from the cartoon. Then when I was in my twenties and made a conscious decision to start collecting action figures, my first goal was to assemble all the female G.I.Joes. It wasn't terribly hard to get them all back then, but I quickly realized many of the characters didn't really resemble their animated counterparts. A major one for this was Jinx. She has several very iconic scenes in G.I.Joe the Movie, but her toy just looked different. Mainly, she never wore the generic ninja mask that her toy sported. She was either completely unmasked or blindfolded (this figure really should have come with a blindfold). So seeing this figure so early in the Reaction+ O-Ring line really brought me joy. It's not quite as exciting as a never-before-seen vintage figure (like the just-released Pythona), but she is still super cool to have. Let's check out Jinx below!
Monday, September 15, 2025
Void Rivals - SOLILA (and DARAK)!
Void Rivals is one of the best comics I've read in recent years. I was a little late to the party and only picked up the Vol 1 TPB this time last year, just as the Vol 2 TPB was being released. I had read the Cobra Commander TPB a few months before and was thoroughly impressed by the art and story. The way they tied in so much great 80's G.I.Joe lore and told an engaging origin story with that modern Image Comics edge just blew my mind. The Transformers crossover was a surprise to me as well. I decided to dive deep into this new Energon Universe created by Robert Kirkman and Skybound for Image comics. This universe merges the Transformers and G.I.Joe properties while also including original titles, like their inaugural release Void Rivals. The story starts out with two lone representatives of warring worlds, Solila the Zerkonian and Darak the Agorrian, crash landing on a rocky planet (or moon, asteroid, or comet? It's desolate and barren and far from home) while each attempting to capture a
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