GI JOE State of the Hobby Address

[martini_847]

I have been collecting GI JOE since I was a kid. I remember reading the first comic and I was hooked. I bought figure after figure.

 

I watched GI Joe grow from a small specialized task force to a true army with a huge cast of characters. I watched Cobra grow from a sea of faceless troops with a Commander to an organization filled with mercenaries, thieves and specialized vipers for every occasion...and I bought them all.

 

I watched as joe grew and changed...neon colors, ninja forces, monster hunters and battle forces...and i bought them all.

 

Then the joes I knew and loved were gone. Replaced by "extreme" characters and cryogenic carry overs. and I didnt buy one of them.

 

Then the rumors started, jove vs. cobra was back. I scanned the net looking for prototypes, pictures, anything... The new figures were the same but different. Designs, plastic type, and the lack of the o-ring. But it was clear Joe was coming back.

 

I sat back and watched the angry debates over the o-rings. I watched as the o rings came back. (which is the better design btw)

 

I look at the current and future waves, and I smile. I am brought back to my childhood.

 

I know that it is easy to complain. Big shoulders, accessories, etc. But as the line gets stronger improvements will come.

 

Look at the wave 3 Snake Eyes figure and tell me joe isnt back.

 

Everyone that posts here does so because they love these toys. These little pieces of plastic bring joy to us, make us remember our childhood, or spark our imagination.

 

The state of the hobby is this. Joe is battling Cobra in living rooms across the country and that is a good thing. Yo Joe

[Samus Aran]

 

The state of the hobby is this. Joe is battling Cobra in living rooms across the country and that is a good thing. Yo Joe

 

Amen to that! That was a great little spiel, Martini847... Yo Joe!!! -

[Viper Hunter]

Josh Z....is that you? 8)

[RobbieDigital]

Thats the most intelligent thing that I have heard on this forum in a long time, that was POSITIVE about the new GI Joes. I'm not downplaying anybodys intelligence but thats exactly how I feel about GI Joe. Couldn't have said it better.

[Viper Hunter]

The state of the hobby is this. Joe is battling Cobra in living rooms across the country and that is a good thing. Yo Joe

 

 

I'm not sure how many of the younger set fans are BACK into getting these new Joes, but I do know that the "adult" collectors are battling each other on their computers across the country over the constant changes these Joes are being put through recently.

 

A new cartoon for the JvC line airing at *just after school* hours, would most definitely bring the battles of Joe vs Cobra into the "living rooms across the country" for the fanbase that will ultimately keep it thriving and continuing for hopefully as long a duration as the original line ran...the kids!

 

Of course as a "not totally sold on the JvC stuff yet" fan and collector, I'll defend the acts of complaining and expressing that certain things are not "for the better" by emphasizing your reference to the O-ring dilema. Without the protests...they would still be without'em.

 

The "state of the hobby" is certainly in better shape than it was in say....' 95-' 98? :wink:

[Outsiders]

I couldn't have said it better myself...

[Devilbat]

Simple and to the point! That's what I like, and am completely incapable of! :wink:

 

I may have had my complaints, but overall I love GvsC. I love how I can walk into a store and actually buy new G.I. Joe figures again. And it's exciting to see new versions of old favorites hanging on the j-hooks again, and they just keep getting better and better with each wave. Now if we could have a new cool 'toon, all in the world would be right!

[Snow_Serpent]

Thats the most intelligent thing that I have heard on this forum in a long time, that was POSITIVE about the new GI Joes. I'm not downplaying anybodys intelligence but thats exactly how I feel about GI Joe. Couldn't have said it better.

 

I agree 100%

 

The new Joes are cool and worth my money and effort to acquire them.

[firestongue]

yep. the state of the hobby is good. all systems are go

[Doc Evil]

Good? Maybe. Ill give you that

 

But it CAN be much better

[Phanstar]

Look at the wave 3 Snake Eyes figure and tell me joe isnt back.

 

Put your 83 duke next to your wave 1 or even wave 3 duke and tell me GI Joe is back.

 

Set your 83 duke on the cot of the bivouac, holding that little plastic machete... oh and then next to it, put gung ho on his quad assault cycle or wtf ever. Then tell me GI joe is back.

 

Set your 83 snow job on your original polar battle bear, then put your new Frostbite on your new rockslide and Tell me GI Joe is back.

 

Take your original zartan and looks at his accessories... No REALLY LOOK at this figure... Check out his back pack... His mask, his little laser gun, His accessories specifically tailored for this beautiful and original figure...

Then take your wave 2 or wave 3 zartan, in your other hand, and tell me GI Joe is back....

 

Take your original MOBAT, and put on steelers goggles, and give him his uzi, then set him next to your brawler and heavy duty, and tell me GI Joe is back.

 

I could keep making these comparisons all night, But whats the point. GI Joe is back... Back in the old days when it was a high quality military toy line.

[martini_847]

and I guess there was NEVER ANY examples of poor figures or exagerated designs from the old line?

 

nigger please

[Phanstar]

and I guess there was NEVER ANY examples of poor figures or exagerated designs from the old line?  

 

I dont think so please

 

Ill take ANY figure or ANY vehicle or ANY playset from 82-85 over ANYTHING on the shelves today period. Im not saying there werent ANY bad things back then, but they were few and far between. I could have sat up all night typing comparisons of what was cooler then than there is now but I would have ended up typing the whole Joe vs. Cobra line... Do I NEED to give anymore?

 

Heck take your 87 Tomahawk and set it next to your Night Attack Chopper and tell me GI Joe is back. Take your original fang chopper or your joe skyhawk and put it next to your Fang 3 and tell me Joe is back, Take your HISS 1 and put it next to your Hiss IV and tell me Joe is back. take your 83 destro and put him next to your wave 1 destro and tell me Gi joe is back. Yawn... this is pointless.

[Guest]

Haven't we had this argument about 100 times already. You should know where this leads...darthjoe steps in and makes you realize just how cool JVC really is. :wink:

[Phanstar]

No offense Darth Joe... But you havent convinced me of anything yet.

[Outsiders]

I do have to agree that I sort of like the 82-85 Joes better than what we have now...

 

I mean before they had a certain look but now it's one of those lets see how many times we can change a character or how many times can we pack 1 character with others characters to keep making 2 packs...

[Phanstar]

Thats just it, as if the changes in quality werent enough to be dissapointed about we have shady marketing to have to swallow too.

 

Who here wants 4 versions of big ben?

 

Who here would own 5 big bens if it werent for the alley viper they really wanted?

 

And whats worse is some of the things hasbro is doing to help the quality of the figures is only hurting. I complained in my previous post about accessories being tailor made for the figure they come with.

 

Well now we get cobra commander with a staff, and scarlett with a crossbow. But at a price. That ugly sound tab that no one wants.

[Viper Hunter]

Thats just it, as if the changes in quality werent enough to be dissapointed about we have shady marketing to have to swallow too.  

 

Who here wants 4 versions of big ben?

 

Who here would own 5 big bens if it werent for the alley viper they really wanted?

 

And whats worse is some of the things hasbro is doing to help the quality of the figures is only hurting.  I complained in my previous post about accessories being tailor made for the figure they come with.

 

Well now we get cobra commander with a staff, and scarlett with a crossbow.  But at a price.  That ugly sound tab that no one wants.

 

 

I think we must have pissed-off the "pope" over at Hasbro headquarters, cuz they sure don't seem to like us much anymore. They STILL using old KENNER employees by any chance? Damn dirtbags need to GO! They gave us G.I.Joe Extreme first, now they're sneaking in through the ranks and giving us fits with G.I.Joes that make us want to SCREAM! :lol:

 

 

(get it? Extreme? Scream? ahhh fuget about it ) 8)

[Guest]

Haven't we had this argument about 100 times already.  You should know where this leads...darthjoe steps in and makes you realize just how cool JVC really is.  :wink:

 

 

I'm waiting dude. I am ready to be convinced that GvC is cool. And then I will convince you that poop tastes good. @-@

[Devilbat]

I do have to agree that I sort of like the 82-85 Joes better than what we have now...

 

I mean before they had a certain look but now it's one of those lets see how many times we can change a character or how many times can we pack 1 character with others characters to keep making 2 packs...

 

I'm gonna jump right in here and point out a few things about our beloved "old-school" Joes that everybody worships:

 

I'm like everyone else here; the old figures are the best, simply because that's what we grew up playing with and cherishing. The detail was better (later on in the line with the figures, that is), they seemed more solid and durable, and they were all unique and interacted with their playsets and vehicles perfectly, which were also detailed and durable. BUT...between '82 and '84, most of the figures were sculpted with a glazed-over look on their face; each and every one of them! They look like they've been huffing paint fumes for about three days. And half of them were recycled. We gripe about the new GvsC figures simply being repainted to drive vehicles, well think about it; Breaker, Grunt, Clutch, Steeler, AND Short-Fuse all had the same bodies-just repainted! Zap and Grand-Slam, too. And half of those had the same head even! Most, if not all of the '82-'83 figures shared one or more body parts. If Hasbro did that now, the fans and collectors would storm Hasbro and burn it to the ground! We even now know from the latest issue of Toyfare that Hasbro couldn't paint every single figure in their initial run for some reason, so they left one totally black, with no paint apps! Of course he went on to become our beloved Snake-Eyes, but to think he was black just because they didn't bother painting him...incredible! All I'm saying is we see things with rose-colored glasses because we all have twenty years of nostalgia in the back of our minds when we see the new stuff.

And guys, just because I like GvsC, that doesn't mean it's a perfect toy line. I see ALOT of problems with it, especially when I hold it up to most of the old stuff. I guess my point is; even the old stuff we love so much wasn't perfect, and it improved over time, even devolved, and I see the GvsC stuff improving along the same lines. To me, the peak of Joe perfection came between '85 and '91 or so, but some of the older stuff was just as hokey and cheap as some of the new stuff seems to be. So now, as then, I just pick and choose and sift through the crap for the cool stuff I like to represent what I think is universally cool about G.I. Joe.

 

And Outsiders: don't think I'm trying to attack you personally, or anybody here for that matter who loves the old stuff more, because in alot of ways the older stuff is better, but there's alot I think is cool about the new stuff, too. It's just you're post prompted me to point out the fact that the original Joes we all (including me) have seen as "perfect" had many of the same problems everyone complains about with the new Joes (like multiple colors of the same figure, problems with articulation, and silly character ideas). That's all. So guys, don't think I'm one of those fans who're like "You guys can't just let go of the past; get over it and accept the new!", or "GvsC is the suckiest crap to ever grace the aisles of stores! IT SUCKS!!" I like a little of both, and both have good points and bad points. :wink:

[Viper Hunter]

Good points Devil Bat, and I agree with much of what you stated, especially about the earliest offerings of these 3 3/4" Joes being very subar to what the line eventually evolved into. My most favorite figures, came later and even closer to the end of the original run of them. Better molds, sculpting and different characters all improved every year (as far as I'm concerned) and I was very saddened to learn the Joes were being discontinued, just when I thought they were gearing BACK to some more "realistic" military type themes and MOST importantly..COLOR schemes.

 

However, using the early figures of 82-84 as a comparison (or even as an excuse) for why it's okay for Hasbro to be farting around with our Joes in this way, is not quite going to hold alot of water with me. It's not the same circumstances NOW as it was THEN. The toy has already been around and seen it's successes, so insinuating that Hasbro is starting all over again, and therefore, probably going to have some screwed-up early offerings, is not acceptable to me.

 

In 82..it WAS an all new concept (from the original 12" incarnation of G.I.Joe) and quite a drastic change at that, but it most certainly DID "improve"...just as I stated before, by leaps and bounds by 86. But they shouldn't be going backwards with them, nor should they be humoring the ideas of some NEWBIE designer, who wants to FAST forward into the future with them, yet maintain ALL the original characters for it. Just doesn't seem to be quite where I want to see'em going, right now. I know they can do better, and I'm seeing signs that they're getting there, but i still don't excuse the backsliding moments in the latest releases!

[Outsiders]

well think about it; Breaker, Grunt, Clutch, Steeler, AND Short-Fuse all had the same bodies-just repainted! Zap and Grand-Slam, too. And half of those had the same head even! Most, if not all of the '82-'83 figures shared one or more body parts. If Hasbro did that now, the fans and collectors would storm Hasbro and burn it to the ground!

 

I do agree with your post but Hasbro is doing this now... The new figures do share body parts and are repainted...

 

Burn! Baby! Burn! :wink:

[Guest]

I agree with Viper Hunter, the fact that this is a new line doesn't provide an excuse for crappy figures. They have had 20 years to build on, not start all over and forget what makes a good toy. If they wanted to name these toys differently and keep them totally seperate from RAH toys, I would not complain one bit. However, they are mixing these figures with old ones, reissuing vehicles, and trying to make these figures fit in with the old ones. That is a shame, cause this stuff doesn't compare.

[Phanstar]

I dont think I agree with Devil bats comments. Sure I have tons of love and nostalgia for my old 80s joes, But I even liked the cheaper reissues of the RAH line up to 2000 and many of the figures they were re-issuing then I had never even seen before. It wasnt nostalgia that I liked, it was the fact that they were GI JOES, to me, they were NEW joes that I could interact with my old joes.

 

and as for the first wave in 82 sharing body parts, well this is true, but at least its REALISTIC that 10 soldiers would all be wearing essentially the same green uniform. Thats what I keep saying, Back then GI Joe was a realistic military toy line. Over time hasbro has wimped out and turned them into a star wars on earth sort of thing and the Joe Vs. Cobra only continues that trend.

 

I agree with Clam.. If they were making this a whole new toy line loosely based on the previous concept of GI joe then my stance would be this. GI Joe as I know it is dead, and now we have new toys that I simply dont like. But they are presenting it as a continuation of the toys they have been making for 20 years. And they are trying to convince us the consumers that they are the same. On one hand Hasbro seems to want to bring new consumers into their market with a totally revamped toy line and hopefully appeal it to some kids (i guess at least but like wheres the cartoon?) but on the other hand I guess one could say Hasbro wants to keep "the long term collectors who already hold the primary market for GI Joe happy by releasing old style figures too" Well that just doesnt fly.

 

If we had two lines... GI Joe Vs. Cobra, and GI JOE RAH Collectors Edition. Then it would be simple. I would collect the RAH collectors reissues and ignore the existance of Joe vs. Cobra. But we dont, we have hasbro doing a shoddy job of releasing two different toy lines in the same packages with the same title and expecting us to like it.

[Guest]

Haven't we had this argument about 100 times already.  You should know where this leads...darthjoe steps in and makes you realize just how cool JVC really is.  :wink:

 

 

I'm waiting dude. I am ready to be convinced that GvC is cool. And then I will convince you that poop tastes good. @-@

 

So, are you saying you've tasted poop before and it tastes bad? :wink: