It’s been awhile since I had a good old fashion Clone Watch, especially since I’ve been trying to change the direction of the blog from “toys I want to buy” to “toys other people might want to buy.” Still, these clones might be of some interest.
This last Friday I received a nice surprise in front of my door… my G.I. Joe Anniversary Operation: Rescue Doc mail-away Doc! I’m thankful that I live in an apartment complex where people don’t steal your mail that’s laying out. I’d rather not ever have to repeat the horror of my toys being stolen again.
The Playskool (i.e. Hasbro) Rose Petal Cottage is a set for little girls that contains a lot of things like a kitchen, washer/dryer, and a baby basket. The girl in the commercial looks like she is having fun with all her great play toys, but is she really? What may seem like an innocent playtime activity is this girl being subjected to the brainwashing of a sexist society that wants to keep women barefoot and pregnant… or something.
Updated: New items added! Blame Esbat!
With the memory this last Halloween fading and it’s crappiest candy on mega-discount, it’s about time to start thinking about the next major holiday. No, not Thanksgiving. That’s for losers. I’m talking about the big Papa of all delicious holidays, my birthday and after that the slightly less cool holiday called Christmas. It’s high time for my family and friends (ahem, you) to start thinking about what you’re going to give me for a gift for both holy days (or a tribute as it would be more accurately described).
For the purposes of this blog, I’ve decided to limit my wish list to toys. To make things easier for you to find the items I want, I picked toys that are more easily found in stores than items like my vintage wants that would require some hunting and extra effort. You can’t say that I’m not thinking about your best interests here. Seriously, it would be a little much to ask for a gift like the Terrordrome, although it certainly would not be undeserved.
On Hisstank.com there were a series of posts depicting some really kick ass customs. They were all gathered together and even though Topless Robot beat me at highlighting these a few weeks ago, they still deserve some loving here. As you can see, three of the greatest action movies stars were customized in G.I. Joe form: Chuck Norris from Delta Force, Arnold Schwarzenegger from Commando, and Sylvester Stallone from Rambo 3.
What’s funny is that out of the three, the most likely to actually make it as a Joe would have been Rambo in a way. There were plans during the 80s of making a Sly Stallone as a G.I. Joe in the guise of Rocky, but Stallone backed out late in the game to sign his likeness over to the Rambo toy line. This line had some horrible action figures with some of the best action features around. Seriously, click on that link if you don’t believe me.
In a move that is sure to delight many and anger just as many, the news broke this last week that the mail-away Docs that are still heading their way stateside have had a running change. The super unpopular “Duke arms” on Doc have been changed so they pivot higher up, instead of the middle of the arm. Why should you care if you aren’t a Joe collect? Because it’s kind of funny if you think about it.
Hey everyone, it’s the super cute Joes that everyone loves! Everyone that is, except for that evil man Great White Snark who has gone on record disliking these kinds of figures. Poop on him, I say! Combat Heroes rule and this second wave contains some great picks.
Awhile back I had covered a G.I. Joe commercial from the 90s that had some live action Joe’s that featured some truly terrible martial arts action. This commercial doesn’t have as much live action “acting”, but there’s enough to give you at least a minor chuckle:
If the upcoming movie isn’t any worse than this, I might be satisfied.
Remember that expensive toy monster you didn’t want from that movie that you kind of forgot about? No? I almost don’t either. Well, Hasbro is letting you know that it’s still coming up on pre-order and that it indeed was not canceled.
The G.I. Joe Club recently revealed the next wave of vehicles due out in the G.I. Joe line and it’s a pretty decent mix for Joe fans.
Arctic H.I.S.S.
Man, they are really whipping out those H.I.S.S. tanks in a frenzy aren’t they? I haven’t bought a single one yet, due to the fact I bought one during the 2000 re-release and haven’t felt the need to buy multiples. This arctic H.I.S.S. is the first of the tanks that I’ve actually contemplated about getting, mostly because its different enough to me to make it worthwhile. Hasbro, if you’re reading this, please make a H.I.S.S. that also has troop carrying capacity in the back like the H.I.S.S. II. The more figures I can cram onto a vehicle the better.
About the only toy news to cause a big stir in the last couple of weeks is the revelation that Takara is going to make a Masterpiece Grimlock Transformer toy.
As previously reported here, G.I. Joe Wave 11 has a figure that many children of the ’80s will remember, Matt Trakker from M.A.S.K. Toy News International has images of the figures from wave 11 carded, but let’s face it, everyone is really focusing on good ole’ Matt:
I know it’s been awhile since I’ve done a “Hasbro Answers” type of post, but damn it’s a lot of work and I’m ultra lazy. I was looking through the latest one and I saw an Indiana Jones question that I missed when I went an ranted about how the Indiana Jones line is as good as dead:
IndianaJonesCollectors.com: Will we see a vehicle, deluxe set, or exclusive of Henry and Indiana Jones with the motorcycle and sidecar as in The Last Crusade?
Hasbro: Unfortunately, while a motorcycle with sidecar was planned, it will not make it out.
Oh man, how damn depressing can you get? You might as well stick a spoon in my eye, Hasbro! A motorcycle with a sidecar would have been so sweet for my Indiana Jones figures. I also might have used it in conjunction with my G.I. Joe 25th Snake Eyes with Timber. You can’t deny the awesome that is a dog in a sidecar.
If you ordered a 25th Anniversary Doc and have been waiting patiently or otherwise for him, Hasbro updated their official G.I. Joe site (which is hardly ever updated) with news that the extra batch of figures they made has reached the US and will start shipping within the next 4 to 8 weeks! Sweetness!
That’s it, the Indiana Jones toy line is as good as dead. Cool Toy Review’s questions to Hasbro regarding the line pretty much a confirmation that the Indiana Jones toy line is over:
Cool Toy Review: Is the German Mechanic figure shown in the second Raiders of the Lost Ark wave scheduled for January going to include any accessories (wrench, removable hat and shirt etc…)?
Also, would it be possible to see a picture of the stands that will be included in this wave as well as Mola Ram without his head dress?
Hasbro: Right now, we are not going to be revealing any more details or information on this wave due to the likelihood that it will not make it out.
Cool Toy Review: What is your internal “doomsday date” to determine the future of the Indiana Jones line at retail? Or, what specific date in the coming months is the “point of no return” for Indy’s future? Will there be enough time to “rescue” the line to produce and distribute post-Temple Of Doom/Wave 4 if the Indy line indeed starts to sell at a faster pace?
Hasbro: Right now, it’s highly unlikely that the line will continue significantly beyond the holidays this year.
The writing is pretty much on the wall for this one, kids. If you’re not familiar with why the line is tanking, I’ve worked out the reasons.* This is also an expansion of a comment I made on a Topless Robot post that put the blame on collectors for the death of the line.
Also, please keep in mind that there’s a good amount of conjecture, but I’m willing to bet that I’m right on my educated guesses.
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