2003 Hiss Driver - Unproduced Wal Mart Exclusive
While there are many
unproduced Joes in the modern line, very few of them can be traced back to original Hasbro documention proving their intended existence. Probably less than 10% of the total number of unproduced figures that have surfaced since 2002 have published origins. This isn't to say that they are the best of the unproduced figures, but they are the ones that, long term, will have the most publicity. They have the paper trail that will put them in a different category for many future collectors. In the meantime, though, we are given a chance to enjoy some figures that were never released. In the case of this unproduced Hiss Driver, that is a very good thing.
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Posted on 11:20:38 by Mike T
2003 Python Patrol Rock Viper
I've long liked
Rock Vipers. The high quality mold, great accessories and cheap prices created a figure of which I always wanted more in my collection. In 2003, Hasbro finally dusted off the Rock Viper mold and included it as a member of the Toys R Us exclusive
Python Patrol set. This set featured distinctive, unified colors, a great selection of obscure army building molds and included all the original accessories for each of the army building figures. In short, it was a great start to the exclusive army building packs...on paper. The reality was that the color scheme on the figure, while detailed, was also difficult to use. It didn't match the vintage Python Patrol figures and wasn't even close to any traditionally Cobra colors. Collector response to the figures was enthusiatic, but lukewarm. Many people army built the sets as there weren't many alternatives. In the 4 subsequent years, though, this set has become obscure rather than celebrated.
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Posted on 16:28:21 by Mike T
Funskool Toxo-Viper
As the Joe line progressed, Cobra slowly moved away from their traditional terrorist organization roots and morphed into a more technologically savvy foe. With this transition, though, the figure concepts slowly moved away from staid, uniform look of the
original old blues and started to diversify into more defined specialties with corresponding uniforms. This metamorphisis produce a wide array of
highly popular figure concepts and sculpts. But, as Hasbro took the idea to the more extreme edge of reality, the entire notion of Cobra was changed. While some of the ideas proffered forth were well thought out, others were really
half-baked, even if the explanation was plausible enough for the idea to catch on among the kids of the day. In 1988 Cobra took a big step forward in the technological sense with the introduction of their own space troopers and the subject of this profile: the
Toxo-Viper. The Toxo-Viper is actually a rather chilling concept: especially in light of world events of the past several years. And, as such, the figure is worth another look.
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Posted on 12:29:43 by Mike T
2005 Roadblock - Heavy Artillery Set
2005 did not offer collectors much on the ARAH style figure front. While Hasbro did put out several TRU exclusive sets, the figures offered in them were not up to the standards of the 2004 figure offerings. As the year wore on and the line's cancellation became imminent, Hasbro got even lazier in their figure creations and produced some of the most boring figure sets in the history of the line. The TRU exclusive line ended with a whimper. But, in these tail end duds were a couple diamonds in the rough. A perfect example is the Heavy Artillery Set (HAS) Roadblock.
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Posted on 12:28:27 by Mike T
1983 Tan Grunt
I'm not a big fan of the early Joe figures. Sure, they have their place in history and are worthy of respect for that fact, but the reality is that they were greatly paled by the later Joe releases and were largely made irrelevant by subsequent, better detailed figures. As such, though the years, I have profiled very few of the original figures. This is somewhat a shame as these molds have had far more interesting lives than those of most other figures even if their actual designs have become dated. The subject of this profile, though, is the first true repaint of a character that was offered in the Joe line. For that, he is significant. But, it's what became of this figure in modern collecting terms that is the figure's true legacy.
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Posted on 16:32:42 by Mike T