G.I. Joe Classified Series

I somewhat wonder, and maybe this is my own Joe ignorance speaking (as previously mentioned, I am a Joe dilettante and I cherish that title deeply), are the Joe fans really that dedicated to the core key characters the way X-Men fans are? Or is that just an assumption we have because they've always been there?

Legit question, I simply don't know. I can see how toy lines always need to hit those characters, but comics? I wonder. Then again, I recall how Claremont really wanted to cycle out X-Men over time, having them retire and move on or permadie, and you can see where he tries to do it multiple times, but he just can't keep the core group from coming back (editorial being a large part of that).

I would say that Joe fans have 'their' teams in a similar way to X-Men fans. Original cartoon, DIC cartoon, Marvel Comics, or even vintage toy fans all have the core version of the team that they think of when they hear 'G.I. Joe.' I'd also argue there's people that consumed a lot of different Joe media at an early enough age, but aren't diehards, that have kind of a mixed idea of who the 'team' really is, even if it doesn't line up with any specific team in any specific media.

But I'd also hazard to say that for most people of a certain age there are core characters you expect to be considered 'main' Joes: Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Duke, Shipwreck, Flint, Lady Jaye, Spirit, Roadblock. Everyone has their favorites, and Joe characters cycle in and out a fair bit. But those seem to be the ones that show up across almost all media and have the most appearances. They're your Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean, Storm, Beast, etc.

Snake Eyes absolutely occupies that Wolverine space of the mysterious, especially violent, honorable ninja good guy. If you're not a hardcore fan of the straight-edge military look, Snake Eyes probably would have been a favorite toy across at least the first several years. He was a ninja in the '80s when all the best stuff was ninja-related. You could see how important he was in how many toy releases he got, and how often he featured in the comics. He was one of -THE- main characters during the original crossover with Transformers back in the '90s, along with another fan favorite - Destro.
 
Good point. yeah, right now I have two shelves with most of the Joes arranged in order of release, then a smaller shelf with my favorites: Storm Shadow, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker, Tunnel Rat, Beachhead, Spirit, Falcon, and Jinx. And Timber and Niyol, since I have the Marauder Spirit.
 
As someone actively working on a fun little creative project for myself taking old file card and comics lore and building an alternate timeline, I really do think your mileage may vary for how much Joes fans give a shit about legacy characters or classics or whatever. Did you come into it from the beginning? Are you an ancient who had the dress up dolls? Were you a comics guy or a cartoon guy or both? Did you read the stuff that came after the comic left Marvel? Did you hit an age where you stopped collecting toys around the time Joes went late 80s day-glow colors? Or was that when you STARTED collecting? Are you in it for the starry-eyed, optimistic version of the military? or for the NINJAS? Both?

This is really the only place I've EVER discussed my opinions or interests in the IP with anyone else (HISSTank scares me) so I don't know how aggressive or dickish people can be about it, but even the difference between me and my two brothers (We're each exactly six years apart (48/42/36 years old now) have super different tastes. Baby bro is all about them ninjas. Middle bro loves the brightly colored shenanigans. I was able to tell Ru the exact YEAR I stopped paying attention to file cards, which is where my own heart lies with this line - those file cards are my personal joes bible. But I also won't hold preferring a different era against anyone else.

And hell, I even pick up figures from those other eras cos Classified is killing it. I only barely remembered Slice & Dice and Budo and those are probably my figures of the year. (Unless the Sci-Fi et al wave hits before January 1, cos those three guys were legends in my collection.)

But I mean, this is a tale as old as time. I remember "Which one is GI Joe?" from my dad; me thinking Snake Eyes is the main character; and cartoon fans knowing Duke is the lead. It's always been a matter of perspective.
 
Good point. yeah, right now I have two shelves with most of the Joes arranged in order of release, then a smaller shelf with my favorites: Storm Shadow, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker, Tunnel Rat, Beachhead, Spirit, Falcon, and Jinx. And Timber and Niyol, since I have the Marauder Spirit.

Solid team. And to the point; I think it's interesting that if you asked a different Joe fan to make up a team of 8 or 9 Joes, it would not be those exact characters. I wonder, if Classified did a perfect version of every variation of every Joe character... would your team change? Is it based mostly on 'well, this is what's available' or did you luck out and those are legitimately the characters you would choose every time to form up the 'best Joe team?'
 
The GeeWunners bullied a multi-billion-dollar company into changing an entire toyline because they didn't like any changes being made to their precious '80s cartoon designs.
I'll take some responsibility there. I was open to some of the changes, but a lot of it was just bad design. That original Scarlett was fucking HIDEOUS.
 
As someone actively working on a fun little creative project for myself taking old file card and comics lore and building an alternate timeline, I really do think your mileage may vary for how much Joes fans give a shit about legacy characters or classics or whatever. Did you come into it from the beginning?
More or less, heh.
Are you an ancient who had the dress up dolls?
Ha!
Were you a comics guy or a cartoon guy or both?
I know you aren't really asking ME, directly, these questions, but I wanna answer! I recently accepted what a cartoon fan I actually was. The comics are still my main Joe thing, right up to Ninja Force, then I stopped. Partly 'too old for this'. But yeah, I've been realizing just how much of the cartoon I remember, and enjoyed.
Did you read the stuff that came after the comic left Marvel?
Not until recently, but there IS some good stuff in there.
This is really the only place I've EVER discussed my opinions or interests in the IP with anyone else (HISSTank scares me)
Rightfully so. Zero dick jokes, and discussion of hooded CC isn't allowed AT ALL.
so I don't know how aggressive or dickish people can be about it, but even the difference between me and my two brothers (We're each exactly six years apart (48/42/36 years old now) have super different tastes. Baby bro is all about them ninjas. Middle bro loves the brightly colored shenanigans. I was able to tell Ru the exact YEAR I stopped paying attention to file cards, which is where my own heart lies with this line - those file cards are my personal joes bible. But I also won't hold preferring a different era against anyone else.
YES. And I do see the filecards as an extension of the comics as well.
And hell, I even pick up figures from those other eras cos Classified is killing it.
Absolutely! That's why some of the characters I put in the One A Day thread I know they'll make irresistible.
But I mean, this is a tale as old as time. I remember "Which one is GI Joe?" from my dad; me thinking Snake Eyes is the main character; and cartoon fans knowing Duke is the lead. It's always been a matter of perspective.
Nothing against Duke, but he can die of gonorrhea and burn in hell.
Solid team. And to the point; I think it's interesting that if you asked a different Joe fan to make up a team of 8 or 9 Joes, it would not be those exact characters.
Exactly, but there's a few I bet would be on everyone's list. At least Snake Eyes. I think even people who hesitate to admit they like him would still feel he needs to be in there.
I wonder, if Classified did a perfect version of every variation of every Joe character... would your team change? Is it based mostly on 'well, this is what's available' or did you luck out and those are legitimately the characters you would choose every time to form up the 'best Joe team?'
Those are legit my favorite characters, and a couple I could be persuaded to change out. Jinx and Storm Shadow I'm cool with but if they do better versions, I will get. Falcon, I have the Night Force version and probably will stick with it. Snake Eyes I absolutely need the V3. Scarlett, @docsilence and I were talking about if they did a new version of her, and I could see that replacing the Retro I have. Beachhead, Stalker, and Tunnel Rat I'm really happy with though. but yeah, as far as my top 9, it's those characters. They were the ones I played with the most and am mostly happy with the figures they did.
The GeeWunners bullied a multi-billion-dollar company into changing an entire toyline because they didn't like any changes being made to their precious '80s cartoon designs.
Ah man. I actually was content to skip the line based on those initial designs. Well, I got Snake Eyes and he was my ONLY Joe for a really long time. I didn't bitch or anything though, just happy to pass.
"Hey! Hey! Fuck you! Hey! Officer fuckhead! Fuck you!"*



*Translated from Doggish.
 
I was certainly more a toy and cartoon based collector, and even then I created my own head canon at that age.

Back to toy talk.... I got this last week during Prime deals. It's not big enough to actually fit a figure, but will work great as a drone type tactical unit.
PXL_20251010_222545095 by lionpride75, on Flickr

PXL_20251010_222555495 by lionpride75, on Flickr
I'm pretty sure I've almost bought that same one several times. The sizing being just a little off is always what stops me. It looks great though.

For my Joe fandom I'm very much on the edge. I watched the original cartoon movie and maybe like, four episodes of the cartoons. I had a handful of the 80s toys (bought purely because they looked cool) and then I watched the Resolute miniseries because I liked the design work on it. Then i totally dropped out again until the Hasbro 6" figures started to come online. So like, I definitely think Snake Eyes is cool, I sort of know him via osmosis, but most of the other characters it's just looks and a vibe for me.

And honestly that's sort of how I like it. I feel like if I dipped any more into the official lore I'd start getting headaches.
 
Good point. yeah, right now I have two shelves with most of the Joes arranged in order of release, then a smaller shelf with my favorites: Storm Shadow, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker, Tunnel Rat, Beachhead, Spirit, Falcon, and Jinx. And Timber and Niyol, since I have the Marauder Spirit.
That's very close to my list. I might go with Lowlight over Falcon, although Falcon would probably make Top 10 3.75" figures. Outback would be a strong contender, especially if I could combine his two Classified figures to make a white shirt version with the face printing and skin tones from Cobra Island.
 
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