G.I. Joe Classified Series: The Chatty Pointless Thread & Performance Art

[Ru1977]

A few different discussions have gotten me to wonder if characters like Cesspool and Headman maybe should be done sooner or later. They've done a great job of knocking out almost all of the characters from first four or five years and I'm thinking they should put more focus on the later guys, and like I'm always saying other sources, sooner than later. I'm really interested how many people are close to completing their focus and will actually jump ship once they reach that point.

 

[docsilence]

A few different discussions have gotten me to wonder if characters like Cesspool and Headman maybe should be done sooner or later. They've done a great job of knocking out almost all of the characters from first four or five years and I'm thinking they should put more focus on the later guys, and like I'm always saying other sources, sooner than later. I'm really interested how many people are close to completing their focus and will actually jump ship once they reach that point.

Spreading out the love for different eras might be in their best interest, and I say that as someone whose interest drops off after a certain year. But I could be, in waiting for characters I DO want, very easily wooed by cool versions of characters I don't know much about. One of my favorite figures of the year was Budo and I never had him as a kid. I'm susceptible to that kind of action figure seduction.

 

[docsilence]

Okay so I'm now looking into Headman and Cesspool since they were kinda after my time and Cesspool is from NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS? A top three money town in an eco-friendly blue state? What an asshole of a villain. His neighbors talk SO MUCH trash about him at garden parties.

Also I could not place his lewk in my mind but now that I see him I remember the figure (I think my brother had him) and I honestly think he'd make a bitchin' classified figure.

 

[Ru1977]

Spreading out the love for different eras might be in their best interest, and I say that as someone whose interest drops off after a certain year. But I could be, in waiting for characters I DO want, very easily wooed by cool versions of characters I don't know much about. One of my favorite figures of the year was Budo and I never had him as a kid. I'm susceptible to that kind of action figure seduction.

Yes, exactly. If they killed my wishlist in 2026, I'll definitely still follow the line but yeah, the impulse buying is probably gonna be a lot higher if they're mixing it up like you said.

Okay so I'm now looking into Headman and Cesspool since they were kinda after my time and Cesspool is from NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS? A top three money town in an eco-friendly blue state? What an asshole of a villain. His neighbors talk SO MUCH trash about him at garden parties.

Haw! I love it when a filecard comes together.

Also I could not place his lewk in my mind but now that I see him I remember the figure (I think my brother had him) and I honestly think he'd make a bitchin' classified figure.

Agreed. And just a perfect character for today's Cobra/the Lewis administration.

 

[Damien]

I think they've done a not-bad job at spreading out the different eras. Obviously, I'd like more '90s stuff. But we have more of it than you'd think at first glance. I think the perception might be skewed because of how many figures actually came out between 1990-1994 versus 1984-1989. And a lot of the popular characters came out early, so it's not just an eras thing, but getting the big names out there thing.

That being said, yes, I do think they need to put a tiny bit more focus on like 91-94. Thing is, there are some GREAT repaints in those years of important fan favorite characters, so it's not like you're only doing Ice Cream Soldier - the best G.I. Joe. V4 Duke and V4 Gung-Ho are SOLID variants. V5 Snake Eyes, V2 Scarlett (can you believe she didn't even get a variant until 1993?!). The '93 Action Force color scheme for Budo would make a GREAT figure as well, and a terrific way to re-use his tooling.

Anyway.. more '90s. Always.

Also I could not place his lewk in my mind but now that I see him I remember the figure (I think my brother had him) and I honestly think he'd make a bitchin' classified figure.

I love Cesspool. He has a great look for a more sci-fi villain in the aftermath of Cobra-La type stuff.



Interesting fact about the DEF stuff like Headhunter - Hasbro didn't bother with DEF after '92, so '93 had DEF characters/variants as part of the main line. That includes Gristle. A character whose ENTIRE file card is that he smells horrible.

 

[Ru1977]

getting the big names out there thing

Like Baroness, I hear you.

But we have more of it than you'd think at first glance.

I know you're right. I was surprised to see one year, I think 90? The one with Nightcreeper I think, but one year had almost every Cobra already in Classified. And they already did Slice and Dice, so you're right, they ARE already on those. I guess it's the comic and cartoon people in need to back to demanding.

there are some GREAT repaints in those years of important fan favorite characters,

You mean stuff like Rock N Roll and Sci Fi etc? Agreed. I could do without the dooks, but Low Light, Iceberg, Beachhead, etc... yeah, some good ones. I'm still holding out for the 90s Bazooka because fishing bothers me less than sportsball.

Gristle

That's the kind of thing I actually am curious to see how Doc handles in his filecards. The weirdos he doesn't have any connection with.

YET.

 

[docsilence]

Welp, looking up Gristle's file card on YoJoe right now...

Also yeah, I think I underestimate how good a job they're doing spreading the love around cos man they have DEVOURED those first three or four year rosters. Very few lingering characters at this point.

 

[AceofKnaves]

Re: Baroness:
She is one of the few characters of *any* gender who remained prominent throughout the comic book(s) and the cartoon. She was Cobra Commander’s second-in-command AND Destro’s partner/lover. She’s about as “main character” as any ARAH character gets, and is, arguably, the most featured female character in all of Joe lore, beyond even Scarlett and Lady Jaye.

Re: 90s villains:

GIVE THEM TO ME NOW.

Cesspool and Headman are *easily* in my top 10, along with various hechmen. Toxo-Viper v2/Toxo-Zombie is top 4 at this point.

 

[Damien]

Like Baroness, I hear you.

Like Ice Cream Soldier, exactly. Glad we're on the same page.

I know you're right. I was surprised to see one year, I think 90? The one with Nightcreeper I think, but one year had almost every Cobra already in Classified. And they already did Slice and Dice, so you're right, they ARE already on those. I guess it's the comic and cartoon people in need to back to demanding.

For Cobra: 82-85 are technically done except for Lamprey.
And only Motor-Viper and Strato-Viper are left from '86. '87 is done if you don't count vehicle drivers, and missing a few if you do. 88 we're missing more than we have. 89 is 50/50 if you include vehicle drivers. So is 1990 if you include vehicle drivers and variants. If you include vehicle drivers and variants, I think we only have ONE Cobra from '91 (Desert Scorpion). Which is crazy because that year includes the Eco-Warriors stuff AND Incinerators. I can't believe we don't have Incinerators yet.

Edit: I guess I should just finish the score-card. Including variants, we only have TWO Cobra from '92 (Slice and Dice), NONE from 93, and NONE from '94.
So I take it back, they're not doing a great job. We definitely need more '90s representation in this bitch.

 

[Chooch555]

They're definitely crushing the early years. I wonder if they legit think later ones won't sell or they're <gulp> experimenting with actually completing sets.

 

[Ru1977]

Like Ice Cream Soldier, exactly. Glad we're on the same page.

Ha!

For Cobra: 82-85 are technically done except for Lamprey.

My only argument, which is admittedly flimsy, is the Viper Pilot but that is such a simple repaint. OR a good use of the new collared trooper body we've planned out for them.

And only Motor-Viper and Strato-Viper are left from '86. '87 is done if you don't count vehicle drivers,

I count vehicle drivers less and less actually. I want every damned Cobra from 82-84, then I get more choosey. If they do Lamprey, I'll probably grab him. The name, or animal it comes from, terrifies me heh. But Strato and Motorvipers probably yeah, but after 86 there is probably one or two for the entirety of the line I would want.

and missing a few if you do. 88 we're missing more than we have. 89 is 50/50 if you include vehicle drivers. So is 1990 if you include vehicle drivers and variants. If you include vehicle drivers and variants, I think we only have ONE Cobra from '91 (Desert Scorpion). Which is crazy because that year includes the Eco-Warriors stuff AND Incinerators. I can't believe we don't have Incinerators yet.

I imagine they're high on the list now. But yeah up to 1990, they've done pretty well. The first three years feel almost done but they've actually been spreading across the first 8 years pretty well.

Edit: I guess I should just finish the score-card. Including variants, we only have TWO Cobra from '92 (Slice and Dice), NONE from 93, and NONE from '94.
So I take it back, they're not doing a great job. We definitely need more '90s representation in this bitch.

I'm ready for it.

 

[Damien]

They're definitely crushing the early years. I wonder if they legit think later ones won't sell or they're <gulp> experimenting with actually completing sets.

I imagine it's a combination of what they think will sell and their personal biases. If Lenny is, say, 46, then I'd be willing to bet most of his nostalgia for G.I. Joe kind of ends around '88-'89. And that seems to track as the preferred era for a lot of Joe fans, so it makes sense to focus there.

My only argument, which is admittedly flimsy, is the Viper Pilot but that is such a simple repaint. OR a good use of the new collared trooper body we've planned out for them.

No argument necessary. I just forgot about him.

I count vehicle drivers less and less actually. I want every damned Cobra from 82-84, then I get more choosey. If they do Lamprey, I'll probably grab him. The name, or animal it comes from, terrifies me heh. But Strato and Motorvipers probably yeah, but after 86 there is probably one or two for the entirety of the line I would want.

For me it is still entirely dependent on the figure. Some vehicle drivers have a great look. Some do not. I mostly take them out of the context of their vehicle under the assumption we aren't getting most of those vehicles (or, if we do, I won't be getting them). I do think they're necessary to consider a year 'completed,' though.



In other news, my wife got me the polar bear for Christmas and gave it to me today (because, as I may have mentioned elsewhere, we are all spoiled children in this house and cannot wait for anything). Like everyone else, I think, I really like the polar bear even if it's smaller than it should be. It's still hefty and looks great. This set is 80 dollars right now in the frozen north. Do I think the bear is worth 80 dollars? No. But it's cool and I can't wait to have it in a larger arctic display next year-ish.

I don't know what the fuck to do with Snake Eyes. It's a great figure in terms of functionality, like most current Joes. But I have no interest in this version of Snake Eyes and no ideas about what to fucking do with this thing. Right now it's just on my desk because I don't even want him on the Joe shelf.

 

[Chooch555]

Radiate him up and have him Spocking Scarlett.

 

[Damien]

That sounds like a very nerdy sex position, so first of all I'm in. Secondly, I do not own a Scarlett. Thirdly, goddamn I just do not like this as Snake Eyes. I thought about a different head and the bare hands, but even then I have no idea 'who' this would be on my shelves because the color scheme is so.... a lot.

 

[Chooch555]

Think of him as latter 90s Snake Eyes?