1993 Armor Tech Star Brigade Destro - Around The Web

Armor Tech figures are not my favorite.  The oddball construction ruins what might be otherwise nice figures.  The heads, especially, are excellent.  But, within the context of the rest of the figures, they aren't enough to salvage the line.  But, today, the figures in the set are no where near as hated and neglected as they once were.  So, here's some excellent content on the Armor Tech Destro that you can find all around the web.

1993 Armor Tech Star Brigade Destro Profile

1993 Armor Tech Star Brigade Destro by masterbungle

1993 Armor Tech Star Brigade Destro by ronnie_trickshot

1993 Armor Tech Destro by Slipstream80

1993 Armor Tech Destro by thedragonfortress

1993 Armor Tech Destro by toysandtomfoolery

1993 Armor Tech Destro by gen_liederkranz

1993 Armor Tech Destro by gen_liederkranz

2001 Destro

So, one of the great failures of the Joe line is that Hasbro has a long history of releasing overly similar figures over and over again.  This didn't happen too often prior to 1997.  But, for some reason, post 1994 Hasbro got into barely repainting certain molds.  This practice hit its crescendo in 2001 when, in Wave III of the ARAHC, Hasbro released a 1987 Cobra Commander homage and 1992 Destro homage that were so similar to their vintage counterparts that it was nearly impossible to tell them apart unless you had them in hand.  This was a frustrating development as, at the time, both the '87 Cobra Commander and the '92 Destro figures were alarmingly cheap and available.  In fact, you could get these figures for only slightly more than you'd pay for the new retail versions.  Worst of all, both figures could have been amazing repaints and we never got an opportunity to explore those possibilities.

The biggest frustration with this 2001 figure comes from the fact that the mold has a number of sculpted details that were not painted on the 1992 release.  But, Hasbro didn't update the paint masks to make a better figure.  A little silver paint on the legs and arms would have gone a long way towards refurbishing the figure and drastically improving it.  The only real difference between this 2001 figure and the 1992 is that the 1992 has red dashes running down his legs.  There is a slight color difference in the collar's red color.  But, it's tough to see without the two figures sitting side by side.  In 1997, Hasbro had given this figure a chromed head.  But, they didn't do that with this 2001 figure.  And, it suffers for it.

The real question, though, is why wasn't this figure at least an Iron Grenadier homage with a golden helmet?  That seems like a no-brainer, especially since Hasbro didn't know they had the 1988 Destro mold available until 2005.  But, in 2001, the Iron Grenadiers were not, yet, a truly accepted subset.  Collectors were still 1987 and prior focused.  And, while Iron Grenadiers weren't hated at the time, they weren't popular, either.  You could get all the 1988 Iron Grenadier figures you wanted for cheaper than pretty much any other infantry type army builder.  

This Destro mold got a bit of use.  He was one of the new 1992 molds that was not carried over to 1993, though.  So, he didn't get a subsequent repaint.  However, around 1994, this Destro appeared on Chinese cards.  These were widely available at discount stores in the U.S.  That Destro is the pretty much the same as the 1992 figure, but includes a different rifle.  The mold then appeared in a great purple in 1997.  It was repainted for this 2001 figure and then the body appeared again in a Comic Pack in 2005.  The Comic Pack had a new head.  But, the color scheme was, basically, the same as the 1992 figure.  The head was used for the 2005 Convention Destro.  But, the body was not.  So, despite 5 uses of the mold, there are really only two color schemes: the original and the 1997.  The mold had lots of potential and it's a shame that it was never repainted in Iron Grenadier colors with a golden mask.

Destro only includes his pistol and a black battle stand.  The spring loaded launcher that was used in 1992 and 1997 didn't make this release.  That's probably not terrible.  Though, Destro's launcher is one of the better and more useful spring loaded accessories.  I do love Destro's pistol.  It's the main reason I bought the figure back in 1992.  But, it would have been cool to see a backpack that was a homage to Destro's 1983 weapon filled pack.  I've found a few smaller pistols that also work well with Destro.  You'll see him with a variety of weapons below to give him a bit more depth.

This Destro isn't worth much.  The 1992 figure isn't hard to find and is relatively affordable.  So, there isn't much demand for the 2001 figure.  Despite the fact that this figure was only released in Wave III and includes the surprisingly good Fast Blast Viper, you can buy carded sets for about $17.00.  Dealers will ask $30.  But, those don't sell.  Mint and complete with filecard loose figures sell for about $2 if they are left to the open market.  Making this guy one of (if not the!) cheapest figures in the line.  Dealers will ask $8 or so.  But, it's better to just buy a carded version to also get the Fast Blast Viper.  If you just want a Destro that looks like this, the 2001 is probably a better option than the 1992 as it's has softer plastic, doesn't discolor like other 2000's era figures, includes proper gear and is substantially cheaper than the 1992 release.  But, if you already have the 1992 Destro, there's simply no reason to obtain this 2001 version.

Top 10 Spring Loaded Accessories

Starting in 1991, Hasbro began to move the standard Joe accessories in a different direction.  Instead of leaving them the static pieces from 1982, they began to incorporate more action into the toys.  At first, it was simple kid interaction where you could flick a missile.  But, soon, it evolved into a series of spring loaded action features that allowed for kids to have their figures interact through propulsion.  While I title this article spring loaded accessories, that's just because the spring loaded pieces dominate Hasbro's offerings.  But, there are a few other gimmicks in the 1990's that are worthy of inclusion as they added interactive elements to G.I. Joe action figures without forcing the figures to be something incompatible with what came before.

So, you will not see Ninja Force on this list as those features were limited to the figures.  You won't see Sky Patrol, either, as the parachutes only worked with proper preparation and was designed as a stand alone toy that was commandeered for Sky Patrol.  This list covers 1991 through 1994 as those were the years when the action feature accessories were dominate.  And, while older collectors tend to revile this gear, the reality is that there are some amazing toys in here that are both tons of fun to play with while also being in line with the look and feel of the Joe line from the decade prior.

10. 1994 Lifeline Grappling Hook

I'm a sucker for grappling hooks.  As a kid, I loved them.  But, I never got any that actually worked.  So, things like Alpine's grappling gun were left to imagination.  Which, was fine.  But, there were times it would have been cool to have actual hooks that could shoot up and grip something.  Enter the 1994 Lifeline.  His grappling launcher is huge and his two pronged hook is, too.  But, you can tie a rope to it and shoot it at rocks, walls or plants and it might actually stick: just like the real thing.  That's  enough for me to view it as an essential accessory.

09. 1991 Eco Warriors Squirt Guns

Among the first of the action feature weapons are the Eco Warriors squirt packs and guns.  Instead of using a spring for their action, these packs can draw up and hold water that is then expelled from the nozzle of the gun when you press on the soft plastic container that is held in place by a harder plastic frame.  For Eco Warriors, this made perfect sense.  And, the water was used in conjunction with the figures as they would change colors when water of hot or cold temperature hit the special paint on the bodies.  The self contained squirt gun was a solid design.  The guns are pretty large, but not so much that they aren't usable.  But, the weapons are very useful and a lot of fun to have around.

08. 1992 Duke Bronco Launcher

So, this toy is dumb, stupid, lame and incredibly fun for any kid in 1992.  Who wouldn't want a missile launcher that a figure can ride?!?  This piece is an integral part of the 1992 Duke's card artwork.  And, it translates very well into the actual toy.  The only downside is that the brown tripod is made of plastic that has turned to glass.  I literally had one crumble to dust, yes, dust, in a box of other launcher parts.  I didn't know what all the dirt was until I found one intact foot.  The one in the photo below spidered all those while lines just from me gently trying to insert the peg into it.  So, using it today isn't overly practical.  But, man, this is just a stupid idea that made for an iconic piece for Duke.

07. 1992 Destro Disc Launcher

The 1992 Destro disc launcher is another one of those ideas that actually kind of works as a toy.  It's similar to Scrap Iron's missile table.  But, this one shoots discs.  The fact that they actually shoot, though, helps sell the idea of the weapon.  The disc launcher looks like something a comic book supervillain would use.  And, Destro is as close to that trope as the G.I. Joe line tends to get.  So, it's a perfect match of character and weapon.

06. 1992 Firefly Top Spinner

This spinner is also ridiculous.  But, as a toy, it works well.  You can set up a bunch of figures on a hard floor and let the ripcord fly.  The top can then knock over the figures.  Hours of fun!

05. 1991 Cobra Commander Drone

So, this thing is either a radio controlled surveillance drone or a buzz bomb depending on which part of the card you read.  But, any way you look at it, this is a little drone with a spring loaded launcher.  The drone is laminated plastic with cardboard pieces.  It's a neat little idea that worked out.  The launcher features a powerful spring.  It is mounted on a bi-pod and is meant as a stationary weapon.  The idea of a drone was rather innovative back in 1991.  So, it's inclusion is akin to things like the JUMP showing up in 1982.  

04. 1992 Eel Robo Shark

Full disclosure: I don't much care for the robo-shark.  In general, I think robots are dumb.  And these things are a pain in the ass for anyone who, like me, tends to army build 1992 or Funskool Eels.  The sharks are huge, sharp and just a pain to store away.  With that Andy Rooney moment past me, though, what kid in 1992 would not have loved a robot shark with a moving tail that shoots a missile out of its mouth?!?  This is the exact type of over the top ridiculousness that Cobra would have created in their descent into super-villainy.  

And, to top it off, the toy is amazing.  It's full of detail.  The tail moves and the mouth opens.  And, it can then shoot a spring loaded missile out of the creature's mouth.  To top it all off, the shark is also a backpack that affixes to the Eel to be used underwater!  Really, this has a case to be number 1.  But, what's a list without some controversy?  And, personally, I find the Flak Viper's missile backpack to be much more useful than the robo-shark.  But, I'm an adult who was in college when this came out.  If I'd have gotten it when I was 9, there's a good chance this is my favorite toy ever created.  So, if you're going to refute me in the placement of this piece, come with some good anecdotes of how it fit into your play and was a major part of your childhood. :)

03. 1992 Cutter Grappling Hook

I'm kind of cheating as there are two grappling hooks on this list.  But, as I said for Lifeline, I'm a sucker for grappling hooks.  As a kid, I used them not just as tools used to scale mountains, walls or buildings.  They were also Batarang type weapons that could be used to apprehend and tie up villains.  I'd use them between vehicles to either tether boats or even just capture an enemy vehicle that was about to outrun the good guys.  For me, the grappling hook was my irrational childhood dream toy because I got one when I was about 9 and it locked in the idea of a hook on a rope that could be used as a tool in most any situation.

I rank Cutter's hook higher for a couple of reasons.  It came first.  So, it has that going for it.  But, more importantly, Cutter's hook has four prongs.  This made it much more likely to actually catch onto something.  I have memories of being a kid and tossing Alpine's grappling hooks into a pile of rocks.  When the figure went to use it, the hook wouldn't catch anything and it would slip out, sending Alpine to his doom.  I had weird rules where if a rope didn't catch, then the Joes couldn't use it.  (I actually had a little, metal four pronged hook that was attached to a long length of white string.  I used this since it worked more often than the Hasbro toys.)  Cutter's hook is comically large.  But, that's what makes it fun.  If the hook hit anyone, it would kill them.  But, honestly, that's a plus in my book.  

In doing this article, I noticed that the tripod for Cutter's launcher looks the same as that included with the 1992 Duke.  The white plastic isn't nearly as brittle as the brown, though.  

02. 1994 Star Brigade Cobra Commander Suction Cup Walker

The 1994 Star Brigade Cobra Commander includes this oddball harness that's attached to a suction cup walker.  It actually works, though.  And, that alone makes it the 2nd best action accessory in the line.  It's a marvel of engineering and also a fun toy.  It's like those old wall walkers you got for birthday prizes except that it's high quality and a lot of fun.  Everyone should have one of these.

01. 1992 DEF Mutt Net Launcher

You really can't go wrong with this contraption.  It is a massive net launcher.  The launcher is fairly large.  But, it stands by itself and looks like something that would launch nets.  The best part is that the included net is massive.  It's large enough to cover an entire figure with plenty left over.  The four corners of the net are anchored.  The top two are attached to the firing missiles and the bottom two corners have weighted balls to hold down the net.  The net is perfect as a stand alone toy and the launcher just adds more play value.  The only downside is that the weight of the four anchors limits how far the launcher can shoot the net.  But, of all the action play features that Hasbro released, this is the best.

Here is a video from corpscommandercody showing the net in action.

This list is my own.  And, while all of these have their merits, I'm sure you have opinions of ones I overlooked, deliberately omitted or just plain ignored.  So, please let me know your favorites.  These were not the toys of my childhood.  So, my appreciation of them is based on what I think I would have liked as a kid and, more importantly, what I really like now.  So, seeing how kids of the day actually felt about them and which were their favorites is definitely something I'd like to hear about.  

Red Jackal (Action Force Exclusive) - Around the Web

Destro is an iconic character in the Joe line who is defined by his steel mask.  In Europe, though, the figure mold didn't debut as Destro.  Instead, it was released as Red Jackal.  At it's core, Red Jackal is very similar to Destro.  But, I'd argue that Red Jackal is better just because he doesn't have the open shirt.  Though, he could stand a bit of pain on his necklace.

Red Shadows are probably oversaturated, now.  I liked them as a smaller, more localized organization that eventually morphed into Cobra.  A guy like Destro helped facilitate that from his various identities that he used on each continent.  Red Jackal was his European persona and one that he abandoned after he completed Cobra's assimilation of the European organization.  I never saw Red Shadows as a threat on the level of Cobra as they had less time to organize and, tended to be more fanatical.  (This is why the early Cobra Troopers, heavily pulled from old Red Shadows ranks, were quick to die rather than disappoint their new Commander.)  As the Red Shadows died off within Cobra, the Commander replaced them with a different breed of recruits who were less driven by fanatical ideology and more focused on the ways in which Cobra could improve their life.  The Commander offered them financial hope, like minded compatriots who felt their country abandoned them and a sense of camaraderie in that their cause was just.  This fueled loyalty but also subjects who were willing to die for the cause, but not just because a battle didn't go their way.  This made them more dangerous in the long run.

There's a bit of Red Jackal content out there.  In the early days of collecting, it was pretty easy to track them down.  And, they were, maybe, $20 figures at the turn of the century.  Even into the late 2000's, Red Jackals were obtainable and affordable.  Now, that's not the case.  The figure is expensive.  And, the premium probably isn't worth the slight uptick in quality over the cheaper and more available 1983 Destro figure.  But, the one time commonality allows for some content volume you can check out below.

Red Jackal Profile

Red Jackal Diorama

Red Jackal Bubbled Vehicle Driver

Red Jackal by dreadnokdread

Red Jackal by the kraken wakes

Red Jackal by Slipstream80

Red Jackal by 00zxcvb

Red Jackal by jdoublebigape

Red Jackal by rnrhero

Red Jackal by G.I. *Jock

Red Jackal by kushviper

Red Jackal by Slipstream80

Red Jackal by 00zxcvb

Red Jackal by Cherry Bomb Toys

Red Jackal by Action Jackman

Red Jackal by action_figure_collecting

Red Jackal by slipstream80

1983 Destro - Around The Web

Destro's introduction changed the direction of G.I. Joe.  His appearance in 1983 helped set Cobra as a more viable foe for Joe.  And, he also brought an element of design flair to the line.  A human villain with a chromed head was a retail standout at the time.  And, it helped make G.I. Joe a line that went beyond its olive drab roots.  

In recent years, I've come to find the character of Destro to be overly problematic.  He was portrayed as a man of honor.  Yet, to me, this is disingenuous.  He is an arms dealer who profits from violence and death.  He uses his notion of "honor" as a way of shielding his conscious from the atrocities that he enables.  This gives him cover and absolves him of responsibility for any actions of his customers.  It's "just business".  But, to me, that's the issue.  It can't be an arms length transaction when innocent people are displaced from their homeland, intimidated and even killed in violent fashion by the machines of war.  So, now, I see Destro as culpable.  Every death that occurred by his weapons are on his head.  And, his disassociation from that responsibility leaves him a coward in my eyes.

For me, now, Destro is just evil.  So, he appears in my world as a conniving, evil man who seeks to profit off of suffering and war.  It's still terrible.  But, at least he's honest about who he is.  

Obviously, lots of good Destro content out there.  Check out all the links as you'll find fun stuff throughout.

1983 Destro Profile

1983 Destro by masterbungle

1983 Destro by scarrviper

1983 Destro by R.T.G.

1983 Destro at JoeADay.com

1983 Destro by flint

1983 Destro at Nekoman's Viper Pit

1983 Destro by cyko

1983 Destro by Cobra Freak

1983 Destro by LT Shipwreck

1983 Destro at When It Was Cool

1983 Destro (No Date Stamp) by Hit and Run

1983 Destro (Date Stamp) by Hit and Run

1983 Destro by Slipstream80

1992 Destro

Over Christmas break in 1992, I had a job working in the deli of a local grocery store.  I worked every day but Sunday as the three and half weeks I had off were my only chance to replenish my bank account until summer vacation.  As a rule, I didn't spend any of my earnings as they were more valuable back at school.  However, one lunch hour, I decided to take a trip to Toys R Us.  I don't really know what prompted me to do so.  But, I decided that I was going to look at the G.I. Joe figures and, likely, buy a few.  At that point, I had purchased exactly three figures since 1987. (Hardball, Tiger Force Roadblock and the Night Viper.)  I was actively buying the comic, though, so I had a sense of some of the new characters.  But, it wasn't enough to really give me a plan of which figures I wanted to find.

When I got to Toys R Us, the holiday crush of shoppers was significant.  More impressive, though, was the wall of Joe figures that greeted me in the action figure aisle.  Joe was still a retail force in 1992 and there were more figures than I could review stocked on the shelves.  There were multiple years as well as tons of, often higher priced, sub sets.  I pulled down a few figures and looked at the cardbacks to see if there was anything that interested me.  A few figures stood out.  Some, like the Headhunter, I simply could not find.  Others, like General Flagg, were very interesting and warranted purchase.  There was a figure, though, that surprised me: a new version of Destro.  This figure was very much like the classic 1983 version I had grown up with.  But, he was more detailed, newer and included a weapon that seemed more imposing than his paltry pistol from the Eighties.  So, with Destro, General Flagg and Bulletproof in hand, I went to checkout and promptly was greeted by a friend with whom I had been in business with in high school.  He had owned a sports card store and I had rented large amounts of space from him to sell my wares.  The store had closed and he was now a cashier at TRU.  He laughed at my purchases.  But, in the end. those toys are now worth more than any of the sports cards I had at the time.  So, I guess it's OK.  But, it was another moment at the Toys R Us where I ran into someone I knew when trying to buy some collectible.

When I got home and opened the figures, Destro didn't disappoint.  He was the large, over-sized villain from the comic.  He seemed like a comic book exaggeration of the figure I had grown up with.  And, that was a good thing.  The massive collar, heavily exposed chest and huge necklace were like the original character on steroids.  The red and black base also hearkened back to the original.  In short, this figure didn't take too many chances and is easily recognizable as Destro to anyone who grew up with the original.  The main detriment is that the figure's chrome head is painted instead of vac-metallized like the 1983.  Hasbro would fix this mistake in 1997.  But, the duller head kind of works and gives the figure more personality since you can see his eyes instead of chrome where his eyes should be.  The figure features two shades of red on the body.  So, he has more paint applications than you'd think upon viewing him.  But, the 1992 series in general was starting to skimp on paint applications in a cost saving move.  And, there's not a ton going on with the figure's painted details.

Destro's gear isn't bad.  Ostensibly, he just includes a large pistol.  The weapon, though, was what heavily sold me on this figure.  Again, the pistol seemed like an upgrade to his original weapon which always seemed too small for the massive 1983 sculpt.  As with many vintage figures, I only associate this weapon with this 1992 Destro figure and can not use it with any other figure...which was a real problem in the early 2000's as Hasbro started including it with many of their repaints.  In addition to the pistol, Destro included a spring loaded disk launcher.  This could hold a few disks and shoot them at incoming Joes.  As spring loaded weapons go, it's not bad.  The table is reminiscent of Scrap Iron's weapon from 1984, though bulkier and sturdier.  The table reappeared in 1997, too and is a solid addition to the Destro character.  The 1983 Destro's backpack was one of the great pieces of gear from the early years of the line.  So, it was a bit disappointing for Hasbro to not attempt to update it in some way.  But, for 1992, this guy's gear isn't bad.

Destro was portrayed in the comic as a villain with scruples.  He had honor and would view his opponents through the lens of shared respect.  At the time, I viewed this as depth of Destro's character.  But, in more recent times, I see this as Destro's greatest flaw.  His respect for those of opposing ideologies was not born of strength, but of weakness.  Destro was weak willed in that he let his desire for money override his moral compass.  He could stomach evil customers if they had the cash to pay for Destro's wares.  In this, Destro was able to sleep at night since it was "just business".  But, the reality is that Destro was the worst kind of evil as he could justify any behavior in the pursuit of bigger weapons sales.  This has left me cold to the Destro character.  But, I do now see him as more of a threat to Cobra Commander as Destro is the type of person who has no loyalty and, really, no honor.  His motives are profit and that Destro's pursuit of it justifies any behavior or action on Destro's part.  And, that is, truly, the most dangerous man in the world.

Time has largely ruined this mold.  After the figure's appearance by Hasbro in 1992, it was then repackaged in Chinese packaging in 1994.  Large quantities of these figures remain available today.  In 1997, Hasbro wanted the V1 Destro mold for their Toys R Us exclusive 15th Anniversary products.  When that mold could not be procured, they went with a repaint of the 1992 figure.  This was OK.  The 1997 figure featured different colors and a chrome plated head.  However, in 2001, Hasbro released the 1992 mold again.  This time, though, the figure was almost identical to the 1992 figure.  In photos, the two figures are nearly indiscernible.  Hasbro could have released the mold in Iron Grenadier colors, or something completely different.  But, they took a fairly cheap and easy to find figure and replicated it in a pack with a new army builder.  As if that wasn't enough, in 2005, the mold was released again, but with a new head, in colors very similar to the 1992.  The result is that the same, basic, figure was released 3 times.  It's an overkill that has left this mold sullied beyond the point of salvation.

This Destro is cheap.  Mint and complete with filecard versions can still be found for $5-$7 each.  The mold is both plentiful and unpopular.  You can get carded versions in the $20 range and even find the Chinese carded versions for $15 or so.  Every iteration of the figure is cheap and easy to find.  So, there's no reason for a modern collector to not have the figure aside from sheer apathy.  You will note the broken thumb in the photos below.  I took these pics on a cold day in the desert and the plastic was brittle.  The thumb snapped off while taking the photos below.  One of these days, I'll need to replace this figure.  But, for now, I'm good as I have little use for this Destro any longer and he will remain a cheap acquisition for a good long time.

1997 Destro - Around the Web

At the time of his release, the 1997 Destro figure was relatively derided for being the wrong mold and the wrong colors.  More than two decades later, though, this figure holds up pretty well and his chromed head is now a relic lost to time.  I've found this figure has grown on me and is one of my go to Destro figures.  There's not a lot out there on this figure, but here's what I found around the web.

1997 Destro Profile

Destro by Ironman3719

1997 Destro by thedustinmccoy

Destro by Fun Time at Serpentor's Lair

Rarities - Unproduced 2005 Destro

In 2005, the Iron Grenadiers concept was chosen as the theme for the convention exclusive figure set.  It turned into one of the most popular sets in convention history and remains one of the most popular releases nearly 15 years later.  One oddball in the set, though, was the Destro figure.  Instead of a classic Destro mold, the Destro figure used the 1992 figure's head and a 1991 Crimson Guard Immortal figure.  All of the figures in the set seemed to fit together except for this Destro.  But, in the zeal of the set's quality, the Destro was largely forgiven and collectors moved on.

However, as 2005 progressed, an unproduced prototype of a 1988 Destro figure started to appear in Asia. The first speculation, of course, was that collectors were finally going to see a good Destro in a Toys R Us 6 pack.  But, as those sets' days at retail were done, that was not the case.  The mystery figure was actually something different.

It seems, in their infinite wisdom, that the club stumbled across this Destro mold when looking for figures to release in the 2005 convention set.  Since they were so plugged into the 3 3/4" collector community, they decided that collectors hated this version of Destro and discarded it.  When the 2005 Destro figure was revealed, most collectors wondered why it wasn't the 1988 figure mold in the set.  Caught with their pants down in embarrassment at their lack of understanding the 3 3/4" collecting world, the club released the mold in 2006: but as Overlord.  Collectors never got a 1988 Destro repaint and the club was embroiled in another snafu that even a novice 3 3/4" collector could have avoided.

In retrospect, it's very unfortunate that this Destro never got reuse.  In 2005, Hasbro released a terrible repaint of the 1992 Destro in a comic pack.  It is a completely wasted release and is ignored by collectors today.  Had it been a 1988 mold repainted in 1983 style, though, it would be among the more favored repaints of that era.  Seeing this figure is reminder of how badly both Hasbro and club bungled the few vintage Joe repaints in the 2000's.  They got some right.  But, they missed on so many more.  This Destro is a perfect example of what might have been.  This mold in Iron Grenadier colors and with convention level paint masks would have made the 2005 convention set perfect.  A feat that was never accomplished.  But, it was not to be.

Rarities - 1984 JC Penney Catalog Cobra Set

Retail catalogs sold a lot of product in the 1980's.  Christmas was an especially lucrative time as the catalogs were widely distributed and a staple of gift giving.  To capitalize on this phenomenon, Hasbro teamed up with large retailers to offer G.I. Joe figures.  Vehicles were perfectly designed for the catalog model.  Figures, though, were problematic since they had large packaging and weren't priced for individual sale through a catalog.  So, Hasbro bagged up sets of figures and offered them as exclusive offerings through the catalog retailers.  One such set was the 1984 JC Penney's "Bad Guy" 6 figure bundle.

This figure set included the four new Cobra characters introduced as single carded figures in 1984 as well as Destro and the classic Cobra Soldier.  The set was sold for $17.99.  This was only a slight premium over retail price.  The figures did not include full cardbacks.  They were, instead, bagged up with their full complement of accessories and a filecard.  As with most red backed filecards, the bio cards have become highly desirable and sought after by collectors.

In the fall of 1984, Stormshadow was still hard to find.  My brother had been fortunate enough to get one for his birthday in October.  I would get one for my birthday in December, too.  But, my friend with whom I most frequently played with Joes was not so lucky.  He could not find the figure.  So, his mother ordered him this 6 figure set, even though he had all the other figures in the set already.  Even though she bought it for him for Christmas, she let him open all the figures early so he could have a Stormshadow to play with.  I remember noticing the filecards were different.  But, since the figures were the same, didn't much care after that. 

Years later, I realized how rare these items probably were: at least when compared to standard, carded Joes.  The six figures in this set have the draw of being Cobra and being pretty much all the Cobra bigwigs of that era.  Below you will see pics of the figures, except for Baroness.  I have yet to come across one of her.

Destro:

Firefly:

Stormshadow:

Stormshadow was probably the reason why so many kids actually got this set.  He was hard to find and a sure thing was probably enticing for many kids.  You'll note the figure is extremely discolored, even though it was never removed from the bag.  This shows that the white plastic used on the Stormshadow can get damaged even if it's never been touched by human hands.  Heat, sunlight and drastic temperature changes can all affect Stormshadows and yellow them, even if they are still carded or bagged.

Scrap Iron:

Cobra Trooper:

You'll note that the Cobra Trooper's filecard has the original text and not the text from the 1982 JC Penney mail away set.

Baroness:

Each figure included a red back filecard that had a flag point printed in the cut away area.

Here is the box in which the set was shipped:

Of course, these figures are extremely hard to find.  Uncut filecards will command a substantial premium.  Still bagged figures will fetch a couple of hundred dollars each, depending upon the character.  The figures are no different than retail releases.  But, proof that the figure originated from this set will attract great interest and substantial prices.

1988 Destro - Around The Web

I've always thought of the 1988 Destro as a perfect upgrade of a classic character.  They made him different enough to stand out.  But, he still retains enough of his original personality to know that this is Destro.  As such, I've always been fond of the figure, even if he lacks some paint details.  However, I've found that many collectors don't share my fondness for the mold.  There's surprisingly little content on the figure out there.  Here's the best I could find around the web for a figure that I quite enjoy.

1988 Destro Profile

1988 Destro at ARAH Gallery

1988 Destro Pre Production at YoJoe.com

Destro Dio 01

1988 Destro at JoeBattleLines.com

Destro & Despoiler Video Review

Destro Dio 02

Rarities - Then and Now Unproduced Figures

Supposedly, Hasbro had kicked around an idea of "Then and Now" figure packs for quite some time.  (They may have been marketed under the "Past and Present" banner as well.)  The idea being a way to showcase original sculpt Joes and how they have evolved over the years.  As a concept, it seems pretty weak.  In 2002, the Skullbuster figure (done in ARAH style) was packaged with a new sculpt figure.  Those who hated new sculpts were not swayed by buying the Skullbuster.  Around 2009, Hasbro resurrected the concept.  Some key G.I. Joe movie characters would be done up in two packs to sell an original style figure and the anniversary style figure.  Fittingly, these duds were cancelled before they got too far into the product pipeline.  But, they did get far enough where near production level figures of the ARAH style characters were produced.

First up is Duke.  The mold for the figure debuted in the terrible comic pack #24.  This figure, though, actually kind of works.  The head is MUCH better when cast in flesh colored plastic with painted hair than the flesh painted version that was released in 2005.  The uniform is a hearkening back to the classic 1984 release and looks pretty good.  You see the vibrant gold lapel pin and the classic colors.  The Gung Ho arms (meant to be bare) still look bad with the paint.  But, overall, this isn't a terrible figure choice and I'd have bought one.  He was meant to include a classically styled helmet in matching green, a green version of his classic M-32 as well as a pistol from the 2000's era of accessories.  It's possible he would have included more, but those items were showcased in some Hasbro pics from the time.

Unreleased Then and Now Duke

Unreleased Then and Now Duke

Next up is Destro.  This figure may also appear familiar as this mold configuration for the character also debuted in the terrible Comic Pack #24.  But, this Destro figure is also a nice improvement over that retail release.  You see that he has unpainted, black hands.  This is a nice step up from the white painted version from 2005.  This allows his left wrist gauntlet to stand out more.  The head is not very chrome on this version.  Anything retail would have had to have been painted rather than chromed.  But, other photography shows the figure with a more metallic head.  So, this paint color was likely an earlier sample and is duller than what we would have gotten at production.  The figure would have included the 1992 Destro weapon.  Like most uses of this mold, though, this figure doesn't really offer anything you can't get from the 1992, 2001 or 2005 versions.

Rounding out the ensemble is Stormshadow.  This figure is close to the 2005 Comic Pack #21 version.  But, he has painted upper arms.  For Stormshadow, this is more acceptable (though the arms were designed to be completely bare) since you could make a case for him wearing sleeves that are more form fitting.  There are unproduced Comic Pack Stormshadows from 2005 with painted sleeves, too.  So, be careful not to confuse the two.  This figure would have likely included a sword from the anniversary era sculpts.  It would have been painted and featured the Arashikage symbol.  While getting more Stormshadows at retail was usually a good thing, this figure is nothing the clearance fodder comic pack didn't offer.  And, not getting the mold's full complement of vintage accessories was always a letdown.

Unreleased Then and Now Stormshadow

Unreleased Then and Now Stormshadow

In general, these products were rather bland and uninspired.  While it would have been nice for vintage Joes to get a proper send off before the guard at Hasbro who didn't like them sent them off to the trash heap, I'm not sure these sets would have accomplished that.  Of the three figures, I'd have only really liked the Duke.  And, I doubt I would have paid the $15 or so these sets would have cost.  They are an interesting glimpse into the time when Hasbro had some faith in the brand.  But, they are also a grim reminder that Hasbro has definitely left the vintage figures and their collectors behind.

Rarities - 1997 Pimp Daddy Destro

There is a psychological phenomena called "False Memory".  The basic premise is that an idea is planted in someone's head and they, through time, fully believe that something that never actually happened, did happen.  This isn't someone outright lying.  In the case of False Memory, the person actually believes their memory.  Even if it is faulty.  This has been documented from everything from someone attending a major event to the flag raising at Iwo Jima.  In the toy world, though, it is most often attributed to the tons of kids form all over the U.S. who swear, up and down, that they got a Rocket Firing Boba Fett figure from the Kenner mail away in the late 1970's.  This memory is traced to the fact that early cardbacks trumpeted the feature, they were just covered with a black sticker.  So, kids had a way to know about the intended toy and their False Memories took over from there.

In the G.I. Joe world, though, the most persistent case of False Memory occurred more recently, in 1997.  Hasbro returned G.I. Joe to retail shelves in 1997.  Among the figures released was a repainted 1992 Destro figure.  A few years later, though, an odd, leopard spotted Destro variant came to be.  Hasbro admitted the figure had been created as a joke.  And, with that, the myth of the "Pimp Daddy Destro" took flight.

In the years that followed, many collectors swore up and down that they had seen the figure at retail.  Yet, despite all these claims, no one managed to buy one.  In 1997, the African American Rock and Roll variant figure was quickly discovered by collectors.  While it's likely that only around 1,000 of these figures exist, collectors quickly learned of the variant and began to comment on it.  You see, in 1997, the people buying Joes were collectors.  While I'm sure some kids did buy a few TRU Joes, it was collectors who drove sales.  So, they were aware of the figures from the get go.  Had the PDD actually been released in the U.S., there is no way it would have escaped collector attention and remained unknown until several years later.

There is the question, too, of whether the PDD was actually available on cards in the US.  Those who claim to have seen it at retail back in 1997 point to photos below of the carded PDD figure.  These are legit.  However, every single PDD that's been confirmed has come from Asian sources.  There are no confirmed figures that have ever been found in the U.S. that could not be traced back to Asia.  Hasbro added speculation to the fire when they said it "was possible" that a carded sample made its way to retail.  Some collectors immediately took this as evidentiary proof of their false memory.  Hasbro sources claim that they saw one at retail.  Which, again, how likely is it that one of maybe 4 or 5 figures shipped just happened to go to store where a Hasbro employee shopped and, again, didn't buy the figure?  For emphasis, there remain no confirmed retail sightings of a PDD figure and every figure that was found was traced back to Asia.

Hasbro admitted the figure was a joke.  And, as a joke, it greatly succeeds.  Destro in leopard print fits with the late 1990's perception of the character.  (Lando Calrissian saw similar memes in the same time period.)  And, due to the absolute visually stunning difference as well as the fact that anyone who saw this figure would have been in the joke, it makes it all the more unlikely than anyone ever found this figure in the United States.  As a novelty, the figure is cool.  Had he been released, I'd own one and would likely use it in many photos.  But, as a $1,000+ novelty, my desire for the figure cools considerably.  The joke's not that funny.

It is not known how many Pimp Daddy Destro figures are out there.  However, the figure is more common than many dealers who have one want you to believe.  At one time, around 2004, a collector kept a list of verified PDD figures and their owners.  His list was at 36 before a fellow collector acquired 4 at once.  Since then, there were another 30 or so that were confirmed to come into collector hands.  So, the number of PDD's is likely between 70 and 100, and maybe even higher.  Before some prominent members of a Joe collector group had a PDD, they claimed that hundreds of their fellow group members had the figure.  After they acquired one, though, those claims terminated and they officially tried to say there were only a few of the figure out there.  So, there's lots of misinformation.

The reality is that the figure is rare, but not nearly as rare as the 1998 Chocolate Chip figures.  But, the fame and notoriety of the Pimp Daddy Destro outpace that of any other unproduced item.  (The fact that Hasbro "sanctioned" the character with a San Diego Comic Convention exclusive figure in the anniversary figure design only added to the legend.)  So, when you are in the market for the figure, you are paying more for these attributes than you are for rarity.  But, the sheer outlandishness of the figure's design and the myths around it have created a monster far bigger than the reality justifies.