2005 Comic Pack Dreadnok Thrasher - Around The Web

There's not a ton of content featuring this Comic Pack Thrasher.  Mostly, because he's not a good figure.  The original Thrasher is substantially better.  And, he's easier to find.  To top it off, this Thrasher also badly discolors.  So, there's no reason to spend a lot of time looking for one.

None of that takes away from the bizarreness of the figure.  There was no demand for Thrasher and he was never a popular character.  So, the fact we got two versions of him in the repaint era speaks to the perceived popularity of the Dreadnoks, in general.  Many people believed that the Dreadnoks were among the most popular concepts in the Joe line.  But, all of the products themed around them turned into retail duds.  So, they really weren't all that popular.

But, this Thrasher exists.  And, he does have some fun colors.  But, his head is worse than the original and the rest of the mold remains dated.  So, check out the sparse content on him from around the web.

2005 Thrasher Profile

2005 Thrasher by relena_warcraft

2005 Thrasher review at JoeBattleLines.com

2005 Thrasher by themexicangriswolds

2005 Thrasher by yotothejoe

2005 Thrasher by relena_warcraft

1985 Torch - Around The Web

It's pretty non-controversial to say that Torch is the least popular of the original 3 Dreadnoks.  And, you'll see that played out in the content below.  Instead of seeing Torch as the main focus in many of the photos, you'll actually see him in the background.  He's integral to the theme of the 3 Dreadnoks.  But, he's rarely the focal point of the action.  He's just kind of there.  But, he's also conspicuous in his absence.

Some of Torch's obscurity is elevated by the fact that he did not appear in the repaint era.  Buzzer, Ripper and Road Pig were available from Funskool during the early 2000's.  And, starting in 2004, Buzzer and Ripper became available as convention figures and, eventually, a retail release. Zanzibar, Road Pig and even Thrasher would get releases during this time.  And, there were convention figures meant to emulate Gnawgahyde.  Torch, though, was left behind.  It's likely because his mold was gone.  He did get one of the better figures in the JvC style of releases, though.  But, as everyone has forgotten that those figures even exist, it didn't help his popularity.

Torch did get 4 distinct figures, overall.  He has variants released in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.  But, all three figures are pretty much the same as his Hasbro release.  So, there's no even the cachet of a rare foreign coloring (like the Red Buzzer or Purple Ripper from India) to bump his status among collectors.  

So, he remains the lost Dreadnok.  But, because the full set of original 3 Dreadnoks remains so popular, there's tons of content on him out there.  He's just rarely the full subject of the photo.  But, you can clearly see the value of the figure within the context of his original team.

1985 Torch Profile

Comic #30 Profile

1985 Torch at the Attica Gazette

1985 Torch by thedustinmccoy

1985 Torch by joesandtoys

1985 Torch by 73larebear

1985 Torch by u.n.i.t._gijoe

1985 Torch at Joe A Day.com

1985 Torch by cobra_rules_cybertron

1985 Torch by themexicangriswolds

1985 Torch by viper_space

1985 Torch by gi_joeisthere

1985 Torch by gijoe_c4_panama

1985 Torch by powervsdreams2000

1985 Torch by mrmikevinthepit

1985 Torch by Evilface

1985 Torch by thedustinmccoy

2005 Comic Pack Zarana

The Comic Packs were an inspired idea.  The offered promise of spectacular new figures, long desired repaints and new characters who had been missing from the Joe line for its 22 year run.  But, in the three years the concept was produced, very little of these promises came to be.  Instead, the Comic Packs became a home of overused parts, repetitive characters and releases that were barely different from the original figure releases.  Such was the case with the 2005 Zarana figure.  Ostensibly, a new Zarana should have been a welcomed release.  But the actual figure offered nothing that could not be acquired from either the original figure or the super common and $4 Funskool Zarana that was available at the time, too.

The calling card of the Comic Packs became newly sculpted heads.  That (along with the $10 price point for 3 figures!) was the primary drawing point for the product.  The problem, though, was that the heads didn't really offer anything extraordinary.  In fact, pretty much every new head in the 2004 releases was inferior to the original and many of the 2005 new heads were either too small or too large.  Hasbro started to find their stride in later 2005, though, as figures like Firefly, Serpentor and Fred all featured some excellent sculpting.  But, there were also duds like Tunnel Rat, Zartan and Roadblock who were released at the same time.  Zarana's head falls into the middle.  It's not bad.  It's not great.  It's a softer look than the mohawked 1986 heads.  But, I'm not sure that really fits with Zarana's character.

In the comic, Zarana slowly overtook the character role that had been held by the Baroness.  She was given leadership positions.  While you can question why she was chosen for this instead of just leaving the Baroness there, at least she was consistently portrayed as rather ruthless in the comics.  She wasn't a character who was offered a redemption arc.  (Like the Baroness was.)  So, for that reason, at least her character was consistent.  My biggest complaint with this 2005 figure is that the newly sculpted head doesn't really convey that.  Zarana was an angry character.  This figure shows her as more calm and put together.  As Zarana was never depicted that way, the new face makes no sense.  It doesn't flow with Zarana's characterization and is somewhat anti-thetical to her entire existence.

My other issue, though, is that this figure is pretty much the 1986 color scheme with very slight shading differences.  If you have the 1986 or Funskool release, this 2005 figure offers you nothing new.  While the 2004 convention figure tried and failed to really change the look for Zarana, they didn't take any chances.  The Comic Packs were a place to do that.  But, to be fair, Zarana never appeared in any color scheme other than one matching her figure.  So, there wasn't a ton of artistic license to be taken from the source material.  But, you get a blue and pink Zarana figure that looks like a famous actress is playing Zarana in a movie instead of someone who looks like the character.

The original card artwork for the 1986 Zarana showcased two features that were changed on the figure prior to its release.  The first was that Zarana had a tattoo on her arm.  This was removed.  The second was that Zarana was not wearing pink leggings under her ripped jeans.  So, she exposed a large amount of fleshy thigh.  This was too much for a figure also wearing a low cut crop top.  So, the pink undergarment was added via a paint application.  This 2005 does not bring back the tattoo.  We can then argue about whether they changed her leg to be bare skin or still covered by an undergarment.  When I asked this question of collectors, the results were mixed...meaning that any definitive change Hasbro may or may not have wanted to make is still completely muddled.  Due to Hasbro's inability to adequately paint caucasian skin tones in the 2000's, Zarana's leg could be skin or pink tights.  I'll leave it to the individual collector to make their decision.  

Overall, the quality of this figure is mixed.  While the limbs move easily and don't fall apart, there is an issue with the head.  It will only turn to the right.  I have three Zaranas and none of their heads will move left.  You could probably force it.  But, when you do, you'll crack the torso around Zarana's neck.  This is a common affliction of the Comic Pack figures.  So, you have to exercise a bit of caution when positioning the head.  The gear fits and the thumbs are soft.  So, you won't break them.  Zarana's face sculpt is actually really well done.  But, it doesn't look like Zarana.  Honestly, the face would have worked better on the 2006 Lady Jaye figure.  It's just too kind looking to fit with the mean and dastardly Zarana and it doesn't display the effects of the Dreadnok hard lived life in which Zarana partook.  The paint applications are strong, though.  So, the figure showcases much of the sculpted details, just like the original figure does.

Zarana's accessories are on the low end of Dreadnok gear.  She includes a backpack that's not all that interesting, it's just in black this time.  And, her weapon du jour is a saw.  This isn't a realistic chainsaw like Buzzer's from 1985.  It's a spin blade thing that really would only have purpose in sawing people.  If you look at it like that, the saw is rather gruesome.  But, honestly, it's kind of boring.  As a kid, figures without firearms were tough to use.  And, as Buzzer had a far better saw, there was really no reason to use Zarana.  Her saw appeared a couple of times in the early 2000's and you can find it in black and silver with various other figures.  So, you can change around the look of this Zarana's weapons a bit.

A final word about figure quality.  The plastic used on the Comic Pack Joes (and, Joe figures in general) during the early 2000's is turning out to be absolute garbage.  Especially for whites, light blues, greys and flesh colors.  You know, basic colors that appear on a ton of figures.  You'll notice in the top photos below that the Zarana's upper arms are starting to discolor.  The third photo is from 2007 and you can see the different coloring on the figure's arms.  Like the 2005 Scrap Iron, this is an inevitability and not something you can really stop.  Carded figures are seeing the same thing happen still in the package.  The plastic isn't holding up at all.  I only hope the super expensive 2022 Pulse release use better quality materials.  But, in the not too distant future, there will be no mint 2005 Zaranas left.  This sucks.  There's no other way to put it.  But, it's a grim reality for the 2000's era Joe figures.

Zarana has an interesting history.  The original figure was sculpted with a fatter head with earrings.  Hasbro didn't like this and decided to sculpt a new head that was also released in 1986.  This figure color changed like Zartan and Zandar.  But, once her retail run was over, Zarana disappeared.  Then, in the mid 1990's, Zarana showed up in India.  Funskool released her for several years.  However, prior to the mass imports of Funskool that started in early 2001, Funskool had taken Zarana out of production.  So, she was a relatively difficult figure to find at the time.  But, in 2002, Funskool revived several classic molds: including Zarana.  There are subtle Funskool Zarana variants.  But, she is one of the few Funskool figures who doesn't have major variants in coloring.  In 2003, Hasbro recalled 18 molds from Funskool.  Zarana was among them.  The club quickly put her mold to use in the poorly received 2004 Dreadnok themed Convention set.  For years after it's release, these figures were available for below original price.  Then, this Comic Pack Zarana debuted in 2005.  The mold was retired at that point.  Despite all the versions of Zarana, she really only has her one classic look.

As the Joe market finally starts to cool down, figures like this Zarana are feeling the pinch.  While dealers offer a ton of them for $30 or so each, they don't sell.  Mint and complete figures are worth about $12-$15 each.  It's a fall from a year ago when they were nearly double that.  And, while some carded Comic Packs from that era still command premiums, carded Zaranas top out around $50 and she is, far and away, the least desirable figure in the pack.  So, if you're missing her, Zartan and the Fred Cobra Commander, just buy and open a carded set.  For me, this figure isn't a good Zarana.  The original heads are better.  This figure is a good attempt at something different.  But, it just didn't deliver.

Rarities - 1995 Ninja Commando Road Pig Production Sample

Yes, had the 1995 line seen production, Road Pig would have become a Ninja.  We don't know how this happened.  But, it would have occurred.  (It's likely that Road Pig's comic popularity lead to a new version of the character, even if his inclusion in a ninja subset made no sense.)  His card art would have featured him wielding a huge sword.  If you let the ninja angle go, though, you see that this Road Pig would not have been a terrible figure and fits with the previous look for the character.

Really, the only thing not to like about this figure would have been his weapons.  But, the rest of the figure would fit perfectly with any Dreadnoks just like the 1988 and 1991 versions.  He would have had Ninja Force type construction, though, with an action feature and a sealed back.  So, that would have limited his use.  If you're a customizer, though, you could make a good approximation of this figure.  The chest and arms were used on the Mortal Combat Movie Edition Liu Kang figure.  So, you could take an existing Road Pig head and use it with those parts to get a good enough version of this unproduced oddity.

There's actually lots of these figures out there.  And, after November of 2021, there were even more.  (You'll read about that on Thursday, June 30th, though!)  So, this figure is attainable and doesn't tend to sell at the $2000 or so that dealers price him at.  Sadly, though, most of the samples are in the hands of people who get more mileage out of the ownership than actually selling the figure.  So, it may take a bit to find a price that's right for you.

1986 Thrasher

I don't really know what to think about Thrasher.  He was among the first 1986 figures I acquired.  And, he was terrible.  His design, head and accessory were such a drastic departure from 1985 that I thought he must have been an early figure and the later releases that year would be better.  Alas, as far as vehicle drivers go, I was wrong.  And, Thrasher was perfectly exemplary of the quality that the 1986 vehicle drivers would feature.  Most of them had overly large noses and heads.  None came with cool gear like the '85's.  And, none of the them really stood out as a figure that deserved a single carded release.  All these years later, my opinion of Thrasher remains unchanged.  And, for a figure that entered my collection at the height of my Joe world building, he is conspicuously absent from my stories.

There are people who love Thrasher.  While Road Pig gets the most association with Mad Max, Thrasher's look is also out of derivative post apocalyptic fiction.  The oddball armor, bare midriff and green streak in his coiffed hair, though, don't create a particularly compelling design.  The paint applications and colors used for Thrasher, though, are pretty good.  And, it's a shame that he's one of the more adorned 1986 vehicle driver figures.  He features layers of color and painted details that do tie him more to the 1985 releases than the spotty paint mask drivers who would follow through the year.  In addition to his grey and black motif, Thrasher features green, brown and silver.  It's a solid array of color that bring life to the mold's details.  If Thrasher's shirt was not torn off, the figure would probably be more amenable to me.

The 1985 vehicle drivers are known for their accessories.  The figures included amazing weapons that were the envy of several single carded figures.  1986, though, did not follow this path.  Most of the drivers did not include any accessories at all, further downgrading them from the previous brethren.  Thrasher, though, was one of the few who did include an accessory.  Sadly, though, it's an oddball lacrosse stick with a spiked ball instead of a net.  It's a silly weapon.  Though, it's made worse by the fact that the handle is incredibly thick and did not feature a natural grip.  To this day, I have never successfully put the stick into Thrasher's hand.  Others have done it.  But, I can't bring myself to risk it.  Especially for a weapon that's simply useless.

As my only Cobra land vehicle available as 1986 started was my old Hiss Tank, Cobra found themselves at the mercy of Joe's superior mechanized capabilities.  So, with the introduction of the Thunder Machine, it made no sense to have it be a one off vehicle that was manned by a named crew.  So, in short order, the Thunder Machine was driven by old, beat up Cobras and was an army building, anti-infantry vehicle that rode in support of the Hiss battalions.  When the STUN entered my collection later in the year, it simply joined a now formidable Cobra force.  But, the Thunder Machine was not part of the Dreadnoks.  It was Cobra.

Of course, this left Thrasher as the odd man out.  And, I had no use for the figure.  But, he was part of the inspiration for the bands of "punks" that inhabited my Joe world.  These were people who lived in the ruins and debris fields left by the massive battles between Joe and Cobra.  They were not affiliated with either faction and they were dangerous to each.  They survived by salvaging machines and weapons from the discarded battlefields.  They sold these to 3rd party merchants who sold them back to Joe or Cobra.  The punks were based on a throwaway line in an issue of Savage Tails that was passed around my classroom.  I only remember that the good guys blasted their way through a nuclear winter wasteland.  The "punks" became my wild card.  Often, Joes or Cobras would have to scrounge debris fields for missing comrades or lost intelligence.  Here, they'd run into punks.  

The punks were savage and could be formidable fighters.  They had access to large caches of weapons.  And, they'd use them to soften up their quarry before they'd finish the job in brutal, face to face combat.  I built an entire society for these people.  Some of them were runaways from the cities and towns surrounding the battlefields.  Others were born into the life.  And, some, like Buzzer, were disaffected intellectuals who found the allure of such raw brutality too much to resist.  So, Thrasher would embody some of the punks.  It was rare that they would win a skirmish.  Even if they killed a few Joes, a larger force would come in and annihilate them.  But, it was a way to get some use out of poor figures like Thrasher and also liven up the Joe vs. Cobra dynamic and provide diversions from the standard story.

Thrasher had just the one release in the vintage line.  As the Thunder Machine made its journey around the world and was released in various countries, Thrasher didn't follow.  He was completely MIA until 2004 when he appeared in a convention exclusive attendee set with Zanzibar.  This red Thrasher repaint showed that there wasn't much redemption for the mold.  And, it sat unsold, for years...only selling out when it was offered on clearance.  On the heels of the convention figure, though, Thrasher showed up in the first series of DTC Comic Packs in 2005.  This figure got a new head.  It also got blue pants which discolor worse than the plastic used in 1985 on the original 3 Dreadnoks.  He was an odd choice and that Dreadnok Comic Pack was also clearanced for $3 after it had sat around, collecting dust in the warehouse for a few years.  So, Thrasher got way more than he deserved.

I'm not alone in disliking Thrasher.  He is one of the few cheap Joe figures left.  High quality figures can be had with no effort for $10.  And, mint and complete with filecard versions top out at $15.  In this market, that's about as cheap as figures come.  Honestly, though, I'd avoid Thrasher even at those prices.  He just offers nothing.  But, for Dreadnok fans, he is one of the few members of the team.  So, that alone makes him somewhat desirable.  And, the Thunder Machine is a staple of any Dreadnok collection.  So, you need a Thrasher for that.  But, the overall package of the figure is just off from the original design of the Dreadnoks.  But, again, my opinion of the figure is not shared by all. So, your personal value from the figure may vary from mine.

1987 Zanzibar - Around The Web

Dreadnoks are not my favorite theme in the Joe line.  And, after the 1985 series, the Dreadnoks took a drop in design.  But, for some reason, I really like Zanzibar.  I think it's a remnant of him being an important figure in the final year of my childhood.  The idea of a pirate is somewhat cliche'd and doesn't make a lot of sense in the context of 1987.  That doesn't prevent him from fitting into the 1987 Joe line.  And, until about 2018, the Zanzibar profile was among the top 10 profiles that ever appeared on this site.  So, he has a bit of popularity.

There's some good content using Zanzibar out there.  Check out the links and enjoy the best of Zanzibar from around the web.

1987 Zanzibar Profile

1987 Zanzibar by scarrviper

1987 Zanzibar by Flatline

1987 Zanzibar by decobray2010

1987 Zanzibar by HCC788

1987 Zanzibar by thedustinmccoy

1987 Zanzibar by dreadnokdread

1987 Zanzibar variants by Hit and Run

1987 Zanzibar by backyardjoes

1987 Zanzibar at JoeADay.com

1987 Zanzibar by Lava Boss

1987 Zanzibar by flatline54

1987 Zanzibar by gijoe_pty

1987 Zanzibar by recondo martin

1987 Zanzibar by thedustinmccoy

Funskool Ripper

In the early 2000's, Funskool was churning out G.I. Joe figures.  The series was very popular in India.  And, American dealers had found a willing collecting audience in the U.S., Canada, Europe and other countries.  Alongside their standard releases, Funskool was producing 4 or 5 new figures each year.  In 2002, though, Funskool decided to bring back some out of production favorites.  Despite early lists featuring names like Firefly, the reality was that Flint, Buzzer, Scrap Iron, Beach Head, Airtight and Zarana were among the older releases who were given new life.  Naturally, collectors gobbled these up with gusto.  There was one oddball release, though.  While the other figures were widely available, the Funskool Ripper only showed up in smaller quantities.  This made him both somewhat desirable, but also a great insight into how Funskool produced their Joe figures.

Retailers in India could get pretty much any Funskool figure made if they ordered at least a day's worth of production.  At the time, that was around 3,500 figures.  So, if someone wanted a new run of Beach Head and was willing to pony up the cash for 3,500 of them, Beach Head was going to happen.  Supposedly, a retailer in India wanted Ripper to come back.  They commissioned the production run of him and he was almost exclusively sold by them in India.  However, there were a few leftover cases from the production run that select American dealers were able to acquire.  So, Ripper came over in smaller quantities, originally, than most other figures.  And, were it not for some sales and then the Russian overstock figures, Funskool Rippers would likely be much harder to find today.

The calling card of the Funskool Ripper is the vibrant blue colors that are used.  His pants are a much deeper blue than those on the Hasbro release.  And, the blue and green spots on his shirt are more appealing and bold than his original base.  Funskool blues, though, are very prone to discoloration.  And, most blue Funskool figures from the '80's and '90's are nearly impossible to find without some color degradation.  So far, though, the Russian Rippers and those made in 2002 have held up fairly well and the blue hues remain radiant.  We'll see how the next decade goes, though.  As the Hasbro figure is prone to discoloration, too, it's nice to get a vibrant Ripper but also a bit worrisome as the figure ages.

Like most Funskool figures, Ripper features his full complement of original accessories.  The Funskool versions, though, are flimsier than those made by Hasbro.  The pack and hose are difficult to attach together due to the quality of the materials.  But, as Ripper's gear is an integral part of his character, it's essential that Funskool included it.  As a kid, I always wanted more Ripper rifles to give to other figures.  But, as the Funskool figures started to make Ripper weapons more available, I realized that the bladed firearm is really iconic to Ripper and looks out of place with other figures.  It's perfect for Ripper, though.

For me, though, Ripper is kind of a bland character.  Ignorant thugs have their place.  And, in certain cases, can be useful.  But a moron who just likes to destroy things has limited uses.  You can't trust him on missions as was proven in Issue #30 when he wanted to destroy Skystrikers and thwarted Cobra Commander's plans.  Hired muscle is useful.  But, when they can't even control their most primal urges, those people become liabilities that I wouldn't see the Commander keeping around.  So, the figure got its most use as random street criminals or civilians who were caught in the crossfire between Joe and Cobra.

Funskool Ripper has dozens upon dozens of variants.  The most famous is the purple shirt and glasses version that was available on early Funskool cards.  Mint loose figures of this variant fetch amazingly high prices.  But, the real challenge is tracking down all the slight color variations that exist on the Ripper's who were based on the Hasbro colors.  There are variant hues of blue, green and red.  All of which appear randomly on figures.  Some weird combos were only available as vehicle drivers.  Others changed through the various productions of Ripper.  And, some are probably rarer than the purple version.  Funskool returned Ripper to Hasbro in 2003 and the club used it on a rather banal Ripper repaint in 2004 and then he was released with a new head in a comic pack in 2005.  Neither of these figures is as good as the original or the standard Funskool.  But, Ripper got more life from his mold than it probably deserved.

Funskool Rippers remain cheap when compared to their contemporary releases.  Lots of them were available.  And, his appearance in the Russian sets helps ease the supply of Rippers to this day.  You can still get carded versions for $20-$25.  And, that's probably overpriced.  But, there's few non-dealer options to acquire one for the going market rate.  The price is still pretty ridiculous when you consider how many Funskool Rippers were imported and concentrated in the collector market.  But, modern collectors have forgotten cheap Funskool and have no idea that these figures were available all over the internet for $4 each not that long ago.  As high quality Hasbro Ripper's still only sell for around $20, too, it's up to each person to determine where there money is better spent.  Funskool blue plastic is notorious for discoloring.  But, so is the Hasbro plastic from 1985.  At the end of the day, it's a toss up.  But, personally, I'm fond of the brighter colors on this Ripper and find him useful.  He pops in photos, even if the character is somewhat dim.  In this market, you can do a lot worse than a $20 Dreadnok.  So, the Funskool Ripper is probably a decent value, even at his inflated prices.

1986 Zandar - Around The Web

Zandar is a product of his time.  He was a figure who was designed to be some sort of underground rocker.  The fact that he was designed by well positioned toy designers helps define why he's just so out of place.  The figure hasn't aged all that well.  But, at the same time, has some interesting value just because he is so odd.  As this figure is a hold over from my childhood, I'm more forgiving of his design than if he were a 1993 release.  There's some good Zandar content out there, much of it with him and either the Dreadnoks or siblings.  So, enjoy!

1986 Zandar Profile

Busted Diorama

Zandar by thedustinmccoy

Zandar by cobra_florence

Zandar by strikeforce_codename

Zandar by ronnie_trickshot

Zandar by thedustinmccoy

Zandar by evilface

Zandar by yojoe_collectibles

Zandar by thedustinmccoy

Zandar by nostalkid

Zandar by Sintechness

Zandar by thedustinmccoy

1986 Dreadnok Thunder Machine

In early 1986, a kid in my younger brother's class brought a bag of newly found G.I. Joe figures to the playground.  It contained a cornucopia of brand new 1986 figure releases that he had found at Target.  I convinced my mother to take us to Target a few days later, only to find all the new Joes sold out.  As we shopped in other parts of the store, though, my younger brother found a random Dial Tone sitting on a shelf.  This lead to an unhealthy jealousy of my brother and his Dial Tone figure.  It also lead to an even more unhealthy obsession to find any all newly released G.I. Joe toys that I could.  Within a few days, I found a Devilfish at the local KB.  I paid too much for it just to get the catalog included so that I could be the first to see all the new 1986 releases.  A few weeks later, before I could even find any other figure, I found the Dreadnok Thunder machine at the same KB toy store.  The higher price was difficult to swallow.  But, it was a cool looking vehicle and would give me my first 1986 figure.  So, I plunked down the money and took home my new prize.

By 1986, the Dreadnoks were not a huge part of my collection.  While they had some nice runs in the comics and I did find the character fun, all of my figures had been acquired in late 1984.  By early 1986, all of those figures had considerable wear, were broken, or were missing accessories.  As 1986 wore on, the Dreadnok figures slowly became nameless goons who fulfilled various terrorist or criminal roles rather than being Cobra operatives.  The 1986 entries to Zartan's clan (Zarana, Zandar, Monkeywrench and Thrasher) though, did find roles within Cobra.  But, they were capable villains rather than an independent movement loyal to Zartan.  For a short time, the Thunder Machine was their vehicle of choice.  But, I slowly found that only Zandar was a really useful villain and the other members of the Dreadnoks faded into the background.  The Thunder machine, though, had more potential.  By the fall, my adventures had shifted to G.I. Joe constantly being under attack by superior Cobra forces.  Joe bases were always under threat of a massive assault from legions of the Cobra army.  Cobra rarely wasted tons of Vipers or Crimson Guards on the attack, though.  Joe bases were heavily fortified.  Cobra needed a vehicular assault to pave the way for an infantry invasion.

To start, these convoys were comprised of Hiss Tanks and Stuns.  Hiss Tanks, though, were old hat to me.  I had owned them and used them as Cobra's primary vehicle for three years.  Stuns were newer and more fun.  But, they had limitations.  The large cannons were imprecise: especially when shooting after highly trained Joes who were capable of deft maneuvering.  This opened the door for the Thunder Machine.  Instead of a unique Dreadnok vehicle, I found the Thunder Machine useful as a standard Cobra attack vehicle.  The dual gatling cannons were the perfect anti-infantry weapons and provided Cobra with the missing element to their attack.  Thunder Machines could make Joes duck for cover while Stuns and Hisses advanced.  Of course, they had downsides.  Thunder Machines' weapons only pointed forwards, limiting their attack options.  And, the guns would be out of ammo after a few seconds.  So, Thunder Machines always had to return to base for re-supply.  But, the heavy armor on the vehicle made it less susceptible to small arms fire.  And, the drivers were more protected than and Stun of Hiss operator could ever dream.  These factors made them vitally important to Cobra success.

I had a broken thumb Viper who ended up the main driver of the Thunder Machines.  And, for several months, they roared over the dark green carpeted hallway to my room.  There was a single step down into the actual bedroom and this was where Joe's line of defense was concentrated.  Thunder Machines would rip apart the weaker fortifications.  But, the old Kenner Tie Fighter wings that guarded the entrance were strong enough to withstand the barrage.  And, from here, Low Light would attempt to snipe away the drivers in hopes of lessening the storm of bullets that Thunder Machines could deliver.

At some point in my childhood, my youngest brother got an A-Team tank from Galoob.  The all black tank looked decent as a Cobra weapon, even if it was somewhat undersized.  (Though it did work well for original Cobra Troopers and Stinger Drivers.)  At some point, I removed the cannon from the turret and replaced it with the gatling cannons from the Thunder Machine.  (They actually kind of fit and didn't fall out too easily as long as you didn't move them.)  This created a formidable anti-infantry tank that Cobra used for some time.  I found the A-Team tank with extra Thunder Machine guns in our old toy box in the mid 1990's.  At some point, I'd like to re-acquire one of those A-Team items to remake that old tank since it was a decent memory of my late Cobra army.  

Now, though, the Thunder Machine sits in a box.  I have better Cobra vehicles to use.  And, the look of the vehicle is just too tied to the Dreadnoks.  The Thunder Machines main value is that it's an excellent display piece.  The toy itself is cool enough.  But, you can kind of see the driver and passenger in the cockpit.  And, you can fit most of the Dreadnoks on the footpegs on the sides.  For the footprint it takes up, the Thunder Machine offers excellent display value since it can showcase a good number of figures.  So, you often see Thunder Machines in Dreadnok displays for this reason alone.

The Thunder machine had an interesting life.  After the U.S. release, a similarly colored Thunder Machine was released by Estrela in Brazil.  After that, though, the mold ended up in Venezuela where Rubiplas released a purple and brown Thunder Machine.  This is one of the most famous rare vehicles in the line and a nicely conditioned version can cost up to $1,000 or more.  The mold then got back to Hasbro who released it in the Street Fighter line, with some modifications.  From there, the Thunder Machine was sent to India where Funskool released it for several years in various color variations: some more blatant and a few substantially more rare than others.  Again, the right Funskool Thunder Machine can cost a substantial amount.  The mold went out of production in India and disappeared before American dealers started bringing over Funskool vehicles in the early 2000's.  Had it been available, the Funskool Thunder Machine would have likely been one of the two or three most popular vehicle repaints of that era.  The mold never appeared again.  And, while it might have been fun to see it in colors that matched the Sears Stinger, it's not really a vehicle that requires a lot of repaints.  The original is good enough and works for either the Dreadnoks or Cobra.

Dealers will ask $100 or more for a mint and complete Thunder Machine.  Left to their own devices, though, you can get them in the $40-$50 range.  There's plenty of stock out there from which to choose, though.  If you sacrifice the antenna or steering wheel, the price drops quickly.  Dreadnoks have a solid fan base.  Though, it's probably more vocal than it's size warrants.  But, the green vehicles tend to be a bit more popular among collectors.  The Thunder Machine is one of those vehicles that's simply a staple.  If you have Dreadnoks to display, the Thunder Machine is the best way to do it.  So, the vehicle always has value in that regard.  For me, though, its time has passed and the Thunder Machine provides a good memory, if it never leaves the shoebox that it now calls home.

1986 Zarana - Around The Web

I was never a huge Zarana fan.  While I found a use for Zandar for a short while, Zarana never had that occur with her.  Her lack of firing weapon and general poor design left her as relatively useless for me.  My brother had the earrings head version which I thought looked like one of my aunts.  That's about the end of the pertinence Zarana had for me.  I didn't care for her being such a prominent character in the comics and would skip over the pages that featured her and Road Pig.  But, Zarana has found a large collecting audience since the 2000's and remains a popular figure.  As such, there's tons of great work that's been done with her.  Here's some of my favorite Zarana content from around the web.

1986 Zarana Profile

Zarana by matemylar

Zarana by gvilla74

Zarana by badgerscratch

Zarana by gen_liederkranz

Zarana by plasticbattles

Zarana by evilface

Zarana by gijoeunion

Zarana by markito2212

Zarana by sirwigzwellington

Zarana by gi_joeisthere

1986 Dreadnok RAM - Sears Exclusive

My dad was a Sears junkie.  He would go to the store and browse the various aisles like I peruse toy web sites today.  He had no real intentions of buying most of the items he saw.  But, I'm sure part of him thought that if he won the lottery, he'd buy up every tool, yard gadget and electronic device in the store and those items would somehow provide him with a modicum of satisfaction...even if he never used them.  The upside to this was that when the family was at the mall, my dad would take my brothers and I to Sears while my mother would shop in the other department stores.  In our local store, the toys were located right next to the tools.  So, he could wander those aisles while we would drool over the toys.  My main memories of spending my time at Sears are not only looking at off Joe brand toys like Rambo, Sectaurs and even the Temple of Doom toy line but also seeing the Sears G.I. Joe exclusives and holding the boxes, memorizing the details of toys I didn't really have hope that I would own.

All that longing, though, paid off.  In 1985, I found the Sears SMS under the Christmas Tree.  It quickly became one of the staples of my Joe adventures and survives, to this day, in relatively good shape.  In 1986, my younger brother opened the Dreadnok Air Assault.  I had seen this at the store, but wasn't overly fond of it.  (I had hated the FANG as a kid.)  Within a few presents, though, I discovered the Dreadnok Ground Assault as one of my flagship gifts.  This was something I had wanted since my 1986 era Cobras were wanting for additional ground vehicles.  It was quickly opened up and joined my collection as one of the few new pieces that arrived in the 1986 holiday season.

The Dreadnok RAM, though, didn't find use in the Cobra arsenal.  By late 1986 and early 1987, my original RAM was long relegated to a super glued mess that no longer worked at all.  The Silver Mirage sat in a junk pile due to the low quality and general frustrations I had when playing with it.  So, a mostly green RAM seemed like a better fit for the Joes than the Dreadnoks: characters I didn't really use any longer.  At the time, I had a slew of custom characters that I had cobbled together from parts of broken 1984, 1985 and 1986 figures.  One of these was a combo of Flint's head, Footloose's torso and Snake Eyes' legs.  (I forget the arms.  I think they actually changed a few times as I snapped thumbs.)  This character, named Thunderbolt (how original...) was the principle warrior in my collection.  He wore Flint's backpack but carried the Ripcord rifle from the Tactical Battle Platform.  His primary specialty was fast attack and his signature move was riding a motorcycle with reckless abandon into a battle.  His cycle of choice?  The Dreadnok RAM.

Perched atop the RAM, Thunderbolt would ride into the fray to save the day for the Joes time and time again.  He would both use the gatling gun sidecar and exclude it, firing his weapon with one hand while he drove the cycle with the other.  This personal transport became as much a part of the character as the figure, his rifle and the ammo he found at the bottom of the "waterfall" that was my grandfather's concrete front steps on his Buffalo, NY home.  In very short order, the Dreadnok RAM became his and his alone.  I kept pretty good care of my toys in 1986 and 1987.  But, this RAM had some pieces break due to heavy usage.  It shows how important the cycle was to one of the most integral toys in my collection.  When it came time to pack my toys away in early 1988, the Dreadnok RAM was packed with the Thunderbolt figure and kept safe while the Stinger was tossed in a box and left to the exposure in the attic of my parents' home.

Today, though, Thunderbolt is long gone...dispatched to simple memories.  The Dreadnok RAM has, instead, found itself the primary ride of the Brazilian Relampago figure.  The greens of the RAM and Stinger mesh nicely with the vintage Python Patrol figures.  Python Troopers and Officers are the right match of mold year for the Stinger and man it very well.  Relampago is a motorcycle rider.  So, his assignment to the RAM is a natural fit.  And, having a relatively rare figure ride a relatively rare motorcycle seems like an additional bonus.  But, due to the fragility and rarity of both the cycle and the jeep, I rarely use these items any longer.  It's just too dangerous to take them outside and risk breaking a three figure part on the toys just to get a photo that will get a few likes and then disappear forever.  So, this RAM and the Stinger remain boxed up and rarely venture out into the wild.  I hope to someday change that and get a nice set of photos fully showcasing the Python Patrol's symmetry with this set.

One of the calling cards of the Dreadnok exclusives was that they changed color.  For a kid in 1986, this seemed really cool and fun.  Once you owned the vehicles, though, you realized that the reality of the color changing ability was limited.  If you didn't take the toys outside, you wouldn't know they changed color.  And, if you did take them out, they would change into the other color and stay there for quite a bit of time before slowly fading back.  In short, it was a dumb gimmick, but it sold toys.  What it also did, though, was leave a legacy of super brittle and easily discolored plastic.  Dreadnok vehicles that are stored relatively well will still have broken parts due to the fragility of the aging plastic.  The color changing parts will turn dark if you're lucky.  But, more commonly, they take on a yellowish brown hue that renders the vehicles useless.  Supposedly, there is a variant on the RAM where parts can be in different colors.  I still believe that much of this is a function of plastic deterioration.  But, the variants are officially listed, legit and are something for the truly sadistic collector to track down.

Every Joe collector who grew up in the '80's has a favorite retailer story.  There is an entire subset of collectors who track down vintage cardbacks with specific price tags that denote the retailer of origin.  I recall peg after peg of figures at department stores, specialty retailers, hardware stores, mom-and-pop shops, niche providers and the multitude of chain and independent toy stores that used to dot American malls.  If you had asked people back then to forecast the retail environment 30+ years out, it's doubtful that anyone would come close to the apocalyptic space that is 2020's retail stores.  All of the small, regional, local and even national stores have long since been consolidated, merged or forced out of business due to changing consumer habits.  Old price tags and retailer exclusives like this RAM are memories of different times.  While I doubt we'll ever see a toy renaissance like the 1980's again, the reality is that today's retail simply couldn't support it.  In the '80's, there were dozens, if not hundreds of outlets in which your ideas could be sold.  Today, if Wal Mart and Amazon pass on your product, you're left with either a really cheap product that can be sold at discount stores or a really expensive niche product that's marketed to a small, affluent group.  Neither of these will ever lead to the mass adoption of a toy line and we'll never again see the culture of a youthful generation defined by hugely popular toys.

As I think back about those trips to Sears with my father, I wonder what memories my kids are forging now that they are entering the same age brackets as I was when Star Wars and G.I. Joe dominated my experience.  I also now better understand why my dad would not mind sitting in Sears for an hour or two, the kids safe, nearby on a Saturday afternoon.  There are days I'm happy to buy the week's groceries, just to get out of the house for an hour's peace.  I'm saddened that there are no longer toy stores where I can take my boys to look and browse for new playthings.  But, that experience was a big part of my childhood.  They will have a chance to experience something different.  And, I'm sure that there's some activity we do today that I consider innocuous that will burn deep memories in them and be their happy nostalgia at some point in the future.  I only hope that they're able to share those thoughts with me so we can relive them together.

I was prepared to talk about how expensive Dreadnok RAMs are.  However, I was not prepared for exactly HOW expensive they are.  Mint and complete motorcycles will sell for over $200 with most reaching $250.  Just the cycle with a broken kickstand will run you well over $100.  Simply put, that's insane for something like this.  Sure, the toy is relatively rare and time hasn't tended to be kind to the brittle and discoloring plastic.  But, the toy is also limited and not something that is essential for a collection.  But, the Dreadnoks are popular.  The RAM is popular.  And, collectors are gladly overpaying for harder to find vintage toys these days.  Personally, I'd never pay anywhere near that for this cycle.  But, I have the luxury of having both one from childhood and one from a pre-insanity priced adult collector purchase.  So, that certainly colors my view of the current pricing.  Having the toy as a kid certainly has left this item as a vehicle that I'm glad to have...just for the nostalgia.  Without that, it's value would be limited to me.

Funskool Buzzer

Light blue plastic sucks.  It sucks because, while it can be a useful color to represent things like jeans, it tends to fade, discolor or turn brittle.  All of these things are heavily evident upon G.I. Joe figures produced in the 1980's that used the light blue colored plastic.  In some cases, though, foreign toy companies were able to surpass Hasbro by using different plastic mixtures.  Some whites stay white.  And, some blues stay blue.  You still see odd instances of massive discoloration.  But, many times, the foreign figures hold up better than their American originals.  Such is the case with the Funskool Buzzer.  When Funskool first re-released this figure in 2002, it had been 17 years since the release of the U.S. version.  Now, it's been 17 years since the release of the most heavily imported Funskool Buzzers.  Most of them are holding up very well.  Though, it's also a relative case of selection bias since most of the Funskool Buzzers that showed up in 2002 through 2003 were held by collectors and well cared for.  Regardless of this, the Funskool release also gives me a chance to revisit the one Dreadnok character that I really enjoyed as a kid: Buzzer.

For me, Buzzer was the only Dreadnok who had any long term usage.  While Ripper and Torch were turned into nameless minions who would easily die in firefights, Buzzer remained a viable Cobra character.  Most of this stems from issue #35 of the comic when Buzzer tried to take command of the team and stole Zartan's motorcycle.  This gave Buzzer more depth since he wasn't just some brainless thug who wanted to perform violent acts.  Buzzer's actions had more purpose.  (Issue #30, though, proved he could be an idiot, too, when violence overtook his sense of judgement.)  Buzzer being smart helped keep him around.  Often, I would pair him opposite of Zartan.  But, in my world, Buzzer was a fighter and not a gang member hell bent on wanton destruction.

Much of this was based on the comic appearance of Buzzer.  However, some of it was also a function of Buzzer's look and his gear.  Of the three original Dreadnoks, Buzzer was the most "normal" looking.  He had a pony tail and didn't wear sleeves.  But, that was superior to the more bare chested looks that both of his team mates tried to pull off.  While Ripper's gear was probably better than Buzzer's, I found Buzzer's to be the most fun.  Buzzer could slash away with his blade on a chain and easily cut down close quarter foes.  He found himself a foil to Quick Kick where the blade would battle Quick Kick's nunchuks.  The chainsaw could be used with great effect against opponents in similar quarters.  He could also damage Joe vehicles and planes.  And, since Buzzer didn't have a long range weapon, he was easy to assimilate into the Thunder Machine or other Cobra vehicle.

For that reason, Buzzer lasted in my collection for a good many years.  We even had more than one of him as I used his torso with a Duke head to create one of my early custom figures.  Even into my final days of play in late 1987, Buzzer had relevance.  He would ultimately side with Zartan when my personal Cobra hierarchy split.  Due to the poor condition and long gone axe, though, when it was time to pack my Buzzer away, he didn't get much care.  In the mid 1990's, when I had just a small box of Joes that I had salvaged from various boxes of old toys from our house, Buzzer was among the figures I found.  The blue pants had long ago faded to a ghost of their former selves.  But, the character lived on and was among one of the few 1985 figures that I definitely wanted to replace as I became a collector.  This Funskool version has given a more vibrant variant of the character I found at a Sears store in December of 1984. 

It's hard to believe how long it's been since the Funskool imports started showing up.  I logged onto my work computer one morning in February of 2001 and found that East Coast collectors had already pounced on the announcement that YoJoe.com was selling Funskool figures for $5 each.  I bought a few stragglers.  But, by the summer of that year, there were multiple Funskool sellers and the competition drove the prices down to $4 each.  Over the next few years, Funskool figures were heavily imported...so much so that figures like this Buzzer got oversaturated and eventually found themselves on clearance as the Joe world died out in the late 2000's.  Seeing people fawning over figures that sat unsold for $4 is tough to see.  But, many of today's collectors weren't around in the early 2000's and are unaware that these Funskool figures were sold by many dealers for cheap prices and even, in some cases, pegwarmed.  The fact that something doesn't appear all that often for sale is very different to it not being available.  And, there are still collectors with boxes of cheaply purchased Funskool figures sitting in their storage areas: completely unaware that the extras they bought for army building or custom fodder have now found grotesquely increased value.

Buzzer got a good amount of use.  While the mold saw just one vintage release, Funskool released the character for many years.  There are many Indian variants.  Some are incredibly rare and very expensive.  Others are almost indiscernible from this common 2002 era figure and sell for peanuts.  If you are a Funskool collector, there are likely enough variants to keep you busy for a while.  In April of 2003, Hasbro re-acquired the Buzzer mold.  He immediately went into a 2004 convention set where he was released with his full gear.  (This proved that Funskool likely returned all the accessory molds with their figures molds and Hasbro just chose to not use them on their retail releases.)  In 2005, Buzzer was given a new head and released in a comic pack.  There are 4 major Buzzer variants to track down (Red Funskool, Blue version (Hasbro or Funskool), Convention and Comic Pack.)  Each has value and is useful for the Buzzer character.  But, looks based on his 1985 appearance are the most popular and useful.  So, this Funskool version remains a viable option for anyone looking to get a classic Dreadnok into their collection.

The upside of the 2000's era Funskool releases was that the figures based on their original coloring often included vintage accessories.  It was really only the final Funskool releases that started to deviate from the original gear.  So, Buzzer includes his chainsaw, gas can backpack and chain axe.  As the axe was something I quickly lost as a kid, I always hold it in high regard.  So, it was always nice to get the full array of gear with Buzzer.  And, yes, I know he's not holding his chainsaw "correctly" in any of the photos below.  But, that is how I've had Buzzer hold his saw since I first opened my Hasbro version in December of 1984.  And, my Buzzers will hold it that way until my decendents find pools of blue and tan goo inside an acid free baggie in 60+ years.

Funskool Buzzers come in a couple of flavors.  And, that flavor defines the pricing.  The Funskool Buzzers made between 2002 and 2003 are pretty cheap.  You can buy carded versions for under $20 and still find loose, mint and complete figures for under 1/2 that price.  Earlier carded Buzzers might command a premium.  But, loose versions are difficult to differentiate from their later counterparts...unless there's a significant variant.  Funskool released a red vested Buzzer with dark hair.  That figure will command hundreds of dollars.  But, it's also rare and was long out of production before massive Funskool imports to the U.S. began.  So, if you want the subject of this profile, he's cheap and easy to find.  U.S. dealers clearanced him out and that's still affecting his pricing today.  At some point, though, that will change.  And, you may wish you'd acted on the Funskool Buzzer availability.  Until then, the figure is useful, but not necessary if you have a Hasbro version of the character.

1986 Zandar

Some Joe figures have help up pretty well over the 20 or 30 years.  Others, have not.  There are several Joe figures that were designed in the '80's that are just too over the top to actually resonate with modern collectors.  The greatest example of this is Zartan's brother, Zandar.  The overall look of the character is nothing short of a series of terrible design choices from a bygone era.  While Zandar was likely meant to be a dangerous outlaw in 1986, his look is something completely different in 2019 and that renders the figure mostly useless outside the circle of Dreadnoks that comprise his "family".

I recently purchased an upgraded Zandar from a local store.  The saleswoman who sold it to me was probably in her early 20's at best.  Here is the conversation when she saw the Zandar figure:

• SW: Whoa!  Look at that guy with his pink and blue and orange beret.  Wait, that's his hair?!?
• Me: Yeah, the '80's were weird.
• SW:  And, he's not wearing a shirt?  I thought it was just a weird color.  But, he's barechested?
• Me: ....
• SW: And, is that an ascot?!?  Isn't this guy just cute?!?
• Me: Being a completist sucks....

So, it's not easy to explain something like Zandar to people who weren't around in the '80's and understood that Zandar's look was based on terrible stereotypes of the time that were largely passed by the time this figure was released in 1986.  As a reminder of that time period, Zandar is interesting.  As a toy in 2019, Zandar is ridiculous, lame and relatively worthless.

One thing about me, though, is that newer figures always rise to the top of my collection.  It's been that way since I was a kid.  This is particularly relevant in Zandar's case.  I have a recollection of acquiring Zandar on a family trip somewhere after I found him on the shelves of a drug store that we stopped at for some other reason.  But, this doesn't really jive as our big family trip in 1986 was taken during the summer and I brought only a box of comic books and no toys other than a few MASK figures my brothers had stowed into a box.  I do know that I had Zandar before school let out and he appeared in G.I. Joe #51.  I associated Zandar with the Dreadnok Swampfire since I acquired them around the same time.  And, with this vehicle, Zandar became a powerful enemy for the Joes.

I wasn't much for for big planes as a kid, either.  They weren't much fun to play with since you had limited options for action and you couldn't hold up a Skystriker and Night Raven at the same time and have much fun with them.  Smaller flying vehicles were fewer and far between...especially since things like the FANG hadn't held up too well from earlier years.  So, the Swampfire's ability to fly made it a dangerous weapon against Joes who were often on the ground.  Zandar was the only pilot I really entertained for the Swampfire and from its command perch he would terrorize Joes with both the Swampfire's cannon and his hand held spear gun.  Many Joes were speared by it, though most managed to survive.

In this role, Zandar was powerful.  Initially, the Joes thought he was an amazing villain since he inflicted so much damage from the skies.  But, once caught on terra firma, Zandar was proven to be a weak opponent at best.  His spear gun was unwieldy and took a long time to reload.  And, he wasn't much of a hand to hand fighter.  And, once the drone from the Night Raven came along at the end of the year, the value of the Swampfire and, by proxy, Zandar was reduced to near zero.  Zandar quickly faded away and had little relevance to my collection again.  Even as Zartan became a powerful ally to Cobra Commander, neither Zandar nor Zarana were anywhere to be seen.  I felt they reduced the Zartan character and having them rotting in a box was preferable to them embarrassing Zartan in front of the other Cobra hierarchy.

Zandar was released only twice.  The U.S. version was released in 1986 and 1987.  He disappeared until some time in the 1990's when he popped up in India where Funskool released him.  The Funskool Zandar is pretty similar to the American figure.  He tends to have paler skin.  And, most notably, he doesn't change color.  Funskool stopped producing Zandar shortly before the mass imports to the U.S. began.  For a time in the early 2000's, Funskool Zandars were impossible to find.  Slowly, though, more have come to light and Funskool Zandars are not unattainable: though they do remain pricey for what you get.

And, of course, Zandars are now stupidly priced, too.  You see tons of mint and complete with filecard figures selling for over $25.  That's dumb.  Sure, once the o-ring breaks, there's no real way to keep the Zandar mint while replacing it.  But, figures from his year are among the highest produced in the line's history.  And, with some patience, you can get mint and complete figures for around $10.  That's a better price for an awful figure that has aged more poorly than most other Joes. I suspect some of the price lift is from the anniversary style Zandar figure that was part of an expensive pack and has gotten people to think that Zandar is popular rather than just part of a very expensive set.  But, the Dreadnoks have always been unusually popular (except when released in a convention set) and Zandar is part of the group...even if the figure is a laughingstock these days.