Rarities - Alternate Weapon Schematics for 1994 Star Brigade Predacon

It's tough to say that Predacon is most distinctive of the 1994 Lunartix Aliens.  But, his figures do tend to be the most popular.  It's likely because he's the closest to a standard Joe.  And, he's easier to play with and pose than either Carcass or Lobotomaxx.  Predacon's calling card is his four arms.  To outfit him, Hasbro included a standard weapon tree with four weapons so that Predacon had a gun for each hand.  The tree had debuted in 1993 with Col. Courage.  It featured a 1987 Tunnel Rat rifle, a 1990 Sky Patrol Airborne rifle, 1987 Blaster's "pistol" and the smaller, ubiquitous pistol that had debuted with the 1988 Shockwave figure.  As weapon trees go, it's one of the best ones.  And, with Predacon, it was only used three times: two of them with short run figures.  (Predacon and the 1993 Dino Hunters Ambush.)

However, according to Hasbro documentation, Predacon was originally intended to include a different array of weapons.  And, in these cases, the weapons were not ones that had previously appeared on standard weapons trees.

The first weapon listed is the Skycreeper pistol.  This isn't a weapon you see all that often.  And, it has a very science fiction look.  

I've always felt that the Super Sonic Fighters Road Pig included great weapons.  They are a bit offbeat.  But, they work in a lot of contexts.  And, had they existed in a color outside of bright orange, they'd have been a lot more popular.  But, early customizers both ignored brightly colored weapons and didn't tend to have access to some of the 1990's weapons molds.  Seeing one as a possibility for Predacon is interesting as it would have opened up the weapon to more exposure.  And, it might be more popular today had that happened.

The next weapon is listed as being from Pysche Out.  But, it was actually used for the 1992 Talking Battle Commander Cobra Commander figure.  It is a terrible accessory.  It's not worse than some of the other molds used on '90's weapon trees.  But, it's not good and would have been a lackluster inclusion.  Though, it does fit the aesthetic of the other weapons that were being considered.

We don't know if these weapons were originally intended to be part of a weapon tree.  Or, if they would have been individually packaged like we later saw with Street Fighter Movie and Mortal Kombat figures.  The line was over by the time the Lunartix got to retail.  And, they were likely victims of cost cutting as production numbers were lowered.  

Had Predacon included these accessories, they would have felt more "his" than the generic tree he ended up with.  These weapons were more obscure, all only being included his higher price point, specialty figures.  So, they would have felt more unique.  Really, it's a shame they weren't released with the figure.  Though, had they been, they'd be among the more expensive gear from the '90's.

2001 Manimal Iguanus

So, back in 2016, I said that Iguanus would be up for a profile in 2019.  It was three years between Slythor and Warwolf's profile.  So, why not wait another three years for Iguanus?  Well, it's been 9 years, now.  Which,...damn.  But, I had occasion to take out the Manimals when it snowed in early January.  And, upon getting out Iguanus, I discovered, again, that the Manimals are really not bad toys at all.  They might be bad G.I. Joe concepts.  But, as toys and design pieces of engineering, they are quite something.

In his helmeted mode, Iguanus is pretty cool looking.  He's kind of like a space knight with a weird snake face on his chest.  His bulk and build denote he's an alien.  When he transforms, though, the reptilian head is quite amazing.  It has a tongue hidden inside.  (The Manimal designers were big on tongues.)  With the head and teeth exposed, Iguanus looks like a mutated experiment for Croc Master to tame.  The alligator inspired head is full of cracks and crevices and features raised nostrils and sunken eyes.  It's a monster that's familiar enough to rise primal fear in humans.  

The rest of the figure follows suit with lots of sculpted details.  The coloring is basic with just two shades of blue that are offset by silver highlights.  But, the look really works.  The 2001 Manimal color schemes were changed from the planned 1994 figures: ostensibly to preserve the value of the few 1994 Manimal samples that exist.  In Iguanus's case, the 1994 figure was a very dark blue/black base color with more gray highlights.  The 2001 color scheme is an improvement with one exception: the 1994 figure had yellow eyes.  (Well, some production figures did.  But, the Toy Fair spread sample did not.)  They are a creepy feature that would have worked on the 2001 repaint.  But, the red is scary enough that it's not a feature worth lamenting for too long.

My main takeaway from Iguanus and his Manimal brethren is that they are good toys.  They're really fun.  And, if you're not hung up on a make believe vision of what G.I. Joe actually is, you can find some use for the figures.  They're really fun to pose and photograph.  The quality is excellent and the transforming features are cheesy entertainment.  I'll never really tire of seeing a Manimal "eating" a Joe or Cobra.  It's difficult to pull off in any convincing manner in a photo.  But, the larger size of the Manimals makes it work.  They're never going to be among my favorite figures.  But, they are something worth owning and can really add a kooky element of fun  to anyone's collection.

The Manimals use construction more similar to that of Sgt. Savage than to the vintage Joe line.  Their legs are cut joints that were coming en vogue in the mid 1990's.  This makes them hard to pose, especially in seated positions.  But, the joints move fluidly and the figure has a strong amount of articulation.  Iguanus's hands are similar to those of vintage Joes.  Other Manimals have enclosed hands so their weapons must be inserted from above.  Iguanus does not, though.  And, his approach to accessories is more in line with vintage Joe figures: meaning he can use a wider array of existing gear should you want to take that route.  

My one beef with Warwolf and Iguanus is that they both feature a mouthful of brilliant white teeth.  I don't take umbrage with the notion of the design.  In fact, the gaping mouths are one of the most compelling selling points of these figures.  But, when two of the three characters in the subset feature the same, basic design element, the overall impact of the innovation is lessened.  On some level, it would have made sense for one of the other three Manimal molds to have been substituted for either Warwolf of Iguanus to make each figure in the individual waves more unique.  When posed together, you really notice the similarity between the two figures.  And, I would have appreciated a ZigZag or Vortex with his bird-flipping alien much more.  At this point, I'll take what we got.  But, it makes you wonder how the figures were apportioned to each wave and what thought process went into the choices.

If you really want to get to brass tacks, the Manimals failed three times.  A fourth time, they never even got started.  But, any way you slice it, Manimals were retail poison.  The original wave was cancelled in 1994 before it got off the ground.  This KB wave sat around for years and, even at clearance prices, was tough to move in a time when every Joe was flying off the shelves.  The second wave of 3 figures for KB were cancelled and never released.  A couple of years later, Funskool looked at the Manimal molds and thought about using them.  But, determined the figures were too "devilish" for them to proceed.  Some guy tried to bootleg the Manimals from the Funskool acquired molds.  An American dealer even solicited them on their website.  There are samples out there.  But, the figures were never produced.

It's hard to believe that these figures came out in 2001.  I remember buying them from KB Toys online arm.  At $9.99 per figure, they were a tough pill to swallow.  You could still buy 1998 3-packs of figures at Toys R Us stores for the same price.  But, a KB executive was a big G.I. Joe and wanted something special for an exclusive.  The Manimals fit the bill.  I want to believe that the 1995 Battle Corps Rangers figure molds did not exist in a state that was capable of sustaining a production run.  And, that would explain why they were not considered for the promotion.  At the time, the Manimals felt like a wasted slot for a Joe release.  Nearly 25 years later, I'm glad we got them.  

I think the failure of the KB Manimals, though, was simply timing.  Collectors weren't ready for Manimals or other, less traditional subsets of the Joe line.  Back in 2001, even something like Ninja Force would have failed.  And, Eco Warriors were nearly a slur in the community.  But, things have changed.  And, I think the Manimals would find a much more welcoming consumer base would they have re-emerged in the 2020's.  Collectors are more mature.  And, interesting ideas that are good toys would be a welcome deviation from much of what passes for collector oriented items in this decade.  We'll never know, though.  Manimals aren't going to return in their transforming state.  And, without that detail, there's no real reason for them to exist.

Iguanus includes two accessories.  One, a bladed weapon, is unique to him.  The other uses the same mold as one of the weapons included with Warwolf.  Iguanus' weapons, though, are silver.  He's the only of the three to feature silver accessories.  It's likely a way to simply differentiate the reused accessory mold between the 2 figures who included it.  But, it's a nice way to make the figure seem a bit more unique.  The gear isn't great.  And, were I to stumble across some loose pieces of it sitting in shoe box at a garage sale, I wouldn't even identify it as a G.I. Joe accessory.  With the Manimals, though, the gear looks good.  But, it's not a great fit for other figures.

The KB Manimals got caught in the pricing surge that the Joe line experienced since 2018.  What were, once, below retail price figures have now become somewhat pricey.  But, a lot of that is just due to the limited supply of them available.  You'll pay between $50 and $70 for a carded Manimal.  If you can find a loose figure, they'll run you about $30.  But, the only people selling them are dealers who are waiting out impatient collectors.  In reality, these figures don't have that type of value.  And, you'll find deals if you have the patience to wait them out.  But, you could be waiting a long time.  I've been saying for several years now that Joe prices are artificially high due to limited supply.  Nothing has compelled collectors to sell.  So, maybe they just...won't?  I don't think that will happen.  But, it's now going to take a 2008 type event to put the supply back into the market.  So, every collector has to make choices as to what they're willing to overpay for and what they're willing to skip.  It's a tough call each time.  A figure like Iguanus is harder than it should be.  You don't need Manimal figures in your Joe collection.  But, man, is this figure worth owning should you want to go that route.

1993 Robo Joe - Around The Web

I've owned a Robo Joe figure for a little over 6 years, now.  Despite him being a relatively new addition to my collection, I've only photographed him twice.  Once for his original profile.  And, then for this feature.  Despite my disinterest in the figure, though, Robo Joe seems to have a niche following among collectors.  As such, you'll find some solid content featuring the figure.  I suspect it's a combination of the figure's distinctive look and oddball character that endears him to some collectors.  So, it's fun to see what people can do with him.  Especially when you take the limitations of the Armor Tech articulation into consideration.

1993 Robo Joe Profile

1993 Robo Joe by corpscommandercody

1993 Robo Joe by Relena Warcraft

1993 Robo Joe the plasticeyeball

1993 Robo Joe by toysandtomfoolery

1993 Robo Joe by thedustinmccoy

1993 Robo Joe by toygalaxy

1993 Robo Joe by gijoe_c4_panama

1993 Robo Joe by toysandtomfoolery

1993 Robo Joe at HCC788

1993 Robo Joe by corpscommandercody

1993 Robo Joe at Joepedia

1993 Robo Joe by ronnie_trickshot

1993 Robo Joe by yo_joe_it

1993 Robo Joe by gijoe_c4_panama

1993 Robo Joe by phantomtroublemaker

1993 Robo Joe by el_customizador_marvel

1993 Star Brigade Invader - Around The Web

The Invader isn't a great vehicle.  But, it's about the only Cobra space vehicle that is easy to photograph.  So, despite being something no one talks about, it finds itself getting quite a bit of use. So, traipse through the links below to see some cool interpretations of the Invader and good ways for it to be useful to a collection.

1993 Star Brigade Invader

1993 Star Brigade Invader by gen_liederkranz

1993 Star Brigade Invader by mpjoes

1993 Star Brigade Invader by thedragonfortress

1993 Star Brigade Invader by gijoeboss

1993 Star Brigade Invader by slipstream80

1993 Star Brigade Invader by yojoe_collectibles

1993 Star Brigade Invader by gen_liederkranz

1993 Star Brigade Invader by Dragon Fortress

1993 Star Brigade Invader by yojoe_collectibles

1993 Star Brigade Invader by thedustinmccoy

1993 Star Brigade Invader by gijoeboss

1993 Star Brigade Invader by relena_warcraft

1994 Star Brigade Sci Fi

1994 Star Brigade has long been one of my collecting focuses.  Back in 1999, when this site started, I was about the only person to talk about Star Brigade in any capacity beyond pure vitriolic hatred.  In the twenty five years since, though, collector attitudes about Star Brigade have softened.  And, more importantly, the low production numbers for the 1994 series have proven frustrating for collectors who attempt to finish their vintage Joe runs.  Nowadays, some 1994 Star Brigade figures will break triple digits.  Their oddity and scarcity driving an upswing in popularity.  Not all figures are caught up in that wave, though.  This 1994 Sci Fi remains relatively inexpensive for the modern collector.  But, that price is not indicative of the figure's quality as the 1994 Sci Fi features excellent sculpting, fun colors and a cadre of accessories that would have been fantastic for kids of the day.

There were two waves of 1994 Star Brigade figures.  The second wave, containing the Lunartix aliens, Countdown, Ozone and Effects saw the lower production run.  And, in the early days of Joe collecting, the aliens secured a morbid curiosity among collectors who would buy carded versions just to have due to the perceived rarity.  The first series, though, probably didn't see much of an increase in production run over the second wave.  But, it was generally held in low regard by Joe collectors of the late 1990's and early 2000's.  The figures in that wave, though, were excellent.  Blackstar, Cobra Commander, Duke, Spaceshot and this Sci Fi were all either entirely new or mostly newly sculpted parts.  Payload and Roadblock were repaints and carry over characters from the 1993 series.  But, they all combined into a visually distinctive wave of figures that showed a considerable investment by Hasbro as the Joe line was slowly diminishing at retail.

This Sci Fi might be the most impressive of the new, non alien, sculpts for the Star Brigade series.  (I'll accept arguments on this point, though.)  He features a textured space suit that is overlaid with an armored chest.  His head is surrounded by a collar that is a perfect fit for the figure's helmet.  It's a vast improvement of the idea that was introduced with the 1983 Ace figure.  The left arm has a sculpted hand cannon.  And, there's enough other details to provide the necessary heft to really view this figure as an astronaut.  

Around 1992 or so, Hasbro got wind that their competitor, Kenner, was looking to bring back their Star Wars line.  Joe had bested Star Wars before.  But, much of that could be contributed to the ending of the original trilogy as well as general retail fatigue.  The Joe team of the time wasn't too keen on being beaten in the marketplace they now dominated.  So, Star Brigade came to be.  If you look at Star Brigade, you see lots of Star Wars like elements.  Spaceshot is, basically, Han Solo.  This Sci Fi features a lot of elements borrowed from Boba Fett.  The most apparent is the arm mounted gatling cannon.  Aside from the absurdity of this weapon (where would the ammo be stored?!?) it's a fun callback to Fett.  The figure even has chest armor that is similar to Fett's.  Hasbro even introduced aliens as a way to broaden the scope and compete directly with the denizens of Jabba's Palace or the Cantina.

My main interaction with this figure only came as an adult collector.  I got hooked on 1994 Star Brigade early in my collecting days and quickly found carded versions of the entire set.  Back then, loose Star Brigade figures were nearly impossible to find.  But, as I was still paying well under $5 for a carded figures, it was worth it to just open up any extras I acquired.  (This is how I got Countdown and Ozone.)  I didn't get a loose Sci Fi until the early 2000's.  And, that version wasn't in great condition and only had the helmet.  Only recently have I picked up a high quality version of the 1994 Sci Fi.  And, he's great.  I don't really have a ton of ways to use the figure right now.  But, he's good to have around and I'll surely have him out flying a helicopter or something as the weather turns warmer.

Sci Fi's accessories are pretty good.  His helmet may be the best piece.  It's two fused pieces of plastic that give an hard grey top and back with a pinkish face shield that features triangular ridges that obscure Sci Fi's face but also give the helmet great depth.  His base weapon is a black version of Cold Front's pistol.  The large size, though, works in the space context, though.  Sci Fi's pack is an interesting contraption.  It's large and bulky.  It has two arms that provide additional gear.  One side is a sculpted gun that's reminiscent of the arms from Payload.  The other side is the spring loaded missile launcher.  The launcher has a peg that fits into the pack's side to prevent it from moving.  You can take the peg out and then move the launcher up and down.  The pack also has a hook sculpted to the top of it.  This hook was compatible with Sci Fi's remaining gear.  He also included a rope and two "weights" that were hooks to connect to toys, furniture or other items that would give Sci Fi a zip line feature.  The pack could slide across the rope.  Stupid little things like this were greatly appreciated by childhood me.  And, their inclusion is a fun reminder that the 1994 Joes were toys first that were meant to be enjoyed by kids.

This Sci Fi mold has some history.  Which is not common for sculpts that debuted in 1994.  While the figure's head was recycled from the 1991 and 1993 Sci Fi figures, the rest of the body was new.  For some reason, Sci Fi appeared in the Funskool line.  I'm not sure why he's be chosen over other newly sculpted 1994 figures.  But, the Funskool Sci Fi is very similar to the U.S. version.  There are some obscure and hard to find Funskool variants.  But, in general, they are all similar enough to this 1994 U.S. figure that only the most attentive collectors would really notice the difference in a photo or display.  I'd have loved to have seen a full rehash of the 1994 Star Brigade line in India.  But, getting Sci Fi, Countdown, TARGAT and Ozone was a nice bonus.  As a fun aside, Sci Fi's helmet was recolored and included with the Funskool Metal Head figure.  You wouldn't think this helmet would work on Metal Head.  But, it does.  Sadly, that Metal Head is hard to find today.  But, the helmet on, he works as a new Cobra Star Brigade member.

Gone are the days of cheap Sci Fi figures.  While you could easily get a carded version of this figure for $10 as recently as a decade ago, the general scarcity of the 1994 Star Brigade series has caught up with Sci Fi, too.  While he's not a $100 figure like Roadblock or Ozone, dealers routinely get $40-$50 for mint, loose and complete versions.  This seems odd since you can still buy carded figures in the $50-$60 range.  Left to his own devices, though, Sci Fi tends to top out around $25...leaving him one of the cheaper 1994 Star Brigade figures.  This is likely a function of the similar Funskool figure being so available and relatively cheap, too.  Collectors have options to get Sci Fi.  For $20, he's not a bad figure.  I love Star Brigade, so I tend to be overly enthusiastic about the figure quality.  But, if you want Sci Fi as the laser rifle trooper, the 1991 and even 1993 figures are better.  (Though, not really much cheaper.)  But, this Sci Fi shows much of what was possible with the Joe line in later years and the sculpting and colors really work to create a fun combat astronaut.  If you find value in that specialty, this is a figure for you.  If not, well, there's lots of other Sci Fis to fill your needs.

1993 Star Brigade TARGAT - Around The Web

When I first found 1993 Star Brigade figures at a KB ToyWorks, there were only Joes on the shelves.  The Cobras were long gone by the time I found the figures.  But, in the late 1990's, it was actually possible to buy carded Star Brigade Cobras for the same $2 price that they would have cost me at the store on that spring day.  It was through these means that I acquired my Star Brigade TARGAT figures.

Once in hand, though, I wasn't as enamored with the Cobras as I was the Joes.  And, it became rare for me to utilize the TARGAT figure as he just didn't really speak to me like many other new acquisitions in my collection did.  That remains the same today.  I rarely use this figure.  And, the last time I did, his knee cracked when I tried to bend it.  So, he's not going to see much additional use in the future.

1993 TARGAT Profile

1993 TARGAT by fosilru

1993 TARGAT by Slipstream80

1993 TARGAT at JoeADay.com

1993 TARGAT by diorama_accessories

1993 TARGAT by 1990s_gi_joes

1993 TARGAT by gen_liederkranz

1993 TARGAT by Slipstream80

1993 TARGAT by thedustinmccoy

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

1994 Star Brigade Ozone - Around The Web

I'm kind of in a funk when it comes to writing new profiles.  I've got a bunch started.  But, I haven't been able to finish any of them.  And, while I have hundreds of random photos and around the web posts started, none are really ready to post.  That included this look at the limited content on the 1994 Ozone.  But, I wanted to get something out.  And, as this Ozone was shortpacked in the cases that are likely to have the lowest production in the vintage line, content on him doesn't exactly ooze out of the collective fandom.  

But, this is a figure I enjoy.  The colors are distinctive and memorable.  And, they keep this mold from being stale, even in it's fourth paint job.  1994 Star Brigade are having a bit of their moment in the sun in the collecting world and high prices reflect that.  This figure was never all that easy to find, even if he was super cheap when I tracked him down.  Because of that, there's little done with him.  So, enjoy the 1994 Ozone as it's not a figure you're going to see all that often.

1994 Ozone Profile

1994 Star Brigade Carded Set

1994 Ozone by gen_liederkranz

1994 Ozone by corpscommandercody

1994 Ozone at The Dragon Fortress

1994 Ozone by relena_warcraft

1994 Ozone by codyanskaya

Rarities - 1994 Toys R Us Advertisement

The demise of Toys R Us is a sad story.  It died not due to diminished interest in toys.  But, instead, to unfettered corporate greed.  Really, KB Toys died the same way.  And, because of this, the idea of a toy store in 2023 is simply unfathomable.  My kids were fortunate to be old enough to enjoy Toys R Us for a couple of years.  They had great fun wandering the aisles, looking at all the cool toys that you couldn't find anywhere else.  But, it also died out before they were of an age to really appreciate it.  Now, when I see them scouring Amazon for obscure toys, I realize that were they just a few years older, we'd have gone to Toys R Us for them to browse and find something that interested them.

This takes us, then, to another lost form: the print advertisement.  Sunday newspapers used to be chock full of vibrant, color ads that were the main way many stores could communicate their goods and prices to their potential customers.  And, through these ads, we have a record of products and prices from their own times.  Below is one such piece: a 1994 Toys R Us print ad that appeared in newspapers throughout the US nearly 30 years ago.  

Some of the newspaper ads from previous years would include pre-production or early prototypes of toys.  In some cases, even an unproduced item or two might appear.  But, this one from 1994 is pretty innocuous.  The main thing you see is that Hasbro was really trying to push the 12" action figure line.  I never really understood this.  I fall right into the weird demographic who just missed 12" action figures as a thing and was there right as 3 3/4 was emerging.  So, I have no attachment or interest in larger toys.  But, Hasbro was hell bent on recapturing the emerging collector market and some kids with their 12" offerings.

From the 3 3/4 perspective, the ad doesn't feature much.  The line was dying at this point.  So, just featuring 3 products makes sense.  But, the outlandish $4.99 price on Shadow Ninjas offers all the insight you need into why that line stuck around well into 1996 at Toys R Us stores.  Those figures really didn't cost much more than that until the last few years when collectors have finally started to recognize how difficult they are to find in good condition.  I am pleased to see the white elbows, though, as this photo of them fresh from the factory with that condition shows that it was a feature of their design and not degradation from age.

The Blockbuster is a great toy.  I found mine at a Meijer store, though.  I'm not sure what I paid for it.  But, $25 seems about right.  I recall seeing the 1993 Jets at Toys R Us stores into 1995 and 1996.  But, they were ridiculously expensive for that era.  The first time I found the Blockbuster, I bought it.  So, my local store was sold out of them by the time I started searching out the ghosts of the Joe line.

The big showcase here is the Power Fighters.  Not that they are something we haven't seen before.  But, the fact that they were $9.99.  Nowadays, each of the figures from the Power Fighters will reach nearly $100 if they have the filecard.  So, seeing them so cheap is shocking.  But, to be honest, if I had found these at retail in 1995 or so, I don't know if I'd have bought them.  I don't like mechs.  And, that would mean paying $10 for a figure.  So, I might have missed out on them, even if the price seems absurdly cheap today.

The one thing that stores like KB and Toys R Us brought to the table was a guaranteed buyer for items that Wal Mart and Target might not want.  These days, toy retail is dictated by the whims of those two retailers.  When Toys R Us was around, their willingness to offer products that didn't sell out in 2 weeks allowed Hasbro and other toy companies to offer things that would otherwise have never appeared.  The only upside is that the direct to consumer model of things like Pulse still allows for some exclusives.  And, Haslabs offer larger scale toys that would have once been the domain of Toys R Us exclusives.  

I think we lose out by not being able to see toys on a shelf.  To see the packaging, hold it in your hand and want it.  But, that's also nostalgia talking.  That's a remnant of when I was a kid.  And, I see my kids getting excited over seeing something on Amazon, saving up for it and then getting it and then having the same enthusiasm for it as I did when I bought something at Sears when I was their age.  But, I still miss Toys R Us and wish things had turned out differently for it.

1994 Techno Viper - Around The Web

Techno Vipers are one of the few supporting Cobra army builders.  They are perfect as augments to any display.  But, they are non combatants.  But, it's still nice to have a few of them.  And, with the addition of a 1994 version, you can also have a leader for your Techno Viper legions.  Sadly, the 1994 figures are both hard to find and expensive these days.  If you can find one, though, they are a great addition to a collection.  And, they look good with 1987 gear, too.  

The figure appears just enough out there for its rarity.  Usually, you can find content on really rare figures and really popular figures.  But, an obscure release like this Techno Viper usually falls between the cracks.  But, this time, there's plenty to check out in the links below.

1994 Techno Viper Profile

1994 Techno Viper by gen_liederkranz

1994 Techno Viper at Nekoman's Viper Pit

1994 Techno Viper by joerizzo2025

1994 Techno Viper by dreadnokdread

1994 Techno Viper by kushviper

1994 Techno Viper by coldfront78

1994 Techno Viper by dreadnokdread

1994 Techno Viper by blackmajor

1994 Power Fighters at JoeADay.com

1994 Techno Viper by dreadnokdread

1994 Techno Viper by 1990s_gi_joes

1994 Techno Viper by gen_liederkranz

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.  

1993 Star Brigade Invader

Confession time.  I kind of like the Cobra Pogo.  1987 was the last year I played with Joes as a kid.  And, the Pogo was one of those weirdo vehicles that I could incorporate into my world with a little imagination.  In short order, it was a rather effective weapon against the Joes of the day.  At least, until the Joes were able to start recognizing its movement patterns and were better able to swat them from the sky.  But, I had a lot of fun with the Pogo for several of my final months of toy-using childhood.  So, when I found a repaint of the Pogo sitting on the shelves of a local Big Lots at some point in the mid-1990s, I was interested in it.  However, as I still had my childhood Pogo (a bit worse for wear, though) and the new repaint did not include a pilot figure, I simply couldn't pull the trigger to actually buy this new version.  That was unfortunate.  As, the 1993 Star Brigade Invader is not a bad toy at all.

Even in 1987, I recognized the Pogo as a take on the classic Star Wars escape pod that C-3PO and R2-D2 used to crash on Tatooine.  That connection to the sci-fi saga helps carry the design over into Star Brigade where the Invader is no longer a terrestrial weapon.  But, instead, something that Cobra can use in space.  As a kid, the prime feature of the Pogo that was so valuable was the rotating and elevating dual gun that's attached to the rocket booster's rotating base.  It was rare for a Joe vehicle to have a gun mounted with such an array of movement.  And, the 1987 Cobra Commander became an expert at maneuvering the weapon to hit pretty much any target once the Pogo was off the ground.  This feature carries over the Invader and offers it the same flexibility that made the Pogo valuable.

The Invader was among the final vehicles from the Joe line that I would see at retail.  It, the 1994 Manta Ray and the Armor Bot hung around local Big Lots stores well into 1995.  (It's possible the Razor Blade did, too.  But, since I bought one of those, I may have blocked it from memory since I already owned one.)  I didn't buy the Manta Ray or the Invader because they didn't include figures.  And, as my money was stretched thin, I wasn't about to waste it on vehicles with no driver.  I skipped the Armor Bot because I still think giant robots are boring and the figure was Armor Tech which was another line I had no interest in at the time.

In the ensuing years, I had ample opportunity to acquire all of these vehicles.  Even the massive Armor Bot was available sealed in the box for below retail price for more than a decade after I left it sitting at retail.  This Invader, though, is the first of those small, driverless late vehicles I've acquired.  I still don't find them all that interesting.  And, were it not for a cheap, local find, I'd not have this Invader.  In my hands, though, I'm now happy to own it.  Cobra has precious few vehicles that look decent with the 1993 Star Brigade figures.  But, the Invader's colors somewhat blend with both the Astro Viper and TARGAT from that year.  

As a kid, the Pogo was a quick strike weapon, usually helmed by Cobra Commander.  It would hop into a battle, shoot a bunch of Joes, fire off a missile or two and then fire off the rockets on the underside to quickly slip away.  It wouldn't win a battle on its own.  But, it would soften up a Joe defense and create general chaos while the main Cobra attack force bore down on the target.  From time to time, the Joes would shoot down the Pogo.  Cobra Commander's armor kept him alive and suddenly the Cobra objective would shift from destroying the Joe base to rescuing Cobra Commander.  In the end, they'd always rescue him and he's go off to plan another assault.  I originally had the Pogo be unique to the Commander.  But, in time, others would operate it.  And, they'd often meet their doom as the Joes were better able to take them out.

The original Pogo from 1987 was relatively well made.  The basic design, though, lent itself to the toy's legs falling off, especially as you mimicked the jumping movements that defined the device.  The 1993 Invader, though, is worse.  First, it uses gold plastic.  (Well, it's kind of a copper/gold color.)  Gold plastic from the 1990s is notorious in how brittle it becomes over time.  As such, Invaders tend to feel somewhat flimsy.  And, I'm extra cautious in using it.  The legs are much less stable than the those of the Pogo.  But, I have to wonder if that's a feature of my sample versus a universal problem.  But, in total, the Invader feels like it will fall apart if used too rigorously.  And, even the neon hoses feel like they could snap under the smallest amount of pressure.  As we're at a point where most collectors either display their toys or keep them packed away, the lower quality probably isn't as much of an issue.  But, it's definitely something you notice with the Invader.

Hasbro was all about saving money in 1993 and 1994.  So, their use of an existing vehicle mold was that surprising.  The fact that the Pogo, of all things, got a repaint while the Mauler did not really doesn't seem fair.  But, the Pogo mold fit into the Star Brigade motif.  So, we got this second paint job six years after the original release.  The Invader was also released in Europe.  The most notable thing about this release, though, is that it did include a pilot figure.  A 1993 green and black Payload figure was included with the Euro pogo.  He was made a Cobra to match the affiliation of the Invader.  But, the figure is the same as the US release.  The Invader didn't make it to India and never appeared again.  But, for such an oddball item, you can't say that it wasn't properly used.

Invaders remain available and cheap.  The Pogo isn't popular.  And, a brittle gold and neon green version is less so.  You can get boxed samples between $20 and $30.  Dealers will sell a lot of mint and complete loose versions in the $20-$25 range, too.  If you can find one at market prices, it will run you $10-$15.  The upside is that there are a lot of replacement parts for the Invader available.  So, if you get an incomplete version for cheap, it's possible to complete it.  Cheap Joe items are getting harder and harder to find.  So, it's definitely worth seeking out an Invader before they inexplicably also get expensive.  

1993 Star Brigade Payload - Around the Web

The 1993 Payload was my first exposure to this figure mold.  I found him on clearance at a KB Toy Works that used to be at Lafayette Square Mall in Indianapolis.  Once in hand, he better filled a role that I had devised from my final childhood days.  So, in time, I army built the figure.  His gear is bright pink and kind of sucks.  But, I gave him the dark blue versions of his weapon tree that came with the 1993 Muskrat.  Since then, I've changed is weapon out quite a bit.  But, the 1987 Psyche Out pack remains a constant.

I consider this the best paint job of this mold.  Part of that is nostalgia tainted glasses and the other part is just pure enjoyment of the simplicity of the colors.  Oddly, pretty much all the 1993 Payload visors have yellowed.  Yet, the clear visors on the 1994 Black and Blue figure remain crystal clear.  At this point, I can't recall if maybe Payload's visor was supposed to be an off color.  But, finding a clear one is now pretty much impossible.

Being Star Brigade, there's not a ton of content on this figure out there.  But, what does exist is pretty good.  So, explore the links below and leave comments for the creators if you like their work.  

1993 Payload Profile

1993 Payload by the Dragon Fortress

1993 Payload by relena_warcraft

1993 Payload by Slipstream80

1993 Payload by gen_liederkranz

1993 Payload by dashtacker

1993 Payload by Slipstream80

1993 Payload by thedragonfortress