G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero File Cards - 1990 (Hasbro)

G.I. Joe File Cards
Hasbro
1990

Welcome to the Cobra Arena of Sport! HA HA HA HA HA!

Yeah, not really. It's just my continuation of G.I. Joe file cards. This time focusing on 1990. This particular year was the last of my personal Joe collecting as a kid. I was in the process of packing up to move from Oregon to Virginia, would be entering high school upon arrival, and toys were becoming a thing of the past for me. Especially in lieu of Nintendo and Genesis taking up a lot of my time. Still, I had a handful of the figures from this year before officially tapping out.

Granted these days I've since rectified a lot of that by getting all of the Cobra figures. I'll probably get around to the Joe team soon. Even then, I admittedly don't know much about the actual characters from this point on. I guess I need to read the file cards just as much as everyone else.

However, before that, it's worth noting that 1990 brought with it the first official season of the DIC Joe cartoon. I wish I could say that there was something salvageable in this cartoon series, but it really was bad. It only got worse when it entered its second season. Characters were over the top silly, making it difficult to take them serious on any level. Take for example Metal Head, who was my favorite figure from the year. The guy acts nuts, and launches his missiles while shouting, "BANG!" It's just so unnecessary, and added a level of unneeded goofiness to the show. As an adult trying to watch it, it's pretty cringe worthy. I don't think I even made it through the entire series.

And on that note, let's jump into the file cards.

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Where Were You January 28, 1986?

 

For the youth of the 80's, January 28, 1986 was our "Where were you when...?" moment. It was the day of the ill fated launch of the space shuttle Challenger which claimed the lives of its seven crew members.

Me? I was seated in a small "television" room in Bear Creek Elementary in Bend, Oregon. Our class was there to see the momentous historical moment when a teacher named Christa McAuliffe, would be the first civilian launched into space. What many of us didn't understand was the reasoning for the abrupt turning off of the television less than two minutes after launch. Though we would learn that day that a tragedy had occurred, for those of us too young to truly understand, we quickly moved on with our normal way of life, unaware of the impact on our nation, the devastation to the families of the crew and the vileness of NASA.

As I continued to grow up, and up until today, I really never paid much attention to the incidents surrounding the Challenger's final flight. I chalked it up to an unfortunate event in history. That was until I watched the four part docu-series on Netflix, aptly titled, "Challenger: The Final Flight".

I was intrigued by the warning signs of the flight by the continued delays from plagues of weather and malfunctions. Wondering how all of this could be happening, but yet nobody saw it as a sign that this shuttle shouldn't launch.

It was appalling to learn that not only were the designers of the shuttle, and prior shuttles, concerned with the history of malfunctioning o-rings resting between each segment of the booster rockets, but that they made NASA aware on the day of the flight that it was too cold for launch, insisting it should be aborted. A recommendation NASA opted to ignore for no other reason than corporate bureaucrats more concerned with budgets than human life.

Even more heartbreaking is the remorseless stance of the two NASA individuals ultimately held responsible, who gave the green light to launch, even after being warned by the engineering team. Lawrence Mulloy stated while he felt he was to blame, he didn't feel any guilt for the event. The more disgusting, William Lucas, chalks the tragedy up to nothing more than, "That's the way development happened," while nonchalantly referencing his forebears who died when crossing the Appalachian Mountains by wagon. He implies that the loss of the Challenger crew was nothing more than a cost for developing civilization. How vile!

It's events like this that I can't help but cling even tighter to a hope that the Bible gives me. Even after all these decades, it's heartbreaking to see and hear the events unfolding the way they did. Regardless of the warning signs, and the obvious evidence that something bad was going to happen, it doesn't change the impact that the loss of these seven individuals had on their families and an entire nation. In fact, it makes it all the more worse.

Where were you January 28, 1986?

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This Will Be A Day Long Remembered

 

2020 appears to be showing no signs of relenting in its suck factor. Last night brought news of actor David Prowse passing away at the age of eighty-five. He was well loved around the Star Wars community not only for his portrayal of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars Trilogy, but also for embracing his fans.

Shunned from all Lucasfilm sanctioned events for allegedly leaking to the press tidbits about Star Wars during filming of The Empire Strikes Back, Mr. Prowse didn't let this deter him from meeting with fans, signing autographs and bringing joy to the Star Wars community. Aided by his height of six feet six inches tall, his presence couldn't help but be grandiose wherever he went. As much as Lucasfilm wanted to sweep him under the rug, David Prowse was Star Wars.

Fans of the original Christopher Reeve Superman films also revered him as the man behind the scenes pumping iron with the Man of Steel to prep him for his role. In addition, he was also the personal trainer of Carey Elwes for his cult classic role in The Princess Bride.

Mr. Prowse had suffered from several debilitating health issues over the past couple decades. However, none of this seemed to slow him down in his quest to meet as many fans as he could. He will be remembered fondly and missed by many.

Good journey, Mr. Prowse. May we see you again in Heaven's eternity.

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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 95

     

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 95
Release Date: April 1971 

Highlights

• Peter goes to London to find Gwen
• When Spider-Man is forced to make an appearance to save the day, Peter realizes he can't reveal to Gwen that he's there, least she decipher that he is Spider-Man
• It's a little sad how Peter walks away into the night upset that he can't see Gwen, and how she's equally sad that Peter never came after her
  

Low Points

• Generic and unmemorable terrorist villains who don't even have names
  

Oddities

• None

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

 

 

 

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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 94

      

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 94
Release Date: March 1971 

Highlights

• Spider-Man's origin retold - A nice refresher after ninety plus issues
• The Beetle returns for a very brief battle with Spider-Man
  

Low Points

• Paper thin story - The addition of The Beetle seems like it was thrown in just to add filler to an otherwise retelling origin story
  

Oddities

• None

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

 

 

 

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A Toy Box Contest III

 

***You're running out of time to enter to win!***

Hello, and welcome to contest number three here at The Toy Box! Before we jump into this month's prize, let's first handle a little matter of who the winner was from last month.

Well, you're not going to believe this. I wrote everyone's names down on a separate piece of paper. Crumpled them all up. Tossed them around, and left them on my desk for about an hour or two. When my assistant passed by my office I said, "Hey, pick one of these." She grabbed one at random and handed it to me. As I unfolded the paper, I saw three letters, BBQ. Yup, Action Figure Barbecue has won again.

***UPDATE***

The prize from contest number two has been claimed.

I swear these contests aren't rigged in his favor. But, fair is fair. Action Figure Barbecue, you have seventy-two hours as of this post going live to leave a comment claiming the prize.

Alright...So, let's get on to our third contest. November's prize is a good one.

Yes, sir. One winner will be chosen at random to win the complete set of Target exclusive Cobra Island figures, including the mysterious Baroness with Cobra C.O.I.L. All brand new and in the box! WOW!

How do you win? Simple. Leave a comment with the name of the figure you want Hasbro to make for this line and why. Tell us all a quick story of why that particular character is important to you. Sorry, but it can't be one already made and / or already announced.

Entries will be accepted as of this post going live, and through 11:59 PM on November 30, 2020. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on December 1st, 2020. At that time, another contest will also go live.

You must be eighteen (18) or older to enter this contest. The winner will be announced at the beginning of the post for the next contest. At that time, the person will have seventy-two hours to leave a comment with their e-mail address, which will not be published, so that I can get in touch with them. We will work out the shipping arrangements from there.

Shipping is free and all entries across the globe are welcome. However, foreign addresses will be responsible for all applicable taxes and import fees on their end. The package will be declared at the full retail price of the prize on the customs forms.

Good luck to all!

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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 93

     

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 93
Release Date: February 1971

Highlights

• First appearance of Mindy Brown, wife of Hobie Brown, AKA the Prowler, Arthur Stacy, uncle of Gwen Stacy and Nancy Stacy, her aunt
• Peter wants to propose to Gwen, but can't because of her hatred and his secret of Spider-Man
• Gwen leaves for London
  

Low Points

• None

Oddities

• Gwen leaves her apartment that night, and by the next morning someone else is moving in? And they know she went to the airport? Who is this person?
  

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

 

 

 

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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 92

      

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 92
Release Date: January 1971

Highlights

• Iceman makes his first appearance in a Spider-Man series
• The Daily Bugle retracts its support of Sam Bullit, and Robbie Robertson is taken by his goons to be bumped off
• Sam Bullit is exposed and arrested
  

Low Points

• Ah, the good old way of punch first, ask questions later - Spider-Man and Iceman go at it for no other reason than they don't use their big boy words
  

Oddities

• None

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

 

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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 91

      

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 91
Release Date: December 1970 

Highlights

• Funeral for Captain Stacy
• First appearance of Sam Bullit 
• Gwen Stacy takes up the cause to rid the city of Spider-Man
• Nice cliffhanger with Sam Bullit and Gwen Stacy standing in Peter Parker's bedroom as Spider-Man sings in - Now they know there is a connection between the web swinger and Parker
  

Low Points

• None

Oddities

• None

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

 

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Retro Spins: Fame

For me, Fame suffers from having too many characters. While they all seem to have the same goal, I simply couldn't keep up with who was doing what or why. By the end, when they all graduate, I still don't know what the deal is, or where these characters are going - If anywhere. It's messy storytelling in my book.

Fame. It's what eight talented teenagers are all hotly pursuing at New York's High School of Performing Arts.

It's a stunning combination of drama and pathos - an explosion of pulsating music and spectacular dancing.

And it's one of the most highly acclaimed movie-musicals of our time.

"A jubilant, hugely entertaining movie, bubbling with life," says the N.Y. Times. "Fame bolts from the gate so fast you have to sit forward in your seat to take it all in," says Newsweek. "A dynamic, exhilarating experience," says KNBC.

Award-winning director Alan Parker has brought a profusion of fresh young talent to the screen - all with dreams of Fame. Their search takes us from the shadows of forty-second street to the bright lights of the Great White Way.

Along the way we laugh at their zany antics, cry at their disappointments, and marvel at Michael Gore's electrifying music and Louis Falco's dazzling choreography.

And the finale is as exciting as any musical number you're ever likey to see.

Fame. It's a movie not to be missed. - Back of the original VHS

It's one of those soundtracks that definitely helps if you've seen the movie. The visual aid helps to make it a bit more enjoyable than it probably really is.

Don't get me wrong, the soundtrack has some good tracks. The standout is definitely the theme song, Fame, by Irene Cara. However, there in lies the problem. When the remaining tracks are just okay, and stand in the shadows of the opening track, which is superb, it doesn't really go up hill from there, now does it?

Overall, it was an enjoyable album, but at the end of the day, it was also something I don't see myself coming back around to any time soon.

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G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero File Cards - 1989 (Hasbro)

G.I. Joe File Cards
Hasbro
1989

We continue our year end wrap up with a look at the 1989 file cards for G.I. Joe. Is everyone is still having fun?

1989 saw the resurrection of the animated series, this time under the helm of DIC. It all started with the Operation Dragonfly mini series, which saw the return of Cobra Commander, this time in his all metal suit (as introduced in the 1987 wave of figures), while also quietly brushing aside events of the 1987 animated movie. While some of the voice actors return from the Sunbow series, for the most part, it's a whole new cast. Sadly, this doesn't work well for the continuity. It also didn't help that the low budget allotted for each episode meant corners had to be cut, in terms of the overall quality. This was all the more prevalent as the first season launched the following year.

Regardless of the cartoon being a relative flop, the figures themselves continued to be on par with what kids expected. Lots of new faces, imaginative bios and all around fun. 1989 also gave kids like me an opportunity to get some of the older figures which were missed due to my late entry into the toy line. Slaughter's Marauders and Python Patrol became my only versions of staples such as Copperhead, Junkyard, Spirit and the various Cobra branches of troops, Tele-Viper, Cobra Officer and Soldier, Crimson Guard and Viper (the later of which was the only figure I had an "original" of).

I've finished my Python Patrol set as of August of 2020. However, I haven't even started on the Slaughter's Marauders set. It's something I've been meaning to get around to, but just haven't. Until then, I'll have to be content with referencing the file cards. You know, these ones.

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