I am really going to miss Sigma 6

[Cerebral Dissolution]

I've made a few comments on Sigma 6 here and there on how impressed I was with it, but I've finally finished watching all of the videos available on YouTube, and I think its hands down one of the most impressive toy themes I've seen in ages.

Keep in mind that until the 25th Anniversary 5 packs, I hadn't paid attention to GI Joe since the early 1990s. And while I bought my nephews a few 8 inch Sigma 6 figures here and there, I ended up buying all of the 2.5 vehicles and figure sets (which costed me quite a lot more $$$ than they would have while they were readily available in stores) for myself.

So the last thing to do was watch the series which up till now I really havent. While its obviously a cartoon for kids, I am blown away by the animation, plots, and character designs. Even the humor that shows up in season 2. I know it isnt the GI Joe I grew up with, but I treat Sigma 6 as a stand-alone universe. I wish they released a third season. I love just about all of the characters including Spirit (who I cared less about in ARAH). I dont remember Storm Shadow being such a bad ass in the old cartoon either. I think he delivers more blows to Snake Eyes throughout the series than Snake Eyes returns.

While I was more of a comic book fan up to about issue 50, I always thought the original cartoon was retarded. I missed the DIC and Extreme GI Joe and are floored how retarded they are. No wonder GI Joe went dormant for awhile.

YouTube - DIC G.I.JOE An Officer and a Viperman Part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0iIV19qFNg)

and this crap:

YouTube - GI Joe Extreme 25-1.avi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL2CusepZ8s&feature=related)

How did GI Joe extreme make it to over 25 episodes?!?!?! A metal head/surfer communications expert and some Jamaician guy? Fucking stupid. I am glad I wasnt an ongoing GI Joe fan when that crap came out.

The figures from Venom vs Valor dont impress me either. Almost look like Hasbro went back in time to produce those. Dont come close to what they put out during 1983-1986.

It really seems GI Joe got lost. I am not really impressed with the bits I have seen from the live action movie coming out, but Resolute looks promising.

As of right now though, and I am sure I am in the minority, but Sigma 6 was better designed, better produced, and is something I'll go back and watch many times over than any previous GI Joe cartoon. Its a shame it didn't last longer, but I am thankful it came out at all. I am still in awe of the Dragon Hawk, Street Razor, Firebat, and Night Ops Vamp to name a few. There are some cheesy designs, but overall it still blows my mind.

[Uberlad]

A part of me holds out hope that Hasbro will bring back the 8 inch body mold, perhaps without the anime-style heads, because the sigma six toys are so awesome. The articulation, the accessories, and even the packaging were the most original toy idea i've seen. The 8 inch toys were toys, too. A kid could put those things through the wringer--take 'em in the tub, bury 'em in the back yard, mix and match parts, and still have something awesome that held up. Not as much with the new batch, which more times than not come across as collectibles.

The other part of me says to give up the sigma ghost and just embrace the 3 3/4 inch style--everyone else is. wwe, dc, marvel, terminator, hellboy, and star trek are all joining the 3 3/4 ship, which makes it an awesome time to be a collector--I just hope the kids feel the same way.

[boff123]

i really liked some of the figures during its run. too bad they got run down in repaints. some of my favs are cobra firefly, iron grenadier, sea ops duke, wetsuit. they had some great value especially many of the 10 dollar figures. one of the favs for value is the samurai armor ss that came out at the end of the line, ton of gear for 10 bucks. also lt. stone is just freaking awesome.

[Steevy Maximus]

I have to say I'm a bit amused that you are "going to miss" Sigma Six since the brand has effectively been dead since early 2007
:lol

But I feel you, it was an AMAZING reinvention of GI Joe, and really deserved more than what it got.

[Cerebral Dissolution]

I have to say I'm a bit amused that you are "going to miss" Sigma Six since the brand has effectively been dead since early 2007

Well, although I've bought my nephews some of the 8 inch and 2.5 vehicles, it wasn't until about 3 weeks ago that I started buying up a bunch of stuff for myself (getting while I still can). I wasn't following it enough to know it was dying.

I am mostly into 2.5 stuff. Actually, everything 2.5 I can get my hands on. I've paid a lot of money for some of it too, knowing that it was 9.99 in the stores at one time. But when you are obsessive like me, $$$ is of barely any concern. I do think the 8 inch are impressive, but my real love is for the 2.5 stuff as I like the vehicles.

I am spending a lot of time customizing the 2.5 figs. I'll post pics soon.

[spacemonkeymafia]

The figures from Venom vs Valor dont impress me either. Almost look like Hasbro went back in time to produce those. Dont come close to what they put out during 1983-1986.



Your kidding right....those Figs were way better than the OG ones...Feet that went up and down (Not on the OG ones), Swivel Wrist (Nope not on the OG ones), removable Webgear (Nah the OG ones had them molded on).....Toy makers got way better then the early 80s so your statement just isnt true....

[General Hawk]

I have to say I'm a bit amused that you are "going to miss" Sigma Six since the brand has effectively been dead since early 2007
:lol

But I feel you, it was an AMAZING reinvention of GI Joe, and really deserved more than what it got.

Amen X 10.

Sigma 6 got such a bad rap because of a departure of style, a departure of scale, and because it wasn't "the same" as collectors' were used to. I always find it oddly satisfying to see so many collectors' coming around to the realization that Sigma 6 WAS a great toyline, even if it came too little too late.

Pound for pound, if I were given a choice right now whether or not I wanted a Sigma 6 line or an Anniversary line, I would not hesitate a second to say I'd prefer a Sigma 6 line.

Now, a Sigma 6 line in the 3 3/4" scale? Well, I'd be in heaven. :)

Justin

[Uberlad]

If you could do a 3 3/4 siggysix tribute five pack, what would your line-up be?

I'd go with Lt. Stone (with add-on cobra torso cover and sawviper helmet), Sigma Ninja Bat, Blue Bat, CrazyLongHair Flint, and KnitCapKnifeMouth Shipwreck.

[Cerebral Dissolution]

Your kidding right....those Figs were way better than the OG ones...Feet that went up and down (Not on the OG ones), Swivel Wrist (Nope not on the OG ones), removable Webgear (Nah the OG ones had them molded on).....Toy makers got way better then the early 80s so your statement just isnt true....

I don't know what you mean by OG, but in my reference I was comparing to GI Joe Extreme which I wont even bother going over, and then the Venom vs Valor ones I saw on YoJoe.com. I would say the best figure from VV is decent, but the whole series doesn't generate the excitement that the ARAH line did between 83-86, nor leave any kind of legacy. And what few vehicles that have come out in the last decade prior to Sigma 6 simply dont measure up to those early years either.

While I can't stand toys shooting missiles, I still think the overall designs from everything from the Night Ops Vamp to the Street Razor are stunning in person, let alone the amazing Dragonhawk. Firebat, Hisstank, etc, are all much better quality, size, etc, than anything I've seen from Hasbro in over a decade. My favorite GI Joe vehicle of all time was the WHALE. I think the Dragonhawk beats it.

I know topping what we played with as a kid is hard to beat when memories are tied to them. But I lost interest in GI Joe when everything became too Sci-Fi, floresent, and weapons became unrealistic or simply retarded looking (for example: oversized or with two clips and one barrel [???]).

Sigma 6 seems to have the right balance of what GI Joe should be - a small, mobile special ops unit (which is how I envison it to be) - with just the right amount of sci-fi.

I have to be thankful for the 25th Snake Eyes from the first 5 pack, since that is what got me into Joes again, but after the initial excitment of tracking down the remakes of my favorite figs, they seem so dated. I think both Sigma 6 and Resolute do a better job with how both teams would look in a more modern world.

I bet 2 years from now that my 25th figs will be sitting in a closet in a box tucked away, while my Resolute and Sigma 6 stuff will still be within arms reach.

[Cerebral Dissolution]

If you could do a 3 3/4 siggysix tribute five pack, what would your line-up be?

I'd go with Lt. Stone (with add-on cobra torso cover and sawviper helmet), Sigma Ninja Bat, Blue Bat, CrazyLongHair Flint, and KnitCapKnifeMouth Shipwreck.

Geez, if they could just miniaturize the 8 inch line to be 3 3/4 I would buy all of them. But if they did a 5 pack joes, and 5 pack cobra, I would take. . .

Duke, Snake Eyes, Scarlet, Heavy Duty, and Spirit for the Joes

And CC, Destro, Baroness, Zartan, and a Sky Bat for Cobra,

with hopes that would do a Wave 1 with High-Tech, Long Range, Flint, Storm Shadow, Cobra Trooper, Ninja Bat, Firefly, and even Tunnel Rat.

Dammit now I am dreaming.

[gunslingercbr]

Amen X 10.

Sigma 6 got such a bad rap because of a departure of style, a departure of scale, and because it wasn't "the same" as collectors' were used to. I always find it oddly satisfying to see so many collectors' coming around to the realization that Sigma 6 WAS a great toyline, even if it came too little too late.

Pound for pound, if I were given a choice right now whether or not I wanted a Sigma 6 line or an Anniversary line, I would not hesitate a second to say I'd prefer a Sigma 6 line.

Now, a Sigma 6 line in the 3 3/4" scale? Well, I'd be in heaven. :)

Justin
I agree. as much as I love the 25th nostalgia, Sigma 6 was a better toyline. I'd gladly trade the 25th line for it.

[Shin Densetsu]

I loved Sigma 6. It was the only toy line to make neon green actually look good. The best things about Sigma 6 were the accessories, and consistency. Flint's gun could have rivaled Duke's Switchfire had the line lasted longer. We got awesome versions of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow(Commando Snake Eyes, and Samurai Storm Shadow are my favorite versions of each). The TRU Sea, Air, and Land pack was great. The Paratroopers were awesome, but overpriced.

To be honest, I wasn't the biggest fan of the style, and it is misleading. Many say it was anime influenced. The cartoon was anime, but the figures were not as anime influenced as most people say. They take on a more urban vinyl influence. None of the characters in the cartoon had exaggerated facial expressions, huge hands and feet. Yet those very features can all be seen in urban vinyl. You can tell that Hasbro was catching onto that kind of influence of designer toys, as the later caught on the trend directly with Mighty Muggs.

I prefer a more realistic look. Basically, regular sized limbs, the basic Sigma body was fine, even with the angled surfaces, I just wish the hands and feet were smaller, and that the faces were more realistic.A more realistic look is fine.

To be honest, I think Sigma 6 should have stayed at retail, this time with RAH costumes, instead of reviving the 12" figures which are on shelves now. Yes kids like those, but Sigma 6 gave you more bang for the buck, and a foot locker to store everything!

I didn't really care for the cartoon, I thought the comic was alright. The cartoon certainly didn't have Gonzo at their best, nor at the best budget, which was unfortunate.

I hope to see Sigma 6 return eventually. It was a great G.I. Joe toyline. Not to mention, one of the most durable and sturdy!

[Uberlad]

has anybody seen the movie shipwreck pics floating about the interwebs? i have a feeling a lot of the movie figs are going to be turned into sigma6customs asap

[oliverbox]

If you could do a 3 3/4 siggysix tribute five pack, what would your line-up be?

I'd go with Lt. Stone (with add-on cobra torso cover and sawviper helmet), Sigma Ninja Bat, Blue Bat, CrazyLongHair Flint, and KnitCapKnifeMouth Shipwreck.

That's an AWESOME idea! Sigma 6 had some really cool characters. I would really like to see many of the characters, and revamped looks of the old characters, from Sigma 6 brought into the 25th line.

1. Lt. Stone - the robot arm is a little weird, especially for an intelligence expert/spy, but we've had Robo-Joe in the past.

2. 8" Flint - they turned Flint into a stone cold Spy Master. I didn't know they could make him any tougher - and then they teamed him up with Snake-Eyes. Now he's a sniper and a hand-to-hand expert. Long hair Flint is awesome.

3. Desert Wolf - Great Character. Seemed like a really tough guy: Ranger. I think of him as Beach-Head in the Desert. This guy would be great to add to the 3 3/4 line-up

4. 8" Gung-Ho - Just a great revamp of the Character. His uniform and equipment. He looked like a real Marine. Awesome.

5. 8" Commando Snake-Eyes with the Camo pants and green sweater. Awesome.

6. 8" Long Range (who is a new character) - Awesome figure. Just an awesome figure. Great sniper character.

7. Lockdown - Great Police/Swat Character. The Joes always need more SWAT/Police types. Great character.

8. Hi-Tech - Great character. The robot dog was cool. He'd be a great commo/tech expert for the Joes.

9. Sigma 6 Duke (v1) - Great look for Duke. Sort of an urban tactical look.

10. Sigma 6 Tunnel Rat - Great costume.

11. 8" Recondo (v2 - in the Camo) - Just an all around awesome figure.

I'll just say this: I sort of always expected Claymore to show up as an 8" Joe. I don't have any good evidence for it, but Claymore is an awesome character with great qualifications, and they only ever made one edition of him. That's weird to me. He's a favorite of a lot of old school fans. If they had made an 8" Claymore, it might have sparked some interest in the 8" line.

[Davestro]

Sigma 6 got me back into collecting G.I. Joes, then I heard about the 25th line and I was all in.

I agree, it was a great run, but they dropped the Sigma 6 too soon. The whole "adventure team" concept was too convoluted - two Recondos was a blunder. Plus, there were way too many Snake-Eyes, Dukes, Cobra Commanders, and Storm Shadows (sound familiar?). The toys themselves were brilliant - real clothing, angular body molds, real facial expressions, and awesome accessories. Now would I want to see them in 3 3/4 size? Nah, I hated the 2.5 inch stuff. I see the line as a completely separtate storyline and background for each character.

Here are my favorite highlights from the line:

1. Both Fireflys (S6 version and camo Cobra version)
2. Return of Kung-Fu grip
3. Packaging that turned into foot locker to store accessories.
4. Ninjas! (SEs, SS, and this huge guy with white hair and shurikens)
5. Paratroopers (SE and Duke)
6. Zartan (you gotta love this fig)
7. Torpedo (perfect likeness of original 3 3/4)
8. Long Range (the pocket in his trenchcoat held his pistol)
9. Lt. Stone and costume (finally a perfect foe for Zartan)
10. Cobra Commander Battle Field Commander (with rem helmet!)

*Seeing the unreleased Zap - I wanted this guy so bad. Maybe the Collector's Club will someday release him!

[Kungfuguy]

Sigma 6 was hasbro's best joe revival effort since RAH. It recaptured the charm and colourful spirt of joe. The dark times weren't that long ago - Sgt Savage, Joe extreme. Very few made it to canada. I got a handful last year at an outlet. I thought they were overpriced and exessive in packaging. So much garbage?

As usual hasbro screws it up. Far too many recycled bodies. The bodies themselves were a bit awkward. And an awful 2.5 inch scale. The tv show sucked crap.

They redeemed themselves with the Dragonhawk and the Iron Mech.

[AirborneRigger]

I loved Sigma 6. I wish they would've made Beachhead too but they didn't so I had to do it myself.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/abn4584/GIJoe%20Customs/Sigma%206%20Beachhead/customs001.jpg

[Griff]

Well Sigma Six is the basis for the current Joe (i use the term loosely) movie and one of the reasons its so butchered. Honbestly the whoe powersuit thing was just too far off to be joe and scarlett with that hick voice...oiy. I will say i did like LT Stones design but that was about it.

[Fierce Krypton]

some of yalls posts are vague and hard to understand but if anybody thinks that the VvV series was better than ARAH then you are on crack rock. As far as Sigma 6 goes... I personally thought it was kinda jacked up to take "a real american hero" and produce it with Japanese animation.... Im not into that and I really lost a lot of respect for the franchise when it happened because it was all out sourced cheesy Japanese animation.

All of the above is IMHO. :-)

[Cerebral Dissolution]

Im not into that and I really lost a lot of respect for the franchise when it happened because it was all out sourced cheesy Japanese animation.


Didnt japanese companies produce the old ARAH cartoons!?!?!?!? Wasnt it Sunrise????

[ooten]

Im like some others on here. I had pretty much forgot about Joes until one day im strolling down the toy dept at wal-mart or tru and see these new S6 joe figures it got me back interested in it. I wouldnt be on this website if it wasnt for s6

[KungFuDip]

figures looked great (didnt get any). but the show was TERRIBLE....there was a whole episode about like hawks kid being on the internet too much and the joes tried to talk to him about it....i was all for an 80's psa at the end but writing an episode about "problems" with todays kids and cobra shows up for 2 minutes....COME ON!!!!

[jaxscorpio]

The toys themselves were brilliant - real clothing, angular body molds, real facial expressions, and awesome accessories...

My sister used to have a bunch of toys just like that but she called them Barbie dolls.

Oh and I guess it's no surprise that I am casting my vote in the "I am glad the Sigma 6 line is dead and I hope it rots" category.

[darkshadow]

got to agree the toys were cool.though some of the weapons are way bigger ,nonetheless the concept is unique.it combines aspects from Centurions whereby you can attach accesories on the body and the fact that you can also combine the weapons to create a new one .

[oliverbox]

I loved Sigma 6. I wish they would've made Beachhead too but they didn't so I had to do it myself.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/abn4584/GIJoe%20Customs/Sigma%206%20Beachhead/customs001.jpg

That's a really nice job with Beach-Head. Really well done.