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10-30-2007, 06:20 AM | #51 |
E pur si muove!
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Oh, for...!
Posts: 1,306
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I remember loving Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars as a tiny tot. I also remember going to visit my cousins in Omaha one fateful summer and finding out that the neighborhood kids had all gotten together for a huge barbaric free for all that involved smashing all of the toy cars in the neighborhood.
I mean the whole block was dry, yo. Anyway, so my cousins were 6 and like ten. (I would turn 6 this summer.) I had owned exactly one action figure in my life. This was Bespin Luke, and I was suitably unimpressed. I gave him away. I didn't really know much about G.I. Joe, but I guess nobody really did yet. We'd seen the commercials. The VAMP was referred to among the neighborhood kids as the “attack vehicle.” I remember descending into my cousin's basement to discover the entire Joe spread. Mind you, not a Cobra in sight. They were just some kids sending these troops out on maneuvers. The only enemy I saw them face was a tornado. I watched in awe, wondering what the “enemy” looked like. I was given Hawk to play with and I had him basically sit in his office. Not a very important task, but when you have no enemy, you have no war. When I got home that summer, my birthday rolled around. The only kid on the block with any G.I. Joes had a Vamp. When I invited him to my birthday party, he asked me if I wanted one too. I thought “Wow! I can play with my cousins!” Of course we lived in Virginia, so I couldn't really... The day came and there it all was: the Vamp complete with Clutch and Stalker. Cooler and badder than the General Lee with more swagger than Captain Kirk.. That Christmas, after noting that I had not put them down for four months, I was asked if I would like some more Joes and if so who did I like? That year I got Hawk with the MMS, learned about the file cards for the first time, AND learned that Hawk was leader of the Joe team. Fortunately, the commercials were the most effective ever, because the moment I saw Destro, I knew that he was the villain to end all villains. (This was before I watched CC go on to cheat death and so on). One day my grandparents, who lived about 45 miles away came to watch my younger sister and I while my parents went off on separate missions. They each were asked to look out for Destro. Dad got home first. He hadn't found Destro, but I don't think that he could bear to face me empty-handed because he presented me with a Cobra soldier, and the oldest figure still remaining in my collection today. He had swivel-arms and he was able to move like the Joes couldn't. That, and that slick blue uniform with the red snake was something else. Mom followed at dusk, triumphantly presenting me with Destro in all his chrome-visaged glory! I'm pretty sure that Destro was the tallest of the eighties/nineties figures, and he was big enough to make that Cobra Soldier MORE than a match for Hawk, Stalker and Clutch. Or so I thought. My interest grew to a head in September, 24 years ago. I picked up issue 16 of the Marvel comic with my slurpee at 7-11. I'd had the oversized issue 1 and a coloring book. I'm not sure if it was before or after watching the first mini, but I will tell you this: The fighting that went on in that issue was the most intense and brutal I had seen until then. The action was amazing! Hawk jumps from a moving vehicle onto the back of ANOTHER moving vehicle, then takes turns beating on Cobra Commander and Destro, BOTH of which are wearing metal masks, with Destro also wearing gauntlets, with his bare hands. The fight ends with Cobra Commander regaining his senses long enough to shoot Hawk three times in the back, dropping him headfirst OFF a moving vehicle and onto pavement. All this and Hawk STILL manages to retain the apprehended Major Bludd in the next issue from his HOSPITAL BED. Hawk, for the win. About this time I stuck Queen's greatest hits in the 8-track player and I didn't take it out until I was 11. Yeah, I got excited about the animated show. Yeah, I was the first one in my school to get Duke through the mail. I think the animated series would have been better if it followed the comics more closely and if it was a bit more responsibly graphic. My two cents... That Christmas I begged and begged for a H.I.S.S. Tank. It was the first toy I ever obsessed over and I was not disappointed. The cartoon series had imprinted a hyperactivity in me that I had no control over whatsoever. I was hooked like a crackhead. Beyond all of this, my army had expanded throughout the year. I had completely taken Cobra and the Joe team, I was about half with. Life would go on like this for about three more blissful years, then the parents would decide that 11 was too old for toys. BUT we had just moved to Florida, and NOW we had a pool. I rebelled furiously insisting that it was most DEFINITELY time for more toys. I had to undo what was done in that movie, first seen on that fateful and terrifying fall day in 1987. On the plus side, I lived near the ocean AND the space center, and as far as the comics told me, Cobra Island. I still remember red-pink-orange sunsets on those cool and beautiful nights in the distant mountains of my childhood. The faces of other school children growing and changing, until they became teenagers. Young love struck and Joe was forgotten... For a year. I resumed my collecting furiously with the introduction of the HOF figures, and it would only finally be with the Battle Corps that I would discover Army building as anything other than the accidental introduction of a double to my collection. Now I had my own money to spend, but Joe was going by the wayside. 12 years and 155 issues later, I saw my first “relationship” end, I saw the last issue hit the stands that month, and I saw Captain Kirk die. I also saw snow for the first time since I was 11. It was a transforming experience, as I realized that the things we love may go away from time to time, but if they're really worth it, they'll come back just when you need them the most. I collected all of Sgt. Savage, all of Extreme, I ATTACKED the horrible '97 and marginally better '98 stuff. When I couldn't find something new or good, I'd go buy something old. While I was in the service I got ahold of a PERFECT Defiant Complex and a second Aircraft Carrier. My army building spread to vehicles. I had a HISS tank again. Then four. Then seven. Then Hasbro released another and I suddenly had 17. Likewise, the other vehicles would go on clearance, and I would be buying collections on E-bay. And then one day I realized that I had finally amassed not only multiples of everything being released, but of MOST of the entire line. My collection was so big, it owned ME now. My wife left me, citing my collecting as a reason. I sold the entire thing as an act of good faith, holding onto only a few items. She didn't come back. Grim days, but I have long since risen again as I always will. I've never been so lost I didn't find my way home.
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"I'm one of those people that finds heavily moderated or utterly uncritical places to be unbearable. The idea of posting on a website where every new release is met with enthusiasm fills me with dread." Last edited by Omegawrath; 10-30-2007 at 06:28 AM.. |
10-30-2007, 09:10 AM | #52 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Jackson, New Jersey
Posts: 1,012
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I wonder why I didn't think of doing this. I'm right now rereading all of my old issues. It would probably be a lot easier reading it on the computer.
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10-30-2007, 09:27 AM | #53 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Jackson, New Jersey
Posts: 1,012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M.E.A.T. VIPER
My dad worked for a trash company in north Jersey and used to bring me home bags of Joes on cards that had the tops ripped off. Thats how they were disposed of at retail stores, they ripped the top of the cards and shipped them back to Hasbro to prove they were destroyed. I remember my father serving me up a box of 17 Night Vipers( first army builder lot LOL) and 10 Downtowns( I knew even then he sucked). He still had some Slaughters Marauders and Python Patrol in the attic as of a few years ago. Trash men are cool especially me Papa.
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10-30-2007, 09:57 AM | #54 |
Freelance Operative
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 634
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Wow cool and sad stories....
Well the first Joe's I got were Flash, Snake eyes, Breaker, Scarlet. Then came the rest of originals. I also got the marvel comics I think the first one I got was 2 and 10 since my older brother would always go to the comic store for the X-men comics. I tagged along to see where he'd go and stuff. Most saturday afternoons I'd hang out by the arcade and then to the comic shop. Man oh man that place was awesome. I got 1 the week after I got the other comics. I sporadically collected the comics but couldn't keep up with all of them. I think the last comic I got was 103 or something. Good times! |
10-30-2007, 10:01 AM | #55 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northwestern PA
Posts: 1,183
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My first Joes were Quick Kick, Barbeque and a Snow Cat with Frostbite. After that I was hooked.
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10-30-2007, 10:59 AM | #56 |
Awake and Alive
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Delaware
Posts: 831
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Omegawrath
I have a complete set of Special Missions. I might be persuaded to loan 'em to you for a copy of that disc.
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10-30-2007, 10:59 AM | #57 |
I just want foam gliders.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Tooele (two-willa), Utah
Posts: 18,727
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Does anyone remember their first swivel-head figure?
After a few years of heads that only turned side to side, I had no reason to think the '85 line would be different. I was 11 years old, living in Phoenix Arizona. A trip to the mall by my aunt's house was fun because we were poor back then and going to a mall meant I was going to get a toy. I got the Cobra Eel V1 because my aunt had a pool. I loved all the accessories he had. The resperator, the fins... then I turned his head.... HOLY COW! He's got a ball joint head! I remember sitting in the food court and exclaiming out loud my excitment over that. There were some older girls sitting next to me and I remember them laughing because I was so happy over a toy. Silly girls!
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10-30-2007, 11:08 AM | #58 |
Cobra Soldier
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 26
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Stalker was my first figure followed shortly by Flash, Rock n Roll then Snake Eyes. I got my first vehicle the RAM with Stalker.
My first comic was GI Joe RAH number 2 loved the play out between Kwin and the Joe's. Joe |
10-30-2007, 11:46 AM | #59 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ordovician seas of Ohio
Posts: 5,405
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My first figure was Hawk with the MMS. I couldn't get over how cool that visor was. Then I got flash and the RAM shortly after that, followed by many more. I have a clear memory of sitting in the parking lot of the mall in my parent's car reading over file cards and gazing at the art for the figures I didn't have yet.
My dad would take me to TRU all the time. I would just stand in awe at the Star Wars, Joes, and other toys. I remember many times asking if I could get just OOOOONE toy, pleeeeeease! He would always say no, but eventually we'd leave the store with two!! (I was a little spoiled, I guess.) Even so, I still didn't own as many as my best friend across the street who must have had every one from the first few years. He was fairly destructive, though, eventually finding it more fun to blow up his toys with firecrackers. I would do that, too, but NEVER with my toys. I have too many other memories playing with them to list. My battles were always very extensive and fairly greusome - nobody ever survived. I think my first comic must have been one of the first ten, becuase I can remember going to my local comic store and buying the first few issues after they had been released. I think #1 was marked up to $2.50, which seemed outrageous for a comic book at the time. I don't have my joes anymore (except the Rattler), but I do have my comics. I need to get them out next time I visit my parents. |
10-30-2007, 11:52 AM | #60 |
Freelance Operative
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 634
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ceraurus
I have a clear memory of sitting in the parking lot of the mall in my parent's car reading over file cards and gazing at the art for the figures I didn't have yet.
OH Xerofall, I pm'ed you about the comics on the dvd! |
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