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10-13-2022, 03:27 PM | #101 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 8,416
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Quote:
But really, if GI Joe had started off 100 percent military, it would have crashed and burned, especially if Cobra had just been guys in ski masks with AKs. It would have fallen into the trash heap with Sgt Rock, Gen Patch, MASH, and a few other "grounded" military lines. Kids loved Flash and Sci-Fi, color-changing Zartan, ninjas, zany vehicles, dudes in metal masks and monocles, purple capes, etc.
Even as a kid, I remember the only thing that didn't go over well was Cobra-La. We even accepted Serpentor and Battleforce 2000. I think it had more to do with how it tread over all the existing lore. |
10-13-2022, 05:38 PM | #102 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Western New York
Posts: 101
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I was into military history when I was a kid and did a lot of miniature wargaming, especially with my dad who got me into it. Things like historical accuracy and realism were important to me. I saw and enjoyed G.I. Joe for what it was. I was not bothered by lasers, ninjas, or any of that stuff. Cobra La went too far for me, though. I view Golobulus as the first whacky G.I. Joe toy design, not even taking the movie or the character into account. Mine didn't bend at the tail very well. It was like having a Joe on a stick. I thought to myself, "Well, at least he'll never need an O-ring.", only to later have his tail break off at the stump inside of the torso.
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10-13-2022, 07:36 PM | #103 |
Balloon Bear
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Delaware Valley
Posts: 1,663
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ARAH was always a little wacky, but '87 was when it started to feel off-putting for me. Seeing Raptor/Crystal Ball/Big Boa/Crocmaster/Cobra-La all around at the same time made it harder to ignore, maybe?
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10-13-2022, 08:01 PM | #104 |
Cobra Sith Lord
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Surf City, CA
Posts: 9,620
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It seems funny to me, because are Destro, the HISS Driver, Zartan, the Dreadnoks or Copperhead really any less weird or wacky than what we got in '86 or '87? No. But I think nostalgia sort of clouds people's ideas or gives them rose-colored glasses. GI Joe was already getting wacky villains by 1983 & 1984. Which I love and am glad about!
But it wasn't like the way out there characters didn't start showing up until 1986 or 1987. They were already there in '83 and '84 and had been showing up in the line almost since the very beginning.
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10-13-2022, 08:16 PM | #105 |
Balloon Bear
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Delaware Valley
Posts: 1,663
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Maybe the specific flavor of wackiness just felt different? No doubt, nostalgia plays into it too. Destro, etc always felt a little sci-fi, which worked in a world of jet packs and laser rifles. Dreadnoks felt a little 80s street gang/punk inspired. Cobra-La, though, I just had a problem grounding in any parallel reality.
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10-13-2022, 08:20 PM | #106 |
Cobra Sith Lord
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Surf City, CA
Posts: 9,620
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Quote:
Maybe the specific flavor of wackiness just felt different? No doubt, nostalgia plays into it too. Destro, etc always felt a little sci-fi, which worked in a world of jet packs and laser rifles. Dreadnoks felt a little 80s street gang/punk inspired. Cobra-La, though, I just had a problem grounding in any parallel reality.
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10-13-2022, 09:16 PM | #107 |
Fartbutt McGillicuddy
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: EARF
Posts: 4,587
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10-13-2022, 10:03 PM | #108 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: USA
Posts: 186
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Quote:
But really, if GI Joe had started off 100 percent military, it would have crashed and burned, especially if Cobra had just been guys in ski masks with AKs. It would have fallen into the trash heap with Sgt Rock, Gen Patch, MASH, and a few other "grounded" military lines. Kids loved Flash and Sci-Fi, color-changing Zartan, ninjas, zany vehicles, dudes in metal masks and monocles, purple capes, etc.
Even as a kid, I remember the only thing that didn't go over well was Cobra-La. We even accepted Serpentor and Battleforce 2000. I think it had more to do with how it tread over all the existing lore. I liked Zany cobra and grounded GI Joe with just a hint of spice. The variety of character options is what let my childhood brain pick and choose the level of zany. Joes got Dialtone, Lowlight and Lifeline. Cobra got vipers, BATs and Zarana. Nobody got cheesy Dr. Mindbender (even as a kid I thought he was lame). And of course, it goes without saying the best three Joes of all time are Chuckles, Lifeline and V2 Mercer. V2 Mercer, of course, having the most compelling backstory in all of GI Joe history and a story that's completely told by his uniform alone. No need for a filecard. |
10-13-2022, 10:15 PM | #109 |
Just a fan
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: NY
Posts: 8,586
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Quote:
But as we all know, he was one of Sgt. Slaughter's Renegades. Also, what's up with the changes to his filename and birthplace? Last edited by AWOL; 10-13-2022 at 10:23 PM.. |
10-13-2022, 11:03 PM | #110 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: America
Posts: 539
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As a kid I rationalized the name change and birthplace change as sort of protection because he was a Viper and Cobra might come after him.
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