[minstrelboy]

For me, it all started back in late 1982 with Short-Fuze. I'm 41 years old now, and my interest in the G.I. Joe line has come and gone through it's ups and downs, but personally - A.R.A.H. has always been a singular passion of mine, at least as far as toys go. As an adult collector of the modern era stuff...it's been hard, to say the least. Don't get me wrong: it's been exciting too. But to see other lines like Star Wars and Transformers thrive in spite of their selves while G.I. Joe has been dangling from a peg for several years now - it's frustrating. The 50th anniversary of the line came and went with hardly any mention or commemoration of this achievement by Hasbro, while the scant few hard to find products released in short supply at retail were relegated to the bottom shelves of my local TRUs, if it all.

I'm not a huge presence in the collector community. My enthusiasm for any quality continuation of the G.I. Joe brand has been silently withdrawn. I'm not even going to address the problems I have with the Collectors Club putting out more figures than Hasbro; I can't afford the cost of collecting these, much as I wish I could. But that is an argument that never goes anywhere productive in online discussions.

Instead of bemoaning this frustrating current status, I continually find myself wondering how the line might be revived in a way that could both appease adult collectors and incite the same passion in a younger generation looking for something that might resonate within their psyche the way this universe had when I was an impressionable young child. Unfortunately, it seems that innovation or risk is seldom taken to tread into new territory these days. Everything old is continually recycled ad nauseum - sequeled, prequeled, rebooted to death - in an attempt to wring the last bloody cent from a concept that once came forth from inspired creativity. This is the world we live in, where very, very few things are new and original. But even in this climate, you would think that G.I. Joe might still be going strong. I mean - 50 years is quite an accomplishment for a toy line. Not to mention one that is the original 'action figure'.

But outside of the IDW comic series and some vague crossover concept with other toy lines that haven't done anything in decades, there is really nothing to look forward to from G.I. Joe. Which just seems so bizarre to me. There are certainly adult collectors out there willing to shell out hundreds if not thousands of dollars annually for new figures. I mean, I've spent a couple hundred bucks on Marauder Task Force stuff over the last few months in lieu of tracking down the 50th anniversary stuff I missed out on via the secondary market because the quality of MTF stuff over Hasbro's is way better. I don't have a large amount of disposable income to devote to this hobby, so I like to know I'm at least getting something good. The few 50th anniversary items I did purchase were invariably lackluster to terrible. Most of the nicer items were just recycled parts from previously available figures - nothing new.

G.I. Joe had evolved into a character-driven universe from the days when he was just a military grunt with no name or background. With the hundreds of different characters to choose from, and new ones continually being added to the roster, this line is just as prolific as the Star Wars universe. There is so much potential for this line to go in any direction, and it has made half-hearted attempts over the arch of its progress - Sgt. Savage and Sigma Six in particular. But something has always seemed to hold it back. I'd hate to see the line die off, but then again - I can't see Hasbro letting anything die off when it can still generate some sort of profit. I don't profess to having any insider knowledge of Hasbro's creative process. I don't really have any profound ideas as to how the franchise might be revitalized either. And I don't know what will happen with the line from here on out. I'd like to see it return successfully, but if Hasbro is banking on a profitable film to base future toy merchandise on like they've stated... Well, that does not bode well. Because movies are another area where there just doesn't seem to be any interest in the financial producers of taking any creative risk; they insist in adhering to these craptastically formulaic structures in the pursuit of a quick and easy and guaranteed profit. Despite failure after failure after failure. I want to see something new and invigorating. And I think that plenty others feel the same way.

For example; the Pursuit of Cobra line. This was such a refreshing direction for the line to take post-Rise of Cobra. Unfortunately, the over-saturation of movie tie-in figures that didn't sell up to expectations caused distribution problems at retail for the line afterwards. But again - Hasbro doesn't even make G.I. Joe figures available online through their own site anymore. It just doesn't make sense to me, what is happening. And I know I'm not alone in my frustration here.

I dunno if there's even a point to my rambling here. Just feeling kind of disappointed in the world overall, and when my own fantasy escape from all that crap has become a let-down, what does that say about this life? Which is a pretty bleak assessment, and so I don't end this on a down note, I've been devoting some of my time to customizing vehicles and creating my own characters. Utilizing my own vision of where I'd like to see the line progress. I guess in this way, G.I. Joe will always live on in the hearts of collectors.

[Tanksmasher]

I really wish they'd just give the rights to make figures to other companies like Boss Fight Studios and let them run with it. I mean if they aren't going to make them anymore, let the fans carry on the legacy thru subscription based figures created by a company that cares about quality.

[viperlord]

I don't understand all the mourning over GI Joe. It's had a good run, better than it deserved perhaps based on sales in recent years. It's time to let it rest for a while. I'm at peace with the "hiatus" (Remember way back when that was a dirty word? I do!) it's taking.

GI Joe as it was in the 1980s will never return. Action figures as they were in the 1980s will never return. Children's tastes and societal taboos have changed considerably. And while it seems from looking at the interwebs that GI Joe has a huge fan base, it doesn't. There are a small number of people relatively speaking trying to keep this toy line afloat. And growing smaller all the time.

I believe eventually Hasbro will reinvent GI Joe as they have many times before. Unfortunately it probably won't be a reinvention that we will like. Because the bottom line is that Hasbro needs BIG sales to keep them in business and big sales are not niche collector driven nostalgia lines. If and when GI Joe comes back I wouldn't be surprised to see it stray very far from what it is right now. And that's OK.

Pining over past glories only makes for soggy beer. I plan to enjoy what I have, fill the holes in my collection, and continue to support smaller companies who CAN thrive on niche collector driven lines. You said you've already bought Marauder Inc stuff. Then you've discovered the secret already! The name may die but the spirit of GI Joe will live on for as long as the 3rd party companies can keep going. The original 1960s GI Joe bodies and gear are still being produced aftermarket to this very day. That's a place where we'll be soon, and it's not a bad place to be.

[Rangeviper88]

A tear drops down my cheek as I read these. I fear a 3 year hiatus untill the new movie. Then when we do get figures they will be 6inch. Trolls.

[minstrelboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by viperlord

I don't understand all the mourning over GI Joe. It's had a good run, better than it deserved perhaps based on sales in recent years. It's time to let it rest for a while. I'm at peace with the "hiatus" (Remember way back when that was a dirty word? I do!) it's taking.

GI Joe as it was in the 1980s will never return. Action figures as they were in the 1980s will never return. Children's tastes and societal taboos have changed considerably. And while it seems from looking at the interwebs that GI Joe has a huge fan base, it doesn't. There are a small number of people relatively speaking trying to keep this toy line afloat. And growing smaller all the time.

I believe eventually Hasbro will reinvent GI Joe as they have many times before. Unfortunately it probably won't be a reinvention that we will like. Because the bottom line is that Hasbro needs BIG sales to keep them in business and big sales are not niche collector driven nostalgia lines. If and when GI Joe comes back I wouldn't be surprised to see it stray very far from what it is right now. And that's OK.

Pining over past glories only makes for soggy beer. I plan to enjoy what I have, fill the holes in my collection, and continue to support smaller companies who CAN thrive on niche collector driven lines. You said you've already bought Marauder Inc stuff. Then you've discovered the secret already! The name may die but the spirit of GI Joe will live on for as long as the 3rd party companies can keep going. The original 1960s GI Joe bodies and gear are still being produced aftermarket to this very day. That's a place where we'll be soon, and it's not a bad place to be.

I cherish G.I. Joe, and if there isn't a single new item produced by Hasbro, I will continue to cherish G.I. Joe. I'm not mourning the line, merely expressing my frustrations with the way it's been treated by its parent company. Third party Joe substitutes are fine and all, but those are not really going to reel in the interest of younger kids, and that is what any toy line needs to survive. If there's no product on the shelves at physical stores, if there's no media on television available to watch, then they won't even realize it exists. And when ROC and Retaliation were out and had toys on the shelves, I recall several occasions where I overheard the excitement of younger kids seeing toy characters they liked on the pegs.

Like I said: I don't have an answer to fix the problem that would appease both shareholders and collectors alike. And I'm not looking for an argument about stats and economic interference or whatever. Just looking for some commiseration camaraderie. Sure, it's just a stupid toy - but it's a stupid toy I care about.

[ranquet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by minstrelboy

For me, it all started back in late 1982 with Short-Fuze. I'm 41 years old now, and my interest in the G.I. Joe line has come and gone through it's ups and downs, but personally - A.R.A.H. has always been a singular passion of mine, at least as far as toys go. As an adult collector of the modern era stuff...it's been hard, to say the least. Don't get me wrong: it's been exciting too. But to see other lines like Star Wars and Transformers thrive in spite of their selves while G.I. Joe has been dangling from a peg for several years now - it's frustrating. The 50th anniversary of the line came and went with hardly any mention or commemoration of this achievement by Hasbro, while the scant few hard to find products released in short supply at retail were relegated to the bottom shelves of my local TRUs, if it all.

I'm right with you. I don't get it. It's tempting to think there's some hippie anti-military elements within Hasbro conspiring to snuff out what once was, and still should be their flagship brand. But then, how is it that Call of Duty and so many other "action figures with guns" toys seem to succeed? They have media tie-ins like video games and cartoons, keeping the next generation engaged, while maintaining the existing market. There seems to be no effort by Hasbro whatsoever; just a pathetic shrug and "wait for the next movie".

[Trigue]

I don't get why they can't just continue to allow the club to continue. Even if they do something else with GIJoe, something that most likely won't include us. Let the club, or another group, pander to collector's. Hell let someone like Super 7 take over the GIJoe collector market, what they're doing for He-Man appears to be doing very well.

Either way it's a safe bet that whatever Hasbro does next it won't be compatible with the modern line. They'll change the scale, it'll do good for about a year. Maybe two. Then just like Sigma 6 it'll flop hard and go on hiatus again while they attempt to figure out why it failed. Until Hasbro loses their Star Wars cash cow they won't put the time and effort into making GIJoe a toy juggernaut again.

[Rangeviper88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranquet

I'm right with you. I don't get it. It's tempting to think there's some hippie anti-military elements within Hasbro conspiring to snuff out what once was, and still should be their flagship brand. But then, how is it that Call of Duty and so many other "action figures with guns" toys seem to succeed? They have media tie-ins like video games and cartoons, keeping the next generation engaged, while maintaining the existing market. There seems to be no effort by Hasbro whatsoever; just a pathetic shrug and "wait for the next movie".

The truth is the renegades cartoon sucked and so did most of the figures.

Since it bombed the higher ups in Hasbro have convinced themselves that the demand for Gi Joe is not there to protect their ego.

The 50th line had no marketing, cartoon, video game, movie, or comic to support it. Even worse the packaging was as cheap as you can get.

I blame Hasbro

[minstrelboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rangeviper88

The truth is the renegades cartoon sucked and so did most of the figures.

Since it bombed the higher ups in Hasbro have convinced themselves that the demand for Gi Joe is not there to protect their ego.

The 50th line had no marketing, cartoon, video game, movie, or comic to support it. Even worse the packaging was as cheap as you can get.

I blame Hasbro

I actually like Renegades and the figures we got to go along with that. In fact, the series is in my dvd player right now. Sure, the cartoon wasn't inspired (it was essentially an A-Team rip-off), but looking at it being geared towards younger viewers (which it was), it was pretty decent. I mean, look at the original cartoons in comparison. They were pretty weak, even when compared to their contemporaries. Sure, I still enjoy them, but I think the newer series would have done better if it had aired on a more accessible channel. Which in turn would have made more breathing room for additional toys. And the figures were refreshing - all new designs that actually looked like the characters from the cartoon. The vehicles were also nice, if a bit undersized.

I hate to sit and point the finger at Hasbro, because I know that there's more than one factor that dictates these decision making processes. When you look at some of the figures, you know there are people working on the line that DO care. I've read interviews with sculptors who are fans of G.I. Joe. But at the same time, the world at large is going through a kind of upheaval. Consumerism is a dying economic mode; it is wholly unsustainable. These companies are continually seeking ways to cut costs in order to make profits, but it's an increasingly steepening uphill battle. Genuine creativity, intelligent art and innovative ideas are scary concepts to stodgy companies that have roots going back before the 1980s, because the risks that were taken to establish them have long since been replaced by a desire to strictly adhere to what is predictable; what can assuredly sell. What is already at hand and requires little to no additional investment in new production measures.

I was surprised that G.I. Joe even got a new series in Renegades. Even more surprised that it continually homaged the original ARAH source material as it fought to find its own voice.

As far as the 50th anniversary stuff we got - at least it was something. I'm not one to go buy up every piece indiscriminately, but there were a few figures I looked forward to owning, like the updated Gung-Ho (even if he is in that awful original 1983 color scheme). And a few more I need to track down, like Sightline.

I know we'll see more G.I. Joe in some form in the future. The line will continue, of that I have no doubt.

[Tanksmasher]

I thought Resolute was the best modernization of the franchise but they soon abandoned that idea for lesser ones. I still think ARAH can't be topped. They need to embrace that fact. Look at all the comic-based films. The best ones always return to the classic characters and their origins.