[DarthBrett]

This is just a random story from me, but 1986 is a weird/funny year for ARAH for me personally.

I got into GI Joe at the end of 1983 and was super into the line for years. I only had 5 figures from 1982, but I had at least 10 and as many as 13 from every year from 1983 to 1988, except for 1986.

I only had 4 figures from 1986 as a kid. I know that I got back into He-Man that year and it was also the first year I was into MASK (which I was rrrrreally into). I guess I must have gotten a little burned out on GI Joe for that year? I remember I got the BAT as a 2nd grade graduation gift in June and Monkeywrench sometime that summer and loved both of them. But then I never got any more until March '87 when I got back into Joe and got Zandar and Zarana with Big Boa when the '87 wave was brand spanking new in stores. I guess I wanted the '87 stuff way more because I never got any more '86 figures after that, even though they would have been available for another year. I also remember I got the Outpost Defender in school for a student gift exchange in christmas '86 and that may have re-ignited my interest in Joes.

[Tanksmasher]

Looks like Lifeline has this locked down.

[MAJICobra]

Great story DarthBrett - that's ironic how you sort of eschewed what many say is the last "great" year of the line by happenstance...at least you enjoyed the BAT.

I was far too young to enjoy the line's earliest days, my first figs were from 1987: Falcon, Gung Ho Dress Blues, Sneak Peak.

I didn't get any Cobras until the 1988 line-up, but my Dad found me all the Vipers and Storm Shadow for my brithday (I was a cartoon fan, so had told him look for Vieprs and Storm Shadow, little did I know THAT Storm Shadow was now a Joe per the file card!).

My first 86 guys didn't come until later with leftover stock at a TRU in what must've been Summer 1988. Got the Terrordrome, Mindbender and Zarana and had already gotten Sarge w/ the Triple T somewhere before that and was able to mail away for Serpentor and hooded CoCo.

Never got any of the other 86 lineup in store though or direct from Hasbro - only via flea markets and the like.

1986 and 1989 are my favorite lineup years...though 1987 is great too.

[DarthBrett]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAJICobra

Great story DarthBrett - that's ironic how you sort of eschewed what many say is the last "great" year of the line by happenstance...at least you enjoyed the BAT.

I was far too young to enjoy the line's earliest days, my first figs were from 1987: Falcon, Gung Ho Dress Blues, Sneak Peak.

I didn't get any Cobras until the 1988 line-up, but my Dad found me all the Vipers and Storm Shadow for my brithday (I was a cartoon fan, so had told him look for Vieprs and Storm Shadow, little did I know THAT Storm Shadow was now a Joe per the file card!).

My first 86 guys didn't come until later with leftover stock at a TRU in what must've been Summer 1988. Got the Terrordrome, Mindbender and Zarana and had already gotten Sarge w/ the Triple T somewhere before that and was able to mail away for Serpentor and hooded CoCo.

Never got any of the other 86 lineup in store though or direct from Hasbro - only via flea markets and the like.

1986 and 1989 are my favorite lineup years...though 1987 is great too.

Yeah! lol Sometimes I feel like I missed out on that year. I finally got all of them about 10 years ago when I started collecting all of the original ARAH o-rings. There are some really great figures from 1986! I remember playing with Mindbender at school back then, must have been one of my friends. Really wanted him, but that was probably in '88 and probably too late to find him in stores.

Dress Blues Gung-Ho was one of my favorites I had from '87! I wanted Falcon soooo bad but never did get him back then.

I really like the bad guy lineup from '89, TARGAT and the HEAT Viper are in my personal Top 10 all-time Cobra figures. I think I like the Joe lineup a bit less from that year, though Stalker, R&R, Snake Eyes, Deep Six and Recoil are all bangers for sure. But that '89 Cobra lineup is really good and one of the best.

[Mister Hiss]

One of the best finals we could have IMO. Numbers don't lie.

[cobraviper72]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Hiss

One of the best finals we could have IMO. Numbers don't lie.

Last years final had 219 votes, this isnt close to last year

[MAJICobra]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobraviper72

Last years final had 219 votes, this isnt close to last year

Mr. Hiss was half right - numbers DON'T lie.

[DarthBrett]

Looking back at the numbers, this year's Finals by far have the lowest amount of points/voters ever since the tournament started. Although once you look at the first round matchup with the most points/votes, those numbers are consistent. So don't think it has much to do with who is in the Finals.

2022 Finals - 149 pts/votes (Snow Serpent vs Mutt)
2023 Finals - 272 pts/votes (Alpine vs Eel)
2024 Finals - 224 pts/votes (Hit & Run vs BA Cobra Commander)
2025 Finals - 130 pts/votes so far (Lifeline vs Thrasher)

2022 1st Round - 245 pts/votes
2023 1st Round - 318 pts/votes
2024 1st Round - 265 pts/votes
2025 1st Round - 203 pts/votes

So there's just been a bit less voter turnout overall for this year's tournament than in year's past.

[DarkLordMordred]

This is a lame final. It's like having the two worst teams in a sports league play for the championship.

[DarthBrett]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkLordMordred

This is a lame final. It's like having the two worst teams in a sports league play for the championship.

Noo! LoL I feel like that would be more like if it was Robo-J.O.E. vs the Red Ninja Dice repaint or something.