June Joe 01 - Master Collector

I
July 2001
225 Cattle Baron Parc Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76108
am writing this just a couple of days before we leave for
the convention. Next month we will have full coverage of
the show. It has been a ton of work getting ready but
everything has come together nicely. If you didn't get to
attend the show, check out our web coverage at mastercollector.com (follow the G.I. Joe® link). The figure set this year is
amazing and I know that many of you will want to add it to
your collection!
This month we kick off a new feature on "How to Build a
Diorama" by Patrick Kelly. This small diorama is a scene
with a broken wall for your soldier to scout behind. We will be
running this feature in several installments. Think of it as a
group project we can all do together, only at our own homes.
This first feature is fairly simple but will teach you some basic
techniques that we can build upon in later features. If you have a
custom project you want to share with everyone, send it in. We all
want to learn more tricks of the trade.
Many of you have been inquiring about the Timeless
Edition sets for this year. There will be five different editions.
Target will have a Perilous Rescue and an Australian Jungle
Fighter. FAO Schwarz will have an Annapolis Cadet and a
West Point Cadet that come as a two pack. And finally, JC
Penney will have a Green Beret Machine Gun Outpost set. In
addition, there is another set of exclusives this year based on
the current production body. This is the Life Magazine edition. Each set depicts a historical moment and features 2
miniature full-length copies of the Life Magazine issue that
originally covered these historical events. Target will have
the Pearl Harbor edition, Toys R Us will have the D-Day edition and the Invasion of Italy edition. Wal-Mart will have the
Iwo Jima edition. There are more details about both of these
editions on page 10. We will be getting most of these products
in stock as they ship, but we are not taking orders yet.
Hasbro will be showing the next wave of 3 3/4" figures in
late July. No product was available for photographs yet, but
here is the list of upcoming items: Wave 4 will be on the
shelves in September with Zartan (Saw Gunner body with
retooled head) and Shadow Viper (repaint of Astro Viper), Big
Brawler (formerly Outback with new head) and Tripwire,
Gung-Ho (Battle Force version) and (name TBD formerly
Leatherneck with new head). Wave 5 will land on the shelves
in November with Tomax and Xamot, Serpentor and Shock
Viper (Ice Cream Soldier body), Medic (Stretcher with new
head) and Lifeline (Battle Force issue with new head),
Frostbite and Deep Freeze (Sub-Zero body) and shipwreck
(Battle Force Wet Suit version) with Ranger (name TBD
(composite body)). Wave 6 will land in February as a completely new re-launch with all new sculpts and packaging of
the following characters:
Duke vs. Cobra Commander, Snake Eyes vs. Stormshadow
Frostbite vs. Neo-Viper, Wet-Suit vs. Cobra Moray, Heavy
Duty vs. CLAWS, and Then & Now Cobra Commander. We
hope to bring you some pictures next month.
Here are the new items you can order this month:
Double Duty Gator Blast (4 figs., 2 Caucasian, 1 AA & 1
Hispanic) $68 ppd; Double Duty Tiger Hawk Asst 1 (2 figures,
1 Hispanic, 1 AA) $52 ppd; Double Duty Tiger Hawk Asst 2 (2
Caucasian figures) $52 ppd, 2000 W. Britain 54MM G.I. Joes
(Army, Navy, Air force, Marine) $54 ppd each. Each branch of
the service comes with 3 figures and a miniature figure box.
We also have the 2001 W. Britain 54MM Talking G.I. Joes
(Army, Navy, Air force, Marine) $54 ppd each. Each branch of
the service comes with 3 figures and a miniature figure box.
817-448-9863 Fax 817-448-9843
When you order the Britain items, please circle the branch of
the service you want. You can also order the Base
Commander package from the 2001 Convention with the
Pegasus Bridge figures for $310 ppd. We currently have the
TRU Hawaiian Territorial Guard and the Internet Millennium
Editions (the WWI Aviator, the WWII Sergeant, the Korean
War Private and the Vietnam War pilot) in stock for immediate shipment.
We have been able to obtain some of the G.I. Joe WWII
watches from Hasbro Direct. Originally, these watches sold
for $60 plus shipping. We are offering them to you for $35
ppd. These are very nice watches which come in a metal case
embossed with G.I. Joe. The actual watch is a replica of a
WWII era military watch. The band has G.I. stamped on the
retaining strap and on the back of the watch. These are really
fun pieces to wear.
We have extended the deadline for the "Build Your Best
Pearl Harbor Diorama" contest until July 5th, so that you will
have plenty of time to work with the new Hasbro products.
Send in the best pictures you can. Picture quality does count
in the judging. Your entries can be small or large and should
contain as many Hasbro components as possible.
Congratulations to our advertising winner for June,
Kerry Doyle, PA has won a free G.I. Joe® figure! Send in your
free ad and you may win a G.I. Joe®! Please remember that
your ad must contain a specific G.I. Joe® item you are trying
to buy or sell.
I forget that from time to time we have to remind people
about starting local divisions. If you need help in forming a
group in your area, give us a call and we will provide you with
organization information, as well as a list of members in your
area. Once you have three meetings of five or more club members in a row, the Club will recognize you as an official division. In addition, once you are recognized you will receive G.I.
Joe® size jackets with your local insignia as "nose art" on the
back of the jacket for your local members. If you have questions about this, give Angie a call at 817-448-9863.
I am still looking for your feedback on what you want
from your club. Drop me a letter or send me an email to
brian@mastercollector.com. Thanks for your support of the
G.I. Joe® Collectors' Club.
Let’s Go with G.I. Joe!
-Brian
G.I. Joe® is a registered trademark of Hasbro Inc. G.I. Joe® is used with permission under license with Hasbro, Inc.
The G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club™ is a trademark of Fun Publications, Inc.
Page 1 July 2001
THERE IS NO BUSINESS LIKE
SHOW BUSINESS!!!
February 16, 2002, Sacramento CA, NORCAL annual show,
St. Mary’s Church. Rob Humphrey 8449 Cold Water Ct, Elk
Grove, CA 95624, 916-688-7613.
Shipping Schedule*
Jungle Unit Vietnam TSO Card: June
Balkan Survivor Set TSO Card: June
WWII Iwo Jima Taking Hill TSO Card: June
Marine First Raider Co TSO Card: June
Red Army Russian Infantry : June
WWII Japanese Army Air Officer 64th Sentai: June
TRU WWII Sub Commander: June
TRU 7th Ranger Training Battalion: June
WWII Pacific Marine Mortar Attack: June
Hawaiian Territorial Guard: June
WWII M8 Light Armored Car: July
Vickers Machine Gun Pearl Harbor Card: July
Urban SWAT Card: July
Vietnam Combat Engineer Set Card: July
Weapon Tech Card: July
1941 Willys Jeep: July
Target Life Magazine Pearl Harbor: July
Wal-Mart Life Magazine Iwo Jima: July
Target Timeless Australian Jungle Fighter: July
Target Timeless Perilous Rescue: July
TRU Life Magazine D-Day: August
DSS SWAT: August
Harley Electra Glide w/officer: August
Roy Benavidez Medal of Honor: August
Double Duty Operation Mountain Eye: August
Double Duty Operation Leopard Shield : August
Pearl Harbor Diorama Set: August
Target Perilous Rescue: August
Wal-Mart Army MP Saigon Defender: August
JC Penney Timeless Green Beret: August
Double Duty Gator Blast: September
Night Attack: September
Vietnam M60 Gunner: September
Wal-Mart Police K-9 Unit: September
Double Duty Operation Gator Blast: September
TRU Life Magazine Invasion Italy: October
10th Mountain Division: October
Audie Murphy: October
Search and Rescue Firefighter: October
FAO Schwarz Timeless West Point & Annapolis Cadets: October
Mummy’s Tomb: November
Wal-Mart Law Enforcement Raid: December
Wal-Mart Texas Ranger: December
(TSO means Top Secret Orders, Card means Carded accessory set)
*all dates listed are for release from Hasbro. Please allow 2-4 weeks to reach retail stores.
Page 2 July 2001
Local Group Meetings
CA, Davis, Norcal Div., July 8, Doug Humphrey, 916-487-0943.
CA, Camarillo, Gold Coast Div., Dreamworld Comics, 1st Wednesday of each
month, 7pm, Cyndie Day, 805-485-7360.
CA, Riverside County, Southern CA Inland Empire Div., Last Sat. of each
month, Fred Sandoval, 909-926-9264.
CO, Denver, Mile-Hi Trenches Div., Thornton Library, 2nd Sat. of each month,
11am, John Reynders, 303-343-6538.
FL, Central Florida Div., Sam Gordich, 407-670-0000 ext 227.
FL, South Florida Div., different locations, once month,
Gregg Pellito, 954-572-6475.
FL, Tampa Bay Div., St. Petersburg FL, every 2-3 months,
Ronald Purviance, 813-978-0278.
FL, Naples, Starting Local Division, Rich Meyer, 941-513-5645.
GA, Atlanta Area, Atlanta GA, one Sunday a month,
Buddy Finethy, 770-760-0052.
IL, Chicago Div., Schaumburg Township Dist. Library, 2nd Sat. of each month
at noon, Kevin Bolger, 847-577-8437.
IN, New Albany, Kentuckiana Div., 2nd Sat. of each month,10am,
Larry Weiss, 812-948-5808.
MA, New Bedford, South Coast Mass. Div.,1st Sat. of each month,
Michael Azevedo, 508-998-5850.
MN, Eden Prairie, Minnesota Div., 2nd Sat. every other month,
John Weaver, 612-949-9339.
MO, St. Louis Div., Weber Road Library, 3rd Saturday of each month, 2-4pm,
David Huff, 618-632-2394.
NJ/NY, N. Hudson Div., Computel Comm. Systs., 3rd Saturday of each month,
10am, Jerry Gonzalez, 973-575-6600 ext. 241.
NY, Long Island, Nassau Div., Bellmore NY, July19, August 18,
Thomas Rustmann, 516-679-4386.
OH, Fairfield, Ohio Valley Div., Fairfield Fire HQ, 2nd Tuesday of each month,
7pm, William Pease, 513-851-5107.
OH, N. Olmsted, Northeast Ohio Div., Fairview Public Library,
3rd Tuesday of each month, Jeff Pell, 440-235-0901.
TX, Plano, DFW Div., 2nd or 3rd Saturday each month,
Joe Garzarelli, 972-424-0088.
TX, San Antonio Div., meeting day changes every month,
Rick Sollers, 210-675-4861.
TX, Space City Div., Houston TX, 2nd Sunday each month,
John Mook, 281-463-4457.
UT, Utah, Idaho Div., last Sat. of each month, Kelly Loveless, 801-298-2776.
VA, N. Virginia Div., different locations, once month,
Steven Bratcher, 703-450-0621.
How to Build a Diorama Part 1
by Patrick Kelly
Nothing brings life to an Action Figure like a dynamic setting!
In this first installment of "How to Build a Diorama", I will
take you through building a scene, using relatively inexpensive
materials that you can find at your local Hobby, Craft, and
Hardware stores.
Let’s start with our initial materials list (other materials like
paint types will be covered later). For the base, I chose a piece
of 1/2" plywood, and cut it to 12" by 18" to provide enough
room for the figures, but keeping the dimensions shelf/table
friendly. For the wall, I used a piece of green foam (which you
can find at a Craft store, in varying densities and sizes), a small
piece of white bead foam (found in the train section of most
Hobby stores), and a small wooden dowel rod approximately
1/4" diameter (for mounting the wall to the base).
In Fig. #2, take the green foam and cut it to the approximate
size you will want your wall to be. (NOTE!, I recommend wearing a dust mask when working with foam materials.) Using a
figure, determine where and how you would like the wall to be
broken. In this case, the soldier is using the wall as a barrier
while he scouts ahead. Save the broken pieces, as they will
make good rubble later!
Now that you have your basic wall section, it’s time to rough it
up! In Fig. #3, using a pencil, puncture shallow holes in the
wall where you want your bullet hits to be. Next, take a small
tool (I used a dental instrument) and pull out the area around
each bullet hit to simulate the explosion from the impact. It’s
O.K. if your bullet holes vary from each other. A bullet is chaotic and random when it strikes concrete.
In Fig. #4, using the same technique, I damaged the corners of
the wall, as well
as created some
sections where
nearby explosions
have shaken fragments of the wall
free. Find the
location on your
base where you
plan to place the
wall, and mark it
with a pencil
(don’t use a pen,
as the ink will
bleed through the
paint!). Using
the 1/4" dowel
rod, make two
small pieces and
glue them into
corresponding
holes in the base.
You will want to make sure that these two "pegs" are parallel
with each other so they stay snug when you press the foam onto
them! Apply wood glue to the pegs and underside of your wall,
and press the wall downward onto the pegs. (NOTE! The foam is
brittle by nature, so be gentle when you press the wall into place.)
Now that you have
your wall mounted
to the base, take a
small piece of the
"white bead foam"
and make the mantle or top of the
wall (Fig #5). This
piece should be just
a little bit larger
than the top of the
wall, to create an
overhang (this
detail will add
dimension and
shadow to your
scene). You can
use a piece of 400
grit wet/dry sandpaper to bevel the
upper edges, but be
careful as this foam
is also fragile!
When your satisfied
with your piece,
glue it to the top of
the wall.
Next month, we will work with the textural coatings and ground
cover! Keep a clean workspace, have a great day in the realm of
the 1/6!
continued next month
Page 3 July 2001
A Joe for Your Joe,
GI Joe in miniature (54mm that is)
by Barry Kay
An English toy maker named William Britain Jr.
began producing toy soldiers in 1893. Early on, he
decided to manufacture his soldiers at 54mm tall (2.25”)
to keep them in scale with the most popular toy train
sets of the day. Over time this became the standard
scale for many metal toy soldier manufacturers. In
1997, W. Britain was purchased by ERTL. Now, with
over 100 years of experience, W. Britains has earned its
reputation as one of the finest manufacturers of 54mm
toy soldiers in the world, so it seemed only natural that
they team up with the finest manufacturers of 1/6 scale
toy soldiers in the world to produce an amazing series of
collectable figures that will no doubt appeal to collectors
of all types. To put the scale in perspective, 54mm is
about the size that a GI Joe figure would have to be if
your 1/6 scale GI Joes were going to play with them.
Think of these figures as GI Joes for you GI Joes!
At the 2000 New York international Toy Fair, Ertl
unveiled a series of commemorative GI Joe 54mm hand
painted pewter figurines as part of their W. Britain
series of toy soldiers and miniatures. There were four
sets, mirroring the branches of the military that the
original GI Joe figures represented. Each set contains
three figures and a reproduction of a vintage GI Joe
long box scaled to the figures. After looking at these figures, it is obvious that Ertl must have had serious input
from at least one GI Joe collector who really knew his
stuff, because these figures truly capture the spirit and
essence of the original GI Joe figures that represent.
The four sets released in 2000 were:
Page 4 July 2001
Action Soldier set:
Action Soldier and
reproduction long box
Combat Soldier
Airborne MP (green)
Action Sailor set:
Action Sailor and
reproduction long box
Deep Sea Diver
Shore Patrol (1968 version)
Action Pilot set:
Action Pilot and
reproduction long box
Astronaut
Fighter Pilot
Action Marine set:
Action Marine and reproduction long box
Paratrooper
Tank Commander
Keep in mind that these figures are small, so they
are not as detailed as the 1/6 scale figures that we are
used to seeing, but the detail that is present is fantastic. The Marine paratrooper has the correct number of
hand grenades attached to his parachute harness, the
fighter pilot’s pack is open and his chute is deployed on
the ground around him and the Deep Sea Diver has his
red and white buoy complete with the yellow string
attached. It appears that no detail was considered too
minor. The figures come in beautiful book style display
cases each with a locking latch on the side.
A second series of figures is scheduled for release in
2001, and they are just as impressive (if not more so) as
the 2000 figures. For starters, each set includes a replica of a talking GI Joe figure and long box. They even
positioned the dog tags correctly, so they really look different than last year’s basic service members…they look
like talking GI Joes (and they each have a hand up
towards their mouths as if they are shouting!) The
talking GI Joe theme was carried over into the packaging making for outstanding package design. The four
sets scheduled for released in 2001 are:
Action Soldier set:
Talking Action Soldier and reproduction Talking Soldier long box
Green Beret
Snow Troops
Action Sailor set:
Talking Action Sailor and reproduction Talking Sailor long box
Sea Rescue
Landing Signal Officer
Action Pilot set:
Talking Action Pilot and reproduction Talking Pilot long box
Crash Crew
Air Security
Action Marine set:
Talking Marine and reproduction Talking Marine long box
Medic
Beachhead Assault
There were a few unusual choices made during the
creation of these figures which hard core vintage GI Joe
collectors may pick up on. The Shore Patrol set is
depicted on an African American sailor figure, but there
was no vintage African American sailor figure released.
Perhaps the strangest choice was including what
appears to be a Soldier in the place of the Talking
Marine. He is dressed in an all green shirt with no
pockets on the front, a red t-shirt and green pants, not
the camouflage uniform that the talking Marine should
be dressed in. It is also unusual that this figure is an
African American due to the fact that Hasbro never
released an African American talking figure in the military line (they released their first talking African
American figure as part of the Adventure Team series).
I am sure that these decisions were made to give
these sets a bit more ethnic diversity and these few
inconsistencies with the vintage GI Joe series not withstanding, each and every figure is a beautiful miniature
representation of its vintage 1/6 scale counterpart, and
in my mind, spotting these kinds of things is half the
fun! I just hope that if we see a third series of W.
Britain GI Joe figures that ERTL corrects this oversight
and gives us a proper Talking Marine figure.
Each figure has been sculpted in a dramatic pose that
looks as great on a shelf as they do in their packages.
Each set retails for approx. $50, which may sound steep
to people who do not collect 54mm military figures, but
they are actually quite affordable when compared to
other figures in that category. They are a beautiful
addition to the GI Joe universe and would make a fine
addition to any collection. I am not sure if ERTL is
planning a third series of these figures, but just in case
they are, I want to start my wish list now. I would like
to see the Foreign Soldiers of the world done in 54mm,
and how about a SCUBA Diver or a GI Nurse, as well
as some of the Adventure Team sets. A 54mm Mummy’s
Tomb would be sweet!
You can e-mail Barry Kay with questions and comments
at barry@atgijoe.com
Visit Not Your Average “JOE” for GI Joe information and photos at
www.atgijoe.com
Page 5 July 2001
Page 6 July 2001
Page 7 July 2001
G.I.JOE - MEGA-MARINES
by Thomas Wheeler
1993 saw an explosion of G.I.JOE 3 3/4" product,
and a host of special teams. One of the oddest, perhaps
in the history of the G.I.Joe product line, had to be the
MEGA-MARINES. Odd concept, odd gimmick, odd
appearance, and a general impression upon reflection
that this was a special team that just didn't quite know
what it was.
Was it science-fiction? Well, that was pretty well
taken care of by STAR BRIGADE. MEGA-MARINES
was, at its core -- just plain peculiar. It was in its way a
mismatch of oddities that had never been part of the
G.I.Joe concept before. Some would readily argue that it
never should have been, either, and perhaps they might
have a point. As far as I'm concerned, there were other
teams more deserving of the "never should have been"
category, with Ninja Force and the Eco-Warriors topping the list. Most people tend to throw Star Brigade
and Drug Elimination Force into that list, but I liked
Star Brigade, and I thought DEF had an important
message -- unfortunately, they also had a really lame
and silly gadget-gimmick. And, a lot of people liked the
Ninjas. To each his own.
I guess I thought the MEGA-MARINES were weird
but basically harmless. The MEGA-MONSTERS were
another matter, but we'll deal with them later.
So what was the premise behind the MEGAMARINES concept? Seems Dr. Mindbender -- who was
not part of the initial assortment, but WOULD have
been in 1995 during a planned (if brief) Mega-Marines
revival, had gotten into some serious bio-genetic engineering, and had created some really fearsome creatures out of certain Cobra trooper divisions. Maybe the
whole concept was supposed to be "G.I.Joe meets
ALIENS". Anyway, to meet this threat, the Joes formed
the MEGA-MARINES, each figure being equipped with
"moldable bio-armor".
Here was the team's gimmick. Each figure came
with a small mold and a container of -- let's call it what
it is, -- Play-Doh. The idea was to place the "bio-dough"
or whatever one wished to call it into the mold, place
the mold around the Joe (or Cobra), and then remove
the mold, leaving the figure equipped with "bio-armor".
Except I think somebody forgot that the average
upper age limit for kids to be playing with Play-Doh is
about five -- probably about the same time they're starting to get interested in G.I.Joe, and a crossover like
that just didn’t seem to work very well.
Gung-Ho, Blast Off, Clutch, Mirage
was back, clean-shaven. Two new characters, named
Blast Off (who probably flunked Star Brigade training
with a code-name like that) and Mirage joined the team.
Hasbro tried something new with the uniforms -and I don't mean the obnoxious neon color schemes that
gave the "G.I.Joe should be MILITARY" fanatics
absolute fits. Granted, many of the color schemes were
a little on the wild side. What I refer to is the fact that
they somehow found a way to "marbleize", for lack of a
better term, the plastic used for the body sections,
which resulted in a sort of "built-in" camouflage. This
technique was also used on the 1993 Cross Country's
jeans, to great effect, making him look like he was
wearing "acid-washed" blue jeans. It was also used on
an early version of the 1993 Outback.
There were two Cobras as part of the main line of
Mega-Marines -- the Mega-Viper and the Cyber-Viper.
The Mega-Viper had the distinction of having what certainly looked to be a very cool overall uniform design -which ended up being
molded in the single
brightest color scheme
in the history of the
line -- neon yellow
and pinkish-purple.
There's any number of
Joe collectors that
have said this
would've been a very
cool figure if it had
just been toned down
to something less eyeball-searing. The
Cyber-Viper was obviously a cybernetic
trooper, and probably
would've worked -again, had it not been
for the color scheme,
Mega-Viper, Cyber-Viper
which made considerable use of red, neon
yellow, and bright green. As it is, the figure looks outlandish.
Then there were the MEGA-MONSTERS. These
were two hulking monster-like figures, said to have
been experimented upon by Dr. Mindbender. There was
the Bio-Viper and the Monstro-Viper. The Bio-Viper was
said to have been modified from a Cobra Eel, and had a
sort of aquatic look about him, as well as four long tentacles that could be made to move by using a lever in
the back. The Monstro-Viper was said to have been
modified from a Range-Viper and was a strange sort of
creature with black skin, bright yellow fur, and red
trousers. In his case, you put a bit of Play-Doh in a
mold in his abdomen, and out popped this semi-spherical object which he could then throw. I believe it was
called a "Gut Bomb" on the package, and this had the
Mega-Marines, Mega-Monsters Bio-Viper & Monstro-Viper
However, there were some interesting aspects to the
team. For one thing, Gung-Ho was placed in charge of
the Mega-Marines. This made sense -- he was the first
Marine on the G.I.Joe team, and he'd certainly proven
himself enough times. Also, classic character Clutch
Page 8 July 2001
obvious potential for a wide range of truly bad jokes.
I have heard reports that there were plans for a
third Mega-Monster, called a Plasma-Viper, but I have
no specifics beyond that.
The absolute worst thing about the Mega-Monsters
was their smell. That's right -- they smelled (aren’t
monsters supposed to?). And they smelled horrible. I
don't know whose idea this was but I think they
achieved their full potential. I was told that the stink
was molded right into the plastic. It wasn't something
that could be washed off. And these figures reeked.
(This is probably one of those great features that kids
like because of the shock value.) Open their packages
and get gassed, folks. It took me a while to come up
with verbal descriptions of their respective stenches
that didn't involve things too gross to mention, and the
closest I can come is to say that the Bio-Viper smelled -rather appropriately given his aquatic origins -- like a
really bad fishstick smothered with stale lemonade, and
the Monstro-Viper frankly stunk like rancid ice cream.
Your choice of flavors. I can only imagine -- and not for
very long without becoming nauseated -- what it must
have been like in the factory that made these. I hope
somebody passed out gas masks for the duration.
I tried any number of things to get rid of the smell. I
washed them in five kinds of deodorant soap. Nothing. I
sprayed them with Lysol. Didn't work. I let them get
soaked and sprayed in one of Arizona's infamous summer monsoon thunderstorms, by leaving them on the
porch for the duration. Zip. I finally sealed them in
"odor-absorbent" plastic bags for about two months.
THAT worked, but I thought I was going to have to file
Environmental Impact Statements for tossing the plastic bags into the trash.
Monster Blaster APC
One more note -- I've heard reports that in some
instances, Mega-Monsters left sealed on their cards
have actually started to eat through the plastic bubbles.
Probably some chemical reaction with the smelly stuff
they were molded with. If you've got any of these
stashed away, you might want to check them -- very
carefully.
There was one vehicle in the line, a very decent and
highly detailed personnel carrier called the MONSTER
BLASTER A.P.C. The only thing I didn’t like was once
again the color scheme. Some of its parts were molded
in a rather bright green, while the rest was olive drab.
But if you can ignore that, it's a very nice-looking vehicle with an amazing amount of detail, and the cannon
on the top actually allows you to load and fire the small
missiles it comes with.
The MEGA-MARINES line only lasted one year -1993. It did not return in 1994, although there were, as
I said near the start of this article, plans to bring it
back on a limited scale in 1995. At the very least this
would have included a new Dr. Mindbender figure who
would have clearly been experimenting on himself.
Illustrations and prototype figure parts have turned up
here and there, even in some auctions online, and they
show a Dr. Mindbender with some cybernetic sections
and one arm that is clearly something other than
human and rather nasty looking.
What other figures were planned? Who knows? All
we do know is that the line was scrapped in 1994. Most
collectors aren't especially fond of the Mega-Marines,
and never were. They lingered on the shelves and eventually had to be clearanced.
I've always felt that the Mega-Marines, as a concept, were sort of the team that went astray and was
never entirely certain what its identity was supposed to
be. Neon colors? Marbleized plastic? Weird smelly monsters? Play-Doh? What's going on here? I mean, real-life
military contracts and experimental projects don’t go
this awry.
Do they...?
Yo, Joe!
Review: Vietnam Wall Memorial
by Bill Underwood
Many of us who were fortunate enough to attend the 1999
G.I. Joe Collectors Club Convention in Washington, D.C. will
never forget visiting the Vietnam War Memorial. I know I won’t.
The Wall is one of the most moving – and certainly the most
democratic - of all the Washington war memorials. On it are
inscribed the names of every serviceman and servicewoman who
perished in that ill-fated Southeast Asian war. No war memorial
illustrates more poignantly the terrible price of war.
For those who remember the war – and even those who
don’t - a visit to the Wall can be an emotional experience.
Hasbro has done its best to capture the power of these emotions
with its Vietnam Wall Memorial G.I. Joe.
This set was inspired by the classic painting, “Reflections,”
by artist Lee Teter. The painting depicts a middle aged Vietnam
Veteran holding his hand on the wall with his head hung low.
Imbedded within the Wall’s blackness we see the dim outlines of
his fallen comrades reaching out to touch his hand.
Hasbro re-creates this
effect with a plastic wall
section that lights up from
behind when you press a
button on the front. The
light reveals a silhouette of
the slain G.I.’s, just as they
are depicted in the painting.
The set includes a G.I.
Joe figure standing in front
of the Wall, his hand open
wide to touch the names
engraved upon it. He is
wearing a standard green
Army jacket – the ones we
all remember from the war
– blue jeans, jungle boots
and a t-shirt. Tucked
beneath his left arm is a
folded American flag, suggesting the loss of a comrade – maybe even a relative. In his right hand is a
black beret.
This is a very unique
G.I. Joe set. To my knowledge, it is the first Joe set designed
solely to commemorate both the dead and the veterans of a war.
Page 9 July 2001
Timeless Editions 2001
All Timeless figures and accessories are reminiscent of
the Golden Age of G.I. Joe (1964 -1978).
The JC Penny GREEN BERET MACHINE GUN
OUTPOST SET is expected to ship in August
/September at an anticipated retail of $39.99.
This set comes with:
G.I. Joe Timeless Collection
figure, Beret, Boots, Shirt,
Pants, Tent Netting, 6
Foliage pieces, 2 Tent Guide
Lines, 2 Tent Guide Stakes,
12 Tent Poles, 12 Insert
Plugs, Machine Gun,
Tripod,Bazooka,2 Bazooka
Shells, Ammo Box,3
Outpost
Grenades,Field Radio,M-16
Rifle with strap, Belt,
Ammo Pouch and Dog Tag with Chain.
The FAO Schwarz WEST POINT & ANNAPOLIS
CADETS (this is a 2 pack) are expected to ship in
October/November with an estimated retail of $79.99.
The West Point Cadet comes with: G.I. Joe Timeless
Collection Figure, Jacket, Pants, Hat with Strap &
Plume, Shoes, Sash with 2 Metal Clips, Sword, Sheath,
Rifle, Dog Tag with Chain.
The United States Military Academy at West Point
Accessories
The G.I. Joe Green Beret figure was first deployed in
1966 throughout the world’s "hot spots" and has been an
intricate part of the G.I. Joe team’s covert campaigns
against the forces that threaten America’s freedom.
The Target exclusive AUSTRALIAN JUNGLE
FIGHTER is expected to ship
in July/August at an anticipated retail of $39.99
This set comes with: G.I. Joe
Timeless Collection Figure,
Jacket, with Brass Buttons,
Shorts, Hat, Boots, Socks,
Belt, Trench Knife, 6
Grenades, Sheath, Machete,
Flamethrower/gun, Hose,
Shovel, Medal, Booklet.
The G.I. Joe Australian
Jungle Fighter was deployed
for action in 1966 to honor
America’s brave World War II
allies who fought courageousBox mock-up
ly against the Imperial forces
of Japan in the hot, sticky
jungles of Southwest Asia.
The Target Exclusive PERILOUS RESCUE is expected to
ship in July/August with a suggested retail $39.99.
This set comes with: G.I. Joe Timeless Collection
Figure, SCUBA, Mask, 2 Scuba
Fins, SCUBA Top and Bottom,
SCUBA Hood, Buoy with Flag &
Rope, Breeches Buoy,
Searchlight, Rescue life ring,
Oar, First Aid kit, Life raft, Flare
gun, Knife with sheath, Wrist
depth gauge, SCUBA Tanks and
Harness, Dog Tag with chain.
Page 10 July 2001
The G.I. Joe SCUBA Diver figure first took to the high
seas in 1964 as a sailor, and was reassigned to the
Underwater Missions Tactical Unit in 1967, where he
became an expert scuba diver, participating in numerous covert oceanic operations.
West Point began as a fort during the Revolutionary
War and is, in fact, the oldest continuously occupied
military post in America. President Thomas Jefferson
established the Academy in 1802, to teach the arts and
sciences of warfare. Civil engineering became part of
the curriculum for a new country in need of engineers to
build essential infrastructures. West Point graduates
have distinguished themselves throughout its history
and include such notable figures as Ulysses S. Grant,
Robert E. Lee, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas
MacArthur, Omar Bradley, and George S. Patton. It continues to train the best and brightest men and women
for service to Duty, Honor, and Country.
The Annapolis Cadet comes with: G.I. Joe Timeless
Collection Figure, Jacket, Pants, Hat, Shoes, Belt with
Buckle, Collar Anchor, Sword & Sheath, Rifle, Dog Tag
with Chain.
The United States Naval Academy at Annapolis
The United States Naval Academy was established on
October 10, 1845 by Secretary of the Navy George
Bancroft, on a ten-acre Army post named Fort Severn in
Annapolis, Maryland. Originally called the Naval
School, its first class of fifty midshipmen studied mathematics, navigation, gunnery and steam, chemistry,
English, natural philosophy and French. The school’s
name was changed to the United States Naval Academy
in 1850 and it adopted a new curriculum that combined
four years of academics with training on board ships
during the summers. From its small beginnings, the
Academy has grown to 338 acres on which 4,000 men
and women train for a naval officer career each year.
All Timeless Edition figures are prepared for special
assignment anytime, anywhere. The original battle cry
of the 1960s can still be heard: "G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe - fighting man from head to toe. On the land, on the sea, in
the air..."
Life Series Editions
These special edition store exclusive G.I. Joes will all
come with two miniature
reproductions of actual Life
Magazines. The following
products are scheduled:
Pearl Harbor - Target in
stores June/July, D-Day TRU - in stores Aug/Sept
Iwo Jima - Wal-Mart in
stores July/August,
Invasion Italy - TRU in
stores Oct/Nov.
All figures will be based on
the current Classic
Collection body with the
Gung Ho grip and have a
suggested retail of $39.99.
We will have more details
next month.
G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club Order Form
All prices include shipping in U.S. Foreign orders, please add additional shipping.
Convention Premiums
1999
1999
1999
1999
2000
2000
2001
MO CC or Check
Base Commander Pkg*** Continental Color Guard (size M, L, XL, XXL)
$320
Convention JanSport Back Pack, Embroidered**
$38
Convention Hat, Embroidered **
$25
Convention Embroidered Polo Style Shirt** (M, L, XL, XXL)
$25
Convention Flying Tigers Figure Set***
$320
Convention Flying Tigers Cooler*
$24
Convention Pegasus Bridge Figure Set*
$310
Qty
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Very Limited Quantities
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Please send a separate check for each item under this listing. We might run out and we don’t want to delay the rest of your order.
B-17 Pilot Uniform, Club Exclusive with Memphis Belle Art work*
$200
1997 Base Commander Pkg*** SuperSonic Test Pilot (size L, XL)
$262.50
Internet Millennium figure set of 4 $100, Singles $30ea, WWI, WWII Korean, Viet.____ (circle)
Internet WWII G.I. Joe Watches*
$35
Regular Products
Normandy Ranger*
$58
Normandy Ranger* (Damaged Box)
$48
Limited Edition Regular AT Print**
$30
AT Land Adventurer* (1 figure)
$49
Case Basic Army & Marine*** (6 figures, 3 each, Caucasian)
$64
Diorama Sets Battle of the Bulge, Vietnam Fox Hole* (2 sets, 1 of each)
$40
Adventurer-fix-me-up kit* (4 black holsters, 4 pistols, 4 AT logo stickers)
$24
M-8 Assault Vehicle***
$54
Russian & Japanese Zero Pilot* (1 figure each)
$45
Weapon Tech Case 1***†( 12 cards: 4 Convert Sniper Rifle, 4 Tactical Machine Gun, 4Assault Shotgun) $100
Battle Gear Case Pack 6/01***†(12 cards: 1 Bulge, 1 Desert, 3 SWAT, 3 Viet. Eng. Sets, 4 Vickers Mach. Guns) $93
Internet Millennium figures set of 4 $100, Singles $30ea, WWI, WWII Korean, Viet.____ (circle)
Pearl Harbor Army Defender Asst 1* (2 Caucasian figures)
$42
Pearl Harbor Army Defender Asst 2* (2 figures, 1 Hispanic, 1 AA)
$42
Pearl Harbor Pilot* ( 2 Caucasian figures)
$52
Pearl Harbor Invasion Alert* (2 Caucasian figures)
$62
USS Arizona Defender Asst 1* (2 Caucasian figures)
$72
USS Arizona Defender Asst 2* (2 figures, 1 Hispanic, 1 AA)
$72
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Double Duty 8/01 Leopard Shield, Mtn Eye* (4 figs. 1 AA & 1 Hispanic of each)
DSS SWAT Asst 1* (2 figures, Caucasian)
DSS SWAT Asst 2* (2 figures, 1 Hispanic, 1 AA)
M60 Vietnam Gunner* (2 figures, 1 Caucasian, 1AA)
Night Attack* (2 figures, 1 Hispanic, 1 Caucasian)
Harley Electra Glide w/Officer*
Pearl Harbor/Bulge Dio Set*** (3 pieces, 2 Pearl, 1 Bulge)
Roy Benavidez Medal of Honor* $58 (2 figures
$68
$72
$72
$42
$42
$78
$45
$58
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Audie Murphy* (2 figures)
10th Mountain Troops Asst 1* (2 figures, 1 Caucasian, 1 AA)
10th Mountain Troops Asst 2* (2 Caucasian figures)
Search and Rescue Firefighter Asst 1* two figures (1 AA, 1 Hispanic)
Search and Rescue Firefighter Asst 2* ( 2 Caucasian figures)
$72
$72
$72
$58
$58
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Order Deadline July 2
Order Deadline Aug 2
Order Deadline Sept 1
Double Duty Gator Blast* (4 figs., 2 Caucasian, 1 AA & 1 Hispanic)
$68
Double Duty Tiger Hawk Asst 1* (2 figures, 1 Hispanic, 1 AA)
$52
Double Duty Tiger Hawk Asst 2* (2 Caucasian figures)
$52
2000 W. Britain 54mm G.I. Joes (Army, Navy, Air force, Marine* (circle which one) $54 EACH
2001 W. Britain 54mm Talking G.I. Joes (Army, Navy, Air force, Marine* (circle which one)$54EACH
Additional Shipping Foreign Orders
*Additional shipping per set: Canada $10, Europe $25, Pacific Rim $35.
**Additional shipping per piece: Canada $5, Europe $10, Pacific Rim $15.
***Additional shipping per set: Canada $12, Europe $30, Pacific Rim $40.
Name ____________________________________Phone Day __________________
Address __________________________________Phone Eve __________________
City __________________________ State ________________ Zip ______________
I have included a Money Order or Check or charge my: ( ) Visa
= _________ _
GRAND TOTAL
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email address:
( ) Disc. ( ) MC for (total amount) ________.
Name as on card ____________________________________Card No ____________________________________Expires: Mo. ________Yr. ________
Signature ___________________________________________ I agree to pay this charge per my card holder agreement.
(CC billings will be listed under Fun Publications.)
Make me a Platinum Member and call me each month before the deadline.
Must have daytime phone number on file. Yes No (circle)
Send to G.I. Joe Exclusive Club Offers, 225 Cattle Baron Parc Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76108
817-448-9863 Fax 817-448-9843, 9-4:30 Central Time
Order Terms and Conditions
Expect delivery in 6-12 weeks after deadline dates. All orders are subject to a 25% cancellation or return fee. If you cancel or return an order, you will receive your
refund less 25%. We also have a Firm Order Policy. This means that we do not order, hold, or place aside any quantities of products until we receive payment with your order
(we do bill your credit card right away to make sure that it is valid). All orders are processed on a first come, first served basis. We cannot guarantee a C10 box. We do not warrant
the respective manufacturer’s work, but they do. Prices include shipping and applicable tax. Orders paid for by check, please allow an additional 7-10 days for your check to clear
for items in stock. All domestic orders are shipped via UPS ground, signature required. To ship via Post Office, please include an additional $2 per order.
†Partial case packs of Accessory Cards or Basic Figures cannot be returned. SALES ARE FINAL.
Page 11 July 2001
Pearl Harbor: The Rest of the Story
By Valerie Harten Briggs
Memorial weekend this year was more special than
usual for our family as my brother, Bill, his wife Janice
(left), myself, and my husband, Doyle (right), escorted
my parents to the movie “Pearl Harbor.” Bill and Jeane
(Lowe) Harten are both US Navy veterans of WWII and
experienced life-altering events as their youthful plans
were put on hold by the cataclysmic events of that infamous day in world history.
My father’s survival of the sinking of the battleship
USS West Virginia during the attack on Pearl Harbor
has always been a pivotal point in our family heritage.
While waiting for her sailor to return home, my mother
subsequently served in the US Navy WAVES training
bomber pilots and crews how to target and shoot down
enemy planes. Their unique life experiences on the sea
and in the air gave me double insight into the film.
Mom thoroughly enjoyed the flying and shooting scenes
which she thought were quite realistic. She demonstrated
how well she still remembered every type of plane from
that era by naming each one as it appeared in the movie.
My Dad said the movie gave him a realistic feeling of
what was happening overhead and during the time he
was swimming for his life beneath the flames on oil-covered water to the relative safety of Ford Island. For him
“it brought back memories both good and bad,” as he
remembered his fear when he realized he could be
trapped inside the burning, sinking ship and never be
found. He knew all too well the feelings of those men
portrayed in the film.
After graduating from the Navy School of Music, my
father and nineteen of his buddies were assigned to the
USS Arizona Naval Band in the spring of 1941.
Fortunately, he was transferred to the USS West
Virginia band before the December attack. Watching the
sudden sinking of the Arizona and the torpedoes hitting
the West Virginia was difficult for him, as was the
depiction of his fondly remembered Captain Mervyn
Bennion dying from shrapnel wounds. Those scenes
were especially “close to home.”
Family members were surprised with special T-shirts
I’d prepared in honor of the occasion. Jeane said, “I’ve
always wanted to go to a special event as a group dressed
in special matching T-shirts.” (“Memories of military uniforms,” I thought to myself.) Her special shirt really seemed
to tickle her fancy as she has a wonderful sense of humor.
It featured a great B-17 bomber photo and read, “WWII
Veteran, US Navy WAVES... Who do you think taught
those fly boys to shoot straight?!”
Page 12 July 2001
Dad’s T-shirt featured a color photo of his ship in all
its glory and read, “SURVIVOR Pearl Harbor Dec. 7,
1941, USS West Virginia.” The T-shirts seemed to
“break the ice,” and numerous people came up to shake
hands and introduce their children to real WWII
Veterans. Bill and Jean were as excited as kids with all
the hoopla while waiting for the movie to start.
Other family members wore T-shirts with my parents’
Naval wedding photo shown below.
As they left the movie, my parents were interviewed
at length for TV and also by the local newspaper. My
mother encouraged us to wear our T-shirts whenever we
were out in public that weekend. Wherever they were
seen wearing their special T-shirts, Bill and Jeane
received quite a few questions, handshakes, pats on the
back, and words of appreciation. It was a memorable
weekend for all, with the movie
“Pearl Harbor” playing a pivotal
role for my parents.
Some have been critical that
so much of this movie focused
on the love and friendship of
the three young people. For
many viewers this aspect of the
film represented the loss of the
innocence of our American youth,
brought on by World War II.
Jeane had this to say: “For so
many of us who were just 18-19year old kids at that time,
WWII crashed into our lives
and took over our futures. For
the next few years we were no longer in charge of our
own destinies. We had to roll with the punches and
curves we were thrown, and do the best we could to support our country in its hour of need.”
Those kinds of experiences were the norm for many of
those who served in WWII and were also an integral
part of the movie. Like so many others, Bill and Jeane’s
courtship was put on hold for over three years until the
war had ended and he had been transferred to the east
coast where she was serving at Pensacola, FL.
It was a real gift for our entire family to see our parents so young at heart again, carefree, and almost like
the honeymooning couple they were in 1945 near the
war’s end. It was as if they were transported back in
time because of “Pearl Harbor” and the renewed interest in the beginning of WWII. Watching them enjoy this
movie was a special treat for all of us.
Later they shared more of their war experiences and
memories, as the family looked through priceless photographs from their past, especially those from their years
in military service. This occasion has motivated me to
want to record their stories before this special window
of opportunity closes. Veterans of WWII have walked
among us for the past six decades, many with their stories as yet untold. The next three years will likely provide additional focus on strategic military events of WWII,
as well as golden opportunities for us all to remember, celebrate, and record the stories of those who kept America
going strong when the world was falling apart.
It was truly an honor to spend this special weekend
with my special veterans and have a glimpse into their
lives at that infamous moment in America’s history.
®
G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club Annual Membership:
U.S. $36, Canada $57, all others $82. Includes 12 club newsletters, a
1 year 12 issue subscription to Master Collector, and a free 30 word
ad each month. Send Check or Money Order to
225 Cattle Baron Parc Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76108. Fax 817-448-9843,
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Submissions for the newsletter are due by the 1st of each month and
are very welcome. -Brian Savage, Editor