I've been in it since that first wave of figures way back in the 80's so I guess the only real exit for me from GI Joe and Cobra is going to be a pine box six feet under.

But I really sort of welcome the slow down the movie line is going to give me.

There is some movie stuff that I like, but I just don't see me being all over it like I was with the 25th. Which is okay because I've still got a good deal of 25th stuff that I need to catch up on thanks that crazy bombardment of wave after wave of figures for a while. So maybe the movie line gives me some time to play catch up on what I missed out on at first at retail.

With Transformers Universe being put on hold that sort forces an exit there for me because the movie toys just don't have that same magic. Until Universe come back or they get new characters with the Classic/Universe feel then I don't have to worry about spreading the hobby money out to that brand.

Lots of stuff looks appealing in the Marvel line, but I don't like all the characters so I don't see being a completest for that line. So far not much in the way of army builders so that's a plus of not having to build squads.

The Joe slow down will also give a chance to track down some other 4" goodness like Hellboy.

Ugh, and it's about time to build something else to display the figures, it sure doesn't take long to run out of display room.

So toy geek until the end, but I'm sure glad I'm going to get a bit of a breather so I'll actually have some time to enjoy what I already have or have some time for all those customizing ideas I never seem to have the time for anymore.

I don't know if i have an 'exit point' per se, but i do believe i have a 'saturation point' -- and it will be coming soon --
i'm spending the next few months working on my joe room, which is now my joe, vintage star wars, and new marvel room. and when that fills up (which it will be before i'm even done opening the tubs & boxes,) then decisions will be made about what to keep, what to sell/donate, and what to toss.

i want to be smart about my collection, but moreso, i want to be 'arty' (as in dio display), fun & accessible, and also retain some of the nostalgia.

I had a good talk with JFAK last fall about the nature of collecting, and 'collections', and it kind of opened my eyes as to what i feel i should be doing with these toys -- specifically sharing and playing with them with my kids, as well as stop being prejudiced against mixing figure styles (ARAH & 25th & Customs & Con Figs... still hate new sculpt ). So, look to see a push in the trade section or on ebay this summer, of toys that didn't make the cut, and sometime soon i'll be showing some construction wips of the new room --

i think i'll probably be spending most of my discretionary hobby money this year on dio supplies (pink foam and printer ink...,) and most of my free time sorting and setting -- and i'm looking forward to it! some of these bins haven't been gone through for years!

of course, i also have a big box on the way from bbts.com that i'm going to have to explain to the wife... luckily, my kids are getting into super heroes, so that should help a little...

i wouldn't mind a slow down in product release, actually would like it very much. and i would like to see every wave in the store, at least for as often as i get to the store, which is usually once a month (thank you, Hypno!) or less.

anywhoo, there's my two bits.

No exit point for me yet. But the movie stuff can collect dust for all I care once they hit the shelves. Overpriced junk in my books.

I think it is a good thing that everyone takes a moment to re-assess their hobby at least once a year. And this is probably the time to do it, now that G.I.Joe is coming to a real turning point.

From 1995-2006 it seems to me that the Joe brand has been on a journey to find and understand its own staying power. Sgt Savage, Extreme, renewed 12", Joe vs Cobra, Spy Troops, Valor Vs Venom, Sigma 6....these are all things that still hold an element of fun for me. But I don't think that I can look at them and feel that G.I.Joe was truly redefined for a new generation. At least, not with any staying power.

The '07-'09 25th line to me was just a big celebration and time for our hearts and wallets to reflect upon what we truly appreciate about G.I.Joe. That celebration serves as a commencement for Joe truly moving forward. We have gotten updates to the bulk of the 82-94 run. Imo, it is certainly time to move on and allow anything passed by to trickle in.

I don't want G.I.Joe to share the fate of the Star Wars line where constant resculpts of the same design cause interest in anything new to dwindle. I know the Darth Vader on the shelf now looks awesome, but what will he look like in 5 years? Probably better, so there is never a reason in the present for me to buy one. But with G.I.Joe there is a greater creative license to revisit a character and alter how it was previously done. Giving a previous design a new sculpt is wonderful, but not on a yearly basis.

Anyway, that is why I'll be sticking with G.I.Joe. I think the movie line looks great (aside from the plastic skirts....and those crappy launchers...but Marauder John can make that all better). And I'm looking forward to where it takes things next.

I was done with Joes years ago. I might pick up one figure from each wave if they are really, really

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Agreed. Although time may tell, I would bet there was no generation of new fans created from the late 1990s to the mid 2000s. Many that got into the hobby were exposed to G.I.JOE in the 1980s. The piss poor attempt at marketing at kids for over a decade has made G.I.Joes fall into the dollar store territory. Most kids today don't know what G.I.Joe is. Sigma 6 did nothing to make a impact.

With the pending movie, there might be some hope at getting that next generation of fans interested (i.e. kids). But if the movie toy line fails, Hasbro better not look at us collectors as the scapegoat. Spring load accessories are aimed for kids, not collectors. Heck, the movie is not aimed for collectors either. Plus collectors have done their fair share to keep the Joe brand going through some lean years. Many, including myself, are going to use the movie as a break. That isn't my Joe I grew up with. Chances are the toy line will collect dust just like other movie toy lines (i.e. Star Wars, Transformers, Spider Man etc.).

The avalanche of Joe product released last year (i.e. 5 years worth of figures released into one year) was the final straw that broke many people's backs. I don't blame them for taking a break.

I don't think GI Joe will go down the same path though as Star Wars.

Star Wars is a bit limited by having to revolve around the films mostly. Yes they do have some expanded universe things, but the bulk of the Star Wars franchise revolves around the films or the new cartoon series which also revolves around the films.

GI Joe isn't as limited because instead of just some films they can always draw on what's on in R&D for new vehicle ideas or find inspiration for characters from the new crop of brave men and women in uniform who keep the real military going.

Yes we are always going to have Duke figures left and right, Snake Eyes figures left and right, Cobra Commander can't turn down a repaint any more. But then GI Joe is about more than just a core of characters because it's not super powers that make them a hero. So there is always room in GI Joe for new characters.

Ha ha, and unlike Vader at least Snake Eyes can change up his looks so at least you feel like you are getting something different with Commando Snake Eyes, Ninja Snake Eyes, and Arctic Snake Eyes, unlike Vader who can really only be better sculpts.

Yes we get a little of the Star Wars thing going on, but I don't think we have to worry about it too much. At most it's just having to skip some figures here and there because we've already got enough Duke figures.

So yea I think what makes GI Joe and Cobra so cool is there is always room for new. Ha ha, even Larry Hama seems on the new train with the new wrinkles in the comic book.

What s really hilarious about that statement is how much SW looks fresher than joe right now. Look at the most recent wave: Obi-Wan superarticulated (Awesome), Luke and han in ST disguse (both SA as well, Versital since they can both be used as regular stormtroopers), Space Trooper (whom without his gear can be a regular ST, but with gear is a uniue army builder, what I had hoped for Para-Viper and Bazooka Viper), Jawa with WED droid (Granted Jawas have been done, but its an all new droid with it), Brainiac (Never done before, all new character), Wolsia (All new character never released before), Trinto Duba & Dice Ibegion (all new characters never done before). The whole wave was new molds except the ST's as well.

What new characters were in the last joe wave? And how many new molds too.

I would see what you meant if it wasn't for the fact you can look over and SW has somehow managed to stay fresh and not stagnant.



Again that would be nice, but its not happening, Last new "Realistic vehicle" mgiht have been the f-22 type plane from a few years ago, maybe the hummer (trying to remember which came first, I think they were the same time actually). Ice Sabre (From same time frame) is definatly not in that catagory, and don't get me started on Spy Troops stuff like Road Rebel ect (anyone remember Battle Luge guy, funny but I doubt very serious that Hasbro got that one from R&D Department)



Problem is Vader has had about 1/3 of the releases of SE in the past 3 years, and a majority of snake eyes "Unique" outfits were this year, most of the rest were just variations on his previous ones (Commando and Ninja fall into this catagory). Hasbro is smart enough not to saturate the market with Vader (which is why his battle damaged version is so hard to find and Snake Eyes battle damaged version warms the pegs).

Don't like SW that is your perogative, but the model big H is useing there is working, has worked since July last year, they have been hard to keep in stock (and we aren't talking the case every few months trick joe pulled, this is cases upon cases and pegs still get empted)

I really wish H would adopt the model to joe, but its not going to happen from what I see.

Star Wars does have a larger collector base too, hehe. I know a lot of us don't like to admit that, but there are a lot more people out there buying Star Wars. Due to that, figures tend to disappear faster. It also doesn't help that initial shipments of G.I.Joe are so low and then all of a sudden it's shipped in a huge quantity. Star Wars gets a good shipment from the start and tappers off after that. I don't know why Hasbro does G.I.Joe backwards. I saw all of this practice when I worked at KB. We'd get 6 or more case of Star Wars figures at one time and about a month later that shipment is down to 2 or 3 cases. Then finally either the next wave hits or we just got 1 case of the previous wave. The main characters would always sell out. Lando figures and others like that would be the peg warmers.

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I just got a lando on clearance at the Benton Walmart, shocking, I know.

nice storm trooper in there, though.

I was just reading this thread again, it seems ironic that too much product is just as bad as not enough,

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Actually I would argue its too much product not reaching anyone. This is the pattern ever since the spy troops days.

Sparse waves through the year, around october it seems wavews increse frequency, a deluge around november and you have to rush to get what you want while trying to figure out how on earth you will cover christmas (since the stuff will disappear so fast there is little hope of a non-fan catching it for your stocking). Reset back to normal. Part of that is a bulk of product for christmas of course, but there is a point you have to say "Huh?"

This year was so fast alot of stuff didn't even get into many stores (I know cause I have "people" ). Anyway I only saw trackker wave in the store once, I never actually saw the next wave (aquired that online at inflated prices), and I have yet to see the resolute wave (although I heard it did arrive once). How on earth is all that product going to reach the shelf with the current systems most stores have, it can't.

I'm feeling kinda burned on that 5th MASS set too, as well as a couple of local collecting friends. I hope they go with a broader release for that set, otherwise my MASS will be a modified Weather Dominator permanently. I'll be mostly out on movie stuff due to pricing, but I'm sure I'll pick up an item or two.

For years, I've justified picking up stuff for LA, while letting much of it sit. Happily, I'm now in a position to capitalize on those years of building up. It's been slow going, tho, due to other demands. I've found collecting actually sucks up as much creative time as it tends to inspire.

My Cobra army is somewhat overwhelming. It's pretty much what I always wanted it to be. So the motivation to keep building it just isn't there. I figure I'm not ever going to get more excited about Joe than I was at the 07 con.

I've accumulated Joes outright for nostalgia, or because they were cheap. Nostalgia is wearing a bit thin and nothing's cheap anymore. Much like Zed, I've branched out, but I'm kinda glad the Indy line went away, as that might've kept consuming my seemingly shrinking income. Still looking forward to a few Terminator and super hero items, plus the occasional SW purchase.

Just pick up things that interest me these days, and stuff that won't break the bank.

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Dude, Tell me about it, I used to have this strict rule of vintage army builders of 5 to 3 (depending on specialty) and once JvC hit I broke that off badly. A few years later I didn't have the room for my army. I ended up culling them out and selling them off, and its still a bit unmanageable. But I have given up army building since, I suppose the other part of that is the fact hasbro repaints figures alot as well so I really don't have to army build (plus it gives cobra a more "thrown together' and "mix and match" look that I feel is perfect for them as they wouldn't have the resourses to have a uniform army as much as they look cool.

Also the Indy line is what got my feelers branching out, I saw indy and had to have the figs and suddenly noticed Star Wars was looking alot better than ever. As such I tend to thank Indy for that cause I feel alot better about my collecting (evne though its chaotic as hell right now )

I had an army building problem too, where it was just chaotic and all over the place. One day I realized that I didn't need five or ten or fifty of some environmentally specific trooper and so I only army build figures that I need to occupy vehicles and playsets. Like the Viper-Pit sets? I bought two full cases of those (12 sets X 6 figures = 72) because they can fill my HISS tanks, Stinger Jeeps, Terror Drome, etc. and make my collection look full and complete when its on display. They fulfill a purpose.

Back in 2002, when those gray/blue urban camo Alley-Vipers came out I bought from eBay, I bought cases, I bought and bought and bought those figures. I have those large freezer storage baggies full of 2002 Alley-Vipers, more then I'll ever know what to do with them - and I have NO idea what TO do with them.

I've seen some INSANE collections of troopers and while I appreciate that level of mental illness, you can't do a lot with 140 shelves of troopers standing at attention.

Now, I just want one of each. My army building days are behind me. But even then, if you buy one-of-everything right now, you'll end up with close to a dozen Cobra Troopers or variants thereof - Hasbro kinda forces you down that hoarding path, huh?

I'm the opposite... I love the new stuff so much, I got rid of all my original series figures. It seems weird, because the '80s Joes are the ones I grew up on, but I guess Joe isn't about nostalgia for me. I just want the best-looking version of the character there is. The 25th line has given me soooooo many action figures I only dreamed of... the ultimate battle-helmet Cobra Commander, Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes look like they just jumped out of comic issue 21, an Eel with about fifty pieces of gear... the list goes on and on. After awhile, it got to where I couldn't even look at my original Joes without cringing... so out they went.
Now... the jury is still out on the movie figures. It just depends on if they 'fit' with my 25th Joes. But as far as an exit point... I already 'exited' my original collection... but I'm sticking with the new figures.
Until a new line does them better, anyway.

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