Well, here this topic rolls around again. I've never really had this nailed down until recently. I'm not a huge MOC fan, but recently I've started acquiring some of my favorites, and I realized what my favorite figures are because of it. These are in no particular order

1. Flash 1983 - Something about this figure that still rules. Flash never had a ton of appearances, but I still have a huge affinity for him and his swivel arm figure. Plus, it's hard to beat the original RAH artwork.

2. Hawk 1986 - I loved this figure as a kid. I like the changes they did in 2005 with the comic pack version, but the nostalgia and the card art does it for me.

3. Blizzard 1988 - Not sure what I dig about this figure. He was the first arctic figure I had with skis, which was a huge plus. I got my Snow Job at a garage sale, so he was my Polar Battle Bear driver. Blizzard's semi-goofy sled backpack still has a cool look, even if it does have handles.

4. Rock Viper 1990 - The accessories here are what sell it for me. Sure the rifle is huge, but it fits on his cool backpack which has a removable grappling hook. All good things for me. The mold is sleak, but with enough bulk to look cool, without looking barrel chested like some of the later RAH run. Heck, I even dig the moustache.

5. Snake Eyes 1991 - Neon blue on Snake Eyes. Who would've thought that would've worked? Although I'm not a huge fan of the legs, I love this figure as a whole. Sure his accessories are kinda crappy, but the design of the figure is awesome. I don't think I owned a single GI Joe comic until this version of Snake Eyes showed up in the comic.

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ok I'm game for this. Speaking ARAH only, in no particular order:

1. 1985 Shipwreck - he looked completly diferent from the normal army greens. He was a sailor representing the navy. I absolutely loved his accessories, pistol, grapple hook, and parrot. Couldn't get more stereotypical than that...oh wait there was Spirit....

2. 1985 Dusty - my first Joe. The figure was very special because I remember choosing him out of a gigantic wall of joes back in those days. I was drawn to the tan camo and the cloth piece, plus he had face paint! The bi-pod was promptly lost on the very day I opened him of course.

3. 1990 - Night Creeper - bit of a surprise but there's just something about this figure that wreaks of awesomeness. I love the camo pants and the visor. While I didn't quite get the jaggedy-sword, I loved the crossbow and the neat backpack that fit his standard curvey blade.

4. 1987 Outback - now this figure was a soldier! It seems that I have a think for camo pants! But add a torchlight to that and I'm in hog heaven. He was big, barrel-chested with "SURVIVAL" written right across - you can't get more badass than that. His face sculpt was also unique with a full feldged red beard we hadn't seen the likes of since Snow Job in '83. His weapon with sling was spectacular.

5. 1986 BAT- my favourite army builder, both in ARAH and 25A. This was a cool toy, with interchanageable hands. And I do like the yellow/black colour scheme ~ it never once crossed my mind that this robot was wearing a pants and shirt. As a kid I wished I had a hundred of them and I didn't even have one (used to play with my friend's BAT in our G.I. Joe wars)

Other honroable metions would be Dr. Mindbender, Croc Master, Crystal Ball, Falcon, Tunnel Rat, Firefly, oh the list goes on and on....but these five really pop out. You might be surprised that Bazooka doesn't make this list, but even I can face the fact that the figure wasn't as wonderful as the character! But the 25A Bazooka blows em all away!

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1. Thunder He was the third figure I received as a child, I loved his visor and head com set. He was the first Joe I had seen that wasn't part of the 82/83 team so his design really helped him stand out. Mine usually had a grunt back pack and a rip cord rifle to flesh out his Acc.

2. Blowtorch He is a bit bright, but I love the pads. In fact his entire look is awesome. Couple that with his cool gear and we have a definite keeper in my book. Removable mask that plugs into his chest, back pack and flame thrower that plugs into it. Top it off with a helmet. pure win

3. 86 Hawk Leather aviator jackets pwn.
Hawk is easily the coolest joe in town. He carries a colt .45 had a nice pack and helmet too.

4. Recondo Cool boonie cap, oldschool adventurer look, and his accessories where the coolest.

5. BBQ Nice uniform, very mission specific. not really a front line combat kinda joe, but he always work to do in my joe world.

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Purely from an accessories/looks standpoint and in no particular order:

1. Tunnel Rat v1 or v2
2. Outback
3. Rock 'n' Roll v2
4. Beachhead
5. tie between the original Viper and any '97 or newer (original mold) Alley Viper, because they just look so dang cool

V1 Zartan...Hands down my fav figure....a Definitive look, a great character, and an Awesome play features...It's a shame His play feature contributes to the figure's fragility.


V1 BAT... My fav Cobra Trooper....Very cool looking figure...


V2 Snake Eyes.... My fav look for the character...Great accessories...and a Wolf, you can't ask for much more.


Sky Striker....My fav repaint...Taking the best parts of 2 different figures and making one new awesome figure.

Cyber Viper...a figure with SOOO much potential...If only he'd come with a purple and silver paint scheme and Techno Viper weapons....this would be one figure that rules.

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1985 Flint - Flint is Joe to me. If my collection ended at one figure, this would be it. He is the perfect blend of character, a militaristic look and accessories. I can't get enough of this mold in any form. But, the original is still the best.

1983 Cobra Trooper - You've got to have a bad guy and this is the one figure that screams Cobra to me. It's a perfect mold that is draped in the simple color that defines the entiretly of Joe villains. Without him, the rest of the future army builders lose their significance.

Chinese Major Bludd - Major Bludd is one of my favorite Cobra characters and this is his best figure. Granted, you have to give him V1 accessories to really stick out. But, this is the Bludd that is, for my money, the best rendition of the character.

1985 Snake Eyes - Honestly, I can't believe I'm putting him here. But, if I only had 5 figures in my collection, this would have to be be one. One, he's Snake Eyes and no amount of dislike can overcome the fact that he's really the quintessential Joe characters. Second, the mold is amazingly detailed and perfectly colored. Finally, the accessories are the perfect complement to the figure and character. While this guy may be cliched at this point, he's still an essential figure and one that I would ensure I had.

1994 Star Brigade Roadblock - This is still one of my favorite figures. The orange color is different, but epitomizes everything I like about the final years of the vintage line. He definitely doesn't fit with the other choices, but would be one of the final figures I retained if I ever had to liquidate my collection.

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Stalker v.1, of all the original 13 he was the bad ass of the bunch.

Outback, Still one of the best figures of the line with a great mold, great accessories, and a cool character to boot.

BAT, simply put, it is iconic. 25th version is even better.

Sgt Slaughter v.1, decent enough figure, but the real life person behind the spokesman gets him on this list.

Salvo, a well sculpted figure with awesome accessories. A ton of other figures could be in his place but I like this figure so much he makes the list.

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Well I'm limiting my answer only to the ones I had as a kid. As an adult I'm a fan of the 25th line, but that's more for custom purposes. The "Joes" to me were the ones I had as a kid.

1. Steeler. I had all the original 13, and I think I got Steeler last of them all. I liked the variation in his uniform, and he's the first one I remember getting that had the arm swivel. And he came with a tank, that today might suck, but back then was the best Christmas gift ever.

2. Flint, v1. Agree completely w/ Mike T. on this one

3. Stalker v1. Here I agree with Pluv. One of the first two Joes I got. badass is right.

4. Airborne. Very cool look and cool accessories. Really looking forward to the25th version of him, since he appears to be very close to the original (unlike Steeler above).

5. Can't decide between Recondo, Snow Job and Ace. I'd say Recondo for sure had his hat been removable (I wasn't a customizer as a kid), I loved the arctic based missions in the comics, and I loved the Joe Snowmobile, so Snow Job gets heavy considertion. But I think I'd go with Ace. In hindsight, the figure was peculiar, but unique enough I really enjoyed him, and I loved the plane, so that puts him over the top for me.

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Mutt and Junkyard - This will always be my #1 Joe.

Zartan V1 - He turns green! Comes with masks! And has a sled you can tear apart!

Storm Shadow - He came out before the line (for me) got saturated with ninjas. Not only looked cool, but his backpack was awesome - holds two swords, spot for his bow, and it opened. Coolness.

Cobra Troopers - THE face of Cobra

Wet Suit V1 - At that time, I was into scuba divers. Plus, I loved the color scheme. Still can't believe I've never replaced my vintage one I've gotten rid of. Really hope to see a 25th Anniv. version that does the original justice.

Top 5 lists are always cool!


1. 1987 Psyche Out - This figure is my absolute favourite. I had several normal and even more Tiger Force versions as a kid. I really liked his comic apperances, already from his introduction around #60. The term "desceptive warfare" has grown on my and now I can really picture him in the field. In the comics though, he was usually used as a psychiatrist supporting Hawk. The figure is flawless. Great sculpt, weird and detachable accessories and a solid gun.

2. 198? Quarrel - This is a figure I have gotten hold of in the recent years, and I like it so much that I have picked up several both sealed and loose. This is a fantastic example of taking something crappy and turning it into gold. Who would have thought that using a darker flesh color, blonde hair and green/black jumpsuit would make a good figure out of the Scarlett mold? I didnt at least. Well, this figure is pure win and I would reccomend it to every collector out there. Comes with a crossbow and a bike.

3. 1988 Storm Shadow - One of those figures you just can't help play to death. Came with a red, but good sword, huge backpack and a bow. All this is freakin' cool... And then comes the claw. Arishikage tattoo for detail. Nothing beats a ninja! Card art is not shabby either.

4. 1986 Hawk - A general should always be as cool as Hawk, with leather jacket and camo pants. I'll admit, the head sculpt is not as gritty as I prefer, but this figure was always in my team when I played, and is always on display over my computer.

5. 1986 Viper - I'm not even sure how I got hold of my Viper, and if you're one of my old friends out there missing a viper, contact me. I have many now and you can have one of them. But this figure was a solid oponent to my joes. What a sculpt, so detailed. Accessories are few but more than enough.

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My list is heaviliy influenced by childhood nostalgia - the 8 figures I received for Christmas 1986 were the ones so near and dear to me (75% of my childhood collection received in one shoe-box). And they just happened to be some of the best figures in the history of the line anyway.

1986 VIPER: I recall as a kid studying my figures and determining if I ever went into battle, the Viper's uniform, gun, and backpack were what I'd want to be wearing.

1987 FALCON: Still to this date one of the top 3 best 'realistic millitary' figures ever released. He was also very well equiped. The character in the movie does not exist in my universe. I see Falcon more like Jim Hutton's Sgt. Peterson character in The Green Berets (1968).

1986 LIFELINE: I'll be the first to admit that the bright red winter garb is questionable - but for some reason I was crazy about this figure right off the bat. Partially because I had a "big brother" at the time that was a blonde haired doctor. I like his accessories, in fact I horde all variations of his radio backpack. He's a fun character and looks great hanging out of the gunners door on my Tomahawk. In my universe he uses that pistol - there's none of that whiny pacifist stuff you see in the cartoon.

1986 BAT: Holograms, detachable arm implements - whats not to love!? I recall walking home from school day dreaming about what replacement weapons I'd like on my own hand - like a circular saw, and tryig to figure out how I'd control the weapons if I had no hand. I think that's the power behind the popularity of the figure - it gets the imagination reving.

1986 ICEBERG: Can't explain it. I troop build this guy like Nova troop builds Crystal Balls. I don't go out of my way to troop build him, its just if I see him I buy him. He was part of that special 8 I got for Christmas that year, but I can't explain why I'm more fond of him than Low-light, Alpine, and Monkey Wrench.

Runners Up: Low-light, Alpine, & Monkeywrench.

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1)Cobra Commander 82-83 Perfection in plastic. The reason I got back into Joes.
2)Road Pig A favorite as a kid. Though I really dig Zartan, RP tops him for nostalgia reasons.
3)Snake Eyes 89 Favorite version of a great character. If you don't know the (comic) history of this outfit, check out issue 95.
4)Storm Shadow 84 Awesome ninja. One of the best Christmas presents ever.
5)Flak-Viper My favorite trooper. I love the Nullifier version as well.

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Care to elaborate?

CJack, I was going to put Falcon on my list, but I just had to throw in a Cobra.

1983 Airborne: Probably the best designed figure of the first three years of the line
1997 Stalker: The best version of one of the coolest characters
1983 Cobra: The best representation of the backbone of the Ruthless Terrorist Organization
1984 Firefly: 20 million bad repaints really ruined this guy, but the original is still a slick figure
1985 Buzzer: Probably because as a character he's one of the best ideas, he was never written the way his filecard claimed he was, but that filecard is really awesome.

1983 swivel-arm Grunt- The plainest of the plain, and yet has a cool all his own. The uniform, webgear, rifle and helmet combo all came together perfectly on this figure and in his plainness he tops the O13 for me.

1986 BAT- A Favorite to be sure, I searched high and low for this figure as a kid and never found one. Now that I've gone through various RAH rehashes and new-sculpt BATs, I still can't find a 25th BAT at retail (got mine in a case from BBTS).

1985 Snow Serpent The mold, colors, accessories, and specialty make this one of my very favorites from an aesthetics and mission standpoint. I love arctic troops and settings and this guy is perfect. If only he weren't limited to cold weather.

1989 Recoil I find this guy to be largely ignored yet it is a fantastic mold with great colors. People poo-poo his blue rifle, I just give him a black one and he's good to go. Very versatile and detailed. I've made him a major character in my Joeverse. I long for a decent 25th version.

2000 Snake Eyes Yes, this was my very first SE. I like the V3 mold with metallic blue highlights, and even dug the logo on his leg in a hokey way. Great figure and accessories. I never had SE as a kid so I got this one brand new off the shelf as an adult. Too bad he came with the worst Storm Shadow possible.