Thankfully all I had to do was submit my own list of 20 and then let Under Scoop Fire put the actual list together (and accept all the hate mail).  I’m free and clear!

Well, not totally free and clear.  One of my main jobs on the participation side of things was to submit thoughts under the G.I. Joe umbrella, and I think I represented that very well…with one glaring ommision.

But don’t take my word for it.  Hit up the UnderScoopFire Top 100 Toys of all Time list to check it out yourself.  First of all, a caveat.  The “Top 100″ toys currently only has 90 listed.  You’ll have to check in tomorrow to listen to the Under Scoop Fire Podcast, Episode 21 to hear the top 10, and then the final top 10 will be posted shortly thereafter.

Enjoy!

And remember…all hate mail is addressed to UnderScoopFire.  I’m innocent!

Click the Read the Rest of this Story link below for the full details.

BEST 3-3/4 INCH G.I. JOE FIGURES OF 2011

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	Edwin “Lifeline” Steen -  “Hasbro took a character I didn’t really care about,  loaded him with great accessories and sculpted detail, and he became an instant favorite.”- Justin, Generals Joes
	Low-Light – “Hasbro took accessories to a new level in the 25th-style era with Low-Light. It’s what you would have expected from Hasbro in the 1986 A Real American Hero line, had the technology been there. The single bullet is just unreal.”- Rich, A Real American Hero
	Shadow Tracker – “When this figure first debuted at the 2009 JoeCon, I was in awe at how cool he looked. I couldn’t wait for it. But then the line was shuffled around and delayed a few months and I was honestly worried we wouldn’t see this figure released. But Hasbro finally did get it in our hands with an updated head sculpt that makes the figure even better looking. Also coupled with the fact it is a new character, this figure is full of win.”- Jason, The Terror Drome
	Storm Shadow (G.I. Joe: Renegades) – “Already having created the ‘ultimate Snake Eyes’ in the Pursuit of Cobra line, Hasbro turns their attention to his sword brother Storm Shadow and manages to not only make an ‘ultimate Storm Shadow’ but also make an incredible Renegades version of the character as well.  The fact that he can hold all of his knives and throwing stars is an amazing bonus.”- Justin, Generals Joes
	Zombie-Viper -  “A new and innovative character that latches onto a pop-culture trend (something vital to keep the license relevant) and at the same time feels as though it fits right into the G.I. Joe cannon.”- Rich, A Real American Hero

BEST 3-3/4 INCH G.I. JOE VEHICLES OF 2011

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	Black Dragon VTOL (G.I. Joe: Renegades) – “Though it fell a little short not being able to hold more than a pilot (in the G.I. Joe: Renegades cartoon it was a troop transport), it still manages to be at the top of my list. Some actually view this as an update to the vintage FANG II helicopter with some great gimmicks that give the VTOL  play value, too. It doesn’t hurt that we also get one great looking pilot too, the Air-Viper. Even though the body is mostly existing tooling, the new head sculpt and paint apps help it shine as one the coolest pilots/drivers for Cobra so far.” - Jason, The Terror Drome
	Sky Striker XP-21F – “Something I didn’t think we would be seeing any time soon, but turned out to be a great update/re-release. Loved the Skystriker as a kid and this update is just as fun. Also the updated Ace is an added bonus.” - Jason, The Terror Drome
	V.A.M.P. MK-II -  “Great design from the Pursuit of Cobra version with better colors and an awesome driver.”- Justin, Generals Joes

BEST LIMITED EDITION / EXCLUSIVE G.I. JOE ITEM OF 2011

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Zarana (San Diego Comic-Con Exclusive) -  “It’s unfortunate that this figure was released as a convention exclusive, since Zarana plays a relatively significant role in the G.I. Joe universe–at times–and a lot of collectors have been asking for a figure of this character since the 25th Anniversary line. Hasbro did a fantastic job with crisp, clean paint lines especially on the makeup–from the eyeshadow to the lipstick–as well as transitioning the pink tights showing beneath the torn jeans.“- Rich, A Real American Hero

BEST COLLECTOR-GRADE G.I. JOE ITEM OF 2011

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Cobra Viper Sixth-Scale Figure -  “Sideshow Collectibles has done some amazing things with the G.I. Joe license and their sixth-scale figures have intricate detail the like of which we’ve yet to see in a 12-inch G.I. Joe format. The Cobra Viper is a prime example of how Sideshow has been able to interweave a futuristic military feel with the classic G.I. Joe look to produce a figure that is both true to its iconic form and believable enough to be part of a modern military unit.“- Rich, A Real American Hero

BEST G.I. JOE COMIC / ANIMATED / FILM SERIES OF 2011

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	Cobra (IDW Publishing) -  “Hands down the best G.I. Joe media property in 2011. I honestly look forward to this series each, and every month. I love what writer Mike Costa is doing each time a new Cobra character shows up–I’m eager to see what approach he’s going to take with them. Like what he’s done with Tomax & Xamot, Croc Master, Crystal Ball, Serpentor and Big Boa is great, a lot of fun to read. He is writing THE G.I. Joe title/series that I have been waiting a long time for.”- Jason, The Terror Drome
	G.I. Joe: Renegades -  “Hasbro has often tried to shy away a bit from the military angle of G.I. Joe in their animated series, but with Renegades they found just the right formula for success.  It certainly wasn’t perfect, but it had started telling a great story and truly reinventing the G.I. Joe mythology before Hasbro and The Hub unsummarily pulled the plug.  The entire atmosphere for G.I. Joe: Renegades was one of the highlights of my G.I. Joe collecting life in recent years, and its absence will be sorely missed, no matter how successful Retaliation is in my eyes.”- Justin, Generals Joes
IN RETROSPECT Some may have thought that putting this list together was easy, but it wasn’t. There were a lot of great G.I. Joe items in 2011, including some amazing figures from the end of the Pursuit of Cobra line through to the 30th Anniversary line. Even though we narrowed our list down to a few select items, I’m sure we can say–in consensus–that based on what we got in 2011 (well aside from a few repaints, looking at you Croc Master and Blowtorch) it was a great year for G.I. Joe. We hope you enjoyed reading our retrospective; it was a lot of fun for the three of us to put together and maybe we changed your perspective on a figure or comic enough to check it out. We’ll see you again next year with a list of our favorite stuff from 2012, which is sure to be a huge year with G.I. Joe: Retaliation only a few months away.

So obviously, when he asked us to submit something for their 2011 “Year in Review” episode, we didn’t hesitate to comply.

Check out the latest episode of the Fwooshcast right here!

First, I’d like to point out Indigo Studios, who were apparently the folks behind the Pursuit of Cobra paintings that served as backdrops for the slideshow at the G.I. Joe Convention in 2009.  They may have been used elsewhere, but I’m not sure where.  All I know is I am absolutely in love with these paintings, and I am fired up that there is now a place to see them in all of their medium res glory.  They really capture the whole Pursuit of Cobra aesthetic pretty perfectly, I must say.  I do find it a bit odd that the human characters don’t bare much resemblance to the Pursuit of Cobra characters we got, but the vehicles and environments make up for that.  You can find Indigo Studios right here, and I’ve mirrored the fantastic images below.

[View with PicLens]

Next are some images from SoupGraphix.com, who appear to be a graphic design company much more animated in spirit, but equally cool.  They appear to be behind some of the recent Convention logos, and apparently had some input into the G.I. Joe: Renegades logo, too.  There are some pretty neat ideas below that we have not seen anywhere.  Question is, are they unused logos from projects past, or potential clues about stuff still to come?  Regardless, I’ve mirrored a few of the images below, hit up SoupGraphix.com to see the rest.

[View with PicLens]

I friggen love this stuff.  Thanks again to notpicard for his eagle eye lookin’ out!

With the (albeit remote) possibility out there that G.I. Joe: Retaliation may re-invent the wheel yet again, I really got thinking…over the past 28 years, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero has undergone a number of format changes and face lifts.  Which were the best or most impactful?

Now for this list, I’m not counting the o-ring.  That was a standard from day one.  I’m specifically talking about enhancements.  A change or progression that moved the toyline along and continued to revolutionize the industry.  So, let’s get to it.

10. Ankle Joints

One of the more overlooked articulation points, up until the time when figures started coming with a swivel ankle, they had to balance precariously, usually with one foot tilted up in the air, which obviously isn’t the most realistic look.  Working with the swivel ankle, the up and down joints also help in maintaining a realistic pose and allowing for much more flexibility and poseability, even with such a minor change.

09. Mid-Torso joint

A source of much debate amongst the G.I. Joe fandom, especially when the 25th Anniversary was first rearing it’s head.  Many fans complained about how the joint looked, and even in recent cases (such as Sgt. Slaughter) aesthetic appeal definitely took a hit for the sake of functionality.  However, I do think the mid torso joint at this point is a critical component of the figure’s poseability.  In looking at a real human being and they way they move, they don’t have a waist joint, they twist at the torso, as the figure does, so maintaining that realistic articulation has helped many fans get over the loss of the o-ring.  As the Pursuit of Cobra and 30th Anniversary figures have evolved, Hasbro has only made this joint more effective, seamlessly blending sculpted items on the chest over the joint to help conceal it. Lifeline is an especially good example of this with the row of pouches falling above that joint, which retains articulation but doesn’t sacrifice aesthetics.

08. Neck balls and head sockets

The move from removable heads (with neck balls attached) to the neck ball and head socket format is something that truly enhanced the customization ability and interchangability of the G .I. Joe brand.  Sure, heads were removable back then, too, but you needed to remove a back screw to do it, and not all neck balls were compatible with every torso.  Of course, that same issue is still present here, but the fact remains that Hasbro can now easily include swappable heads that only take seconds to switch.  In fact, that’s something they’ve done a lot with the recently released Storm Shadow, Renegades Cobra Commander as well as the Pursuit of Cobra Snake Eyes.  This flexibility provides a lot of enhancement possibilities to released figures, allowing for something like Storm Shadow, which can serve as a Renegades version as well as a true 30th Anniversary “realistic” homage.

07. Pistol Grips

As great as the generic “c grips” were for so many years, allowing for holding weapons as well as doing other functions, Hasbro has gotten exceedingly good at designing the pistol grip hands so they can realistically hold weapons with the fingers in the trigger guards.  Sure, this impacts the ability to do other things like punches, etc…  but the grips are designed well enough that they could function in either regard.

It’s been a great evolution, and a huge improvement over a lot of the 25th Anniversary figures, which were saddled with clunky, almost closed hands that prevented a lot of accurate weapon holding.

06. Swivel Wrists

This was one thing that the new sculpt era brought to the table that made a very big difference on the o-ring figures.  Figures like Barrel Roll and Recondo ended up working amazingly well with those swivel wrists while it was a glaring omission on figures like Blackout.  Now pretty much every figure comes with the swivel wrists (and still others come with the multi-jointed wrists) and it adds incredible flexibility to the figures as they stand.

05. Separately sculpted “Secondaries”

Even more important than the mid-torso joint in my opinion, are the various different sculpted “Secondaries” that go on top of them.  This is probably the single greatest thing that the 25th Anniversary brought to the table with the idea that basic figures could be more or less the same underneath, with different vests, webgear, etc…  applied on top in order to create entirely different figures.

While Hasbro experimented relatively successfully with the 25th Anniversary line, they’ve been able to really push forward in recent years with the Pursuit of Cobra and 30th Anniversary figures.  Taking figures like Snake Eyes and Shock Trooper and adding some key pieces to them have given us some great Cobra Trooper and Cobra Viper updates, not to mention the Steel Brigade and other tweaked figures along the way.  It really has redefined the way Hasbro produces their figures.

04. Improved hip sockets (1983)

While the whole “Diaper Crotch” phenomenon got collectors all riled up with the 25th Anniversary line, but what a lot of collectors might not realize is the first controversy over hip movements happened way back in 1983!  The initial release of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line not only had the straight-armed figures, but also had these wide and clunky “crotch” pieces that didn’t allow for great range of motion of the hips.  When the swivel arms were added to those figures, the “crotch” was also thinned down quite a bit, which helped mobility and also reduced the risk of breakage.  Didn’t eliminate it of course, but it did reduce it.  This was a huge improvement over the first year figure releases.

03. Ball jointed head

Before the head became a separate piece that joined the neckball, way back in 1985 figures started getting released with ball-joint necks, allowing them to look up and down as well as left-to-right.  Way back in the mid 80′s this was a revolutionary articulation adjustment, far above what other toylines were doing at the time.  This is just another example of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero setting action figure design trends in the 80′s.

Along with that improved neck motion, the figures also had a tendency to be sculpted a bit larger and more muscular, which really separated some of those later releases from previous versions.   Even with the larger stature, though, the obvious bonus was the better range of motion of the head, which made for some very cool new poses for your favorite army man.

02. Double-Jointed Knees

This was an amazing articulation adjustment and improved figure mobility 100%.  Far and away the most important enhancement to come out of the 25th Anniversary line, the double jointed knees allow for much more realistic crouching, walking, and even better standing balance from the figures themselves.  Over the years, Hasbro has perfected the design, able to combine mobility and sturdiness, giving us a nice solid knee joint that holds the figure upright yet still allows for awesome movement.  This was one heck of a great addition, and I think with double knees and swivel wrists, the o-ring figures could still be a very viable format for figure design.

01. Swivel Arm Battle Grip!

Yes, ladies, gentlemen, and Joe fans, this is definitely the greatest single articulation enhancement in G.I. Joe history.  The infamous “Swivel Arm Battle Grip”!  All of the other above articulation changes would be for naught if your 4″ army men couldn’t swivel their arms to hold their weapons properly.  The addition of a simple twist joint in the bicep of the figure made a remarkable change to the basic way that action figures could move.

Even with no other competition in the action figure market back in 1983, Hasbro still took it upon themselves to improve on an already nice design, and slimmed down the figures, increased the hip motion, and added the swivel arm battle grip, which completely re-invented action figure design in pretty much all formats.  That simple joint addition made huge changes to how well they could hold their weapons, or even just stand at attention, and I would argue that no matter what other articulation changes they make going forward, none will match what this one did.  To me swivel arm battle grip has always been synonymous with Destro, he’s the first figure I remember seeing it on, and it totally changed the landscape of my toy buying youth.  Once I had a swivel arm battle grip figure I simply couldn’t accept anything less.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero has always been known for its well articulated and revolutionary design.  Even though enhanced articulation is much more the norm now than it was 30 years ago, G.I. Joe continues to lead the way and re-establish the baseline for action figure design.  The above design and articulation changes are only part of the reason why.