****** GI JOE 3 3/4" NEWSLETTER ****** Issue #8 March 27, 1997 http://www.wiu.edu/users/mucds/joehq.htm Editor: Corey Stinson (mucds@bgu.edu) Contributing editor: Benjamin Thomas (bithomas@eos.ncsu.edu) Webmaster: Corey Stinson (mucds@bgu.edu) Greetings all! Welcome to the next installment of the GI Joe 3 3/4" Newsletter. I hope you didn't think we had disappeared from the face of the planet. In fact we are alive and well but waiting for Toy Fair '97 news and just generally hectic off-line life has caused this issue to be another belated one. I'll apologize in advance for for the lack of solid news concerning '97 3 3/4" GI Joe. More to you as we get it. Table of contents: ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. The Year Of The Collector?/Return of 3 3/4" Joe 2. News Bits 3. "The End of the Beginning" (original GI Joe fan fiction) 4. Contest! 5. Customizing 3 3/4" GI Joe, Part II 6. Results of Thomas Wheeler's 3 3/4" GI Joe Survey 7. Other 3 3/4" News 8. Issue #9 mini-preview 9. Subscription Info ======================================================================== THE YEAR OF THE COLLECTOR? Will 1997 be the year that popular toy lines of the recent past make a comeback? 1996 already paved the way for the return of Star Wars 3 3/4" action figures and related toys which has carried over into nothing short of a phenominal success thus far in 1997. Hasbro has strong plans to keep classic collector's editions of 12" GI Joe in stores this year. These 12" Joes are consistently a sell-out within the adult toy collector community. I just saw the first of Hasbro/Kenner's Machine Wars Transformers (apparently a Kay-Bee exclusive). As a former Transformers collector these struck a nostalgic nerve and appear to be marketed toward collectors as much as kids. I see a trend forthcoming, a trend toward Hasbro/Kenner factoring the adult toy collector market more seriously into their plans for new toys. The popularity of Star Wars POTF2 clearly shows, among other things, that the 3 3/4" action figure is still a viable product. This, combined with a seemingly renewed interest on the part of Hasbro/Kenner in the adult collector market, could result in good news for the one toy line that has yet to make his return... 3 3/4" GI Joe. THE RETURN OF 3 3/4" GI JOE The question that is being asked most frequently these days is: "Where are the 3 3/4" GI Joe gift sets that were promised for March 1997?" March has come and almost gone and there are no gift sets to be found. Here is a brief recap on last year's events leading to expectations for the gift sets. Hasbro originally proposed two gift sets in late Summer 1996 and even showed a photograph in a retailer's catalog. In Fall 1996, at the GI Joe Convention, Hasbro again showed the (slightly revised) gift sets. (These images can be seen at http://www.wiu.edu/users/mucds/joehq.htm) Not long after a rumor surfaced that the gift sets were cancelled. It is now March and there are no gift sets in stores. This issue of the Newsletter was delayed in expectation of new 3 3/4" GI Joe product announcements by Hasbro/Kenner at the February 1997 Toy Fair. Alas, they did not announce any plans at that time. It seems that Hasbro's early announcements were more in the spirit of "testing the waters" of 3 3/4" GI Joe interest rather than announcing a definite forthcoming product. Keep the faith though! The following information has been circulating in the Joe collector community: - Thomas Wheeler reports that Hasbro is defintely planning on bringing back 3 3/4" GI Joe product (Cobra and all) due in part to the persistence of collectors. Thomas was heard to say that "we won't be disappointed." - A James DeSimone Collector's Club mailing announced a rumor that new 3 3/4" Joe, at least initially, would probably be a Toys R Us exclusive and that there would be figures and vehicles. The line would be done by the same group that did the 1992-1994 Joes. This information has yet to be proved accurate or inaccurate. - Cotswold's Collectibles reported that Hasbro is working on a 3 3/4" Joe product called "Stars & Stripes Collection", intended for fall 1997 release. - Rumors persist that Hasbro is consulting with prominent 3 3/4" Joe collectors concerning the return of the product. Regretably, more solid information is not available at this time (at least not to me). When any solid news becomes available it will be passed along to you as soon as possible, probably in the form of a special Newsletter mailing list mailing. Until then, Yo Joe! - we'll be seeing you again. ======================================================================== NEWS BITS I'd like to invite all readers, starting this issue, to participate in a new Newsletter section called "Letters To The Editor". Do you like what you're reading in this Newsletter? Can you think of some things you'd like to see written about? Are you sick and tired of the "Other 3 3 /4" News" section? We want to hear _your_ opinion! I can't guarantee that we'll be able to print all the letters we receive but we'll do our best. Send your comments, criticisms, suggestions, and just general talk to the editor at . Hope to hear from you soon! The GI Joe 3 3/4" Survey hosted on the Newsletter HQ home page will conclude April 15, 1997. Submit your opinion if you haven't done so yet! Results will be compiled and presented in the next issue of the Newsletter. I'd like to thank Adrian Faulkner , author of the UK Joes article which appeared in Newsletter issue #6, for his excellent work. I was unable to credit him properly at the time. Thanks Adrian! I'd also like to take a moment to thank Ben Thomas for his continued support of the GI Joe 3 3/4" Newsletter by way of his original fan fiction. Drop Ben an email at and let him know what you think of his work. Everyone should take a look at James McFadden's new GI Joe Comic home page featuring character biographies and comic summaries. A new summary each week as well as a summary archive. The URL is: http://pw1.netcom.com/~mikejmc/gihome.html The Custom Figure Gallery on the Newsletter HQ home page is going to be seeing a lot of new additions in the next two months. Be sure you look back there from time to time to see the latest creative efforts of your fellow Joe collectors. The adding of filecards to the Newsletter HQ Filecard Gallery has run into a brick wall as I need some images to continue. Does anyone have available for scanning the following: Sgt. Slaughter's Maurader's cardback pics, Night Force series 2 cardback pics, Tiger Force cardback pics, or Tiger Force logo? If you can help contact me at . Any help is appreciated. ======================================================================== G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero The End of the Beginning 1/27/97-3/5/97 by Ben Thomas or ------------------------------------------------- Pardon me for changing my mind, but Destro, Zartan, the Baroness, and company are back with Cobra. Forget everything regarding that matter that I discussed in SOTD part four, except that Darklon is still alive. ------------------------------------------------- Dashiell Faireborne stared intently into the mirrors lining the wall on the other side of the bar as his thoughts wandered to the events of the past two months. Before that time, he woke up every day to basically serve one purpose, defense against the terrorist nation of Cobra. There had been memorable leave vacations, and he even got to work with his significant other, but the basic concept for the past nine years had remained the same. Nine years of service on the G.I. Joe team, and despite the multitude of changes brought about by the team's involvement in world affairs, nothing had really been solved when the disbanding order was issued. Now, though, he woke up every day to face a different army. While Cobra brought the latest implements of destruction to the battlefield, the new breed equipped themselves with pens, binders, and backpacks. The modern college student certainly presented a new challenge to the Special Forces hero. As a professor of Political Science at Kansas University, his suit, his tie, and his keen mind served as his only defense. But, he understood, the time had come to prove his worth as a Rhodes Scholar. Still, the thought of tomorrow only reiterated the extent of the change in his life. Tomorrow would truly change him forever. Already, he had adjusted to the daily struggle in the new economic market, and the logical progression of events led him to make the fateful decision. "All lines calling Flint! All lines calling Flint!" Marvin "Roadblock" Hinton called, utilizing his radio-imitating voice. "Do you copy, Flint?" Dashiell smiled as he swung a half-circle in his seat. Collected before him were some of his closest friends from those nine years of service; the most notable among them were Craig "Rock 'N Roll" McConnell, Vince Falcon, Lonzo "Stalker" Wilkinson, Charlie "Spirit" Iron-Knife, and Steven "Gung Ho" Lafitte. All of them had come on extremely short notice, which spoke volumes to the former Warrant Officer about the bonds formed during their time together. "I think we all knew this was going to happen someday," "Wild" Bill Hardy announced amidst the raucous scene, "but I always thought ol' Dash here was a procrastinator!" "Yeah, but can you blame--" Tormod "Tripwire" Skoog began as he accidentally knocked his glass and its contents into his lap. The friendly group laughter escalated to an even greater volume, spurned by Tormod's mishap. "I thought you kicked that habit long ago!" Andrew "Footloose" Meyers, who was seated beside the clumsy ex- Mine Detector, added. ###### "Stunning, if I might comment!" Armada declared. Slice and Dice stood before him, for the first time witnessing the armor that would soon become their new outfits. Slice carefully scrutinized the newly-created masterpiece of cold metal, the synthesis of careful engineering and demented ingenuity. Metal by itself meant nothing, but the exo-skeleton had been aesthetically designed to reflect the assassin's inner character. Only weeks before, his continuing presence as a Cobra operative met with serious challenge after Cobra Commander obtained the services of Storm Shadow and Billy via Doctor Mindbender. Now, though, he had not only firmly re-established his standing as a feared warrior, but but he had also been given the means by which he could become an even greater threat than before! "It looks perfect from the outside," the ninja swordsman finally commented. "I would not have believed that you could design such a fashionable piece, but you seem to have a great number of talents which you have not made known to us yet. Obviously, however, looks will not win battles for me. What are the capabilities of this suit?" "I was hoping you would ask!" Armada cheerfully replied, rising from his work terminal interface. "The armor works to enhance the existing abilities of the user, most noticeably in the form of added strength, greatly increased physical protection, and electronically-enhanced senses. Best of all, there is no 'trade-off' for these abilities, not even decreased mobility!" "As I am certain you have determined by now, I based these models on the same construction as my own exoskeleton," the island commander continued. "You both saw the results of my encounter with Snake Eyes, and I have never received nor sought any training in the martial arts." "I suppose then that I have no further objections," Slice declared as Dice wordlessly nodded in agreement. Armada glanced back to the entrance of the laboratory sector, almost as if he were expecting someone to emerge. "Now, we need to test the suits . . ." ###### "Sludge Vipers, line up in firing positions!" Cesspool commanded. "The time has come to stand up for our rights as Cobras!" The trio of Sludge Vipers followed the order immediately. In single- file formation, Plasmatox cannons resting upon their shoulders, they unleashed the powerfully-corrosive stream into the double lab doors. All parts of the fortress had been sturdily constructed, but Plasmatox could eat through most alloys known to man. Armada, Slice, and Dice all stared at the former CEO with expressions that reflected their lack of impression, despite all of them wearing helmets. "Knocking would have kept this place cleaner, Lieutenant," Armada coolly stated. "Maybe, but you wouldn't have listened!" Cesspool angrily rebuked. "Why are you wastin valuable time and resources on your foolish projects? The G.I. Joe team is probably planning a hostile takeover as we speak!" Armada continued to regard D'Alleva's aggressions humorously. "Lieutenant, in what manner are my projects foolish?" "Well, you've built that giant hang-glider, only to let it collect dust in the storage hangar! All of that capital wasted!" Steam began to rise from the Environmental Operative's ears. "Yes, it is collecting dust at the moment," Armada agreed, much to Cesspool's surprise. "The missions for which Cobra Commander and I envisoned its use have yet to reach the level of development for which it would be required. However, the Black Phoenix will be used for one of those missions later this week." "Fine! What about this fashion show you're holding with Slice and Dice? The ninjas aren't going to serve any useful purpose in the struggle against the world powers!" Cesspool exhorted, his words beginning to overlap each other. "Bungling simple assignments and fighting as zombie warriors seem to comprise their entire worth! Stock in Cobra will drop to record lows now!" "Speaking of wastes, Lieutenant, your little rant is taking up too much of my time." The island commander rose from his seat, standing a head taller than the CEO. "Return to your duties now, or I may decide to eliminate your entire paycheck instead of simply deducting the cost of the doors!" Cesspool refused to look at Armada any longer; no sight disgusted him more, not even an environmental rally. In that instant, the fateful decision was made, and action was immediately required. "Sludge-Vipers, we need a reorganization!" "Perhaps you would like to cancel that order, D'Alleva," Armada suggested. "You could considerably increase your chances for survival." "I'll do nothing--" Cesspool defiantly began, but the cold edge of the blade cut his thought short. Slowly looking around, he observed in horror as Dice stood over the unconscious bodies of his Sludge-Viper complement. Armada laughed heartily at the CEO's misfortune. "As you can see, the ninjas can serve important purposes! Unfortunately for you, D'Alleva, I think some downsizing is in order! Slice, Dice, you gentlemen know the procedure." "NO!!!" D'Alleva pleaded uncharacteristically. On many occasions, his ego superseded his common sense, but this time his lack of better judgement would change his future dramatically. "Cobra cannot afford to lose my talents! My financial savvy, my business connections, my--" "Farewell, Mr. D'Alleva," Armada sharply interrupted. "Pardon me if I hold back these tears . . ." ###### On this clear morning, the sun lent its wealth of brilliance to the third closest planet. One of the areas fortunate enough to receive the benefits of the star's generosity was the Research Triangle Park near Raleigh, North Carolina. As the name implied, the collection of businesses and research facilities contributed tremendously in terms of technological innovations and advances. One such facility could be found at the offices of Jet-Tech, Inc. Much of the research and development conducted at the site was devoted to the space program; from there, improvements upon spacecraft design took top priority. However, one major project sought to completely redesign the external protection for the astronauts. The head of the project, Dr. Gregory Scott, did not currently lend his thoughts to his job. A multi-car accident had slowed traffic on I-40 to a seemingly negative speed, and the first thorough testing of the suits capabilities was scheduled to take place an hour ago. Hurrying through the glass door at the front of the building, the receptionist Tara greeted his arrival with a smile. "Another late night on the town?" "Ha ha. Very funny!" Dr. Scott sneered. "I hear Seinfeld's looking to cast a new female part!" Tara could only laugh at the scientist's sore attitude. "I know, I know! I heard that there was a bad wreck on the Interstate, so I took the liberty of informing your buddies that you would be late." Momentarily, she returned to her typing tasks, refusing to let go of the smirk. Dr. Scott started for the hallway, but he quickly decided otherwise. "I'm sorry, Tara," he apologized, resting his arms on the desk. "I've just been under a lot of pressure lately, with a cut in funding on the horizon if we don't get results and get them yesterday!" Tara's eyes left the monitor and locked onto Dr. Scott's eyes. "Don't worry about that, Greg. Everybody's got their problems, and sometimes it gets to be too much. Now, you just try to put those problems behind you and get to work!" "Yes, ma'am!" he enthusiastically replied, saluting her. Someday he would have to find the courage to ask her out, he knew. But, there would be plenty of time for that matter in the future; right now he had to concentrate on the project. After he made it a success, he would then ask her out. "Long time, no see, Doc!" Frank Dresden announced, sticking his head out of the laboratory. Dr. Scott could only shake his head. "Is there some kind of disease going around?! First the receptionist, now one of my assistants! Comedian-itis, anyone? Jackson, you don't have it, too, do you?" "I feel fine," the voice replied from far away. "Comedian-itis . . . that must be it, Doc," Frank admitted, following Dr. Scott back into the lab. "Thanks to your not-so-prompt arrival, Jackson and I were given adequate time to prepare the test suits for the experiments. Now that you're here, though, I say that the time for preparation is over!" "You know that I want to finish this more than anyone!" Dr. Scott agreed. ###### In the special launch area of the Trager Fortress, the Black Phoenix craft, so far the only one of its kind in operation, hulked above the scurrying purple workers. For over two months, the craft had seen no action whatsoever and had laid silently in the dark storage. However, circumstances once again required its services. One distinct figure roamed among the sea of Techno-Vipers. Clad almost completely in purple, gold, and black, the supervising technician known only as Aerial observed the final flight preparations and positioned herself directly facing the door. She knew that Armada would not delay the schedule for any reason. As predicted, the double doors slid horizontally open with a whooshing sound, revealing Armada followed by Clash and Seismic. The island commander stepped forward and looked her directly in the face. "Our transport awaits!" Aerial proclaimed eagerly, motioning towards the Black Phoenix. "Have you disposed of the toxic freak?" "The fool disposed of himself," Armada admitted with a chuckle. Turning one last time to acknowledge his co-chiefs of security, he nodded to them as they nodded in response. All matters would run smoothly in his absence. "On to the mainland!" the island commander cried as the very floor rose beneath the technician and himself, transporting them to the belly of the majestic creature. ###### "What seems to be the matter, Dash?" Lonzo inquired of his friend currently occupying the passenger seat. "Don't tell me you're having second thoughts about tomorrow!" Dashiell raised his head and smiled weakly. "No, it has nothing at all to do with that. I was thinking more of the . . . unfinished business." Lonzo immediately knew what his friend implied. Everyone on the team knew that their jobs were eliminated for selfish reasons only the higher-ups knew. Cobra is no longer considered a threat, the word arrived. The current armed forces roster can handle the dangers to world security, they also heard. Lonzo always figured that the real reason could be summed up in two words: Robert Sampson. "I know how you feel, Dash," Lonzo assured him, "but we did what we could. It's obvious to me, and I'm sure it's obvious to you, too, but I'll say it again: someone didn't want us to bring Sampson back, and that someone had high connections. It couldn't have been one of our guys, even if it was a Storm Eagle that was used for the hit." By this time, the two men had reached the driveway of Dashiell's home, coincidentally their destination. Neither man moved to open the car doors, however. "That's exactly my problem, Lonzo," Dashiell countered as small raindrops began to sprinkle upon the windshield. "We were set up! The responsible people are more than likely still in their position of power. Obviously, we knew that the government operated on an agenda beyond our comprehension, but I can't feel safe knowing that we were canned just to hide an ugly truth! I don't want to enter into this without some assurance that we won't find the world completely rearranged from one day to the next!" Lonzo could only sigh in disappointment as his friend's words spoke truthfully and painfully. Outside, the drizzle quickly shifted to a downpour. "I know, my friend, I know. In case you've forgotten, I once lived in a world like that known as Vietnam. But, the situation is out of our hands for now, and we can only hope that a resolution can be reached without our assistance. I don't like it any more than you, but we've got to make the best of our condition. Tomorrow, you're going to take another huge step in that direction, and you definitely don't need scary thoughts polluting your mind on such a joyous occasion!" "There are certainly a lot of people depending on me, I suppose," Dashiell admitted, reaching for his umbrella. "Thanks, Stalker. I needed that." The smile slowly emerging on Dash's face contagiously spread to Lonzo as well. "Don't think about it! Just remember that whether the government and the Pentagon recognize it or not, G.I. Joe is still a team, and this team is sticking together! See you tomorrow morning!" "You've got it!" ###### Dr. Greg Scott could hardly believe himself. One would think that he would have the good sense to remember to take all of his notes home, especially when he planned to improve upon some minor design flaws in the "Armor-Tech" suits. Whether it was his fourth-grade science project, his freshman English final paper, or his security pass at a recent progress presentation, Greg always managed to forget something important. Planners, notes, hypnotism--nothing worked for him! Most of the lights in the building were not in use, though enough of them lit the hallways so that Dr. Scott did not have to feel the surroundings to find his way. The Armor-Tech testing area soon appeared before him. With the press of a few buttons matching the door's combination lock, the lab presented itself one more time for the day to Dr. Scott. Immediately, he noticed that the top two compartments of the filing cabinet laid wide open. Perhaps his absent-mindedness took control from time to time, but he knew that he did not leave the cabinet open before he left, and he left after everyone else today. Before he could take any further action, though, his ankles were grabbed from behind, tripping him facefirst onto the floor. He tried to turn around and face his attacker, but the person locked his arms in a cobra-clutch maneuver. "Don't leave us so soon, good Doctor!" the smooth voice of the assailant requested. "You look like a tired man, Dr. Scott. Why don't you take a little nap while we finish our business here?" As the blood failed to properly reach his brain, bright lights began to flash before his eyes. Through the spots, however, he could still see two men standing in front of him. One was a brown-haired man with a scar marking the side of his face, and the other . . . the other was . . . "Frank, how could you?" Dr. Scott asked as the world twisted like a hurricane around him. Every thought pounded his brain like a piston, but he knew that he only had one chance at most to act. Gathering his remaining vestiges of strength, he charged at Frank, pulling his attacker along. At least, Dr. Scott thought that his adrenalin-powered attack was set to collide with his treacherous lab assistant. With his impaired vision and cognitive abilities, however, his target became something far different. "You fool!" the scarred man shrieked. "He's going to hit the flamethrower!!" The prediction proved correct, and the darkened lab brightened immensely as a huge ball of yellow and orange flame ignited. "Let's get out of here, Tomax!" Frank called from behind the quickly- spreading wall of thick, black smoke. "We've got what we need!" "Thanks for meddling with our business, Doctor!" Tomax sneered, swiftly kicking the fallen scientist in the gut. "Perhaps next time you will use your brain to make decisions!" He quickly executed a handspring somersault to escape the rising flame. Greg Scott laid near death as the rains fell from the sprinkler system, drowning him in his failure. Just as the sprinklers failed to activate on time, he had failed to act in time. Soon, though, nothing earthly would matter . . . ###### "I must admit that I haven't seen you this enthusiastic in a long time," Destro declared as he followed Cobra Commander and Protege down one of the many spiraling staircases found in the Silent Castle. "Should my demeanor surprise you, Destro? As of today, Cobra is officially launching our operation which will soon bring me the glory that I have worked years to attain!" The large cannon attached to the Commander's left arm always tended to disturb the second-in-command, especially since he almost never removed it anymore. At the very least, he could stop swinging the weapon around recklessly! Besides, Billy almost invisibly provided enough protection to the Commander. "I cannot stress my skepticism enough, Commander!" the silver-masked man continued. "We both know how most of your recent schemes have failed miserably! From the little description I have heard, the warning signs are visible everywhere!" Ordinarily, Cobra Commander would not have allowed such dissent, but his elation about the future of his organization could no be disturbed today. Floating down the steps gracefully, in a manner closely resembling dancing, the head Cobra emerged from the passageway into the converted dining room, now used as the meeting room for the higher-ranked Cobra officials. Darklon, Dr. Mindbender, the Baroness, Zartan, and several other officers sat at the table, waiting for the presentation to begin. "Please have a seat, Commander!" Darklon requested. "Of course," he answered, settling down at the head of the table. With Protege standing watch from behind, he motioned for Darklon to continue. "Watch and learn, my dear Destro!" he whispered. The masked man rose from his seat, remote control device firmly entrenched in his right hand, and pressed several keys on a laptop- type interface. The Cobra insignia on a blue background immediately replaced the black screen to which the early attendees had been subjected, and the words "TOP SECRET" began to flash at the bottom of the screen. "What you are about to witness," he started, advancing to the next page, "are the details regarding Operation: Lunar Strike, the largest Cobra business venture to date! Pictured here is the conceptual drawing of CLS-Alpha, the lunar station from which the mission will center." "I don't like the direction of this presentation already!" the Baroness quietly commented to Destro. "Similar thoughts have crossed my mind," he agreed. "Is there some matter that you two would like to discuss with the rest of us?" Cobra Commander asked, obviously irritated by the interruption. Destro only shook his head negatively in response. The Baroness, however, did not take the same approach. "I have a question. What purpose does a 'moon base' serve if we have no effective means of transportation to and from it? We don't even have the shuttle from the time the impostor Fred and I manned the last expedition into space! The benefits of the shuttle did not even come close to justifying the cost!" "Very true, Baroness," the Commander admitted. "I can assure you that your concerns are unfounded. But, I know of someone that can clarify that matter better than I. Would you like to meet this person?" Two figures stealthily emerged from the staircase, sending the room's inhabitants into a panicked defensive shift. "We could hardly resist such an opportune moment!" Armada announced. "Calm down, everyone!" Cobra Commander demanded, the only person to remain seated. "I introduce to you the two coordinators of Project: Black Phoenix, Armada and Aerial! Please give them a warm welcome!" Slowly, Destro rose from behind a chair, pistol still firmly gripped. "What are you referring to, Commander? I've never seen either of these people in my life, and I know every member of Cobra!" "Destro, there are certain matters that I do not discuss even with you," Cobra Commander answered smugly. "Now, if everyone would sit down again . . ." "Now that we have been properly introduced, I will move onto the important business!" Aerial began, her helmeted face a mask of serenity. "I could bore the lot of you to death with a lecture about the actual specifications and other technical information regarding the project, but I believe that a personal demonstration will help you to realize the magnitude of this breakthrough . . ." ###### There would be no more waiting; there would be no more planning; there would no second chance. Dashiell Faireborne never really seriously thought about this moment before the day that the idea possessed him. Though he could not see the gathering of friends, family, and acquaintances seated behind him, he could definitely feel their collective presence and their eyes upon him. He could barely hear the man speaking in front of him, however. A painful poke in the ribs quickly brought him back to reality. "Are you going to answer him, Dash?" "Oh, I'm sorry," he apologetically whispered. "What was that again?" "I said, do you take Alison as your lawfully wedded wife?" "Yes, I do!" he quickly responded, as if to regain the lost time. Now, all that remained was to determine if the child would be a boy or a girl . . . END - Ben Thomas, bithomas@eos.ncsu.edu and BThomas828@aol.com ======================================================================== CONTEST! I am happy to announce the first GI Joe 3 3/4" Newsletter contest! This will be a fun way to get involved with the Newsletter. I hope to be able to offer additional contests in future issues. We can't have a contest without a prize so here is the prize this time around. We will be giving away four (4) GI Joe 30th Salute Joseph Colton 1994 promotion order forms. This is an 8.5" x 11" promotion sheet showing the 12" and 3 3/4" Joseph Colton mail-away figures along with an order form for both. While not too terribly valuable, it is an attractive piece of GI Joe 3 3/4" memorabilia. (The promotional offer has long since expired.) Here are the contest rules/information: 1) Contest starts as of the time you read this. 2) Contest ends May 1, 1997. 3) You must answer *all* questions on the contest form (below) and submit your contest entry to the editor at . 4) Your humble editor will judge contest entries for correct answers. 5) When the contest ends, all 100% correct contest entries will be placed into a hat. Four (4) contest winners will be drawn from those names by my wife who (trust me) is totally arbitrary to the whole GI Joe thing. :) 6) Winners will be notified immediately and sent their prize via US mail. 7) Results of the contest including names of the winners will be posted in GI Joe 3 3/4" Newsletter Issue #9. 8) This contest is open to all subscribers including non-US residents. You must be a subscriber to the GI Joe 3 3/4" Newsletter to participate. GI Joe 3 3/4" Newsletter is not responsible for lost contest entries, etc, blah blah blah. 9) Any questions? Contact the editor by email at Below is the contest form. I recommend that you "cut n' paste" the form into your favorite email software, fill out all the questions, then send the completed form to the editor at email address . Please specify "CONTEST" on the subject line of your email. -----------[CONTEST FORM STARTS HERE]----------- Notes: For all questions below consider only 3 3/4" GI Joe figures available in the United States, in toy stores or part of Hasbro promotions, between 1982 and 1994. When asked for GI Joe name(s) give code names. When "GI Joe" is mentioned in a question this means all Joe, Cobra, and other characters. There are no "trick questions". For all of you hardcore 3 3/4" GI Joe enthusiasts this should be a breeze! ************************************************************************ * 1. Name the first GI Joe 3 3/4" mail-in promotion figure. ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ * 2. Name the first GI Joe 3 3/4" figure that had drastically less * articulation than his/her comrades (hint: there were only two * points of articulation on the whole figure!) ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ * 3. Name the first GI Joe 3 3/4" figure that came with an animal * companion. ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ * 4. Name the first GI Joe 3 3/4" figure that was a real-life * celebrity. ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ * 5. Name all of the female GI Joe characters that appeared between * 1982 and 1994 (remember: Cobras and other included!) ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ * A. Who is your favorite GI Joe character? (No right or wrong answer * here, but I'd like to know. I'll be compiling the results for * Newsletter Issue #9.) ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ * B. What is your full email address? ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ * C. What is your full postal (snail-mail) address? ************************************************************************ ------------[CONTEST FORM ENDS HERE]------------ Good luck and have fun! ======================================================================== CUSTOMIZING 3 3/4" GIJOE, PART II This issue Brian Holst shares with us his experiences and advice on customizing 3 3/4" GI Joe figures. Brian's impressive work can be seen at the Newsletter HQ Custom Gallery (http://www.wiu.edu/users/mucds/ joehq.htm). ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ After the cancellation of the GI Joe toyline by Hasbro in 1994, I began creating my own custom figures. In the past, I had made my own Joe figures by combining figure parts that matched somewhat without having to be painted. These early attempts did not look all that bad, but they lacked a personality, something that the characters from Hasbro had through their filecards and appearances in cartoons and comics. So, I turned to my Marvel GI Joe back issues and began searching. The comics have a wealth of unique characters, not to mention old friends in new depictions. While rereading the issues, I created a list in a notebook of all the appearances of a given character. This catalog became invaluable when I went back to find references for my custom figures. The cartoon episodes, both Sunbow and DIC, also added to the listings. To begin a custom figure, I look through my list and select a character that seems both important and simple to create. Then, with comic or cartoon references in hand, I look through the Desimone guides for parts and accessories that match the look of the person most closely. Next comes the tough part - tracking down all the required pieces. Often this can take several months, and requires some patience, as well as cash or tradeable items. Before beginning to paint, it is wise to assemble all the figure parts together. Sometimes parts don't seem to fit together quite as well as hoped. The largest problem in combining GI Joe parts is the different articulations of the heads. Joes from 1982 through 1984 have a thinner neck piece that doesn't fit into torsos from 1985 on. Occasionally, ball heads from later Joes won't fit in torsos of different figures. This requires a bit of sanding on the ball of the head to get it to fit correctly. Once all the required pieces are collected, painting can begin. Testors model paint works great, although glossy colors have a tendency to not stick as well as flats. In my experience, glossy paints tend to fade after about a year's time, at which point the figure needs a fresh coat. Whenever possible, avoid using glossy colors when flats substitutes are available. Occasionally, charcters such as Dragonsky and Pythona require odd colors that don't match Testors colors. This requires a trip to the art and hobby store. While the paints there usually fail to stick as well as model paint, they do suffice in most situations. You can also mix Testors colors to get that perfect shade. One last possibility is spray-on model paint. Using this type does work, but it creates a much bigger mess with the excess spray and covers all parts of a figure unless they are suitably protected beforehand. To begin painting, I take all the pieces apart by removing the screws in the figure's back and legs. For wide areas, a simple model brush works perfectly to apply the paint. For more detailed regions, such as a belt or eyebrow, toothpicks work wonders, but require a steady hand to get the perfect look. Typically, two layers of paint work best. One layer tends to fade or scratch too easily, while three or more covers the detailing of the plastic piece. It is best to allow the parts to dry for a day or so before reassembling them. Oh, the paint jobs I've ruined with my impatience! I have also used Sharpie thin- line markers on a few figures to get some added detail. Jinx's dragon symbol and Scar-Face's scars are perfect examples. Thin- line markers are easier than paint to add detail in extremely small regions. Sometimes figures need clay to add detailing to the original pieces. Sculptee works best, but any air-drying compound will do. I use Crayola air-drying clay simply because it is cheap and was easy to find. There is really no secret to using clay. Just mold it and let it dry for a day before adding it to the figure and painting it. Certain custom jobs also require removal of some details. For this task, I previously had used sandpaper, but have found that X-acto knives work much better. It is best to use a blade that is somewhat dull. If it is not, and it slips, you're in for one mean battle wound! Creating figures with removable helmets is a great challenge. I have heard that a Dremel tool is required to get an old head hollowed out correctly. Unfortunately, I cannot justify spending a sizable amount of cash (typically about $30 to $100) on a tool I'll use on just three or four figures. So, I've made do using screwdrivers, kitchen knives, and X-acto knives to hollow out the new helmets. This practice takes forever, but it does work. Fred VII, Dragonsky, and a Fred Siegie all have hollowed out heads for helmets in my collection. Once you finish your custom figure, don't be greedy! Share it with the rest of the GI Joe collectors out there. Send a snapshot of it to Corey Stinson so the rest of us can see the great job you've done. Yo Joe!! - Brian Holst ======================================================================== RESULTS OF THOMAS WHEELER'S 3 3/4" GI JOE SURVEY Through no small amount of personal effort and expense, Thomas Wheeler ran a GI Joe 3 3/4" Collectors Survey for approximately a 12 month period during 1995-1996. The results of this survey have already been submitted to Hasbro and they were very appreciative. Some of you may have participated in this survey. The survey was available by "snail-mail" upon request, appeared twice in Collectible Toys & Values, and appeared in James DeSimone's collector newsletter. An abbreviated version appeared in David Lane's Steel Brigade Club newsletter. Below listed are the results. *PLEASE NOTE* that the results printed below are _NOT_ the results of the online survey sponsored by the GI Joe 3 3/4" Newsletter HQ home page. That survey will not conclude until April 15, 1997, the results of which will appear in a future Newsletter. Because of occasional input from those taking the survey and the length of time the survey was made available there are three different versions (not counting the Steel Brigade version). The differences in the survey versions are minor and are noted where appropriate below. Where possible, answers from all versions of the survey were accumulated to yield the percentage outcomes. Since some questions involved ranking items associated with a question Thomas developed a point system so that higher-ranked items would weigh more heavily in the percentage outcome. Other questions not involving ranking were simply tallied for outcome. A grand total of 223 surveys from all sources were returned. Thomas would like to thank all the individuals who participated in the survey, all the clubs/newsletter/organizations that ran or otherwise promoted the survey, and Danny Covey who assisted in preparing the results. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 1: If the Hasbro Toy Group were to produce a limited-run "Store Exclusive" 3 3/4" G.I. Joe product, as they have done with the 12" G.I. Joes, which among the following suggestions would you most like to see? (Please rank in preferential order): A. A new Baroness figure (planned for 1995) ("Battle Corps" in SB survey) >>>>>> 747 points out of 3078, or 24.3% B. A set of World War II figures (akin to the 12" Target exclusives) >>>>>> 556 points, or 18.1% C. A set of Oktober Guard figures (from the comic, ie. Horror-Show, Daina, Gorky) >>>>>> 741 points, or 24.1% D. A set based on the "Action Soldiers of the World" from the 60's. >>>>>> 552 points, or 17.9% E. A Ninja Commandos set (also planned for 1995) >>>>>> 482 points, or 15.7% Thomas' observations: I was delighted to see Oktober Guard fare so well here, as I've always been a big fan of this group. I was surprised that "Action Soldiers fo the World" didn't do better, and I was also surprised that "Ninja Commandos", pictured in a special issues of _Action Figure News_, used for certain Mortal Kombat figures, and rumored to exist on their own, came in dead last. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 2: If the 3 3/4" G.I. Joe line were to be brought back in full, which of the following special team units would you most like to see expanded from where it left off? (Preferential ranking) A. Star Brigade (the space-based science-fiction arm of G.I. Joe) >>>>>> 343 points out of 1218, or 28.2% B. Battle Corps (the more basic military unit) >>>>>> 543 points, or 44.6% C. Ninja Teams (Ninja Force, Shadow Ninjas, Ninja Commandos, etc.) >>>>>> 332 points, or 27.3% Thomas' observations: I was terribly disappointed that Star Brigade didn't fare better. I always thought that G.I. Joe had become extensive and well-established enough to support _some_ derivation, and that Star Brigade was the best of the lot. On the other hand, there were a few surveys that specifically stated they didn't even like "Battle Corps", blaming it for frequent repaints, neon weapons on trees, and the general demise of the 3 3/4" line, despite an intended closer "military" look intended for 1995, as, again, shown in _Action Figure News_. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 3: What types of characters would you most like to see involved should the 3 3/4" G.I. Joe line be brought back? (Preferential ranking) A. Familiar faces (Duke, Snake-Eyes, Cobra Commander, etc.) >>>>>> 345 points out of 1175, or 29.4% B. New characters (never-before-seen individuals) >>>>>> 304 points, or 25.9% C. A reasonable combination of both familiar and new. >>>>>> 529 points, or 45.0% Thomas' observations: Option "C" is the clear winner, but I was a little surprised that "new characters" came in dead last, after some of the caterwauling about all the different Dukes and Cobra Commanders popping up late on, as well as the griping about repaints. Still, this result had no real surprises. It's about what I expected. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 4: Which of the following are the most important factors to you should the 3 3/4" G.I. Joe line be brought back? (Check ALL that apply- no preferential ranking) A. Same contruction and articulation as before -- even if price is higher. >>>>>> 199 points out of 223 surveys, or 89.2% B. Same price point even if articulation must be sacrificed. >>>>>> 5 points, or 2.2% C. Sticking with more "strictly military" themes and designs. >>>>>> 141 points, or 63.2% D. All new molds. Stop resuing parts from other figures. >>>>>> 149 points, or 66.8% Thomas' observations: I think this is what they call in the political world a "mandate from the people". Options "A" and "B" were clearly the exact opposite of each other, and the choice is clear. Virtually _everyone_ wants to make sure that as such time as the 3 3/4" line comes back, it comes back _exactly_ as before. I, personally, was a little surprised that "strictly military" fared so well, but some of this may have been some of the sources for some of the surveys. As I've said, I always felt that there was room within the vast world of the 3 3/4" G.I. Joe mythos for less-military themes as long as the basic military foundation was not lost, which I didn't think it had been. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 5: Which of the following "new team" ideas (some invented by me) would you most like to see developed should the 3 3/4" G.I. Joe line be restored? (Preferential ranking) A. Oktober Guard, the Soviet "version" of G.I. Joe >>>>>> 862 points out of 4863, or 17.7% B. More 3 3/4" versions of classic 1960's-70's G.I. Joes >>>>>> 541 points, or 11.1% C. Time Warriors, military and warrior characters from historical time periods. >>>>>> 580 points, or 11.9% D. Biotech Brigade, genetically enhanced soldiers (either G.I. Joe or Cobra) >>>>>> 438 points, or 9.0% E. Ice Force, an arctic team >>>>>> 674 points, or 13.8% F. Sea Force, an undersea team >>>>>> 731 points, or 15.0% G. Team units based on ecisting military divisions (SEALs, Rangers, etc.) >>>>>> 1037 points, or 21.3% Thomas' observations: This one came out interesting. I threw my own "Biotech Brigade" in almost as a "ringer" just to see what would happen. It came in dead last, but still put in a respectable showing. A few surveys rated it as their first preference! I wish "Time Warriors" had done better, as I think this is a _great_ idea. I was pleased, again, that Oktober Guard did so well, and I suspect "Existing military units" fared as well as they did because people can see a way to design G.I. Joe characters, with code-names and the whole works, and still remain within the bounds of the known military. I, for one, think this could be just as easily accomplished with the likes of Ice Force, Sea Force, or even former teams like Sky Patrol. Just my opinion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 6: Some of the following were character or ideas actdually considered by Hasbro. Which would you most like to see made if the opportunity became available? (Preferential ranking) A. Pythona, the female member of Cobra-La, seen in the video movie >>>>>> 629 points out of 3131, or 20.1% B. Sabre Tooth, an unproduced member of Tiger Force based on Firefly. >>>>>> 588 points, or 18.8% C. Big Lob, a basketball-type member of the Joes from the video movie. >>>>>> 402 points, or 12.8% D. The fourth Star Brigade alien, model shown at the 1994 G.I. Joe convention. >>>>>> 386 points, or 12.3% E. The Star Brigade Manimals Team, perhaps recolored. >>>>>> 393 points, or 12.6% F. A "Lost Joes" set containing most of all of the above. >>>>>> 733 points, or 23.4% Thomas' observations: Setting aside the obvious "group set" which would let people get everyone on the list, the obvious winner, I was surprised but pleased that Pythona fared so well. She was the most interesting, sinister, and effective individual in the entire Cobra-La nonsense. And she was a female, always popular among collectors. I was also pleased to see Sabre Tooth do so well, but I was surprised that the Manimals didn't fare well, given all the ruckus in the collecting community about them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 7: Which of the following characters that only appeared in the Marvel Comic would you like to see made as 3 3/4" action figures should the opportunity become available? (Tally) A. Kwinn, the Eskimo mercenary >>>>>> 126 points out of 223 surveys, or 56.5% B. The "Terminator" style Cobra Battle Android Troopers >>>>>> 134 points, or 60.1% C. The Medi-Vipers, Cobra's medical corps >>>>>> 130 points, or 58.3% D. Billy, Cobra Commander's son >>>>>> 128 points, or 57.4% E. A "G.I. Joe Comic series" set, containing all of the above (version 3 survey only) >>>>>> 68 points out of 82 within its group, or 82.9% Thomas' observations: Most everyone either ranked or checked everything, or checked nothing at all. Since this was a tally question, ranking were ignored. Everyone fared about equally. I was a little surprised to see Kwinn, who was killed off very early on, do as well as he did, and I personally have no love for Billy. I loved the Medi-Viper when he popped up in the comic. I always thought it illogical that Cobra never had a medical staff. Even as ruthless as they are, they've got to patch their people back together after a run-in with the Joes! And I can well see those BATs as chrome-plated figures! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 8: How important is the basic concept of the 3 3/4" G.I. Joe line to you, that being the G.I. Joe team vs. the terrorist COBRA forces? (Tally) (Version 1 survey): A. Any 3 3/4" G.I. Joe is better than nothing - or what's out there now. >>>>>> 41 points out of 72, or 56.9% B. No. If it's not the familiar Joe Team vs. Cobra, I wouldn't be as interested. >>>>>> 31 points out of 72, or 43.1% Thomas' observations: A _lot_ of people complained about how these answers were worded. I'm not sure if the heavy response to option "A" was an attack against G.I. Joe vs. Cobra, or against the likes of Sgt. Savage and G.I. Joe Extreme, and I suspect a lot of respondents weren't sure, either. That's why I changed it. (Versions 2 and 3 surveys): A. I defintely consider the concept, G.I. Joe vs. Cobra, to be a very significant factor. If the concept isn't brought back as well, I wouldn't be as interested. >>>>>> 70 out of 151, or 46.3% B. G.I. Joe vs. Cobra would defintely be preferable, but any 3 3/4" G.I. Joes would be okay. >>>>>> 63 out of 151, or 41.7% C. G.I. Joe vs. Cobra isn't important as long as the figures are 3 3/4" >>>>>> 18 out of 151, or 11.9% Thomas' observations: This worked out a bit better. And it could be argued that both responses "A" and "B" are hopeful of maintaining the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra concept. I've spoken to numerous people that say the two most important things pertaining to a return of the 3 3/4" G.I. Joes is that the figures be built exactly as before and that the 12-year G.I. Joe/Cobra mythos be retained. This is probably the one question that I "botched", and yet it could be read in two fairly positive ways -- that people want the 3 3/4" line back regardless of what it's like, but that given a better-worded choice, G.I. Joe vs. Cobra is certainly the way to go. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 9: How important is the format of the popular FILE CARDS that appeared in the backs of the 3 3/4" G.I. Joe line? (Tally) A. The larger and more extensive file card should defintely return. >>>>>> 147 out of 223 surveys, or 65.9% B. I like the trading card size file card better. >>>>>> 17 points, or 7.6% C. Doesn't really matter one way or the other. >>>>>> 59 points, or 26.5% Thomas' observations: I'd call this another "mandate", although I'm surprised that "doesn't matter" scored so highly, and that "like the trading cards" got _any_ votes. Of course, one should consider in this decision that the trading card world ain't what it used to be a few years ago, either. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 10: Have you collected any of Hasbro's other 3 3/4" lines, like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat? A. No, just the Joes >>>>>> 73 out of 223 surveys, or 32.7% B. Yes, I bought Street Fighter figures when they came out. >>>>>> 37 points, or 16.6% C. Yes, I bought both Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. >>>>>> 70 points, or 31.4% D. Yes, I bought Mortal Kombat figurse when they came out. >>>>>> 12 points, or 5.4% Thomas' observations: I don't think the low number of option "D" is a remark against Mortal Kombat, since they highest answer of all were those who bought _both_. And I still can be in a Toys "R" Us, talking to an employee, and someone will come up and ask about Mortal Kombat. It's probably happened three times in the past two months. Second place went to those two only bought the Joes. Weird. I _like_ those other lines! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 11: (Only for those who bought Mortal Kombat) How interested are you in seeing this line brought back to include characters from MK2 and MK3? A. Not that interested in seeing more MK figures >>>>>> 16 out of 82, or 19.5% B. Very interested in seeing more figures from the other games. >>>>>> 11 points, or 24.5% C. Very interested, but I'd prefer if new body molds were made. >>>>>> 49 points, or 59.8% ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 12: (Only for those who bought Street Fighter) Given the animated series on the USA Network, would you be interested in seeing Hasbro reinstate this line as well, and expanding it to include characters that were not previously made? (Version 3 survey only) A. Not that interested in seeing more SF characters. >>>>>> 19 points out of 49, or 38.8% B. Very interested in seeing the line return and expanded. >>>>>> 12 points, or 24.5% C. Very interested, but would prefer new body molds with better likenesses. >>>>>> 31 points, or 63.3% Thomas' observations: I _love_ the new Street Fighter cartoon. The live-action movie was a major turkey, I think we can all agree, but I've had several pepole comment to me that the animated series, which I've heard has been renewed for a second season, reminds them of the G.I. Joe series from the 80's! There's also the two "Street Fighter Alpha" games in the arcades, and if you look closely, some of these characters appear on a video screen in one episode of the show! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 13: How do you feel about the spring-action features in the figures (any of the lines: SF, MK, or Joe Ninjas) (Version 3 survey only -- see explanation below) A. They're great! Keep them should any of these lines be brought back. >>>>>> 7 points out of 79, or 8.8% B. Hate them! Just make regular action figures without the gimmick. >>>>>> 46 points, or 60.5% C. Doesn't really matter one way or the other. >>>>>> 23 points, or 31.6% Thomas' observations: I added this question after I got quite a few write-in comments about how much people hated this. Remarks along the lines of "Impossible to disassemble for repairs" to "They break too easily" to "G.I. Joe doesn't need this" were among the most frequent. Personally, I agree with all three observations, and it clearly is the majority opinion, as well. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTION 14: What other action figure lines do you collect? Summary: Listed for circling between the three surveys were: 12" Classic G.I. Joe, Hall of Frame G.I. Joe, Spider-Man, X-Men, Other Marvel, Star Trek, Star Wars, Exo-Squad, Spawn, Batman, Transformers, WildCATS, Toy Story, Tarzan, Godzilla, UltraForce, 12" G.I. Joe (30th Anniversary, Target, etc.) and a write-in area for "Other". This doesn't really have any point to the basis of the survey, I just sort of threw it in to see what would happen. The results were pretty much what I expected. "12" Classic Joes", "Hall of Fame G.I. Joes," and "12" G.I. Joes (30th Anniv, etc.)" all came in with the highest rankings. A few people wrote in "3 3/4" G.I. Joes", but I didn't list that since I more or less assumed that if a person was taking the survey, he'd collected the line at least at some point. A safe assumption. Transformers and Star Wars put in respectable numbers, as did Batman and Star Trek. Spawn did not fare well, and neither did Exo-Squad, the latter much to my surprise and disgust, since I like the line and know of several other Joe collectors who do, as well. Toy Story, Tarzan, and Godzilla were on the Version 3 survey only, and so didn't pull in very high numbers. Tell me Toy Story wasn't popular around Christmas and I'm sending Buzz Lightyear over to your house to knock some sense into you. WildCATS and UltraForce didn't get much of anything, and the various Marvel Toy Biz lines performed respectably, but not spectacularly. I, personally, only like the Iron man line. I'm a sucker for chrome-plating for some reason. Write-ins were numerous, and included a lot of "past" toy lines no longer available, and included the likes of Thundercats, Stargate, He- Man, SeaQuest (?!), Z-Bots, WWF, The A-Team (?!?!), Secret Wars, and Super Powers. More current lines listed included Power Rangers (which I should have listed but somehow forgot), Aliens, Starting Line-Up, and even a few future lines like Mars Attacks. Landard's "Corps" lines got quite a few write-ins, and so did Olmec's forthcoming "Bronze Bombers". ======================================================================== OTHER 3 3/4" NEWS (This section might well be renamed the "LANARD SECTION" if Lanard keeps it up!) Lanard Toys is at it again with a new wave of 3 3/4" action figures coming your way soon. Lanard's new offering is called S.T.A.R. Force. This space exploration-oriented line will feature the Lazer Force figure molds repainted as more "conservative-looking" astronauts. The color scheme will be white with blue, grey and black accents. There will also be a collector's series that will include figures with a moon-rock platform and flag. There will be vehicles included in this new line. A land-rover carrying two figures and gear will be available. There will also be a Mobile Space Lab. Reportedly, it will look a lot like the new Space Shuttle. The Mobile Space Lab vehicle will hold six figures and have a working mechanical robotic arm. According to Lanard, this line should be available at your nearest Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, and Cosco stores on or around the second week of April 1997. The Bio-Wing Battle Squadron division of the Corps, previously having extremely limited availability in the US, will be revamped with new colors. New color schemes and locations where these figures can be obtained are not yet known. More to you as I hear it! Lanard's repainted Corps ten-figure sets with jeep, previously available only at FAO Schwarz stores, are now available at Toys "R" Us. The sets are $19.99 at TRU (as opposed to the $32 FAO price tag). As with the FAO sets, there are two sets of ten figures each. The figure distribution between the two sets is identical to the FAO versions. Each of the TRU sets comes with a different colored jeep (one tan, one gray) unlike the FAO sets which both came with a military green jeep. In other news- here's something for you hardcore 3 3/4" completists to quest for. In the mid-80's REMCO made several lines of 3 3/4" military actions figures articulated virtually identically to 3 3/4" GI Joe. The sculpting of the figures is a bit better than Lanard's Corps but the accessories aren't as good. There are three currently known assortments, they are "US Forces: Defenders Of Peace", "US Military", and "American Defense". I was recently able to aquire a set of a "US Forces: Defenders of Peace" eight figure assortment. They are: Brushfire, Combat King, Commando Hank, Airman John, Martial Master, Protector, Karate Star, and Jungle Raider. Dumb names but nice figures. These can be a good way to expand your GI Joe universe! ======================================================================== ISSUE #9 PREVIEW Next issue will feature: - the results of the GI Joe 3 3/4" Newsletter HQ Online Survey - the "Guide to Essential 3 3/4" GI Joe literature - ...and more! Stay tuned. :) ======================================================================== SUBSCRIPTION INFO Currently all subscriptions, unsubscriptions, and e-mail address changes are being handled manually. If you require one of the above simply send a message to the list moderator (mucds@bgu.edu) requesting such. Did you miss an issue or did your issue get trashed? Just let the list moderator know and we'll correct the situation immediately! Don't forget - all back issues are archived on the Newsletter web page.