This delightful thread reminded me of the fun I used to have with my Joes and TFs in the yard when I was a kid. It also made me realize something that had been at the back of my mind but I could never really articulate.

I love the modern design of action figures such as GI Joe. I like the articulation and posability, which allow for the diorama scenes I dreamt of as a kid. But they're not as 'fun' as the toys were when I was a kid. Don't get me wrong, this: is a great figure. It's well made, looks good, and does a good job of representing Alpine.

However, it's just missing something that this figure has: It could just be nostalgia. Heck, it probably is just nostalgia. But there's just something in that original '85 mold that the '08 one just couldn't capture. It's not even a matter of difference between O-ring or modern construction. It goes more to the overall aesthetics.

The characters of the '80's were just that, characters. Each figure, even if it was a frankenstein of other figures, save the head, had personality and was a character. Too many figures now are just 'generic specialist trooper #12'. Take any of the last half-dozen Dukes released, not even counting the movie-verse ones. None of them really screamed Duke. In fact, I use them without modding as various other characters because they're so nondescript. I think part of it goes to the goal of making the characters as realistic as can be done in a 4" format.

It's hard to make something that size that exudes character without quickly moving into being cartoonish or parody. This happened during the original run (I'm looking at you Cross Country, and you, Effects), but most of the time, it was well-done (hey, Tollbooth, you cocky SOB). A lot of the personalities my Joes had were developed as much from their faces as they were from their file cards. Look again at the two Alpines. The modern one, while looking great, is pretty generic in the face. But the original Alpine looks as if a smart alec comment is about to fire from his lips and hit Bazooka squarely between the eyes. As much as I like the modern line, it's been rare that they hit the mark with giving the toy a sense of character, rather than making it a movable piece of plastic.

100% agree.

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I like the modern style as an adult and it got me back into joe where I had stopped messing with it around 87 or so and didn't buy anything after that other than the 90s TRU exclusives made with the original sculpts. I cant really say which would be more fun to me from a childs perspective.

I fully agree with you about the generic look as far as no one standing out. the only figures that really interested me were the modern versions of the 80s figures. the movie based figures and the modern military based figures they have done since bore the absolute crap out of me. I don't like modern military I don't find it interesting and they all look the same to me wearing it.

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It's a transforming aesthetic. Look at MacGyver then vs. 24 now. Both are shows about a specialist that uses creativity to trouble shoot for an organization. Both are popular. But they couldn't be more different.

Things got a lot grittier and nastier through the 90s and the 00s with a more significant sense of these sort of things being painful and dirty rather than funny. The marketplace no longer has any stomach for a goofy military depiction. Even the soldiers in transformers have to be shown as staunch professionals when they put on the uniform.

Maybe we've seen too much real life death on TV to really see soldiers as having a sense of humor anymore.

And on that note, happy weekend everyone!

- R

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i would almost say that the older toys with less detail left room for more imagination. as a kid i had a dozen figures that were just enough detail to be me! new figures are so detailed down to the smile that they have less "mass" appeal maybe.....

i'm still deciding how i feel about this

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Must be the nostalgia, but while I really like the current line of Joes, I prefer the ARAH figures.
Simpler design, yet they had enough mobility to create a whole bunch of dynamic poses.

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yeah, it's nostalgia. The old one is more "fun", because you were a kid at the time which allowed you to have more fun with it. Imagine for a moment if the new figure had been the focus of your childhood playtime.

I feel the same way about the Joes I had as a kid, but the feeling stops abruptly when I do a side by side with the modern stuff. Of course, in my childhood mind, the figures looked better back then, but probably because I was mentally filling in the blanks.

Even then, however, I had a pretty big gripe about the lack of handguns and holsters. That improvement alone would have made the modern figures a dream come true for me back then.

EDIT: In other words, the modern figures literally are what my childhood mind tricked me into thinking the old ones were...

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I've been having some of these exact same thoughts lately. Yes, in one sense the new figs lack the "character" of the RAH. Sometimes quite so, since there might be no character file card or comic or show that brings the fig to life. The RAH figs also have really big noggins! Some have toddler-like proportions with those oversized heads. But that makes them look more cartoony and friendly - date I say cute at times? That combined with the whimsical adventures of the old cartoon gave them such a fun, lighthearted feel. And o' those goofy faces like Lift Ticket's and Scoop's grins.

Whereas the Pursuit Of Cobra characters/designs dropped into that 80s world would look like Predator at a CareBears convention The new figs often have pea-sized mini heads (Wild Bill!) and more realistic designs. But I totally agree with drbindy that certain features like working pistol holsters, knife sheaths, articulated wrists, etc. would have BLOWN MY MIND in the 80's. The level of detail and design is amazing at times (POC Low Light).

The Alpine example at the start is perfect - they're each so great in their own way, evoking very different feelings. Or if I think about my (lost) RAH Lifeline vs. that perfect 30th Lifeline...on the one the hand the new guy makes me go "this is EVERYTHING I wanted this fig to be 30 years ago"....but another part of me misses that simpler 'toonish fig from a funner time

"....but another part of me misses that simpler 'toonish fig from a funner time "

i always wanted a gold plated heli

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I think it's nostalgia combined with a child's less discriminating taste. I also use to love Chef Boyardee, I remember it being delicious, but when I eat it now, I'm not at all impressed.

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That's all I would say is nostalgia. I can understand it, but I look at both of those figures different. The old one just looks like junk next to the new one now to me. I can look back at it for what I saw it as back then, but that's all. It's like using a shoebox as a car when you are a kid and imagining it's a Ferrari. It worked great with the imagination of a kid, but now days I just want that full detailed Ferrari to push around... or the real thing.

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Absolutely This.
Every time I look at my Ultimate Storm Shadow, I realize that it's a literal translation of what I believed the original Storm Shadow figure was, when I was a kid. Of course now, with both on a shelf together, the differences between the two are glaring.

I still love the original style figures, mainly for the same reason I love the old Star Wars figures, Secret Wars figures, Tron figures, etc. Nostalgia.

The newer figures don't have the nostalgia factor to make me like them, they have much, much, more than that.

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This +1

I keep saying to my friends, that the toys are so much better now. Its amazing what designers have been able to do. My old Joes will always have a special place in my heart. But the new ones are the ones I want to play with. Its similar with toy cars. Before Joes I collected matchbox cars (no hotwheels they were crap) but looking at the few that survived growing up, they have next to no detail compared to some Johnny Lightnings, Modern Matchboxes, or even specialty stuff like Kyosho.

I think 25th Alpine is junk. He is a great choice for comparison though since he hits all the marks good and bad with the 25th line.
With the 25th alpine I see re used parts an ill fitting "jacket" and gauntlets and a newly sculpted head with a blank expression and no character. I am also reminded that I am one of the lucky few to actually find him at retail... Which just adds to me not liking the figure. 80's alpine came with a nice compliment of his own gear, 25th comes with the pack pickax, a standard joe rifle... oh and then the jacket and belt. Take the jacket off and he looks stupid, so it really doesn't work for me as an accessory. Anyway, typical 25th joe vs. ARAH joe and I prefer the ARAH.

However, when comparing a good modern figure, Like say Lifeline, to his 80's peer then I change my mind. Modern Lifeline reuses some parts, but gets a new head and torso, also lower arms and hands. (those can easily be reused for other figures as well.) He doesn't have a removable "vest" but he does come with a ton of gear. His heads sculpt is easily as distinct as the ARAH and it has a removable helmet. Which I personally think should be standard across the line when dealing with "face" characters. The more modern figures, RoC PoC 30th all have better articulation than 25th figures and tend to be better articulated than 25th figures as well. Still a bit stiff in the torso compared to arah but better over all.

now, If I could get a joe line that used 30th lifeline as the standard then I would be all about it. However, if I am to get say Flint, in his original color scheme, well sculpted, well articulated etc. then I need to buy a set from sdcc. want a red jinx? sdcc. Want an airtight? too bad. Leatherneck? Master Collector. Oh hey you better hope you have a TRU, Ross, 5 below near you... or you won't even see most items on shelves at all. Even if you do have those places then you better get up early, scalpers are already out combing the shelves so people that do not have those stores can pay 3 times the price for them online.

Dismissing the love for arah with it being nostalgia is too narrow minded. There are many reasons to still like ARAH figures. With the main one being, You can play with them. Oh and customize them rather easily. Also you can get most of them fairly easily, and at reasonable prices, if you don't already have them. There aren't any crappy "toy hunting" memories attached to the older figures either. Maybe call that reverse nostalgia.

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yep. yep. That about sums it up.

lol!

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