I'm sure your info is more up to date and accurate than mine. But from what I had understood, while RAH was selling far below its heyday, which is not surprising after so many years, it was still a strong seller overall. I remember also reading that the Kenner team harbored some animosity towards the RAH line because it had been a thorn in Kenner's side for many years before the merger. But that's probably just hearsay.
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The nightmare that was GI JOE Extreme
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Last edited by Werewolf; Mar 1, '19, 8:20 PM.You are a bold and courageous person, afraid of nothing. High on a hill top near your home, there stands a dilapidated old mansion. Some say the place is haunted, but you don't believe in such myths. One dark and stormy night, a light appears in the topmost window in the tower of the old house. You decide to investigate... and you never return... -
I'm sure your info is more up to date and accurate than mine. But from what I had understood, while RAH was selling far below its heyday, which is not surprising after so many years, it was still a strong seller overall. I remember also reading that the Kenner team harbored some animosity towards the RAH line because it had been a thorn in Kenner's side for many years before the merger. But that's probably just hearsay.Places to find PlaidStallions online: https://linktr.ee/Plaidstallions
Buy Toy-Ventures Magazine here:
http://www.plaidstallions.com/reboot/shopComment
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You are a bold and courageous person, afraid of nothing. High on a hill top near your home, there stands a dilapidated old mansion. Some say the place is haunted, but you don't believe in such myths. One dark and stormy night, a light appears in the topmost window in the tower of the old house. You decide to investigate... and you never return...Comment
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You are a bold and courageous person, afraid of nothing. High on a hill top near your home, there stands a dilapidated old mansion. Some say the place is haunted, but you don't believe in such myths. One dark and stormy night, a light appears in the topmost window in the tower of the old house. You decide to investigate... and you never return...Comment
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I highly recommend the book "Toy Wars" if you have any interest in this subject, it's a business book but it's well written and it's about Hasbro and Mattel's internal politics. It also gives you window into what was going on with Joe at the time.
RAH Joe was still selling for sure but it was still trending down as all things do, it wasn't showing growth. Battle Corps and Star Brigade weren't hits. Joe's 30th surely proved the brand had life in it though and probably had some influence on the Savage concept.
There is a lot of love from the RAH team on Savage and despite the scale shift, it's good looking and well made.
Savage also never had a chance because by the time it landed at retail, it was already dead, the Hasbro team had mainly been fired or shuffled. Kenner was going to "save" Joe and well, RAH was back on store shelves within two years, which i still think may have been the plan the Hasbro team had.
I remember that Bozigian was put in charge of Play-Doh and "Toy Wars" points out what a terrible move that was.
As for the sales video, they're commercials for the brand, they're not going to point out things are trending down.Places to find PlaidStallions online: https://linktr.ee/Plaidstallions
Buy Toy-Ventures Magazine here:
http://www.plaidstallions.com/reboot/shopComment
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I haven't thought of Toy Wars in years, I need to pull that off the shelf and reread it. IIRC Hasbro was also struggling with executive changes at the time.WANTED: Dick Grayson SI trousers; gray AJ Mustang horse; vintage RC Batman (Bruce Wayne) head; minty Wolfman tights; mint Black Knight sword; minty Launcelot boots; Lion Rock (pale) Dracula & Mummy heads; Lion Rock Franky squared boots; Wayne Foundation blue furniture; Flash Gordon/Ming (10") unbroken holsters; CHiPs gloved arms; POTA T2 tan body; CTVT/vintage Friar Tuck robes, BBP TZ Burgess Meredith glasses.Comment
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While Sgt. Savage didn't appeal to me because of the scale change (and I do think that didn't help it) I don't think the concept was bad and the toys were nicely done. My point has been RAH had up and down years but things were never dire. My opinion is the Kenner team either had no idea what to do with the brand or they actually tired to sabotage it with the dreadful GI JOE Extreme.
I get that the sales video was to boast. But what impressed me about the 94 sales video was GI JOE still ranked number 1 with boys 5 to 10, had 87 percent brand recognition and were already mentioning the brand had adult collectors.You are a bold and courageous person, afraid of nothing. High on a hill top near your home, there stands a dilapidated old mansion. Some say the place is haunted, but you don't believe in such myths. One dark and stormy night, a light appears in the topmost window in the tower of the old house. You decide to investigate... and you never return...Comment
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I don't think we're disagreeing I just took exception to savage being lumped in with something as wrong headed as "Extreme" and yes, the demographic on collectors was just turning from being primarily 1/6th guys. Probably the reason it returned with a vengeance in 1997.
I mean, I played with RAH as a kid and was an adult collector in the mid 90s but I think the big hit came with people 3 years or more younger than me entered the hobby.Places to find PlaidStallions online: https://linktr.ee/Plaidstallions
Buy Toy-Ventures Magazine here:
http://www.plaidstallions.com/reboot/shopComment
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You are a bold and courageous person, afraid of nothing. High on a hill top near your home, there stands a dilapidated old mansion. Some say the place is haunted, but you don't believe in such myths. One dark and stormy night, a light appears in the topmost window in the tower of the old house. You decide to investigate... and you never return...Comment
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I think the Gulf War also helped renew interest in all things Joe as well. The 12" return to Target stores was also a big deal.Places to find PlaidStallions online: https://linktr.ee/Plaidstallions
Buy Toy-Ventures Magazine here:
http://www.plaidstallions.com/reboot/shopComment
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I never owned a single Joe as a kid...always thought they were cool but they couldn't compete with MOTU, Secret Wars, and Super Powers.
As an adult my favorite Joes are the Sgt. Savage line. Love the WWII theme.
I really like Remco's Sgt. Rock line also.Comment
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You are a bold and courageous person, afraid of nothing. High on a hill top near your home, there stands a dilapidated old mansion. Some say the place is haunted, but you don't believe in such myths. One dark and stormy night, a light appears in the topmost window in the tower of the old house. You decide to investigate... and you never return...Comment
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Sgt. Savage was great, but the figures themselves were a step backwards in construction. Had they been the regular 3 3/4 Joes scaled up, I think it might have lasted better. Though to be fair, the whole thing was an odd choice since everything in that line is so muted and realistic.
Extreme was bad, but it was exactly like everything else in the era so it's not like it stands out as a particularly bad move. It was just Kenner trying some things with Joe. Loved a lot of Kenner's stuff, but when Hasbro merged with them and sent Joe to Kenner's gang, it wasn't a success. It also showed how little Hasbro valued Joe.Comment
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That's what floored me. My childhood dream was Star Wars figures made by Hasbro (a la GIJoes), instead of Kenner. With Hasbro's purchase of Kenner, suddenly it looked like it was all coming true... and then they go and give GIJoe to Kenner?! WHAT?!Comment
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