So what are the top 10 greatest G.I. Joe figures ever?

[El Hombre Nuclear]

I took a look at that big YoJoe database for the first time in a while, and I've gotta say... How did this line survive for so long?! Some of those later figures are absolutely hideous. Garish re-paints, terrible attempts at sci-fi, etc. It's almost morbidly fascinating.

I'm no expert on the subject, but it kind of confirms the feeling I've always had that the action figure market seems to have really hit the skids after about 1988/1989 (the victim of a glut of product during the red-hot toy market of the mid '80s and the giant late '80s Nintendo boom) and kind of languished there until the later '90s when the "adult collector" thing started becoming more mainstream. I'd be curious to know what Millennials/'90s kids think about that. From what I've seen, it seems like "TMNT or bust", and I'm not sure if they're as toy-centric in their nostalgia in general as us Gen X geezers tend to be.

[nazgul]

I really dont agree with that list much at all...i can understand snake eyes and storm shadow being the top 2, as they are the most popular...but my personal top 10 is more like this:

10. Hawk (from the mms)
9. Steeler (from the Mobat)
8. Silver Pads Grandslam (from the JUMP)
7. Mail order Starduster
6. Torpedeo
5. Deep Six (from the Sharc)
4. Tomax/Xamot
3. Eels
2. Croc Master
1. Zartan

[4NDR01D]

I'll give a shot at my own top 10

10.Dr. Mindbender
9. BBQ
8. Firefly
7. H.I.S.S. Driver
6. Destro
5. Tomax and Xamot
4. Dreadnoks
3. Snake Eyes
2.Storm Shadow (the epitome of the 80's ninja craze)
1.Zartan (cool character combined with not 1 but 2 cool gimmicks)

[Grimjohn]

Flint and Duke I get as they were major characters on the cartoon but, Footloose??? Really?!?

I was a huge fan of the comic series and was very disappointed that the Sunbow cartoon was such a joke. Larry Hama is a true wordsmith as he crafted a magnificent storyline around a bunch of figures and gave them personalities and back stories that made the characters a bit more real...at least to me. Issue #21, Silent Interlude, is an amazing issue, no dialogue, no captions, the story is driven and flows by the scenes depicted in each panel. Issues 108-115, collectively known as the "War in Benzheen" series, really hit Joe fans hard when over a dozen members of the Joe team were killed in action during a conflict that was similar to Operation Desert Storm. And, those are just a few off of the stories off the top of my head that made an impact on me.

So, that being said my personal top 10 figures are a based on the connection I made with them through Mr. Hama's stories, they are:

10. Recondo v1 (84)
9. Torpedo v1 (83)
8. Gung-Ho v1 (83)
7. Croc Master v1 (87)
6. Shockwave v1 (88)
5. Destro, v1 (83) and v2 (88)
4. Falcon v1 (87)
3. Cobra Commander v1 (83) and v2 (84)
2. Storm Shadow v1 (84) and v2 (88)
1. Snake Eyes v2 (85) and v3 (89)

[toys2cool]

Flint and Duke I get as they were major characters on the cartoon but, Footloose??? Really?!?

I was a huge fan of the comic series and was very disappointed that the Sunbow cartoon was such a joke. Larry Hama is a true wordsmith as he crafted a magnificent storyline around a bunch of figures and gave them personalities and back stories that made the characters a bit more real...at least to me. Issue #21, Silent Interlude, is an amazing issue, no dialogue, no captions, the story is driven and flows by the scenes depicted in each panel. Issues 108-115, collectively known as the "War in Benzheen" series, really hit Joe fans hard when over a dozen members of the Joe team were killed in action during a conflict that was similar to Operation Desert Storm. And, those are just a few off of the stories off the top of my head that made an impact on me.

So, that being said my personal top 10 figures are a based on the connection I made with them through Mr. Hama's stories, they are:

10. Recondo v1 (84)
9. Torpedo v1 (83)
8. Gung-Ho v1 (83)
7. Croc Master v1 (87)
6. Shockwave v1 (88)
5. Destro, v1 (83) and v2 (88)
4. Falcon v1 (87)
3. Cobra Commander v1 (83) and v2 (84)
2. Storm Shadow v1 (84) and v2 (88)
1. Snake Eyes v2 (85) and v3 (89)

Torpedo? really? the figure always looked like a girl to me..it had boobs lol ..

[Nostalgiabuff]

Torpedo? really? the figure always looked like a girl to me..it had boobs lol ..

i always thought the same thing. what was up with the boobs on a NAVY SEAL?

[toys2cool]

i always thought the same thing. what was up with the boobs on a NAVY SEAL?

it's Gi Jane it's a shame too, cause the actual cartoon character was awesome

[Frank]

Coming late but here's my top 10.

1. 83 Rock n Roll (with swivel arm) classic military look, blonde hair like me, dug that as a kid, beard connection to the AT Joes
2. Snow Job - arctic trooper, with cool accessories, beard again awesome
3. Blow Torch - don't know, just liked him
4. Mutt and Junkyard, he came with a dog and a face mask, the card artwork sold me a kid
5. Shockwave - SWAT!!
6. Stalker - Classic camo, beret, so damn cool
7. Firefly - ninja? Didn't know as kid but thought was cool as hell
8. Snow Serpent - again, arctic trooper, super cool accessories
9. Cobra trooper - classic, nuff said
10. Recondo - awesome uniform, bush hat, again more ties to the AT joes

[jwyblejr]

I like mostly the ones from '82. Most of them look like the original 12" ones. But in 3 3/4" form.

[Grimjohn]

it's Gi Jane it's a shame too, cause the actual cartoon character was awesome

Yeah, I forgot that Hasbro goofed up on his chest sculpt

[SainthoodDenied]

1 Gung Ho
2 Flint
3 Snow Job
4 Storm Shadow
5 Airborne
6 Destro
7 Blow Torch
8 Spirit
9 Mutt and Junkyard
10 Hooded Cobra Commander
all in their 1st version style..

I was 11 1/2 when they came out in 82 so by the end of 85 I was done buying toys for awhile getting ready for a learners permit and saving for a vehicle.

[nazgul]

Shoot! I forgot to put Zandar on my list!

[nvmbrsdoom5]

I lasted slightly longer than Brian did, I was really into the first two or two-and-a-half years of the RAH line, when I ultimately reached the "little too old for these" phase. But I still have a strong affinity for those that came out between 1982 and 1984 Here's what I came up with:

1. Flash (82)
2. Snake Eyes (82)
3. Breaker (82)
4. Snow Job (83)
5. Gung-Ho (83)
6. Cobra Officer (83 swivel arm)
7. Storm Shadow (84)
8. Scarlett (82)
9. Doc (83)
10. Torpedo (83)

[acrovader]

I find it interesting that just about all the cool figures seem to belong to Cobra. I guess that goes for most toy lines, certainly from the 1980s: the villains are usually the coolest.

[toys2cool]

I find it interesting that just about all the cool figures seem to belong to Cobra. I guess that goes for most toy lines, certainly from the 1980s: the villains are usually the coolest.

yup most bad guys are the coolest by far