Around 1994, Kurt Groen was sketching a bunch of super-heroes for possible inclusion in the G.I. Joe line.
Tag Archives: G.I. Joe toy development
Wetsuit original sculpt by Merklein
The “Cobra Assassin” post from earlier today had some factual errors, so I’ve taken that down and am putting up this one it its place!
Bill Merklein sculpted around 65 G.I. Joe action figures in the 1980s.
Filed under G.I. Joe Behind the Scenes, Toys and Toy Art
Rock & Roll Hasbro development sketch
As I’ve noted here, when R&D was concepting a G.I. Joe figure, that character would go through quite a process. A multitude of pencil sketches, input from other members of R&D, line reviews for higher ups, and even a rendered, full-color painting, all before sculpting commenced. As fun as it is to see proposed designs of toys that didn’t make it, it’s also fun to peak behind the curtain on favorites that did. Like ’89 Rock & Roll here. Continue reading
Filed under G.I. Joe Behind the Scenes, Toys and Toy Art
1993 Leatherneck test shot
While I was glad to see my favorite Joe Marine, the ’86 Leatherneck, get an update in ’93, I wasn’t thrilled by the color scheme. It’s interesting, but it doesn’t say “Marine” to me. But it’s unfair of me to want that since this update isn’t a Marine, or just a Marine, but an Infantry/Training Specialist and Marine Drill Sergeant. And maybe such a person would wear burnt ochre, yellow, and teal. So while the G.I. Joe line was moving back towards realism in the Battle Corps subset in ’93 and ’94, that wasn’t a guarantee that Leatherneck, one of the more realistic-looking figures of the ’80s, was going to stay realistic. To be clear, though, I do like the design, just not the color choices. My first reactions are the words “giraffe” and “banana,” and I’d only want to have that for some fanciful Jungle-Viper.
Which is why I was so struck by this test shot. Continue reading
Filed under G.I. Joe Behind the Scenes, Toys and Toy Art
Unproduced Cobra sketch
Here’s an unproduced Cobra I don’t know anything about. Continue reading
Filed under G.I. Joe Behind the Scenes, Toys and Toy Art
Battle Force 2000 Blocker sketch
Yikes, has it been a month since my apology? Here’s another: Sorry! Movie review coming soon. Honest.
Dipping my toe back in the blog pool, here’s Blocker as a just-about final design, before he was “Blocker” (one of Hasbro’s least inspired codenames), when Battle Force 2000 was still “Future Force.” Continue reading
Filed under G.I. Joe Behind the Scenes, Toys and Toy Art
Unproduced G.I. Joe Vehicle – Borer
Andrei Koribanics freelanced for Hasbro in the mid-1980s. Besides today’s Borer art, I’ve also come across a figure concept by him (that may end up in Chapter 14 of my book) and the presentation painting of Sgt. Slaughter’s Renegades (in Chapter 6). Leaky Suit Brigade has a tiny interview with Koribanics, and should have a longer one up at some point. Continue reading
Filed under G.I. Joe Behind the Scenes, Toys and Toy Art
Cobra Night Raven designs by Steve Reiss
Steve Reiss attended CCS, the College for Creative Studies, before it had that name, back when it was called Society of Arts & Crafts in Detroit. It had long been a school with a reputation for vehicle design. After Reiss joined Hasbro in 1985 he was soon designing G.I. Joe vehicles, like the stunning 1986 Cobra Night Raven, based on Lockheed’s also-stunning SR-71 “Blackbird.” For your reference, here’s the real thing:
And here are Steve Reiss’ six pages of designs, the basis for a rough, three-dimensional model.
For play value, Reiss added a one-person drone that latched onto the top of the larger jet:
And here’s the parts breakdown.
The final toy is black with opaque red accents, and the clear red cockpit windows are a lovely, extra detail. The Night Raven is also quite long, and I recall always needing two hands to support it. It’s one of the most attractive products in the entire Real American Hero product line — elegant, sleek, and aggressive.
Filed under G.I. Joe Behind the Scenes, Toys and Toy Art
