G.I. JOE VEHICLE SHOWDOWN, part 5 - 1986

THE G.I.JOE VEHICLE SHOWDOWN

PART 5:  Series 5 / 1986

Dreadnoks On The Loose...

    A lot was happening with the Joe toyline in 1986.  For the Joes, Hawk had been promoted to General and was now in command of the entire G.I. Joe Team.  Several new recruits had joined the team and lots of new equipment was added as well.  To keep the team from getting complacent, Sgt. Slaughter had been brought in to whip the Joes into better fighting shape as the Cobra threat was more dangerous than ever!

    Cobra was extremely active!  Seeking to ensure compete victory over the Joes, Cobra engineers wasted no time in designing and building several new vehicles to up their game on the battlefield.  The standard Cobra Trooper was given a new uniform and they were also reinforced by the addition of Battle Android Troopers.  Despite all this, the most diabolical plan was currently underway.  The new mad scientist - Dr. Mindbender, had devised a crazy idea to use the DNA from history's most ruthless and powerful leaders to create the ultimate Cobra Emperor!

    Surprisingly, the Dreadnoks came out in force this year too!  To help complete Cobra's schemes, Zartan brought in reinforcements by hiring his brother and sister.  They also recruited 2 new Dreadnoks.  If that wasn't enough, they were backed up by 6 Dreadnok vehicles!     

    So let's see what we have this year...  as usual, the rating system is as follows...

10 - Awesome, Fantastic

9 - 7 - Various levels of Greatness

6 - 4 - Various levels of "Okay"

3 - Mediocre

2 -1 - Levels of Crappiness 

1 - L.C.V.  (Low Crawl Vehicle)

    This is an odd one.  I didn't have it back in the day.  I didn't quite understand it.  If you are doing the low-crawl somewhere, do you really want a motorcycle thingie to do it?  Yet, there is something kind of cool about it.  It certainly looks interesting and it's nice and durable.  I'll give it a 7.

2 - COBRA HYDRO SLED

    I don't think this is very popular, but I think it is pretty cool.  Wish we saw it in action more in the Joe Media.  I'll give it a 7.

3 - DEVIL FISH

    Aww yeah!  The Devil Fish is awesome!  A nice, sleek, speedy boat to take on Cobra watercraft.  It's one of my favorites!  It will claim our first 10 of the list!

4 - COBRA AIR CHARIOT, with Serpentor

    Here's the introduction to an important new character and his ride.  It's not really an assault vehicle, but definitely necessary for Serpentor to command his troops from.  I think it's pretty cool!  How about a 7?

5 - DREADNOK SWAMPFIRE

    A Dreadnok boat that converts to a helicopter...?  Well, since they roam the swamps, the boat it quite fitting.  Yet the helicopter mode looks better.  I like the color-change feature that goes with the Swamp Skier, but this thing is a bit weird.  I'll give it a 6.

6 - TRIPLE T, with Sgt. Slaughter

    Never had it.  I like the Sarge, but I got mine through the mail-order.  I wasn't a fan of the Triple T, so I passed on it.  Not a lot of armament for a tank, the Sarge is completely exposed, and it's white.  He's really after your attention here.  Not sure that is a good thing.  It's a 4.     

7 - L.A.W.  (Laser Artillery Weapon)

    This laser weapon base is kinda cool, but otherwise there's not much going on here.  I'll give it a 6.  

8 - OUTPOST DEFENDER

    This is a cool little base.  I like it's worn-out, beat-up look.  The sandbags slumped in some areas, the bullet holes in the wood.  I bought this one pretty quickly in 1986.  I'll give it an 8.

9 - COBRA SURVELLANCE PORT

    I probably like this MORE than the Outpost Defender.  I would have the Cobra's set this bad-boy up near the Joes and spy on them.  A fun little Cobra base.  This thing will catch a 9.

10 - DREADNOK AIR ATTACK

    Sears was hocking exclusive Crimson Guard vehicles the year before.  Now we are adding new vehicles to the Dreadnok's ranks.  This set includes a repainted Sky Hawk and FANG copter.  They look cool.  I like the addition of the color-change gimmick.  I just doubt most Dreadnok's ability to fly either of these very well.  They will catch a 6.

11 - DREADNOK GROUND ASSAULT

    The 2nd set of Sears Dreadnok vehicles include a repainted Cobra Stinger and a RAM motorcycle.  Now these I can see the Dreadnoks making good use of!  Very cool.  This set will score a 9.

12 - H.A.V.O.C., with Cross Country

    I don't know.  I passed on this vehicle back in the day.  Seemed odd with the big glass canopy, the exposed gunner on top, and the lay-down position of the driver.  It just screams "huh??"  Yet, I got it as a collector, and it's a solid vehicle.  The back section with the little hovercraft is very cool.  It's not too shabby.  It will get a 7.

13 - COBRA STUN, with Motor-Viper

    I thought this thing looked really stupid when I saw it in the catalog.  I think a friend got it and I realized it was pretty cool after all.  Bonus that Motor-Viper was one of the coolest-looking vehicle drivers this year!  It will get a 7.   

14 - DREADNOK THUNDER MACHINE, with Thrasher

    Strangely I never had this as a kid and even I think that is weird.  Definitely a perfect vehicle for the Dreadnoks.  It gets a 9.  

15 - COBRA NIGHT RAVEN, with Strato-Viper

    As a kid, I got this thing at a rummage sale for $7!?!?  What in the world?  Cobra already had a tank smasher jet, now they had a swift stealth fighter on their side.  Awesome all the way around.  A 10 for sure.

16 - CONQUEST JET, with Slipstream

    I wasn't sold on the Conquest in early 1986.  I don't know why.  I just wasn't into it.  Then I got it for Christmas.  After I put it together, I remember sitting on my bed marveling at how cool it looked!  I love the smoky grey color and it looks sleek and fast.  It has been a favorite ever since!  It's another 10.

17 - TOMAHAWK HELICOPTER, with Lift-Ticket

    This one was another "mind-blowing" vehicle.  I wish you could fold the helicopter blades up because it took up a lot of real estate in my room.  But this thing was amazing otherwise.  You could transport your Joes into battle or EVAC them out.  Roadblock and Airborne manning the side guns.  Wild Bill and Lift-Ticket at the controls (Wild Bill because by that point my Dragonfly broke and he needed another ride).  Awesome!  Obviously a 10!

18 - COBRA TERROR DROME W/ FIREBAT, with A.V.A.C.

    An awesome Cobra base!  Compartments for various vehicles, holds a ton of figures, multiple gun stations, the Firebat launch bay - all totally cool!  In addition, the Firebat also is a fun little jet to have.  This thing was a winner!  Of course it is a 10!

    I still stand by my thoughts on Series 4 being the best.  To be fair though, this was also a fantastic year!  Hasbro really elevated things with the inclusion of iconic, game-changing characters like Sgt. Slaughter and Serpentor!    

    Though this DID mark a turning point towards more sci-if type of direction.  I was okay with that as long as they didn't get too carried away.  Would they?  Well, we will just have to see where we go next time, and the next year, and so on.  I mean, it's not like we would ever go from an Emperor cloned from the DNA of history's greatest leaders to a civilization of bug-people would we?  Nahhhh....  That's just silly.  

    Where were you with all this?  Were you still all in?  Or was your interest starting to fade?  How would you rate these vehicles?