The G.I. Joe Vehicle Showdown, Part 15 - 1992

    We have come a long way with this Vehicle Showdown!  We are all the way into Series 11 which was available in 1992.  For me, I was already done with G.I. Joe and in this year I was probably the farthest removed from it as I would ever be.  I was in a band that was enjoying a solid run practically that whole year and I was 100% focused on that.  There was nothing left for G.I. Joe!

    I was still very active with music and bands the following year.  Yet, I ended up drifting back into the world of Joes!  Luckily, when I returned to the toyline in 1993, there was still a lot of '92 product on the shelves and I managed to scoop some of it up.  I quickly found out that the toyline I grew up with from the start in 1982, was very different a decade later.  With this new cartoon series, it DID feel more like it had a cartoon-ish slant to it.  Maybe that's just me...?

    So let's see what we got in 1992.  Maybe despite the differences, there could still be some good stuff in there...?  

    Of course, we HAVE to have the obligatory Rating Scale...

10 - Awesome, Fantastic

9 to 7 - Various levels of Greatness

6 to 4 - Various levels of "Okay"

3 - Mediocre

2 to 1 - Levels of Crappiness

1 - BARRICUDA

    Finally, a proper submarine!  Sort of...  Kind of cool, kind of weird.  Still, a vehicle like this has been a long time coming!  Also - I never had it.  It's a 6.    

2 - AIR COMMANDO GLIDERS  (Spirit & Air Devil)

    Hasbro re-issued 2 gliders with new decos and new pilots.  Again, the gliders look great, they are sturdy, and they work well!  Figures are also great!  This does bring our glider count up to 6 though, and the uniqueness has worn off a bit.  These two will get a 9 each.  Still a great rating!

3 - BATTLE COPTERS  (with Ace and Heli-Viper)

    Basically re-releases from the prior year with new figures.  The positive?  The copters work!  They also look reasonably cool too.  The negative?  They have no weapons or other features.  Furthermore, the figure selection is odd.  You have Ace, a great figure in the wrong place (he should be piloting a cool jet).  Then you have the Heli-Viper, a gaudy figure in the right place.  Odd.  Both will get a 5. 

4 - COBRA RAT

    Ugh!  Basically the bottom of the barrel in the whole G.I. Joe toyline!  It's bright red, it's hollow, it has cheap stickers, and the front is like a lawnmower.  It's a 1 easy.  When the box art is the best thing about a vehicle, there is a problem!

    Btw, do you like that FANTASTIC art of the RAT above?  Oh yeah, that is from my excellent drawing "skills".  Your welcome!

5 - ECO-STRIKER

    I gotta admit, I like it!  While not as awesome as the original AWE Striker, it's still cool!  The Eco-Warriors need a vehicle, so why not?  Needs a driver though.  It's a 7.

6 - PATRIOT

    Ehh... I think the large cannon is awesome, however the box-shaped driver's seat and the wimpy little treads don't work for me.  I'm just not feeling it.  Probably a 4.

7 - COBRA PARASITE

    Never had it, but it looks interesting.  Cobra has needed a Troop Transport for quite some time now.  I don't like the driver being completely exposed, but that's Cobra for ya!  I'll give it a 7.

8 - STORM EAGLE & COBRA LIQIUDATOR JETS

    Consider ALL the amazing jets jets that have come before these two - the Rattler, Skystriker, Phantom, Conquest, Condor, and so on.  Now we get 2 generic-looking, water-pistol jets with no proper pilots.  I'm sure the play feature is fun on occasion.  I just feel that these are a far cry from the awesomeness we experienced in the past!  Both will only get a 4.  Sorry.

9 - FORT AMERICA

    I guess I just don't get it.  A tank that converts into a base?  It even has bricks and such on it?  Very strange.  I never had it, so maybe there is "more than meets the eye" to it...?  For now it gets a 4. 

10 - COBRA EARTHQUAKE

    Never had it, but it looks like a giant neon green Tonka truck with weapons.  I just don't get the construction vehicle vibe with the scoop.  Also, it needed a proper driver.  Looks like it had potential.  I'll give it a 5. 

11 - COBRA TOXO-LAB

    It's purple, orange, and neon green... and it's way cool!!!  I dig this thing!  I had this and thought it was an awesome playset for the Eco-Warriors sub-group.  Kind of in line with the MOTU Horde Slime Pit.  Instead of dumping slime on the victims, Cobra was dumping Joes in the toxo-water and changing the color on the figures.  The color-change concept didn't work that great with the figures unfortunately, maybe Hasbro should have "borrowed" the slime idea.  This thing is still great though and it gets a 9!

    Btw... look at that "concept" or mock-up of the Toxo-Lab in the picture.  Very different than what we got.  

12 - G.I. JOE HEADQUARTERS II

    It is probably impossible to top the original G.I. Joe Headquarters, but they gave it a good try!  The HQII is very cool with tons of features - sounds, spring action launchers, spotlight, etc.  But 2 factors push this below the original.  #1 is some of the locations leave the Joes completely exposed.  #2 is that it doesn't have the amazing compatibility with other Joe toys that the original had!  Still, this bad boy is going to get a solid 9!

This pic is taken from MY G.I. Joe Headquarters box from way back when...

   What an interesting year for G.I. Joe!  Again, somewhat different than we had in the past, but still some great stuff.  You can see a slight decline in quality though.  The hollow Cobra Rat should have been a major embarrassment to Hasbro (but it probably wasn't).  On the other hand, something like the Toxo-Lab and HQII gave me hope that my beloved toyline still had some gas in the tank.

    What did you think of 1992's vehicle assortment?  Where were the "hits and misses" in your opinion?  Rate the vehicle line-up in the comments below!