Hello there. Here are my top 10 toys of the year. They’re all items that actually came out in 2022. If this was a list of new-to-me things from years past that I bought this year, this would be a much more challenging list.
So here’s to taking it easy. Let’s get started.
Hello there and welcome back to The Dragon Fortress. I have multiple treats for you today.
We’re taking an in-depth look at a Russian version of everyone’s favorite ninja and chowing down on a ton of bite-sized MOTU reviews.
So click on through and let’s get started.
Continue reading “Site Updates: Russian Funskool Storm Shadow and More MOTU”
Hello there. It’s nice to see you again.
This review was supposed to be part of ‘Childhood Favorites Month,’ which I did last November. I took most of these photos at the beginning of last month and was planning to write the review then, along with three others. But that didn’t happen for various reasons. I’m still having a bit of a hard time.
So, let’s just say this is a ‘Childhood Favorites Month’ review in spirit, as this was a childhood favorite. Sure, the 2002 Cobra Mantis Sub wasn’t released in the 90s, but I was still technically a child when I bought it in 2002. 2002 was the year I graduated from high school, so I would have been 17 when I purchased this toy. Not yet a legal adult. And boy oh boy did I love this toy back then.
This is also the first time I’m reviewing a vehicle and its included driver at the same time, so you’ll have to forgive me if I’m still finding my footing with the whole thing. This is a more “gallery” style review, much like the more recent vehicle profiles I’ve featured on this website. I want to show it from every angle, and the photo gallery format seems to be the best at facilitating that approach.
So let’s dive in. Here’s the 2002 GI Joe Cobra Mantis Sub along with its driver, the 2002 Moray v2.
(Editor’s Note: It’s the final installment of Ozone October, and I am once again joined by my main dude Cody. Cody is also known as CorpsCommanderCody on the toy-related social medias. This is an extra special review of an elusive figure, all tied together with a heartfelt personal story. So please follow Cody on Instagram and Twitter and then bask in the glory of The Final Ozone.)
Article and Photos by CorpsCommanderCody
It’s still Ozone October at The Dragon Fortress, and today we’re taking a look at the figure who started it all– 1991 GI Joe Ozone from the Eco Warriors sub line. This figure, despite representing a character with very few media appearances, had a long life within GI Joe’s classic A Real American Hero series.
After all, Ozone had more figure releases than popular cartoon/comic book characters like Shipwreck and Major Bludd. The figure obviously did something very right and captured some imaginations. Or, at the very least, someone at Hasbro was quite fond of it.
So grab an organic kombucha, take out the recycling, and strap in. We’re about to start an Eco War.
(Editor’s Note: We’re continuing Ozone October this week with a special guest review from my dear friend Cody. You may know Cody better as CorpsCommanderCody, but he is Cody just the same. I am very excited about this review! So please follow Cody on Instagram and Twitter and then bask in the glory of a very fun International GI Joe release.)
Article and Photos by CorpsCommanderCody
What is UP, wet and wacky Eco Warriors? Wait, this is technically a version of the Star Brigade one? Well, uh… ‘sup, spacefarers and starchildren?
I can’t do this. Anyways, I’m talking about Funskool Ozone today.
October of 2022 is a very special month here at The Dragon Fortress, because it’s all dedicated to The Most Important Member of GI Joe (some say The Only Important Member of GI Joe)– Specialist David F. Kunitz aka OZONE.
All month long, we’ll be looking at each ARAH version of GI Joe’s environmental safety trooper. Today, we’re starting with both versions of Ozone released in 1993 for the Star Brigade sub-line.
So how does an ozone replenishment specialist work as a combat astronaut? That’s what we’re here to find out.
Welcome to OZONE OCTOBER!
It’s been a while since I rapped at you about a classic 1990s American GI Joe, so let’s break that dry spell with today’s review.
Today we’re looking at a figure I had as a kid, but we’re also looking at a version of my favorite GI Joe character— the Joe team’s first Ranger, Lonzo R. Wilkinson aka Stalker.
This is probably the least-liked version of Stalker from the classic ARAH GI Joe series, but it’s the one I grew up with so I’m still pretty partial to it. But I feel I can be objective, too, as I’ve accumulated most other o-ring versions of the character over the years, as well.
Let’s party!
Continue reading “1992 GI Joe Stalker (Talking Battle Commanders) Review”
[Updated 9/16/22]
My Russian Funskool GI Joe articles have been some of the most popular pieces on my website. Today, we’re going to look a little deeper and tell their origin story. Thanks to the hard work of a friend, we now know when these figures came out, how they came about, and who imported them. This is the definitive Russian Funskool GI Joe origin story. Until we learn more, at least.
Before we start this article in earnest, I need to thank my friend Brusleep. He conducted all of the interviews and did all of the research for this piece. This is truly his work and I’m happy to share it with the world. All I did was re-write it, streamline it, and publish it. All credit goes to Brusleep, who you can find on Twitter. He is one of my favorite people in our online toy community, and he’s an absolute joy to interact with. Give him a follow.
Brusleep interviewed Igor Zhorzhovich, the founder of Two Beetles. If you’ve read any of my reviews and articles about Russian Funskool GI Joe, you’ll know that name. Two Beetles was the company that brought GI Joe into Russia, using Funskool figures and newly-translated packaging.
All of the information in this article comes from Brusleep’s audio and text interviews with Igor.
All photos in this article come from either Igor’s personal archives or from Brusleep.
I’m excited to finally bring you The Russian Funskool GI Joe story.
Well, I did a bad thing. I saw Eric of Toys and Tomfoolery’s Instagram post about the Super7 ReAction BAT and I instantly wanted one. And then I needed a few more to even out shipping costs. And then I saw Sunbow Snake Eyes on sale somewhere else and bought him because I wanted his laser pistol.
So here we are.
If you’ll remember, I wrote a post about these things when Super7 announced the line. My take wasn’t all negative, but I did question why they exist. And I still kind of do. After all, they’re the same size as the classic GI Joe figures we all love, but have greatly reduced articulation and a miniscule amount of accessories. Plus, they’re $20 each. But I did it anyway.
I also bucked the trend by opening these figures, playing with them, and trying to find a spot for them within a larger GI Joe collection.
Here are my thoughts.
The Dragon Fortress 