1994 SkyBox DC Master Series Trading Cards

On October 10, 2023October 6, 2023 By thedragonfortressIn DC Comics1 Comment

This post was written by my dear friend Pat (@ptotime). Thanks, Pat!

Green Arrow, by Ray Lago; and Huntress, by Hector Gomez.

During the pandemic, there was a hot moment where all of the stuff that Wizard Magazine lied about being worth something someday actually WAS worth something. This was purely a function of the market: while working from home, bored Xennials spent more time on eBay, looking up things that they used to enjoy. Suddenly, there was demand to meet the Internet’s inexhaustible supply of 1980s and 1990s pop culture ephemera. Old toys, old video games, old comic books — everyone who, at age 8, was certain that their Web of Spider-Man #100 (First Appearance of the Spider-Armor; green holo-foil cover) was going to be worth money lived out the monkey’s paw fulfillment of that wish when online sellers convinced them that the dose of nostalgia was worth $35 or whatever. (After all, it’s a Key Issue.)

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Site Updates: Fun(skool) on the Beach(Head)

On October 3, 2023 By thedragonfortressIn GI JoeLeave a comment

Hello there!

As I said in last week’s review, I have a busy week ahead of me so I only have something small for you this day.

But the good news is we’re keeping the Beach-Head (or Beach Head, or Beachhead, depending on how the Hasbro and/or Funskool copywriter is feeling that day) train rolling today.

Below you’ll find a link to my in-depth look at the Russian Funskool Beach Head figure from 1998.

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1994 GI Joe Beach-Head Review

On September 26, 2023October 10, 2023 By thedragonfortressIn GI Joe6 Comments

Well, whaddya know? It’s another GI Joe review! For those of you who don’t like adolescent karate reptiles (you absolute monsters), this should help satisfy your army doll cravings.

Today I’m looking at a figure that came from the large carded lot I bought at an estate sale a while back. I’ve only dipped into it a little bit so far, but this yellow-vested weirdo has been calling to me like a plastic Siren of ancient myth.

So let’s crash into the rocks and look at GI Joe’s Beach-Head from 1994!

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2023 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Storage Shell Turtles Review

On September 19, 2023 By thedragonfortressIn TMNT5 Comments

(Warning: This review contains nearly 80 large images, so I recommend that you’re either connected to Wi-Fi or are using an unlimited data plan when you read it)

Today we’re taking a look at some recent TMNT reissues from Playmates Toys. Playmates has been on a hot streak recently with their vintage Turtle re-releases and I’ve purchased most of them. I plan on covering what I have and I need to start somewhere, so this is what I’ve chosen.

Today we’re looking at the 2023 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Storage Shell Turtles Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael reissue figures. But don’t worry, I’m not leaving Donatello out in the cold.

We’ll also be looking at the original 1990 Don, the Storage Shell Turtle, so we can compare it with these re-releases.

Let’s get right into these ooze drinkers and shell raisers.

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1993 GI Joe Headhunter Stormtrooper Review

On September 12, 2023 By thedragonfortressIn GI Joe9 Comments

Hello everyone. I hope you’re doing well and that all of the Tylenols and ibuprofens are defending your body’s pain receptors from the rigors of old age. My results on that are a bit mixed.

Today we’re looking at a figure I’ve been wanting to review for quite a while. It’s also a figure that’s been with me since childhood. It survived a house fire and is still in pretty good shape– I’ve never even had to replace its original o-ring!

So settle in for a cozy little review of Hasbro’s 1993 GI Joe Headhunter Stormtrooper, which saw plenty of action during my formative years. And watch your fingers because this is one spiky little guy.

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1994 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles April O’Neil Review

On August 31, 2023 By thedragonfortressIn TMNT5 Comments

Who would have guessed that it would take me until 2023 to review a Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles toy on this website?

Considering my questionable consistency and work ethic, I’m sure most of you are not surprised it took me this long. But TMNT was one of the biggest toy lines of the 1990s and I was not immune to Turtle Fever as a child, so here’s hoping this little post is just the beginning of me diving into the oozy waters of the TMNT franchise.

Here’s a look at a fun variant of everyone’s favorite reporter from later in the line– 1994 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles April O’Neil!

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2000 GI Joe Snake Eyes Review

On August 1, 2023August 1, 2023 By thedragonfortressIn GI Joe10 Comments

Today we’re looking at a figure that’s very special and important to me, but also is not a figure I actually love. I don’t even use or photograph it all that often.

I figured it was time to finally look at an official, 3 3/4″ version of GI Joe’s most popular character, though, so today I’m reviewing Snake Eyes version 9 from the turn of the century.

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Super7 ReAction Figure GI Joe Raven, Red Laser, and Combat Engineer Review

On June 27, 2023July 30, 2025 By thedragonfortressIn GI Joe8 Comments

Today we’re changing it up a bit. Although I’m covering three different figures today, it should be a quick one. That’s because we’re looking at some Super7 ReAction figures and, at the end of the day, there’s only so much you can say about a faux-retro toy with five points of articulation.

So grab a juicebox, put on your favorite Night Ranger tape, and let’s party like it’s some gross, corporate nostalgia-driven bastardization of 1983.

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1993 GI Joe Street Fighter 2 Sagat Review

On June 13, 2023June 14, 2023 By thedragonfortressIn GI Joe11 Comments

So, in case you don’t remember, I went to an estate sale last year and bought a bunch of carded GI Joe figures from 1994. There were some 1993 figures in the lot as well, but almost all of them were from the Street Fighter 2 sub-line. I’ve been in a Street Fighter mood lately (like literally [figuratively] everyone else in the entire world), so I thought it would be fun to take a look at a figure I don’t have much experience with.

That brings us to today’s review– we’re looking at 1993 GI Joe Street Fighter 2 Sagat!

I had a fun time playing around with this figure and analyzing all of its various intricacies. I hope you enjoy this review as much as I enjoyed making it for you.

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1993 GI Joe Star Brigade Duke (Armor Tech) Review

On May 30, 2023May 30, 2023 By thedragonfortressIn GI Joe9 Comments

Hello. How have you been? Are you still interested in old GI Joes? Because most of the time I still am.

Today we’re looking at a figure that is absolutely nobody’s favorite. But it’s one I got carded for less than the cost of a Wendy’s combo meal a couple years ago, and I’ve been itching to clip the accessories from the weapons tree, take some photos, and then never think about again.

So here’s 1993 GI Joe Star Brigade Duke from the Armor Tech sub-line.

Let’s get to it.

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