2002 – The Dragon Fortress

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.

Continue reading “2002 GI Joe Cobra Mantis Sub Review” →

The catch of the day isn’t a whopper, but it’s generated some Big Fish Stories nonetheless. Do we find this figure compelling because of its lowered articulation? Because it came free with a couple tubes of toothpaste? Because of its odd, shoddy paintwork? Because of its dubious legal nature? Or do we recoil in horror because it’s not quite right?

For me, it’s all of the above and much more. When I set out to write this review, I figured I’d do something “easy” because the last one I wrote was massive. But I’m a journalist by nature, so I couldn’t leave well enough alone– I did some initial research, asked the experts some questions, and then dug even deeper. A couple things I found really surprised me.

This GI Joe Funskool Pepsodent Exclusive Undertow is much more than a slapdash toothpaste giveaway figure. There are oddities with production, licensing, and figure construction. I dug up the unexpected.

So, come for the weird under-articulated Undertow variant and stay for the mysteries hidden within its underachieving exterior shell.

Time to reel it in.

Continue reading “GI Joe Funskool Pepsodent Exclusive Undertow (2002) Review” →