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.

Continue reading “1993 GI Joe Star Brigade Duke (Armor Tech) Review” →

Today we’re actually looking at a GI Joe action figure from the 1990s, which is becoming something of a rarity around here. I know it’s what you all want and expect from me, though, so let’s get back on track. Shall we?

Today we’re looking at 1994 GI Joe Major Bludd (Battle Corps), a figure I’ve had since it was released in the mid 90s. We’re looking at my childhood figure, in fact!

He’s holding up pretty well after all these years, and I have a few guesses as to why that is.

Grab your mustache combs and rhyming dictionaries, because it’s time to look at Cobra’s best (and worst) mercenary poet.

Continue reading “1994 GI Joe Major Bludd (Battle Corps) Review” →

Hello, everyone. Nice to see you again. I am still alive and I still enjoy toys, so let’s talk about one today. Sound good? Alright then.

The Haslab Skystriker Scarlett is not a 90s toy in any way. It’s a sort-of remake of a kitbash that could possibly happen with 80s toys, but is a new mold.

I did buy the figure to serve a 90s-related purpose (which we will get into in a bit here) and it’s a new GI Joe figure, so I decided it might be a decent review subject.

Also, Mike T from Forgotten Figures and RTG from Attica Gazette are also reviewing Pilot Scarlett this week. Here are those links:

• Pilot Scarlett at Forgotten Figures
• Retro Scarlett at Attica Gazette

Make sure you check their reviews out, as our perspectives are all likely to be pretty different.

Let us begin.

Continue reading “2023 GI Joe Scarlett (Haslab Skystriker) Review” →

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” →

(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

Continue reading “1994 GI Joe Ozone (Star Brigade) Review” →

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.

Continue reading “1991 GI Joe Ozone (Eco Warriors) Review” →

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!

Continue reading “1993 GI Joe Ozone (Star Brigade) Review” →

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” →

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.

Continue reading “2022 Super7 GI Joe ReAction Snake Eyes, Shipwreck, Cover Girl, BATs, and Cobra Troopers” →