Has realism disappeared from G.I.JOE?
 

Ok,
So in reading through a thread, I decided to post a poll to this new one and see what the overal thought here is on the current release of G.I.JOE'S
For starters, way back in 82-83 the GIJOE figures and vehicles featured military style battle uniforms, with guns, backpacks and helmets.
Against a terrorist group they fought valiantly with their jeeps, field guns and tanks.

This was very realistic and over the next 2 or 3 years the colours of the uniforms and designs of the tanks, aircrafts and boats would get more futuristic and "out there"

The gijoe line has recently had alot of attention via the 25th Anniversary released figures. There are some that hate the line and will only collect the vintage and some that will collect both.
How ever my full question on this topic is simply this.

Does the GIJOE Line still carry an element of Realism in the line?

Yeah, I think so, sure. It's not the EXTREME realism seen in the first couple of ARAH waves, but it's also not the 90's stuff (or Sigma 6). I think it straddles that line of being realistic and stylistic. Though I despise the figure, the 25th update to Serpentor is more realistic than the original (as far as realism gets when dealing with clone of history's greatest leaders/conquerors). It's less "snakey-costume" and more battle-armor. Same with Zartan...would a master assassin and world-class mercenary REALLY wear mid-riff armor with no shirt? Really??? So, I think GIJoe is still on the right track where realism is concerned. We'll see what happens with Dr. Mindbender and his bare chest of awesomeness!!

Great topic by the way.

There has always been a futuristic side to the Joes. Even 1982 had Flash a laser trooper & the H.A.L. which was a huge laser cannon. I am a huge Star Wars fan, so that does not bother me at all. '82 Cobra Commander even had a futuristic gun. I love a little fantasy, it make for a great storyline, if I wanted complete reality I would be buying some of the other straight military toys. That is what is so much fun about Joes, if you don't like a character, or his uniform, all you need is a mini screwdriver & make one you do like. I think everything stayed pretty much on an even keal until the 90's. There were a few screwball before then, but the boat sank IMO then. Sigma 6 made Joe even more futuristic with wild vehicles & cartoon like figures (I do own a few of the 8" figures & enjoy them). The 25th is pure crap, most of them look very animated, I feel they are VERY low quality, I have a few but my hard earned money is going to be going toward 1980's figures. With vintage figures you can have a balance between realism & fantasy, I enjoy that. I will be buying a few of the 25th for their accessories & custom fodder - the jetpack looks real good on a '83 Cobra Trooper! Afterall this is based on a Cartoon & Comic Books, you don't get anymore fantasy than that.

Vader speaks the truth.

The realistic aspect of 'G.I. Joe' is that it can blend just enough 'reality' with just enough 'fantasy' to make it work. And more than Star Wars (which I too am a 'madcrazy' fan of), you can re-make 'your Joeverse' into whatever you want, while still staying somewhat true to the original concept of the line.

I always feel for the people who cannot incorporate their own spin on G.I. Joe......half the fun of this line is the ability to take the best from all around......and make the neon some wicked Halloween party!! :p

All I have to say is it's a Great line of toys & entertaiment that has something for the fantasy Fans & the reality fans!!! Nuff said!!! :cool:

overall i have to agree with everyones posts,it's that mix of fantasy and realism that have always made Joes so much fun, even the neon colored 90's stuff had some redeeming figures and vehicles

GI Joe, since 1982 has had "Futuristic" elements, however, I don't see them as any more advanced than the gear they show on the TV series "FutureWeapons". Flash's Laser rifle and Grand Slam's HAL were both, in my opinion prototype weapons. I can deal with futuristic weapons, and I can even suspend my disbelief enough to believe you can build an Army and have them (most of them anyhow) wear masks.

Ninjitsu? I can believe some of that, but when Ninjas can bring back the dead...hmmmm? I like ninja's in the Stephen K. Hayes vein...practioners of the old ways, but carrying Mac-10's with silencers as their primary weapons, not ninja Swords and blowguns.

As for the Serpentor thing, Cloning is REAL. I don't know a lot about HOW it works, but cloning a person is Possible, and I could see a well funded terrorist organization paying scientists to do cloning and genetic manipulation experiments. And to violate international laws about doing it.

I could go with the comics up to the point that everything lead back to ninjas and the brainwave scanner. Too much ninja crap spoiled the military aspect. The space stuff....WAY TOO FAR OUT FOR ME! My friend Scott and I used to collect GI Joe from 1982-1989 and we both agreed when they went into space, it was time to quit! I STILL bought the Defiant Launch shuttle complex AND even the crusader, but did not buy the "StarBrigade" figures.

The cartoon was way too corny for me. I watched it, but they kept changing the time and channels it was on so I lost touch. I wasn't too impressed with it. Everytime a plane got shot down, the pilots ejected. No one ever got shot. Except for the movie, no one even ever got hurt as far as I can remember. It was for kids, but what kind of Military cartoon caters to kids who are too little to accept that people get hurt and killed in war? And look at how bad cartoons are now! Buggs Bunny is actually edited, because it was too violent! They say that the original Seseme Street was too dark and brooding for todays kids.

Sorry, getting off track......I think the comic stayed realistic, but towards the end it "Jumped the Shark" and totally got lost in it's own crap. The new series is a little TOO SERIOUS and brooding. I like it, but I hate the fact that they lost great characters like MainFrame, Flash, Chuckles and Lady Jaye. I haven't read it since they started the WWIII thread, so I dunno, maybe it has gone @$$ over teakettle into the sewer as far as realism goes.

The Cartoon was only GI Joe in that it shared the same name and characters. I can't see someone who is a terrorist with Cobra Commanders sniveling voice. And Destro sounded like a cheap knock off of James Earl Jones. I won't even touch Cobra-La! oi! What a goat-rope!

But that's MY OPINION.

as the great peter griffin said, "I may not agree with what you have to say sir, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Whoa, thats intense! I love my Joes but I ain't dyin for em! :eek: