Maybe it was more Cobra La and GIJOE: the movie (1987) that helped defined some of the negative views of 1987. As far as the GIJOE team goes, I think it parallels the 1986 GIJoe team very well.
The 1987 figures in my collection, still pretty much look like what I had from 2009. I typed out some thoughts on the GIJOE team previously, right now I'm spending some time evaluating what my collection will mean to me. I could have it all, I could simply hoard it all, and keep it in some sort of storage for the many years to come. Or I could really take a hard look at what I like about my GIJoe collection.
And it hasn't been easy. Some figures are just plain cool. Or there is some really neat aspect to them. Or even, and I never thought I'd say it, some nostalgic sentiment attached.
As I look at the class of 1987 now, the same color palette really flows through figures as it does with the 1986 figures.
There is the rather traditional looking "army" guys with Falcon, Tunnel rat, and even Outback and Steamroller (to an extent). But then there is a transition with more non-traditional looking figures who still have their army-green pants on (Law, Chuckles).
From there, Fast Draw adds in some more red in his special rocket-slinger blast suit, and that red carries right into Sneak Peak, Crazy legs, Backstop, and especially, Jinx. This red is very similar to the red on the 1986 figures, in my opinion. But there is also some gray tones, and Sneak Peak and Crazy legs really look like they are on a team to me now.Of course, Psyche-out has to be different, much like Sci-fi. Perhaps that was planned, one guy with a bright green technical specialty?
One could almost take the entire right half of the photo for trimming out figures, and indeed, Sneak Peak, Crazy Legs, (that) Jinx, and Psyche-out are on the potential chopping block.
In 1987, the color blue starts to show on the main line in Law and Fast Draw, but Battle Force 2000 picks it up.
Now I did get rid of my "sub teams," but I made the exception to individuals, and all of Battle Force 2000 is a new individual. I did send Avalanche off with my winter operations team, though, he just fits better with that theme.
Back in the day, the style of the Battle Force 2000 vehicles with their colors really have a certain style that kind of match what was going on with Transformers that year. But, either way, the BF2K figures have been a great addition, even though I don't have much interest in the vehicles, as these guys have really added flavor to my team as vehicle driving specialists.Dodger and Blocker have been four-wheelin' and off-roadin' in most of my wheeled vehicles, while Knockdown has been serving as a gunner on many vehicles. Maverick was the co-pilot to just about everything, and with his suit, he could almost fit on the Crusader or Defiant just as well. Blaster, as a "ground effect vehicle" operator, he got stationed on the WHALE, but now I'm not sure if he'll have a role in my future force.
Do you think that Psyche-out was potentially planned as a BF2K member?
I like that Dee-Jay fits in visually with these guys, too, even though he appeared later.
Of course, the stars of 1987 in some ways: the Renegades. I just completed these three together just a couple years ago. I'm on the fence with them now. I mean, in the GIJOE:the movie (1987), these misfits weren't even "in" GIJOE and they had a special D.I. that had to whip them into shape. I'm tempted to make my Joe-Verse story one where Taurus and Red Dog either didn't make the cut, or were "lost" in some never-acknowledged-officially mission.
Were these guys going to be expanded upon at some point? Were these and the Cobra-la 3-pack "THE movie figures" back in the day? With Slaughter appearing again in 1988, do you think there was ever any talk of more main-lining of these Renegades, or expanding of the Renegades?
The 1991 Mercer has been my main Mercer since, well, possibly Christmas of 1991. I've always liked the figure, despite the orange. But then, both Mercers have the orange, but the '91 seems more red (more ex-Cobra?) Plus I like the "aged" look on the 1991 version. Somewhere along the way, he got shorter :).