Hard to believe this picture was taken in 2009. It doesn't seem like it was all that long ago, but at the same time it seems like another lifetime ago.
These would be all of the G.I.Joe main figures from 1990, I think? Excluding Sky Patrol. I suppose Rapid Fire could be taken out of this lineup as a more of a "deluxe" figure with the VHS tape included.
This is a very tight lineup and a very original lineup as I see it. Not one new version of a previous character here. I very rarely saw any of the cartoon that may have featured any of these characters. These are all fairly fresh characters to me even now as I think about it. Compare Shipwreck with the raspy cartoon voice ingrained into my brain, here we have Topside. It's all imagination applied to this figure for me, a blank slate.
Let's look at this left to right. Instead of code names, what's this look like with just specialties?
_______________________
Jungle Assault Specialist
Fast Attack Expert
Medical Specialist
Navy Assault Seaman
Avalanche Driver
Winter Operations Specialist
Retaliator Pilot
Anti-Armor Trooper
Intervention Specialist
Concealment Specialist
General Commander
Shoreline Defender
Hand to Hand Combat Specialist
Paratrooper
_______________________
More "specialists" this year?
Also, no "helicopter pilot," but assigned Retaliator Pilot, same with the other vehicle drivers.
In the above picture I bought Rapid Fire, Rampart, Pathfinder, Topside, and Bullhorn all new off the pegs.
Salvo came from an online trade with SalvoInACan, I believe his user code name was.
Sub Zero came from my best bud from back in the day when I lived in the old small town.
The other seven figures I think all came from BBTS when they had their vintage department.
I traded online to complete Freefall and to obtain General Storms helmet. I never completed Ambush or Stretchers accessory complement, however.
Today, the only figures that remain in my possession are Rampart and Updraft.