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1985 Opened Doors to My Imagination I Hadn’t Known Were There

April 27, 2026April 27, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffaction figures, G.I.Joe, Hasbro0 comment

By Destro Designs – Viper Den Studios 1985 started having things outside of G.I. Joe influence my head canon. For instance, movies that hit VHS wound up on my TV, and despite being almost 6 years old, I was watching things like The Terminator, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. The Terminator scared the crap out of me, to be honest—but I loved it. That handgun with the laser dot… ugh, give me that, I used to say. But also, 55 episodes of G.I. Joe were released…

Barrel-Jumping Beginnings: How Donkey Kong Climbed to the Top of Pop Culture

April 27, 2026April 27, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffclassic arcade games, Donkey Kong cartoon Saturday Supercade, Donkey Kong Country SNES, Donkey Kong cultural impact, Donkey Kong history, Donkey Kong origin story, Mario first appearance, Nintendo arcade games 1980s, retro video games, Shigeru Miyamoto Donkey Kong0 comment

In the early 1980s, the video game industry was still finding its footing, experimenting with new ideas and characters that could capture the imagination of a rapidly growing audience. Enter Donkey Kong, a game that didn’t just succeed—it redefined what video games could be. Released in 1981 by Nintendo, Donkey Kong introduced players to a simple yet addictive concept: a determined hero climbing platforms, dodging obstacles, and rescuing a damsel in distress from a giant ape. But behind that straightforward premise lies one of the most fascinating origin stories in…

Now You Know With YorktownJoe – G.I. Joe Trading Card Review!

April 26, 2026April 26, 2026 Serpentorslair StaffG.I.Joe, Hasbro1 Comment

Trade you a Destro for a Jose Conseco! G.I. Joe Trading Card Review by @Yorktownjoe! Check it out in the player below, and be sure and follow him on Instagram and YouTube for his latest videos and photography!

The Story Behind Hungry Hungry Hippos: From Toy Concept to 1980s Icon

April 26, 2026April 26, 2026 Serpentorslair Staff1980s pop culture games, classic board games 1980s, family board games history, Fred Kroll toys, Hasbro Hungry Hungry Hippos, Hungry Hungry Hippos history, Hungry Hungry Hippos invention, Milton Bradley games 1980s, retro toys history, vintage kids games0 comment

Few tabletop games capture the chaotic joy of childhood quite like Hungry Hungry Hippos. First released in 1978 by the Milton Bradley Company (later part of Hasbro), the game quickly became a household staple and a defining symbol of 1980s playtime. But its story begins more than a decade earlier with a creative spark from toy inventor Fred Kroll. Back in 1967, Kroll conceived the idea for a fast-paced, mechanical game centered around competition and motion. His concept would take years to refine, as toy designers worked to transform the…

M.A.S.K. A Tale of Two Trakkers

April 26, 2026April 26, 2026 Serpentorslair StaffComics, Hasbro, M.A.S.K., Matt Tracker, Skybound1 Comment

Story By: R.A. Rayne Before I get into this, let me state that this is my opinion and does not reflect on anyone associated with Serpentor’s Lair, Hasbro, IDW, or Skybound, nor does this article reflect my feelings about the quality of the IDW Revolution comic book, Skybound, or the Energon Verse. I am a comic book fan and have enjoyed most of what I have read from IDW and Skybound. I am not upset with Hasbro, IDW, or Skybound for the change, per se. I 100% believe in equality…

G.I.Joe Half The Battle

G.I. Joe Super7 B.A.T. Review On HALF THE BATTLE!

April 25, 2026April 25, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffaction figures, G.I.Joe, Super7 B.A.T.1 Comment

On this weekend’s Half The Battle shorty, We take a look at the G.I. Joe Super7 ReAction+ B.A.T! Check out this week’s video below and join in the conversation. And as always be sure and subscribe to my YouTube channel for all my latest videos!

Snake Eyes: How Silence Makes Him the GOAT in a Unique Way

April 23, 2026April 23, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffaction figures, G.I.Joe, Hasbro, Snake Eyes1 Comment

Story By By Destro Designs – Viper Den Studios One of the reasons Snake Eyes is the GOAT that many don’t realize is the magic behind his silence. I’ve often said that when naming favorite Marvel and DC comic characters, Snake Eyes should be in that conversation. He transcends the G.I. Joe brand and stands among notable pop culture icons. Hell, my mom knows who Snake Eyes is—and she’s a hairdresser born in the ’60s. First, Larry Hama should be recognized as the GOAT comic writer for creating a character…

Bouncing Through History: Why Gummi Bears Still Rule the 80s Cartoon Kingdom

April 23, 2026April 23, 2026 Serpentorslair Staff80s animated series nostalgia, Adventures of the Gummi Bears 1985, Disney 80s cartoons, Disney Afternoon origins, Gummi Bears cartoon, Gummi Bears characters, Gummi Bears history, Jymn Magon Gummi Bears, Michael Eisner Disney animation, Tad Stones Disney TV animation0 comment

When Adventures of the Gummi Bears premiered in 1985, it wasn’t just another Saturday morning cartoon—it was the launchpad for Disney’s entire television animation empire. Running until 1991 with 65 episodes (95 segments), the show proved that Disney magic could thrive outside movie theaters and into living rooms. The idea for the show came straight from the top—literally. Disney CEO Michael Eisner reportedly conceived the series after noticing his son’s love for gummy bear candy. At first, the creative team wasn’t exactly sold. Writer and co-creator Jymn Magon even admitted…

IACON CITY - The Transformers Forum

The Transformers: About That Volcano…

April 22, 2026April 22, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffaction figures, Hasbro, Transformers1 Comment

Story by @GIJoeRepairShop I wasn’t going to write this article. I thought that maybe I was the only one who hadn’t really understood how the Autobot’s ship, The Ark, had lain undetected on Earth for over four million years with no one ever seeing it until 1984. From circa 3,998,016 BC to 1984 AD, why had no one ever noticed this huge ship embedded in and sticking out of a Mount St. Hilary? Some quick googling provided the answer. But, it also showed that a lot of folks were under…

Putt-Putt Pandemonium: When America Lost Its Mind Over Mini Golf

April 22, 2026April 22, 2026 Serpentorslair Staff1980s family entertainment, arcade mini golf boom, Don Clayton putt putt founder, mini golf history, miniature golf franchise history, professional putters association, putt putt fun center history, putt putt golf 1980s, retro arcade culture, vintage putt putt signage0 comment

The phenomenon traces back to Don Clayton, who founded Putt-Putt Golf Courses of America in 1954 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Clayton wasn’t impressed with the goofy windmills and gimmicks of early mini-golf. He wanted something different—a skill-based game. So he built: It was mini-golf… but treated like a serious sport. By the time the 1980s rolled around, Putt-Putt had evolved from simple courses into full-blown entertainment hubs. What fueled the explosion: By the ‘80s and early ‘90s, Putt-Putt wasn’t just golf—it was: Birthday parties, first dates, Little League hangouts, and…

G.I.Joe Half The Battle

1998 G.I. Joe Figures Ranked — Better Than You Remember?

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffaction figures, G.I.Joe, Hasbro0 comment

On this week’s episode of G.I. Joe Half The Battle, We rank all of the G.I. Joe figures released in 1998! Check out this week’s video below and join in the conversation. And as always be sure and subscribe to my YouTube channel for all my latest videos!

Daisy Dukes & Hidden Depths: The Untold Story of Catherine Bach

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026 Serpentorslair Staff1970s TV icons, Catherine Bach biography, Catherine Bach career, Catherine Bach facts, Catherine Bach fashion influence, Catherine Bach then and now, Catherine Bach young photos, Daisy Duke actress, Daisy Dukes origin, Dukes of Hazzard cast0 comment

Before Fame: A Star in the MakingBefore she became a pop culture icon, Catherine Bach was far from an overnight success. Born Catherine Bachman in Warren, Ohio, and raised partly in California, she came from a creatively rich background—her mother was of Mexican descent, and her great-grandfather reportedly had ties to the famed composer Johann Sebastian Bach. That artistic lineage subtly shaped her early ambitions. Bach studied drama at UCLA but left before graduating to pursue acting opportunities—an early gamble that paid off. In the mid-1970s, she landed small roles,…

G.I. Joe Classified G.I.Joe

My Out-of-Body Experience Getting a H.I.S.S. HasLab

April 20, 2026April 20, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffaction figure collecting, Baroness GI Joe Classified, Cobra Commander figure, Cobra HISS tank experience, GI Joe 788 Fire Team, GI Joe classified series, GI Joe collectors, GI Joe Dragonfly HasLab, GI Joe HISS review, GI Joe rare collectibles, GI Joe Rattler HasLab, Hasbro HasLab review, HasLab Cobra HISS Tank, HISS Tank HasLab, HISS Tank unboxing, Techno Viper Classified, toy collecting stories1 Comment

By Destro Designs and Viper Den Studios There are a lot of people who dislike HasLab’s for a few reasons that I actually understand: the price point, the upfront cash, the year-long wait, and the exclusive, snooty feeling of elitism. I get it. Truly, I do. But… they’re so motherf***ing awesome. Just totally awesome. When I started collecting Classifieds in 2024, it was only the H.I.S.S. and Dragonfly. No-brainer which one I wanted. It was running around $500–$600 on Etsy, and I thought, “Eh, I’ll just get some Gridiron stuff.”…

Pack It Up & Roll Out: The Hot Wheels Garage That Traveled With You

April 20, 2026April 20, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffcollectible Hot Wheels playsets, die cast car playset vintage, Hot Wheels box art vintage, Hot Wheels fold up garage 1979, Hot Wheels Service Center, Hot Wheels Sto and Go, Mattel Hot Wheels history, portable toy garage 1980s, retro toys 1970s Hot Wheels, vintage Hot Wheels playset0 comment

In the late 1970s, Hot Wheels was firing on all cylinders. What started in 1968 as a die-cast car revolution had quickly grown into a full-blown ecosystem of tracks, stunts, and playsets. Among the most memorable innovations was the Sto & Go Service Center, a fold-up garage that perfectly captured the imagination—and practicality—of kids everywhere. Released around 1979, the Sto & Go wasn’t just another accessory—it was a clever response to a real kid problem: how do you take your Hot Wheels collection everywhere? The answer came in the form…

G.I. Joe Classified G.I.Joe

Now You Know With YorktownJoe – G.I. Joe Classified Legacy Police Officer Review

April 19, 2026April 19, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffaction figures, G.I.Joe, Hasbro1 Comment

Ah Oh, its the PO PO! G.I. Joe Classified Legacy Police Officer figure Review by @Yorktownjoe! Check it out in the player below, and be sure and follow him on Instagram and YouTube for his latest videos and photography!