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Review: Skeletron Red Shadows Assault Trooper

April 11, 2026April 11, 2026 Serpentorslair StaffAction Force, Action Force Red Shadows, Baron Ironblood, Baron Ironblood minions, classic Red Shadows, gi joe, GI Joe Action Force, GI Joe collectors, GI Joe figures, Red Shadows, Red Shadows action figures, Red Shadows army builder, Red Shadows Assault Trooper, Red Shadows collectible, Red Shadows Troopers, Red Shadows vintage, Red Shadows Wolf Troopers, SKELETRON figures, SKELETRON Red Shadows, Skeletron toys0 comment

Review by @GIJoeRepairShop They’re finally here! Those evil minions of Baron Ironblood, the classic Red Shadows troopers, have finally made their appearance in the SKELETRON line of figures. While Red Shadows Wolf troopers are fantastic, a lot of fans were waiting for the classic Red Shadows look to emerge from the depths of SKELETRON’s secret lab. The Red Shadows Assault Trooper is probably one of the worst-kept secrets in GI Joe/Action Force collecting. Anyone who bought a Roboskull MK II flight stand also got a deck of Roboskull MK II…

1983 G.I. Joe Tossed a Hand Grenade at My Other Childhood Toys

April 9, 2026April 9, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffaction figures, G.I.Joe, Hasbro0 comment

Story by Destro Designs – Viper Den Studios As big of a fan of G.I. Joe as I am, I missed out on the first year of G.I. Joe releases in 1982. I was too young, with minimal exposure—only Breaker and Scarlett—so it slipped by. But when I saw Destro and Snake Eyes, it was on like Donkey Kong. I remember wanting all eight that were displayed, but initially I only walked out with those two. It was an obvious shift, even to my parents. I had He-Man and some…

One Blade to Rule Them All: How the Rambo Knife Cut Its Way Into History

April 9, 2026April 9, 2026 Serpentorslair Staff1980s action movie gear, First Blood knife design, hollow handle knife, iconic movie weapons, Jimmy Lile knife, knife making innovation, Rambo, Rambo knife history, Rambo survival gear, survival knife evolution, tactical knife history0 comment

It wasn’t just a prop—it was a revolution forged in steel. When audiences first saw First Blood in 1982, they were introduced to a quiet, haunted drifter named John Rambo. But alongside the character, something else captured imaginations worldwide: the knife. Big, brutal, and undeniably purposeful, the “Rambo Knife” wasn’t just a movie accessory—it became an icon that would permanently reshape knife design and survival gear culture. The story of the Rambo knife begins behind the scenes, where filmmakers wanted authenticity. They needed a blade that looked like it belonged…

Exorbitant Prices and Double Entendres: Adventures in Smurf Collecting

April 8, 2026April 8, 2026 Serpentorslair Staff0 comment

Story by @GIJoeRepairShop I’ve been a Smurf collector for as long as I can remember. Nearly everyone of my generation has, at some point, played with Smurfs or watched the television show. Smurf collecting never seems to go out of fashion. If you walk into any antique store today, you’ll be faced with a myriad of Smurf-related memorabilia. There are all manner of plastic Smurfs spanning decades, as well as various plush toys, stickers, lunch boxes, cups, keychains, buttons, board games, and movie tie-in merchandise. It’s a marketeer’s dream. Here’s…

Plastic War Stories: When Rambo Became a Saturday Morning Hero

April 8, 2026April 8, 2026 Serpentorslair Staff1980s Rambo toys, 1985 Rambo toys, 80s action figures history, Coleco Rambo action figures, Coleco toy history, Rambo cartoon toys, Rambo Force of Freedom, Retro Action Figures, vintage Rambo toy line, vintage toy collecting0 comment

There was a time in the mid-1980s when the lines between gritty action cinema and toy store aisles blurred in the most fascinating way. You could walk into a department store, past the bikes and board games, and suddenly find yourself face-to-face with a plastic version of a battle-hardened warrior—none other than John Rambo. It seems almost surreal now. The character made famous by First Blood and its explosive sequel Rambo: First Blood Part II wasn’t exactly designed for kids. Yet, in 1985, toy giant Coleco saw an opportunity—and ran…

G.I.Joe Half The Battle

Lock, Load… and Don’t Stop: The Repeater Breakdown!

April 8, 2026April 8, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffaction figures, G.I.Joe, Hasbro0 comment

On this week’s episode of G.I. Joe Half The Battle, We take a loook at the 1988 G.I. Joe character “Repeater“! 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!

From Silicon to Spelling: The Beep-Boop Box That Taught a Generation to Read

April 8, 2026April 8, 2026 Serpentorslair Staff1978 educational toys, 1980s learning devices, digital speech innovation, iconic toys 1970s, retro kids technology, Speak and Spell E.T., Speak and Spell history, speech synthesis origin, Texas Instruments Speak and Spell, vintage electronic learning toys0 comment

Long before apps, tablets, and autocorrect quietly fixed our spelling mistakes, there was a bright orange, futuristic gadget that spoke to kids—literally. The Speak & Spell, introduced in 1978 by Texas Instruments, didn’t just teach spelling—it changed the way technology interacted with people forever. The Origin Story: A Toy Born From Serious Tech The Speak & Spell wasn’t originally conceived as a toy. It emerged from advanced research in digital signal processing at Texas Instruments. At the time, engineers were experimenting with a revolutionary concept: electronically generating human speech. Prior…

7-Year Stretch of Collecting G.I. Joe That Is Still Defining My Life

April 7, 2026April 7, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffaction figures, G.I.Joe, Hasbro0 comment

Destro Designs – Viper Den Studios With many years of producing banger after banger, it’s hard to nail down all the milestones in the original run of the G.I. Joe toy line. We know where it started, and we know where it ended—but what happened in between is always subjective to individual likes and dislikes. To me, it was a constant ascension from day one. Sometimes there were large leaps forward, and other times a steadier climb. I’m going to get into every year of my collecting individually—what figures I…

Bones, Biobeds & Boldly Building the Bridge: Nacelle’s Star Trek Reveal at WonderCon 2026

April 7, 2026April 7, 2026 Serpentorslair StaffBones McCoy collectible, Build A Bridge Star Trek, Dr McCoy figure Biobed, Nacelle Star Trek, Nacelle toys Star Trek, Star Trek figures 2026, Star Trek Original Series collectibles, Star Trek Turbo Lift toy, USS Enterprise playset, WonderCon 2026 Star Trek reveals0 comment

At WonderCon 2026, The Nacelle Company beamed fans straight into the heart of the Final Frontier with an exciting preview of upcoming Star Trek: The Original Series collectibles. While details are still incoming, what was shown is already enough to get collectors and Trekkies buzzing at warp speed. Leading the charge is none other than the legendary Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Leonard McCoy. Affectionately known as “Bones,” this figure comes paired with a detailed Biobed setup, instantly evoking the classic sickbay scenes aboard the USS Enterprise. Early images suggest a…

Now You Know With YorktownJoe – G.I. Joe “Hot Wheels Hiss Tank” Review

April 6, 2026April 6, 2026 Serpentorslair StaffG.I.Joe, Hasbro, Hot Wheels1 Comment

Cobra’s High Speed Sentry is now in Hot Wheels Scale! G.I. Joe Hot Wheels Hiss Tank 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!

Moose, Squirrel, and Genius: The Wild Origins of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show

April 6, 2026April 6, 2026 Serpentorslair Staff1960s television shows, animated satire series, Bill Scott voice actor, Boris Badenov Natasha Fatale, classic animated comedy, classic cartoons 1960s, Dudley Do-Right series, Fractured Fairy Tales cartoon, Golden Age television animation, iconic cartoon duos, Jay Ward animation, Jay Ward Productions, Mr Peabody and Sherman, retro cartoons nostalgia, Rocky and Bullwinkle characters, Rocky and Bullwinkle history, Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, smart cartoons for adults and kids, TV animation history, vintage animated TV shows0 comment

It began, as many great ideas do, with a little chaos and a lot of imagination. In the late 1950s, television was still figuring itself out. Westerns ruled, sitcoms were safe, and animation—well, animation was mostly for kids on Saturday mornings. But in a modest studio filled with sketchpads, coffee cups, and sharp-witted writers, two creators were about to flip that notion on its antlered head: Jay Ward and Bill Scott. Jay Ward was the business-minded dreamer, while Bill Scott was the creative engine—equal parts writer, performer, and comedic mad…

Nu Ne Nu Nu! The Typewriter Guy Who Taught a Generation to Laugh and Read

April 4, 2026April 4, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffchildhood TV memories, classic children's television, classic preschool shows, classic Sesame Street characters, early learning television, educational cartoons 80s, iconic kids TV characters, nostalgic kids shows, nu ne nu nu character, PBS kids classics, retro animation clips, retro kids TV shows, Sesame Street, Sesame Street 1970s 1980s, Sesame Street animated segments, Sesame Street animations, Sesame Street history, Sesame Street nostalgia, Sesame Street orange cartoon character, vintage educational TV1 Comment

If you grew up watching Sesame Street, you probably remember a quirky little animated character who didn’t speak in full sentences—but somehow said everything perfectly.“Nu… ne… nu nu!” That’s right—the Typewriter Guy. This unforgettable character would pop up in short animated segments, furiously typing away at a typewriter while vocalizing a string of rhythmic, nonsensical sounds. With every clack of the keys, letters and shapes would come to life, forming simple words or ideas in a way that was both funny and educational. And while kids may not have understood…

Realm of Eternia - Masters of the Universe

By the Power of Nostalgia! ToyKennections Travels Back to 1985 for a He-Man History Lesson!

April 4, 2026April 4, 2026 Serpentorslair Staff1 Comment

Today Ken from ToyKennections takes us on on a toy history of Masters of the Universe 1895! As always be sure to subscribe to ToyKennections channel on YouTube for all of Ken’s latest videos!

The M.A.S.S. Device, Had Me Hook Line and Sinker!

April 2, 2026April 2, 2026 Serpentorslair Staffaction figures, G.I.Joe, Hasbro1 Comment

By Destro Designs – Viper Den Studios Right off the bat, the intro of Episode 1 of the Sunbow cartoon, The M.A.S.S. Device. “The Cobra Strikes” hits Like a sledgehammer to a 6 year old who was craving such a thing, but didn’t even know it.. Being saddled by the far out Fantasy action of He-Man and on other side, the ultra Sci-fi space odyssey of the Star Wars movies, this opening sequence of real world military figures doing fantastical stuff, but yet tuned in just right to seem believable…

From Six to Stardom: Whatever Happened to Jenna von Oÿ?

April 2, 2026April 2, 2026 Serpentorslair Staff90s sitcom stars, 90s TV nostalgia, Blossom Six actress, Blossom TV show cast, celebrity updates, child stars of the 90s, former child actors, Jenna von Oÿ, Jenna von Oÿ 2024, Jenna von Oÿ author, Jenna von Oÿ biography, Jenna von Oÿ career, Jenna von Oÿ country singer, Jenna von Oÿ interview, Jenna von Oÿ life today, Jenna von Oÿ motherhood, Jenna von Oÿ music, Jenna von Oÿ Nashville, Jenna von Oÿ now, Parker Lewis Can't Lose cast, Situation Momedy book, Six from Blossom, Six LeMeure, Stevie Van Lowe, what happened to Jenna von Oÿ, where are they now celebrities, where is Jenna von Oÿ0 comment

If you grew up watching ‘90s television, chances are you remember the fast-talking, wisecracking best friend Six from the hit sitcom Blossom. That unforgettable role belonged to Jenna von Oÿ—and while many remember her as the queen of rapid-fire dialogue, her career goes far beyond one iconic character. Jenna von Oÿ got her start young, appearing in commercials and small TV roles before landing a breakout part on Parker Lewis Can’t Lose. There, she played Stevie Van Lowe, a quirky and loyal friend who helped anchor the show’s offbeat humor.…