The Way Back Machine To Your Favorite Gen-X Nostalgia and Modern Day Nerd News!
On this week’s episode of G.I. Joe Half The Battle, All 1990 GI Joe figures RANKED! 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!
Read More“Cobra Stops the World” is one of those classic G.I. Joe episodes that feels like pure Saturday-morning chaos—right up until you watch it as an adult and realize the plot is basically: weaponize the global fuel supply, terrorize infrastructure, and force surrender through mass panic. And that’s why it still hits in 2026. Originally aired September 26, 1985, the episode has Cobra Commander hijacking the airwaves while Cobra attacks oil rigs, oil tankers, and even links in the Alaskan pipeline, threatening to keep escalating until the world gives in. Cobra’s…
Read MoreStory by Mitchell Smith Hello everyone. I’m Train and today I’m going off the rails with 1980s 6 inch A-Team figures. 80s figures were cool but they weren’t as articulated or detailed as what we have come accustomed to. These A-Team figures were really cool back in the day. Hannibal, Murdock , Face, and BA all have their signature look. They all came with rifles and other accessories that I only have Hannibal’s radio pack but that’s alright. I had the 3-3/4 inch figures growing up but I never had…
Read MorePlaymates TMNT x G.I. Joe Crossover Figures Leaked? Leonardo as Snake Eyes, Shredder as Cobra Commander & More Playmates may be gearing up for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x G.I. Joe crossover figure line! Shared via msmithtmnt, these images show what looks like an unannounced assortment. Nothing has been made official yet, but the lineup in the photos includes: If this turns out to be real, it’s a wild mix of TMNT attitude and classic Joe designs—definitely one to keep an eye on for an official reveal.
Read MoreThere’s a special kind of G.I. Joe episode that ages sideways—the kind that seems like a goofy premise as a kid, then turns into a knowing wink when you rewatch it as an adult. “Lights! Camera! Cobra!” is exactly that. On the surface, it’s a Hollywood romp: the Joes get hired as technical advisers for a movie called “The G.I. Joe Story”, and Cobra predictably turns the set into a battleground. But underneath the stunts and slapstick, the episode is quietly about something bigger: how mass media—TV, movies, “hero stories”—can…
Read More“I have a father. His name was Ben Parker.” – Spider-Man Spider-Man (Battle Damaged Version) 1/6 Scale Collectible Figure In Sam Raimi’s groundbreaking Spider-Man, Peter Parker faces his greatest challenge when the maniacal Green Goblin forces him into a brutal final confrontation. The climactic battle pushes him to his absolute limits, leaving his suit torn and his body battered. This iconic showdown showcased not just Spider-Man’s incredible powers but his unwavering determination to protect those he loves, even when pushed beyond the breaking point. Hot Toys is thrilled to present…
Read MoreIf “Operation: Mind Menace” is about the battle for your thoughts, “Captives of Cobra” is about something even nastier: the moment your enemy stops targeting you and starts targeting everyone you love. On paper, it’s classic Sunbow-era escalation—Cobra wants a cache of highly unstable explosive crystals, and Baroness pitches a plan to take leverage the Joes can’t ignore. But rewatch this two-parter as an adult in 2026, and it plays less like a cartoon caper and more like a blunt lesson in modern vulnerability: data exposure, coercion, and weaponized intimacy.…
Read MoreFour new figures are charging into Mattel’s Masters of the Universe Origins Cartoon Collection (200x) lineup: Prince Adam, Zodak, Clawful, and Skeletor. They join the earlier drops—He-Man, Stratos, Tri-Klops, and Beast Man (check our pics of those here)—plus Wave 2’s Ram-Man, Man-At-Arms, Moss Man, Evil-Lyn, and Keldor. Expect retail to hover around $21.99, with a projected ship window of Spring 2026. Keep scrolling for pics and details—and hit the sponsor links to lock in your set before Skeletor does. CLICK HERE AND GET YOUR ORDER IN! By the Power of…
Read MoreThere are “classic” G.I. Joe cartoons we remember for the laser fire, the one-liners, and the pure Saturday-morning rush. And then there are the episodes that sneak up on you years later—when you’re older, a little more skeptical, and you’ve seen how the real world actually works. “Operation: Mind Menace” is one of those. On the surface, it’s vintage Sunbow-era Joe action: Cobra’s got a nasty new angle, the Joes scramble, and the day is saved by teamwork and grit. But underneath that candy-colored animation is something that still plays…
Read MoreQueen Studios has opened pre-orders for its new The Terminator – InArt T-800 1/6 Scale Figure, based on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic look from the original film. The release is packed with display options, including multiple head sculpts, removable sunglasses, swap-out jackets and shirts (clean and battle-damaged/bloody looks), interchangeable hands, weapons loadout, a damaged forearm option, and a display stand. The figure is available for worldwide shipping, priced at $426, and is scheduled to release in Q1 2027. The Terminator: T-800 1/6 Collectible Figure (Overview) Inspired by The Terminator, the T-800…
Read MoreIf you’re reading this on December 30, 2025 (or saving it for the true finish line on December 31), you can feel it: that last-lap energy where everyone insists we’re about to “level up,” “upgrade,” and “optimize” into the next year. But some of us—especially the Gen-X crowd who learned independence from a bike, a curfew, and a streetlight turning on—aren’t itching to sprint into 2026. We’re itching to turn the clock back! Not because 1986 was perfect. It wasn’t. But because it was human-sized. The world felt less like…
Read MoreOn this week’s episode of Half The Battle, I Discuss My top five favorite toys I got in 2025 !! 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!
Read MoreAh, the Etch A Sketch – that iconic red rectangle with its twin white knobs, promising endless creativity only to deliver frustratingly imperfect circles and the inevitable shake-to-erase reset. For generations, it’s been the toy that turned kids into aspiring artists (or at least stick-figure enthusiasts). But beneath its simple aluminum-powder magic lies a story packed with serendipity, international intrigue, and even a dash of political scandal. Let’s twist those knobs back in time and uncover some little-known secrets about this pop culture staple. Invented in the late 1950s by…
Read MoreStory by Mitchell Smith Welcome to Hondo’s Hideout. Today I’m taking a break from Joes and having a look at a Star Wars figure. I know many collectors who loved Star Wars have taken a break a lot because price and overall room. Back in the day in the late 70’s a kid like me would probably have to watch Star Wars (A New Hope) on NBC complete with commercials and all. One character that really stuck out was Hammer Head as we called him back in the day. Eventually…
Read MoreIf you’ve been waiting for a premium Metroid collectible that actually feels like it belongs in Samus’s world—heavy, high-end, and built for dynamic display—Bandai Tamashii Nations just delivered. CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOURS! The Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Samus Aran Chogokin Action Figure brings Samus to life in a bold new way, recreating the Varia Suit in its distinctive psychic-imbued state with a weighty finish and die-cast metal parts that make it feel as powerful as it looks. Why this Samus Aran Chogokin is a must-have What’s in the box…
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