Tag: 1980s action figures

Serpentorslair Staff · January 27, 2026

By the Power of Mattel: How He-Man Was Created and Became a 1980s Icon

January 27, 2026January 27, 2026 Serpentorslair Staff1980s action figures, Castle Grayskull history, Eternia lore, Filmation He-Man cartoon, He-Man creation story, He-Man origin, He-Man toy line, how Mattel created He-Man, Mark Taylor He-Man, Masters of the Universe cartoon, Masters of the Universe history, Masters of the Universe Mattel, Mattel 1980s toys, Mattel action figures, retro toy collecting, Roger Sweet He-Man, Skeletor origins, toy line development, toy marketing history, vintage He-Man toys0 comment

In the late 1970s, Mattel was looking for its next big boys’ action brand. The company had already proven it could dominate shelves with Barbie and Hot Wheels, but it wanted a powerful fantasy hero who could compete with the growing wave of science-fiction and adventure toys. A turning point came after Mattel passed on the chance to make action figures for a major space movie license. Executives realized they didn’t want to rely on someone else’s universe again. Instead, they decided to build their own world from scratch—one that…

Serpentorslair Staff · July 2, 2025

Ranking All G.I. Joe Vehicles From 1982 on Half The Battle!

July 2, 2025 Serpentorslair Staff1980s action figures, 1982 G.I. Joe, 80s G.I. Joe, action figures ranking, best G.I. Joe vehicles, classic G.I. Joe vehicles, G.I. Joe collector, G.I. Joe episode, G.I. Joe fan channel, G.I. Joe Half The Battle, G.I. Joe nostalgia, G.I. Joe review, G.I. Joe toy ranking, G.I. Joe toys 1982, G.I. Joe vehicles, G.I. Joe YouTube channel, Hasbro G.I. Joe, retro toys, Toy Reviews, vintage G.I. Joe toys0 comment

On this week’s episode of G.I. Joe Half The Battle, I rank the G.I. Joe Vehicles 1982! 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!

Serpentorslair Staff · May 17, 2025

The Secret Origin of Starduster – G.I. Joe’s Jetpack Mystery with ToyKennections and 3DJoes!

May 17, 2025May 17, 2025 Serpentorslair Staff1980s action figures, 3DJoes Carson Mataxis, G.I. Joe 1980s, G.I. Joe collectors, G.I. Joe mail-away figures, G.I. Joe Starduster explained, G.I. Joe toy reviews, G.I. Joe YouTube channels, Hasbro G.I. Joe history, Ken ToyKennections YouTube, Rare G.I. Joe Figures, Starduster G.I. Joe, Starduster origin story, ToyKennections, vintage G.I. Joe toys0 comment

Today Ken from ToyKennections discusses the origins of the 1980s G.I. Joe character “Starduster” With 3DJoes.com curator Carson Mataxis! Check out the video below and share your thoughts with us in the comments. As always be sure to subscribe to ToyKennections channel on YouTube for all of Ken’s latest videos!

Serpentorslair Staff · April 21, 2025

Before the Battle: How G.I. Joe Went Small and Won Big in ’82

April 21, 2025April 21, 2025 Serpentorslair Staff1980s action figures, 1982 G.I. Joe launch, Fisher Price Adventure People, G.I. Joe 3.75 inch, G.I. Joe MMS, G.I. Joe toy line origins, G.I. Joe Vamp vehicle, G.I. Joe vehicle line, Hasbro G.I. Joe history, Mego CHiPs figures, original 13 G.I. Joe figures, prototype G.I. Joe figures, Stinger G.I. Joe vehicle, Toys That Made Us G.I. Joe, vintage G.I. Joe toys0 comment

Story By Mitchell Smith Welcome to the Outpost. Today I’m dialing it back to 1981. As any G.I. Joe fan would know the once successful 12 inch Joe line had fizzled out and Hasbro had few intentions of bringing it back. There were several lines such as Megos 3-3/4 Chips figures and Fisher Price’s Adventure People that kids had, including myself, to create many adventures. If you have watched the series “The Toys That Made Us, you know the prototype Joes were some Chips figures painted green. I so badly…

Serpentorslair Staff · September 11, 2024

The Origins of the 1987 G.I. Joe Figure and Character ‘Big Boa’

September 11, 2024September 12, 2024 Serpentorslair Staff1980s action figures, 1987 G.I. Joe figures, 25th Anniversary G.I. Joe, Big Boa, Big Boa G.I. Joe origins, Cobra drill instructor, Cobra figures, Cobra organization, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe characters, G.I. Joe collectors, G.I. Joe history, G.I. Joe legacy, G.I. Joe toy line, G.I. Joe toys, G.I. Joe villains, Hasbro, Rocky Balboa, Sgt. Slaughter, vintage action figures0 comment

The 1980s were a golden era for action figures, with Hasbro’s G.I. Joe line at the forefront of the toy industry. Among the many memorable characters introduced in the G.I. Joe universe, Big Boa stands out as one of the most unique and intriguing. Released in 1987, Big Boa was the Cobra organization’s brutish drill instructor, tasked with whipping new recruits into shape with his fierce training regimens. But how did this character come to be, and what was the story behind his creation? Concept and Development The character of…

Serpentorslair Staff · July 8, 2024

Rediscovering the Icon: A Retrospective on 1982’s Snake Eyes – The Commando That Sparked an Adventure

July 8, 2024July 8, 2024 Serpentorslair Staff1980s action figures, 1982 Snake Eyes figure, action figure restoration, Arashikage clan, broken thumbs repair, classic GI Joe figures, Frankenjoe, GI Joe 12 inch, GI Joe 3-3/4 inch, GI Joe 6 inch, GI Joe adventures, GI Joe collectibles, GI Joe design, GI Joe history, GI Joe legacy, GI Joe O-ring replacement, Kenner Star Wars competition, original Snake Eyes, retro toys, Ron Rudat, Snake Eyes, Snake Eyes commando, toy collecting, vintage action figures, vintage toy reviews0 comment

Story by Mitchell Smith Welcome to the Outpost. Today I’m taking a look back to G.I. Joe 1982. A familiar figure with millions of stories and over 70 versions including 3-3/4, 12 inch, 6 inch, and many other scales over the past 40+ years. A figure I had never owned that started it all. The commando cast all in black to save money, but a mysterious character developed and Snake Eyes became one of the most popular characters over the years, expanded within an elaborate story of him and his…

Serpentorslair Staff · January 7, 2024

“Unveiling the Legends: Dive into the Ring with the Ultimate LJN WWF Wrestling Superstars Documentary on Toy Kennections Podcast!”

January 7, 2024January 9, 2024 Serpentorslair Staff1980s action figures, 1980s memorabilia, action figure history, action figure lineup, collector's edition, Ken, Ken's latest videos, LJN, LJN Wrestling Superstars documentary, retro wrestling figures, share your thoughts, Subscribe, toy collectors, Toy Reviews, ToyKennections, ToyKennections channel, ToyKennections Podcast, ToyKennections YouTube, vintage toys, wrestling community, wrestling fans, wrestling nostalgia, wrestling podcast, wrestling toys, WWF Wrestling Superstars, YouTube channel0 comment

Today Ken from ToyKennections breaks down the rich history of the 1980’s LJN WWF Wrestling Superstars action figure lineup! Check out the video below and share your thoughts with us in the comments. As always be sure to subscribe to ToyKennections channel on YouTube for all of Ken’s latest videos!