Gyre-Viper has been posting some interesting things on behalf of JoeDeclassified over in the GI Joe Discussion group on Facebook. With his permission I'm posting them here to know your thoughts. Then Kevin Watts also updated his blog with a transparency for a green MCC.

First as a large battlefield image. They think for puzzles and bed sheets. Apprently this was never used in the US but has been seen in other countries.


Next, a memo outlining why the vintage Zarana head was changed and why the earring version may be the rarest vintage Us produced GI Joe figure.




Then we have this Ron Rudat [Hasbro art designer] concept art for a Cobra Tarantula vehicle so insane that even Guy Cassidy [famed Hasbro vehicle designer] said, and I quote "What the??? Come on. who was the designer on that?"


Lastly, Kevin Watts updated his blog, showing off a green MCC that he goes into a little bit more detail describing what that is and why it exists. http://cobra788.blogspot.com/2013/12/a- ... green.html

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The bedsheet or whatever that is is neat, pretty. Maybe someone can use that for their computer desktop pic or something.

The memo is cool from a historical perspective. 1) We hardly ever get a glimpse at production numbers 2) it wasn't until recently we got confirmed reasons for why changes get made and 3) in today's market a running change because someone, anyone, didn't like the head wouldn't happen. At least not until the figure gets repacked in a refresher assortment.

While I don't particularly care for the Tarantula, I did have a custom concept similar to it assembled for the Joes. Practical? No. Fun to look at, oh hell yes.

I don't know if seeing the MCC in green makes me like ti any more or less, but I like seeing something that can be easily customized.

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the Pogo 'Battle Ball' happened but Cassaday thought the Tarantula was too weird

Rock 'n' Roll front and center on that bedsheet image?! MUST HAVE ROCK 'N' ROLL G.I. JOE BEDSHEETS!!!

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While I'm not necessarily disagreeing (although I do kind of like it), the designers of the Madelman 2050 line are crying softly to themselves after reading that!

Check out the Scorpion and Tarantula.

The Cobra Tarantula has a bit of a Hornetroid feel to it, too. Is there any indication of what year it was intended for release?

That painting, even though it does look like a bedsheet there, was supposed to be a 4 panel puzzle set, like the ones we have all seen from 1985 and 1988. You can kind of make out the 2 separate panels on the full sized art. I have been sitting on a nice 8X10 transparency of the original art for several years, hoping to find a way to have it reprinted as a poster, because the art and the selection of 1989-90 characters and vehicles is really superb. I got as far as going to a photo place a few years ago, but they wanted to send out the transparency to have the work done and I wasn't willing to let go of it, at that point it was the only known existence of the art it represented. Since then, someone sent Gary those images, and someone apparently owns the original painting out there. I don't know who.

You're not the first person to compare it to the Madelman 2050 vehicle. Based on the missiles I'd guess it line up with the HISS II and Fang II. It just has a mid to late eighties Joe feel to it. That is just a guess though.

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I like that Undertow made a seemingly impossible climb to attack someone with his trident.

Disappointing to see Armored CC there and not the under-exposed Overlord. (the image is small, is he in there anywhere?)

I'm sure anyone reselling ear-ring headed Zarana that sees that memo will justify charging higher price. Only 50,000 were made!

I'm surprised the 1986 figures were in stores by November '85.

Tarantula might've been good for Star Brigade.

My memory is a little fuzzy on the 86 figures, but I remember getting Hawk, Dial-Tone, Leatherneck, Sci-Fi, and Wetsuit very early compared to the rest of that assortment. November sounds pretty early, but I'm fairly positive I had them by Dec/Jan.

The following year, I know for a fact that Falcon, Law/Order, Crazylegs, and Battle Armor Cobra Commander were released before Christmas, which was really early, too. The cardbacks didn't even show the full assortment, so it was some kind of early release.

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I had a the 1987 Accessories pack with the back side that had "Coming Soon" in place of some character art. IIRC, by the time I got that pack, though, I'd already found normal 1987 carded figures, so the Coming Soon seemed strange.

At the first two Battle Corps assortments came in fall of 1992, I remember that well.

I can also verify that the 86 Joes were in stores prior to Jan 1 1986.

Christmas 85 was probably my best Joe Christmas, because between my parents and my paternal grandparents, I got the entire set of 85 figures, an AWE Striker, Silver Mirage, and the Moray Hydrofoil. My maternal grandparents got me the USS Flagg. I also received about $20 in cash, and when we went on the post Christmas shopping trip to return stuff, I saw all the new 86ers on the shelf and snatched them up. I remember being thrilled to get most of the new Joes that I had recently seen previewed in Marvel Age magazine. (Upset that I couldn't find Hedge-Hopper.)

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I kinda like the tarantula.

I would Wallpaper my Joe room with that puzzle art.

The Tarantula, while odd, still seems like it would have fit in nicely in Cobra's arsenal. I always wanted a toy of the Cobra Sea Legs featured in #8 of the Marvel and that looks like it may have been the closest we would have gotten to that.

I'm impartial to the green MCC. I like the tan one well enough.

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I like the Tarantula more than the Pogo or the Rat.

That painted scene is clearly intended to be divided up between four jigsaw puzzles, just based on the placement of the vehicles. Shame they didn't get made. That's some very decent artwork.