How Diamond Select is transforming my G.I. Joe collection

I’m a child of the 80’s.  While I was born in the early 70’s, my formative years took place firmly during the “decade of excess” and it made an indelible impression upon me.  My childhood was filled with many of the 80’s properties– the A-Team, Knight Rider, Airwolf, Back to the Future, MASK, Transformers, and a certain line of 1:18 scale military figures that were “Real American Heroes”.  (Sorry He-Man– you were just too goofy for my tastes.)

Some of these properties had toy lines that were compatible with G.I. Joe and some didn’t.  As a kid I’d have done just about anything to have Wild Bill flying Airwolf while KITT transported Chuckles and Shipwreck to rescue the A-Team who were pinned down by Cobra and the Decepticons.  However, it just didn’t happen.  Knight Rider had a VERY small toy line that consisted of some Hot Wheels cars and a larger “talking KITT”, MASK was too small, most Airwolf toys were die-cast, and the Galoob A-Team figures were– well, goofy at best.  (I still own a set, however.  Yeah I know… mark of shame.)

Last year’s release of the theatrical adaptation of the A-Team gave me some decent figures of the team and a van to boot.  (Still need to post a review of those too!)   Now the folks at Diamond Select Toys are helping me to fill in some other gaps.

 

Back to the Future: (Slated for October 2012)

I loved the BTTF films back in the day.  The twisting and overlapping plot line of Marty’s family life always held my attention but one of the real stars of the film was the Delorean.  Doc Brown said it best: “If you’re going to make time machine out of a car you might as well do it with some style!”  My favorite version?  The hover-conversion model from the beginning of Back to the Future 2.  It took the awesomeness of the Delorean, tossed on a “Mr. Fusion” home reactor, and gave us a hover conversion!  Seriously– what’s not to like about that?

Well, along came Diamond with their BTTF line and VOILA!  A 1:15 scale toy that will seat G.I. Joe/Star Wars/1:18 scale figures!!  Imagine the possibilities– now that 25th Anniversary Matt Trakker figure has a ride of his own!

http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=DC21012#.UD9hgtZlQl4

Check out this video of the prototype… meant to leave our mouths watering for more:

Yeah… a flying Delorean time machine that my Joes can use.  Seriously– toss in a small hover board and one of those color changing ball caps and I’m going to go to GEEK heaven.    However, that’s not all…

 

Knight Rider:

Michael Knight, a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

Seriously– what 80’s fan doesn’t recognize that monologue, accompanied by the pseudo-electronic tones of Stu Phillips’ memorable theme?  How many kids were GLUED to their televisions on Sunday nights waiting to watch “The Hoff” duke it out with everything from killer semis to biker gangs?  Who didn’t hastily copy down an address from a 15 second TV spot in order to send off for their KITT Kit?  (Back in the days before VCR/DVR technology– when you had to write it down REALLY fast!)  Well, the most awesome Pontiac Trans-Am to ever grace the airwaves has never had a real Joe-scale release… until now.

http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=DC72964#.UD9hKdZlQl4  (Slated for January 2013)

Hitting this October will be a version of KITT that not only talks but also includes an exclusive Michael Knight action figure!!  Okay, so the likeness isn’t a perfect “plastic Hoff” but the car will have actor William Daniel’s actual voice coming from under it’s tiny hood.  While I can live with an “okay” Michael Knight– the car HAS to speak in the correct tones.   Now if only a version of KARR is released– complete with Peter Cullen’s voice and a Joe-scale Garth Knight!    (Somehow I doubt we’ll ever seen an in-scale version of GOLIATH!

Check out this preview video of the prototype:

Now, before I gush any further I have to state one thing: JBL isn’t tossing up sponsor-tracked or affiliate links.  I’m not making ANYTHING by shilling these items other than sharing my enthusiasm for two products that fulfill a childhood dream.  However, I encourage anyone who finds these as insanely AWESOME as I do to snag one or both as increased sales can only convince Diamond to produce a few more “near Joe scale” items.  Could Street Hawk or even Airwolf be a possibility?  An 80’s fanboy can only dream…