TCG – Page 5 – European Joe's

Impel Trading Cards 11-12-13

Okay, I’m back with the review of the Impel Trading Cards and to make up for lost time, we’ll tackle 3 cards today.

First up is the #11, the Mauler M.B.T. (Mobile Battle Tank).

This is one of the more realistic looking toys that were more common in the early years of the 3.75 inch run. I didn’t own this tank when I was a kid. It was released in 1985 and I don’t think it made the trip over the Atlantic to be sold in stores here. Fact is, I still don’t have this one in my collection. I do have the 2003 Patriot Grizzly Tank, which can be seen as the M.B.T.’s successor.

Next we have card #12, the Snowcat.

Now this is something else. The Snowcat (or is it Snow Cat?) did make it’s way into Europe, but as the Tiger Cat, part of the 1988 Tiger Force. I had this in the tiger striped version and later on during my collecting, also acquired the original white version. Come to think of it, I also had the Tiger Force Blizzard figure and never really knew there was a white version of this until I started life as an adult collector. One does wonder how on earth you’re going to camouflage yourself (or your snow vehicle) when it’s bright yellow with orange and black detailing. Then again, maybe the Cobra Soldiers were all colorblind.

The last one for today is the #13 card, the A.W.E. Striker.

There are like 9 gazillion versions of this vehicle released (okay, so maybe more like 10, but still) and I’m a bit sad to say that the only one I have in my collection is the 2012 Ninja Commando version. The vehicle doesn’t really stand out for me. I do like the fact that the top mounted cannon can be remote controlled (as seen in the comics). I can see this working as a fast response vehicle, but other than that, there’s no real protection , heck there even aren’t any doors.

That’s it for this one. Join me next time when we take to the skies Cobra style 😉

Happy Collecting & Yo Joe!

Impel Trading Cards #10

It’s a stormy day here in Belgium with gusts of wind going well over 100 kph/60 mph. Nothing the Tomahawk, the all-weather, twin-engine, twin-rotor heavy lift and troop transit helicopter from the Joe team, couldn’t fly through.

I didn’t own the Tomahawk as a kid, but it was one of the first pieces I bought as a collector. I do remember having a friend who owned both the Tomahawk and the Killer W.H.A.L.E. and I went over to play with my Conquest X-30 and Warthog A.I.F.V. Strangely enough, we didn’t have any Cobra vehicles, but the bad guys always got the chance to hijack one of the Joe vehicles.

The card art for the Tomahawk is nicely done. It shows the helicopter in mid flight with it’s six-barreled 20mm cannon blazing. Their fire caused serious damage, if you can go on the smoke seen on the left. It’s a shame that there are no figures shown in the cargo area. You can however see the chairs , so nice details.

I’ve always been very fond of the Tomahawk (and also the new released Eaglehawk) as it is a very multi-functional vehicle. You can use is as a troop transport, but it can also stand on it’s on in a battle. The story from Special Missions #19 is one of my favorite stories in the Marvel run and shows the Tomahawk in all it’s glory. Like the Joes themsleves, even tough their battered up and tired, they get the job done.

Leave a comment if you liked/disliked or want to add your personal thoughts on the Tomahawk.

Until next time, YoJoe!

DISCLAIMER All these cards are in my private collection and were scanned by myself. I don’t hold the rights on the card art or any text displayed on the cards.

Exciting news

As you all know, I’ve been posting about the 1991 G.I. Joe Impel Trading Cards and I plan to explore the other available G.I. Joe trading cards.

On Instagram, I’ve been following Gijoe365 for a while now and I must say that I am a really big fan of the artwork there. So go find him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and his own site (http://gijoe365.com/) and like what I like 🙂

The bit of exciting news is the fact that there are plans to turn his art into G.I. Joe trading cards. I’m following the developments in this and will post a review here when/if I get my hands on them.

YoJoe!

Impel Trading Card #9 – Rolling Thunder

We have arrived at the 9th card of the series. The Rolling Thunder. I’ll let you enjoy this magnificent vehicle for a moment.

The Rolling Thunder was first released in 1988 and was sold with the driver Armadillo. Please read JoeADay’s blog for a full analysis of the figure.

I didn’t have this vehicle as a kid, but it was the first Joe toy I bought on eBay as an official adult collector 🙂 To me, this is a huge playset. The only thing that came close was the General, but I didn’t have that too and I never even heard about the Flagg (I don’t think they released the Flagg in Belgium). I remember opening the box it came in (complete with driver, but just in a plain box) and feeling like a kid again. Then again, I still feel like a kid most of the time.

The Rolling Thunder (the name alone gives you shock and awe) can hold a lot of figures and it comes with missiles inside of rockets or is it rockets inside of missiles? In any case, if you’d see them comin’, you’d better be runnin’, right? It even had a big rotating cannon that needed to be controlled by 2 figures. And it had a missile on top of the gun barrel. Firing that would probably kill – or seriously injure – one or both of the figures operating it, but hey, in times of war, you need al the ammo you can get.

The colors on the card art here, don’t do justice to the bright shades of the toy. Yellow rockets, red missiles, a missile launcher base, a small ATV, guns and cannons all around. This is one mean looking vehicle. 8 wheels of Cobra smashing trouble.

With this ninth card, we arrive at the last card in the first Ultra Pro sleeve of my Trading Card collection. I’ve had several really good comments on the series and so I’ll be very happy to see you again when the next card is up for review. As always, leave a comment below or through Twitter.

All that’s left for me now is, Happy Collecting and YoJoe!

DISCLAIMER All these cards are in my private collection and were scanned by myself. I don’t hold the rights on the card art or any text displayed on the cards.

Impel Trading Card #8 – The Skystriker XP-14F

This post should have been online yesterday as I plan to post at least once a week, but unfortunately my children fell ill and they needed my attention. Luckily both are now back to health and so I have found the time to finish this post and put it online.

This week, we leave the ECO-Warriors behind us and continue with one of the most iconic G.I.Joe vehicles of all time.

I present to you Card #8 in the 1991 Impel G.I.Joe Trading Card set.

The Skystriker XF-14

Impel_C_008

Impel_C_008b The Skystriker was first released in 1983, with it’s pilot Ace. While many other vehicles are rather future-tech oriented, Hasbro built the Skystriker as an F-14 clone, looking exactly like the famous jet fighter. That’s probably why the Skystriker is a huge fan favorite and also one of my favorite vehicles. I currently have 2 jets in my collection, one in mint and complete condition and one that has seen it’s share of action over the years. I actually have a third plane, but that is called the “Sky Striker” MISB, the 30th anniversary version released in 2011.

The card art for the Skystriker depict it in a battle with a Cobra Rattler, which the Skystriker won, duh. A lot of the decals that are on the toy are not shown or visible on the art. The most striking decal on the plane is the red globe with the eagle that is located on the tail sections. In Belgium, the official G.I.Joe fan club organised a mail-away offer. For 9 Flagpoints and the equivalent of €1 in stamps, you could receive a sew on patch with the Skystriker logo on it.

Screenshot_2015-08-26-10-07-14-01

I have several of these patches in my collection, let me know if you’re interested in one (or more), we can make a deal 🙂

DISCLAIMER All these cards are in my private collection and were scanned by myself. I don’t hold the rights on the card art or any text displayed on the cards.