Destro, a Iconic Villian to a generation of youth

Destro. International Arms dealer. Weapons supplier to the most powerful Terrorist organization in the world: Cobra.

 

This is an Icon.

 

Destro's full name is James McCullen Destro XXIV and he owns a castle in Scotland. Destro is the head of M.A.R.S. (Military Armament Research System). He is in  love with Cobra's second-in-command, the Baroness,  Anastasia DeCobray. He wears a mask forged from beryllium steel  because an ancestor of his was caught selling weapons to both sides in a war.

 

Destro first appears in the Marvel Comics series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #11, but it wasn't until #14 where he was fully revealed. I still remember seeing that page where he is standing in front of the Baroness making her call him by name. The storyline with Cobra attacking the US Treasury in Washington to spread the Plague through the US currency, the Baroness blowing up and Destro choosing between shooting Hawk or Cobra Commander while suffering the loss of his love on the back of a Hiss tank.

 

Yes, dear reader, this is a child's toy and a story from a comic book. Now maybe you know why GI Joe rules............this #$&? is AWESOME !!!!!

 

But here's the figure.....

 

The first Destro figure was released in 1983, in the second line of GI Joe. Hasbro needed to bolster the bad guy ranks and they produced a doozy. Anyone who had this figure loved it.

Came with a pistol that could be stored in his backpack/briefcase.

 

To this day I remember pulling this guy off the pegs of Hills department store and being soooo excited. The Joes are cool and all, but the bad guys are usually more colorful. Besides I had this crack commando unit and only a Cobra Commander with a mickey mouse on his shirt, Major Bludd (mail order), a Cobra Officer and a Cobra Trooper to fight em. That's not good odds folks..... Destro and the second line of GI Joe gave me some more presence on the villain side.

 

With Larry Hama cranking out those awesome story lines at Marvel, I was deep into GI Joe mania. I hope that every one gets to have something like this in their childhood. Just pure unadulterated fun and imagination to fill your time as a kid, being able to act out adventures without parallel. To this day I am so glad for the day I discovered this toy line in K-Mart. I'll probably take all these memories to my grave without a moment of regret.

 

You just don't have that happen to you enough in life.

The League of Extraordinary Bloggers: State of the Blog

This weeks theme for the League of Extraordinary Bloggers:

Write a “State of the Site” for your web site. How’s it going? What exciting things have happened this past year? Where do you want your site to be in a year’s time?

 

That a pretty cool pic!!

 

Anyway, he whole thing began in April of 2012....only 7 months ago!! I work as a Technical Writer and always wanted to be more creative, so after reading various Blogs I decided to give it a go.

 

But first I must give credit where it is due.

 

Reis O'Brien used to have an AWESOME blog called Geek Orthodox that I happened upon when trying to remember what the heck Presto Magix were. I remember  seeing the pictures and reading the post being so happy for having finally found what I was looking for but also, since I had no idea what blogging was, I found a site that really spoke to my interests. I found myself reading every back post and searching out other sites like that one.

 

He closed up shop at that domain and went over to be the Lord of Dorkness at The Lair of the Dorkhorde. I kept following and realized that I was wanting to jump in but how.....

 

Then I saw The League posts at Cool and Collected. This really got me thinking that I had a chance. I saw that many League members used Blogger and that it was free as well as newbie friendly for someone who wanted to jump in. I also saw that there were experienced Bloggers as well as Newbies participating in the League. It really gave me hope that I wouldn't be typing to myself and maybe some other people would actually read what I wrote.

 

So I did.

 

I decided that I would set up the site, write a few posts then start participating in the League. My first few posts, looking back, are pretty rough. But I got the hang of it and participating in the League really helped me to write to an "audience" by stretching the topics off of "here's my action figure, its cool."

 

Then I joined the Lair of the Dork Horde. I though they'd laugh at me but Reis let me in right along Bloggers with ALOT more experience than me.

 

So I have to give Credit to Reis and Brian for helping a Newbie along.

 

What exciting thing happened ?? I started writing and people responded. Slowly at first, but it came along. I have truly enjoyed the interaction more than anything. I look forward to being able to post something and you guys comment! I was commenting myself all over but have been a bit lax lately with life starting to get in the way, but I will make more time! It really is the best thing about doing this. I'm not making money at it, I really enjoy the interaction! There have been several Bloggers that have been more regular commenter's and its a good feeling to interact in that fashion. John over at Revenge from the Cosmic Ark lives miles away and Hobby (can I call you Hobby :) at Monster Cafe Saltillo lives in Mexico and we can talk toys through our respective Blogs.

 

I know I left out others but know that I do appreciate the comments and keep em coming! I respond to all of them and will continue !

 

I even had a giveaway contest and The Goodwill Geek won !! What kind of forum lets you do stuff like that!?!?!

 

Probably the best thing was to see how our community of Bloggers responded when Brother Midnight at Green Plastic Squirt Gun had a personal tragedy and everyone rallied behind him. Its something you just don't see very often and for people who only know each other through Blogging to give such a supportive response its very inspiring.  !!

 

After all that I have to say that I am most proud of the way every one rallied behind him.

 

Whats next........I have alot left on the walls and I have pulled the bins out of storage. I have alot more to share. Here's a bit of a look into "The Museum" and here all the magic happens.....

 

The end of my bar where all the pictures are taken....

 



A few pictures of the walls of "The Museum".....

.....and watch out for whats coming!!!

What you can do?? COMMENT!!!! and identify that figure in the sidebar for me !!! Its driving me nuts !!!!!!!

Check out the State of other League Members by clicking on their links:

Rediscover the 80s
Goodwill Hunting 4 Geeks
Monster Cafe Saltillo
Crooked Ninja

The Voltron Robots win the WWF titles....and tragedy ensues!! THE WWE REPORT !!!!

As predicted in my last post about Voltron < CLICK HERE AND READ - VOLTRON > my son broke the Voltron Dairugger robot. Oh well......At least I got the post in with pictures :) I don't know what happened exactly ..... but I'm pretty sure it happened like this.......

.........and Go-Lion goes for the pin and its 1...2....3......!!!!!
 

The Voltron Robots are the new WWF Tag Team Champions!!!!!

But their celebration is short lived!! The Legion of Doom....Road Warriors Hawk and Animal, enraged by their lack of championship matches attack the newly crowned champions!!!

Dairugger's leg is broken by the vicious shot to the knee by Hawk....but Animal is setting up a table....



OH NO!!! Animal, showing an enormous feat of strength, is lifting Go-Lion on his shoulders,  and it looks like Hawk will deliver the flying clothesline......

 



.......right through the table!!!!!!!

The Road Warriors enjoy their hollow victory only for a few moments.....

...before the cavalry hits the ring !!!!!

The Rock is enraged by the actions of he L.O.D.!!!!

He vows revenge for his fallen friends.

 

If ya smeeeeellllllllllllll what the ROCK......



....is COOKIN !!!!!!

or maybe he just dropped it and the leg broke off..........

 

maybe.

The Voltron Line from Panosh Place and Matchbox

I was not the biggest Voltron fan back in the day. I mean....the cartoon had the most mundane format ever.....I did however want the big Voltron lion 5 pack (that will be a post for later) but other than that the line was not on my radar. My son is getting into Voltron hardcore now and I picked him up these guys and I "figured" I'd post em up before he completely destroys them :)

 

 What happens when a Ro-Beast ruins a Voltron photo op?

 

 

 An old fashioned robot beat down!

 

 

 Dairugger looks cool....

 

This version of Voltron is plastic. Cool and had decent detail.

Here's the Good Guys! Decent figures. I am missing the helmets, but from pictures I've seen they look a bit cheesy. They do come with lion keys but they are currently residing at work hanging at my desk.

Lotor and a Ro-Beast. Lotor is a nice figure, originally comes with a shield, but the Ro-Beast is a little out of scale.....I mean he IS supposed to fight the big robots and all....

Looks like the baddies are going to ruin another photo op!!

and Voltron saves the day.........

Nothing like a family photo.

 

My wife is a big Voltron fan so we are currently watching the Go-lion DVDs. They are far and away better than the cheesy US versions. More story and certainly more violence is always a better hook!

The Playmobil Sheriff gets a gift !! The cowboy has a big smile on his face!

I posted about my Playmobil Sheriff a while back < Click here for Playmobil Sheriff > and while trolling eBay I had to pick him up a companion for the range!

A companion horse!

You might think that's not a big deal but check it out!

This horse gives the Sheriff an extra mount, a new rifle and a knapsack.

If he comes across a damsel in distress or has to bunk out for the night, the Sheriff now has a few options!

As I've posted before, this is the only Playmobil figure I ever had, but as I troll eBay and see what else there is to offer, I find myself wanting accessories. Maybe next time I can rustle him up a posse, or maybe a buxom barmaid!

HELP ME!! IDENTIFY THESE FIGURES!!!

I had the Red Beret guy when I was a kid but with a green Beret. The rest of these guys I have to believe are related as they all share common parts......

 

HELP!! What are these guys! What line are they from. Point me in a direction please! I can usually research and track anything down but I cannot "figure" these guys out! There are no dates or identification on them other than Hong Kong stamped very small on a leg!

 

HELP! Anyone can comment , even if you do not have a Google account you can leave a comment...

 

Thanks!!

 

UPDATE !!!!

 

MYSTERY SOLVED!!!

 

CLICK THIS LINK TO FIND OUT THE RESULTS !!!!!!!

Toht made Trench Coats fashionable in Raiders of the Lost Ark !

YEP.....there it is. Toht. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Trenchcoats.

 

First off, this is a nice figure. Well made, detailed and check out the card art!



The backer selling the ROTLA wares of the year....

and that little gun.......

That gun......My Dad warned me not to open it until we got home. Of course I didn't listen and it fell into the backseat cracks of a 70 something station wagon.......truth be told, I'd still open it.

 

But not this one! Now, you might think a dude dressed like he's going to the office was pretty boring for a kid but I put this guy to alot use! I only had Toht, Indy and the Cairo Swordsman so there wasn't much Lost Ark play but Toht was drafted into Cobra petty early. He worked really well as a spy and the Trech Coat got alot of use. He could always double as a informant or a person of interest.

 

Not bad for a guy whose name wasn't even mentioned in the movie.

(Pronounced Tod; German word for Death) - Thanks IMDb!

 

....and the actor, Ronald Lacy, had to wear that leather Trench Coat in the heat of Tunisia. Now thats a dedication to Fashion!