I have a special appreciation for this character.
Crystal Ball was created by Steven King as his son was a big GIJoe fan- so much so that Sneak Peek was named after him & his likeness was used on the card art.
I’m pretty sure he was the definition of a leg warmer everywhere as MOCs of him are one of the easiest to come across.
This one is cool though- it has the original ‘Bay price tag & also the small sticker that the cashier would put on something if you paid and had to walk through the store or re-enter without a bag. By the looks of the hang tab hole it was definitely on a peg.
I wonder what the story is here- did someone get it and not want it? Did a parent buy it as a future gift? It was actually expensive for an ‘87 release at the time.
Why did they choose to carry it out? I bet it was a kid who wanted to carry it with them and stare at it the whole time. I remember what that used to be like.
This is a Canadian 1987 Crystal Ball MOC with the Battle Ribbon offer.
Yo Joe!
Added this year, another Canadian Eels.
The Eels is one of my top 10 favourite Cobra figures- probably one of my top 10 overall in the line.
The design is fantastic, the weapons are perfect- this figure was one of my favourites back when I was 9 and it still is 41 years later.
This is a 1986 Canadian offerless MOC Eels- the card is ripped where someone long ago must have removed a price tag before it was gifted- maybe for Christmas or some Birthday. Why was it never opened? Maybe it was never given?
I love the cards that have a story. YoJoe!
(Shoutout to VanCity Shieldz & Rick Grattan for the acrylics.)
Collection additions over Thanksgiving weekend.
1988 Canadian offerless Hit & Run MOC with Woolco price tags. Interestingly enough he was known as “Sauve qui peut" in French that describes a frantic, disorderly flight or panic where everyone runs away to save themselves. Pretty cool. This is a super clean card.
1986 Canadian BATS offerless MOC originally from Consumers Distributing. Unfortunately his lenticular sticker fell off but that happens to them all, eventually. In 1987 BATS would be shortened to just “BAT.” I love the old Consumers MOCs.
Added to the collection in 2026 was this 1983 Toltoys (Australia) AFA 75 Cobra.
I loved seeing these when I was in South Africa- before they became Action Force & then later GIJoe.
These are some of my very favourite cards to own.
Added to the collection in 2026- this Canadian 1985 AFA 75+ Unpunched Flint (or “Pro” en français, les noms étaient souvent très différents de leurs équivalents anglais.)
This is a tricky figure to find on a Canadian card. Was very happy to add him again after 41 years as I had him originally as a kid back in ‘85.
Added to the collection in 2026 was this 1988 Hasbro Canada AFA 80 Warthog A.I.F.V.
The Warthog was one of the last vehicles I got as a kid, I was turning 13 and slowly having to let go of ‘Joes as life tends to dictate.
The vehicle is amazing- it’s a troop carrier & it came with the best version of Sgt. Slaughter.
This would rate as one of my top 10 favourite ‘Joe vehicles.
Another 2026 Collection Addition was this 1993 Funskool (India) Battle Android Trooper MOC AFA 70+.
Anyone that’s ever held a Funskool card knows how fragile they are, so the 70+ is a decent grade.
I like the chest modification where the lenticular sticker is replaced by a regular sticker & clear plastic cover.
This is also the rarer black elbows variant.
2026 was an incredible year for adding to & finishing off the collection.
I picked up this beautiful AFA 90 Canadian 1983 MOC Torpedo (the highest grade recorded) and it sure is beautiful.
The blue ink Canadian cards are definitely unique. I love the Woolco price tag as well.
I might actually make a little video about this someday.
This is a 1990 MOC Canadian Rampart CAS 80 (sorry for the blurry pic but it’s still in its plastic.)
1990 was a great & underrated year for GIJoe- I was just getting into high school but still keeping up as best I could in between hockey, girls & old Chevies.
My favourite part of this MOC is the Hudson’s Bay price tag- someone HAND WROTE the change to the sale price.
In my little town the ‘Bay was the best place to find all the coolest toys, & pretty much anything else one needed.
The ‘Bay was an important part in the very founding of Canada & is closed now- but this sure brings back some cool memories.
Added to the collection this summer is this beautiful early 1985 unpunched, offerless Canadian MOC Madame “J” AFA graded 85.
For some reason this card art always reminded me of Ursa from the Superman films.
When I was a kid this figure actually belonged to one of my brothers- someday I’ll write a long post about those times.
Anyone else a Lady Jaye fan?
Opening old boxes from years ago.
1985 unpunched Canadian Tele-Vipers MOC
1988 Canadian Iron Grenadiers MOC, Kmart tag
1988 Canadian Voltar MOC, Kmart tag
1988 Canadian Stalker MOC, Kmart tag
Saturday stumble upons
1985 late release Canadian EELS MOC
1983 Canadian Cobra FANG (MIB)
1987 Canadian Gung-Ho MOC
1983 AFA 80 US Mail Away Duke
Friday funday new additions
1985 Canadian Bazooka MOC (Late release Grey Filecard / 3D Logo.)
1985 unpunched Palitoy AF Storm Shadow (French/Spanish)
1985 AFA 80 US MOC Buzzer Sticker Variant (Jeff Jacob collection)
Recent pickups-
1985 Canadian Rifle Range (Sgt. Slaughter Offer)
1989 Canadian Countdown MOC
1988 Canadian Road Pig MOC (Eaton Tag)
1984 Canadian Water Moccasin (K-Mart Price Tag)
1986 Canadian Cobra Flight Pod (Body Transfer Offer / Eaton tag)
1986 Canadian Cobra Surveillance Port (Sgt. Slaughter Offer / Zellers Tag)
Interestingly enough the “Eaton” price tags were typically found in Eaton’s stores in Quebec & New Brunswick while being “Eaton’s” in other Provinces.
Recent Pickups-
1984 Canadian Water Moccasin (where they screwed up & spelled Moccasin wrong in English, they used the French spelling.)
1982 Canadian VAMP with a Woolco price tag for $10.97
1988 Canadian Storm Shadow MOC with Super Trooper offer
1987 Canadian Road Toad B.R.V.
