Review – G.I. Joe Pocket Patrol Pack (1983)
Once the latest book project ships off to the printer (details here) then I’ll start serious work on my next book dedicated to action figure carrying cases. Until then, though, I’ve started assembling the necessary research materials and snapping photos of various cases. It would have been wrong not to at least share some of the photos, so after the recent delivery, I decided it was time to post a carrying case. Say hello to the height of action figure fashion in 1983! (Well, after the Chewbacca Bandolier Strap carrying case, but we’ll get to that later.)
You Wear It On Your Belt, Kids!
Seriously, this case was designed as if Batman was going to construct an action figure transport system that would plug directly into his belt. Batarang. Microfilament cable. Lockpicks. Action Figure Carrying Case. Everything a crime fighter needs to survive a night in the big city. What’s cool is that it really worked, even if the packaging tried its best to convince kids that they needed more than one G.I. Joe Pocket Patrol Pack to do things right.
A Hard Plastic Box
If you were expecting something spectacular and absolutely amazing then prepare to be disappointed. The G.I. Joe Pocket Patrol Pack is just a plastic box that opens to reveal room for three action figures. It’s actually pretty geeky and goofy, but it’s still a nifty concept and I’m impressed that Hasbro went from “hey, you know what we could do . . . ” to actually selling this to kids. Now that’s some awesome marketing team at work!
Holds Modern G.I. Joe Action Figures!
Check it out, kids. Even if you don’t have vintage eighties G.I. Joe action figures you can use the G.I. Joe Pocket Patrol Pack with your modern figures. The three H.I.S.S. Drivers in the photo (below) prove that the newer toys work perfectly with this action figure carrying case from the eighties. It probably wouldn’t be a great idea to wear the case out in public, but having it close by makes me smile for no real reason.
Closing Thoughts
The 1983 G.I. Joe Pocket Patrol Pack was an odd idea for a carrying case, but it works and it’s too strange not to find its way into a book devoted to action figure carrying cases. There are other strange designs out there, but this ranks up there with the Chewbacca Bandolier Strap carrying case as one of the geekiest action figure transport solutions sold to kids. And for that reason alone I love the concept and execution. Hasbro, let’s try and revisit this idea today and make a carrying case that kids can wear!
I love the image of Batman playing with his G.I. Joes during a slow night on Gotham City patrol. 🙂
@Kevin Guhl – Just doing my part to make your day better. 🙂
IDEA: A book about toy utility belts! I imagine Phil’s plate is already filled, but maybe he could slot it in after the next ad book and before the D&D toys book.
See what I did there Phil? 😉
I distinctly remember these doubling as flight crafts or escape pods when I was a kid. I’m not even sure why our mom bought them for us in the first place, as she usually frowned on carrying cases.
@Nick Ahlhelm – For some reason you have reminded me of the Mork egg. I had that little figure and toy and used the egg constantly for one summer.
The 2008 G.I. Joe Snow Job figure actually has a 1:18 scale version of the Pocket Patrol Pack attached to its left thigh. Obviously it doesn’t open (it would absolutely bonkers if it did, though), but it’s an awesome little Easter egg regardless.
https://mikescollection.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/joe-snow-job-v3-full.jpg
@Zedric – Nice! I totally missed that when I reviewed Snow Job. https://www.battlegrip.com/review-gi-joe-snow-job/