These G.I. Joes WERE NEVER PRODUCED! And I have them!

These G.I. Joes WERE NEVER PRODUCED! And I have them!
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Unproduced G.I. Joe action figures represent one of the most fascinating "what-if" aspects of toy collecting. Throughout the long history of the G.I. Joe franchise, many action figures were conceptualized and designed but never made it to store shelves for various reasons, including changes in marketing strategy, low sales projections, or the evolving direction of the toy line.

1980s: A Real American Hero Era
During the height of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line in the 1980s, several figures reached the prototype stage but were ultimately canceled. One of the most well-known examples is the Cobra "Pythona" figure, based on the character from G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987). Despite her key role as a villainous femme fatale in the movie, she wasn’t produced as an action figure at the time, much to the dismay of fans. Pythona wouldn't get a figure until a limited release by the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club in 2016.

Another famous unproduced figure is "Rocky Balboa," based on the Sylvester Stallone character from the Rocky movies. Early promotional materials hinted at the inclusion of Rocky as a member of the Joe team, possibly as a boxer-turned-soldier, but this figure was scrapped when Stallone committed to the rival Rambo toy line. There were even prototypes of a character named "Sabertooth," who was designed as Rocky's enemy in the proposed storylines.

1990s: The Battle Corps and Ninja Force Era
In the early 1990s, G.I. Joe action figures became increasingly wild and colorful, with sub-lines like Battle Corps and Ninja Force. Among the canceled figures from this period was a series of new characters planned for the Star Brigade sub-line, which pushed G.I. Joe into space. Figures like "Predacon" and "Bio-Viper" were designed to expand the conflict beyond Earth, but they were never fully produced due to the fading popularity of the line.

Another unproduced figure from this era is "Manimal Vortex." The Manimals were a line of alien figures with transforming features, meant to capitalize on the popularity of transforming toys at the time. However, the entire sub-line was canceled before it hit retail shelves, though some prototypes and test shots have surfaced among collectors.

Modern Era and the 25th Anniversary Line
In more recent times, Hasbro has re-imagined many classic characters, but not all ideas have made it into production. The "Unproduced Desert Scorpion" from the canceled second wave of the 2011 G.I. Joe: Pursuit of Cobra line is an example. This highly detailed figure, based on a 1991 original, was never released to retail, although images of the figure surfaced online, creating buzz among fans.

Another notable figure that never saw the light of day was an updated version of "Kwinn," a fan-favorite mercenary from the G.I. Joe comics. Kwinn had several figures planned, including a version for the 25th anniversary, but they were repeatedly delayed or canceled. Fans did finally receive a figure of Kwinn in 2013, albeit with different design elements than originally planned.

The Fascination with Unproduced Figures
Unproduced G.I. Joe figures have become legendary among collectors, with prototypes, test shots, and concept art often becoming highly prized items in the collector community. Some figures, like Pythona and Kwinn, were eventually produced in later years, but others remain only in the realm of speculation and mystery. The allure of what could have been continues to fuel interest in G.I. Joe's rich history, as these unproduced figures offer a glimpse into the evolving world of toy design and storytelling.

For many collectors, tracking down the few remaining prototypes or discovering lost design documents has become the ultimate quest in G.I. Joe collecting. Unproduced figures represent a fascinating intersection of creativity, commerce, and the challenges of navigating the ever-changing toy industry.