 Hello everybody more Cobra Convergence 7 coming at you and I have a special guest today Please introduce yourself to the audience and tell everybody who you are and what you do My name is James, and you might know me as agent Chuckles I've got an audio podcast where we talk about my partner Steve the writing dad We talk about GI Joe comics, and I also had started a YouTube channel where we talk about the toys Awesome agent Chuckles. Hmm. What exactly was the inspiration for that name? It seems I don't know I don't know a whole lot about GI Joe, but what did you come up with that? You know, I don't know. I don't know. It just it just hit me one day. No as as a youth when when I was not as follically challenged as I am these days, I had blonde hair and and and Of course the Chuckles figure had this had the ball neck that could do this and and I often put that head on any body I wanted and you know sort of resembled me sometimes So, you know, I'd be on the Tenant Falcons body sometimes or I'd be on the 85 snake eyes And if I needed to ninja around a little bit in my playtime so Chuckles has always had a soft spot and It was my second email address agent Chuckles So that that's perfect. I pick hooded Cobra commander because people are always wanting me to cover my face It's basically the same thing basically the same thing So you got a podcast going and you have a YouTube channel going now So that we will have links in the description of this video So people are gonna be going and checking it out as soon as we're done here What can they expect to see on your podcast and your YouTube channel? So for the podcast we were reviewing the Marvel Comics. So my goal I live on an island in the Pacific Northwest and there's no one around me, but No one and so I'm trying just to spread the love of GI Joe out to my friends And hopefully they'll be the hopefully the trickle down effect will hurt their kids and then you know Because that's the only way the GI Joe is gonna maintain. It's Whatever popularity it's got is if we get the kids involved. So so I've partnered with my friend Steve the writing dad at the one writing dad for tiktok and Instagram And and so he played the GI Joe as a child, but he's not really up on the comics or anything like that and So we're sort of taking this adventure on together I'm reading the comics an issue at a time and And then so is for the YouTube we do plastic profiles where I'll look at a classic figure and then compare it to the More modern interpretation. So we're doing the classified scales the classified series of figures and The file cards were always mine one of my most favorite things about GI Joe I can still remember Just you know where mutt was born or and you know things like things that a normal human shouldn't remember of an imaginary characters imaginary biography So Knowing these characters and and and who they are as people and and trying to see which figure better represents the information in that file card and It's not so much a broad spectrum of all the different storm shadows or all the different You know, it's just this fruit figure versus this figure which one better Encompasses who that character is That's a really cool idea because we we did get an insight into a lot of these characters to the file card Perhaps sometimes more than we got through other media because some of these guys didn't appear in other media that often so Chuckles Definitely you had an attachment to that figure and that character Was that about the time you got into GI Joe was that like your early days was that about the era that you came into it? You're talking about Chuckles. No, I started I started in 82. I'm 47 now My first figure was straight-arm rock and roll I think I got him a dollar seventy five at Sears or something like that And and then I got breaker and the ram and and then I'd have no recollection of how I got everybody else, but they just appeared and So rock and roll is is always special to me and you know with this new classified figure I'm super excited about that and As far as Chuckles, yeah, it was it was the blonde hair I the pistol was cool, too But I think I broke the holster right away, you know, it's I never watched Miami Vice So that the Hawaiian shirt didn't didn't really Um, it was really the blonde hair. I guess but then but the way Larry you I call Larry because we're buds Larry Hama used him in the in the comic book series was the You know, he'd be the the the CIA guy the background, you know in these important events, you know And things like that and I don't know it's something about that And actually thinking about it now with my fascination with files and file cards. It kind of works to works Better than I would have You talked about the comic book and that's really where we have Chuckles represented because let's see he was in that movie in seven Yeah, and he had no lines Where don johnson did a voice in the movie But not that guy. He's not going to be the guy in the Hawaiian shirt. Yeah, no, no forget that so also and You mentioned that you didn't remember how You got the other figures. Um, the statute of limitations on shoplifting is long past As you're returning in this matter, I feel that you're you're safe I gave him I gave you a dollar before we started talking here. So So, uh, so you came in early, um 82, uh, so, um You were there for the the straight arms and the like the Uh, all the guys kind of looking very similar um What would be your favorite era though? I mean if if that's where you got started um Do you have a lot of nostalgia for that time period? Um, or I mean you obviously stuck with it for a while What's your favorite era for gi to? You know I would tell you that it would be 82 to 85 or so Because of the vehicles and all that but then when you put that on a shelf, you're like, I need some color, you know um, yeah But I think that's part of the beauty of gi joe is, you know, you can make it what you want if you want If you want your team to be pseudo avengers, you can do that if you want, you know, strict military You can do that, you know, you can make it what you want And um, and and I love that and I respect that when there's people that are going crazy because the the grunt comes with that That laser rifle it doesn't do anything for me But you know, because grunt is a particular guy, you know, he's not an army builder. A lot of people used him like that but You know, it's you can make it what you want and um, so if you were to if I were to if you were to really needle me hand on the bible I would say probably 82 83 and there would be my favorite Just my dad was in actually both my mother and father were in the military and so I have a strong attachment to um, the real traditional military looking gear and vehicles and figures Um, uh, you you mentioned the comic book and you mentioned larry our our old buddy larry um, so Did you get into the comic books early on? Was that part of your experience in in that early era of gi joe? I was aware of them. I'd seen the commercials and you know, it was the animation that drew me in He was oh, what is that what's going on there? But it never occurred to me to track down a comic until My first issue was number 50 the uh, the the double-sized invasion of springfield and um, you know from there on then it just hit and then i'm looking for back issues and and um, so that would have been about What is that 86 or so 86 somewhere in there and then Uh 87 tour of duty the television show came out and I watched that And then that was about the same time as I got snake eyes as a backstory of 20 Is it 27 the one with the the patch and the picture of a sister and all that, you know, um You know, then it was just it had it had me full in its grasp But I by then, you know, because then I could see Every week on tv, you know storm shadow and and snake eyes and stalker walking through the you know Humping through the woods, you know, that sort of thing. Um, the issue number 50. That's a great one to start Oh, it was amazing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's that. It's a good starting point I can see how that would get you hooked in I had a lot of questions right away. Like storm shadow was dead But uh, yeah spoiler alert Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah for for anybody who hasn't read the almost 40 year old comic books spoiler So, um so you Got in the comic books. You were in uh the into the toys from an The from an era very early period Um, was there a phase where you got out of it for a while because that seems to be a common theme Most folks with a few exceptions Um, they were going well in gi joe. They enjoyed it a lot, but then they moved away from it Did you have that period where you moved away from it? Yeah, it was a dark day I remember it. I remember it clearly Um, I actually was working at Toys R Us at the time Um, this is what I considered my moving away from it. I didn't actually play with toys then But I had my original joes um And I've never confessed to the confess this to anyone. So this is just between you and me. Oh, nobody. Oh, nobody else will see it No, no, no, just um unload everything A co-worker was an avid collector of uh those horrible starting line-ups figures and and uh pretty much anything else he all he had a rookie piece a starting lineup rookie piece of mike piazza um and um being a fan of uh new york city's redheaded children the new york mats um I traded my joes for the rookie piece uh, well, um A starting lineup you say, huh? Yeah, they they didn't you know, I don't know if you know this but they haven't held held their collector value I'm afraid we're gonna have to end this interview early. All right. Thanks for having me Okay. No, no for it. Let's sit down sit down. You know, no, it's okay. It's okay. All right. Um, I'll just I'll trim that out Nobody got them all back. I mean not my original ones. Yeah, but I got all the figures back Well, that that actually leads to my next question was um, obviously you're back in it now. How did how did you return to it? Um, you know I it's always been there, you know, I I never got rid of comics. I always had the comics um, and I've had phases where I've you know Due to financial things. I've had to lose some and gain some back and you know that ebbs and flows um and uh I don't I don't it's just always been there and I think that's what you know star wars I still like star wars, but that's kind of gone. I don't I don't do anything with them I don't I don't do much with I like transformers, but that's mostly my son's thing and and um You know, so I don't really do much with them anymore. It's just it's jojo's always been there and um Unlike the new york mets and a few movies. They've never really hurt me like that. So um All right. Well, well congratulations then for for having it all always around that actually is uh That's it's a little bit rare and it's it's kind of nice to it's a little bit refreshing a few folks that I've talked to Uh, they never left, you know, they stuck around but but For for for some people there was some defining event that kind of brought him back in but you have been you you've had it around you For a while. That's really awesome. Yeah Yep So, uh, so that's got to feed into your uh, your show So tell us tell us a little bit about how you started your show. Why you started your show what you wanted to do Um, and kind of what the whole impetus of that was well, I think the the the thing that really got me started was um Moving out here to the pacific northwest, you know, I've got my toys around me. Um, they're all staring at me from their shelves what am I going to do with these things and um You know, I gotta I gotta get that out. I gotta get out of my system and um, you know during the pandemic I really started reaching out into podcasts and things like that youtube Uh, youtube's I'm 85 years old by the way And uh, yes, I mean on the interwebs Um, and that's where I discovered your show and what's on joe mine and these other great shows and and and even better people and uh I it just it just it just pulled me in and I wanted to contribute something and um Get it out of my system and and I feel like that's what I'm doing. You know, it's Um, I'm talking about the things that I like to talk about. I'm talking about the file cards I'm talking about the comics. I'm looking at the toys I'm trying to recruit somebody else steve. You're gonna get a toy shelf one day. Just tell your wife now Once it starts, you know, it just expands once it starts to expand. These are these are my original bed sheets. It's gonna happen So, um, I'll remind everybody there will be links in the description of this video And as we speak your contribution to cobra conversion seven should be going up And thank you for being in this year. Thank you for being in the convergence. It's much appreciated. Um, for those who, um For those who are new here, I guess, um, we were recording this well before Cobra convergence. So these interviews are happening Kind of in the month of june. So, uh, so this is well before you've actually done what you plan to do but, um It do you have An idea of what you're going to do for your convergence. Yeah, we're gonna Steve the writing dad and I we're gonna do a plastic profiles episode on storm shadow nice, um, and You know, he's just someone We're trying to do the comics in the in the toy reviews Similar speed to keep the characters that were coming across sort of so they have some sort of synergy Um, but I just can't wait any longer storm shadow. He's He might be my favorite joe and my favorite cobra. You know, the joe is maybe but definitely cobra He's such a complex character and there's so much to talk about um, I so we're gonna do that and um And we're gonna have a blast deal with it That that is that is a deep subject. There is a lot to talk about with storm shadow. My goodness Um, there aren't very many characters that are as developed as storm shadow. There's such a rich Trove of material To draw from so that's exciting and and I I'm a big fan of storm shadow. So I'm looking forward to seeing it Um, so by the time, uh, this is up Then, uh, then that should be up. So, uh, Again, everyone once you're done watching this make sure you check out the link and go check out agent schools, uh, so, um I think we at least we've uh, talked about your your favorite, uh, joe Or at least the one that uh, that that's your namesake And I think you may have given away Your favorite cobra is is storm shadow your favorite cobra? Yeah, I'd have to say he's my favorite cobra You know if when when you're setting them up a shelf and you're like, well, these are gonna be my favorites He's gonna he's always the first one I grab, you know, it's You know, I I could have a shelf of just storm shadow and then snake eyes and you've got Well stalker's got to go with him and then, you know, because he goes with both of them You know, it's just he's the sort of the lynch pin that holds Uh holds that all together in my mind. So yeah stalker kind of brought everything together into Uh from the vietnam, you know friendship comradeship into Uh gi joe. Yeah stalker is kind of the lynch pin. Um storm shadow though is vitally important to to the lore Do you have a favorite version of storm shadow? Doesn't have to be vintage like no I I do and I'm just making sure that I'm thinking of the other ones Yeah, it's I really like the classified but I don't think you can uh spoilers for my show I don't think you can beat uh the original 84 storm shadow. It's Yeah, especially when he's pearly white It's a thing of beauty and a bright red Cobra logo there. It's awesome. It's getting harder to find them All white and not yellowed but back on when they were fresh and on the pegs back in 1984 Man that that white uniform was striking the the cobra emblem on the chest is like It jumps out and says by me. I'm a really cool action figure Well, you know when you set him up with his, you know, his buddies too, you've got blue cobra commander You've got black dastro black baroness blue and red scrap iron and all that but then that white storm shadow you're like Yeah, that's awesome. That's awesome. So, um, uh Yeah, a storm shadow incredibly striking figure an extremely popular character Was it the figure that drew you to storm shadow first or did you develop that? When you were reading the comic book or kind of got into the the the character and its history Well, I I like the storm shadow figure first, but it's when I Went and read the comics and that sort of thing and that took me back to a whole new appreciation of the figure um, I had the figure a couple years by the time I read that comic At least and um, and then, you know, I kind of oh, well, is that oh, geez this guy Oh, you know and then so that I'm like forget it, you know, he's he's he's the goat now, you know, it's Uh, you also mentioned that he could be your favorite, uh, cobra or joe Because there was it's more arguable more arguable for joe. Definitely cobra more arguable for joe. Yeah um, so uh, but no, no, that's that's great. Um, and um, So you'll be able to talk in depth about storm shadow here for cobra conversions And I hope everybody uh goes and checks that out. I will be checking it out as soon as uh, As soon as it goes up. So I hope everybody after they watch this immediately goes and checks that out. Um, so uh, we talked about, um, uh, your Uh, your favorite joe your favorite cobra and and kind of the origin of gi joe But uh, you said that you're comparing them with uh, with classified. So you're comparing the Comparing and contrast the the vintage with the the most modern Um, uh version of the character, right? Um What's your perspective on where gi joe is today as far as toys and collectibles? How just how do you feel about it? um You know, I think classifieds really Really, you know, it's it's great stuff. I mean, I I'd say it's as good as anything out there. You know, the vala versus maybe got more realistic weapons and that sort of thing, but uh Um, and I'm not really trying to drag them into this as far as what gi joe is. I think that the figures are as good as ever um, but you can't The 80s joe had just such a the perfect time And place and every environment for it to just catch fire like it did, you know, they're never gonna, you know, they How's the dragonfly everybody? We're excited about the haz lab, right? No, but fingers crossed, um But uh, you know, they're never gonna have All the things they had for these new figures, you know, and and I have a 3d printer So I hope to do some things on my own um But uh, you know as far as creating play sets and things like that, but Um, they they're never gonna do all that and that's it's a shame, but it's also gosh. Why would they do that? You know No one's gonna have a place to put We always we always hear about the flag, you know, no one's gonna have a place to put a 30 foot flag Yeah, we need it. We must have a classified scale flag. Why haven't they done that yet? Or get out um Yeah, it's you know, I I'd love to see a sky striker and I've seen them on on facebook groups, you know People are the 3d printing the the planes and things like that, but gosh, I don't have room for that I'm I've got a mamba. I'm trying to do a video for that and I don't have a place to put that um right now, um, you know where it can be displayed and look awesome um So it's uh, you know, it's just As far as the states go, it's going to be hard to beat that time period the 80s for for collecting gi joe I'm excited for what the classified series has to hold in the future. The grot figure looked amazing And uh, you know, but uh, it's it's never gonna be what it was Um, you know, unless they can start getting kids involved and then who knows, you know Yeah, I think that that is always the key to to keeping it going. Um And you're right like it hit in the 80s at the perfect time And in the perfect scale, I mean in that scale, they were very playable You got a lot of vehicles And uh, and culturally, you know, that's you know, that's was just the time to to do a military toy line So, uh, but yeah getting getting the next generation in I think is that's the biggest challenge I think they have us They got they got their hooks in already. Yeah But uh, no, but uh, uh, I'm glad to know that that you're enjoying what they have out now. So am I I guess um, if you could Imagine a direction that gi joe should go into maybe get that next generation. Do you have any thoughts or ideas about that? You know, I've thought about that. I've thought about that. Um, I really think, you know It's cartoons or games It's got to be one or the other and and I don't know if you start out with something aimed at teenagers And then the little kids will, you know, glom off that, you know, I don't I don't know how you do it um, I think animation definitely, I mean I liked Resolute, but I don't I know that that's not really a kids thing kids kids The renegades was great It wouldn't be my cup of tea if I had to pick something to just sit and watch But I enjoyed that it was gi joe and it was a story with gi joe And you know, certainly if that had been given a couple more seasons, I don't see why that wouldn't have caught on with kids And then, you know, actually made a wave of toys push to go with that not just You know, kind of filtering a figure or two out here or there, you know, I know there were more, but it seemed like it was kind of It wasn't a whole line, you know, like with star wars the clone wars you got The whole wave for that movie and then the first season of this show and then But it didn't really feel like that with the gi joe with renegades Yeah, I think a more concerted effort would be needed to to really Exploit any popularity that you have through media. I think the closest that joe has done Recently is that they did get figures out for that snake eyes movie. Hey, that has storm shadow in it That that one that it didn't have storm shadow Love storm shadow Yeah, so But yeah, some some coordination and and hopefully that'll That'll happen. It does seem like they are trying They may not be landing everything right now, but it does seem like they are trying. So hopefully something Will will hit that would be fantastic. That would be snake eyes didn't hit but but you know You know Something's got to hit had storm shadow in it He was the hero of the movie. I don't understand That's right so Do you have any special plans for your channel? I know that everybody's going to go check it out Right after watching this interview check out your cobra convergence seven Contribution So hopefully people will be subscribing. Hopefully people will be following The future of agent chuckles. Do you have do you have? A road map. Do you have an idea of what people should expect to see down the road? If they follow your channel and your podcast Well, I I'd like to create a place where You know people come and watch and and and see me and and steven talking and and nerden out about gi joe and and all things gi joe and And uh and feel like you're talking with friends, you know, that that's what I want I want to you know create I'm not going to say I want to create a community. Yeah, that's it's already there. Um, I just want to be part of it Um, I my I think my last question because we're running low on time But my last question and I think the most important one who is your favorite um gi joe themed YouTube channel Specifically of a guy who wears glasses And uh is based in oklahoma Oh And also has a beard within that narrow range. Who is your favorite? Wow, there's just so many in that oklahoma region Uh that meet those parameters, but I'm gonna have to say uh hood of code commander 78 That that thank you. Thank you so much. You know, I I'm honored Um But uh, we are we're uh, we've got a couple more minutes left and thank you again for joining And please everyone who's watching immediately go check out the the links and Agent chuckle's cobra convergence seven contributions should be up right now as you're watching this I like to wrap up by uh, Basically turning over the floor to you for any last minute comments to uh through the folks who are watching Um Well, please check us out. Um, I'm agent chuckle's you can find uh, you can email the show G1 joe pot at gmail.com I'm on youtube at agent chuckle's my tick tock is at agent chuckle's And uh, my instagram is agent chuckle's nine. I do take some toy pictures periodically uh with my phone And i'm starting to branch out into editing with my phone, you know, everything's on my phone So you can expect phone quality But uh, yeah, and then steven the writing dad at the one writing dad He's uh, he's my my partner in this adventure and um And yeah, we're just trying to have a good time talking about, you know, gijo comics and the toys That's fantastic. Uh, thank you again for being here. Thank you again for being in cobra convergence seven I'm very excited to see what you've got coming up and I will be watching it and hopefully everyone else will be watching it too So, uh, that will wrap it up. Thanks again for being here and everybody Go check out agent chuckle's right now. So, um, thank you. Oh, should we do it? Should we do a cobra? Not everybody does a cobra at the Yeah, okay. I'll I'll do a countdown for three. Okay. Three two one cobra All right. All right. Thanks and see everybody soon