Launched at the San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) in 2008, these small PVC figures were aimed at a younger demographic. To accompany this line, Hasbro also had launched a similiar series of toys for Transformers (Robot Heroes) and Star Wars (Galactic Heroes).
For the case of GI Joe, the Combat Series was short lived, only lasting about a year total. There were several classic Joe characters in series 1 and series 2, but ultimately the line would focus on the Rise of Cobra movie characters in late 2009 before the line was ended.
I really dig little toys like these. Yeah yeah, they may have been aimed at a pre-school age but this adult thought they were cool and grabbed up a few sets. I've always gravitated more to buying the Cobra characters so I picked up this two pack featuring Cobra Commander and a generic Cobra Trooper.
The sculpts for these figures are really good and the paint apps are surprisingly well done. There is more detail sculpted into these little figures than I would have thought. Just look at the back of Cobra Commander's uniform. You could stowe his pistol on the back of the original 3 3/4" action figure. They included this small nod, something that I wouldn't have expected.
While its still going to be awhile before we see new GI Joe toys on retail shelves, I'm surprised with the popularity of blind packaged toys that Hasbro doesn't try their hand (again) using these Combar Hero toys. I could see these little figures blind bagged, retailing for $2 to $3.
