COUNTDOWN: 18 times Transformers toys crossed over with G.I. Joe

Transformers and G.I. Joe have a long shared history together, spiralling out of both brands being produced by Hasbro and becoming some of the most popular toy lines of the 1980s and beyond. The latter underwent a major resurgence thanks to its 1982 relaunch just before the robots in disguise first debuted in 1984, so it’s perhaps no surprise they’ve teamed up in more ways than one over the years.

Artwork credit: Batista/ Wallace

That’s most commonly thought of in terms of franchise fiction, with the Transformers cartoon’s third season featuring numerous nods towards the future world of G.I. Joe and of course the Marvel comics stories regularly crossing over for shared adventures. This occurred prominently throughout the first run of Transformers comics but I’m sure a lot of fans will most fondly recall the 1990s Generation 2-era team-up, with Cobra being responsible for rebuilding Megatron into his new tank form.

So it’s fantastic to see a new Transformers x G.I. Joe crossover figure on the horizon! Just check out that stunning packaging for starters.

The main toy resembles the classic Cobra vehicle known as the High Speed Sentry, or HISS Tank, first released in 1983. It’s one of the more iconic releases from the line so it feels appropriate to see it replicated here.

As for Megatron himself, the robot mode appears quite faithful to his original Generation 1 guise in this case, albeit with some obvious HISS Tank parts adorning his body! It looks to be an all-new mould as well, so that’s something.

Finally, the set is completed by Cobra lieutenant, Baroness, which is neat as the toy can not only ride in the vehicle mode cockpit but can pilot the cannon section on Megatron’s robot back, too. Interestingly, this figure is a reissue of the vintage Baroness “O-ring” toy, first released in 1984, which is nowadays one of the most sought after vintage examples from that toy line.

Anyway, it’s all very exciting and has immediately led to people speculating whether it will lead to more crossovers in the future (here’s hoping!). So to celebrate today, let’s look back at the many times the two brands have met in toy form before, presented here roughly in date order…

 

#18: G2-era G.I.Joe Transformer (unproduced, 1990s)

Picture credit: yojoe.com

Sadly our first example was never released but it would have been the earliest crossover between Transformers and G.I. Joe, during the Generation 2 era in the mid-90s. The prototype mock-up is of a 1:18 scale Armoured Personnel Carrier and appears to be using an approximation of G1 Sixshot’s head for the robot mode, although no character name has ever been confirmed for it. It also seems to feature a similar air-pressure-activated missile gimmick to the G2 Hero Optimus Prime & Megatron toys from 1994.

Picture credit: yojoe.com

Apparently there was desire for this to be released with G.I. Joe figures capable of riding inside the vehicle mode but unfortunately it was never to be.

 

#17: Energon Snow Cat (2004)

Picture credit: Transformerland

This popular Unicron Trilogy toy wasn’t an official G.I. Joe crossover as such but clearly it’s a homage to the classic Snow Cat vehicle, first released in toy form in 1985. Even the cockpit section featuring a moulded interior is an obvious nod in that direction.

Picture credit: TFW2005

Who knows, maybe we’ll see an updated toy of this character in the Legacy line, or perhaps as part of the new crossover range even? Stranger things have happened.

 

#16: Titanium Series Megatron (2006)

OK, technically speaking this is the first actual Transformers x G.I. Joe crossover figure, as it was inspired by the character from the corresponding 2004 Dreamwave comic which reimagined the events leading up to World War II. The fictional design was created by legendary artist, Don Figueroa, although the toy varies from it quite a bit!

The robot mode looks very different for starters but the obvious change is the alternate form, which is now a tank. However, the packaging for the toy makes clear reference to the comic story, including nods to Cobra, so it counts. Just about.

 

#15: First 4 Figures Baroness & Ravage statue (unproduced, revealed in 2006)

The image of Baroness standing beside Ravage and holding a chained collar around his neck has become an intensely popular one ever since it was first seen on the 2004 OFTCC-exclusive cover to Devil’s Due’s G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3, as drawn by Mike Norton. Sadly this statue commemorating it was never to be realised, despite a lot of interest in it following its original announcement. It was confirmed as cancelled in 2009.

 

#14: Starscream Sky Striker (2011)

Picture credit: Transformerland

A San Diego Comic-Con exclusive release, this is the second official crossover toy between the two franchises. It’s a repaint of the 2011 G.I. Joe Sky Striker in Starscream colours and comes packaged with a Cobra Commander figure. There’s even a small gun mode Megatron accessory in the package, alongside stickers that reference everything from Kremzeek to the 1986 Transformers movie and even Beast Wars Waspinator!

 

#13: G.I.Joe Omega Supreme repaint (unproduced, revealed in 2011)

Picture credit: @JesseWittenrich

Unveiled at JoeCon 2011 by former Hasbro Creative Manager, Rik Alvarez, this repaint of vintage Transformers toy, Omega Supreme was apparently considered for release in the G.I. Joe line at one point or another as part of a crossover with the robots in disguise brand of some kind. The details aren’t known but it’s fair to say it would have been an exciting prospect!

 

#12: Pursuit of Cobra Baroness with ‘Robot Panther’ (unproduced, revealed in 2011)

Picture credit: Monzo

In tandem with the reveal above, another JoeCon 2011 nugget was this unproduced attempt at what certainly appears to be a Ravage homage. Evidently, it was conceived as being paired with an Arctic Baroness figure (not seen here), presumably as another homage to that same Devil’s Due comic cover. However, there was some debate at the con about whether the ‘robot panther’ figure was actually meant to represent Ravage or not, although the design certainly seems pretty intentional!

 

#11: Xovergen Grand Patriot (2011)

Time for something a little different here as this third party figure may not be an official homage to either brand, but it does reference some popular unused Don Figueroa artwork all the same!

Artwork credit: Figueroa

Basically, after Don worked on the original Transformers/ G.I. Joe comic by Dreamwave, he came up with his own story pitch for another crossover attempt, although sadly it was never produced. He later took the idea to Devil’s Due after Dreamwave folded, including various concept sketches for Transformers characters that could turn into classic G.I. Joe vehicles but again, it wasn’t picked up. Despite a few attempts to get it made since, the idea has remained unrealised although Don has kindly shared various pieces of the art he produced at the time.

Artwork credit: Figueroa

Without a doubt, this concept of an Optimus Prime that can turn into the somewhat-iconic Rolling Thunder toy from 1988 hit the mark with a lot of fans online, which is probably why it’s stuck around since. There have been a couple of unofficial attempts to bring it to life in toy form, beginning with Xovergen Grand Patriot here.

The figure was released in 2011 and was made available in two colour schemes, including the green seen in Don’s original artwork and the more familiar Optimus Prime red & blue.

 

#10: Shockwave HISS tank (2012)

Picture credit: Transformerland

Another San Diego Comic-Con exclusive here, with this repaint of the 2012 G.I. Joe: Retaliation HISS tank meant to represent Shockwave. The set comes with a Destro figure and a Battle Android Trooper in G1 Construticon colours, as well as accessories representing Soundwave in his tape deck form alongside three cassettes (named as Laserbeak, Ravage, and Ratbat on the packaging, although the colour schemes for them don’t necessarily support this). There are also some mini energon cubes and a Shockwave gun barrel included.

 

#9: The Epic Conclusion! (2013)

Picture credit: Transformerland

Speaking of San Diego Comic-Con exclusives, how about this for a set, eh? It’s primarily another repaint of the 2011 Sky Striker toy, although now with additional parts and retooling to resemble Jetfire’s alternate form. Alongside that, there’s a repaint of the 2008 G.I. Joe VAMP toy to look like Hound, as well as figures of Snake Eyes, Baroness and even Bludgeon’s Pretender shell! Additionally, there’s a small Blaster boombox and three cassettes (meant to represent Eject, Steeljaw and Ramhorn) and even a Ravage mini-figure complete with a chained collar accessory!

 

#8: Marissa Faireborn and Afterbreaker (2015)

Made available through both the Transformers Collectors’ Club and the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club stores, this is a repaint of the 2012 G.I. Joe Retaliation Wheel Blaster Bike release, meant to represent the Technbot known as Afterburner. The name was changed due to trademark concerns but it comes packaged with a Marissa Faireborn action figure as a nod towards her role working alongside the Technbots in the G1 cartoon episode, Money Is Everything.

 

#7: Old Snake and Advanced Stealth B.A.T. Duo (2015)

Picture credit: Transformerland

Another release that was exclusive to both Collectors’ Club stores, here we have a pair of repaints of the 2012 Robots in Disguise Soundwave toy made up to look like stealth Battle Android Troopers. The set is completed by a figure of Old Snake, who of course also featured in the G1 Transformers cartoon episode, Only Human.

 

#6: Timelines Serpent O.R. (2015)

Available through the Transformers Figure Subscription Service 3.0, this repainted version of TakaraTomy’s Generations Ratbat is a clear reference to snake-themed Cobra bad guy, Serpentor, both in name and colour scheme.

 

#5: Combiner Wars Decepticon Viper (2015)

This Legends Class release is a slight-retool of Combiner Wars Powerglide, now decked out in a blue colour scheme as a clear nod to the Cobra toy known as the Rattler from 1984.

The wings feature a merged Cobra & Decepticon symbol and a ZØ6 decal in reference to the Rattler’s typical pilot, Wild Weasel. Additionally, the robot mode face has been styled after that character’s flight mask.

 

#4: G.I. Joe featuring Ninja Force and Transformers (2016)

This assorted set was made available through the Transformers Collectors’ Club and features all kinds of references to both franchises! Firstly, there’s a green Generation 2-themed repaint of Generations Legends Class Megatron, apparently meant to represent the design schematics seen in the crossover comic from the ’90s (and depicted on the packaging artwork here). Next, there is a repainted version of Masterpiece Ratbat, now with a distinctly more G1 comic-inspired colour scheme. Then there are three G.I. Joe characters, including Cobra Commander (armed with a repaint of the Megatron gun accessory from the 2011 Starscream Sky Striker set above), Dr Sidney Biggles-Jones and Ninja Force Scarlett.

Finally, there are some *very* niche references: Blackcat is a repaint of the Ravage figure packaged with 2013’s The Epic Conclusion! set and pays homage to a single panel of artwork in #18 of a German Transformers comic book known as Transformers Comic-Magazin; meanwhile ‘Toaster’ and the ‘Crusticons’ are repaints of the Blaster and cassettes found in that same set, although this time in reference to Marvel UK’s #198 story, Cold Comfort and Joy!, where a background image in one panel depicted the Ark’s computer rebuilding a damaged Autobot with blueprints of a toaster alternate mode (yes, really). The character was a running joke in the Marvel UK comic for years and was eventually referenced in IDW’s More Than Meets the Eye #50, although this remains the only toy you can find so far!

 

#3: Rattler Powerglide vs Soundwave HISS tank (2016)

Picture credit: Transformerland

Our final San Diego Comic-Con exclusive sees another pair of popular G.I. Joe vehicles repainted as well-known Transformers characters. Here, the 2005 Cobra HISS Tank release is reimagined in Soundwave colours and is accompanied by a repaint of a Cobra Rattler toy which originally dates back to 1984, now in red to represent Powerglide. Also included are figures of G.I. Joe characters, Scarlett and Zartan.

 

#2: TFC STC-01 S.T. Commander (2018)

In addition to Xovergen’s interpretation of Don Figueroa’s Rolling Thunder design above, another third party outfit, TFC has also had a crack at it more recently. Significantly larger than the previous effort and loaded with diecast, this detailed release brings to life a stylised take on the G.I. Joe vehicle as well as both a larger armoured-up robot form and a smaller version meant to more closely resemble Don’s artwork.

In a further crossover nod, the toy is compatible with the mini Dia-Naut figures from TakaraTomy’s Diaclone reboot, and similar to the Xovergen figure was made available in both traditional Optimus Prime colours and a more G.I. Joe-faithful green, albeit with a camouflage pattern to it. It has since been retooled and released as a ‘Nuclear Blast version’ too.

 

#1: TFC STC-02 S.T. Commander (2022)

For our final entry, we have the follow up unofficial effort from TFC, which also references an unused piece of Don Figueroa artwork produced as part of his crossover story pitch.

Artwork credit: Figueroa

In keeping with the new toy reveal, this is a representation of Megatron turning into a classic G.I. Joe vehicle, although here he becomes Destro’s Dominator, the original toy of which was released in 1990.

Artwork credit: Figueroa

The Dominator could convert between a helicopter form and a tank mode-of-sorts, something that TFC have interpreted here as well.

The original Dominator was primarily red, so it will be interesting to see if TFC follow up with a suitable repaint, much as they did their S.T. Commander in two versions.

Either way, the silver version is on the way soon, so I can’t wait to check it out in hand before too long! It’s currently available for pre-order here.

 
 
So that’s the lot! Did we miss any?

TTFN