Sometimes as toy collectors, we can look across our displays and only see the toys that aren’t there. They are the missing figures. The characters toy companies never got around to, never thought were important enough, or worse – the figures companies felt the need to show us at comicon in the “We’re Never Gonna Make These” case. Saturdays are for these figures…

Hasbro made the 25th Anniversary line explode in it’s first year and updated dozens of fan favorites. Of critical importance to many collectors were the figures from the first few years of the G.I. Joe line (’82-84). With Thunder hiding as a movie toy and Ripcord (as Altitude) and Recondo being released in an online 7pk, Hasbro has updated all the figures from the first three years… save one. And a glaring one at that…

When they get around to Covergirl (and we’re sure they will, right?) she’ll be the last figure from the first three years to get an update (minus a couple tan repaints…). But this isn’t the first time Covergirl has been lacking Hasbro’s support, she is also one of the Joes to receive little love over the decades. She has only received one figure since her original appearance in the line in 1983. Admittedly, the second figure, labelled “Agent Courtney Kreiger” is almost a good stand-in with the 25th Anniversary counterparts, but it won’t be right until Hasbro makes a 25th Anniversary Covergirl.

What’s the reason for her not showing up during the explosion of the 25th line? Supposedly, it’s a branding issue with the Covergirl in the upcoming film, GI Joe: Rise of Cobra. It seems that as the movie got closer and closer, Hasbro avoided making 25th figures (other than top sellers such as Cobra Commander and Snake Eyes) that were similar in nature to the movie counterparts. This same fate nearly befell Ripcord, but he is being released in a 7pk and being called Altitude to presumably avoid the naming issues. With a movie version of Covergirl on the pegs right now, it may be awhile for the 25th/Modern fans to finish off their updated 1983 collection.

With 25th/Modern on hold while the movie toys take center stage, Covergirl doesn’t really have an opportunity to pop up right now. There is some hope with figures of Thunder and a Night Force Shockwave hiding among the movie toys, but it’s not likely for Covergirl at this point.
Hopefully, when Hasbro is ready to get back behind 25th/Modern product, they’ll view Covergirl as a key Joe for many fans and add her to the line as quickly as possible.