HCC788 - 1987 CRYSTAL BALL - Patrons' Choice! Vintage G.I. Joe toy review!

[@joeblaster8770]

I like the weirdo characters in gi joe, the way I see it is that gi joe is apart of the same genre as James Bond and Metal Gear and weirdo bad guys comes with it.

[@dreamlandnightmare]

Exactly.

[@death2all79zx]

I have to admit, the lady Joe's cheerleader squad sounds pretty awesome.

[@scotth5330]

You forgot to mention that Stevens King is from Bangor Maine and still lives there just like crystal balls motheris from Bangor maine

[@bgddyphil]

I used him as a dreadnok... kinda had the look

[@DanielR-db2ex]

He looks like he'd fit in with the Dreadnoks.

[@user-si9fx4xb6v]

Yes, he certainly does. I remember using Crystal Ball as an interrogator during my play sessions, but over time I used him less and less since the newer action figure like the Dreadnocks and the various Cobra soldiers seem to have more going for them. He does make for good custom fodder though.

[@George-de6hd]

I always thought croc master should have been a dreadnok givin that there swamp dwellers and he’s a swamp dude with a big ass crocodile and the look of him he would have fit in that group perfectly……same for crystal ball 🤘🏻 I don’t know why he gets so much hate I never had a problem with him 🤷🏻 hope we get a classified figure of him but I’m not holding my breath given how disliked he is

[@SuperMoo17]

I just have to say thank you for making my week. Blazing Saddles GI Joe and Vincent Price, there is no better combo. Also, dance sequences make everything more amazing.

[@lo1bo2]

Sorry, I am guilty of sometimes skipping the figure articulation segment.

[@erdio21]

lo1bo2 yeah me too. Maybe we can lose that part?

[@lo1bo2]

Glad I watched it this time though!

[@dennismendoza8904]

I like it. It's something constant with the reviews. Like Voltron lions forming up. You expect it to be there.

[@Michael_Johnson_5446]

This has got to be one of the best reviews yet - amazing account of all the allusions in the figure, from pop culture to folklore. Uncanny Vincent Price impression too!

[@jackloera4600]

So far, my favorite review.

[@chadblodgett8634]

Solid review of Crystal Ball, I personally always thought he was a decent figure, however wished as a toy he would have came with more accessories, or they would have at least utilized him more in the comics. Side note the first time I saw one of the Little Britain hypnotist skits I thought of the Crystal Ball hypno shield, so it was extra comforting to know the strange association was not exclusive to me.

[@glennrobbins2372]

I seem to remember in the book that I got my son so we could identify the huge box of G. I Joes I bought at a yard sale, that Stephen King supposedly wrote the file card for Crystal Ball. Which is why Sneek Peek was named Owen King and was from Bangor ME.

[@davv1975]

To call this a review doesn't do this justice...this was freakin AMAZING.

[@JoeMotionVideos82]

Great review HCC! I've always wanted this figure. I remember tell a friend that he looked like Price, that started an argument. He didn't like Vincent Price. Awesome review, your skit was spot on! Keep it up!!

[@ToyGuy-bg2bd]

that comic book store skit was hilarious I was in tears awesome awesome review great video thanks for your time and effort

[@thephotoviper]

another classic review of a classic figure... can't wait for next week...

[@rtd1409]

Yeah baby have been waiting a long time for this one as in years past I have jibed here and there CB needs a full review. This was a real fun one and brought back my memories of getting this guy up on Hollywood Blvd in the early months of 1987 when that class of figure hit the shelves and the busride home. Now the interesting part of the busride was going into East Hollywood and connecting with my home bus ride at Normandie it went through various areas famous as local enclaves of Armenian, Russian, and Thai groups that have many interesting signs in the different languages that made me think of the mysterious story of his file-card. As I rode the buses home I kept tilting the shield and loved the effect as it seemed to have a squillion different colors in there. Either way I thought the sculpting and colors of the figure at the time made the shield a decent accessory and gave value to the figure for its ornate coloring. I have a real like for gold highlights on the figures and the 1987 class of figures was very dear to me (Except CobraLa) and one of the other two Joes not reviewed from the initial trio listed for voting is my fave Joe team member so I hope to see her get a full review one day. All in all Bravo tons of fun stuff and love the "Bomb" ending!

[@neobluemax]

give him a whip and you get Simon Belmont from Castlevania. An odd but comic book like character that is fringe. not a huge fan of the character but I like the figure.

[@KevinMayle1974]

Each episode keeps getting better! I don't know how you do it!

[@bubblewrappedmemories]

One of the most clever episodes you have made!!!!Love the "CAMP"!Also loved the "dig" at those who skip.....never skip on this channel.....It's a classic to let run, watch, and take all the info into your memory.Great job B!!!!!!

[@davidsoriente6845]

one of your best reviews, loved the "Blazing Saddle" snippet!

[@MrGILBERTV]

i remember seeing this figure still available into the 90s. on discount. 1.20 or so. I recently bought a nice one for cheap. I love the figure now but I think his lack of accessories and 70s aesthetic turned my stomach. IDW current series usesb him pretty good. awesome video python viper!

[@nanlion]

Woooww!! Amazing video! hahahaha I realize that I am not alone in the world! There is Hope!

[@johnwild8336]

Very entertaining review. Vincent Price, Dr. Phibes and Dr. Goldfoot in a G.I. Joe review... who would have thunk it?

[@joejupiter4138]

Great review, bud, as always. I love how deeply you dive into this stuff.

[@JediDB]

LOL, this was a good one, a lot of fun out of a very "strange" character.

[@mikesmith2718]

Great review I agree lower middle tier figure great sculpt but doesn't fit into Gi joe love the skits and I can not wait for Python Patrol one of my favorite subsets in Gi joe and Chris did an excellent job on that crystal ball for the thumbnail

[@ryanbwags]

Well, you may have changed my mind on old Ball. I may have to add him to my collection.

[@sdevine182]

Teen Wolf and Blazing Saddles clips, yup subbing and watching all these

[@theygone6962]

now that is some entertainment great show

[@theygone6962]

oh and get those gold boots on

[@affoster79]

That was a interesting review. I have to say I kinda like this figure mostly do to the fact he was left handed like me and his likeness to Vincent Price. I am a fan of Vincent Price films. I used him as a more darker character because he was just a little too campy. He had ties with Cobra La as the Impel trading card hints. I gave him a brown cloak from a Star Wars figure and he conjured elder gods for Cobra. The first 10 minutes of Hell Boy had a big impact on me right about the time I got this figure. Crystal Ball did appear briefly in the IDW comics aiding Firefly into a building by making them "invisible" to the employees using his hypno-shield.

[@MrJaneails22x]

Very fun!!! And I'm not a GI Joe fan! I love your knowledge and passion on the property though, which is teaching me a lot. Good stuff! Oh, and your wife is definitely a good sport. Mine would have said "Go pound sand...and then jump off the Space Needle, you narcissistic Nerd." And we don't even live anywhere close to Seattle!

[@agnethaladuff8559]

Very cool video review of Crystal Ball, he sure do look similar to Vincent Price. I'm glad Stephen King contributed this character which practically pays tribute to a great American horror actor. It's an awesome character if we think of it this way. Thumbs up for the video.

[@sparkster1701]

Great review HCC!!! Loved the attempted hypnotism at the store. Perhaps next time try the Jedi Mind Trick.

[@Deadduck2pt0]

I wonder if the ending would of been sillier if the bomb had done it's job and Mrs. HCC still joined normally dressed. But I may just be speculating on something we'd rather not see. Great review and skits as always!

[@mattlerch531]

crystal ball is the best figure ever. crystal ball is the best figure ever. crystal ball is the best figure ever. crystal ball is the best figure ever. vincent price is the best figure ever. crystal ball is the best figure ever. crystal ball is the best figure ever. oh wow! what happened? this has to be one of the best reviews that you have done. nice mention of dr. goldfoot and the lore around this figure. i skiped this figure because it looked silly at the time and i didn't understand the lore behind it until much later. i was suprised crystal ball just didn't hypnotise the cobras upper echilon command and run cobra himself. awesome entertaining review.

[@lonesquiff6551]

That comic sounds hilarious. If I'd had this figure I would have put him with my Dreadnoks. That's where all the misfits went lol

[@jonnyg9865]

I made Crystal Ball Cobra Commander's personal Rasputin, a psychic seer and advisor. Everybody in Cobra gave Crystal a wide berth because he could read minds and expose them all as backstabbing Judases.

[@maxpowercg457]

This was a "Crystal Ball" of a review! Insane. Crazy. But I learned somethings.

[@jamescampbell2891]

I have never heard of this character till this video. I'm also a big fan of Vincent Price. My sons middle name is named after him... The comedy bit was great

[@impossiblepie]

Fantastic video!!!

[@maxcado]

this is the best villain in your show. hey maybe all the villains can team up against you.

[@kylemoody6864]

Well done sir.

[@TroySmith25]

Fantastic super packed review. I'm so thankful you avoided the bikini bomb. Mrs. HC788 is such a trooper. Sgt. Slaughter would be proud of her. Regarding the figure, with the grey hair, I always thought Crystal Ball was to old to be a cobra. A little bummed as a kid that he didn't come with a gun.

[@shermanvermin76]

Yes, I think Crystal Ball (one of the black moustachioed G.I. Joe characters) only coming with a *shield* (which he used for his hypnotising) is what made him such a poor selling figure (hence he was only released in the States, and never in the UK).

[@christianhafer9819]

I like this figure. Think it's pretty cool. You need to get another Crystal Ball, my friend. Not only is yours discolored, both arms are cracked. Yuck!

[@TheNightBadger]

Vincent Price started his career as a handsome leading man. Watch the noir classic 'Laura' for an example of this. Stephen King sets everything in Maine, often Bangor. That lends credence to the idea that he wrote the file card.

[@goose_2]

Python Patrol Viper, keep the articulation segment, it is uniquely you. ;)

[@bjscorpio4041]

There was a GI Joe 3d comic, I think it was published by Blackthorne comics that starred Crystal Ball.

[@stevenimeson902]

Love this figure!

[@tordenskrald]

I never skip the articulation part! Never! To be honest sometimes I recite that rhyme randomly when doing various stuff.

[@blueberrywine69]

This was a great fun review

[@stevencox6395]

The Bangor, Maine addition lends credence to the idea it was written by Stephen King. I may be remembering wrong but wasn't Crystal Ball also one of the people buried alive in the bunker during the Cobra Civil War?

[@nyquist75]

who in their right mind would skip the figure articulation part of the review?! that's just nuts

[@TroySmith25]

nyquist75 Who would skip any part? I love theses reviews.

[@MiKeMiDNiTe-77]

I like Crystal Ball..

[@matthewsirois3705]

You are a silly, silly, man it's one of the things that makes you great. Thanks for another fun review

[@jmsberetta]

fun review

[@natejaxson7612]

Nice Manson shirt bro

[@blueberrywine69]

I would love to get your reviews on dvd

[@kevharper7070]

such a cool figure, just get rid of all his 'magic' stuff and make him a more science based evil interrogator and he fits right into the GI Joe universe. would the mention of Maine also link him to Stephen King?

[@HCC788]

+Kev Harper g egg 8

[@jonnyg9865]

That's Dr. Mindbender's gig. I instead doubled down on the mysticism and made Crystal Ball Cobra Commander's Rasputin - a psychic seer and advisor who could read minds and see the future, warning Cobra of Joe troop movements. He was even inexplicably tough to kill just like the Mad Monk himself allegedly was.

[@cerd6292]

Quality.

[@mcbrotherhill]

bangor main is the home town of stephen king

[@bartdman95]

I gave my Crystal Ball toy 2 pistols and a back pack. It looked better.,ans it makes him look like he's fighting G.I.Joe on a mission to a cold place like a mountain top. Or in a cold forest w/o snow.

[@ralang999]

Great idea! I agree, giving him guns made him look much better. I usually gave him the dark grey Viper's rifle from the accessory pack

[@jonnyg9865]

I used to do that for Breaker, Clutch, and SEALs like Torpedo and Wet Suit. Crystal Ball was Cobra Commander's personal Rasputin and too valuable to be squandered on the battlefield.

[@greenyeti9078]

HEY IM LEFT HANDED

[@domalwright]

Great review. Had me laughing my ass off. Are u doing a full set of python patrol reviews or just the one?

[@TerryTurner]

Dr. Strange evil twin brother...😂

[@aerytful]

The guy's face reminds me of my father.

[@lazarus30001]

Definitely one of your funniest videos, LMAO

[@NickBartolo]

Wow.

[@thewolg1999]

How are you going to bring up Vincent Price's camp phase and not mention him being Egghead in the 1960's "Batman" series?! 🤣🥃🥃

[@nicholashodges201]

Collectors, you are welcome. I personally destroyed IDK how many Crystal Balls making my own custom Vincent Price action figures

[@DREADNOK_RYAN]

Thank the GI Joe gods that we are done with Battle force 2000. The reviews were good it was the product that was bad thank you Hasbro.

[@antiquariancrafts2454]

13:10 Kenny Craig!

[@rhannah7873]

In addition to being discolored, he's got some badly cracked elbows. :(

[@Bud-gk8bw]

I am the first son of a first son, I can barely tell you what's already happened.

[@derekwilliams1660]

Why does Cobra need a hypnotist?

[@jonnyg9865]

Precisely, which is why I made my Crystal Ball more than just a mere hypnotist. He could also read minds and see into the future. Similar to how Dr. Mindbender is more than just a guy tinkering with brainwaves.

[@jordel2010]

What a crappy figure, that's for sure, but... this was hilarious ! I watched it through and through mostly because of the humorous bits; for that alone I'm giving you a thumbs up.

[@myronaustin]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@annmarieevetts2473]

Not one of my favorite characters, despite the Price connections. Great review, tho, as always

[@papishow]

Shit figure but great video! I usually skip the articulation segment but luckily I didn't this time. You are your wife are crazy! Lol

[@racerxgundam]

while it is nice that your wife was a trooper and willing to wear a bikini for this vid....YOUR FANS WANTED YOU IN A BIKINI MY FRIEND!!!!! :-P

[@lazarus30001]

Marilyn Manson; nice!

[@psychoticbuzzsaw]

It was on the pegs long after 1988 lmao

[@unionpacific8332]

Have you seen the new crystal ball in the comic... there is a hated character for you.

[@estavan23]

Muy chistoso el final. jojojojo

[@sirkowski]

I can think of many worse figures than this. Like Raptor from the same year.

[@sirkowski]

Should've finished the review before commenting.

[@racerxgundam]

i think crystal ball hypnotized you....mid tier? no way. Just on his lame ass accessory he is bottom tier all the way. i hate to be the one to defend raptor here...but he was vastly superior to crystal ball. what is unfair is that he shouldn't be the "most" hated guy...that honor belongs to zartan's lame-o brother or maybe the snake man leader of cobra la. That being said, quality sculpting and paint work aside....crystal ball is on the top five worst joes list for sure!

[@bigtone7913]

racerxgundam I disagree.What other accessory would you give to a hypnotist?For what he is,a cool lenticular shield is apropos,imo.Plus,he created new play possibilities seeing as how he could turn Joes against each other at will.

[@George-de6hd]

I don’t mind him 🤷🏻raptor is the dumbest fig in my opinion (not including 90s joes because they all pretty much suck)

[@dogma9609]

and...this wasnt the only Joe figure to use psychic powers....according to the Sunbow show, Airborne also has psychic powers. and in the comic, Tomax and Xamont had this as well..