I do not own these.

GI jOE: Timeless Collection (including Exclusives) (1998-2003)

 1999 SECRET MISSION TO SPY ISLAND

Hasbro re-released these following classic SPY Adventure sets under the TIMELESS COLLECTION logo. 

In 1999, with the GI jOE TIMELESS COLLECTION, HASBRO/KENNER re-re-released the SECRET MISSION TO SPY ISLAND. 

Click here for back of box

This set is derived from the original Action Soldier 'Sabotage' set, and reissued as the 1969 Adventures of GI jOE, 'The Secret Mission to Spy Island', and re-reissued in the 1970's with the GI jOE Adventure Team, 'Secret Mission to Spy Island'. 

The Timeless Collection (TC) - Secret Mission To Spy Island was available through Hasbro On-line for US$ 49.98 

EQUIPMENT LIST: 

 - life raft (black inflatable) ; 

 - oar (black);  

 - binoculars (black w elastic string); 

 - signal light (black w plastic amber lens); 

 - flare gun (grey w brown grip) ; 

 - detonator (grey); 

 - three sticks of TNT (orange);

 - morse code radio set ( black  with headphones and code sender); 

 - .45 caliber machine gun ( gold and grey w elastic strap); 

 -  .45 caliber pistol (grey) with shoulder holster (black); 

 - wire roll (black with silver molded wire); 

 - shirt (camouflage); 

 - pants (camouflage); 

 - boots (black tall); 

 - knit cap ( black cloth ); 

 - belt (black web) with ammo pouch (black); 

  - canteen (black )with cover (black); 

 - dog tag (silver metal stamped GI jOE);

- 35th Anniversary dog tag (silver metal); 

 - alligator (dark green).

Set also includes  a TC 12-inch caucasian action figure with black painted hair and was also available with African-American action figure with painted hair. 

The TC set had these differences from the 1969 The Secret Mission to Spy Island set:

• three orange TNT charges (not TNT sticks),

• black wire roll with molded silver wire not real rolled wire); 

•  black morse code radio set (not the jade green radio), 

•  black oar (different shape),  

• black binoculars (not the red ones). 

  The 1969 Secret Mission To Spy Island set did not include the following: 

• a black web belt; 

• black ammo pouches;  

• black canteen with black cover; 

• .45 caliber pistol and black shoulder holster; 

• alligator 

The box cover is a common Timeless Collection framed box with no outside graphic displayed on the front side. 

THE MISSION: 

 Originally signed-on as the Sabotage accessory set, thsi classic 1969 action adventure pits G.I. Joe special forces against an evil team of enemy infiltrators who have stolen top secret plans from the Pentagon's most protected vaults and have taken them to a hidden computer installation on Spy Island.  

The nation's top military leaders have called on G.I. Joe to recover the plans before they can be de-coded.

Utilizing some of the samecovert assault tactics used by today's U.S. Navy SEALS, G.I. Joe lands on Spy Island to begin search and recovery operations. Manouvering around coastal defenses, G.I. Joe outwits enemy personnel to gain access to the island's top secret computer complex. The Joes discover taht the vault holding the plans is heavily guarded and that an alternate plan must be implemented. While conducting recon of teh complex, the Joes stumble upon fully loaded missle siols. Bingo! Armed with TNT explosives, G.I. Joe places detonators in teh silos and sets teh charges to go off in minutes. With no time to lose, teh Joes double-time it out of there and make a break for the coast to their rescue.

A G.I. Joe adventurer was prepared for special assignment anytime, anywhere.  The original battle cry of the 1960's can still be heard: "G.I. Joe , G.I. Joe  - fighting man from head to toe. On the land,  on the sea, in the air ..."    

  * * *

 BLACK SPIDER RENDEZVOUS 

 In 2001, this TARGET exclusive GI jOE Timeless Collection, Adventure Team reproduction set called the 'Black Spider Rendezvous'.

This set is derived from the vintage 1970's Adventure Team set, 'Black Widow Rendezvous' (code no. 7414). This box art has GI jOE suited up and in-flight with the turbo-copter s the sun is setting behind the mountains. The dusk launch of a covert stealth mission is underway with a nearby base with a refinery, rocket and gantry and satellite dish in the valley of the mountains. 

EQUIPMENT LIST: 

 - Authentic reproduction of the GI jOE 'Man of Action' figure with Kung Fu Grip with dark brown flocked hair and no beard. Some collectors had hoped that Hasbro would have provided the blonde flocked hair and beard GI jOE Air Adventurer, considering this is an aerial mission. Or even a brown flocked hair and beard GI jOE since that is what was depicted in the cover artwork. 

 - black pants; 

 - black shirt; 

 - black short boots; 

 - silver flight helmet with clear blue visor; 

 - orange map case with map; 

 - black and silver machine gun with removable clip; 

 - black walkie talkie; 

 - knife and black sheath; 

 - black shoulder holster; 

 - Model 1892 8mm revolver;

 - black backpack Turbo-copter with grey rotor blades; and 

 - dogtag. 

 I have to research this set further but based on the picture, the gear is identical to the 70's package set. 

 THE MISSION: 

G.I. jOE is assigned to transport top-secret plans for a new defense system to the United States government. Apparently, a mysterious agent known as Black Spider currently has the plans G.I. jOE needs, and she is willing to rendezvous with him in the mountains, The ADVENTURE TEAM flies G.I.jOE to the remote, mountainous region where he is scheduled to meet the Black Spider. but an airplane can only go so far into the impenetrable mountains. G.I. jOE uses his Adventure Team "Turbo Copter" backpack to travel the rest of the way to the rendezvous point to get the critical information. 

Suddenly three figures appear from a mountain crag, and G.I. jOE fires off a warning round from his rifle to scare them off It is just long enough to meet the Black Spider and obtain the plans. However the ominous men are still in the area, and it's a long way back to the place where he is scheduled to meet the plane. It's another daring and dangerous mission for the G.I. jOE ADVENTURE TEAM. 

 * * * 

 UNDERCOVER AGENT 

 In 2002, Hasbro introduced a Toys R Us exclusive Timeless Classic Adventure Team reproduction set called 'Undercover Agent'. 

The set sold for US$ 29.95 at TrU, which many people thought was high. Compared to the previous set, 'Black Spider Rendezvous', which was a Target exclusive that sold for US$ 24.95, the critics were right. The Turbo-Copter alone made that set worth it. 

The TC Undercover Agent reprised the vintage 1970's GI jOE Adventure Team 'Secret Agent' (#7375) set. This box recalls the nostalgic feeling of the vintage 1970s sets. On the cover, a masked GI jOE wearing the brown outfit and talking into a communication device and grasping his briefcase, looking over his shoulder, seemingly aware that the enemy is close-by. 

EQUIPMENT LIST: 

- This figure is the second Timeless Collection Kung Fu Grip (TC KFG) GI jOE "Man of Action" figure, with dark brown lifelike hair and no beard. Again, no beard. Collectors were disappointed, since this figure could easily have used another hair color like a  blonde 'Man of Action'. 

- brown double breasted trench coat, (A good reproduction of the original Secret Agent set). 

- brown shirt with red AT logo, 

- brown pants, 

- black tie, 

- mask disguise, 

- red bulletproof vest, 

- belt, 

- standard black short boots, 

- knife with sheath, 

- three grenades, 

- map case and map, 

- message decoder, 

- flashlight, 

- binoculars, 

- brief case; 

- Luger, long gun barrel, butt-stock, reel-to-reel tape recording device; 

- instruction sheet for assembling the sniper rifle weapon, 

- and metal Adventure Team dog-tag. 

 The original set did not include the following:

 a shoulder holster, orange map case and map, three grenades, red flashlight, black binoculars, knife with sheath. The original Lugar pistol was silver/grey and the tape recorder was white and the reproduction version of these are coloured all black. 

Also included with this set are a brown shirt, black tie and brown pants which were not a part of the original vintage set. If you wanted a brown shirt and pants you would have had to go and buy the Adventure Team carded uniform set, 'Fight for Survival'. 

NOTE: The 'Fight for Survival' uniform has nothing to do with the Arctic window box set of the same name. This carded uniform set included: Dark brown shirt and matching brown pants and a machete. 

THE MISSION: 

The story on the back of the box introduces the Black Dragon organization. G.I. jOE has to infiltrate the Black Dragon organization, and to remain unrecognized he must use a mask to disguise himself. In his briefcase is communication gear and a weapon that can assembled to make a sniper rifle, just like in the James Bond movie 'From Russia with Love'. 

The G.I. jOE team sends a secret agent on a top-secret spy mission into the heart of the evil BLACK DRAGON organization! The agent must keep his identity secret, so he is outfitted with a special mask to disguise his face from his enemies. Hidden in an unassuming briefcase is a communications device to contact the G.I. jOE team when he has acquired the information. Will he get the top-secret information and escape from BLACK DRAGON without being detected?