Is Are the Zartan, Zarana, and Zandar (G.I. Joe action figures) Discontinued? What Happened?
Fate: The color-change feature stopped being made in the 1990s because the plastic did not hold up well over time. Zartan is still sold as a G.I. Joe toy today, but the newer ones look different from the original 1984 version.
In the mid‑1980s, G.I. Joe released one of its most memorable ideas: action figures that changed color when you took them outside. The first was Zartan in 1984. He worked for Cobra and was known as a master of disguise, so the sunlight trick fit his whole spy theme. Kids would bring him into the sun, hold him up, and watch his skin turn bluish in seconds. It was the kind of feature you had to show every friend on the block.
Zartan didn’t come alone. His box was packed with gear, like a swamp skier called the Chameleon, a hood, a mask, and chest armor. All those pieces made him feel like a full spy kit, not just a figure. He became one of the standout toys of the decade.
Two years later, Hasbro expanded the idea with Zarana and Zandar. Zarana arrived in 1986 with a punk‑rock look and a spot in the Dreadnoks, the rough biker gang that worked for Cobra. She had the same sunlight trick as her brother. Kids who already owned Zartan knew what was coming with the skin color shift, but it still felt cool every time.
Zandar joined the line the same year. He was Zartan’s brother and another Dreadnok, dressed in swamp‑raider gear and camo colors. His skin changed in the sun too, turning the same bluish shade. With all three figures sharing the feature, they felt like a matched set. Collectors loved having the full trio, and kids talked about them constantly.
By the early 1990s, the color‑change plastic was gone. It didn’t age well and was hard for Hasbro to keep looking right, so the company stopped using it. The characters stayed in the G.I. Joe line, but without the sunlight gimmick. Newer versions had better joints, sharper details, and more modern sculpting, yet the originals remained the ones people remembered most.
Today, Zartan, Zarana, and Zandar are seen as one of the coolest ideas Hasbro ever tried. The figures weren’t just toys — they were tiny science experiments you could take outside. And for a lot of fans, that simple color‑change trick is still unforgettable.
Timeline
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Late 1980s
- More G.I. Joe figures come out with similar color tricks, including Zarana and Zandar.
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1984
- Zartan comes out as a G.I. Joe bad guy with plastic skin that turns blue in the sun. He comes with a swamp skier, a mask, and chest armor. Kids can show off the color trick the second they go outside.
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1990s
- The color-change plastic gets dropped because it wore out too easily and was hard to make right. Zartan keeps getting made but as a regular figure.
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2000s–present
- New Zartan figures come out over the years with better detail and poseable joints. The 1984 original is the one toy collectors look for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Zartan, Zarana, and Zandar?
They were three Cobra characters in the G.I. Joe toy line. Zartan came first in 1984. Zarana and Zandar followed in 1986. All three were part of the Dreadnoks, a rough, swamp‑raiding gang that worked for Cobra.
What made these figures special?
Their plastic skin changed color in sunlight. When you took them outside, they turned a bluish shade within seconds. Kids loved showing off the trick, and having all three made the set feel complete.
Which figure was the first to use the color‑change feature?
Zartan. His sunlight gimmick was the original one, and it became the reason he stood out in the 1980s toy aisle.
Was Zarana the only girl in the group?
Yes. Zarana was the only female character in the color‑change trio. Her punk‑rock look made her instantly recognizable.
What was unique about Zandar?
Zandar rounded out the trio with a rugged, camo‑heavy design. He was styled as a swamp‑raider, and his gear matched that theme.
Why did Hasbro stop using the color‑change plastic?
By the early 1990s, the material didn’t hold up well. It faded, wore out, and was hard to keep looking right. Hasbro dropped the feature across the line.
Did the characters stay in the G.I. Joe series after the gimmick ended?
Yes. All three kept appearing in new versions over the years. The newer figures had better articulation and sharper details, but they didn’t have the sunlight trick.
Which versions do collectors talk about the most today?
The originals. Zartan’s 1984 figure and the 1986 versions of Zarana and Zandar are the ones fans remember most because of the color‑change skin.
Were these toys popular when they came out?
Very. In the mid‑1980s, the trio was one of the most talked‑about gimmicks in the entire G.I. Joe line. Kids traded them, showed them off, and tried to collect all three.
Do modern G.I. Joe figures use the same feature?
No. The sunlight‑change plastic hasn’t returned. Today’s versions focus on sculpting and detail instead.
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