MAYBE ALL the saccharine sentimentality being sprinkled over the toddlers of America by Barney the dinosaur will reverse a trend that's as old as Cain and Abel, but we doubt it: Boys will always love fightin' toys.
GI Joe, of course, is going on its second generation, and has been one of the most durable characters in the doll world (along with Barbie). But Fightin' Joe is not alone; some of the hottest products on toy shelves this holiday season reflect the feeling that nothing warms a child's heart like a good karate chop or a flying wedge kick.
Among the most popular video games for the teen-age set is one called "Mortal Kombat." Virtually every teen in America knew when it hit the market last September. It comes in various forms, including one in which the "victor" rips the heart out of his victim, and holds aloft the decapitated head. Just makes you want to sing, "O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum," no?