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New high res product images – Some new thoughts

I know I’ve posted most of these images before, but when I got these again in the mail, I took an even closer look at the rediculously high resolution images and a few more things caught my eye.   Let’s see how many folks had this all figured out before I did.  :shifty:

Wave 5 is something that I’ve bounced back and forth on relentlessly since we first got images.  City Strike Snake Eyes makes that wave, but other figures were really starting to impress me, too, even if there are a lot of reused parts.  Both in Waves 4 & 5 there is an almost brutal amount of reused tooling, though Hasbro does their best to camouflage it.

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Now Duke and Arctic Storm Shadow are obvious (though Storm Shadow is actually better masqueraded than I initially thought).  Desert-Viper and Ripcord, though, I think are masked fairly well.  Desert-Viper is essentially an Elite-Viper with the MARS Officer webgear in a different paint scheme and with the scarf from Hostile Environment Major Bludd.  It all comes together nicely, though.  Ripcord uses a lot of the Pit Commando as a base, it would appear.  I’d bet the boonie hat is from that set, and of course, the combat vest as well.  Not sure where the arms come from, but if the Pit Commando is used as the base, I’m glad we’ve got new arms, because the Dusty arms are a lot less poseable than many of these new ones.  Ripcord also comes with a bevy of reused weapons, a lot of them from the still unreleased Resolute Baroness.

So while it’s not nearly as obvious with Wave 5 as it was with Wave 4, there seems to be just as much reused tooling, though perhaps disguised a bit better.

Also got the images from the latest round of Target Exclusive vehicles.

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That SNAKE w/ “Viper Commando” (again, why are they phasing out the Neo-Viper codename?) is absolutely KICK ASS.  Love the black, and I really dig that darker colored Viper.  I may grab a couple of those, though I’ll probably skip the rest.  No real interest on the movie Wet Suit, that funky colored Air-Viper is bleh, and I’ve got no real interest in the Arashikage Cycle Storm Shadow either.  The “racing suit” kind of looks neat, but I’ve got 3 of those bikes already, don’t need any more.

Lastly, we also got the first look at the upcoming Arashikage Temple set w/ Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, due to be a Wal-Mart Exclusive.

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What was it your mother said?  If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all?  Well, a ton of accessories come with this set, that’s for sure.  Beyond that the colors are pretty lame, and the figures don’t offer anything interesting either.  A swing and a miss on this one, I really think.  Would have been neat to have seen the unreleased Training Snake Eyes from the Resolute Comic Packs in here, but as it stands, pretty dull stuff.

Nice review and some images for upcoming Wave 4 Charbroil

Over on JoeCustoms.com, chrysophylax got a hold of Rise of COBRA Wave 4 Charbroil, and has posted a pretty neat mini-review with a nice handful of pictures.  I’ve mirrored those pictures right below.

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This figure I’m pretty lukewarm on.  There are some neat parts…I love the idea of the COBRA Commander chrome head underneath the helmet to make the goggles look reflective.  That’s actually really neat, though it obviously affects the helmet removal.  The Blowtorch vest over some of the Resolute parts works nicely, though, and gives the figure a somewhat unique new look.  Vintage purists will rant that he looks nothing like Charbroil, but I’ve got no issues with that.  The figure has grown on me somewhat, but is still probably one of my least favorite of Wave 4.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of COBRA Wave 4 coming soon at HasbroToyShop

HasbroToyShop’s G.I. Joe section has posted “Coming Soon” links for the upcoming Wave 4 G.I. Joe: The Rise of COBRA action figures.  Check out the links below…these items are not currently in stock, but looks like they could be coming very soon!  In fact, the estimated arrival date on the site is September 14th.

Even with a lot of reused parts, this is a pretty neat looking wave.  Some new characters, some new ideas, and figures to look forward to.  I especially dig Night Adder, that is one sick looking COBRA security guard!  Thanks to The Terror Drome for the info, and don’t forget to use the gijoe10 code for 10% off!

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News Catchup – Reviews, pics, other goodies

I was actually somewhat surprised at the level of G.I. Joe news and info over the past few days…it’s been downright sparse!  At least in official type stuff…I am glad to see lots of sites really ramping stuff up, though, and getting some great reviews posted, some leaked pics, all the good stuff we expect as toy fans.   Now that the family is in bed recuperating from a few hectic days, I’ve taken a couple of minutes to scour the web and find some worthwhile recaps.

HissTank.com – G.I. Joe Desert 5-Pack Toys “R” Us Exclusive

This set has me REALLY excited.  I’m not normally a big fan of desert figures or environmentally specific sets, but I am loving pretty much every figure in here.  I really like that we have so many new characters… Dial Tone, Law, Repeater, and Footloose all make up for a very neat cast of characters, and it’s amazing that with so many reused parts we get such a cool and diverse 5-pack.  The desert camouflage is actually pretty unique as well.  Rulz got his hands on an early sample and has posted a ton of pictures here.  I mirrored a few of them below.

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Terror Drome – Pictorial Review of Rise of COBRA Dragonhawk

Listen, I’ve heard all the complaints about the size of this thing, and I share many of them.  This is a VERY small vehicle.  But I gotta admit, I love small little mini-copters.  Stuff like the Locusts of old have some really cool potential…but of course, those Locusts of old didn’t have an MSRP of $25.00.  I have yet to see a Dragonhawk first hand at this point, so maybe in person the size issues really will be too much, but from the distance of a computer screen, it still looks like a bad ass little helicopter and I dig it.  Check out the review at the Terror Drome here, and I’ve mirrored some images below.

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Terror Drome – Review of JoeCon Exclusive 12″ Crimson Guard

12″ figures have never really blown my skirt up, but some recent examples have softened my stance a bit.  Obviously the Sideshow stuff is amazing, but even the 12″ Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, SDCC Baroness, COBRA Commander, and the upcoming Destro all look fairly cool, too.  But this Crimson Guard takes the cake.  It seems evident that the GIJCC wanted to give us a good 12″ figure at semi-Sideshow quality without the Sideshow level prices.  I mean, it was still $50, but that’s better than a hundred.  Figure doesn’t look perfect, but it’s still very nice.  Check out the review here, with some images below as well.

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Kick Ass Custom – Painting details on The Pit!

The self-proclaimed OCD Joefan, “Werecat” of JoeSightings and JoeBattleLines went the extra mile with his Pit Playset, and spent a whopping 14 hours doing detail work with a very small paint brush and a whole lot more patience than I have!  Check out his post on JoeBattleLines here, or check out the gallery below.  Very impressive.

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Some Catch Up work – A look at some recent “Alexx Shorts”

JoeBattleLines and JoeSightings member Alexx  always has a really unique look at the Rise of COBRA figures as they hit, and gives us some really neat images to go along with it, and his enthusiasm hasn’t slowed one bit since the line hit!  In fact, he’s been so enthusiastic that I haven’t been able to keep up with his frenetic posting.  He’s a machine.

However, I do feel like I should at least take some time and focus on a few of his more recent entries because they’re so awesome.  His stuff can be found on JoeSightings.com, as well as the Mission Debriefing section of JoeBattleLines.  Anyone who isn’t checking that stuff out is missing out on some really neat perspective and insight.

Enough butt kissing…

General Hawk (Single Pack)

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This figure is so freaking cool.  So understated and very underrated, but one of my favorite figures in the line.  It’s perfect in its simplicity, with a great accessory compliment and some very nice, basic design work.  I really, REALLY love this figure.  I love it a lot.

Grand Slam w/ Air Assault Glider

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You know, I pretty much wrote off these Target Exclusives, but for some reason it didn’t occur to me that Grand Slam had the new lower legs.  Not only that, but the Ace headsculpt is a very nice difference compared to the Flash one.  Sure, it’s reused, but at least in the Original 13 group shots he’ll still stand out.  I think I have to pick this one up now.  Thanks a lot, Alexx.  :shifty:

The Doctor

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I don’t think I need to tell anyone how bad ass this figure is.  I thought the figure was pretty neat as it was, but the awesomely campy performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt only further cemented the character (and figure) in my mind.  A “must have” for the Rise of COBRA, no doubt.  Even you vintage purists should find a way to work him into the line as a deranged scientist who works alongside Dr. Mindbender.

Paris Pursuit Baroness

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From the minute I saw this figure, I knew I’d dig her more than the regular one, and I was right.  Just got mine in the mail today from HasbroToyShop, so haven’t had a chance to do the full blown review, but expect good words.  Very nice figure.  Very nice.

Pit Commando

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This figure is currently the bane of my existence.  One of the only Rise of COBRA figures I have yet to hold in my hands.  I have two on the way from HasbroToyShop (finally!) but beyond that I haven’t had the pleasure of messing with this figure yet.  I plan on doing a crazy intensive review once I can.  I know the base figure is just Dusty, but I am just antsy as can be waiting for all that awesome looking gear.  What a fantastic way to do a “Accessory Set” without actually doing one.  Kudos to Hasbro on this guy, I love him and I don’t even have one yet.