by generalsjoes | Aug 28, 2009 | 12" Scale, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Collectors Club, G.I. Joe Toys, G.I. Joe: The Movie
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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by generalsjoes | Aug 25, 2009 | Customs, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Toys, G.I. Joe: The Movie, Kick Ass Custom
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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by generalsjoes | Aug 25, 2009 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Toys, G.I. Joe: The Movie
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.
by generalsjoes | Aug 24, 2009 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Toys, G.I. Joe: The Movie, Pursuit of COBRA
Lord knows there’s been no shortage of complaining online over the Rise of COBRA film and everything surrounding it, but by and large, folks seem to at least be relatively happy with the toys we’ve gotten. Sure, there are people who have some issues with the design or the concept of figures, but for pure sculpting talent and design accumin, I just can’t conceive at how anyone could argue that Hasbro’s art team is the best in the business on a 3 3/4″ scale…and man, it’s not even close.
ToyArk.com just posted some loose images of upcoming Avatar toys. And while the film promises to totally revolutionize the medium, the action figures…well…in my mind, they look terrible. The vehicles rock pretty hard, but from a sculpting and detail standpoint, those figures just aren’t even in Hasbro’s league. I mean, let’s look at this…I’ve posted a comparison gallery below.
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I mean, is it even a close comparison? Sculpting detail, scale, design…it’s miles better with the Joe stuff than it is with Mattel’s Avatar line. It’s a world of difference. No bulky, ugly hips to conceal wonky articulation points, much fewer blatantly obvious cut-lines for movement, and a much more well-blended articulation and musculature style.
Like I said, though, the vehicles are very nice (even if the Mech and Dropship are direct rip offs of Sigma 6 :shifty: ) but those figures? Bleeech.
And yeesh, I didn’t even touch on the Terminator: Salvation travesties…those were some butt ugly toys, too. It just gets more and more obvious to me that aside from rampant collector complaints, Hasbro absolutely rules the boys toys aisle, and it’s not even close.
by generalsjoes | Aug 24, 2009 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Toys, G.I. Joe: The Movie
Official retail product images have cropped up for upcoming Combat Heroes sets as well as Target Exclusive vehicles. Curiously, though, these images show clear international markings…it will be interesting to see where these crop up. Anyway, galleries are shown below.
Combat Heroes
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Target Exclusives/International Packs
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The more I see those exclusives the more I’m loving the SNAKE Armor set. Though why the heck is the Neo-Viper now being called the Viper Commando? He’s named that in the recently released Toys “R” Us SRO 3-pack as well. Weird.
