G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

[anarky]

First, the Gung Ho/Cobra Commander is worth it for the "Fred VII" figure. (The battle-armored CC is a different guy in the comic, a Fred-series Crimson Guardsman who took the place of the original. They put the CG head--all in the Fred series had surgery to look the same--under the mask in this version.) I didn't get it myself, as I'd already customized one for myself and the comic isn't new. But worth it.

CG/Scarface (AKA scarred Cobra Officer) is a good set, too. It's probably not going to be the easiest to find; it's older, and a definite army builder piece.

If you're lucky enough to find it, Tomax/Xamot is a great set, too. I wish I'd picked up an extra back in the day, but it's tough to get it now.

$40 shipped for what you can get from BBTS is a great deal. Flash is especially elusive, so I would take advantage of that.

Beach Head/DataMainframe is a great set, too. It's got the first unmasked Beach Head, and he comes with masked and unmasked heads. That Beach Head is a real improvement over the carded version.

Snow Serpent, I'd wait until TRU runs a sale. They're doing that a lot. Most TRU's have a ton of the ROC version, which is the same except with camo on the pants (which actually looks better, anyway).

Mindbender... Mindbender... Damn, he's tough to get. He was only in a seven-pack of army builders, and fucked up the set since he's definitely not an army builder himself. I have no idea where you could get one. Well, I take that back. I snatched up two extra sets at Ross when they showed up for $16, so I've actually got a total of three Mindbenders. I could probably take one out of my display where Dr Mindbender and his clones try to take over an army of cloned Snake Eyeses.

[Ran]

I had no idea how many TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Ross were here in town. They are all over the place. I stopped in a TJ Maxx today and found Mutt and Tiger Force Duke. Guess I won't get that comic pack with Duke/Cobra Commander. Instead, I'll probably just get the Cobra Commander they have for $1.99.

[anarky]

Lots of easy "FrankenCobras" you can make if you want to spice up your legions:

Cobra Sergeant: Body, head, laser rifle, knife from Cobra Flint. Goggles from Para-Viper. Webgear and backpack from Viper. This one looks fucking sweet. I wish I could build an army of these, but that would require army-building a lot of other characters for parts first.

Lower-ranked Cobra Paratrooper: Body, knife from Cobra Flint. (As you can tell, this figure is all over every frickin' Big Lots.) Webgear, head, parachute, helmet, and rifle from Para-Viper.

Viper Heavy Munitions Expert: Body, head, and goggles from Viper. Webgear and bazooka from Cobra Bazooka Trooper.

Another Cobra: Body, head, pistol, and helmet from Cobra Bazooka Trooper. Webgear from Cobra Flint. Rifle from Viper.

Para-Viper who already parachuted and is ready to raise hell: Body, machine gun, and fins from Para-Viper. (The legs just don't look right without the fins.) Head from Clonetrooper (in this case, the AOTC Clonetrooper from the Evolutions set.) I need to find a belt; the torso has some indentations from the Ace figure it's reusing parts from, and something needs to cover the gap. (Doesn't matter what, since the regular figure has this area completely obscured by the chute.)

[Rollo Tomassi]

I imagine if you were looking for a Mindbender, a lot of poeple who were buying those 7-packs to armybuild would have excess Mindbenders they would be willing to part with for cheap.

I was going to buy the Joe 7-pack because the REAL RIPCORD was in it. But then I saw what they did to his head and it depressed the fuck out of me. Seriously, he looks like a malnourished old man somewhere between the nursing home and the hospice. It figures my favorite Joe gets fucked every which way by Hasbro.

[anarky]

I imagine if you were looking for a Mindbender, a lot of poeple who were buying those 7-packs to armybuild would have excess Mindbenders they would be willing to part with for cheap.

Was I not clear when I said I had no need for three Mindbenders? I would've maybe bought multiples at full price but the Mindbender fucked that up. If they hadn't shown up at Ross, I wouldn't be able to form my Night Creeper legions.

Thing that sucks about him, though, is the way he's put together. The head and cape are new (not that there's much to the cape). The chest is Gung Ho. I'm not sure about the arms. The legs are Crimson Guard legs, meaning there's a big holster on one leg, but no gun included to go in it. And he comes with his vintage "garden hose attachment" gun, but doesn't have the backpack or a hose of any sort.

I was going to buy the Joe 7-pack because the REAL RIPCORD was in it. But then I saw what they did to his head and it depressed the fuck out of me. Seriously, he looks like a malnourished old man somewhere between the nursing home and the hospice. It figures my favorite Joe gets fucked every which way by Hasbro.

Sort of. It's based on Ripcord, with Free Fall's bio, and the name Altitude. Given that they had the rights to the name "Ripcord," the figure is obviously meant to be Ripcord, and the set is geared toward adults who wouldn't be confused (seriously, who the fuck would be confused by Ripcord being black in the movie and white here, since the set has such heavy hitters as Hit And Run?), they shoulda just used the name.

Plus, the hose on his mask doesn't have anywhere on his webgear/chute to attach. I'm actually going to have to drill a hole or something so it doesn't hang free.

However, if I find the set again, I might pick one up for the spare parts (that Zap would be great if I ever decide to make a custom Bob Dylan circa 2001); if I do, I'd be willing to part with Altitude Freefall Ripcord.

[Ran]

I thought there was a single carded Mindbender. So I'm not going to worry about him since there isn't. Only 4 of the 7 in that Cobra Island set interest me.

Picked up the Firefly vs. Joes set and another Flint in Cobra Disguise. I put the Cobra head on the Flint, so now I have a Cobra trooper. I put the Flint head on one of the generic Joes, which gives me a Flint. The helmets that come with those Joes don't stay on their heads. I'll try to find a Crimson Guard set this weekend at a different TRU.

The double hinged knees on the GI Joe figures are way better than what they do in SW figures.

[anarky]

To be honest, I think I've picked up about ten Flint in Cobra Disguises. I don't have a Flint head on any, but I've got an assload of extra Flint heads. I actually think the Cobras look cooler with the rolled-up sleeves from this figure, plus it has the cartoon-accurate laser rifle. (I've got plenty of long-sleeved Cobras with real-world guns, too.)

I'm going to catalog mine when I have a chance (partly to determine exactly which parts are where). In the various multipacks and crap (they're worse than Star Wars with the whole "buy one figure you've got to get one or two you don't" thing). I know I've got a lot of extra figures. Some I've got plans for, but there are definitely going to be some I don't. I can't swear to it yet, but I'm pretty sure I have extras of Scrap-Iron, Wild Bill, Major Bludd, and Tripwire. (I'm most certain about Bludd--all his parts, right down the the gun, are so unique, they have little customization potential. And Hasbro loves Wild Bill for some reason; he might not be a vintage-accurate paint job, but they've released five of the fucker, at least that I can think of off-hand. I only got four, passing on the Tiger Force version, but one of those I got two of since the 3-pack was $6.99 and I needed parts from Ace and Starduster.) Let me know if you want any of those.

Please don't consider me selfish if I want to keep all my Cobras. I rather dig having the Joes massively outnumbered.

[Ran]

The TRU I went to had some of the 3 packs. Cobra Commander w/ Crimson Guard, Blue Cobra Commander w/ infantry, Sea Command, and Air Command. Would have bought one of the sets, but they were still $15. I plan going to the TRU on the North end of town this weekend. There also is a sports card show in Henderson this weekend, so I may go and stop at the TRU while I'm there. I ordered Major Blood and I already have the comic pack and single carded Tripwire. He's one of the ones I had as a kid, so I have a soft spot for him. Wouldn't mind getting a Wild Bill or Scrap Iron. Hell, I'll buy a Major Blood from you so I don't have to open the one I'm getting from BBTS.

Oh yeah...I opened the Cobra Eel. Pretty cool toy.

[anarky]

I forgot about my extra Bludd; he's the one from the Hostile Environment: Desert set, so he's got a slightly different paint job, but it's close, and the figure is superior. (The first re-uses the parts from the first Zartan, which is based on the 2000s Devil Due comic.)

Look around at Ross for the 3-packs if you're near any. The ones here have sold out, but there might be some in other areas; I'll keep my eyes open. The second wave Iron Grenadiers set is especially nice.

Wild Bill; I've got the Rise of Cobra version, the comic pack version (bright blue outfit), carded (the original paint scheme), and two of the Air Command 3-pack version (dark flight suit). Truth be told, you could probably still find that two-pack at Marshall's still; it wasn't especially popular due to re-using two characters who were already done. I got it mostly for the comic. However, it is the vintage-accurate Scrap-Iron; the one I've got extras of is wearing Arctic gear.

And you seriously have to get a Para-Viper, regardless of paint scheme, if you like the Eel. It is definitely one of the nicest figures ever made, even if it doesn't have a direct analogue in the vintage line.

[Ran]

Oh yeah, I grabbed the Para Viper today as well.

All weekend (and this week while driving through town) I've been hitting various Ross stores (and all its variations) and haven't seen any other 25th Anniversary stuff. The only GI Joe items they have are the little GH 2 packs, the movie Gunship vehicle, and a Deep 6 w/ Shark. One of them actually had a Heavy Duty movie figure and the Ice Dagger.

[anarky]

The Ice Dagger? Shit. I just got it from HTS for $20. It's well worth it. It's like an update of the SnowCAT and kicks ass.

I take it you've not come across any of the Cobra Hummers (called the Steel Crusher)? That is one truly bitching vehicle.

[Ran]

I think I've seen it. Sort of reminded me of the A-Team van. I was going to stay away from buying any vehicles. When the HISS first came out, I almost bought one. I wanted one when I was a kid and never got one.

The quality and detail of the GI Joe line is much more impressive that Star Wars.

[Rollo Tomassi]

I think I've seen it. Sort of reminded me of the A-Team van. I was going to stay away from buying any vehicles. When the HISS first came out, I almost bought one. I wanted one when I was a kid and never got one.

The quality and detail of the GI Joe line is much more impressive that Star Wars.

They had that HUGE battle Diorama at Target a couple years ago with a Joe Tank, and a Cobra vehicle, a Trouble Bubble and like ten figures and they had a bunch on clearance after the holidays, I kick myself for not buying one or more.

[anarky]

I would've gotten a second when they hit clearance, had I anywhere to put it. That set was a fucking steal, even with the duplicate figures.

And it's the only modern Short-Fuze figure.

[Ran]

I remember seeing that set. It was huge. It didn't last long here.

http://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/08/ubp/

The only reason I'm getting away with buying GI Joe stuff is because there is a lull in Star Wars and I told my wife it is temporary since the 25th Anniversary line is already done.