I've got both sets now, got one at Wal-mart and the other online (assuming I'd never find either at retail).
Now I think these are a great value, and are most appropriate as starter kits for either children or an adult who has only got his interest up again since the movie preview (or similar). For those of us who have had a long head start, neither set is amazingly useful but I'd still call it a must-have at the price.
Cobras:
Baroness: The best version of this character ever. This figure is the only real exclusive and brilliant figure in the Cobra set. I would have paid $15 for her alone, so it justified the set easily. Having missed out on the first black version last year, I was very happy to get this much-improved take on one of the most important Cobras of all.
Cobra Commander: He's fine. I didn't like the cape when it came in the comic pack and don't like it now. Otherwise, he's a classic version of my favorite psychotic tyrant.
Zartan: Useless to anyone who got the carded Swamp Zartan. His face isn't as nicely made and the overall paint looks cheaper.
Storm Shadow: a great new mold but his skin is molded in color, not painted like the superior quality carded Storm Shadow. It looks like this mold will be properly painted for its release in the Hall of Heroes. Annoying.
Viper: Nice. If this is the version we'll get in the TRU set, sign me up. Not a huge improvement in any practical sense, but the chrome really stands out making this a very handsome Viper. Like the Baroness, this is probably the best this character has ever looked.
Joes:
Flint: Skinnier with new backpack-friendly webgear. I like the old webgear more, it made him seem more muscular. Also, I am not liking the face on this version, enough that I may end up permanently giving him Flint-in-disguise's beret head. The new one has bared teeth and just doesn't look good to me, even if it's clearly Flint. He has a hard time holding his weapons too. Tiger Force Flint will remain my favorite Flint so far.
Hawk: Cheap-o repaint of the wonderful carded version. It's bad enough that Hawk's face is inconsistent between his 82 and 86 iterations, but carrying this across the 25th line makes it even more confusing. Hawk v2 in 25th form basically looks like Duke in the face. I definitely prefer the grimacing v1 face from the comic pack. Anyway, this version is cheap! It doesn't even say Abernathy on his bomber jacket any more. A waste of a slot in the set, if you ask me. At least it wasn't another Duke.
Shipwreck: I wanted him the most, since I missed out on his carded version and the comic pack version is too far off course to satisfy my nostalgia. I hate the way they did Polly, and I liked his older head mold better, but this is a very accurate cartoon Hector and that's good enough for me.
Lady Jaye: My copy has head problems because of her collar. The head isn't as nicely painted as the version in the DVD set and this one lacks the cleavage most of us appreciate. A much better spear and nice articulation make this a decent figure, if still maybe my second-place LJ.
Snake Eyes: Now this is one I can approve of. However, I reckon the HoH version will take this mold and present it in nicer paint and construction quality ala Storm Shadow from the Cobra set.
I'd give each set a solid 7 out of 10. Worth buying but not without some issues.
