13
Reviews Section / Re: Review - Ghost Hawk II!
« on: July 02, 2012, 09:06:34 PM »
I don't know if it matches it but the green on the single card Duke is a lot closer than the included figure. That Duke's kinda terrible though
JoeCanuck
- April 28, 2024, 02:06:46 PM
- Welcome, Guest
News:
Red and white once again! We've restored the classic look of JoeCanuck.
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
14
General Joe Talk / Re: So, thoughts on Retaliation toys?
« on: June 30, 2012, 12:34:13 AM ».
The Ugly:
Roadblock: Big, big, BIG disappointment. I've been looking forward to adding The Rock to my collection for the past year, but I can't do much with him because he has a gun permanently attached to his hand! And it's on a unique peg size, so I can't swap it with the empty hand of another character. This design, with objects fixed into hands, is a fundamental violation of the GI Joe design principle, and is unforgivable.
If you pick up the 3-pack with "Night Ops" Roadblock, Beach Head, and Kamakura, the hands will swap easily and you will have a normal-handed Rock/Roadblock. And you will get an awesome black Resolute Roadblock/Night Adder vest to put on him making him look even beefier.
I bought the set mainly for the Roadblock hand swap, but Beach Head is pretty cool. Kamakura is just ok. But the set does come with a TON of gear, and that awesome minigun is also included. If you're not into Kamakura or Beach Head they can always be traded or used for customs fodder. I was pleased with the three figures and tons of gear for $19.99 though.
15
Reviews Section / Review - Ghost Hawk II!
« on: June 14, 2012, 01:02:39 AM »
Review – Ghost Hawk II!
The Highs: Realistic body colors, powerful-looking engines, heavily armed, cool harness play feature, first Joe vehicle with a true refueling boom.
The Lows: Neon missiles, difficult stickers, wings and missiles fall off WAY too easily, would be a LOT cooler if it was bigger. Also, is Hasbro cutting cost in the names department too?
The Verdict: The only truly new member of the Joe vehicle line is also one of the best.
I admit to going “Eeeehhhhhh” when seeing the lineup of the new Retaliation Joe vehicles. While I like the HISS and the Fang Boat (and the AWE/Ninja Commando 4x4 is ok) the Ghost Hawk II REALLY caught my eye. It was the only truly new vehicle, and I’m a big fan of Joe vehicles that (pretend) fly.
I was initially worried that the Ghost Hawk II would be a revamp of the Black Dragon VTOL mold, but my fears were quickly assuaged. I thought the Black Dragon was too small and skinny to be a legitimate transport vehicle. Sure, it was kinda neat and had some neat features, but it just looked too small for my taste. Though the GHII is just slightly larger (beefier body, as well as slightly longer nose to tail and wingtip-to-wingtip) that little bit makes a lot of difference. The extra room also means that the GHII has a few neat additional features that the Black Dragon simply couldn’t fit.
The Ghost Hawk II is decorated in a fairly military color scheme of gray, green, and gunmetal. The lower hull is gray, the upper hull and wings are green, and the refueling boom, engines, and skids are gunmetal. There’s also a bronzetone canopy. Various black and yellow stickers work to set the colors off.
Speaking of the refueling boom, it gives the GHII a feature no Joe vehicle before it has carried: the capability of pretend mating with an aerial tanker for refueling. This is a simple little touch, but really gives the GHII a long-range transport feel. Continuing to the rear, the canopy opens to reveal a HUGE cockpit…which unfortunately only fits one figure. That figure though, has plenty of room to move around on those transcontinental flights. There’s some decent detail molded into the cockpit, but alas there is no cool HUD sticker or anything else to add color and detail to the cockpit. Just aft of the cockpit are the wings. The wings sport plenty of hard points on either side of the fuselage for multiple missiles and bombs, as well as a set of spring-loaded launchers molded into them that fire dual-warhead missiles. On the outer part of the wings are four massive engines, one on top and one on bottom on each side. The engines can be rotated to give the GHII true VTOL capability. Short wingtips clip onto the outer sides of the engines, completing the winged look. I must say here that I really admire the engines. Their beefy size give the GHII a great sense of power, and make you think that a somewhat portly-looking transport vehicle could in fact be very fast.
On the underside of the GHII (below the cockpit) sit a pair of gunmetal skids. While the skids are just a bit too thick for a figure to grab onto, there is enough space for a figure to wrap their arm around the skid. This would be useful in those emergency, hot LZ evac situations. Moving to the rear, the rear belly features an opening hatch. Inside the hatch is one of the coolest features I’ve seen on a Joe vehicle in a while: a harness with a backpack post attachment hooked to a string. When not in use, the string wraps around a hidden hook in the tail, and the handle used when pulling the string clips to the interior underside of the tail section, securing the harness.
This harness is a neat idea and an awesome play feature. Perfect for quick and clandestine inserts and extracts (as well as another hot LZ option) the harness can be used to secure just about any Joe figures. However, this excellent idea is somewhat hampered in its execution. First, the harness doesn’t tightly fit all figures. In fact, it truly only tightly fits some of the larger ones. This could lead to the unfortunate situation of opening the belly hatch during play only to have the figure inside take an accidental free-fall. Further, figures cannot wear their webgear and the harness at the same time, a potentially major equipment issue.
The Ghost Hawk II also carries a fairly large amount of ordnance. Each wing sports three medium sized missiles and a bomb underneath, as well as a larger missile and the dual-warhead missile in the launcher on top. There are a couple of problems with the missiles besides them being neon orange. First, they suffer from the same small attachment points as the 30th SkyStriker, though they do admittedly stay on better than THOSE missiles (I’m sure changing toy safety regs had something to do with that). Those small hardpoints mean it is very easy to knock a missile off the wing accidentally. The second issue is with the way the wings themselves attach to the fuselage of the GHII. While secure enough for regular play, it is way too easy to push the wings completely off the vehicle while trying to re-secure a missile to the underside of a wing. Doing so will leave you with ALL the missiles, the engines, and the wings themselves scattered about, as well as a possible bruised foot.
My only other major complaint with the Ghost Hawk is with the stickers. Just because of the way several of them are made, some of them are quite hard to get lined up symmetrically. I love me some stickers…but I hate when putting them on is overly frustrating. Also, I know Hasbro keeps trying more and more to emphasize the ninja elements of GI Joe, but I could have done without the Arashikage symbols on the sides of the GHII. When did the ninjas start running things? Shouldn’t those be GI Joe symbols? And Hasbro, remember what happened the FIRST TIME when you got too ninja happy?
I will take this opportunity to note that the terrible 5 POA figure included with the GHII is called “Duke” but could easily be called “Crappy Generic Pilot.” He’s bad, but not as terrible as the Snake Eyes from the Ninja Commando 4x4. And that’s all I’ve got to say about that.
Look Ma, no articulation!
All in all though, I really like the Ghost Hawk II. Sure, the stickers and the wings/missiles can be frustrating. Yes, the missiles are neon and the harness isn’t as cool as it could be. Granted, the name is unoriginal and the vehicle would look even better if it was bigger. Despite those flaws, I really like the Ghost Hawk II. Even the neon missiles don’t bother me as bad as they did when I first got it (you could say I’m almost used to them now). This is a solid addition to the Joe line, and definitely worth a look…especially at a $20-$22 US price point.
The Highs: Realistic body colors, powerful-looking engines, heavily armed, cool harness play feature, first Joe vehicle with a true refueling boom.
The Lows: Neon missiles, difficult stickers, wings and missiles fall off WAY too easily, would be a LOT cooler if it was bigger. Also, is Hasbro cutting cost in the names department too?
The Verdict: The only truly new member of the Joe vehicle line is also one of the best.
I admit to going “Eeeehhhhhh” when seeing the lineup of the new Retaliation Joe vehicles. While I like the HISS and the Fang Boat (and the AWE/Ninja Commando 4x4 is ok) the Ghost Hawk II REALLY caught my eye. It was the only truly new vehicle, and I’m a big fan of Joe vehicles that (pretend) fly.
I was initially worried that the Ghost Hawk II would be a revamp of the Black Dragon VTOL mold, but my fears were quickly assuaged. I thought the Black Dragon was too small and skinny to be a legitimate transport vehicle. Sure, it was kinda neat and had some neat features, but it just looked too small for my taste. Though the GHII is just slightly larger (beefier body, as well as slightly longer nose to tail and wingtip-to-wingtip) that little bit makes a lot of difference. The extra room also means that the GHII has a few neat additional features that the Black Dragon simply couldn’t fit.
The Ghost Hawk II is decorated in a fairly military color scheme of gray, green, and gunmetal. The lower hull is gray, the upper hull and wings are green, and the refueling boom, engines, and skids are gunmetal. There’s also a bronzetone canopy. Various black and yellow stickers work to set the colors off.
Speaking of the refueling boom, it gives the GHII a feature no Joe vehicle before it has carried: the capability of pretend mating with an aerial tanker for refueling. This is a simple little touch, but really gives the GHII a long-range transport feel. Continuing to the rear, the canopy opens to reveal a HUGE cockpit…which unfortunately only fits one figure. That figure though, has plenty of room to move around on those transcontinental flights. There’s some decent detail molded into the cockpit, but alas there is no cool HUD sticker or anything else to add color and detail to the cockpit. Just aft of the cockpit are the wings. The wings sport plenty of hard points on either side of the fuselage for multiple missiles and bombs, as well as a set of spring-loaded launchers molded into them that fire dual-warhead missiles. On the outer part of the wings are four massive engines, one on top and one on bottom on each side. The engines can be rotated to give the GHII true VTOL capability. Short wingtips clip onto the outer sides of the engines, completing the winged look. I must say here that I really admire the engines. Their beefy size give the GHII a great sense of power, and make you think that a somewhat portly-looking transport vehicle could in fact be very fast.
On the underside of the GHII (below the cockpit) sit a pair of gunmetal skids. While the skids are just a bit too thick for a figure to grab onto, there is enough space for a figure to wrap their arm around the skid. This would be useful in those emergency, hot LZ evac situations. Moving to the rear, the rear belly features an opening hatch. Inside the hatch is one of the coolest features I’ve seen on a Joe vehicle in a while: a harness with a backpack post attachment hooked to a string. When not in use, the string wraps around a hidden hook in the tail, and the handle used when pulling the string clips to the interior underside of the tail section, securing the harness.
This harness is a neat idea and an awesome play feature. Perfect for quick and clandestine inserts and extracts (as well as another hot LZ option) the harness can be used to secure just about any Joe figures. However, this excellent idea is somewhat hampered in its execution. First, the harness doesn’t tightly fit all figures. In fact, it truly only tightly fits some of the larger ones. This could lead to the unfortunate situation of opening the belly hatch during play only to have the figure inside take an accidental free-fall. Further, figures cannot wear their webgear and the harness at the same time, a potentially major equipment issue.
The Ghost Hawk II also carries a fairly large amount of ordnance. Each wing sports three medium sized missiles and a bomb underneath, as well as a larger missile and the dual-warhead missile in the launcher on top. There are a couple of problems with the missiles besides them being neon orange. First, they suffer from the same small attachment points as the 30th SkyStriker, though they do admittedly stay on better than THOSE missiles (I’m sure changing toy safety regs had something to do with that). Those small hardpoints mean it is very easy to knock a missile off the wing accidentally. The second issue is with the way the wings themselves attach to the fuselage of the GHII. While secure enough for regular play, it is way too easy to push the wings completely off the vehicle while trying to re-secure a missile to the underside of a wing. Doing so will leave you with ALL the missiles, the engines, and the wings themselves scattered about, as well as a possible bruised foot.
My only other major complaint with the Ghost Hawk is with the stickers. Just because of the way several of them are made, some of them are quite hard to get lined up symmetrically. I love me some stickers…but I hate when putting them on is overly frustrating. Also, I know Hasbro keeps trying more and more to emphasize the ninja elements of GI Joe, but I could have done without the Arashikage symbols on the sides of the GHII. When did the ninjas start running things? Shouldn’t those be GI Joe symbols? And Hasbro, remember what happened the FIRST TIME when you got too ninja happy?
I will take this opportunity to note that the terrible 5 POA figure included with the GHII is called “Duke” but could easily be called “Crappy Generic Pilot.” He’s bad, but not as terrible as the Snake Eyes from the Ninja Commando 4x4. And that’s all I’ve got to say about that.
Look Ma, no articulation!
All in all though, I really like the Ghost Hawk II. Sure, the stickers and the wings/missiles can be frustrating. Yes, the missiles are neon and the harness isn’t as cool as it could be. Granted, the name is unoriginal and the vehicle would look even better if it was bigger. Despite those flaws, I really like the Ghost Hawk II. Even the neon missiles don’t bother me as bad as they did when I first got it (you could say I’m almost used to them now). This is a solid addition to the Joe line, and definitely worth a look…especially at a $20-$22 US price point.
16
Reviews Section / Quickie Review - Cobra Fang Boat!
« on: June 14, 2012, 12:56:33 AM »
Quickie Review – Cobra Fang Boat!
The Highs: Another re-use of the excellent Water Moccasin/Sting Raider mold, coloring has a vintage Cobra feel.
The Lows: New missile launcher can interfere with the turret, 5 points of articulation spoils an interesting figure, nothing really new here.
The Verdict: Worth picking up, but making the driver with true Joe articulation would have made this a home run.
A few years ago, Hasbro released a new version of the old Water Moccasin, using a new mold. The result, the Sting Raider, gave us a preview of things to come with the 30th SkyStriker: a vehicle that was obviously a new mold, but very closely resembled the original. Like the majority of vehicles in the Retaliation line, Hasbro decided to reuse the mold and rename the Water Moccasin again, this time as the Fang Boat.
The Fang Boat shuns the teal blue of its predecessor (as well as the snakey camo of the TRU Exclusive Rise of Cobra Sting Raider) for a classic, almost vintage Cobra looking color scheme. The bottom of the hull, fan, and rudders are black, the upper hull is gunmetal gray, and the turret, engine shroud, compartment covers, and the new missile launcher are Cobra blue. For a little contrast, the missile and front windshield trim are bright red. While the red isn’t exactly military, it does set the other colors off nicely.
If you have either of the earlier Sting Raiders, you know all about the cool features: thumbwheel to turn the fan, moveable rudders, fairly deep storage compartments on either side of the engine, removable engine shroud with engine detail underneath (though no silver on the engine like on the two predecessors in an obvious cost-cutting measure) and that funky little torpedo/skipedo hidden at the aft rear of the boat. All those features are still there. The only added feature is, of course, the new missile launcher. Frankly, it doesn’t look bad at all. My only complaint is that it somewhat restricts the movement of the turret gun. The gun can still rotate over it, but the gunner does not have the same close-in firing range to the boat’s starboard side that he does regularly.
Honestly, I figured I would hate the spring-loaded launcher, but I don’t mind it at all. I just wish Hasbro had picked one or the other, and given us two cannons or two spring-loaded launchers. While the one cannon/one launcher look isn’t terrible, I wished the sides matched. There IS always the option of buying two Fang Boats or robbing a cannon from a Sting Raider to make the two sides match. Unfortunately, the base of the missile launcher is asymmetrical, so it will not fit on the port side. Sad, because I wouldn’t have minded having two Fang Boats: one with cannons, and one with dual missile launchers!
The included driver, Swamp Viper, is an interesting figure. He has a cool-looking helmet, and the red uniform with black and gray accents looks fantastic. Too bad he’s a five-points-of-articulation junker. Seriously, I wish Hasbro either wouldn’t give us figures, or would charge a few dollars more and give us drivers with full articulation. A figure full of promise like Swamp Viper having that promise wasted by giving him just five points of articulation is just sad. If Hasbro can make money off $6 Dollar General Joes with minimal accessories, surely they could include a driver with full articulation but no accessories for an extra buck or two.
Oh, what could have been...
Anyway, the Fang Boat is definitely worth picking up, especially if you missed out on the Sting Raiders. It is also readily available for retail price online, so you don’t have to worry about secondary market prices…yet. The choice of a poorly articulated driver for the Fang Boat is a sad one, because a fully articulated Swamp Viper included with this thing would make it a surefire home run!
The Highs: Another re-use of the excellent Water Moccasin/Sting Raider mold, coloring has a vintage Cobra feel.
The Lows: New missile launcher can interfere with the turret, 5 points of articulation spoils an interesting figure, nothing really new here.
The Verdict: Worth picking up, but making the driver with true Joe articulation would have made this a home run.
A few years ago, Hasbro released a new version of the old Water Moccasin, using a new mold. The result, the Sting Raider, gave us a preview of things to come with the 30th SkyStriker: a vehicle that was obviously a new mold, but very closely resembled the original. Like the majority of vehicles in the Retaliation line, Hasbro decided to reuse the mold and rename the Water Moccasin again, this time as the Fang Boat.
The Fang Boat shuns the teal blue of its predecessor (as well as the snakey camo of the TRU Exclusive Rise of Cobra Sting Raider) for a classic, almost vintage Cobra looking color scheme. The bottom of the hull, fan, and rudders are black, the upper hull is gunmetal gray, and the turret, engine shroud, compartment covers, and the new missile launcher are Cobra blue. For a little contrast, the missile and front windshield trim are bright red. While the red isn’t exactly military, it does set the other colors off nicely.
If you have either of the earlier Sting Raiders, you know all about the cool features: thumbwheel to turn the fan, moveable rudders, fairly deep storage compartments on either side of the engine, removable engine shroud with engine detail underneath (though no silver on the engine like on the two predecessors in an obvious cost-cutting measure) and that funky little torpedo/skipedo hidden at the aft rear of the boat. All those features are still there. The only added feature is, of course, the new missile launcher. Frankly, it doesn’t look bad at all. My only complaint is that it somewhat restricts the movement of the turret gun. The gun can still rotate over it, but the gunner does not have the same close-in firing range to the boat’s starboard side that he does regularly.
Honestly, I figured I would hate the spring-loaded launcher, but I don’t mind it at all. I just wish Hasbro had picked one or the other, and given us two cannons or two spring-loaded launchers. While the one cannon/one launcher look isn’t terrible, I wished the sides matched. There IS always the option of buying two Fang Boats or robbing a cannon from a Sting Raider to make the two sides match. Unfortunately, the base of the missile launcher is asymmetrical, so it will not fit on the port side. Sad, because I wouldn’t have minded having two Fang Boats: one with cannons, and one with dual missile launchers!
The included driver, Swamp Viper, is an interesting figure. He has a cool-looking helmet, and the red uniform with black and gray accents looks fantastic. Too bad he’s a five-points-of-articulation junker. Seriously, I wish Hasbro either wouldn’t give us figures, or would charge a few dollars more and give us drivers with full articulation. A figure full of promise like Swamp Viper having that promise wasted by giving him just five points of articulation is just sad. If Hasbro can make money off $6 Dollar General Joes with minimal accessories, surely they could include a driver with full articulation but no accessories for an extra buck or two.
Oh, what could have been...
Anyway, the Fang Boat is definitely worth picking up, especially if you missed out on the Sting Raiders. It is also readily available for retail price online, so you don’t have to worry about secondary market prices…yet. The choice of a poorly articulated driver for the Fang Boat is a sad one, because a fully articulated Swamp Viper included with this thing would make it a surefire home run!
17
Reviews Section / Review - Ninja Commando 4x4!
« on: June 14, 2012, 12:53:23 AM »
Review – Retaliation Ninja Commando 4x4!
The Highs: It’s a slightly new take on the AWE Striker, holds more figures than the original version, no antennae to break off.
The Lows: New roof hinders one of the coolest features of the original toy, giant, unremovable Arashikage symbol on hood, firing grappling hook doesn’t elevate, don’t get me started on the included figure.
The Verdict: All the previous versions of the AWE Striker are superior. Buy one of those instead of this if you don’t have one.
I’ve loved the AWE Striker for quite a while, and I own quite a few versions of it. From the ’01 & ’03 TRU Exclusive versions to both 25th Anniversary versions to the PoC AWE Striker, I’ve got quite a few versions of the same toy (about the only version I lack is the Eco Striker). In fact, you could almost call the AWE Striker the Snake Eyes of vehicles, because every time a new line comes out we get a new version of it. The same holds true with the Retaliation line, but instead of getting another AWE, we get the “Ninja Commando 4x4.”
The core of the NC4x4 is definitely an AWE, complete with the working suspension and turning front wheels that was so cool back in the mid-‘80s. Three new parts differentiate the NC4x4 from previous versions, however. First, a redesigned front grill guard/bumper replaces one of the overly fragile parts of the original. Instead of headlights sticking up above the guard like on the old AWE, they are now mounted lower, giving the front end of the NC4x4 a sleeker, cleaner look. There’s also a non-working winch molded into this piece. The front grille clips on strongly enough to stay attached most of the time, but will pop off easily if hit directly, preventing breakage.
Second, instead of the old six-point rollcage that the AWE was equipped with, the NC4x4 comes with a 7-point rollcage and roof that has been significantly redesigned. The new rollcage has an extra bar and attachment point in the middle of the dash. I wasn’t too sure about this at first, but the middle bar is set back a bit from the two outer front bars, so it’s not obnoxiously noticeable. There are also neat new features added to the rollcage. The passenger side gets a new grab handle for those “Oh S***!” moments that occur while flying across sand dunes. The driver gets a mirror, so he can see how much dust the Cobras behind him are choking on. Moving to the rear, the back two bars now have molded on weapons clips, two to each side. Not a bad addition, especially when any passengers will probably need to hold on for dear life while riding. Finally, the very rear of the new rollcage features an important addition: two small platforms with pegs on them. No longer is the AWE/NC4x4 restricted to driver, passenger, and two riders on the side steps: now, two more figures can ride into battle on the nimble little vehicle. Carrying extra figures (and thus extra firepower) is important because the last new piece of the NC4x4 removes the offensive capabilities the old AWE had.
The final new piece of the Ninja Commando 4x4 is the new spring-loaded grappling hook (with string attached) that takes the place of the familiar cannon that has topped many an AWE Striker. The designers of the new attachment really put some thought into it, too. There’s a recessed ring where the string attaches to the barrel, which is perfect for winding the string onto. The missile/grappling hook itself has notches cut into it so that it can be wrapped around objects and easily hook the string, holding itself in place. There’s even small handles molded onto the rear of the launcher so that the new rear riders can grab on and aim it if necessary.
Ok, so the new front attachment makes the NC4x4 look sleeker than the AWE, and isn’t as fragile to boot. The new rollcage design adds some very nice details and ups the number of figures the NC4x4 can carry into battle. The grappling hook launcher has a well thought-out design. So, why isn’t the new NC4x4 superior to its predecessor? First, the new rollcage design prevents access to one of the neatest features of the original AWE: the removable engine. If you have an AWE and a Mobile Command Center and you tell me that you haven’t spent a few hours “swapping engines” with the MCC’s engine hoist, I know you are lying. To access the engine on the NC4x4, you have to pretty much remove the rollcage. The shroud still comes off and the engine still comes out…but there’s no way to get to it without pulling off the vehicle’s roof, first. Also, the figure riding on that new platform on the passenger side of the rear of the vehicle had better have a sealed oxygen supply, because if not he or she will quickly succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust exiting by their ankles.
Second, there’s the matter of the huge, non-removable Arashikage symbol emblazoned on the hood. Ninjas are renowned for stealth and cunning. I don’t think turning your dune buggy into a rolling billboard quite qualifies as stealthy OR cunning, guys, but it might very well get you shot. Painting over it could be an option for customizers, but otherwise it’s kind of an eyesore.
Finally, the new grappling hook launcher is lacking one very critical feature: articulation. Specifically, it lacks the ability to raise the launcher and make it fire any way but directly ahead of wherever it’s aimed. So, unless your ninjas are going to be sliding down a cliff or crossing a stream in front of them or something, that nice new grappling hook is pretty useless. Should the ninjas need to get onto, I dunno, a BUILDING or something that is taller than the NC4x4, they’re out of luck, because there’s no way to fire that nice new grappling hook onto the roof.
The terrible thing is that Hasbro COULD have saved the money they spent on the absolutely terrible 5-POA Snake Eyes included with the Ninja Commando 4x4 and mounted the grappling hook launcher on an articulated joint. Doing so would have made the grappling hook launcher extremely cool and useful. Instead, we get a terrible, completely black Snake Eyes with a frozen, unnatural pose. I nominate this new Snake Eyes as Worst Joe Toy of All Time. This Snake Eyes makes the Mole Pod look like the HATE in comparison. Terrible, terrible, terrible figure.
The worst figure in GI Joe history.
The Ninja Commando 4x4 is another example of a Joe vehicle that could have been fantastic. Remove (or at least make smaller) the Arashikage symbol, make the engine shroud and engine easily removable even with the new roof design, and make the grappling hook launcher articulated so it can elevate, and this would be an excellent vehicle and an excellent new take on a classic. As it stands though, I only recommend the NC4x4 if you either don’t currently own an AWE or if you’re a big AWE Striker fan, like myself.
The Highs: It’s a slightly new take on the AWE Striker, holds more figures than the original version, no antennae to break off.
The Lows: New roof hinders one of the coolest features of the original toy, giant, unremovable Arashikage symbol on hood, firing grappling hook doesn’t elevate, don’t get me started on the included figure.
The Verdict: All the previous versions of the AWE Striker are superior. Buy one of those instead of this if you don’t have one.
I’ve loved the AWE Striker for quite a while, and I own quite a few versions of it. From the ’01 & ’03 TRU Exclusive versions to both 25th Anniversary versions to the PoC AWE Striker, I’ve got quite a few versions of the same toy (about the only version I lack is the Eco Striker). In fact, you could almost call the AWE Striker the Snake Eyes of vehicles, because every time a new line comes out we get a new version of it. The same holds true with the Retaliation line, but instead of getting another AWE, we get the “Ninja Commando 4x4.”
The core of the NC4x4 is definitely an AWE, complete with the working suspension and turning front wheels that was so cool back in the mid-‘80s. Three new parts differentiate the NC4x4 from previous versions, however. First, a redesigned front grill guard/bumper replaces one of the overly fragile parts of the original. Instead of headlights sticking up above the guard like on the old AWE, they are now mounted lower, giving the front end of the NC4x4 a sleeker, cleaner look. There’s also a non-working winch molded into this piece. The front grille clips on strongly enough to stay attached most of the time, but will pop off easily if hit directly, preventing breakage.
Second, instead of the old six-point rollcage that the AWE was equipped with, the NC4x4 comes with a 7-point rollcage and roof that has been significantly redesigned. The new rollcage has an extra bar and attachment point in the middle of the dash. I wasn’t too sure about this at first, but the middle bar is set back a bit from the two outer front bars, so it’s not obnoxiously noticeable. There are also neat new features added to the rollcage. The passenger side gets a new grab handle for those “Oh S***!” moments that occur while flying across sand dunes. The driver gets a mirror, so he can see how much dust the Cobras behind him are choking on. Moving to the rear, the back two bars now have molded on weapons clips, two to each side. Not a bad addition, especially when any passengers will probably need to hold on for dear life while riding. Finally, the very rear of the new rollcage features an important addition: two small platforms with pegs on them. No longer is the AWE/NC4x4 restricted to driver, passenger, and two riders on the side steps: now, two more figures can ride into battle on the nimble little vehicle. Carrying extra figures (and thus extra firepower) is important because the last new piece of the NC4x4 removes the offensive capabilities the old AWE had.
The final new piece of the Ninja Commando 4x4 is the new spring-loaded grappling hook (with string attached) that takes the place of the familiar cannon that has topped many an AWE Striker. The designers of the new attachment really put some thought into it, too. There’s a recessed ring where the string attaches to the barrel, which is perfect for winding the string onto. The missile/grappling hook itself has notches cut into it so that it can be wrapped around objects and easily hook the string, holding itself in place. There’s even small handles molded onto the rear of the launcher so that the new rear riders can grab on and aim it if necessary.
Ok, so the new front attachment makes the NC4x4 look sleeker than the AWE, and isn’t as fragile to boot. The new rollcage design adds some very nice details and ups the number of figures the NC4x4 can carry into battle. The grappling hook launcher has a well thought-out design. So, why isn’t the new NC4x4 superior to its predecessor? First, the new rollcage design prevents access to one of the neatest features of the original AWE: the removable engine. If you have an AWE and a Mobile Command Center and you tell me that you haven’t spent a few hours “swapping engines” with the MCC’s engine hoist, I know you are lying. To access the engine on the NC4x4, you have to pretty much remove the rollcage. The shroud still comes off and the engine still comes out…but there’s no way to get to it without pulling off the vehicle’s roof, first. Also, the figure riding on that new platform on the passenger side of the rear of the vehicle had better have a sealed oxygen supply, because if not he or she will quickly succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust exiting by their ankles.
Second, there’s the matter of the huge, non-removable Arashikage symbol emblazoned on the hood. Ninjas are renowned for stealth and cunning. I don’t think turning your dune buggy into a rolling billboard quite qualifies as stealthy OR cunning, guys, but it might very well get you shot. Painting over it could be an option for customizers, but otherwise it’s kind of an eyesore.
Finally, the new grappling hook launcher is lacking one very critical feature: articulation. Specifically, it lacks the ability to raise the launcher and make it fire any way but directly ahead of wherever it’s aimed. So, unless your ninjas are going to be sliding down a cliff or crossing a stream in front of them or something, that nice new grappling hook is pretty useless. Should the ninjas need to get onto, I dunno, a BUILDING or something that is taller than the NC4x4, they’re out of luck, because there’s no way to fire that nice new grappling hook onto the roof.
The terrible thing is that Hasbro COULD have saved the money they spent on the absolutely terrible 5-POA Snake Eyes included with the Ninja Commando 4x4 and mounted the grappling hook launcher on an articulated joint. Doing so would have made the grappling hook launcher extremely cool and useful. Instead, we get a terrible, completely black Snake Eyes with a frozen, unnatural pose. I nominate this new Snake Eyes as Worst Joe Toy of All Time. This Snake Eyes makes the Mole Pod look like the HATE in comparison. Terrible, terrible, terrible figure.
The worst figure in GI Joe history.
The Ninja Commando 4x4 is another example of a Joe vehicle that could have been fantastic. Remove (or at least make smaller) the Arashikage symbol, make the engine shroud and engine easily removable even with the new roof design, and make the grappling hook launcher articulated so it can elevate, and this would be an excellent vehicle and an excellent new take on a classic. As it stands though, I only recommend the NC4x4 if you either don’t currently own an AWE or if you’re a big AWE Striker fan, like myself.
18
Reviews Section / Review - "Dollar Store Exclusive" Joes!
« on: June 14, 2012, 12:47:57 AM »
Review – “Dollar Store” Joes!
The Highs: Hey, it’s more 25th-style Joes! Unlabeled stands good for customizing.
The Lows: Nothing truly new, minimal accessories, somewhat limited distribution.
The Verdict: “Must-haves” if you can find them for US $6 a pop.
When the GI Joe: Retaliation toy line-up was first announced at Toy Fair International, Joe fans were a bit disappointed by the lack of throwback Joes. Sure, there was the Comic-Con exclusive Jinx, but…not much else. In April rumors started swirling about some classic-styled Joes being released…but as dollar store exclusives. Wait, what? That can’t be right, can it? Would they be true GI Joe figures? Or would they be like the terrible dollar store Marvel Universe figures, with no accessories and just 5 terrible points of articulation for US $6?
Turns out, the rumors were correct, and these aren’t terrible figures, either. Truth be told, there have been some horrible “Dollar Store Exclusive” Joes out there for a while. The “Dollar Joes” available until very recently were reissued or repainted Spy Troops/Valor vs Venom figures on tiny cards and with no accessories. Can’t get much worse than that. Well, someone at Hasbro figured out that with the mass of 25th style parts that Hasbro has been building inventory of since 2007, they could get new Joes into the dollar stores, throw in some nods to classic figures, and still make profitable, fully articulated Joes (they even have the up/down wrist articulation!) with just a few sacrifices.
The figures we ended up with are some we’ve all seen before and have plenty of versions of, but these new Dollar Joes are unique figures. We get stalwarts Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Cobra Commander, Duke, Shipwreck, and a Cobra Officer. While these are nice new versions, don’t get me wrong…there ARE sacrifices made on these figures. These new Joes come on smaller cards without filecards, they have limited paint apps, and their accessories are limited, all in the name of profitability. Strangely enough, Hasbro still includes figure stands with these Joes, though the characters’ code names are no longer printed on the front. I find this an odd choice and would prefer a few more weapons.
I’ll start with Cobra Commander. This figure is a nod to the 1993 black hooded Commander from the days of Battle Corps, and he sports a black uniform with silver epaulets, belt, holster, and scabbard that are remade from the ’08 comic pack Commander. He’s constructed using a Crimson Guard torso, battle pack CC head, and the Resolute CC head. This actually makes for a pretty nice Commander and is almost a dead ringer for the ’93 figure, with the main difference being the Cobra sigil placed his hood instead of his breast. Cobra Commander is outfitted with a .45 and the same snake head-handled sword from the comic pack Commander. The only noticeable cost-cutting measure with this figure is the unpainted blade on the sword, which is easily fixed with a little silver paint. All in all, this is a MUCH better executed Commander than quite a few others we’ve been given in recent years, and he’s also a great homage to the ’93 figure. Not bad at all for a discount Joe!
Next on the list is Shipwreck. This figure’s a nod to Joe vs Cobra from a decade ago, as his deco closely resembles the 2002 BAT/Shipwreck 2-pack JvC version. Blue beanie and shirt, gray pants, and black shoes. Shippy is constructed with the head from Rise of Cobra Shipwreck, 25th Beachhead’s upper body, and the legs from Renegades Duke. For gear, Shipwreck carries Renegades Duke’s pistol (which will still clip onto the figure’s leg) and the SCUBA mask and backpack from the RoC version. There’s no obvious cost-cutting here, as the SCUBA mask retains the silver painted goggles so critical to keep the mask from looking cheap. My one complaint with this figure though is the length of the neck, which is just a little too long for the RoC head. Still though, not a bad figure to help fill out your Flagg’s flight deck crew, and for some reason I like the Renegades pistol with Shipwreck much better than I ever did with Duke.
Next on our list is Duke. This version of Duke fits him out in an “Original 13” style outfit, and in fact he uses 7-pack Zap’s body and webgear, topped off with an Ace head with repainted blonde hair. Duke comes outfitted with and M-16, one sidearm, and a beefy helmet. As far as cost-cutting measures go, the only noticeable one here is the lack of a second pistol for the ankle holster. Honestly, this probably won’t be an issue because if you’re like me and have been collecting figures of this style since ’07, you’ll have PLENTY of extra pistols laying around for that holster. This figure doesn’t exactly scream “Duke!” at me, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, considering the amount of Dukes we already have. Despite the lack of Duke-ness, this figure is still very nice looking and has a classic style. Use this guy as a greenshirt or as a base for a custom version of an “Original 13” member.
Switching back to the bad guy side of things, we have the Cobra Officer. This figure’s package may say “Cobra Trooper” but that “V” on the helmet, to me, makes this guy an officer. There’s no new body construction or mishmash of parts here…this is a straight black repaint of the Pursuit of Cobra Cobra Trooper. And you know what? That’s just fine and dandy with me. I loved the PoC Cobra Troopers, so getting a black version is like getting a second dessert or something. While he’s almost completely black, there are a few gray accents on his webgear, as well as gray kneepads, that break up the monotony a bit. There’s also a silver Cobra sigil emblazoned on the figure’s chest, with the Cobra officer’s “V” painted in silver on the helmet as well. Cobra Officer comes outfitted with only an AK-47. While the AK is always the choice weapon for international terrorists, the cost-cutting rears its ugly head here. The holster for the PoC Trooper’s pistol with silencer and sheath for the knife are still present on the figure’s right leg, and because both accessories are fairly new you probably don’t have many extras to fully equip your new discount Officer. All things considered though, this is a wonderful figure for $6. If Hasbro had offered this as a fully outfitted regular retail release, I bet they would have sold a boatload of them to army builders, because this is one nice-looking figure!
The obligatory Storm Shadow in this allotment of figures is not as obligatory a figure as usual. Veering away from yet another version of a Cobra ninja dressed in white, THIS figure pays homage to a classic figure and subteam many fans would probably rather forget…the ’92 Ninja Force Storm Shadow. Though lacking the gold accents, this figure sports a black & white uniform that mimics, but doesn’t quite replicate, the design on the original figure. Stormy’s body is a repaint of the 30th Anniversary/Renegades Storm Shadow that everyone went absolutely nutso over, and for good reason. This body is one of the best-articulated and best-sculpted Joe bodies ever made. While Hasbro is certainly starting to get some mileage out of the mold between this Stormy figure and its two uses in the Retaliation line so far, if they can keep pulling off figures like THIS I won’t complain. Too much. Yet. Oh yeah, and the body is topped off with the balaclava-clad ninja head that we’ve gotten quite a few times since the Rise of Cobra figures.
Anyway, for gear Storm Shadow comes with the same sash and belt as the vintage-style items included with the 30th Anniversary figure. There’s also the hood that was originally included with the Resolute 7-pack Storm Shadow. THIS time however, the hood fits very well and doesn’t look very goofy at all. Again, it doesn’t quite replicate the original design, but it does mimic it well. For weaponry, the Stormy is lightly equipped with only a long-handled katana in black…though it does pay homage to the bright white weapons that were included with the Ninja Force version. There’s also the good ol’ compound bow that figures such as PoC Spirit and Shadow Tracker have carried around in the past, and it still doesn’t fit in figures’ hands very well. While lacking a few details of the original figure, this is a nice homage to an otherwise mostly forgotten time in Joe history, and is very well done for a budget figure.
Finally, there’s yet another Snake Eyes. This one pays homage to the bright blue 1991 version. In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that the ’91 Snake Eyes was one of my favorite figures as a kid. Neon weapons be damned, I was very excited to find him back in the day, and I used to have a ton of fun with that spring-loaded grappling hook backpack. Heck, I even got the 12” version of this figure from the “Hall of Heroes” line and was very excited to get that, though he’s one of a very few 12” figures I own.
The torso of ol’ Snakes here is the same one that was originally made for the ’89 version from the 25th Anniversary line. I could not for the life of me place the arms, but Justin Bell’s review of this figure over at the excellent GeneralsJoes.com correctly identifies them as the arms from the terrible Arctic Battle PoC Storm Shadow. No wonder I couldn’t identify them…that figure was terrible, and I think I spent two seconds looking at him and trying out the stupid spring-loaded action before tossing him in my dreaded, crowded surplus figure bin. Back to the figure, the upper legs and kneepads were robbed from Alley Viper. Best I can figure out, the lower legs come from Resolute Duke, but I might be wrong here. Snake Eyes is topped off with the ’83 style head that was 1 of 2 included with the excellent PoC Wave 3 SE, and the head has been appropriately painted to approximate the ’91 Snakes. The head sits a little too low on the figure’s neck for my tastes. I also agree completely with JoeCanuck board member canprime, who suggested that the head from the Retaliation Cobra Trooper would make a better head for ’91 Snakes. I’m pretty sure that before long, someone will come up with a custom version combining that head with this figure, painted to match. And I bet it will look fantastic. Anyway, for weaponry Snake Eyes has a single black sword. The sword is almost a dead ringer for the dual neon red versions included with the original, but that’s the only armament. Also included is a gray vest that is a repaint of the vest included with PoC AWE Striker driver Night Fox, which completes the ’91 look. Overall, I call this figure a triple…tantalizingly close, but not quite a home run.
Hasbro made an excellent design decision with these figures. Not only are they cool enough to catch the eye of a kid wandering the toy aisle at Dollar General, the underlying vintage theme has collectors excited about them, as well. Hasbro could well have made these figures follow in the footsteps of the Marvel Universe discount figures and just released some 5 points-of-articulation junkers for $6…kind of like what they did with the vehicle drivers in the Retaliation line. Instead, they went with full articulation and just cut back on accessories, which I honestly have no problem with. I have enough extra Joe accessories from the last 5 years to probably outfit three otherwise unequipped armies anyway. Further, you can always visit Marauder Gun-Runners if you feel that these figures are not equipped enough for your liking.
If you want these figures, be ready to scour Dollar Generals, or be ready to pay at least twice retail on eBay. I got a decent eBay deal and pulled the trigger, because discussions with a few local DG managers assured me that these figures wouldn’t be in my area anytime soon. (The managers told me that they had just reset their toy plan-o-grams for May and it was highly doubtful the POG would change or they would get new product until fall). These aren’t Earth-shattering figures by any means, but they’re definitely nice for what they are. Good job, Hasbro. If you keep making “cheap” figures like these, I look forward to seeing what you can do with the next wave!
The Highs: Hey, it’s more 25th-style Joes! Unlabeled stands good for customizing.
The Lows: Nothing truly new, minimal accessories, somewhat limited distribution.
The Verdict: “Must-haves” if you can find them for US $6 a pop.
When the GI Joe: Retaliation toy line-up was first announced at Toy Fair International, Joe fans were a bit disappointed by the lack of throwback Joes. Sure, there was the Comic-Con exclusive Jinx, but…not much else. In April rumors started swirling about some classic-styled Joes being released…but as dollar store exclusives. Wait, what? That can’t be right, can it? Would they be true GI Joe figures? Or would they be like the terrible dollar store Marvel Universe figures, with no accessories and just 5 terrible points of articulation for US $6?
Turns out, the rumors were correct, and these aren’t terrible figures, either. Truth be told, there have been some horrible “Dollar Store Exclusive” Joes out there for a while. The “Dollar Joes” available until very recently were reissued or repainted Spy Troops/Valor vs Venom figures on tiny cards and with no accessories. Can’t get much worse than that. Well, someone at Hasbro figured out that with the mass of 25th style parts that Hasbro has been building inventory of since 2007, they could get new Joes into the dollar stores, throw in some nods to classic figures, and still make profitable, fully articulated Joes (they even have the up/down wrist articulation!) with just a few sacrifices.
The figures we ended up with are some we’ve all seen before and have plenty of versions of, but these new Dollar Joes are unique figures. We get stalwarts Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Cobra Commander, Duke, Shipwreck, and a Cobra Officer. While these are nice new versions, don’t get me wrong…there ARE sacrifices made on these figures. These new Joes come on smaller cards without filecards, they have limited paint apps, and their accessories are limited, all in the name of profitability. Strangely enough, Hasbro still includes figure stands with these Joes, though the characters’ code names are no longer printed on the front. I find this an odd choice and would prefer a few more weapons.
I’ll start with Cobra Commander. This figure is a nod to the 1993 black hooded Commander from the days of Battle Corps, and he sports a black uniform with silver epaulets, belt, holster, and scabbard that are remade from the ’08 comic pack Commander. He’s constructed using a Crimson Guard torso, battle pack CC head, and the Resolute CC head. This actually makes for a pretty nice Commander and is almost a dead ringer for the ’93 figure, with the main difference being the Cobra sigil placed his hood instead of his breast. Cobra Commander is outfitted with a .45 and the same snake head-handled sword from the comic pack Commander. The only noticeable cost-cutting measure with this figure is the unpainted blade on the sword, which is easily fixed with a little silver paint. All in all, this is a MUCH better executed Commander than quite a few others we’ve been given in recent years, and he’s also a great homage to the ’93 figure. Not bad at all for a discount Joe!
Next on the list is Shipwreck. This figure’s a nod to Joe vs Cobra from a decade ago, as his deco closely resembles the 2002 BAT/Shipwreck 2-pack JvC version. Blue beanie and shirt, gray pants, and black shoes. Shippy is constructed with the head from Rise of Cobra Shipwreck, 25th Beachhead’s upper body, and the legs from Renegades Duke. For gear, Shipwreck carries Renegades Duke’s pistol (which will still clip onto the figure’s leg) and the SCUBA mask and backpack from the RoC version. There’s no obvious cost-cutting here, as the SCUBA mask retains the silver painted goggles so critical to keep the mask from looking cheap. My one complaint with this figure though is the length of the neck, which is just a little too long for the RoC head. Still though, not a bad figure to help fill out your Flagg’s flight deck crew, and for some reason I like the Renegades pistol with Shipwreck much better than I ever did with Duke.
Next on our list is Duke. This version of Duke fits him out in an “Original 13” style outfit, and in fact he uses 7-pack Zap’s body and webgear, topped off with an Ace head with repainted blonde hair. Duke comes outfitted with and M-16, one sidearm, and a beefy helmet. As far as cost-cutting measures go, the only noticeable one here is the lack of a second pistol for the ankle holster. Honestly, this probably won’t be an issue because if you’re like me and have been collecting figures of this style since ’07, you’ll have PLENTY of extra pistols laying around for that holster. This figure doesn’t exactly scream “Duke!” at me, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, considering the amount of Dukes we already have. Despite the lack of Duke-ness, this figure is still very nice looking and has a classic style. Use this guy as a greenshirt or as a base for a custom version of an “Original 13” member.
Switching back to the bad guy side of things, we have the Cobra Officer. This figure’s package may say “Cobra Trooper” but that “V” on the helmet, to me, makes this guy an officer. There’s no new body construction or mishmash of parts here…this is a straight black repaint of the Pursuit of Cobra Cobra Trooper. And you know what? That’s just fine and dandy with me. I loved the PoC Cobra Troopers, so getting a black version is like getting a second dessert or something. While he’s almost completely black, there are a few gray accents on his webgear, as well as gray kneepads, that break up the monotony a bit. There’s also a silver Cobra sigil emblazoned on the figure’s chest, with the Cobra officer’s “V” painted in silver on the helmet as well. Cobra Officer comes outfitted with only an AK-47. While the AK is always the choice weapon for international terrorists, the cost-cutting rears its ugly head here. The holster for the PoC Trooper’s pistol with silencer and sheath for the knife are still present on the figure’s right leg, and because both accessories are fairly new you probably don’t have many extras to fully equip your new discount Officer. All things considered though, this is a wonderful figure for $6. If Hasbro had offered this as a fully outfitted regular retail release, I bet they would have sold a boatload of them to army builders, because this is one nice-looking figure!
The obligatory Storm Shadow in this allotment of figures is not as obligatory a figure as usual. Veering away from yet another version of a Cobra ninja dressed in white, THIS figure pays homage to a classic figure and subteam many fans would probably rather forget…the ’92 Ninja Force Storm Shadow. Though lacking the gold accents, this figure sports a black & white uniform that mimics, but doesn’t quite replicate, the design on the original figure. Stormy’s body is a repaint of the 30th Anniversary/Renegades Storm Shadow that everyone went absolutely nutso over, and for good reason. This body is one of the best-articulated and best-sculpted Joe bodies ever made. While Hasbro is certainly starting to get some mileage out of the mold between this Stormy figure and its two uses in the Retaliation line so far, if they can keep pulling off figures like THIS I won’t complain. Too much. Yet. Oh yeah, and the body is topped off with the balaclava-clad ninja head that we’ve gotten quite a few times since the Rise of Cobra figures.
Anyway, for gear Storm Shadow comes with the same sash and belt as the vintage-style items included with the 30th Anniversary figure. There’s also the hood that was originally included with the Resolute 7-pack Storm Shadow. THIS time however, the hood fits very well and doesn’t look very goofy at all. Again, it doesn’t quite replicate the original design, but it does mimic it well. For weaponry, the Stormy is lightly equipped with only a long-handled katana in black…though it does pay homage to the bright white weapons that were included with the Ninja Force version. There’s also the good ol’ compound bow that figures such as PoC Spirit and Shadow Tracker have carried around in the past, and it still doesn’t fit in figures’ hands very well. While lacking a few details of the original figure, this is a nice homage to an otherwise mostly forgotten time in Joe history, and is very well done for a budget figure.
Finally, there’s yet another Snake Eyes. This one pays homage to the bright blue 1991 version. In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that the ’91 Snake Eyes was one of my favorite figures as a kid. Neon weapons be damned, I was very excited to find him back in the day, and I used to have a ton of fun with that spring-loaded grappling hook backpack. Heck, I even got the 12” version of this figure from the “Hall of Heroes” line and was very excited to get that, though he’s one of a very few 12” figures I own.
The torso of ol’ Snakes here is the same one that was originally made for the ’89 version from the 25th Anniversary line. I could not for the life of me place the arms, but Justin Bell’s review of this figure over at the excellent GeneralsJoes.com correctly identifies them as the arms from the terrible Arctic Battle PoC Storm Shadow. No wonder I couldn’t identify them…that figure was terrible, and I think I spent two seconds looking at him and trying out the stupid spring-loaded action before tossing him in my dreaded, crowded surplus figure bin. Back to the figure, the upper legs and kneepads were robbed from Alley Viper. Best I can figure out, the lower legs come from Resolute Duke, but I might be wrong here. Snake Eyes is topped off with the ’83 style head that was 1 of 2 included with the excellent PoC Wave 3 SE, and the head has been appropriately painted to approximate the ’91 Snakes. The head sits a little too low on the figure’s neck for my tastes. I also agree completely with JoeCanuck board member canprime, who suggested that the head from the Retaliation Cobra Trooper would make a better head for ’91 Snakes. I’m pretty sure that before long, someone will come up with a custom version combining that head with this figure, painted to match. And I bet it will look fantastic. Anyway, for weaponry Snake Eyes has a single black sword. The sword is almost a dead ringer for the dual neon red versions included with the original, but that’s the only armament. Also included is a gray vest that is a repaint of the vest included with PoC AWE Striker driver Night Fox, which completes the ’91 look. Overall, I call this figure a triple…tantalizingly close, but not quite a home run.
Hasbro made an excellent design decision with these figures. Not only are they cool enough to catch the eye of a kid wandering the toy aisle at Dollar General, the underlying vintage theme has collectors excited about them, as well. Hasbro could well have made these figures follow in the footsteps of the Marvel Universe discount figures and just released some 5 points-of-articulation junkers for $6…kind of like what they did with the vehicle drivers in the Retaliation line. Instead, they went with full articulation and just cut back on accessories, which I honestly have no problem with. I have enough extra Joe accessories from the last 5 years to probably outfit three otherwise unequipped armies anyway. Further, you can always visit Marauder Gun-Runners if you feel that these figures are not equipped enough for your liking.
If you want these figures, be ready to scour Dollar Generals, or be ready to pay at least twice retail on eBay. I got a decent eBay deal and pulled the trigger, because discussions with a few local DG managers assured me that these figures wouldn’t be in my area anytime soon. (The managers told me that they had just reset their toy plan-o-grams for May and it was highly doubtful the POG would change or they would get new product until fall). These aren’t Earth-shattering figures by any means, but they’re definitely nice for what they are. Good job, Hasbro. If you keep making “cheap” figures like these, I look forward to seeing what you can do with the next wave!
19
General Joe Talk / Re: Dollar store exclusives
« on: May 27, 2012, 04:57:24 PM »
I've got a review in the works on the whole 6-pack. Should be up sometime tonight.
Unfortunately I had to resort to eBay myself. After visiting every Dollar General in the area and speaking to a couple of managers, they told me that they had just reset their toy plan-o-grams and that they wouldn't get any new items until the fall.
Unfortunately I had to resort to eBay myself. After visiting every Dollar General in the area and speaking to a couple of managers, they told me that they had just reset their toy plan-o-grams and that they wouldn't get any new items until the fall.
20
General Joe Talk / Re: So, thoughts on Retaliation toys?
« on: May 27, 2012, 04:51:37 PM »
So far I've just picked up Snake Eyes and the GI Joe Trooper. I agree with the earlier comments about the stupid orange shovel and the long peg on the backpack. Also, all I could find was the blue caped version, which looks dumb.
I really like the simple design of Snakes and I think the Retaliation SE is a great figure. I haven't hooked up the zipline yet but it looks fun. Not a fan of the bright blue gun and accessories, however.
While I know others like the new ankle joints, I'm not a fan. The restrict the figure's feet from rotating side to side when standing upright. Having the figures' feet point directly forward while standing straight up makes them look goofy & unnatural. I'd rather sacrifice the slight articulation improvement & have them look more natural standing up
I really like the simple design of Snakes and I think the Retaliation SE is a great figure. I haven't hooked up the zipline yet but it looks fun. Not a fan of the bright blue gun and accessories, however.
While I know others like the new ankle joints, I'm not a fan. The restrict the figure's feet from rotating side to side when standing upright. Having the figures' feet point directly forward while standing straight up makes them look goofy & unnatural. I'd rather sacrifice the slight articulation improvement & have them look more natural standing up
21
Reviews Section / Re: Retaliation Hiss Tank
« on: May 26, 2012, 09:25:51 PM »
Nice review, Morg. Any chance you could post a few pics to help us on-the-fencers?
22
General Joe Talk / Re: Ahhh, nothing like an uptight mom to sour a nice day.
« on: May 15, 2012, 01:20:07 PM »
I don't think there are any "action" figures out there that don't promote violence in some form. That's why they're "action" figures.
Poor misguided lady. If it weren't for the real heroes that GI Joes play tribute to she wouldn't have the freedom to make that choice for her son.
Poor misguided lady. If it weren't for the real heroes that GI Joes play tribute to she wouldn't have the freedom to make that choice for her son.
23
Off Topic / New, FANTASTIC Dad news!
« on: March 29, 2012, 12:33:28 AM »
Well guys, all the bad I've been through the past 3 months is starting to balance out with some fantastic. If you read the post about my Dad getting real sick, you also read about his WWII service.
Well, yesterday he got a letter from the French Ambassador to the US. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on the advice of the French government, has decided to make my Dad part of the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur...the Legion of Honour, in the rank of Chevalier, in recognition of his actions in World War II and his part in helping free France from the Nazis. He will have to make arrangements to travel to the French consulate in Houston to receive this wonderful honor, and you can bet your last dollar I'm going to be there for it.
Apparently he submitted some documents to the French government detailing his service back in 2008, and those documents worked their way up the chain all the way to the President of France.
To say that this has been a big boost to him at a time he really needed it is a vast understatement. I'm incredibly proud of him, and I tip my cap to the French government for recognizing a proud old warrior's contributions, while he's still around to appreciate the honor.
Well, yesterday he got a letter from the French Ambassador to the US. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on the advice of the French government, has decided to make my Dad part of the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur...the Legion of Honour, in the rank of Chevalier, in recognition of his actions in World War II and his part in helping free France from the Nazis. He will have to make arrangements to travel to the French consulate in Houston to receive this wonderful honor, and you can bet your last dollar I'm going to be there for it.
Apparently he submitted some documents to the French government detailing his service back in 2008, and those documents worked their way up the chain all the way to the President of France.
To say that this has been a big boost to him at a time he really needed it is a vast understatement. I'm incredibly proud of him, and I tip my cap to the French government for recognizing a proud old warrior's contributions, while he's still around to appreciate the honor.
24
Off Topic / Re: Things I Learned from Having my Home Burglarized
« on: March 28, 2012, 12:51:10 AM »
Oh yeah, and one other thing I almost forgot: the cops all LOVED my Joe room and especially my USS Flagg on display. "The coolest thing I've ever seen" was tossed out several times. That also makes them slightly more likely to remember my case and not let it get stuck on the bottom of the pile, as well.