Well.................
Bought the 30th Ann. Renegades Duke and Snake-Eyes today from my LCS. I've seen reviews on these figures before ( General Joes), and I wanted to share some thought/opinions.
I knew what they were going in, but really.......having them in hand, my impressions are:
Meh.
They seem like after-thoughts, these two. Firefly and Cobra Commander ( who I passed on) seem more like they are derivative from the cartoon, whereas Duke and SE seem like a late-hour course correction. The sculpts are very much POC-like ( which isn't necessarily a bad thing.)
SE is an okay figure, probably on par with the Resolute SE-but he's a PALE shadow of the POC Wave 3 SE.
I guess the feelings bore out, after that Wave 3 figure........any following SE really was going to come in 2nd place.
Duke...........well.............
POC Wave 3 Duke was a snoozer, if one buys the common opinion.
I thought differently, but that is because I kitbashed my Duke into a winner. ( Recipe: dump all of Dukes gear from this set, take VvV Crosshairs vest and add to Duke, add the belt gear and then POC Recondo's SCAR rifle. Instant "hero"-Duke), but not everyone has done that with their figure.
Renegades Duke is just kinda bland, as is.
And therein lays the potential saving grace to these figures: as is they are tepid. But go on a kitbashing binge with them and there's probably going to be some sweet outcomes there. I think most of the sparkle that can be added is new/different weapon choices. The Renegades guns..........well, they don't jibe well with the rest of the sculpt. Sure the weapons are true to the cartoon, but they are so plain its not even funny.
Duke and SE are okay.............but just okay. Mine are going to be used as vehicle crew. They don't stand-out as figures, so I'll make good use of them on Vamps or other rides.
I'm not let-down by them, but I'm not dazzled by them either.