G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

[anarky]

That's kinda a long time. After a year, they were at Rite Aid. Then Marshall's a year after that. Now, about four months later, Ross. Funny.

Both are well worth that price.

[anarky]

Here's a disturbing user review of the Doom Cycle. (There's only one review on there, so it's not like you've got to figure out which one.)

http://www.walmart.com/ip/G.I.-Joe-Doom-Cycle/14691716

I dunno, it's one thing to say that your grandkid loves a motorcycle with an outlaw terrorist rider that has all sorts of pop-out blades and guns. It's another to call it "cute."

BTW, I've got two. And might get more if Target ever realizes it's not selling and clearances it. It's a sweet Dreadnok ride.

[Ran]

It turns out those extreme sets at Ross were just returns. Someone swapped the stickers. Oh well.

[anarky]

Why.... Why return something for less than it sold for, or (if they got it cheaper at Rite-Aid when they had them) sit on something for that long and return it for $1 more than it sold for.

Bizarre.

[Ran]

I don't know. Someone even posted pictures of the boxes with Ross stickers on them plus a receipt.

Maybe I'll get it from BBTS.

[Ran]

The next 2 waves are confirmed:

Wave 5 (wave 3 2011):

General Hawk, Blowtorch, Steel Brigade, Cobra-The Enemy, Cobra Commander, and Jungle B.A.T.

Wave 6 (wave 4 2011):

Snake-Eyes (temple guardian), Croc Master, Iron Grenadier, Rock-Viper, Viper, and Crazylegs

Since they are listed on a couple online retailers, I suppose we'll see them at Toy Fair.

[anarky]

Crazylegs means I don't need to customize one. Assuming he's close to the vintage one, of course. Which means I've got some parts that are now spares.

I'd have to see Blowtorch, Hawk, Snake Eyes, and Croc Master. I have 25th versions of all of those. Blowtorch actually seems a bit silly if he's not an updated sculpt of the old character; does the military even use flamethrowers anymore? Croc Master, even if he's the majorly different IDW version, would have to be a sweet figure for me to want it. Even a different character, well, he's still a guy with alligators. Not too much you can do there. If he is the IDW version and looks cool, I might get him because the Valor vs Venom was sort of a toy continuation of the classic line and had a new character by that name--I think the son of the original. I could use him for that purpose. Actually, two different guys working together, both with gators, might look pretty cool in a display.

Cobra Commander, I hope and pray is the IDW version. That design is bitching.

All the army builders I'll need at least one of. Maybe not Steel Brigade, as I don't care for Joe army builders.

[Ran]

Flamethrowers haven't been used by the U.S. since the 70s. That means Blowtorch was outdated the day he was made. From wikipedia...

The United States Marines used flamethrowers in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The M132 Armored Flamethrower, an M113 armored personnel carrier with a mounted flame thrower was successfully used in the conflict.[21]

Flamethrowers have not been in the U.S. arsenal since 1978, when the Department of Defense unilaterally stopped using them. They have been deemed of questionable effectiveness in modern combat and the use of flame weapons is always a public relations issue due to the horrific death they inflict. They are not banned in any international treaty the U.S. has signed. Thus, the U.S. decision to remove flamethrowers from its arsenal is entirely voluntary.

Non-flamethrower incendiary weapons remain in modern military arsenals. Thermobaric weapons[22] have been fielded in Afghanistan by the United States.[23] The USSR developed a rocket launcher specifically for the deployment of incendiaries - the ΡΠΟ-80 (RPO) or Rocket-launched Infantry Flamethrower. It has similarities to the famous RPG but the warhead is much bigger (approx. 2-3 liters of Napalm), reducing the effective range.

In the last stages of the Troubles, during the mid-80s, the IRA smuggled a number of military flamethrowers from Libya.[24] They used a flamethrower, among other assault weapons, to storm a British Army permanent checkpoint in Derryard, near Rosslea, on 13 December 1989.[25] Another IRA unit attacked a British Army watchtower, the Borucki sangar, with an improvised flamethrower towed by a tractor in Crossmaglen, on 12 November 1992. The device consisted of a manure spreader which doused the facility with fuel, ignited few seconds later by a small explosion. A nine meters-high fireball engulfed the tower. The four Grenadier Guards inside were rescued by a Saxon armored vehicle.[26]

Since they seem to be going with a more "realistic/modern" look, I can't imagine them making the figure red & yellow. Crazylegs is another parachutist? Isn't there one of those in the Low Light wave? As far as what I'm interested in, I won't know until I see them.

By the way, I got the PIT HQ last weekend for $30. I also got Zartan & the Ice Destro this week (TRU's 2 for $11 deal). I opened Zartan. Not sure if I want to keep Destro or try returning him to Target or Walmart and getting something else. The problem is there isn't really anything else I want.

[Ran]

Is the ROC Arctic Snake Eyes worth getting? I've passed it up many times. It just occurred to me that his body might be good for a head swap. Back in the 80s, I had Iceberg, who I'm sure will never get a modern version.

[anarky]

I got one at Ross, and he's actually a nice figure. A bit silly, but a nice figure. I think the TRU exclusive ROC Shipwreck is the same body entirely with the ROC Shipwreck head.

[Rollo Tomassi]

Hasbro had their big Toy Fair presentation today, including GIJoe plans for the year.

30th Anniversary SKYSTRIKER.

[anarky]

Woah, woah, woah, WHAT?!?!?

That news makes up for the dental work I had done earlier!

[anarky]

Looked at the pics, and it's a weird mix of awesome and shit.

Seriously, a straight-up Croc Master reissue? I could walk into any Ross or Marshall's in the country and army build that motherfucker for $3! WTF?!? Blowtorch reissue makes some sense, but Croc Master?

Skystriker looks bitching. I want the Transformers crossover version from SDCC if it's possible. Zarana, of course, is bitching.

Crazylegs means I don't have to make my own. Hawk looks cool, but not as Hawk. Jungle BAT is a nice repaint. The updated Viper, Cobra Trooper, and Iron Grenadier are sweet.

Fucking-A, that Techno-Viper is awesome as shit!

That one weird ninja (Snake Eyes Temple Guardian) actually looks quite nice. I want him.

But, again, straight-up Croc Master reissue?

[Rollo Tomassi]

Yeah, the Starscream Skystriker looks the tits. Too bad it doesn't Transform.

[Ran]

Pass on the Skystriker. My brother had the original. If they wanted to updated it, a F-22 body would have made sense. They must be just going for the nostalgia thing on this one. Kind of like Blowtorch.

Croc Master...I'll wait to get it when it ends up at Ross or TJ Maxx. Again.

Not really a fan of the BAT. Its just a repaint with Heavy Duty's gun.

This guy looks cool, but I don't know who it is.

http://www.hisstank.com/gi-joe-news/toy ... ges-10157/

Techno Viper, Stalker, & Sci-Fi look pretty nice. Cobra Commander looks kind of goofy.

Edit: Just figured out it is General Hawk in that picture. He looks more infantry than General.