G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

[vynsane]

[...] their typical 7 AM routine: garden center register closed, self service closed, two registers with lights on, one register with a light on that actually has an employee there, twelve people in line buying lingerie and diapers, and the corporate winner for "most incompetent cashier" manning the checkstand. [...]

i think that's the opening to closing routine. i mean, really... why have 46 registers if only 3 of them are going to be open at any time?

[anarky]

This one's especially bad. Any store in our town is bad; I don't know why, but they always seem to have limited selection and it's like the staff doesn't give a shit, but when you add those to Wal-Mart, hoo boy....

We were there once, and all the lanes were backed up. It was an evening, very busy, maybe five lanes opened, each one backed up to the womenswear. No one in the self checkout lanes. Well, no one except the employee who was monitoring them. Mrs A asked if they were working, and the guy just said, "No." She asked if they were going to be working soon since the place was so busy, and this time it was a "No" and a look at us like we were retarded for asking. She got pissed and sat all her stuff down on one of the inoperative self checkout stands and said something to the effect of, "Well, I'm not standing in one of those lines when you've got so many empty lines and so many employees doing nothing." I don't think that made him happy, but probably gave him something to do other than pick his nose.

[Ran]

Saw the new AWE Striker and Cobra Ice thingy. The AWE Striker looks pretty nice. The pictures I saw earlier didn't do it justice.

[anarky]

Yeah, the weathering on that one is by far the nicest on the modern Joe vehicles. (Especially since most don't have any weathering at all.)

Saw a shit-ton of Cobra Hostile Environment sets at Marshall's today. And a shit-ton of the last wave (not counting the canceled one) of "Alpha" vehicles (Snarler Cycle, Mole Pod, blue Firebat with a new name, and Manta Ray). As well as a shit-ton of movie figures, including Resolute Snake Eyes and the Desert Viper. No Kamakuras, though. I never saw that one and wouldn't mind getting it, but am in no real rush.

More interestingly, they had a bunch of 25th figures that appeared to be a wave of all repacks... all Cobra army builder repacks. They had Python Patrol Officer, Cobra Trooper, Crimson Guard, Viper, Snow Serpent, Para-Viper, Red Ninja, and Cobra JUMP Trooper. I was tempted to snatch up all the Vipers, Troopers, JUMP Troopers, and Officers, but remembered I'm supposed to be saving money and won't be able to justify actual new purchases if I'm bolstering my Cobra army every time I see any figures.

Seemed odd that there were no Eels or Ninja Vipers, especially with the Ninja Viper being rather tough to find.

[Ran]

I've seen the extreme weather sets a few times now at a few different Marshalls. Only a couple of them per store. Tempted to get the Arctic set. I think I'd rather get the Cobra Island Joe set first. Each store had a mix of movie & 25th figures. The Marshalls by school sucks. They literally just throw everything on the shelves. No order what so ever. I found some figures in that mess, but nothing I wanted. I was hoping to find a Viper, Cobra Trooper, or some other random Joe I might want.

I'll probably grab the AWE striker sooner or later.

[anarky]

Want me to get any of them around here?

I'd highly recommend both Cobra sets. The only drawback (and it's not much of one) is that you get saddled with a shit-ton of Snow Serpents. Then again, there's been an inordinately high number of Arctic-themed Joes and Cobras since the 25th line began, so it works out. (I got two Snow Serpents initially. Then I got two of the Arctic sets, for four more SS's and two SS Officers. Then the ROC Snow Serpent with the different color scheme, and, most recently, the Ice Cutter, with a SS Officer in a ridiculous red color scheme. Not counting Arctic-themed Vipers, Tele-Vipers, Destros, Scrap-Irons, and HISS Drivers, I could overwhelm the Arctic Joes with just Snow Serpents.)

[Ran]

That's one of the things holding me back...I already have 2 25th and 1 movie Snow Serpent (not to mention 2 Scrap Irons). The desert set just didn't look that interesting.

Yeah, I guess if you see a Viper or Cobra Trooper, get it. I still have that Night Creeper set aside for you. Or I can just give you the $$$.

[anarky]

A'ight. Will do.

Would you like the Python Officer (the only figure who looks truly great in the "Pythonized" color scheme) or the JUMP Trooper (essentially a Cobra Trooper with different webgear and kneepads, along with a few extra accessories) if I find them?

[Ran]

Its ok, don't worry about those. The Air Trooper looks like Darth Vader and Cobra Commander's love child.

[anarky]

Not with the other helmet, he don't. Did you scroll down?

[Ran]

Yeah, I saw it is a regular Cobra head under there. If I see Kamakura I'll grab it for you.

[Ran]

I got the AWE Striker. Pretty nice. So far my only complaint is that the stickers don't adhere to the brown plastic roll bar very well.

[Ran]

I saw a "Jungle Strike" Ripcord figure. If he's jungle strike, why is he painted in desert colors?
http://www.yojoe.com/action/09/agu/ripcord5.shtml

I think I'm either going to buy him or the desert Duke plus a current Dusty to do a head swap. Ripcord will probably work because he is wearing gloves and you can't see his neck.

Another thing I've noticed about the movie figures is that they come with pistols and knives, but don't have holsters for them like the 25th figures and current waves do.

[anarky]

Movie figures come with a shit-ton of accessories. And I, too, wondered about the "jungle" gear on that one. There was a desert Duke from the movie line that I got... to customize into an Arctic-themed character at some point, because the jacket was so fucking heavy. Seriously. That thing could not have been designed to be anything but a frigging parka.

Best thing about Ripcord from the movie is that I could buy one in the "reactive impact" armor and get the parts I needed for Cool Breeze (the head) and a modified take on Cobra Commander's last suit of battle armor from the Marvel run (the rest of the body, especially since the raised logo on the chest looks pretty damn much like a Cobra head).

[Ran]

Ripcord's head might be useful for customizing an Alpine, but I don't know which body to use.