G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

[anarky]

Saw the black VAMP (Ninja Crusher?) at a Target this morning, sitting behind six HISS Tanks. It had been retaped, like the one I saw before. I figured maybe that was the case with all of them and decided to get it. But I went to the bathroom first. In the two minutes that took, someone else picked it up.

[Ran]

Pre-orders for the next wave are out. They are all new figures, and I briefly considered ordering the entire case of 12. Best price I saw so far was $105. Then I thought about it. I really only want 5 or 6 of them.

[anarky]

Is this the wave where there's only one of each? If so, where'd you see them for $105?

[Ran]

Yep. One of each. Hisstank had 2 links to the pre-orders on the front page. BBTS has it for $115, Kokomo has it for $105.

1x Budo
1x Kwinn
1x Data Viper
1x Crimson Guard
1x Cobra Combat Ninja
1x Ultimate Cobra Commander
1x Ultimate Roadblock
1x Ultimate Storm Shadow
1x Ultimate Snake Eyes
1x Ultimate Duke
1x Ultimate Flint
1x Ultimate Fire Fly


http://kokomotoys.com/product_info.php? ... ts_id=5150

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail

[Ran]

A few Dollar Generals have been popping up here. I stopped in one today and they had 2 pegs full. They were a micof both variations. I grabbed the orange storm shadow.

[anarky]

No shit? I see myself going there quite a bit if those are hitting there. I need Storm Shadow and the Cobra Trooper, and might pick up some extras since no other figures are in this price range. A buck more than Marshalls, maybe, but much closer.

BTW, can't remember if I mentioned it, but Retaliation 3-pack Firefly comes with a lot of extra weapons... that match up to the weapons missing from the DG Cobra Trooper/Officer.

[Ran]

That particular DG had: Both Stormshadows (I got the orange one), both Snake Eyes, green Duke, both Shipwrecks (already have both), blue Cobra Commander, and blue Cobra Trooper. I've seen a couple other new DGs open up, but I've only been to one. Another isn't that far fom my house.

I have the 3 Pack Firefly. Didn't think of giving any of his equipment to the Cobra troops.

[Ran]

http://www.hisstank.com/gi-joe-news/gi- ... ges-12304/

Loose images of the next wave. Most of them seem to be well armed.

[anarky]

Hopefully Storm Shadow comes with the unmasked head. Budo and Roadblock have some crappy-looking faces in the final versions, though.

[Ran]

Attention Target shoppers! GI Joe is now on clearance. Basic figures $7. VAMP/Hiss $14. Motorcycles $6.50.

My store had the HISS, VAMP, and the green jet, but I passed. Ended up getting the Snake Eyes motorcycle. I might go back and get the Flint w/ bike.

[anarky]

I picked up all three bikes. I'll get the figures I'm missing if I find them, but they weren't at this Target.

So far I opened the Firefly and Snake Eyes bikes. Snake Eyes is disappointing. The sculpt is excellent, aside from the lack of articulation and his bad case of polio. The bike was what I really wanted, though. Unfortunately, it's not clear from the way they're packaged, but the legs have holes where posts on the side of the bike fit. I haven't tried it with another figure; the bike should work, but the pegs are a bit ugly. The sword gimmick is a bit weird--two, um, connectors snap onto the handlebars, then two (otherwise well-sculpted) swords with a post on the side of each handle, insert into those. Not sure why the swords are separate; the posts make them less useful for other figures, and Snake Eyes can't hold them with his crazy fixed arms. (Well, he can, but it looks like he's an idiot trying to pimp slap someone with the back end of the sword.) I didn't open Flint since, aside from the figure, it looks the same. I think I'll put the Flint head on Snake Eyes, since the body is nice but I don't want a figure that's clearly Snake Eyes on the bike, and get another head for Flint. Then figure out what obscure Joes they're supposed to be.

Firefly is a different story. The figure is a mixed bag--arms and legs look like Kenner 1980, but the torso and head (aside from his really narrow waist) are incredibly well-done. They even did an airbrush effect to make him look dusty. The bike has a gimmick that I absolutely cannot get to work, but, hey, all the better since I don't want the wheel firing off. I was on the fence about this, since the bike looks weird in the package and I wasn't sure how the gimmick would affect it, but I really like it. It fits well with the slightly futuristic aesthetic of many Cobra weapons, and, since Firefly doesn't have his trademark camo pattern, he looks like a decent generic Cobra (I have dubbed him "Motorcyle Viper"). I will be surprised if these don't drop to $3, and I'll get every one I see at that price. They'll look good as escorts to the larger vehicles (and I got a few of those Cobra Humvees when they went on clearance).

[Ran]

I went to a couple other Targets today. Some had basic figures still at regular price. One had the vehicles down to $10. It was difficult, but I walked out without buying them. None of the Targets around here got the smaller vehicles like the Awe Striker, cobra boat, or the tread ripper.

If the bikes make it down to $3, I'll buy them. You're right that the swords on Snake Eye's bike don't make sense. Flint's bike looks like the same thing, just different color...right?

[anarky]

Aside from the figure heads and the color schemes, the Snake Eyes and Flint are exactly the same.

Flint's head looks good on SE's body, BTW.

[anarky]

Clearance prices vary widely. I got a second HISS and Ninja Cruiser for $8.48. I'd love to find the smaller vehicles; they're probably $6 by now.

[RoIIo Tomassi]

Today we went garage sale-ing, ostensibly to find a bike for my ten year old. While at one such sale, we happened upon a Cobra Night Raven, Cobra Mamba, and a Phantom X-19. They were each marked $2, but upon my show the very slightest interest, the lady dropped em to $1.50(Clearly her kid's toys were cluttering up the house) so we got all 3 for $4.50.

None of the figures were included and the Night Raven was missing a back tailfin and the cockpit, but otherwise they seem pretty complete. But still, $4.50 for three bigass vintage vehicles. Kewl.