G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

[anarky]

Resolute? That's fucking awesome! Those internet exclusive packs were impossible to find, and I haven't seen any of the carded figures for a few years.

(I know what you mean. Just razzin' you.)

(Though if you've got a collector friend nearby who gets Joe figures, you should ask to check out the new Joe Trooper or Red Ninja; those figures will fucking blow you away.)

[Senor JabbaJohnL]

Fuck. There are too many GI Joe things starting with "R." I was kinda close.

[Ran]

I think Hasbro let the first wave of figures and vehicles be released. The following waves are on hold until the movie is released.

[anarky]

I was actually thinking of that, JJL.

Since immediately before the first movie, there's been Resolute, Rise of Cobra, Renegades, and Retaliation.

There are also two double-S sublines, though from almost a decade apart: Sergeant Savage and Sigma Six. Most people don't consider those canon, though. Neither was 3.75" scale, either.

[anarky]

BTW, looking ahead, Waves 2-3 look to have much better figures overall.

Alley Viper looks to be a repaint of the POC version with a new paint scheme, which looks like a more realistic version of the vintage paint scheme (and a lot like the ROC Elite Neo Viper that came with the Trouble Bubble).

Blind Master looks cool. I might do a headswap with the comic pack Hard Master. He looks fully articulated.

Clutch looks cool, but he's one of the shitty barely articulated drivers. I haven't decided if the drivers I get will be custom fodder or background filler. I like that head, so I might give this figure a new head.

Crimson Guard is a new figure, fully articulated, and a big ol' "Fuck yes."

Cyber Ninja is a Wraith repaint. Looks like he might have new feet. Not decided on this; I've been using my Wraiths not as the merc they were designed to be, but as high-end BATs. Maybe I'll get this new guy, and use them as the Blue Ninjas from the recent RAH issues.

Dragon Ninja.... Oh my fucking God, it's the Storm Shadow/Red Ninja mold in black. I just jizzed myself.

Firefly looks to be articulated. I might get him.

Flint looks okay. The pic I found has his feet covered, so I don't know about articulation. Can't say for sure one way or another.

Joe Colton appears to have full articulation. And he's a nice-looking figure, in addition to being fucking Bruce Willis. Yippee-ki-yay, motherfuckers!

Jinx was the SDCC exclusive, right? On the one hand, she looks pretty cool. On the other, if that's a $14+ figure, it looks kinda lazy.

Lady Jaye looks suspiciously like a Renegades Scarlett with a new head. Of course, that Scarlett is a bloody fine figure, and female Joe figures aren't exactly a dime a dozen.

Battle Kata Roadblock looks like a Roadblock with proper articulation. Unless he's clearanced, probably a no. The body and trench knife look like good custom parts, but not for $10.

Ninja Duel Snake Eyes looks like the other two, with different accessories. Big no here.

Ninja Duel Storm Shadow looks like the Rise of Cobra outfit with a paint scheme that's an homage to the vintage SS2. Which they already paid tribute to. Oh, and Resolute Stormy's hood and Desert Stormy's chain. Meh.

It does look like Waves 2-3 are better articulated overall, if nothing else. And the aesthetic is better for mixing with classic-styled Joes than the ROC line.

[Ran]

I thought there were going to be 3 Jinx figures. Two were exclusives, then the yellow/black movie version was going to be in the regular line.

[anarky]

Somehow, I got to looking at yojoe.com, and I looked up one of the Original 13 to see how re-used their parts were. I picked Breaker. This led to my looking at the Rise of Cobra Abel "Breaker" Shaz figure.

Damn, that's a nice-looking figure. The head has loads of potential. I wish I'd gotten one, but it looks like he's one of the pricier ROC figures on the secondary market.

So, right now, he's in the "not going to worry about it, but if I happen across one still sitting at retail (probably at a shitty Rite Aid somewhere)..." category.

[anarky]

I'm at a family reunion for my wife's family this week. Last night, on the way back from another relative's place in a nearby town, we passed a Dollar General. It was closed, but they exist here, and I doubt there are many Joe collectors here in the sticks (not trying to be disparaging here, but it really is a remote area). I'm going to try to convince someone to take me by one or two if there are some closer.

[Ran]

I've tried 5 or 6. No sign of any figures.

[anarky]

I stopped by the DG in DeKalb, IL. Looks like no collectors there. They still had all the ROC Combat Heroes. No 3.75" figures.

However--and I absolutely don't want to broadcast this anywhere, or even specifically say the location in case this shows up on Google somehow, but you'll be able to figure it out--I drove by the DG that's opening soon near me. The building is done, the signs are up (even on the road), and they look like they're finishing up the inside. I suspect it will be open by the end of July. Since stores usually open a few days before the official Grand Opening, I'm going to hit them up pretty often, and I might find them MF'ers right here.

[anarky]

About to hit the Family Dollar that opens today. I know there've been no reports I'm aware of about these figures at FD, but I'm guessing a brand new store might have a better shot at getting them than one with inventory already on shelves.

DG hasn't announced a date, but I'm guessing mid-July.

How you doing on the discount store Joes, Ran? Or, JJ, you want any of them?

[anarky]

Nada at FD. They had the budget figures from other Hasbro lines, but no Joes.

Oh, and, despite opening its doors for the first time today, and being in a brand new building in a decent section of town, the store smelled like feet and looked like a shitty dump that's been opened in a ghetto for a century. Not sure how they pulled that shit off. Unless I see confirmation of FD getting those figures and I haven't found them (or someone I know still needs them), I can't see myself ever setting foot in that festering pus-hole again.

[Ran]

I quit looking.

Last time I was at a DG or FD, I almost bought that mini Starscream or Bumblebee.

[anarky]

The Wave 3 and beyond stuff from Retaliation looks INCREDIBLE.

[Ran]

Yes it does. Too bad it doesn't come out until February.