G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

[Ran]

Friday and Saturday, TRU had a buy 1 get 1 half off sale on GI Joe. I went to 3 stores, and couldn't find 2 figures to I wanted at any of them. It was mostly Renegades, a few ROC, and some movie figures.

But, I stopped at a Walgreen's today and got a Jungle BAT. I already have one, but its a cool figure, so I bought another. They had Blowtorch, too. The more I think about it, the more I realize what a dumb character he is. Aside from the fact that the flamethrower was phased out in the 70s, the guy is wearing yellow and red.

[anarky]

Shit, I didn't even know the Jungle BAT existed. Another fucking figure to track down.

And, the minute I get them all at Walgreens prices or higher, they'll hit Marshalls in huge numbers.

[Ran]

I didn't realize you didn't get one. I can hold it for you if you need it. We can even wait until after Christmas to see if any of them show up at Marshall's/Ross/TJ Maxx.

[anarky]

Somehow I missed that offer. If he's an extra and you don't need him, I certainly would appreciate him if I've not scored him by the next time I'm in your jurisdiction.

I saw evidence tonight for the first time that the Walgreenses here are getting stuff. The one I stopped at had Blowtorch and the Cobra Trooper. I passed on both. I have the first Blowtorch, and the repaint looks stupid. They were going for more realistic, but, like you said, the concept's a little goofy, so the more faithful update of the original at least keeps the nostalgia factor. And the Cobra Trooper was re-released in the 30th line; he may have a different gun or two, but I don't think that's worth $11. (Aside from some minor accessory differences, I think the only figure who was re-released but wasn't the same was the Iron Grenadier, who has more camo on one version. Well, and the Steel Brigade Trooper, who was a totally different figure as a running change, but both versions were available on the 30th card; I think the first 30th variant had one rifle less than the POC version.)

[Ran]

Is there anything else you are looking for? I know you need Crazy Legs. What about General Hawk?

I'm hoping to find Shadowtracker. As I said in the other thread, Walgreen's has a 50% off $10 on Black Friday. I'm hoping that covers GI Joe.

Last night I almost bought the POC Firefly from TRU. I finally got past looking at his green goblin helmet and he looks like a decent figure. Then I remembered that there is a really cool Firefly coming out in the movie line, so I decided to wait.

[anarky]

POC Firefly is fucking amazing. Just so you know.

I'd have to look at what I need. I know the Hawk, Rock Viper, Crazylegs, POC Iron Grenadier (minor difference, but, being an army builder and all...), and Temple Whatever Snake Eyes. I'm not even sure off hand what there was from that period.

[Ran]

I don't believe the Temple Snake Eyes exists. Sure, there are pictures, but those can easily be faked.

There is a Walgreen's thread on Hisstank. People have mentioned Hawk, Jungle BAT, Cobra Trooper, Steel Brigade, Blowtorch, Duke, and Cobra Commander. Temple Snake Eyes, Crazy Legs, and Rock Viper don't seem to be showing up. The Cobra Commander is pretty cool.

TJ Maxx have Skystrikers for $25. They are also getting vintage B-Wings for $18. I already have the POTJ B-Wing, otherwise I would get one.

It is sad that Walgreens and CVS have only carry a few GI Joes at a time, yet they are considered to have the best selection.

[anarky]

If Blowtorch is showing up, that should mean Python Patrol Croc Master is in Walgreens or their distribution centers. IIRC, those two were the only new figures in one revision case, weren't re-released, and were said by Hasbro about a year ago to be "lost" somewhere. I really think Walgreens breaks up the cases and sends a few random figures to each store. Either that, or they only put a few out at a time. (Not that I give a shit about him or would buy another Croc Master unless they make the creepy IDW comic version. I got one, he was mediocre, and I bought a second on clearance at Marshalls for the crocodile and gave the figure to my daughter. And they've re-used the mold a time or two since.)

Looks like I'll need to check CVS as well. I guess I'll be hitting every WG and CVS in the area every day the way I once hit Ross looking for stuff.

[Ran]

http://www.yojoe.com/action/11/

I couldn't care less about the paint variants of Blowtorch and Croc Master.

Someone at Hisstank said Walgreens splits cases between stores. When I go into one, they always seem to have somewhere between 2 and 8 GI Joes.

[anarky]

Okay, using that as a master list, and disregarding club and convention exclusives, I need:

Crazylegs
Snake Eyes: Temple Defense or assault or whatever (he's on here, so I assume he exists; I know he went to other countries)
Iron Grenadier (POC has the camo on his legs--I dig it enough to want him)
Jungle BAT
Rock Viper
POC Cobra Commander II
(Technically, I don't have any of the figures who were re-released on 30th cards, but, as far as I know, the only other one with a minor difference is the Steel Brigade, and one rifle isn't worth $11.)

I never ordered the Dreadnok and Slaughter's Marauders sets, either. Also need to order the Renegades set eventually for that new Ninja Viper and semi-new Snake Eyes. Looks like they're all still around.

Guess it's not quite as bad as I thought; I thought there were more figures released.

[Ran]

The Walgreens I went to had 8 figures, but only 3 different characters: Steel Brigade, Hawk, and the Cobra Trooper. I grabbed the trooper and Hawk. I already have this Hawk, so he may be undergoing a part swap to make another character. I scoped out a 3 other Walgreens near me on Wednesday, but they didn't have anything worth buying. Mostly some Renegades, Blowtorch, a Jungle Viper.

[anarky]

OMIGOD!!! FIGURES AT WALGREENS!!! I DON'T FUCKING BELIEVE IT!!!!

I went by two today and found POC Cobra Commander (who looks like he has the potential to be the definitive version of the character, which is saying a lot) and the Jungle BAT, who looks a lot more awesome in person.

It's sad that their copyright date is 2010, but it's the end of 2012 before they're showing up. And the price increases have resulted in each figure costing about what two would've cost in 2010.

[Tom Foolery]

Walgreen's prices make a strong case towards the advocacy of shoplifting.

[anarky]

Sadly, with the massive across-the-board price increases on all Hasbro figures, Walgreens now has prices in line with everyone else. (They just didn't jack their prices up, or at least not as far up.) Basic Joes are $9.99 at the few stores that even have them anymore (a few Targets and TRUs, maybe a WM here and there). They're $10.99 at WG. For a few figures that are impossible to find otherwise, I can live with an extra couple of bucks. If it were an entire line, that'd be a different story.

What's funny is that a lot of these drugstores kept their prices the same on this stuff for years. They were fucking insanely expensive, but now the old stuff on the shelves is priced about what it would be at other stores (TRU has some Joes who were around in the $5.99 days, selling for $9.99). I see a fucking TF Universe figure (Hot Shot?) at Rite Aid all the time with the "25 Years: 1984-2009" foil sticker on the package. I've seen some dolls whose packaging has actually faded and gone brittle from ultraviolet exposure despite being positioned so they'd only get direct sunlight for maybe an hour each day.

[Ran]

Congrats on finding those figures. Cobra Commander had some pretty cool accessories, like the time bomb from the opening of the cartoon.

I haven't had a chance to go back since last weekend. I was hoping to find Shadowtracker, but I think my chances of doing so are fading. Oh well, no big deal. New movie figures will be out in a few months.