What G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra Figures Did You Get?
Well, I went on a big hunt on Monday and managed to find one store in Green Bay that had Joes. I’d nearly given up hope, because I went to two Wal-Marts, Toys R Us, and another Target before I finally found it a few of the single carded figures at what I like to call my, “Magic Target.” I should have just gone there first.
Anyway, I’m curious to find out what you Toy Bendenites picked up so far out of the G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra line. Let me know in the comments. Or if you passed on anything, I’d like to hear that too.
I already put up what I wanted to pick up, but I only walked away with three figures: Baroness, Storm Shadow, and Shipwreck. I passed on Snake Eyes, because he wasn’t special enough to me to warrant spending eight bucks. Out of the three that I got, I enjoy Shipwreck the most. I didn’t think I would be getting him, but I really liked his head sculpt, the recolored/new Polly, and the diving equipment.
Out of the vehicles, I passed on all the smaller sized ones because I can’t justify spending sixteen dollars on a vehicle like the Armadillo that was previously available in a two pack for about the same price. I might have budged if the Ferret looked like the Ferret more, but even then I’m sure I could pick up a vintage one for cheaper and be just as happy.
The only larger sized vehicle that I liked was the Cobra Gunship. I know I’m going to take some heat from this, but I’m 99% nostalgia based in my collecting so almost anything new gets a pass from me. As much as I like the Gunship, I don’t like it enough to spend my money on it. I’d rather just buy something old that I don’t have yet.
July 7th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
I’ve yet to go shopping since these hit the market, so I can’t say if I’ve managed to maintain my attempt at steering clear of these toys, even if there are some I’d really like to get. I’m trying to focus my collecting a bit and right now I’m focusing on the Transformers Classics that have been coming out, almost entirely based on nostalgia. We’ll see if I can resist the Night Raven when I see it though…
July 7th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Lesse:
the Pit, Night Raven, Gunship, Steel Crusher
desert Duke, Neo-Viper, Neo-Viper Commander, Destro, assault Baroness, armored Heavy Duty, desert Heavy Duty, Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Cover Girl, Scarlett in fatigues, Sgt. Stone, Shipwreck, Breaker, accelerator suit Ripcord, Zartan.
I love these toys. LOVE.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Thus far, Reactive Armour Duke, Reactive Armour Heavy Duty, Delta-6 Duke (2) Delta-6 Heavy Duty, Pit Commando and Agent Helix. These are, to my mind, the best G.I. Joes ever.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
BTW, I have so far passed on all the “alpha” vehicles, the small size; even though I don’t mind prices for the other items, I think $15.99 for one small vehicle and one figure is too much. If they go on sale I may revise that position. I am also passing on Deep Six (I mean, seriously, I have the Torpedo mold like 4 times already…it’s a great mold but a sloppy camo paint job ain’t making me shell out 8 more bucks) and probably both of the TRU single-figure exclusives.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I didn’t pick up anything because of the price, but I saw most of them at TRU today. The Neo-Viper and NV Commander were my favorites, and the ones I’m most likely to cave and pick up at some point, if I do wind up getting any. I really liked the Cobra Gunship, but it wasn’t $25 worth of “like.” The 12 inch figures were atrocious. I’ve wanted 6″ scale Joes for over a decade, but those Joe Battlers have a weird exagerrated style that would prevent them from fitting in with my other 6″ scale figures, so I won’t be getting any of them, either. It’s a shame, as I would have been all over some normal-looking 6″ Joe figures.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I forgot to mention the Pit playset. It looked pretty damn cool, but the $100 price tag is out of my range.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I got the Steel Crusher APV, Zartan and Viper Commando. Hope to find a Night Raven, Cobra Commander, Baroness, Destro, Storm Shadow and some other Cobra troopers.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I was at Target and passed on everything. The terrible repaint of Croc Master as the driver for the Mole Pod made me very sad.
Instead I spent my money on 2 clearanced Tiger Rats and 1 clearenced Python Patrol Conquest.
July 7th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I passed on them, but I’ll wait until they go on clearance and see if there is anything good left.
July 7th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I saw a ton of figures and vehicles at Target and bought zero. I have been very unimpressed with what I’ve seen so far. The heads of nearly all the Joes have a dead appearance and lack any kind of personality. In particular, Cover Girl’s hair look like it’s floating over her head and Scarlett has gross pasty zombie skin. They couldn’t give Scarlett the “tanned” plastic?
I was originally planning on getting a Baroness and Vipers, but I didn’t even like those enough to buy them. The Baroness’ head seems too big or something. I’m just not digging the Vipers as much as I thought I would and I usually loves me some Viper variations.
It turns out the figures I like the most are the 25th Anniversary repaints like Torpedo and the Scrap Iron repaint with the “Snake Trax.” I also liked Shipwreck and masked Storm Shadow. I know I’m one of the few people that actually like his long ninja coat. I might pick up a Cobra Hummer at some point because it’s a Cobra Hummer. For the figures I didn’t see, Agent Helix looks interesting, but I’d have to see her in person to really decide if I wanted it. The repaint Para-Viper and Flash also look fine.
I’ll buy those figures when they go on sale though, because $8 a figure, $16 for a small vehicle, and $25 (or was it $30?) for a medium vehicle is just too damn expensive.
On the plus side, at least Hasbro is saving me lots of money with the G.I. Joe movie line. Thanks, Hasbro!
July 7th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I saw them, actually liked most of them, and passed on every one of them because of the price. I almost gave in, but I’m sorry, 8 bucks is too much to spend on a figure that size and as long as people keep pumping 8 bucks into a figure Hasbro won’t learn anything except that people will pay their outrageous prices.
Sam
July 8th, 2009 at 1:58 am
I haven’t bought any, because the stores will all have good sales in a week or two. I don’t want to buy everything I want NOW and then see cheaper prices when I already have everything…
July 8th, 2009 at 3:18 am
More like, what didn’t I get?
The first night I found them (At just after midnight) I got Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow.
Since then I’ve gotten Shipwreck (Yay!), Zartan, Sgt. Stone (Who looks like Flint), Baroness, Destro, Breaker, Ripcord, Heavy Duty, and a Neo Viper.
Of the guys I’ve found, I’ve only skipped Scarlett, Duke, Deep Six, Viper Commander (Though I’m thinking of getting one of them), unarmored Heavy Duty, and Cover Girl.
July 8th, 2009 at 4:03 am
I’m waiting until they go on clearance. A few of the vehicles looked kinda neat, but I don’t think this movie is going to do anything except harm the entire brand.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:14 am
@Shawn:
They couldn’t give Scarlett the “tanned” plastic?
Why on earth should an action figure representing an actress with an incredibly pale complexion like Rachel Nichols have ugly “tanned” skin?
@Sam:
I almost gave in, but I’m sorry, 8 bucks is too much to spend on a figure that size and as long as people keep pumping 8 bucks into a figure Hasbro won’t learn anything except that people will pay their outrageous prices.
You Americans are spoiled. Up here they’re $9.99, have been since they reduced the price from $12.99 early last year.
@Philip Reed:
I’m waiting until they go on clearance. A few of the vehicles looked kinda neat, but I don’t think this movie is going to do anything except harm the entire brand.
That’s what they said about Transformers.
July 8th, 2009 at 8:59 am
@Templar - Transformers was high-class compared to everything I’ve seen about G.I. Joe. So they have bazillion dollar combat suits and falling down in them is funny?
July 8th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Transformers was high-class compared to everything I’ve seen about G.I. Joe. So they have bazillion dollar combat suits and falling down in them is funny?
As much as the (to your mind, apparently) high-class comedy of Bumblebee effectively urinating on Agent Simmons.
July 8th, 2009 at 10:25 am
“Transformers was high-class compared to everything I’ve seen about G.I. Joe. So they have bazillion dollar combat suits and falling down in them is funny?”
Until I see G.I. Joe, I’m going to consider Transformers 2 the least classy thing I’ve ever seen, at least as far as big budget releases go. Transformers had some low clas moments, then they ramped it up in the sequel. It was off putting and made me really dislike the film. Why the dogs humping? Why did the old robot have to essentially shit his pants? Why did the robot have to hump megan fox’s leg, why the Devestator balls? It all added up to a giant pile of garbage. All I’ve seen of G.I. Joe has made me think is that it has the potential to be incredibly dumb, not low class.
“You Americans are spoiled. Up here they’re $9.99, have been since they reduced the price from $12.99 early last year.”
I’m sorry, but I hate that kind of argument. Just because someone has it worse doesn’t mean that it doesn’t suck for the people that have had to have a price increase of three dollars in about two years or so and that they can’t complain about it. Also, have you factored in how weak the dollar is/was compared to a lot of European currencies?
July 8th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I bought Zartan, Heavy Duty, Shipwreck and Firefly. Heavy Duty’s head was so small, I gave it a headswap and now it’s a cobra. I want the gunship too.
The best thing about this line are the awesome customizing possibilities!
July 8th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I’m sorry, but I hate that kind of argument.
I’m sorry, but I don’t care what your emotions are regarding a particular argument.
Just because someone has it worse doesn’t mean that it doesn’t suck for the people that have had to have a price increase of three dollars in about two years or so and that they can’t complain about it.
“Doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck” doesn’t mean tthat the toys are not worth the price.
Also, have you factored in how weak the dollar is/was compared to a lot of European currencies?
I’m thinking more about the cost of oil and how it drove the reduction in size of G.I. Joe from 12″ to 8″ to 4″ back in the 70s/80s.
July 8th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
One thing I have to say to Hasbro’s credit, when I was in Target last night I saw at least 2 pegs worth of Neo-Vipers. That’s a good amount of army builders, it’s about time they let the army builder collectors have their fix without having to buy from multiple stores. Then again the high price point makes up for the increased supply in a way.
July 8th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I raced to Target yesterday to see what could be seen, and they had an entire endcap with every figure and vehicle currently out right now, and I ended up hating ALL of it. What is with these incredibly shitty weapons/accessories? The 25th Anniversary line have had GREAT weapons and accessories, and at the same damn price point. The cheap-looking silver guns 99% of them came with all looked like the designers were told to design “generic laser gun to be molded in crappy silver” and “generic army machine gun to be molded in black”.
And the vehicles. Lord, what crap. The Cobra Gunship, what, they couldn’t find some way to differentiate that mold? It reminds me of that one classic GI Joe vehicle where the propeller blades all extended out from the hub? Hell, maybe it’s the same mold, except on this one, they just removed the rotors and left everything else the same.
As for the “Night Raven”, as soon as I saw that it was clearly a kid’s toy, with a flip-down handle to turn it into yet another plastic missile launcher, I was turned off. And the goddamn $40 price point wasn’t helping.
I am going to pass on every one of the movie toys, and wait patiently for them to resume making the figures we want with accessories that clearly were made for collectors, not children.
P.S. Yes, I’m aware that I’m an adult whining about toys obviously made for children and not adult collectors. Sue me.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
What is with these incredibly shitty weapons/accessories? The 25th Anniversary line have had GREAT weapons and accessories, and at the same damn price point.
You’re out of your mind. The accessories for the RoC figures far outclass the 25As both in imagination and sheer weight of numbers.
The Cobra Gunship, what, they couldn’t find some way to differentiate that mold?
It’s a completely new mold. What reissued vehicle are you confusing it with?
July 8th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I’m not a fan of all the silver laser guns myself. I do really like the accessories that came with Shipwreck though.
July 8th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I see, so apparently “you’re out of your mind” is code for “I disagree.”
Well, sorry but I think they’re crap. Big lame-ass missile launchers, crappy gun molds, and stupid colors= 25th anniversary figures were better equipped. Sorry.
Man, I feel like I’m discussing the pure shit TF 2 movie with a Bay apologist.
July 8th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Okay okay, I’ve got to bring out my threatening stick and say, “Let’s keep it civil.” This is getting a tad too negative.
July 8th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
@Templar: From what I’ve seen of Rachel Nichols as Scarlett her skin is not pasty white like her figure’s is. Rachel Nichols does have pasty skin in some movies, but everything I’ve seen of G.I. Joe she does have some color in her face. The Cover Girl figure’s skin is fair yet not pasty (tanned if you will), so if Hasbro would have used that skin plastic then the Scarlett figure would look a little better than the zombie princess she turned out to be. Both actresses look fine as the characters, however the figures are hideous representations of them.
July 8th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
I bought Shipwreck the first night I found these(a little over a week ago).
After that I had to go back and get Paris Pursuit Snake Eyes, which may be my favorite SE since the retooled Commando version from early on in the 25th series.
Finally, I bought Paris Pursuit Storm Shadow, which is a fantastic figure. I love that he’s a completely different SS from all the others I have. The suction cup thing is a neat gimmick I would’ve loved at a kid too.
I plan on getting tons of the Para-Vipers and I hope I can get the ROC Firefly very soon. This line is friggin’ great, regardless of how the movie is. That desert Duke looks amazing and I hope I can get that sometime soon.
Don’t even get me started on the Nitro-Vipers though, those are damn near the coolest new Cobra members.
July 9th, 2009 at 9:22 am
From what I’ve seen of Rachel Nichols as Scarlett her skin is not pasty white like her figure’s is.
From what I’ve seen, the “pasty white” is much nearer her natural skin colour than the overly-bronzed flesh-tone plastic they used for Cover Girl.
Both actresses look fine as the characters, however the figures are hideous representations of them.
Again, I disagree. The likenesses on Cover Girl and the BDU version of Scarlett are a little off, but they’re hardly “hideous”, and the Desert Ambush/Reactive Impact Armour Scarlett’s headsculpt is quite good in terms of the resemblance to Nichols.
July 10th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I know i want a helix, but today is my sons birthday and we are going to take his gift cards and bday money to go get a PITT tonight, that will probably be our only purchase other than the 3 walmart 2 packs and the TRU exclusive repaints.
August 9th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Since 451 isn’t letting Paul do new Toybender stuff, I’ll make a comment here.
I finally bought some GI Joe movie figures, thanks to this week’s Toys ‘R’ Us sale of two for $9.99 plus a $10 gift card for spending $30. What a deal!
Anyways, I picked up masked Storm Shadow, Shipwreck, Barbecue, Torpedo, Ice Viper (the only movie Viper I like), and a Scarlett. Now hold on, before you say anything (I’m looking at you Templar) this is why I bought a Scarlett: When I was looking through the figures, I noticed this Scarlett figure (her urban camo version) looked a little different. Somehow it looked better than the rest of the Scarletts I’ve seen, even though it was the exact same figure. I compared to the other three Scarletts that were there and it was obvious what was different: the eyes. For some reason the eyes on all the Scarlett figures I’ve previously seen, including these other three at TRU, had been painted as though they are squinting. This other Scarlett has much wider, open eyes. It turns out the figure looks much better with open eyes than squinty eyes. I still think she looks a bit like a zombie princess, but because of the eyes, this one Scarlett looked decent enough to add to my super deal pile. A little extra paint on the face made all the difference.
Way to be consistent Hasbro. I’ve had different quality control issues with Joe figures before, but never one that came down to the openness of the eyes. I maintain my original position on Cover Girl, however, as I have yet to see a non-hideous Cover Girl figure.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Hey Kids, Toy Bender is done. I’m no longer a writer. May I suggest you click on my name for your daily dose of vitamin P? (the P is for Paul)