I've noticed more H.I.S.S. Drivers in stock at on-line stores lately. Honestly, I can't believe these aren't being scooped up everywhere.

I've blown my Joe budget for the year sky-high, so I'm not army-building anymore HISS Drivers, but in my opinion, these are the best figures of the line so far. It made me think about who are the must-have Joes from this 25th line even if you're a die-hard RAH fan. (like me)

Here's my list:

1) HISS Driver (single carded)
2) Destro (DVD pack)
3) Lady Jaye (DVD pack)
4) Snake-Eyes (all black carded)
5) Storm-Shadow (Ninja-Ku black carded)
6) Snake-Eyes (comic pack "blue")
7) Snow Job (single carded)
8) Snake-Eyes (single carded '89 style)
9) Zartan (single carded)
10) SDCC Destro (either version)

I'm sure some will disagree with all the Snake-Eyes and Ninja-Ku (and I can hardly believe it myself). Honorable mentions to Torpedo, Snow Serpents, Red Ninjas and the upcoming Cobra Commander (DVD chrome).

I'd have to say as of right now

1. Black Snake Eyes V1 (fixed crotch)
2. Comic Pack Firefly (although single card Firefly is also cool)
3. DVD pack Lady Jaye
4. DVD pack Baroness
5. Torpedo
6. Blue Baroness (because of fixed articulation)
7. Snake Eyes V2 (fixed)
8. Snow Serpent
9. Flash
10. Snow Job

I'm pretty sure Airborne, Eel, Paraviper, Alpine & Wraith will be joining the list.

DVD pack Lady Jaye
DVD pack Destro
DVD pack Baroness
5-pack Baroness
Snowjob
v1 Stormshadow
v2 Hawk
Snow Serpent
comic pack Firefly
Torpedo

In descending order...

10: DVD Pack Destro: Best v1-style Destro ever. Period.

9: HISS Driver: I never, ever cared for the original HISS driver figure, but I love the new one.

8: Snow Serpent: Great figure all around, just limited by environment.

7: Nemesis Enforcer: Whether you like Cobra-La or not, this is a solid figure, and much, much better than the v1.

6: IG Destro: Destro how he should be. Now if we could just get a Despoiler

5: v1 Storm Shadow: Spot-on homage to the original.

4: Battle Armor Cobra Commander: I hated...HATED...the battle armor look for CC right up until I bought this figure. Now it's one of my favorites.

3: BAT: Can't get enough of these guys.

2: DVD Pack Cobra Commander: This would be my #1, but I had to drop it one just because it's not actually released yet, and I'm not ruling out the possibility of Hasbro messing it up. But from the pictures, this is the perfect battle helmet CC I've been waiting for since I was a kid. Chrome face plate and everything.

1: Snake Eyes (v3 homage): SE's v3 figure has always been my favorite look for him, and this is probably the best update in the 25th line. Perfect balance of ninja and commando, excellent added features (removable knives!) and a cool new Splinter Cell style eye piece. I'm VERY glad I picked him up (I only found him at retail once...I'd still be kicking myself if I had decided to pick up the Viper instead).

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1) BAT, I'm a robot fan to begin with. The fact thsi figure is even coller than the original just seals the deal.

2) DVD Baroness. Considering this is a re-use of molds, it shouldn't even be here but this is cartoon accurate and has all the accessories to boot. Oh she just happens to be a female diver figure which we've never seen before.

3) Black Snake Eyes fixed crotch. I really like this figure and he's one of the few I keep on display.

4) DVD Lady Jaye. What fans have wanted for about 20 years. They hit this one out of the park. Hatless and javeliny goodness.

5) Storm Shadow. I've bought every repaint of this mold because I ahve been so sincerely impressed with this figure. When I first got him I want to do a mini review of him and Snake Eyes. Instead I ended up playing on the floor having a battle to the death that took 2 hours to play out.

6 and 7) Torpedo/Snowjob These guys are tied. What Hasbro got right with these guys was their accessories. They come with everything you'd expect for a diver and snow trooper. But then they went the extra mile and gave us removeable gear. Then they went and made the figures very solidly designed. They generated the same kind of "wow" experience I had opening the originals.

8) Snake Eyes v3, I liked the original a lot but again Hasbro took everything I liked and then multiplied to the nth power. Night vision goggles, removable chest knives. Just an awesome figure.

9) Nemisis Enforcer, I don't like Cobra-La and never liked or owned any of them. So it is saying soemthing that I not only like this figure but that he cracks this list.

10) DVD Cobra Commander, Darko mentioned all the reasons why he should be cool. And like Darko, I give him a lower rating simply because I don't have him in hand. If he lives up to the hype he has a chance to push SE or SS out of the top 5.

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10: single card Cobra Trooper: Just somehting about this giuy I really like. The colors look great. He's even better, with an SMG, from Marauder.

9: DVD Destro. Chrome head, and a black suit, plus you get a Weather Dominator for him.

8: caped comic Cobra Commander. (CCCC) Yes, we've had an overabundance of this character, mostly in his traditional battle helmet. This one's a little dressier, and just looks cool.

7: Snow Serpent: It's so hard to look col in snow shoes, but this guy manages to be downright menacing. Excellent detailing all the way around, and I like that they gave him a means to carry that anti tank rocket.

6: Beachhead: I admit, I don't own this one, but I wish I did. He looks great, and has a nice array of accessories. Bonus points for being a proper commando, and not stuck in some worn out 80s fad. (Snake Eyes, I'm looking at you)

5:Spirit Ironknife: I love all the removeable stuff on his back pack frame. The interchangeable rifle mags are great touch. Redesigning his rifle into an old style rigfle grip, without molding his hand to actually hold that type of weapon, was not such a good touch.

4: Nemesis Enforcer: Cobra La was a great concpet, even if the execution was very good. You can never go wrong with bio engineered bad guys. Nemy ends up being a really cool figure, and I love the way the light actually shines through his bat wings.

3: Battle Armored Cobra Commander. Great update of a figure I loved as a kid. Can be posed to look disturbingly smug, for aman who's face is hidden behind a ski mask.

2: Viper: I don't think I've just sat and fiddled with anohter Joe as much as I have this guy. Dunno where the myth of the imobile ankles came from, but it's simply not true. I don't think I'd like his rifle posed wrists on a named character, but on a low ranking "faceless masses" character it works great.

1: BAT. 'Nuff said.

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I'll take a crack at it.

1. Snow Serpent
2. HISS Driver
3. Barbecue
4. Torpedo
5. Tripwire
6. Snake Eyes w. Timber
7. Crimson Guard (Comic Pack Version)
8. Destro (DVD Pack)
9. Beach Head
10. Battle Armor Cobra Commander

OB

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Strange enough I'm not the keen on the DVD Destro.


10 Must-Have 25th Joes (No order of Importance)
1. 1987 Cobra Commander (fair ARAH figure made awesome in 25th).
2. 1989 Snake Eyes (fair ARAH figure made awesome in the 25th).
3. Snow Serpeant (goofy ARAH figure made awesome in the 25th).
4. DVD Lady Jaye (How we always wanted her to look).
5.Beach Head (Normal size head that looks mean).
6. Torpedo (goofy ARAH figure made awesome in the 25th).
7. Snow Job (goofy ARAH figure made awesome in the 25th).
8. Flint (Okay I just like the character, Even with Duke's body the figure just screams "I'm Flint"
9. IG Destro (I'm not really a Destro fan. Honorable Destro and Noble Destro this bored me. Yet I want to bow down and do this figure's bidding.)
10. Flash's Torso (About every figure that his this torso are winners.)

The B.A.T., comic pack lady jaye, and the serpent.

Just very cool updates to what we really wanted them to be. Its a grandslam if we actually get the DVD pack commander.

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This is cool, thanks for the replies -- Making me reconsider not picking up Nemesis and Battle Armor CC.

That was just what I was hoping for. I got my HISS Drivers and Snake Eyes '89 only because of the toy reviews at Generals Joes. I can't believe how much I enjoy them! Otherwise I would have passed on them.

The DVD packs are worth the praise, and I'm expecting to get my BAT fix in the 4th pack -- (Love that red face!)

Hooray for awesome new Joes! Let everyone know if there's a gem we might be missing.

For me, it's the first series guys from '82. They haven't been executed perfectly, but it's always great to see good updates of them in their original unis. V2 Hawk is pretty rockin' as well. The greenshirt Duke is probably my default version of the character now, since he now fits in with the original guys.

I would also include any updates that basically trump the originals significantly. HISS Driver and Nemesis Enforcer come immediately to mind.

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