So after several months of very dry spells locally on joes it seems a massive amount have been let loose. At first it was just the rehashes of the last year but this weekend and today have been very fruitfull.

So Let me go over what I grabbed and my thoughts.

Wraith-Wasn't sure how I would react to him, I lift the face plate and I can just hears someone say "I am zee annoying Fwenchman." which is probably how he will appear in scale wars/toxie. Overall though the figure reitierates my orignal view of the character, not the uber bad arse DD portrayed him as, but rather I view him as a coward (which why he uses invisibility to "hide") and strike with sneek attacks and from the shadows because he is afraid to confront anyone openly. Also his armor is so thick for the same reason. Coudl be just me but that seems to fit this guy more than a cookie cutter uber-man.

The look ect is awesome, haven't had the tubes break yet but being aware of them helps to.

I'll give him a 4.5 for usefullness

Bazooka Trooper

I like this figure, mostly because he is different while fitting into the same mold at the troopers and officers. I HEAT Viper would be nice but really, this works too.

4 stars

Some I saw but didn't pick up.

TF Duke, I don't care if the arms are fixed, the torso still stinks and really the TF colors turned me off the first time I saw them. 2 stars

Para-Viper, Would be great if not overgeared to the point of sillyness, I debated getting him and cutting of that garish bouch between his legs (yeah that sounds really bad don't it) but I may get one later to do that with (Assumeing the stuff sin't removeable individually). Still only 3 stars as is.

Croc Master, Oh what could have been, 5 stars for the croc, but that crappy mid torso hump is aweful. I wouldn't be as bad on it if it weren't for figures like Quick Kick who manage to have the same articulation and NOT have the hump, get with it Hasbro its a crappy design flaw that has been in the toys from wave 1 and has ruined several potentally great figures, so no I didn't buy him nor will I spend money on any more that have that hump so obviously, 1 stars for design flaws.

Mutt, Decent, a good representation, one I may pick up if he is around and I have spare cash, but not something I am running to the store over. 3 stars

Matt Tracker, Awesome, I was kind of hesitant to pick him up but deaided to and now, I really am hopeing this is the test for a revitalized MASK 1:18th scale line. I always said if they were on par with joe scale I would have grabbed many more MASK Figures. Either way he is a new type from a seperate brand that makes my 1:18th universe that much more deverse. I tossed his helecopter and gun to the side (Hate the coloring, looks like a funskool accessory) and desided to keep him with just the helmet, hey that is how he appeared, 5 stars mostly for freshness.

Cobra Diver, I mentioned the mid torso hump earlier, and I do have to say the Torpeedo mold kept it down (still there but much more tolerable) thsi repaint repeats that estetic, but with something more. The way in which he is repainted is very fresh and new feeling. I feel like its an all new figure. Add to the fact he looks like the divers from MAss device and he is a winner. 5 stars

However I want to point out that I am blasting hasbro for including the MAss device elements with figures, these should have been in the DVD sets. There is no way in hades I am buying another Cobra Commander just for the Red one, so it looks like I am stuck with only a partial Mass Device, such is life,

Some others I saw.

Eels, While the diver seems fresh, the Eels have a very "been there done that" feel. They are ok, but not anything to go crazy over 3.5 stars

Zartan, WTF happend to the swamp skier, I could have sworn the pics made it look at least normal size, this one looks like one of those mini rigs they had in 1987, They should have washed it in cold, 2 stars.

Airborne, Cool looking but again we have been here. Not sure if I will grab him or not so 3 stars.

Pilot Scarlett, I have to point out I hate the Scarlett mold, worst female figure EVAR! (Mid torso again) Although its hard to tell through the gear, it looks like its the same with only alterations to the extremities, 2.5 stars.

Flint disguised-Interesting, I didn't jump at him but is on my to get list, so 4 stars. I could easly swing to 3 with the way the mid torso is so cruddy on the Trooper mold. Still its seems the straps hide it well.

Ripper, a study in what could have been, I love Ripper but that mold really doesn't do him justice (looks exactly like the comic pack). I also have to question the logic of releasing him single carded when the Comic pack is still lingering, 2 stars dispite the cartoon acurate colors.

Ninja Viper, When I saw it online I was like "Huh" and I still am, I like Ninjas a great deal but Ninja Vipers really lose thier appeal after a while. Plus the use of the Joe stormy head is very questionable, 2 stars. 3 if I deside to include him in the whacky figure batallion.

Python Crimson Guard, Mostly I want to have two to flank Serpantor, Same mold as the Red 25th CG, but I have to say the brigher yellow brings out the molds flaws too, might hunt for another ARAH version instead 3.5 stars.

Tripewire, I am getting sick of the reuse of the flash body, it still works here, and is probably a figure I will grab in the near future, but not today 4 stars (by the skin of his teeth).

Also comic packs

Snake Eyes and Hard Master-I didn't look closely at the Hard master pics online, I assumed he was another repaint of storm shadow, but gues what he isn't. His mask puts me in the mind of Vega (not sure if I will use it or not). My one complaint is the way the left hand sits (Presumably to accomidate the Bow) Snake Eyes is interesting as a differnet veiw, in fact I can't place him as SE, He is a straight repaint of Red Ninja but I keep wanting to lean to nameless student since he doesn't scream SE or SS to me, the great part of that is he seems like a new figure and not another rehash of Snake Eyes. Overall 4.5 stars for the pack. 5 stars for hard master dispite the hand, his details more than make up for it. 4 for SE just for not being annoying.

Beachead and Dataframe, Hasbro did the impossible, mark this year on your calander. They broke my 25 year patterns of owning all versions of my favorite characters. It started with Firefly in the greenshirt pack (No way I am spending that much for one figure, I hated the Greenshirts). Now they have done it again with Beachead. Beach is ok but nothing majorly different from the single card until you get to the head that is swapable. It really bugs me to see beach's face (even with the scarf covering) and really didn't seem worthwhile for me to grab him for that reason. Add to it he is packed with the most discombobulated figure I have ever seen (Data or mainframe) and you get a loser combo for me. Mainframe is bad, he looks like a thrown together Meganlocks monster. His purportions are off, his head doesn't match his body. I can't see what anyone would see it this very obviously poorly done figure. Score 2 stars 1 for dataframe and 3 for beachead (since he is my favorite joe)

Viper &.Iron Grenader pack-I own both, so I passed, but really the figs are two good army builders and if I were still building I would have grabed it, as it is they just aren't anything new to me, 4 stars total and each.

Cobra Commander $ Gung-ho. The purpose of re-releasing these is beyond my comprehention. GH has been reused to death (With only repainting being done) and CC has been given more figures in the past two years than Snake Eyes it seems. The GH mold was crap to begin with, but I suppose this might be a way for those who missed armored CC to grab him. 2.5 stars though, 4 for CC, 1 for GH

Rock n Roll & Deep Six, I suppose agian figures that were missed, honestly the Deep Six is kind of making me scratch my head as to why they released him. I don't expect 25th articulation with him but come on, more than what he got at least. Looks like they added elbow to his mold, would even be better if he was removeable from the Suit, so much potental wasted with that figure. RnR is a good figure that might have been missed so I guess I see why he is included. 3 stars, 2 for DS and 4 for RnR.

I don't patronize the newer stuff, but after your assessment, now I am at least interested in seeing their visages. If for nothing more than an accessory appreciation. A pilot Scarlett? Like in a pilot suit? I'm thinking a mix of that body with the head from the Golden Compass Nicole Kidman, and you've got another Honor Blackman custom.

Dang.

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I will say on a customizing lever she would work there, her Pilot stuff is removeable too so it might even be that you could put it on a whole other figure.

beachhead's color scheme is a little brighter.

also, are comic pack RnR's arms fixed?

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The Pilot Scarlett was one that actually had me intrigued, though the closest I've gotten were pics of her I saw her and on Smalljoes.com; good to hear a first-hand account of her, which is making me re-think (further) picking one up though all that could change when they start to show up locally...still, good to have a heads-up on it.

I agree on the Paratrooper, saw one the other day at TRU, I think there's more gear than figure!

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Comic Pack Rock N' Roll uses the Tiger Force Flint arms. Too bad they gave him camo on his pants.

Zed, congrats on the haul!

Does wraith's p90 actually fit into his hands?

Thanks!

Not really well, but his gauntlets have guns anyway so its not too big a deal (Funny how no one has mentioned that fact as well).

Also my wife picked up the Para-Viper for me ironicly enough. I still think he is overgeared but I will say some of the gear is intersting, his machine gun is nice. There is no way I can see to cut that front pouch without causeing a major estetic issue. So I guess I have to deal. Without the gear he is a scrawny one, he also has that odd googles on the visored helmet thing. But he isn't terrible and don't get me wrong on that, but has plenty of flaws. I think if the gear was more subdued (thinking ARAH Ripcord or Free Fall) I would totally love him. As it is I just like him alot. I do dig the diving fins (That fit on the back of his legs for skydiving purposis) and his helmet (Hoses and all). But I feel the shute has a WW2 feel more than an modern one.

Quote the 25th style haul there, Zedhatch!

Since I haven't really been paying all that much attention, I didn't know there was a distinct "Cobra Diver" AND "Cobra Eel" figure. I assume the Diver is supposed to be from the MASS adventure?

I have seen the Pilot Scarlett figure, and I have to say this in favor of her. Nicest headsculpt I've ever seen for a Scarlett. Really well-sculpted face and facial expression.

And I don't know what you do with your comics from the comic sets, but if you should happen to NOT want the Snake-Eyes/Hard Master comic...

Indeed, the Cobra Frogman is based on the MASS Device story arc. These troops compliment the Scuba-gear Baroness released with the first DVD Battle Pack, and the Torpedo repaint from the Naval Senior Officer Pack. Torpedo actually represents the generic Joe scuba suit seen in the episode, as opposed to the non-toy, dark blue and gray suit 'Pedo wears in the episode.

With all three figures (Cobra Frogman, Eels, and 'Sunbow' Torpedo) sharing the same body mold, it gets a little bland. At least the Eels have a new shoulder-piece to cover Pedo's trademark pouches, a second belt, and new lower arms that *really* make them look unique.

I kind of figured torpeedo was suppsoed to be for this guy:

http://www.yojoe.com/action/int/indiantorpedo.shtml

Since A: he never appeared in an outfit like that and B: international variants are quite the rage in the 25th with some slight alterations (ie Piolt Scarlett has red hair instead of Glenda Blonde, Ninja Ku is white). Just seems a more logical choice dispite being a reverse of colors (which would be a slight alteration anyway).

http://i.toynewsi.com/g/index.php?mode= ... 00&start=0

PM me your addy and you can have it, I have read it already and would be willing to part with it.

Done, and thank you!

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So from the sound of it, we've got a bunch of divers out there more or less using the same molds. Perhaps not surprising, perhaps not even entirely inappropriate. Perhaps also slightly annoying for those collecting the 25th-style line extensively. In fairness, the original line did this to a fair extent, as well, especially in the first year, but also over the years. But I suppose the point could be raised as to whether or not this time around is a little more blatant.

As a Clone Trooper collector , I don't really mind the reuse of molds on action figures as long as it's done appropriately, and they're good molds. (Consider here also DCUC, Masters, JLU...) I can understand the toy company wanting to get as much use as possible out of such expensive hardware. At the same time, it does cut down on the individuality a bit. A fair trade-off? I suppose, a matter of opinion.

I picked up a Zartan two days ago, and looking at his tiny little swamp skier, it strikes me as perfect for the chunky combat heros both in scale and style. Do you think we will see it reappear in that line with a Zartan posed to ride it?

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Are you aware of what the term "Pedo" represents?