For the most part, the 25A figures are great. Even a ARAH lover like me admits that in terms of design, gear, paint applications they exceed the original figures.

There are a few figures that don't seem to measure up to their original counterparts.

At the top of my list is Cutter. A Gung Ho head atop a Shipwreck body? While the body seems an obvious choice, it could have been spruced up just a little bit my mixing in something as simple as a different set of upper leg pieces. Using sleeved arms and putting Cutter in a jumpsuit would've been a nice update, too. And the Gung Ho head? A complete failure. The cap was supposed to be a civilian baseball cap. Using the Gung Ho head and then throwing the "B" logo on the Marine Corps attire looks silly and just doesn't look right.

Barbecue. There's nothing wrong with the 25A figure, it just seems like it didn't gain any ground over the original (aside from the extra articulation). If nothing else, this was a perfect opportunity for Hasbro to make the figure with a removable helmet. Wild Weasel and Scrap Iron are both figures that gave us a little something extra in terms of pop-off goggles/face shields. Our favorite firefighter should've been that way, too.

Okay, it's a short list for me.

What figures do you think just don't surpass the originals?

I prefer RAH... so for me, pretty much all RAH figures are superior to their 25A counterparts.

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gotta agree with wow.

I like the 25th fine, and with some work they all are better then what we get in package, but the RAH joes where fine as is.

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Baroness - The original is less bow legged

Destro/ Shipwreck/ Cobra Commander - They wouldnt be here if it wasnt for that stupid clenched fist

totally agree with Barbecue and Wild weasel.

Cutter is total phail in my book, my rallying cry for Hasbro to take the expence for new molds to be made.

Ace I dislike because of his bulkiness, and that he doesn really fit into the Skystriker.

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Definitely agree with Wowboy.

Single card Major Bludd.

Steeler.

Short Fuze.

Grunt.

That's about it and pretty much all of them were easily fixed.

By and large, though, the 25th figures are to those old sculpts what my X-Box 360 is to my old Atari: superior in every way.

This is an apples and oranges comparison. Each line has its hits and and misses and I appreciate them equally.

Slip Stream for me, I really think his 25th version just does not compare.

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Blowtorch for me. I wish they would have given him and Mutt better masks. Maybe with a strap like the 25th Torpedo. The pegs just aren't cutting it. Also, Blowtorch's feet really bother me too. They don't flow as well as the original's.

I hate the helmet. It looks nothing like the original.

I think 25th is generally superior. Cutter's the main exception I can think of. That, and single card Major Bludd is sort of a weird mishmash of poorly chosen parts. Still don't understand why I found myself needing to add basic articulation (elbow) to a modern figure. Must have hired some people away from Mattel.

I will say that I haven't been totally happy with any version of Duke, they've put out. I wasn't bothered by the location of the wrist swivels as much as some people were, but they're awfully floppy. Then, there was the matter of improper accessories. I finally wound up making my own Duke, by combining two of the newer releases, and painting.

I'm just glad that Joes aren't held together with rubber bands, anymore.

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I would have to agree with this statement. I like both lines very much, and both have their problems, but if I would to pick my favorite, I would go with RAH over 25th. It's just for the easy of custom and changing to my liking. If or when they add the screw to the 25th figures, I might change my mind. Until then, most of the 25th figures are plagued wtih some form of problem IMO.

momaw nadon

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my biggest disappointment in the 25th line is A.V.A.C. his head with his neck look like a mushroom.

i like the 25th for the web gear and other accessories to name a few. with arah it's molded on and permanent. at the same time this encourages a bunch of repaints. i really do think they are incomparable in most ways. i still collect both and are equally loved by me.

Dag nabbit A.V.A.C!

I liked the AVAC a lot it and the hiss driver are two of my favorites, now all I see is a mushroom head though, and a billion red penis jokes.




that's right 1 billion, no exaggeration.

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Falcon. The original is such an excellent figure and the 25a version isn't even close. The head sculpt is light years behind the original in terms of quality and looks.

Flash's original head sculpt is way better than the new one.

I prefered the original Blowtorch's helmet and mask. Otherwise I'm rather happy.

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