I found wave 1 of the vehicles today (Vamp, HISS, Ram/Trouble Bubble, Armadillo/Air Chariot) at Toys R Us today. It was a total shock. $15.99 per set. Haven't had a chance to open them up yet to review.

I was just at my local TRU today and squat on vehiceles, but i did find a HISS Driver, cooool, i'll have to go back this weekend and check for the vehiceles, Thanks for the info.

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I found mine at Wal-Mart yesterday for $14.76.

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Okay some quick observations from the packs I opened. Just like the Target exclusives, the stickers are only applied on the side of the vehicle facing out. Stands, weapons, etc are packed underneath the display area, along with a pretty nifty catalog with a diorama for lack of a better word featuring some MASS device and wave 8 and 9 figures. In addition to figure filecards, the vehicles also have file cards.

RAM/Trouble Bubble:

Breaker - does not include communications equipment. Has helmet and pistol.
RAM - very nicely done. Looks almost identical to the original except for the addition of handlebars. The saddlebags open up. The one on the left side has a grey pistol insdie that sort of fits on Breaker's thigh.
Tele-Viper - uses Viper body with a new head and vest. No equipment at all. Hopefully the eventual single card release has different lower arms that are a better fit to the original look. On the plus side, the ankle joints seem to be better positioned and he can stand up straight without any extra effort.
Trouble Bubble - like the RAM, a nice update of the original. I like the added wires to the gun. Just like the original, its very fragile and will fall apart if you look at it funny.

Armadillo/Air Chariot:

Steeler - looks like a mock-up. Has helmet, pistol and knife. The lower legs on mine are a different color green than the rest of the body and do not even mesh well. He looks like he has insanely large calves. The web gear does not sit well on him at all. The design looks nothing like Steeler anyway, so he's just a Greenshirt to me.
Armadillo - another great update of the original. This one has a removable stowage rack and briefcase. They can clip into the slots all along the sides of the hull.
Serpentor - nothing special, basically the same as the single carded version. No accessories included.
Air Chariot - looks identical to the original but now the snake mouth can open. Never one of my favorite vehicles.

And the other two:

VAMP - this one looks like they put a lot of work into it. All new cannon with a new type of attachment to the vehicle - no more stripped peg. The only downside is it doesn't have the rat-a-tat action like the original. In addtion to the gas cans, the shovel on the hood is removable and the hood itself opens up to reveal the engine. It retains the tow hook, so lets hope for a redone HAL.
Clutch - named Double Clutch on box and fielcard but Clutch on stand. Comes with helmet, pistol, knife. Uses the exact same body as Steeler, and has the exact same problems. But I like Clutch much more cause the head and vest really make him look like the 82 version.

HISS - nothing new to report here.
Rip-It - same as the single carded red driver. If Hasbro had reversed the drivers, I'd army build these, but I don't want a surplus of Rip-Its lying around.

Thanks for the reviews, i can't wait till they hit my local TRU, how did yours get them before mine ?

I'm in Johnstown, PA, near Pittsburgh.

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Two theories:

1. Philly is closer to TRU HQ in Paramus NJ, so they delivered them here first.

Or the more likely scenario:

2. room on shelf and stocker who needed to fill the space with something GI Joe. There were no shelf tags for them.

Like I said check your Wal Marts as well. I found mine in Wal Mart here in Denver.

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Are the vehicles completely new sculpts or just "updated" versions (i.e., old tooling with new bits included)?

I can't wait to find these. I always, always, wanted a Trouble Bubble when I was a kid and I missed out on the last re-issue, so getting a new one is better than getting cake.

They haven't shown up around here yet, but I'll keep hitting stores daily until they do.

~Marduk

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