Convention figure sets! Consider a set including all ARAH Cobra and G.I.Joe figures from that convention.
Let us know which set you like best and please explain why!

http://www.yojoe.com/action/convention/

Tim 121RVC

This was a tough choice. I like the MARS set, Headhunters and Tanks sets a lot. The determining factor was those Convention IGs because they are just too badass!! Destro looks pretty cool with the CGI body too. I like the Gen. Mayhem and Metalhead figs too.

Really, you can't even consider anything prior to '02 as those were just ways to get rid of overstock figures. (Aside from the 94 pilot.) These sets are interesting, though.

The Crimson set wasn't all that innovative, but the presentation and surprise of it actually happening have allowed it to capture the attention of the collecting world. Had this set come 2nd or 3rd, I don't think it would have the cachet it does today. But, being first has its benefits. But, this is a set that suffers if you don't have the whole set. Just a lone Viper or other figures really diminished the overall appeal.

The 03 and 04 sets were fairly weak. There were good molds in both and figures like Demolishor were really well done. But, the Black Dragon idea fell flat and the colors weren't great. The Dreadheads were just plain stupid and MC really overestimated the popularity of the Dreadnok theme.

The 05 was closer to the Crimson set in terms of the figures offered. It was great to see the molds they chose. But, again, you lose appeal if you don't have the figs in multiple. The Destro figure is somewhat weak and cost us a proper CGI in the TRU set. The colors are true to the IG colors, but I don't know too many people who would take the modern IG's over the vintage if pricing, availability, etc. are equal. It was a good effort and probably the 2nd best set overall.

06 was a mix. Overlord is great and even Major Bludd is strong. But, the Mortal was a lazy way out that cost us a makeover of the character that could have been legendary. The Coil Troops are pretty bad figures and don't really work. Bludd's troops are actually decent, too. But, 1/2 a set being strong doesn't get it to the top.

The 08 set was also surprisingly weak. On the surface, three army builders that are collector favorite molds that haven't been repainted since the vintage days should have been awesome. But, the arsenic color didn't really work and neither the HH Guard nor the HHST are better than their vintage counterparts. The BATs are surprisingly good, though. This should have been the best set, but the color sunk half the figures.

My overall winner is the '07 set. And, this set wins with despite the fact that the female cobras are probably in the 5 worst figures ever released. But, they still get points for being unproduced molds that Hasbro had cancelled. But, the Joes were so strong in terms of character, mold and colors that they made it worth buying. This is a set that having just one of the figures is worth it. You have the best versions ever of a few characters and the Balrog figure was well done. It I was going to buy one con set, this would be it.

Now, if this year's set is the rumoured Action Force/Red Shadows theme, it has a lot of potential....

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I agree with everything Mike T. said except that I hate the 2007 set with a passion and would never EVER make it my first choice.

So I guess last year's gets the nod. Though overall the ideas for the Con sets have been good, the figures themselves are largely uninspired or just flat out horrid.

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I went with the Dreadnoks. While I don't like most of them, I am a fan.
It's the only complete set I have. I bought a bagged set and then the box and everything else (except the filecards), but had I been patient, I could have gotten everything for less than the original since is seems to be unpopular and cheap even today

Every set has something good and something not so good. The prices don't help either

I went with last years set. Surprise, surprise, the guy who likes robots picked the set with the BATs in it.

'02 Crimson Strike Team - Mike T must be right aobut being first, because I never understood the appeal of these particular figures. I think the misconception of these being popular is what led to the overdone Crimson stuff that followed.

'03 Operation Anaconda - I really like the swamp vipers. At the time I really liked the whole set. Now, not nearly as much. The attendee Fireflys are nifty though. And they also had the best parachute figure by using the Vapor mold.

'04 Dreadnok Rampage - I don't care what other people say. thsi was a solid set. I don't partiuclarly care for the dreadheads but they aren't the worst thing to come along either. However, if they could have made Torch and put Zanzibar and Thrasher in the set we could have lived without the dreadheds all together. I also really like the Joes in this set. They aren't anything you'd find anywhere else. The additional attendee figures aren't worth picking up. While the zartan is neat for about 5 seconds, it sat in a drawer after I got home from Orlando.

'05 General Mayhem: M.A.R.S. Invades - I really liked the Iron Anvils and Metal Head. Both were molds that needed a arepaint and I'm happy they got one. The rest of the set did nothing for me. General Mayhem made me wonder why we didn't just get a Gnawgahyde the year before. BEst attendee figures so far. Just fantastic with Mega MArine Gung Ho, Steel Brigade, and Dragonsky. Fantastic paint apps and details.

'06 Cobra's Most Wanted: Mercenaries - Again, I like this set. Best Major Bludd ever. Decent Overlord. Cobra Mortal looks at least as good as the original, but I do wish they would have chosen a more inovative mold. I do agree with Mike T that the Coil really don't live up to my own expectations. They could have done better. I skipped the MArauders, but snagged the Ferrets.

'07 Tanks for the Memories - I didn't care for the skank vipers but the rest of the rest was so full of win I didn't care. Great set. If they could have gotten the tanks made for thsi it might have been the best all around set ever. Still the attendee Starduster and Grandslam figures aren't bad at all. Plus Hot Rod Rowdy Piper which was a pretty neat figure.

'08 Cobra Headhunters - BATs, Headhunters, and Headhunter Storm Troopers. Nothing else needs to be said. Add in Hotwire and the Joe SWAT team for the attendees and you have the actual best all around set.

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This was an exceptionally difficult call for me, as I have been impressed with all of them, but I ultimately went with the '06 "Cobra Mercenaries" set, as it gave us two entirely new armies in the form of Major Bludd's Skull Squad and the very impressive COIL Army.

But really, there hasn't been a loser set yet.

'02 -- Who wouldn't like a dozen Crimson Vipers and the Baroness dressed in red? Not to mention Tomax and Xamot finally dressing like CRIMSON Guard Commanders.

'03 -- The new "Black Dragon" forces, plus proof that the Mega-Viper can look darn cool in a saner color scheme. Not to mention a new coloration for Lady Jaye!

'04 -- Two new Dreadnoks, the hilarity of the Dreadheads, and the return of Tiger Force with Beach-Head, Mutt, and of all characters, Hardtop!

'05 -- Who doesn't like the Iron Grenadiers? Not to mention finally a better use for those previously hideous 1994 Vipers.

'07 -- Tanks for the Memories. Interesting new incarnations of classic characters, finally a Sparks action figure, the first African-American female in the entire history of the line, and an all-female Cobra division using previously unused parts. Win!

'08 -- Cobra Headhunters. I always liked the HeadHunter uniform design, if not their original purpose; the Headhunter Stormtroopers are some seriously menacing looking guys, and I loved how the Club pulled parts together from the three existing traditional-style BATs to create the HeadHunter BATs.

I have never been disappointed with a Convention Set.

05 was win because of terrifice and uniform paint (to this day it is the only con set i have multiples from and love my Gen Mayhem with the old KGB patch on his arm. Very sweet touch).

I think the 07 set was extremely well presented. I wouldn't mind 4 of those female vipers to be honest, and the female doc as well.

Really it was great, but i guess i would go with the 05 because of the uber cool Steel Brigades and Dragonsky.

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so far Ive been a fan of the last few convention sets (although I have yet to get my hands on the Iron Grenadiers or the steel brigate set)

as a fan of army builders, I thought the Cobra's Most wanted set was unique, with Last year's SWAT/ head hunters set running a close second

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Went with the 07 set. The Joes simply stole that set, they were all very well done.

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'07 - I'm a sucker for female characters, and I think the Cobras are great figures. And the Joes - what I thought would be the weak side of the set turned out to be great. Grunt is the only one of the Joes that doesn't do much for me by himself, but he looks great with the other figures.

Second would be the Dreadnocks, because the Dreadheads amuse me.

Definitely the 07 set for me, as an eternal enthusiast for the original first series Joes. All remakes were very well done. The female Vipers were a win for me. Grand Slam (my favorite Joe) was such an awesome surprise that year, especially when logically paired with Starduster. And I love jetpacks! The VAMP was just gravy. The fact that the set serves as a reminder of my one and only Joe convention ever really marked the event as the zeitgeist of my adult collecting years. (Even if they didn't show my movie )

But the female Doc changed the way I think about GI Joe. Prior to it I was 100% against reboots of any kind. But here was a new character that filled an important niche, as Thomas mentioned, the first black female figure of the line, and she was essentially a reboot of a character. But she was so well done that I had to incorporate her into my own Joeverse. Albeit that was with a new code name, but it woke me up to the idea that a reboot didn't have to be all bad. On some level, she helped satiate my need for a Shooter figure, since I felt I could fashion one from that head if I had to... although I still cross my fingers that Shooter could actually still happen.

The 07 set is the only one I'd define as indispensable. I'd put the set with Dragonsky and the Steel Brigade as second, even tho they're considered extras. Actually I got some of the Steel Brigade guys at the 07 con, so for me, they're almost like a subset to that year's set

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I have to say 2007 because that is the only one I actually got.

I picked last years since that's the only one I have and only convention I've gone to. It's a nice set over all I think. I liked '03, '04, and '05, but I don't own them. I can't really judge them over the one I do have. I guess it's the '05 set I'd mostly like to get along with the one I do have. That would probably be have been my first pick.

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Operation Anaconda.
I don't think they're that bad, I like them a lot. Swamp Viper is one hell of a decent repaint of a crappy original. Black Dragon is a team with a decent color combination.

MARS has very good IG's and the Anvils. My only complaint for them is the grey, that's a pity.
Headhunters are one cool party, but the colors didn't get me thrilled.
The Coil troopers and Bludd's men are pretty good.
Crimson Vipers are cool, but the Crimson Guard hype afterwards made me less enthousiastic.
The Dreadnoks were very disappointing.

Tim 121RVC