Saturday, July 31, 2010

GI Joe: Resolute - Duke & Snake Eyes

I'm just not overly impressed with these new versions. They are still both very cool figures, but nothing tremendously exciting.

Duke with the cold weather gear on the left is the new Resolute version of Duke. This is the gear that he wore while he and Scarlett attacked the Cobra overrun Siberian base. A decent portrayal of the character, but just not impressed with just the one arctic geared figure.

On the right, is the original Resolute Duke figure from the original single card. Awesome figure, decent head sculpt, a great improvement on the overalll character design of Duke.

So here's the head swap, arctic Duke on the standard uniform Duke body. I like it. Angry ass-kicking Duke - works for me!
Resloute Snake Eyes on the left and City Strike Snake Eyes on the right. Same exact figure, just different paint apps. Mixing parts might be interesting, given the differences in the base gray color of both figures. I like the shorter sword and scabbard for the new version. The green goggles are pretty cool, too.
On to Cobras next week.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Just because these guys are cool!

The three top stars of the GI Joe:Resolute set. Very nice updates!

GI Joe Resolute: Flint, Stalker & Roadblock

A quick look at three of the new Resolute figures.

Flint - Resolute on the left, custom on the right. I liked my custom version, looked pretty good and filled the needed gap in my resolute line-up nicely. This new version is very cool. A great reuse of parts, nice head sculpt and well done web gear. Plus a clip of shotgun shells on his left wrist - nice touch!

Stalker - Resolute on left, custom on right. Again, I think I did a pretty decent job with the custom, but the new version really rocks. Looks like Snake Eyes' torso and Duke's legs. It's a good mix. The new head sculpt is great, captures the dreadlocks from the animation. Another win for Hasbro! Removable knife on the harness also - bonus points!

Roadblock - Resolute on left, Walmart exclusive on the left. Both are fantastic! Best new style figure version of Roadblock. Big, tall, bulky - just captured the character. There's a difference in gear, Reso RB has the gear that first came out with the Night Adder figure (probably originally intended for RB) and the WM version has Heavy Duty's vest - both work. The Reso version has a darker skin tone, would have been better if Hasbro had used the same skin tone. Minor complaint - still a good job by Hasbro.

Duke, Snake Eyes and the Cobras next week.

GI Joe: Resolute Scarlett (poor girl...)

So much potential with this figure. Great sculpting on the body, just a really good update on the style of the classic figure. But that head, such a massive melon! It doesn't look too bad alone, but when compared to others - no way!

The head sculpt is actually quite good. Nicely sculpted, with just a little attitude. But it is just too dang big! IT"S HUGE! Time for a change.

Resolute Scarlett compared to my custom Scarlett, using Helix' body and Pilot Scarlett's head. The neck is too long when I tried the head swap. Nope!

Reso Scarlett and Original Scarlett. Again, neck too long. Nope.

Reso Scarlett and movie Desert Ambush Scarlett. Hmm...

Reso Scarlett and other movie Scarlett. Neck too long. Nope.

And the winner is... Movie Desert Ambush Scarlett! The head and height of neck worked out great. There's a little bit of a gap that allows for better movement with the long hair. So this is the new look for my Resolute Scarlett - no more massive cranium!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

GI Joe: Resolute - Beach Head

Too many GI Joe fans are too rigid in their thinking of these characters. When the two-pack with Beach Head and Main(Data)frame was released with an unmasked head for BH, some folks were pissed! "Oh no! Beach Head wouldn't have a mustache like that!" or "I never would have thought Beach Head would look like that!" Suck it up, it's just a toy!

I personally liked the unmasked head, looked kind of redneck-ish to me. BH is from Alabama, so... Besides, wouldn't his damn balaclava need to washed once in a while and do these "people" have to wear the same gear on every single mission? C'mon!

With a limited role in Resolute, it was still pretty cool to get this new version of Beach Head. It takes the basic concept of his original uniform, he gets a Resolute make-over.

The result is pretty slick. I really like this figure. BH is one of the gems of the Joe Resolute set.

Here's the Resolute version next to my custom version using the unmasked head with an extra resolute Duke body. The "official" version is a great re-use of parts and has an extra bit of coolness with the knife and scabbard on the web gear. the knife is removable! The collar under the head can be removed; still looks just fine the way it is.

The unmasked head works just great on this new version as well - even better in my opinion. Sometimes it's hot out there in the field and a man just might need to feel a cool breeze across his face.

Thoughts? Comments? Insults? Leave me a comment!

GI Joe: Resolute Cobra Commander - sort of...

The Resolute Cobra Commander released in the Cobra 7-pack is virtually the same exact figure from the single card. While a cool figure, I didn't need another one.
So I used the basic simple silver helmet along with the ROC Cobra Commander and now?


It's the Cobra Commander form IDW's GI Joe comics!

Well, sort of...
Close enough for me!

A Quick G.I. Joe: Resolute Review

The G.I. Joe:Resolute sets are here! This will be a pretty quick review, based on first impressions of the figures as I opened the sets.

The first set to look at is the G.I. Joe set. From left to right - Snake Eyes, Beach Head, Duke, Flint, Scarlett, Roadblock and Stalker.

First impressions -

  • Snake Eyes - just a straight repaint of the City Strike Snake Eyes figure released as a part of the movie line. Excellent figure, both have elements of superior painting, but parts can't really be mixed due to differences in the base gray color of the body.

  • Beach Head - His first (official) appearance in the Resolute line. Very well done. Great head sculpt. Great re-use of many of the Resolute Duke parts. one of the gems in this set.

  • Duke (cold weather gear) - A nice angry Duke. He's pissed, that's for sure. A good reuse of assorted parts. I've got one issue with this particular figure, the left shoulder joint seems to be stuck. I need to be careful in freeing the motion.

  • Flint - Another gem! Flint's first appearance in Resolute. Very well done. Great head sculpt, great reuse of parts.

  • Scarlett - A hit and a miss at the same time. The body is well sculpted. I think the body comes from the originally planned City Strike Scarlett (maybe?) and is very well done. The head sculpt is actually well done. But, the head is HUGE! Way, way out of proportion! Massive head with the slender body just doesn't work. A head swap is in her future.

  • Roadblock - a repaint of the Roadblock that came with the Walmart Exclusive Outpost Defender set from last Christmas. The Resolute version has a much darker skin tone. He is also using the web gear from the Night Adder figure. Works very well for the the Joe team's heavy machine gunner.

  • Stalker - First entry into Resolute. Well done, excellent use of parts. Great head sculpt, captured his dread locks from the animation. He uses a Snake Eyes torso and Resolute Duke's legs for a lean, wiry look.
Good stuff overall. I will be doing another post later with some closer detailed pictures of each figure. Stay tuned.

The GI Joe: Resolute animation was so cool (yeah, there were weak points in the storyline) that I had to make some of my own custom versions. the following picture are some of my customs and some of the official Resolute figures.



From left to right -

  • City Strike Snake Eyes - officially from the Rise of Cobra line, but based on the Resolute character.

  • Beach Head - a mix of the alternate Beach Head unmasked head, the 1st 25th version vest and a resolute Duke body. Worked for me!

  • Resolute Duke - the only official GI Joe: Resolute figure. A great base for additional customs.

  • Flint - Flint's head from the Flint in disguise figure, his original web gear and a Sgt Stone body. Not bad, pretty cool!

  • Scarlett - Helix' body with Pilot Scarlett's head. Works well together!

  • Roadblock - From the above mentioned Walmart set. Excellent figure!

  • Stalker - a standard Stalker head on the 1st 25th Annv Beach Head body with a Pit Trooper vest. A pretty decent custom.

Most of these guys are now officially "retired."

Now on to a quick look at the Cobra set and some quick first impressions.



  • Zartan - Not enough adjectives to describe this figure. The absolute best figure of this set. Amazing, incredible, excellent, whatever. Just really well done!

  • Alley Viper - Pretty decent figure. Great use of parts. Interesting shoulder pads, glued on and flexible allows the shoulder joint to be hidden. Nasty, mean head sculpt!

  • Destro - Very nice! Tall, regal, very fitting for Destro. Nicely sculpted long coat. I don't care for the robot arm that is included, it has limited articulation and just doesn't work with the character.

  • Baroness - Suffering from the Scarlett big-head syndrome. Excellent overall sculpting, but the head is just too dang big.

  • Cobra Commander - Straight re-release of the single card Resolute CC. Still a great figure. He's going to become parts for another custom.

  • Storm Shadow - Mixed feelings on him. I like the character, but I'm just tired of him. The hood is too big over the head. The vest can come off to reveal a bare chest. I like the head sculpt, but I'm just not overly impressed with him.

  • Firefly - I think the TRU exclusive Firefly from the ROC line was actually a little better and I used him as a custom. The head sculpt is good. I'm just not too excited by this guy. Looking forward to the POC Firefly coming out soon.

So that's about it for a quick review. More detailed reviews of the figures, especially the Joes, coming in the next few days. Stay tuned!


For the best reviews of anything G.I. Joe, go to GeneralsJoes. Justin Bell does the best work and has some brilliant photography.

Hey, what do you think? Leave me a comment!

Monday, July 26, 2010

GI Joe:Resolute - Arrived today!

Just arrived mere moments ago! Posting even before I open them! I'm one happy kid right now! Gotta' go, toys to play with!

Original Flocking No Hair Rubs

My 1/6th Joes have a new home.


No little Joes allowed. Just the big dudes.