GI Joe Retaliation Alley Viper

GI Joe: Retaliation spawned an interesting odd set of figures. The early waves ranged from nearly tragic to odd and peculiar to incredibly awesome. The Alley Viper falls in the odd and peculiar category.

I have always liked the Alley Viper concept even as far back as the neon orange original O-ring version back in the 80's. Throughout the life of the small Joe figures since that initial figure, the Alley Viper has been around in various styles as well various colors.

The modern Pursuit of Cobra series produced an excellent Alley Viper, but I found fault with its pin head. The head under the helmet just seemed too dang small for an actual human being. That resulted in a mash-up of the POC Alley Viper and the red Cobra trooper from the aborted GI Joe:Resolute line. (Argh!) 
Hasbro once more brings back the Alley Viper name on a new version. Does it have all of the coolness of the POC version? Not quite. The pin head is still there, so that is strike one!

The primary differences between the POC and the Retaliation versions are the vest/webgear and the torso. Okay, yeah, the colors are different, but Alley Vipers are all about the wild colors! The original vest that came with the POC Alley Viper just kicked serious amounts of ass. Bulky and loaded with gear, it was still constructed in a way that allowed for excellent arm movement.

As you can see with my custom Alley Vipers, the vests just really look so much better.

The Retaliation AV's come with the web gear from the Jungle Duke figure from the POC line. Which is okay, because that web gear kicks ass too! It just doesn't seem to work as well with the concept of the Alley Viper - at least not to me. I've always considered the Alley Viper as an assault troop in need of some solid heavy gear. The web gear just seems to leave the AV too exposed.

The torso is new for the RET version, using the torso from the 1st versions of Duke and Flint. Less said about them is better. The torso works for the AV as an armored body, but it's just not bulky enough. 

I've only bought two of these guys and really don't feel strongly enough about them to do any serious troop building. They just don't work with my custom AV's. Their fate seems to be destined for the fodder box. The web gear has already been surrendered to the Joes. Unsure what to do with them right now. I just need some toy time to play, I suppose. 
The RET AV also comes with the AV two-part helmet, the shield w baton, and the small submachine gun. Oh yeah, and one of those crazy-ass rope thingies. I believe that is the official terminology.

GI Joe Microforce!

Seriously? I'm going to review those silly little G.I. Joe Microforce figures? But they are just so frikkin' cute!

I suppose I should explain why these silly figures have entered my collection. I bought a couple packs a few weeks ago - just because...
I picked up Duke, Hit & Run, the Dark Ninja Master, and a Red Ninja. First thoughts - kinda' cute! And I was pretty much done at that point.

Fast forward a few weeks and Target clearances their remaining stock. Fine, whatever. Then the next round of markdowns and prices reach the point of zero resistance. I picked up all of the two-pack blind bags and, the next day, I go back and pick up the three five-packs. Cleaned that store out!

I picked up a couple doubles of just a few and got a decent selection of a variety of figures. I'm really surprised by these guys, because most of the designs are based on concept case figures from Hasbro. The 2012 G.I. Joe Convention featured a spectacular concept case from Hasbro featuring some wild designs of figures. You can check out a write-up of the case at General's Joes - http://generalsjoes.com/2012/07/03/g-i-joe-convention-2012-names-and-identification-for-concept-figures/#more-15440. (Stupid browser is acting up, can't use Blogger tools properly. I'll get my NSA caseworker on it.)


Oversized heads, short, stumpy bodies. What's not to love?

Ninjas, ninjas, ninjas. Enough with the ninjas!

Lowlight - one of the more amazing figures. These guys are tiny, okay? There's a butt-load of detail in these tiny figures.

This is Grunt and an amazing Grunt he is. Sure, he's just a tiny little thing, but the potential in just the character design makes me want him in the regular scale.

This is a Beast Ninja Soldier, whatever that is supposed mean. Arashikage nonsense, but still cool.

Shockblast? yeah, whatever - he's Shockwave. Coolness!

Duke - not a favorite of this line, but pretty well done. I don't like his face, but then, who does?

Roadblock - one of two versions. Very nice! I really like the headsculpt on him. Looks almost scale to 4" figures. If I had an extra, I'd cut his head off and try it out on a standard Joe body.

Cobra Viper! You know I'm digging this one! I'm always psyched about the Cobra Viper. My favorite Cobra troop builder ever!

Cobra Commander in all of his battle helmet glory.

This guy is refered to as Cobra Trooper Big Blaster. I guess because he has a rocket launcher? Fair enough!

Red Ninja - nice!

Lt. Stone? Looks kind of like Falcon to me, but I guess he'll do as Lt. Stone.

Snake Eyes in commando gear. Sweet!

Zombie Cobra Commander? Very cool!

Dark Ninja Brawler. Why is he a brawler? Doesn't matter, still cool.

This is the Snake Master. I wonder what the back story Hasbro had in mind for all of these new ninjas?

Hit & Run. Yeah. paint his face green and call him Hit & Run.

Another Red Ninja.

Arashikage Samurai. Looks more like the new version of Budo from wave 3.5 due out any minute.

Dark Ninja Master. Okay...

One of two Ghost Ninja Henchmen. Yeah, right...

Gold Ninja Assassin. Do we have a rainbow assortment of ninjas yet?

Barbecue!

Lady Jaye - maybe based on concept case version? Looks cool!

Timber! Snake Eyes' pet wolf gets all cute and shit. Very nice!

Snake Eyes v2 with his trusty wolf buddy!

I've got a decent chunk of this first, and possibly only, wave of the Microforce figures. If I can get by another Target that still has them on clearance, I'll probably take a chance and pick up some more. But then again, if the awesome wave 3.5 "Ultimate" figures show up soon, all my toy $$$'s are going to them.

Overall, I think this line is pretty cool, but it just didn't seem to have any traction in sales. Collectors of all things GI Joe probably bought them. I didn't go for them when they showed up because I would rather focus on the 4" figures. It's tough to resist Target's rock bottom clearance prices.

They are a decent part of my collection and if I don't get any more, I think that I'll manage to survive!

Eaglehawk thoughts

This thing is so cool!

As a kid, I grew up with models. I built 1/72nd scale military vehicles, the legendary Prehistoric Scenes models (yes, I'm that old!), and various other film and fantasy models. Planet of the Apes, Star Trek, Star Wars, Space 1999, Battlestar Galactica, the Black Hole, all sorts of stuff.

I think that's one of the reasons that I really liked the vehicles from the original small GI Joe line - you had to assemble a good chunk of the toy. Plus you got to put the stickers on yourself, according to the directions or on your own. 

I don't know what has happened lately. Toys come largely put together. Hell, models are a damn disgrace because they are usually pre-painted snap-fit kits. Not much skill involved there. Okay, yeah, not much skill in putting together the Eaglehawk either, but it's a toy, where models are supposed to involve some work to put them together.

I'm thrilled by the Eagelhawk and am really glad Hasbro added Tomahawk to the stickers rather than its new name. Good job, Hasbro! The construction was simple and fun; an easy build. The stickers weren't too bad. Not like the madness of the stickers for the new SkyStriker!

The new version of Lift Ticket is great, very much like a traditionally military uniform. The Airborne figure from the Tactical Ninja 3-pack with Mouse has the same body, so you can use him as a co-pilot. I've got Flint's head on there for now, mainly because the first movie figure of Flint is a wreck based on the body style that was used for him.

The new Tomahawk closely matches the vintage Tomahawk in size and details. The interior is very different with the new one. Stationary seats, lots of foot pegs. I don't get it on the foot pegs on the floor of the cabin. No one can stand up in it. With no restraints, it's tough to get figures stable in the cabin.

With the taller size of the new figures, the small size of the new Tomahawk is very noticeable. It just looks a bit too small.

Ultimately, I don't care. I think it's a damn fine update and am so glad to have it in my collection. Will I ever buy another? I don't really expect to. The SkyStriker showed up at Ross in limited numbers at a discount. I don't really like the idea of GI Joe toys headed back to Ross, especially with such a small retail/public presence. "Deth of teh line" and all that crap. 

If it shows up at Ross/Marshall's/TJ Maxx and I can get another? Yeah, I'll do it. An olive drab custom would rock!

New Cobra Blueshirts - STOP!

Lately, it seems like whenever I drive by a Dollar General store and go in, Cobra troopers are just waiting for me. I stopped by one and there were two troopers just hanging out, waiting for me to pick them up. I have been saying that I really didn't like the colors of these guys too much and that I wasn't going to buy anymore. 

Yeah, right... Plastic Crack

Okay, so I'll buy these and maybe sell them on eBay, right? Sure, no problem.

Four carded Cobra Blueshirts. I'll bet I could do pretty well with them on eBay. I checked and the prices weren't that bad. Nothing terribly exciting, but I could probably make a little bit of a profit.

Oh, to hell with it. Just open the damn things! Let's see, I've got three Flight Pods along with the two jet packs - these guys could be aerial troopers! yeah, that'll work!

Now I have six of these new Cobra Blueshirts. I am really going to make an effort to STOP right here. No more. I just need to stay out of Dollar General stores, right? At least until news of a legitimate wave 2 comes out from Hasbro. (please?)

The problem with these guys, like the Blackshirts, is that they don't come with any gear to fill the pistol holster and the knife scabbard. Marauder, Inc. to the rescue! The guys at Marauder came up with a set of gear designed for the figures that used these legs and didn't have any gear. The two versions of the Cobra trooper and the version 2 of the Steel Brigade figure are the only ones that I can think of right now.

The set comes with a .45 pistol, a knife, and a grenade that fits in the hole for the silencer. I ordered ten sets, six for my Blueshirts and four just to have some extras. I know, you are probably saying that I'm just going to go out and get more troopers. We'll see...

Now my Blueshirts are fully armed and ready for combat. I suppose this shade of blue is kind of growing on me...

Ninja Combat Cruiser - New Paint

Surprise, surprise! Target clearanced out their GI Joe product. I don't know what that means for the upcoming waves of new GI Joe figures, but for now it means that everything is clearance. I was able to pick up another NCC for just under $12.00. Not bad. I've seen some custom paint jobs around various websites and I thought I would give it a try.

Just a cheap can of flat black spray paint was all that I needed. After taking the body apart, I decided to keep the lower section its original gray. I thought that it would be a good contrast to the black upper body.

It was pretty easy to take apart. Eight screws in the bottom and a few more inside to remove the bumper and the dashboard. I sprayed the pieces with two coats and left them to dry overnight. 

Not bad! I don't think that there is anything that can be done to help this Night Fox driver figure. I'll salvage his head and vest and that's about it.

Just a quick side-by-side comparison against the original colors of the NCC. I wish Hasbro had gone with some better colors for it. The blue-ish color isn't too bad, but something more in the military green hues would have worked much better.

At first I was thinking that it would be a good ride for my GI Joe black ops team, but after considering my Cobra Blackshirts, I reconsidered. I think this is a better match.

This is just a quick shot with the Stinger (?) loaded up with Blackshirts. You can't see him in this picture, but Cobra Commander is in the back seat along for a ride.