Hasbro 2015 Vehicle Sets

Hasbro also has plans to release vehicle sets as well this year. It looks like there is a great deal of re-use of existing vehicles. Tooling may be limited at this point in GI Joe's production. Items could be held back for subsequent release for the third GI Joe movie. Hopefully, the movie will actually happen.

DESERT DUEL: F.O.E. Striker and the Cobra Basilisk. Includes Philip “Chuckles” Provost and the Elite Horseman. This is the regular retail release. The AweStriker, now the FoeStriker, has been retooled a little to include some new accessories. As weary as fans have become over the constant reuse of the AweStriker, this one has got some good buzz about it. The Basilisk is just a recolor of the GI Joe SnowCat or WolfHound or whatever its name is. This vehicle was also used by the Club as the HAVOC II for their Cross Country exclusive figure.

I like the new FoeStriker and the inclusion of a new Chuckles, but his head looks enormous. Not too interested in the Basilisk or its driver. 

DESERT DUEL: Available from Toys “R” Us at the Entertainment Earth booth at San Diego Comic-Con. Features the F.O.E. Striker and the Cobra Basilisk. Includes Night Fox, Philip “Chuckles” Provost, Elite Horseman and Cobra Air Trooper.

This is the same basic set as the retail set, except it has two exclusive figures - Night Fox for GI Joe and  a Cobra Air Trooper. SDCC exclusive - don't care.

G.I. JOE SILENT STRIKE: Features the G.I. Joe Skystriker taking on the H.I.S.S. Tank. Includes Brad “Ace” Armbruster, Sightline, H.I.S.S. Gunner and Driver.

A black SkyStriker! Very pretty! Hasbro did an awesome thing and created a character named SightLine as a tribute to Gary "Goggles" Head. (Nice job, Hasbro!)

There are now two figures for the HISS, a driver and a gunner. It's about time. The HISS has a new rail gun weapon system. Not a bad looking set, but I don't know if I will ever get it. Not terribly interested.

G.I. JOE CRIMSON STRIKE: Available in the Hasbro Toy Shop booth at San Diego Comic-Con. Features the Cobra Scythe jet and the G.I. Joe Chimera. Includes Grunt, Ralph “Steeler” Pulaski, A.V.A.C. & Alley Viper Office figures. 

SDCC? Sorry, too expensive and don't care. 

Hasbro basically just switched sides with the two vehicles. The HISS looks slick in green and the Cobra Scythe looks sharp in the new colors.

There's not much of "got to have" in these sets. If I don't get them, somehow I'm sure I'll survive. The Desert Duel is probably the one of most interest.

I'm glad that Hasbro is keeping GI Joe alive and present at least somewhere in the retail environment. Hopefully, this is just a dip in the lifetime of GI Joe. Perhaps one day, GI Joe will return to some of the glory of the past.

Time will tell.