Time for a look at the two troop builder two packs from Hasbro. Just a reminder, I've passed on the Snake Eyes/Storm Shadow two pack. Great figures, but I really don't need them. If I happen to be out at a Toys R Us and spot the set, I'll probably grab it, but it isn't a high priority.
First up is the Zombie Viper two pack. These guys are basically just the same figure from a few years ago with just some minor paint app differences. The picture above is an original zombie on the left and the new zombie on the right. The easiest difference to spot is the right knee; the new version has a paint app that makes the zombie look like his knee is exposed. This is a great two pack; great for the guys who missed out on the zombies when they were first released. I was lucky and was able to score quite a few before the prices jumped on the secondary market. I've got six of the originals and have now added four of the new zombies. Still awesome.
Next up is the Sinister Allies two pack with the Iron Grenadier and the Cobra Viper. Personally, I would have liked a two pack of the Viper.
The Iron Grenadier was a great figure when they first appeared as Destro's soldiers. I remember buying quite a few, but they're all gone now. I was initially excited by the prospect of a new modern version of the Iron Grenadiers but I' a little disappointed by the result. The body just doesn't work well enough for me to do some serious troop building.
The Cobra Viper? Hasbro did a hell of a job. The initial 25th anniversary figure was pretty crappy, but the Pursuit of Cobra/30th Anniversary figure turned out great. I kinda went a little nuts about them and wound up with about sixteen of them. I got lucky and even snagged two of the blue gauntlet versions. There's really no difference between the 30th and this year's version. Just one significant difference. Instead of a chrome faceplate, Hasbro chose to go with a clean silver paint job. This new paint job actually works quite well. I think I'll wind up switching out the lower arms with these two new Vipers with the blue gauntlet Vipers. I suppose that when I make that switch, they'll be my Viper officers. Well, that's about it for Hasbro's GI Joe offerings for me for this year. I'm glad that GI Joe is still alive. Somewhat... Hopefully, Hasbro has some decent plans for the future of GI Joe. I don't know if it will involve their huge crossover event with Rom, MASK, the Micronauts, and the Visionaries, but it should be interesting. I hope it resonates with kids.
Every year during the GI Joe Collector's Club existence, they've produced a "free" incentive figure for those who sign up for membership. The membership dues/fee gets you the Club newsletter and an exclusive figure, either 12" or 3 3/4" size. I have been a member of the Club for about five years and had been a member previously before a hiatus for a few years. This is the final year of the Club's run with the GI Joe license. Hasbro has not renewed their agreement with the crew at the Club and Hasbro will begin their own "Club" maybe later this year or next year. There's a huge cross-line marketing plan that Hasbro is getting ready to release called Revolution. There's supposed to be a combined universe including GI Joe, MASK, the Visionaries, ROM, and the Micronauts. I think there may be another line, but that's all that comes to mind right now. The Club has done some fine work over the years. I've never been one to go to one of their conventions, but I've supported the Club where I could. I've been a part of the FSS for three years, signing up for 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0. I did actually go to the convention in Atlanta back in 2007, but that was just for a day. I've always been of the mindset that the Club pretty much has to work with what Hasbro has available to them. I've preached plenty of times about my feelings regarding the Club. Sure, I've been critical of some of their designs, but never vehemently angry at the choices that have been made in the design and construction of their various figures. Bitch, bitch, bitch... that seems to be some "collectors" lot in life. Anyway, enough of all that crap. Let's move on to this year's, the ultimate, incentive figure - Pythona! Another fan favorite that has been requested over and over again like Billy, the Club listened and made it happen. For those less enlightened on just who Pythona is, she is one of the central villains from the GI Joe animated movie from 1987. The intro sequence just kicks butt! Anyway, Pythona is an emissary from Cobra-La and gets CoCo and his crew involved in the whole world domination scheme of Golobulus. The movie is on Goggle in parts, if you haven't seen it. #shameful Check it out! Cobra-La (great concept, stupid name) is an ancient civilization that functions through the use of organic technology. Have I written about Cobra-La before? Maybe I have and maybe I will again sometime soon. So how did the Club do to bring this weird woman into her plastic form?
The Club did a damn fine job of translating the figure into plastic. Yeah, sure there are issues, but again, the Club is working with what they can use from HAsbro and get tooled up at their own expense.
The biggest "issue" that I have with Pythona is the sculpting of the body. Based on the animated look, her outfit/skin should be more textured and have an organic armor look to it. Again, the Club is working with what they can use, so that's not a huge issue.
Holy crap, look at that head sculpt! My understanding is that Boss Fight Studios did the work. If so, they kicked some serious ass! The paint apps are stellar as well.
Her ponytail/top knot or whatever is also removable so that her hood can get pulled up for some sneaking around.
The hands are newly sculpted as well. Excellent work. They capture essential parts of Pythona's character. Supposedly, her upper torso is newly sculpted as well. Yeah... I don't quite remember Pythona being quite so... gifted.
The paint apps on the body are well done; very crisp and clean. I think those are Jinx lower legs. They work well enough.
Quite a while back, I created a "sort of" Pythona. I used an Aurra Sing head on the Resolute Baroness body. Interesting, but not even close. Maybe this poor creature can be another Mindbender construct using Cobra-La genetic material.
"Poor girl... You shall become my daughter... Let us return to Cobra-La."
"Who are you, woman?! Why do you bewitch me so?"
"Peace, my liege, peace... All will be revealed!"
The Club wrapped up their incentive figures quite nicely.
GI Joe fandom is awash in misery these days. Garments are being rended. Butthurt Cream sales are through the roof! The GI Joe brand is in a state of change right now. Apparently, Hasbro is ending their relationship with the Collector's Club at the end of 2016. This also involves the Transformers Collector's Club. As Fred from joebattlelines.com eloquently puts it:
It looks like there will be no GI Joe product available in 2016. Awww, poor kids... No new GI Joe toys. Oh wait, the largest market for GI Joe right now isn't kids, it's an aging group of grown up kids with disposable income and a sense of entitlement! Reminds me of the butthurt 12" Joe collectors pissed at getting nothing during the 50th Anniversary. Does this mean GI Joe is gone forever? Doubtful. Hasbro has plans for their own "Cinematic Universe" which would include GI Joe, Mask, Rom, Visionaries, and the Micronauts. Sounds like Hasbro isn't disposing of GI Joe. Sounds like they know they need to do something different to get GI Joe back where it belongs - in the hearts and hands of kids. OMG!! What if Hasbro reinvents GI Joe and there's no Duke! No Snake Eyes! No Cobra Commander and Destro! "Deth of teh line!1!!" I wish them much success and I hope the return of GI Joe is something very cool and something that I'm not really interested in. Sure, I'll probably buy a bit of whatever this new GI Joe becomes. Hell, I've still got a couple GI Joe: Extreme figures. I just hope the kids love it. Maybe one day, they'll grow up and be pissed-off, butthurt collectors in their own right.
