More Random Shite

I think I have some Irish heritage, so I can use the word "shite."

Snake Eyes (v54) in commando mode. Do you really need another version of Snake Eyes after this? Seriously. This figure kicks ass. Oh, wait, different web gear. Still a serious bad ass though.

 Snake Eyes (v54) in ninja bad ass mode. I prefer the commando version over this one. True, the original v2 Snake Eyes figure was better than v1, but that doesn't really count because all of the year one figures were "less than awesome" after subsequent years. With version 54, you get both ninja and commando. I prefer the commando.

 Using another Snake Eyes (v54) body, here is Covert Ops Duke. Works well enough. The helmet would be proper to wear on a mission, but it looks a bit dorky on him.

 This Airtight figure just always kicks butt.

Why not load him up with a flame projection unit?

Those zombie vipers aren't going to burn themselves!

 These guys. The Sci Fi update is another excellent figure. A bit wonky at the knees, but I can let that slide. Wait, you mean Hasbro doesn't produce 100% awesome figures all of the time? Whaaaa.....? Dang, suck it, Club bashers.

 Pythona with Nemesis Enforcer wings. I really like the look of these wings without the use of Nemmy. I sort of see the wings as a parasitic organism that attaches to your back, burrows in and interacts with your spine and nervous system, allowing you to use the wings as if they have always been a part of your body. Works for me and sort of aligns to the techno-organic feel of Cobra-La.

 Hell Boy because Hell Boy is awesome.

And when you find a 3 3/4" scale Hell Boy, he becomes even more awesome.

Mercer in Cobra Viper gear.

Mercer's story from the original Renegades 3-pack just really resonated with me. There was so much untold goodness within that brief file card.

Hot wiring a Cobra Moray and heading out across the Gulf of Mexico to escape Cobra. How bad as is that?

That's all for this post. 

Most of my stuff is packed up, so I'm limited to "portraits" and just writing about random shite. What the hell. Who else reads this silly dog and pony show?

Contest Winner!

Back in January, I posted an entry about a "thing" that I put together out of parts from an old Robotix construction set. I decided to have a contest and have someone help me figure out a purpose behind the nefarious device.

I promoted it on various Facebook GI Joe related pages and even Tweeted about the contest. Finally, after many delays (and much laziness on my part), I have a winner!
James Verigin of Penticton, BC is the winner!

Here's his entry:
"Destro and CC needed to find a way to transport troops faster and more stealthier so He tracked down left over components from the Philadelphia experiment and had Mindbender reverse engineer it. After its completion and seeing it tested, Chuckles and Agent Faces posed as cobra Troops, alerted joeHQ, only to be captured. Now it's a race against time to save the 2 Joes and stop Cobra from this Teleportation type device."

I like the idea of the Philadelphia Experiment as being part of the back story of the device. Loved that movie. Such a weird movie and kinda' maybe sorta' based on a real life experiment. James and I are still working out the story to fill it out some more. His idea will be central to the tech behind the "thing" that I made.
James won and he chose one Cobra Blueshirt and Storm Shadow from the "Dollar General" sets of figures.

They safely arrived and Storm Shadow proceeded to beat up the Cobra soldier!
Thanks, James, for your winning entry!

Ultimate Storm Shadow

I think I have previously expressed a feeling of weariness of both Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes. There have been so many different versions of these two characters. I'm just kind of tired of all the different versions. SS & SE overdose, I suppose.

The PoC Snake Eyes (version 54) figure pretty much ended my need for any more Snake Eyes figures. Practically flawless. Just an amazing figure. I've still got one MOC because the packaging as well as the figure is just amazing. Now the Retaliation Snake Eyes figure was pretty damn cool as well. This version kicked a whole lot of other Snake Eyes version ass. Still not as good as version 54 though.

I was able to pick up the Renegades version of Storm Shadow, originally tough to find at retail. I was pretty much set and content with this version as my default version of Snake Eyes.

This particular version of Storm Shadow is the most recent version to be released. At the tale end of the Retaliation line, several exceptional "Ultimate" figures came out - barely at regular retail. I only saw some of this particular wave at either Rite-Aid or Walgreens. Seriously...

I never really had a strong interest in picking up this version because I was just kind of over Storm Shadow. But a simple trade recently changed my mind. I had randomly stopped by 5 Below one day, well after the infamous release of the $5.00 figures, including the Night Viper, and was able to pick up one last Night Viper. Didn't really want him, but I knew I had a nice trade item in hand.

I posted the Night Viper on a GI Joe Facebook page, just commenting on my good fortune, and someone wondered if I was interested in a trade for the Ninja Viper with this Storm Shadow.

Thankfully, I did the trade and I'm glad I did. This version of Storm Shadow is excellent and is now my default Stormy. Very reminiscent of the original Storm Shadow figure from way back in 1984 and that amazing appearance in GI Joe #21. The Renegades version can still work at times. Sometimes it's cold out and a ninja might need some long sleeves once in a while.

And that weird-ass jet-pack thing that he came with? I think it's in the trash now, not even the spare parts box. One of the dumbest, weirdest backpack things ever.

Bottom line - this is a damn fine Storm Shadow figure. 

Aging Plastic Soldiers

Just how old is a Snake Eyes anyway? 

According to the original mythos, many of the original GI Joe figures from the 80's series were Viet Nam war veterans. The average age of a Vietnam vet is 64.

I don't mean to disrespect men in their 60's but I'm sure Snake Eyes and his fellow GI Joe team members are not quite as active as they used to be. Hell, I'm 52 and I ain't even close to being as physically fit as I once was. 

Sure, they're toys. I get it. It's still interesting to consider the characters and their "ages". Is the Snake Eyes from "Retaliation" the same Snake Eyes from "The Mass Device"? Of course not. No way.

The key to bringing GI Joe into the 21st century is to basically lift the mythos of the 80's and drop it into the modern era. But what does that do to the original story? Could there be different Dukes? Could Duke be more of a code name than a specific person? Maybe, but I would imagine that there would only be one Snake Eyes. 

The ultimate success of GI Joe is to know when to let go of the past. This applies to all of the various incarnations of GI Joe. Including the original 12" GI Joe. 

I'll say it again. 2014 was the 50th anniversary of the Brand, not just one aspect of its history. Of course, Hasbro screwed it up. GI Joe deserved more.

My intention here on this ridiculous blog is to do my own personal reboot of the GI Joe versus Cobra conflict into the 21st century to take advantage of the kick-ass modern era figures. So does that mean my favorite vehicle from the 80's, the Defiant Complex, is wiped from history? Uhh... maybe? We'll see.

Basic Assortment: Green Snake Eyes

I can't believe I bought this piece of crap. Of both sets of the "Dollar General" set of figures, either color Snake Eyes is nearly at the bottom. Those crappy Cobra Commanders are the real peg warmers of either variant. They suck bad.

But this piece of crap - just damn. Stumpy neck, stupid green colors, crappy weird body. And I bought the damn thing. Hell, I bought two of them. Is this what desperation is like? Needing a fix of plastic crack, I buy some of the last shitty figures that can be found anywhere around?

But maybe, there's a bit of promise to the figure. The vest has always been intriguing. It's a great piece and in a fairly decent color. And the head sculpt comes from the wicked cool truly Ultimate Snake Eyes. Maybe there's some hope, just a little. So just thinking of one figure... an excellent stand, decent web-gear and head, plus a pretty good sword. And a shitty body. Worth the $6.00? Maybe. I guess it depends on how I can use the good bits. We'll see what happens.

Retaliation Review: Blind Master & Jinx

Let's take a quick look at the elusive Jinx and Blind Master figures from the Retaliation line. These figures are very difficult to find in the wild and generally sell out quickly with online retailers. I was able to secure both and am finally getting around to posting my thoughts. I don't feel like reordering my pictures into any logical sense, so I'll just comment on the pics based on the way I uploaded them.  

The Retaliation Jinx figure is a straight repaint of the Jinx figure from the SDCC exclusive from a couple years ago. It's not a bad figure and fairly predictable that Hasbro would just reuse the same mold. The black straps are just paint apps, nothing sculpted. 

What the hell is this supposed to be? Apparently, this is the Blind Master's hat? Or is it a shield? Either way, it's pretty bizarre. 

Really? Blades that spring out from the sides? This thing is just crazy - off to the storage bin.

Now the actual Blind Master figure is pretty damn cool There's some intricate paint detailing all over him. The body is a reuse of what has become the standard ninja body first used (I think) with the Renegades Storm Shadow figure. The skirt piece comes from a Rise of Cobra Stormy and fits nicely into the gap at the waist. While the figure looks great, the skirt does inhibit the figure from assuming any serious action ninja poses.

The head sculpt is extremely well done; great attention to detail and excellent paint apps.

This odd weapon case comes with Jinx. I really haven't messed around with it too much, but it follows the concept of the various other accessories involving the mountain rope-line battle. The case also acts as a great way to store some of the tinier ninja weapons.

What the hell? A huge funky Kung-Fu sword and some weird circle-blade on a rope thing. Yeah, whatever.

There's nothing for the empty holster on the skirt piece, so I obliged and gave the Blind Master a pistol. Why not?

Back to Snake Eyes. I don't think that I've ever discussed this version of Snake Eyes. Maybe I have and just don't remember. The fact is that this is a bad-ass figure of Snake Eyes. The sculpting of the entire figure is just amazing, very movie accurate. But I prefer this version of Snake Eyes as my default version, so the Retaliation Snake Eyes doesn't get out much.

Three Jinxes, all lined up for comparison. Same body, same head on two of them.

Movie Jinx body with SDCC Jinx head - not bad, it works.

I'll have to say that the Blind Master figure is a little better than the movie Jinx figure. Both are decent enough, but Blind Master just looks a little better with all of the detailed paint apps. If I had missed them and had never picked them up, I think I would have survived.

Pursuit of Cobra Snake Eyes

This is one serious kick-ass figure! Hasbro really did an outstanding job with Snake Eyes. What version is this, by the way? 54 so far according to yojoe.com. At least one more coming out this year, but this is the best so far.

I've added some extras to mine. I found a cool black backpack that works great with him. Plus a better looking explosives satchel.

Looks great on card as well. Most POC figures do, even if they turn out to be bizarre nonsense such as tornado-kick Snake Eyes and dance-party Stormshadow.