I was able to pull the belt off of CS Snake Eyes, but needed to do the hot water trick to soften it to get it over Billy's hips.
It works well. I like it. I may still look for an adequate shoulder holster, but this look will do for now.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
FSS 4.0 Billy Update
I was able to pull the belt off of CS Snake Eyes, but needed to do the hot water trick to soften it to get it over Billy's hips.
It works well. I like it. I may still look for an adequate shoulder holster, but this look will do for now.
Monday, June 13, 2016
GI Joe Collectors Club: Pythona
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Her ponytail/top knot or whatever is also removable so that her hood can get pulled up for some sneaking around.
"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.
Well done to all involved!
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Marauder MTF Update
Damn, these figures are awesome! If you've bought some (or many) of these figures, I really don't have to tell you that, do I?
My current set of six figures.
One of my latest additions. Orange? Yes, ORANGE!
I didn't order the orange beret. The Marauder guys added it as a freebie that they usually add with every order.
Orange Guy with the alt masked head and helmet.
Major Bludd head sculpt on the brown w/ black highlights. I've seen this custom before on the Facebook, so I thought I would give it a try. Damn, he looks cool!
When I saw the Guavian figure from the new Star Wars figures, I knew there was potential. The figure itself sucked with all of its five points of articulation, but I figured the head sculpt could be redeemed. Marauder to the rescue!
My first Marauder figure.
"Get on the ready line, Marines!"
Red and black because he just looks cool.
I'm real partial to the armored vest and shoulder pads, but this look works well.
So many awesome customs out there with the Marauder MTF figures. And the Valkyries are coming out soon (female figures).
I'm a customer for life!
FSS 4.0: Billy Arboc & The Interrogator
Time for another FSS 4.0 review and as usual, I'm late to the review game. This latest shipment involved two of the most anticipated figures from FSS 4.5, Billy and the Interrogator. Not much in depth to my reviews, just a few pictures and random thoughts.
The Interrogator first appeared in 1991 as the driver/pilot of the Cobra Battle Copter, a rather dorky vehicle that sort of flew with the pull of a zip cord. The Interrogator's role in Cobra was, well... interrogating, I suppose. He's got some fancy electronic helmet that does some sort of mumbo-jumbo on a prisoner's psyche. Secrets are revealed and all that sort of stuff.
Hasbro released the Interrogator in a new color scheme in 1993. A new sculpt came along in 2006, and the Club came out with another version in 2010 for one of the Convention exclusive sets.
The Club decided to include the Interrogator into the FSS 4.0 set and for me, he's a welcome addition. With an army of faceless legions, it's always welcome to add an individual personality into the Cobra hierarchy.
Big problem right not, at least for me personally. I've got a job change coming up at the end of July and nearly all of my GI Joe stuff has been packed away. So pictures will be extremely limited in their creativity.
The Club did a decent part selection in my opinion. He pretty much matches the original figure enough to satisfy me. Plus his helmet is removable!
I'm not real crazy about the web gear. It works well enough, but I may try something different once I get my stuff unpacked in a couple months.
The head choice from the Club was not very imaginative. The original head sculpt was a masked head that was seen on several other figures. I've tried out a few different head sculpts and have settled on this Fred head for now. To me, it works well enough with the character and the idea that, unmasked, he could hang around with the troops without drawing any attention to himself. Great job by the Club on this one; one of the stronger entries of FSS 4.0.
Next up is the son of Cobra Commander, Billy. Since when did Cobra Commander have a son? At one point in the Marvel run, he was a young kid who attempted to assassinate CoCo under the urging of Major Bludd and the Baroness. Later, he grew up and became an apprentice to Snake Eyes and a somewhat reformed Storm Shadow. Somewhere along the way, he lost an eye and a leg in an explosion. The leg was replaced by a cybernetic version, but no luck with the eye.
The cool part about this figure from the Club is that Billy has never been made as a figure before this. First time in action figure form! So how did the Club do? Not too bad! He's a simple, but decent build, but like most of the Club figures, there are a few flaws. The torso is a bit odd. There seems to be a ridge between the collar and his neck. Not a huge deal. I don't like the web gear. That little clip on the back strap is useless. I've used an extra set of web gear from an extra Ultimate Snake Eyes figure and it was okay for a bit.
Since the time I took these pictures, I switched out one set of Snake Eyes gear for another. I'm currently using the belt from City Strike Snake Eyes and it is far superior. New pictures eventually.
The head sculpt is well done, capturing the look of the adult Billy.
Not a bad figure, one of the better figures from FSS 4.0. The Club walks away with two winners for this shipment.
Only one more shipment to go! Tiger Force Outback and Sneak Peek as well as the mysterious 13th figure. The Club says that this will be a female figure with a new head sculpt. My guess is a Tiger Force Jinx with an unmasked head based on the animated movie appearance. She already showed up in one of the comic stories in the Club magazine. Besides, why not stick with the Tiger Force theme of these last two named figures?
Hasbro released the Interrogator in a new color scheme in 1993. A new sculpt came along in 2006, and the Club came out with another version in 2010 for one of the Convention exclusive sets.
The Club decided to include the Interrogator into the FSS 4.0 set and for me, he's a welcome addition. With an army of faceless legions, it's always welcome to add an individual personality into the Cobra hierarchy.
Big problem right not, at least for me personally. I've got a job change coming up at the end of July and nearly all of my GI Joe stuff has been packed away. So pictures will be extremely limited in their creativity.
Next up is the son of Cobra Commander, Billy. Since when did Cobra Commander have a son? At one point in the Marvel run, he was a young kid who attempted to assassinate CoCo under the urging of Major Bludd and the Baroness. Later, he grew up and became an apprentice to Snake Eyes and a somewhat reformed Storm Shadow. Somewhere along the way, he lost an eye and a leg in an explosion. The leg was replaced by a cybernetic version, but no luck with the eye.
Since the time I took these pictures, I switched out one set of Snake Eyes gear for another. I'm currently using the belt from City Strike Snake Eyes and it is far superior. New pictures eventually.
Only one more shipment to go! Tiger Force Outback and Sneak Peek as well as the mysterious 13th figure. The Club says that this will be a female figure with a new head sculpt. My guess is a Tiger Force Jinx with an unmasked head based on the animated movie appearance. She already showed up in one of the comic stories in the Club magazine. Besides, why not stick with the Tiger Force theme of these last two named figures?
"Hello, son... What brings you by today?"
"Perhaps losing your other eye will help loosen your tongue..."
Brutal, even for CoCo.
But then again, CoCo killed Billy toward the end of the DDP run of GI Joe.
I'm guessing we're about a week away from the last shipment for FSS 4.0.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Cobra Hired Mercenaries
Sometimes Cobra needs to open up the checkbook and pay for some professionals. Once in a while, other toy lines pop up with some pretty decent figures that would work well with the GI Joe/Cobra conflict.
These three came to my attention over the past year or so and I decided to add them into my collection.
Deathstroke
From the DC line. He certainly looks cool, but his articulation is crap. The arm articulation is the biggest factor. Deathstroke can't hold a weapon in anything close to a proper two-handed grip. I see this figure as an analogy to the Batman V Superman movie (which I haven't seen yet). Looks impressive from the outside, but once you're into it, you'll find yourself faced with disappointment.
From the DC line. He certainly looks cool, but his articulation is crap. The arm articulation is the biggest factor. Deathstroke can't hold a weapon in anything close to a proper two-handed grip. I see this figure as an analogy to the Batman V Superman movie (which I haven't seen yet). Looks impressive from the outside, but once you're into it, you'll find yourself faced with disappointment.
Crossbones
An excellent figure from the Marvel line from Hasbro. Decent articulation, a bit limited based on the bulk of the figure. He still works well enough with GI Joe/Cobra figures.
An excellent figure from the Marvel line from Hasbro. Decent articulation, a bit limited based on the bulk of the figure. He still works well enough with GI Joe/Cobra figures.
Winter Soldier
I've seen this figure for a while and I continued to pass on him. I finally saw one at 5 Below and still passed on him. Finally, in a "what the hell" moment, I bought him. Decent articulation, but still a bit lacking in the two-arm firing stance. The hands aren't that great either. Still a decent figure. Worth the $5.00!
Have you found any figures out there that you can integrate into your GI Joe world? Sound off in the comments!
I've seen this figure for a while and I continued to pass on him. I finally saw one at 5 Below and still passed on him. Finally, in a "what the hell" moment, I bought him. Decent articulation, but still a bit lacking in the two-arm firing stance. The hands aren't that great either. Still a decent figure. Worth the $5.00!
Have you found any figures out there that you can integrate into your GI Joe world? Sound off in the comments!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)