Crimson Twins

For a long time, I had displayed my Joe collection proudly. A few years ago, I moved into a much smaller apartment. I had to justify even bringing the Joes with us and not putting them into storage. Unfortunately, they now live their lives in boxes and plastic containers. I think them being put out of sight is part of the reason I moved onto collecting Hot Wheels. I needed a collecting fix, and I could display so many more of the smaller cars than I could the Joes. But, every now and then, I pull the boxes out from the closet, or under the bed, and look at parts of my collection, remembering just how great things looked back in the day.

Not a fan of repaints, but I am a huge Soundwave fan. He was my first 'official' Transformer as a kid, so he's always had a special place for me. I don't even mind him being that Hiss Tank. I could see myself trying to get that Hiss somewhere down the road.

So, when Joes were thick on the shelves, they tell us we don't need female characters because they don't sell. Now, when they're scarce, and the collectors are fighting over scraps, they give us two new female characters, and female Cobra soldiers. Perplexing. I will try to get most of these sets. Vipers and IG's to build my forces. Zombies for the same reason. I actually like the Heavy Duty figure, and of course the new Stiletto. Tombstone looks a bit meh, but I think I could jazz him up with my own back story for him and maybe an accessories swap. Don't really care about Outback since I've got two other versions of him, but Falcon will be an improvement over the SM one I have, even if he seems more fitted for night ops with all that black. I really want Shooter. I think they did a good job putting her together, and those accessories are pretty awesome. Overall, Hasbro is going to get my money. Hopefully I can nab them before everyone else here and sell/trade off the ones I don't want.

I really hope the pic of the finished head sculpt is wrong. I don't think it captures any of the character's look or ethnicity. Instead of a young Thai assassin that is depicted in the sketches, she comes across looking like an old white lady. The scar is not visible either. And the sketches gave the impression that the left eye would be white (most likely due to whatever gave her the scar). I don't know this character in the slightest, but I feel just based off of those three pics that she is not quite getting a figure that is an accurate depiction of what was intended.

And this one still has some of the military vibe to it. It doesn't seem to far into the sci-fi realm as to be wildly unrealistic. The Airborne character was always my favorite from this set. Even the originals. I might have to find a way to pick some of these up.

Really liking the looks of this line. I know some of the colors are a bit crazy since they mimic the 90's neon craze, but I think the overall part selection works for almost all of the figures here. I love the idea that they replaced the parachutes they were known for back in the day with the newer tech glider backpacks. nice touch. Some shine more than others for sure, but I wouldn't mind having the set of them proudly displayed at some point.

I hear ya. I bought some new Joes at TRU, and they're sitting in their boxes in the back of my van now. Just sitting there. Waiting. Ugh.

OK, so I'll be the one to say it. Really not impressed with this set. Finally a good version of a Scarlet figure no one really wanted, so a little conflicted there. Another Cobra Commander because we just don't have enough yet. And an original character that will likely be the only one to have serious value on the secondary market, but still not a character that anyone really asked for. The Transformer side is also a bit lackluster. The Ratbat really isn't a sought after character, and the Megatron is way under scale for this crossover. I, personally, would have preferred a smaller Joe vehicle done in a Transformer paint scheme. Overall rating: Meh.

Going to have to check this out when I get home. Stupid work computers won't let me waste my time on YouTube videos.

Heck, ONE Star Wars figure of equal articulation now costs $13. For GI Joes we get two for $10? Someone has to explain this price goug.....I mean, pricing practice to me on the part of Hasbro. I get GI Joe isn't nearly as popular as Star Wars but popularity doesn't factor in to the actual cost of building a figure. Why would building one Star Wars figure cost any more or less than building one GI Joe? Oh well, once Joe is completely gone from the shelves, I guess it won't matter. I don't think they really take into account the cost to make a figure when coming up with a price. I think it is more about what is in the public eye. I remember the figures that were out when the Joe movies were playing were at least $10 each in most cases. I also think Hasbro takes into account the amount of money they had to pay to keep using the Star Wars license. GI Joe is a home grown IP that they don't have to pay to use the rights to. I'm just taking advantage of it now to catch up on some Joes I missed out on during my hiatus from the line. Getting Alpine, another Shock Trooper, and my first Rock Viper seemed like a dream for only $13. I would have paid the regular $20 for those three and considered them a value. I also got the one with Hit n Run and Torpedo (who I didn't have yet) and Zartan (which is much better than the one I currently have) for the same low price of $13. So, 6 guys that will be a welcome addition to my collection for less than $30 is pretty amazing in my eyes.

So, my TRU restocked their Joes. The Outnumbered three packs were all there. They were listed at 19.99, which wasn't bad. When I went to pay for the Alpine one, it rang up 12.98. So, you might want to check out your local TRU if you are still interested in these. I am going back today to see what the two packs ring up. They're marked 9.99, but you never know. I really don't need any of the two packs, even though 9.99 is a great price for two considering we've paid close to that for just one in the past.

Glad you're still hanging around CT!! Did you hang onto your stuff, or did you get rid of it all? Well, I hung onto most of it. Sadly, once I retired from the Army, we had to move into a smaller apartment. No man cave, no extra room, not even an extra closet for my stuff to be displayed. So now it sits in various boxes and containers in closets and under beds. Waiting. Waiting for the day when it can be proudly displayed again. Unfortunately, with everything boxed up, most of my desire for the hobby feels boxed up with it. Know what I mean? It's hard to get excited for a toy hunt knowing that whatever you do end up with is just going in a box when you get home.

Wasn't it both? One in the newer paint scheme, and the convention one in the more original paint scheme? And to think, I couldn't justify sending $30 on the set at the time when there were 10 or them on the shelves at my local TRU. Now I can't even find them anywhere.

I still lurk around from time to time. I don't think I've posted anything here in well over two years. My whole little world has changed so much in such a short amount of time. I was just thinking about the good old days when I first joined here 12 years ago. Where has the time gone? Not rubbing it in or anything, but for the record, I have 0 warning points VH.

That motorcycle looks a lot like the cycle armor from a few years back.