Tag Archives: Cobra

Review: Figure Subscription Service Cobra Sniper Black Out!

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G.I. Joe Collector's Club Figure Subscription Service Cobra Sniper Black Out

It’s another Figure Subscription Service review– this team featuring Cobra Sniper Black Out!!!

Black Out debuted in 2003 as part of the Spy Troops series of G.I. Joe figures and immediately grabbed the attention of fans because of his compelling file card story.  He was the dark counterpart to the G.I. Joe team’s own Barrel Roll– the “bad brother” who went over the forces of Cobra and was implicated in the disappearance of his own sister.  It’s the kind of plotting that would make for an interesting movie and another shining example of the importance of file cards in the G.I. Joe line.  Thanks to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club, Black Out was made available to those who signed up for the first Figure Subscription Service as the mystery 13th figure and shipped at the same time as his brother Barrel Roll!

Does the Black Out figure measure up to the standards of the Figure Subscription Service?  Is he up to the task of carrying out his feud with Barrel Roll in collections everywhere? Check out the review in the Collector’s Club Review Index and find out one Joe fan’s opinion!

Figure Subscription Service Skullbuster Reviewed!

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Figure Subscription Service Skullbuster

Another day and another Figure Subscription Service review!  (Hmm… this could be habit forming!)

The purple-clad leader of the Cobra Range Vipers comprised the second half of the most recent FSS shipment and it’s his turn on the review stage.  Sure he’s got an unorthodox color scheme that seems more at home on Eternia but he’s also got the firepower to back up his choice of attire!  We’re now four figure into the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service 2.0 and I have the feeling that the best is yet to come.

How did Skullbuster from the Figure Subscription Service fare in the eyes of two G.I. Joe site admins?  Hit the Collector’s Club Review Index and find out!

FSS 2.0: Carded Cesspool Revealed!

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It’s been awfully quiet on the G.I. Joe toy news front lately.  However, the good folks over at the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club decided to spice things up a bit with a bit of an unveiling today.  Over on their Facebook page they unveiled a carded sample of one of the figures from FSS 2.0— the Cobra CEO: CESSPOOL!

G.I. Joe FSS 2 Cesspool

Cesspool, not to be confused with the uber-awesome Merc With a Mouth Deadpool, was Cobra’s analogy to the 1989 movie version of the Joker.  Disfigured in a chemical accident, he was one part brilliant businessman and two parts chemically-induced nutjob.  Granted, good old Cesspool was used only sparingly in both the DiC series and in the Marvel Comics run but, by all appearances, this figure does a SOLID job of capturing the classic ARAH figure and bringing him forward into the Generation 3 era.  Based on the body of the Techno-Viper and featuring an AMAZING headsculpt from Boss Fight Studio, this was one of the figures that immediately convinced me to sign up for the second round of the FSS.

One cool detail that I noticed when drooling over looking at the image above is that Cesspool’s right eye is now completely “dead”.  LOVE IT!  I’m not entirely sold on the card art which seems just a bit too jolly even with the giant scar but I also have ZERO intention of leaving this figure sealed.  (GASP!  I know!  I’m not a real collector!)  Going just on the figure alone this one looks to be a good addition to the Cobra shelf.

No ETA on when FSS 2.0 will start shipping but this just ramps up the excitement a bit.  So while you’re waiting for him to arrive, check out JBL’s Review of the 1991 Cesspool figure!

 

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G.I. Joe FSS 2: Cesspool & Bombardier mock-ups unveiled!

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G.I. Joe Collector's Club Figure Subscription Service 2.0

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club is pulling out all of the stops during this Figure Subscription Service sign-up period– with two more mock-up being unveiled today!  The deadline to sign-up is May 22, 2013 and only two more mock-ups remain a mystery.

Bombardier:

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Maybe I’m a “bad” G.I. Joe collector but I’ve never been very interested in collecting international figures– until now.  The GIJCC took the “blonde Flash” from a few years ago and brought him firmly forward into the Generation 3 era of G.I. Joe.  This new version is faithful to his Palitoy origins in terms of initial gear and parts construction.  However, he goes completely over the top into “cool” with the inclusion of the Rise of Cobra missile drone accessory.  Now if only the Club will give him the name of “Dave Tree” in honor of the Joe detective who shed light on the mysterious origins of this figure!

Cesspool:

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Cesspool is one of those figures that I discovered later in life.  I was out of actively collecting G.I. Joe when he was released in 1991 and it wasn’t until I wrote the 1991 Cesspool ARAH Review for JBL that I discovered just how amazingly interesting the character was.  From his twisted backstory as a cost-cutting CEO to his disfiguring scarred countenance, the character of Vincent D’Alleva really appealed to me.  His inclusion in FSS 2.0 was one of the swaying factors in this particular Joe fan’s decision to sign-up.  While the Club’s mock-up is mostly digital, I’m happy with the parts combination and am looking forward to seeing a more tangible prototype in the future.  This guy is almost the Joker of the G.I. Joe world– what’s NOT to love?!

If this hasn’t convinced you to sign up for FSS 2.0, maybe the final two releases will!

2013 JoeCon: The rest of the custom figures on display!

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I promised yesterday that I’d go back and take pictures of the remaining custom figures on display at JoeCon.  Thankfully, there was enough of a break in the schedule today that I was able to fulfill that particular promise.  Again, the custom work by these folks is not to be underestimated!  Just some truly brilliant and exciting pieces shown here in Indianapolis.

G.I. Joe customizers– my hat goes off to you all!

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JBL Review: G.I. Joe Retaliation Cobra Trooper

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g.i. joe retaliation cobra trooper

 

G.I. Joe Retaliation is hitting theaters nationally as early as Tuesday night.  With that in mind, JBL continues its reviews of the movie line with the Retaliation Cobra Trooper!  While not entirely screen accurate, this figure from the first wave came complete with a removable helmet and a working parachute that hearkens back to the action figures of the 80’s.  However, with wave 3 containing a screen accurate Cobra Trooper in the form of the Cobra Combat Ninja, is this figure worth picking up?

Check out the review in the G.I. Joe Retaliation Review Index and find out one Joe fan’s opinion!

JBL Review: G.I. Joe Retaliation Cyber Ninja!

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G.I. Joe Retaliation Cyber Ninjas

Reviews are back!  This time JBL takes a look at the G.I. Joe Retaliation Cyber Ninja action figure from wave 2.5.  A fusion of modern technology and traditional techniques, this figure is a stealth warrior in a stealth suit that makes me wish we were still getting actual file cards with the figures!  He’s a mix of existing tooling that creates a brand new character for Cobra!

However, is this figure worth picking up?  Hit the G.I. Joe Retaliation Review Index and check him out!

After last week’s unexpected set back reviews should continue now all the way up to the film’s release on March 28!

17 days until G.I. Joe Retaliation – Cobra fan boat

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Twitziller continues the countdown to G.I. Joe Retaliation with a look at Cobra’s newest watercraft – the fan boat!

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Ever since the first trailer debuted, this craft reminded me of the Cobra Water Moccasin.  The sleek fan-powered shallow water vessel first made it’s debut back in 1984 and has been a mainstay of the Cobra freshwater navy ever since.  Now, while it’s nice to see an homage to the original vessel in the film I think that the Cobra fan boat is more important for another reason: it is another example of how the G.I. Joe Retaliation design team has referenced the source material where possible.  Considering the Cobra Fangboat was released as movie tie-in toy and is essentially reuse of the 25th Anniversary Water Moccasin release, the fan boat could have been used in the movie at Hasbro’s insistence.  However, given how much control that Paramount Pictures’ production designers had over the look of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra I like to think that this was included because the folks who were making the film wanted to go back to the source material.  They could have used any watercraft for the scenes with Cobra Commander and Storm Shadow but instead they went with something that is a direct reference to a classic G.I. Joe toy.  In my book, that’s pure win!

Check out the rest of Twitziller’s awesome countdown below and check back tomorrow for the latest installment!   March 28 is coming at us all like an express train!

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20 days until G.I. Joe Retaliation – the Cobra satellite

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Twitziller continues his Countdown to G.I. Joe Retaliation with today’s reason to anticipate the film– the Cobra satellite!

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I’m a huge fan of the James Bond films.  As such, seeing Cobra using a space-based super weapon to threaten the world is nothing new– but it evokes images of the classic film You Only Live Twice.  In that film, SPECTRE is using their own space capsule to capture those of the Russians and the Americans in an attempt to start World War 3.  The trailers for G.I. Joe Retaliation also conjure up images of both Goldeneye and Die Another Day in which satellite weapons were the primary threat used by the protagonists.  For a super secret global terrorist organization such as Cobra, this makes perfect sense.  It’s a weapon that can’t be defended against easily and it can strike anywhere.  Even just a few years ago, Cobra was using a sub-orbital cluster of strato-lites to maintain their communications network in G.I. Joe Resolute.  So, the precedent is there and the action as revealed by the trailers thus far looks to be pretty intense.

Plus, who doesn’t love seeing a Cobra logo on the side of a satellite.  That just screams out “this is going to get good!”

Check out the entire series below as the countdown to March 28 continues!

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24 days until G.I. Joe Retaliation – Cobra Troopers

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Twitziller continues the countdown to G.I. Joe Retaliation on March 28th with today’s reason to get excited: Cobra Troopers!

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The backbone of any army is the rank and file soldiers.  Those troops conduct the missions, execute the objectives, and put themselves at risk for something larger than themselves.  In the case of G.I. Joe Retaliation, those troopers are members of Cobra Special Forces— what appears to be a Blackwater-style private military organization that is secretly funded by Cobra Commander.  With a new more realistic urban camouflage uniform and practical gear, these troopers are part of the Cobra revolution and it is up to the Joe team to stop it!

I can’t wait for the movie nor can I wait for the forthcoming “Cobra Combat Ninja” action figure in wave 3!

You can view the entire series here:

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C’mon guys and gals– the film is now dropping in 23 more days!  Can you feel the excitement? G.I. Joe Retaliation is coming!!!