GI Joe 25th Anniversary Sting Raider

Okay. Let's get this out of the way first. This is the "Water Moccasin," not the "Sting Raider." I don't keep up with GI Joe lore. I don't know much of anything about GI beyond what I consider the toy line's glory years of the early to mid 1980's. In fact, the number of figures I like from GI Joe are mostly concentrated in the 83-84 years, with that number gradually tapering off each subsequent year. By the time I get to 1988 (with some exceptions from 1989), I'm hard-pressed to come up with more than 1 or 2 figures per year that I like. And "Sting Raider" is kind of a pansy name for a terrorist organization that is usually so serpentine in demeanor, no?

I'm glad Hasbro didn't double-dip here and give us the same Copperhead figure they gave us in the Copperhead vs. Shipwreck comic pack, instead they included a Python Patrol version. Yes, the Python Patrol figures are ugly as sin, but for some reason I dug them back in '89 and they still fill me with some warm, gooey nostalgia. I think this may have something to do with something I call "Insecticon Syndrome." Put simply, uniformity found within a subset of characters makes the affected person irrationally drawn to and ghey for said subset.

One of the things that always struck me funny about the Water Moccasin was its box art which features Cobra Commander riding into battle on one of its running boards, and Destro manning the gun turret. Now, I could buy Destro maybe, but no way would Cobra Commander do that. He was the human equivalent of Megatron. He'd stand there and bluster the mighty so-and-so's attacking, but the minute Brawn or Flint show up, it's full on time to retreat. In my personal GI Joe canon, Cobra Commander's a smart guy and just keeps his ass at home.

I decided that I'd do a pic of something a little more mission-appropriate. I see it as primarily suited to "brown water ops." Namely, a high-speed transport for some Cobra Eels. It ferries them to the target area, drops them off, runs around doing a little distraction work, meets back up with the Eels at the rendezvous point, then speeds off. Since its basically a heavily armed airboat it can go where potential marine-based pursuers can't follow.

Yes, I'm a grown man that thinks about the Order of Battle for his GI Joe figures. Sue me.

GI Joe 25th Anniversary: Snow Serpents

When I was a kid, this guy was my absolute favorite Cobra army builder. This is also the best 25th Anniversary GI Joe figure yet. And I'm not saying that because I am hopelessly biased.

I also admitted that I am a sick puppy and limited myself to only four of these. Well, plus a fifth one that I am using for a custom figure. Any way, COBRAAAAA!!!!!

GI Joe Character Pics

So, Paramount has released some images of some characters from the upcoming GI Joe movie. Great big MEH! on most of them (it looks like they're going for a glorified Sigma 6 movie), but...

OH MY GOD do I want the Baroness to hurt me like the naughty boy I am!

GI Joe 25th Anniversary Firefly

Oooh, I hope they come out with Firefly! That was my first reaction when Hasbro announced the 25th Anniversary GI Joe line. This guy has always been my favorite Joe character. Something about his "makes no guarantees and gives no refunds" story just appealed to me. Yeah, the body is just a repaint of the 25A Beachhead figure, and the head is just a repaint of 5-pack Storm Shadow (and, curiously, Beachhead's head would have been perfect), but I still love this figure. I'd been making daily trips to Wal-Mart on my lunch break in hopes of finding him, and finally gave up about a week ago. Then I stopped by Target this weekend and there he was, hidden behind some Storm Shadows.

Words can't describe how awesome this figure is. It's not the most advanced figure ever, nor the most detailed, but as far as play factor and the ability to hold kick-ass poses, I'd rank him right up there with Classics Mirage and my Toynami VF-1A Valkyrie (pictures of that one to come). So here Firefly is in all his awesome, saboteur-ish badassedness.

GI Joe 25th Anniversary Cobra Legions 5-Pack

I really like the Cobra Commander in this set. Not being too keen on GI Joe lore (except for what me and my brother dreamed up when we played with ours as kids), I think if this one as a kind of ceremonial dress, like for when a Cobra Trooper is promoted to the ranks of the Crimson Guard or something. I also like the Cobra Vehicle Driver since he's a little different than your standard blueshirt.

Of the three Storm Shadows released thus far, this is my least favorite version. The Air Trooper is a cool concept, but its a little hard to get around the "gas mask" helmet. I wish Hasbro would just go ahead and release the Cobra Trooper found in the first Cobra 5-pack with the standard black webgear and red Cobra Logo, the one in this pack is just a mediocre substitute.

G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary Wave 1 Single-pack Figures

G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary figures, Single-pack, Wave 1
Pictured (L to R): Flint, Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Cobra Commander, Cobra Officer

Hasbro.com GI Joe sale

Hasbro.com is having a sale on all GI Joe toys. Up to 75% off.

Real American Heroes (3 3/4 in.) individual figures are $1.49
RAH three packs are $2.99 and six packs are $7.99.
RAH vehicles are $5.99 - $9.99. (The R.O.C.C. is regularly $44.99 and is on sale for $9.99)
Sigma 6 figures are $6.99 - $9.99.

I guess they're making room for all the 25th Anniversary stuff.

Hasbro also has four GI Joe comics available online.

GI Joe 25th Anniversary Figures

Hasbro has announced that this summer they will release 25 figures to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the start of the GI Joe's stuggle with Cobra (i.e. the start of the 3 3/4 inch action figure line.) The new 25th Anniversary line will feature figures with modern articulation but retro-styling. There will be two 5-pack sets, as well as individual figures. Figures that are available in 5-packs and individually will have notable differences between the two.

The first eleven figures which will include:
The Baroness 5-pack only
Cobra Trooper/Officer. Trooper - (5-pack version) Black facemask, black harness, black Dragunov sniper rifle, red Cobra logo; Officer - (Individual) Gray facemask, silver Dragunov, silver Cobra logo, harness with details, darker blue coloring. I'm not sure what the logic is here including the trooper in the 5-pack and the Officer as an individual figure. Seems like they'd figure that the Trooper is an "army builder" and you won't be able to do that without having to buy a 5-pack many times over. That's pretty stupid on Hasbro's part if they don't change it.
Cobra Commander 5-pack - CC's original uniform, with blue helmet and silver face shield. Individual pack - Darker blue uniform and the helmet/face shield is replaced with CC's traditional hood.
Destro 5-pack only
Storm Shadow 5-pack - solid white uniform with balaclava, cobra logo on left breast, black bandolier; Individual pack - white/gray camoflage uniform with balaclava/hood, no cobra logo, bandolier is replaced with rope. Both figures come with the same weapons...bow and arrows, 1 dagger, and a pair of ninjato
Flint - Individual pack only Snake Eyes 5-pack - Figure is all black and has Snake's traditional goggles/facemask appearance. Comes with an Uzi, demolition satchel, dagger in holster (molded on to figure), and a utility belt/harness. Individual - Snake's "visor" appearance. Uzi, dagger/holster, katana, weapons bandolier, and pet wolf Timber
Scarlett 5-pack only
Roadblock 5-pack only, comes with Ma Deuce, tripod, and .50 cal ammo belt. Tripod looks like Roadblock will have to fire from a prone position. That's more realistic, but Roadblock should be standing up, or firing Ma Deuce from the hip.
Gung Ho 5-pack only
Duke 5-pack only.

Hasbro also has a poll up at the website asking which army builder figure you'd like. The choices are Cobra Viper, Cobra Trooper, Crimson Guard, Red Ninjas, Cobra B.A.T.s, or Eels. Vipers currently lead with Troopers in second. I'd like to see Hasbro wake up and move the Cobra Officer to the 5-pack and release the Trooper individually, that we we could get both Troopers and Vipers as army builders.

Not a bad collection. They certainly got most of the "important" figures in the first batch. I know the Joes are popular, but I'd like to see some Cobra army builders. I'd also like to see some Crimson Guards and maybe Tomax/Xamot (though not enough for them to occupy two of the remaining 14 slots. I'd definitely like to see a modern take on Firefly who is probably my all time favorite Joe character. I've never really been a Joe fan (the group, not the toy line) and they got my favorite good guys, Snake Eyes, Gung Ho, and Roadblock. However, I hope they release Barbeque, that was my brother's favorite Joe as a kid. I know this may be asking for a bit much, but here's hoping the release the Rattler/Wild Weasel and Dragonfly/Wild Bill vehicle sets, too.