G.I. Joe 5-Packs (2009) — G.I. Joe #2 & Cobra #3

Just this month the the G.I. Joe and Cobra 5-Packs for 2009 have been released. This marks the 3rd Cobra set and the 2nd G.I. Joe set.

The Cobra set includes Storm Shadow (5-Pack v3), Baroness (5-Pack v2), Cobra Commander (5-Pack v3), Zartan (5-Pack v1) and a Cobra Viper (5-Pack v1). There is some subtle retooling on these figures to improve their overall look and articulation.

1) Storm Shadow (v3) has new sleeveless arms where the wrist articulation is actually at the wrist instead of halfway up the arm wrap. He also comes with some new accessories: a pair of nunchucks and a grappling hook.

2) Baroness (v2) is an all new sculpt with her new head sculpt and the detail of her heeled boots quite exceptional.

3) Cobra Commander (v3) uses the Pyramid of Darkness mold but adds the Comic Pack cape.

4) Zartan is the same mold as Wave 11, but some nice paint apps on the shoulder armor, a clear plastic chest plate painted magenta (as in the cartoon whenever he gets upset), and a paint scheme on the boots that reverses the black and the greys makes this version a must have.

5) Cobra Viper uses the same mold as the Wave 7 version, but with new hands to avoid the “bent wrists” syndrome and a chromed helmet (taken from Cobra Commander (DVDw5)). His rifle is also a metallic grey.

The G.I. Joe set includes Snake Eyes (5-Pack v3) and Timber, Lady Jaye (5-Pack v1), G.I. Joe Hawk (5-Pack v1), Flint (5-Pack v1) and Shipwreck w/Polly (5-Pack v1).

1) Snake Eyes (v3) uses the same mold as the Arise, Serpentor Arise! figure, but with black instead of purple hues. Timber is an all new mold.

2) Lady Jaye sports a new body with the head coming from the Revenge of Cobra DVD set; she also has a new javelin that is easier to hold. The details of the collar and the dagger on her chest are pretty cool.

3) G.I. Joe Hawk is the same figure from Wave 9 but with a lighter brown jacket. Nothing too exciting, but still an excellent figure. He even looks like Dennis Quaid. Hmmm…

4) Flint uses the Wave 8 Tiger Force mold, but in the classic colors. His webgear is all new so that it buckles at the side instead of the front, and his head sculpt is new as well. He also has a new shotgun.

5) Shipwreck has a new head, new right hand (so he can hold things now) and new pants. He also has a harpoon gun instead of the classic pistol. Polly is an all new sculpt.

G.I. Joe Comic Packs — Wave 6 (pt.1: MOC)

It’s nonstop madness as more Joes have come out this month than in the last year. My savings further dwindle away to nothingness, but here I am bringing you the latest wave of the G.I. Joe comic two-packs. Full review of the figures to follow.

Beachhead / Dataframe (front)

Beachhead / Dataframe (front close-up)

Beachhead / Dataframe (back)

Beachhead (close-up)

Dataframe (close-up)

Hard Master / Snake Eyes (front)

Hard Master / Snake Eyes (front close-up)

Hard Master / Snake Eyes (back)

Hard Master (close-up)

Snake Eyes (close-up)

Scrap-Iron / Wild Bill (front)

Scrap-Iron / Wild Bill (front close-up)

Scrap-Iron / Wild Bill (back)

Scrap-Iron (close-up)

Wild Bill (close-up)

G.I. Joe — Wave 10 (pt.1: MOC)

These guys are coming fast and furious. Waves 11 & 12 are even coming into online retailers in the next two weeks, and comic pack Wave 6 is coming next week. My poor wallet! Figure reviews coming soon.

Duke — Tiger Force First Sergeant

Duke (close up)

Mutt (close up)

Junkyard (close up)

Cobra Bazooka Trooper — Anti-Armor Trooper

Cobra Bazooka Trooper (close up)

Cobra Para-Viper — Cobra Paratrooper

Cobra Para-Viper (close up)

Croc Master — Cobra Reptile Trainer

Croc Master (close up)

Croc Master’s Croc (close up)

Mercenary Wraith — Counter Intelligence

Mercenary Wraith (close up)

G.I. Joe — The Rest of Wave 9

I realize that I may have been stingy when I just put up the images of Major Bludd a couple of posts back. So, in fairness of equal time, here are the rest of Wave 9 — definitely some of the cooler sculpts and characters to come out of the revamped G.I. Joe toy line.

Barbecue — Firefighter

Barbecue (close-up)

General Hawk — G.I. Joe General

General Hawk (close-up)

Sgt. Bazooka — Missile Specialist

Sgt. Bazooka (close-up)

B.A.T. — Cobra Android Trooper

B.A.T.(close-up)

Snow Serpent — Polar Assault

Snow Serpent (close-up)

Storm Shadow — Ninja-Ku Leader

Storm Shadow (close-up)

G.I. Joe Wave 9 Major Bludd — Same Figure, New Card

Any collector following the new G.I. Joe line will salivate knowing that wave 9 has just been released at retail (this of course will soon be replaced by salivating for wave 10 due out in the next couple of weeks).

In the case assortment that includes some of the best sculpts and more interesting/colorful characters (Barbecue, Snow Serpent and B.A.T., anyone?), one will find the re-issue of two figures that were difficult to find the first time around: Major Bludd and Sgt. Flash.

While it’s cool that these guys are being re-released for those who weren’t able to find them before, there’s another reason for those who already have the figures to plunk $7.99 down for another copy. Or another reason to drive completists absolutely bug-nuts.

The original release came under the 25th Anniversary logo, but now that the year has passed, a new emblem has replaced the 25th emblem in the upper right-hand corner of the card. These new emblems change depending on the source of the character — either sourced from the tv show, a sub-line faction (such as Tiger Force), or the comic among others.

Other minor differences include a lack of foil packaging, a different explosion on the background of the character art, and a new placement of the “Cobra Enemy” logo.

Being the kind of collector who usually buys one to keep MOC and one to open, I’m glad to finally get a Major Bludd that I can pull out of the packaging and set up on my shelf to collect dust. Yeah, nerdy, maybe sad, but I think it’s cool nevertheless.