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Letal
08-04-2008, 07:36 PM
One Year after: The First Anniversary of the 25th Anniversary Line

Hello there, one year or so ago we, joe fans, were all in an uphoar expecting or already grabbing the long awaited 25th-5 Packs and the hope of a fantastic and I would even say a revolutionary new-line of our beloveds 3 3/4" pieces of plastic.
Thinking about that I decided to do quick reviews of the figures now, after a year, with my mind not so affected by the anxiety, and see if the disappointment is some cases and the excitement on others were justified and by that se how the line evolved or ... didn´t.

I will begin with the Cobra 5-Pack:

Well, I guess that by making a so well designed package, the inclusion of a Gi-Joe music logo and selecting the main caracters in the Cobra host, this package would sell well even if the figures were solid plastic with no articulation at all. The 5 Pack was a beauty to see, touch and hear... when you started to pull the figures out of it, then the matter would be a little diferent though. Hmm I guess I almost deviate from my puppose here... I must review the figures by what I feel now not then, but I guess what I said about the 5-Pack above is how I feel today when I look at it... It is a home run or "goal" for the ones in to soccer like me.
But in to the figures themselves ....

Cobra Soldier
From a good looking point of view this figure is awesome, even with the bald head and the "small" logo. I was bothered by the size of the logo, but now I really like it. The articulation is not as good as it could be at the elbows and hips, but I can do almost all the poses I want for a soldier, since I use another rifle. I don´t like the rifle by the way, it has a very small handle and look too thin and small.
Small Flaws: hip and elbows articulation;
Major Flaws: can´t hold his gun; rifle is to small and thin.
Could be Better: head articulation (up and dow); knife point (looks like a envelope opener for me); gear (don´t fit perfectly)
Articulation Score: 7.5 out of 10
"Good Looking" Score: 9 out of 10
How much I like this figure Today: 9 out of 10

Storm Shadow
I guess Storm Shadow is one of the figures that I liked it better then than I like it now. I still like him very much it´s just that he made a great impact on me when it was released, with his little sandals, painted acessories, awesome look and articulation. Maybe it´s because I have seen him released so many times over the last year with his little flaws un-fixed.
Small Flaws: left elbow articulation
Major Flaws: I don´t see any
Could be Better: head articulation (up and dow); the grabing of the weapons; don´t have his nunchucks
Articulation Score: 8.5 out of 10
"Good Looking" Score: 9.5 out of 10
How much I like this figure Today: 9 out of 10

Cobra Commander
When I look to CC today, 2 things comes to my mind:
1st: "It was so close ...."
2nd: "Man, you have so many brothers!"
The first thought is that this figure came so close to perfection... but missed it bad because of his tiny head/face-plate and his puny helmet. The problems with the hip joints and the "fisted" hand, would have gone unnoticed if not for that. In fact I kind like the fisted hand, since I can put him in some many cool madmen poses with it. The fact that now we have seen this same head-helmet a "few" times, makes this CC go down in how much I apreciatte him.
Small Flaws: hip articulation
Major Flaws: tiny head and helmet
Could be Better: head articulation (up and dow); Cobra logo (could be bigger)
Articulation Score: 7.5 out of 10
"Good Looking" Score: 7.5 out of 10
How much I like this figure Today: 6 out of 10

Destro
To me this Destro is the case when the small flaws are totally shadowed by the success of all the rest. I remember being upset with the articulation in his arms not working as they should because of the muscular appearence of his body (and arms). But in the end I can´t help not to love this figure and his acessories. Some of you reading this will probably complain of his left hand, this is not my case because I can make him hold his suitcase with a little effort.
Small Flaws: no joint-knee articulation, arms articulation
Major Flaws: his suitcase don´t stay closed once opened
Could be Better: missiles and grenades could be removable
Articulation Score: 7.5 out of 10
"Good Looking" Score: 9.5 out of 10
How much I like this figure Today: 9.5 out of 10

Baroness
"My Dear Baroness, what have they done to you... " I really tried to like this Baroness then and I still try now but the fact is that she has too many issues in all departments. I think her problem is that the people at hasbro maybe have tried too hard. Tried too hard to make her hair look nice, tried too hard to make she use high heels, tried too hard to make her face elongated and noble. The result instead is that is dificult to move her head and the hair looks strange, the high heels are ugly and I can´t make her stand up in almost any position and that her face have a real big chin and a cartonish look. Yet I cherish her a little.. I don´t know maybe because she is the Baroness and still weres black leather.
Small Flaws: no joint-knee articulation, too skiny
Major Flaws: hip articulatuion; look of her face; movement of the head
Could be Better: I guess she could have been more simply designed
Articulation Score: 4 out of 10
"Good Looking" Score: 6 out of 10
How much I like this figure Today: 4.9 out of 10

Letal
08-04-2008, 07:39 PM
If somebody reply to this thread I will continue reviewing the line ... if not... well it was fun to do it so far anyway.
And please keep in mind that I from Brazil, so if you see some strange writing ... give me some slack.

popsicleviper
08-04-2008, 09:19 PM
I don´t know maybe because she is the Baroness and still weres black leather.


I could not have said it better, that's the only reason I like that figure. Great review, keep it up, I can't wait for the Duke arm bashing. I hate thoes arms!

Letal
08-05-2008, 01:37 PM
Ok we have a reader!
Thinking about in how the line evolved this last year or so … I believe that the first two 5-packs already gave us a glimpse of what we could expect from each next wave of the line: A bag of mixed feelings. In each wave there would be figures to love and others to be a little or very disappointed. I strongly believe that the wave 9 and 10 of single cards will break this pattern since I do not see much to complain about, unfortunately I don´t have the wave 9 in my hands yet.

On to the figure reviews: 25th Gi-Joe 5 Pack

Duke
Well, well, well… What can I say about you Mr. after a year? That you have spread your arms all over the line even if they’re the most hatred figure part ever released in 25th years? I can say that for sure! And is a sad thing, mostly because sometimes looks like Hasbro kept releasing this figure part on purpose to show us that despite our many complains and the fact that the line was so lucrative, they would do whatever they wanted, when they wanted. How much would they have spent to produce a new mold for 2 arms that would be used in so many new figures and pleased so many collectors? I’m a kind of a completist, so I have bought every figure I could, but I know that are many collectors who buy only what they think it’s worth… and I believe that this arms made many figures unworthy for MANY collectors. In the end, was that so lucrative not to fix this problem?
Despite of this, I like some things in this figure, his colors, weapon, bandolier … and by my own surprise his general look. With the modification I did in the arms I was able to do some poses with the rifle and that also elevated the much I like this Duke.
Small Flaws: hip articulation
Major Flaws: “Duke’s arms”; cartonish style face; inverted flag on right arm
Could Be Better: come with a decent backpack and a bigger binocular
Articulation Score: 5 out of 10
"Good Looking" Score: 7.5 out of 10
How much I like this figure Today: 6.5 out of 10

Gung-Ho
Gung-Ho is the Baroness of the Gi-Joe 5 Pack, a figure that I struggle to like … but it’s not an easy task. It’s easier to like if you just look at him but once you start playing and posing… it’s a nightmare, worst in my case since the joint knees were loose right out of the package. I like his vest and the fact that is removable, the holster and grenades shells in his legs, his accessories and the general look if you don’t look at him sideways, when his thin neck and oddly placed head makes him look too strange. Yet as Baroness, I like the character a good bit…
Small Flaws: skin color
Major Flaws: hip and arms (elbows and shoulder) articulation; thin neck
Could Be Better: his grenade launcher could be more though
Articulation Score: 4.5 out of 10
"Good Looking" Score: 8.5 out of 10
How much I like this figure Today: 6.5 out of 10

Scarlett
All in all I like Scarlett, but still the feeling that she could have been so much better with a little more attention in her design is very strong. The limited hip articulation, her hunchback problem and the head and cartoonish face stop her from being a perfect Scarlett rendition.
Small Flaws: head looks strange if looked sideways; can’t hold her weapons
Major Flaws: hip articulation; “hunchback” torso
Could Be Better: joint knees articulation; not too skinny
Articulation Score: 7 out of 10
"Good Looking" Score: 8.8 out of 10
How much I like this figure Today: 7.4 out of 10

Roadblock
If not for his little head and oddly posed hands this figure would be one of the best of the line so far, close to a perfect classic looking Roadblock. The size of Roadblock’s machine gun would be downsized a bit, but his set of accessories is very, very nice.
In the end he is a very nice figure, very imposing and poseable, with a little bit of effort of course and I think I like it better now that I’m used to his little flaws.
Small Flaws: head’s too small; cartoonish looking face
Major Flaws: strange hands and of not much use
Could Be Better: joint knees articulation; smaller machine gun
Articulation Score: 8.5 out of 10
"Good Looking" Score: 9 out of 10
How much I like this figure Today: 8.8 out of 10

Snake Eyes
I believe Snake Eyes was the closest figure to toy-perfection in the first 10 figures. In fact from a good looking point of view I think he is perfect, maybe the eye mask is a bit too large, but it’s more an issue than a flaw. But for a commando-ninja his articulation problems are a bit troubling, I remember liking SS more than SE just because of that and when I went to take pictures and pose this SE to make this review, this problems came to my mind again. Yet SE is a winner and maybe the saver of this 5-Pack
Small Flaws: elbows articulation
Major Flaws: hip articulation
Could Be Better: holdint of his weapons
Articulation Score: 8.5 out of 10
"Good Looking" Score: 9.5 out of 10
How much I like this figure Today: 9 out of 10

artiepants
08-05-2008, 02:13 PM
Nice Reviews!
funny that for how many times they've released Duke they can't top the OG 5 pack for colors. I agree, SE is th ebst out of the Joe pack, but the w.5 version just totally kills this one.

and the 5 pack Stormy is one of the best of the line IMO, and i'm not even a huge fan of the character (love the Red Ninjas!!!)

arch2b
08-05-2008, 02:16 PM
nice look back at what got us started.

odd how everyone complains about the baroness yet she continuse to sell well on ebay and just as hard to find loose or new in box. i've been looking for a lose baroness for under $10 for a very long time.

mister_e
08-05-2008, 02:33 PM
Good reviews. I do have a small nitpick though. You mentioned the "inverted flag on right arm" as a major flaw for Duke. It's actually not a flaw, that's how it is SUPPOSED to be.

Duke's arms, however, are definite flaws :P

Letal
08-05-2008, 02:42 PM
Good reviews. I do have a small nitpick though. You mentioned the "inverted flag on right arm" as a major flaw for Duke. It's actually not a flaw, that's how it is SUPPOSED to be.


Really? I didn´t know mate... and why is this supposed to be inverted?

82joe
08-05-2008, 02:44 PM
First spotted the new 25th Joes at KB of all places. First impression was so-so....it was cool to see them in familiar uniforms but that was about it. At the time thought the articulation looked too much like Star Wars figures......passed on a Black Timber Snake Eyes because I thought they would be everywhere (like the old days)..............oh well.

mister_e
08-05-2008, 02:59 PM
Really? I didn´t know mate... and why is this supposed to be inverted?

Flag Rules and Regulations (http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html#q57)

polyphenus
08-05-2008, 02:59 PM
Really? I didn´t know mate... and why is this supposed to be inverted?

If you imagine the body as the flagpole then the flag's orientation on either side of the body should reflect whichever direction that person (flagpole) is standing. Think of it like looking at a flagpole where the wind is blowing the other direction: It gives the appearance that the American flag is backwards from one side. It may not make sense to people from countries with symmetrical flags as their own flag looks the same from either direction...

sgtapon
08-05-2008, 03:12 PM
nice look back at what got us started.

odd how everyone complains about the baroness yet she continuse to sell well on ebay and just as hard to find loose or new in box. i've been looking for a lose baroness for under $10 for a very long time.

been look for a baroness too...got a wave 8 baroness that i ordered online...but i still want the 5 pack version

82joe
08-05-2008, 03:17 PM
I'll gladly trade a complete 5 pack 25th Baroness for a loose complete 1985 Baroness....any takers?

Letal
08-05-2008, 03:36 PM
Tks for the info mister_e and polyphenus....

Also if anyone like to se more pictures here goes the link:
Gi-Joes!!! - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/toys-from-mars/sets/72157603983025294/)