Dolemite
05-08-2012, 06:37 PM
Okay, so I got my Amazon Retaliation set, and while some folks have posted the occasional pic of their stuff, I've been surprised that more pics haven't been flooding the boards, let along full-blown reviews.
Well, being a huge Cobra Commander fan, I decided to take it upon myself to do a review of his Amazon-exclusive all black Retaliation figure. The short version: he kicks ass. The long version? Read on, bitches.
The unboxing. I bought two sets, which came together in one box. You know, it's funny...whenever I order a Joe figure online, I keep forgetting just how small they are. I mean, if you look at the review pics at a site like GeneralsJoes, the figures look HUGE. I mean, how could you pack that much detail into 3.75" figures? Your mind keeps fooling you into thinking Joe figures are bigger than they really are. So, here I am expecting this massive box and, in reality, the box is actually kinda modest.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106917&stc=1&d=1336515300
Bam! There they are, front and back. The Retaliation sets come in a black, white, and grey outer box.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106918&stc=1&d=1336515300
Ah, there it is! The set itself. I still can't get over how cheesy the ultra-Photoshopped pic of The Rock is, with the tattoo and sword added in. I think he's wearing mascara and lipstick, too. I mean, he just looks weird.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106919&stc=1&d=1336515300
The box is open! Four slots, four figures. They each come in a baggie that is taped closed, and the 25th-style file cards come bundled together on top.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106920&stc=1&d=1336515300
Okay, here's Cobra Commander's weapons...he gets two machine guns and a pistol. They're okay. I have him holding them now, but I may or may not swap them out for something cooler and less rubbery-looking. However, in-person, they do look better than I thought they would.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106921&stc=1&d=1336515300
Cobra Commander's stand. Hey, the single-carded figures don't get stands at all, so I guess it's better than nothing. It's similar to the RoC stands in that it's supposed to look like a dog tag, but it's flatter than the usual stands, so it makes the figure look shorter then your other Joes on the shelf.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106922&stc=1&d=1336515300
It's Cobra Commander! In my bathroom! Sorry for the location of the review, but it's the room in my house with the best lighting.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106923&stc=1&d=1336515300
Overall, I love the design of the figure, even though it isn't movie-accurate (though the helmet comes close, aside from the raised cobra crest). It’s a great update to the old-school style, and he looks pretty bad-ass and threatening. The sculpt is great, especially the helmet- I love the way it swoops down in the back, covering the neck.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106924&stc=1&d=1336515300
He’s got a working holster. Look, there’s his gun in it! WOW! Seriously, though, it looks pretty cool.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106925&stc=1&d=1336515300
See? He’s pretty posable! Oh, and his web gear is a separate piece (in early pics I was worried that it was sculpted onto him, but they’re not cutting THAT many corners). The gold braids around his shoulder are attached to the web gear.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106926&stc=1&d=1336515300
And, if you were wondering, his foot holes fit perfectly onto the pegs of 25th-style stands, so if you can’t hang with his dog tag and you have a pile of 25th stands filling up your closet (guilty!), you can just give him an upgrade (like I did).
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106927&stc=1&d=1336515300
Here’s a few pics of him next to other Cobras, to give you an idea of the figure’s size. See, it’s pretty much the same. Note the difference in height with the two stands.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106928&stc=1&d=1336515300
Cobra Commander possesses all the usual Joe articulation we expect (well, most of it, anyway)...neck, shoulders, wrists (they just rotate), elbows, chest, hips, and knees. No double-jointed knees and no ankle articulation sucks, but honestly, it hasn’t prevented me from posing him exactly as I wanted to on my shelf. Besides, he’s not a ninja, so I doubt you’re going to try giving him all these dynamic poses. He’s Cobra Fucking Commander. He stands there and looks cool and gives the orders.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106930&stc=1&d=1336515300
Overall, the Black Amazon Cobra Commander is a great figure. The plastic is sturdy and doesn’t feel cheap, the joints are firm, he’s still very posable despite the minor cuts in articulation, and while some of the helmet’s paint apps are a bit wonky (mine is pretty good, but a buddy of mine got a CC where the black from the fangs had bled onto the silver of the faceplate). He’s got a cool design and he looks great on the shelf next to all my other Cobra Commanders. A very awesome update. Now all I want to see is a movie accurate version and I’ll be happy.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106929&stc=1&d=1336515300
Well, being a huge Cobra Commander fan, I decided to take it upon myself to do a review of his Amazon-exclusive all black Retaliation figure. The short version: he kicks ass. The long version? Read on, bitches.
The unboxing. I bought two sets, which came together in one box. You know, it's funny...whenever I order a Joe figure online, I keep forgetting just how small they are. I mean, if you look at the review pics at a site like GeneralsJoes, the figures look HUGE. I mean, how could you pack that much detail into 3.75" figures? Your mind keeps fooling you into thinking Joe figures are bigger than they really are. So, here I am expecting this massive box and, in reality, the box is actually kinda modest.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106917&stc=1&d=1336515300
Bam! There they are, front and back. The Retaliation sets come in a black, white, and grey outer box.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106918&stc=1&d=1336515300
Ah, there it is! The set itself. I still can't get over how cheesy the ultra-Photoshopped pic of The Rock is, with the tattoo and sword added in. I think he's wearing mascara and lipstick, too. I mean, he just looks weird.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106919&stc=1&d=1336515300
The box is open! Four slots, four figures. They each come in a baggie that is taped closed, and the 25th-style file cards come bundled together on top.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106920&stc=1&d=1336515300
Okay, here's Cobra Commander's weapons...he gets two machine guns and a pistol. They're okay. I have him holding them now, but I may or may not swap them out for something cooler and less rubbery-looking. However, in-person, they do look better than I thought they would.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106921&stc=1&d=1336515300
Cobra Commander's stand. Hey, the single-carded figures don't get stands at all, so I guess it's better than nothing. It's similar to the RoC stands in that it's supposed to look like a dog tag, but it's flatter than the usual stands, so it makes the figure look shorter then your other Joes on the shelf.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106922&stc=1&d=1336515300
It's Cobra Commander! In my bathroom! Sorry for the location of the review, but it's the room in my house with the best lighting.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106923&stc=1&d=1336515300
Overall, I love the design of the figure, even though it isn't movie-accurate (though the helmet comes close, aside from the raised cobra crest). It’s a great update to the old-school style, and he looks pretty bad-ass and threatening. The sculpt is great, especially the helmet- I love the way it swoops down in the back, covering the neck.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106924&stc=1&d=1336515300
He’s got a working holster. Look, there’s his gun in it! WOW! Seriously, though, it looks pretty cool.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106925&stc=1&d=1336515300
See? He’s pretty posable! Oh, and his web gear is a separate piece (in early pics I was worried that it was sculpted onto him, but they’re not cutting THAT many corners). The gold braids around his shoulder are attached to the web gear.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106926&stc=1&d=1336515300
And, if you were wondering, his foot holes fit perfectly onto the pegs of 25th-style stands, so if you can’t hang with his dog tag and you have a pile of 25th stands filling up your closet (guilty!), you can just give him an upgrade (like I did).
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106927&stc=1&d=1336515300
Here’s a few pics of him next to other Cobras, to give you an idea of the figure’s size. See, it’s pretty much the same. Note the difference in height with the two stands.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106928&stc=1&d=1336515300
Cobra Commander possesses all the usual Joe articulation we expect (well, most of it, anyway)...neck, shoulders, wrists (they just rotate), elbows, chest, hips, and knees. No double-jointed knees and no ankle articulation sucks, but honestly, it hasn’t prevented me from posing him exactly as I wanted to on my shelf. Besides, he’s not a ninja, so I doubt you’re going to try giving him all these dynamic poses. He’s Cobra Fucking Commander. He stands there and looks cool and gives the orders.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106930&stc=1&d=1336515300
Overall, the Black Amazon Cobra Commander is a great figure. The plastic is sturdy and doesn’t feel cheap, the joints are firm, he’s still very posable despite the minor cuts in articulation, and while some of the helmet’s paint apps are a bit wonky (mine is pretty good, but a buddy of mine got a CC where the black from the fangs had bled onto the silver of the faceplate). He’s got a cool design and he looks great on the shelf next to all my other Cobra Commanders. A very awesome update. Now all I want to see is a movie accurate version and I’ll be happy.
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=106929&stc=1&d=1336515300