Red Ninja

[darth Cujo]

Originally Posted by Colder Soldier

The reason the with RedNinjaViper/Satan(s) should not be included in the 25th anniversary is...

1. In the original RAH run (the 25th anniversary were celebrating by the way) there were no red repainted Storm Shadows.

But in the comic there were red ninjas, which this red ninja represents. We're celebrating the 25 years of Joe, not just the first year. Just because there was no red ninja figure doesn't mean it can't be included in the anniversary line.

Originally Posted by Colder Soldier

2. I don't believe this by a long shot, but some collectors say they got the toys as a kid because they loved the comic. Yeah right, whatever. Red Ninjas (who also by the way never officially had their own title) were nothing more than rip-offs of "The Hand" Ninja Clan from Daredevil. I love you Larry, but if you want to steal Frank Millers (bad) ideas, at least give your "version" a name.

I don't know anything about Daredevil, but it's irrelevant. Red ninjas are a significant part of GI Joe and its continuity. And I did collect the figures partly because I loved the comic, thank you very much. Why is that so hard to believe?

Originally Posted by Colder Soldier

3. Last, but not least the original "Satan" figure was nothing more than a Storm Shadow repaint. It's true. Too bad the toy wasn't a RAH (the 25th anniversary were celebrating by the way). For those of you who might not know, RAH stands for Real AMERICAN Hero. Not Real ARGENTINIAN Hero. If were doing THAT, forget all the figures we REALLY grew up with! Paint Scarlett silver and give me that Glenda fig I never knew I really I wanted. Throw in Abutre Negro and India's generic "Superhero" and I'm sure we'd all be set! Who the hell's General Hawk? I got the man, the machine, STREET HAWK!

The satan figure is also irrelevant to me. As I stated, the red nijas are a significant part of the Real American Hero mythos who's anniversary we are celebrating. So the red ninja fits.

Originally Posted by Colder Soldier

The one obvious thing that no one has said yet is: HASBRO IS ONLY TRYING TO SAVE MONEY BY DOING REPAINT, AFTER REPAINT, AFTER REPAINT! I don't blame any person or any company for trying to save money. Just don't do STUPID, IDIOTIC things like put a really lame, 2004 costume design in 25th Annie, nastolgic package. That's just disrespectful. If they want to start yet another 3 3/4" line, with the very LEAST amount of money, take a moment to actually think about what would be good. They already have the sculpt (Snake Eyes) that mostly all the original Joes need. With that a Hawk, Grunt, Rock'N Roll, and all the others could be made and put in some cool 5pk's or whatever. That would all make sense! Those guys were around 25 years ago. Not a yellow-suspendered, gas-masked, JUMP-jetpack wearing, just made it the f-up Cobra Troop! Is everyone seeing where I'm going with this.

Sure I would have rather had more of the original 13 joes in the first waves, but this is hardly a bad choice. I'm happy to have a red ninja in this line, as are a lot of other people.

As for repaints, hasbro has said they are pushing out extra figures due to the unexpected demand for the anniversary figures. I'm willing to take them at their word on that. So look at it this way, a red ninja and other repaints are better than nothing, which is what you would have gotten otherwise until future waves are ready. Bonus figures! Yay! Also repaints often times make sense, so repaints in and of themselves aren't a bad thing. I've never understood some peoples' severe dislike of them. They can go too far sometimes, but I understand why we're getting them now and hopefully they will ease up over time. Oh and I quite like the "yellow-suspendered, gas-masked, JUMP-jetpack wearing, just made it the f-up Cobra Troop!" They're more or less from the comics and they look cool.

Originally Posted by Colder Soldier

I guess I'm 'bout done with this rant. That Stalker fig better come with a green jetpack. And I take it back, a new Abutre Negro fig would be cool. But not for the 25th line. Maybe later.

By your own arguements, Stalker better not come with a jet pack. He never came with one in the original run, Grand Slam did. ;) Personally I'd love Stalker to come with a JUMP jetpack. That would be cool!

I think you need to open your mind a little bit. Hasbro is capturing the spirit of the orignal line beautifully and we're getting some great figures. I'm itching for Spirit and Recondo, but I can be patient and hope for these later. I have no interest in the 2004 stormshadow, but it is part of the 25 years. It's hardly disrespectful. A lame choice, maybe, but hardly disrespectful. I find it more disrespectful that I have to get him and another CC in a 5 pack in order to get the Stinger Driver and the other to troopers I'd like to get. But that's a different issue.

[Shin Densetsu]

The 25 years covers 1982-2007. Anything from the marvel run, and Hasbro's characters from the toyline have priority over anything stemming from the DDP comics. The red ninja is a part of the joe mythos and significant. This was a character that would have been requested as a troop builder had it not been slated for a later wave. Come to think of it, he may have been the result of an earlier poll at gijoe.com from a while back.

I love the comic more than the cartoon. The comic had its serious moments and a depth unmatched by many other comic/toyline franchises. The comic had a level of seriousness that was never matched by the cartoon. As I grew older, I wanted the figures more because of the stories I read in the comic. This occurs to this day with me.

In fact, I am surprised the Red Ninja did not show up during the original RAH run.

[RamaSha007]

I really think Hawk should have been in 25th single cards and the Red Ninja should have been in the comic pack.

The one reason that justifies using the Red Ninja is to make back the money with the SS mold, but with V1, V2, Dragon, and Comic SS already planned with that mold...I find it hard to believe they HAD to do that to recoup some of the cost.

[Compulsive Collector]

The red ninja makes for a good army builder, though, so putting him in a two-pack really wouldn't be as kind to collectors as the single carded release.

[Shin Densetsu]

Originally Posted by RamaSha007

I really think Hawk should have been in 25th single cards and the Red Ninja should have been in the comic pack.

The one reason that justifies using the Red Ninja is to make back the money with the SS mold, but with V1, V2, Dragon, and Comic SS already planned with that mold...I find it hard to believe they HAD to do that to recoup some of the cost.

There is added cost with this one to recoup, he has an all new head.

[Deathx360]

Originally Posted by Compulsive Collector

The red ninja makes for a good army builder, though, so putting him in a two-pack really wouldn't be as kind to collectors as the single carded release.

You are absolutely right, in my opinion anyway. The only thing I can't understand is why Hasbro is packing the army builders one per case with only the Cobra Trooper single carded figure being available in a later wave so far. If everyone were to buy all five wave 2 figures no one would have a second Red Ninja. Hasbro should pack the army builders at least two per case like they did for DTC or not even bother having one in every wave. One per case defeats the whole purpose of army builders.

[Shin Densetsu]

Originally Posted by Deathx360

You are absolutely right, in my opinion anyway. The only thing I can't understand is why Hasbro is packing the army builders one per case with only the Cobra Trooper single carded figure being available in a later wave so far. If everyone were to buy all five wave 2 figures no one would have a second Red Ninja. Hasbro should pack the army builders at least two per case like they did for DTC or not even bother having one in every wave. One per case defeats the whole purpose of army builders.

I know how you feel man. In fact, the only time I approve of 1 per case packing is if every character in the case is only going to be packed 1 per case. Hasbro might be hesitant because in older toy lines, the cannon fodder and trooper figures tended to be the last figures on shelves. However times are different now, and I vouch for even case packs. Even case packs make it easy for everyone, since no figure will be harder to find than the other once saturation hits, and will be easier to find. McBoba anyone?

[Monkeywrench]

To chime in on the army builder talk: I would like to see them in 5 packs. Then have other figures on cards. 5 packs of Vipers, B.A.T.'s etc. I think this would please everyone equally.

[Shin Densetsu]

Originally Posted by Monkeywrench

To chime in on the army builder talk: I would like to see them in 5 packs. Then have other figures on cards. 5 packs of Vipers, B.A.T.'s etc. I think this would please everyone equally.

It would. I'd like to see them on card, and in battle packs, that way we can pick and choose and mix and match our armies.

[vega-1]

The more red ninjas the better because I love ninjas but I know what Hasbro's new Snake Eyes is gonna be. The Red Snake Eyes from Devil Duel.