| Modern Era Comic Pack #10:Hard Master & Snake Eyes Reviewed! |
| Posted on 11-22-2008 at 08:17 PM by Shin Densetsu | Social Bookmarks | RSS Feeds | | Sure to be a hit with ninja fans & customizers alike, this set includes the very first figure of the Hard Master, and a Snake Eyes figure in training uniform. How did this set turn out? Read Shogi's review of modern era comic pack #10:Hard Master & Snake Eyes! | | Credit: Shogi of the Hiss Tank Forums! | Views: 3,245 | | Shogi: Hard Master is mostly made from a Wave 7 Snake-Eyes. The new body parts are his head and lower arms, also added to the body are ninja stars on each bicep, two daggers on his belt and some scrolls on his right leg. This figure has aspects right out of the Marvel comic, but misses the whole mark by a long shot. The head sculpt looks wonderful, even if he looks a little younger than he should. However, his red clothes with white highlights make him look more like Lifeline than the Hard Master. They really should have used a Red Ninja as the main base for this figure, add on new arms and the new head and it would have been straight out of the comic. As much as I dislike the look of the body, the accessories make up for it. The blind fold/headband, Sword rack and Sword with a string tied on are straight out of the comic book. So much so that you can almost recreate the scene where the Hard Master shows Snake-Eyes the "Blind Sword" technique. I haven't figured out if the arrow that comes with him is supposed to go with the bow he has, or is supposed to be the arrow that killed him. I guess that's left up to everyone to decide for themselves. Hard Master comes with a Sword Rack, Sword, Sword Sheath with string, Bow, Arrow, Headband, Face Mask and GI Joe Stand.
Fans have been wanting a Hard Master figure for the longest time now, unfortunately this body just doesn't give off the impression of an Arashikage master. As much as I hate the body they used for this figure, the great head sculpt and accessories save this figure. Also the body could be used for a Lifeline custom pretty easily, so it's possible to get parts for two great customs out of this one figure.
Figure Rating: 6 out of 10 Shogi: Snake-Eyes is a repainted Red Ninja with a new waist belt. Other than the belt there is nothing new about this body at all, but it is my favorite out of this set by far as it is almost identical to the Snake-Eyes in the comic. This figure looks like it stepped right off the pages of the comic. The accessories that come with this figure are just as cool as the ones that came with the Hard Master. He has the same sword as the Hard Master only with a black handle. It can be stored on the Sword Rack with the other sword, but also has a peg so it can be worn on the figure's back. Snake-Eyes also has training weapons, a wooden sword and a bo staff. Snake-eyes comes with Sword, Sword Sheath, Bo Staff, Wooden Sword and GI Joe Stand.
I love this figure more than I thought I would. It can be used as Snake-Eyes trianing to be a ninja, or just a generic ninja. Either way will work just fine.
Figure Rating: 8 out of 10 1SGHauser: Hard Master looks like Yul Brynner sgt.bludhound: this is a must have set! great review! I hope to find this and the Dataframe packs........ Barefoot Jedi: Hard Master is...Ultraman!? VIPER 48: I said it in your Beachhead/Mainframe review, these are a great wave of comics. This one has some great gear with it too. Great review... Snow cat: I think this set is the best of the whole wave IMO. Great review. DrKain: Hmmmmmmm, I might have to get this set just for the weapons if nothing else. Interestingly enough, someone could take that Snake-Eyes and easily repaint him into Subzero, Reptile, Smoke, and Scorpion. Deceptichage: This is a great set. I added them to my small ninja group. To make them blend in, I have the Hard Master with his mask on and a couple Snake Eyes as white belt ninjas. vermillion21: Yeah, this is an AWESOME set. Even the comic was good ... butter_the_pure: Quote:
Originally Posted by 1SGHauser  Hard Master looks like Yul Brynner | damn, that's uncanny! barbecue: Great review. This CP along with Mainframe/Beachhead are the best ever released in the modern toyline. The clever reuse of molds, paint apps, the accesories, the added details on the wave 7 SE mold used for HM & a whole new head sculpt makes this CP a must buy. I can't wait to buy both CP. Imperial_Serpentor: That mask makes him look like Ultraman, am I wrong? daremo: Thanks for the review, Shogi! I thought the comic was the best one so far. As for the comic pack itself, I hate Hasbro's verison of the Hard Master (2/10), he could have been so much better. Training SE (8/10) is cool, I like the new belt.
Also the weapons are seriously out of scale, which I will have to fix now. I love the sword stand though, best part of the set for me. You can set three weapons on it too. Good set for custom fodder. Monkeywrench: thanks for the review. I will prolly pass on this one DarthBrett: Didn't realize Hard Master had those new lower arms which will be perfect for making a more accurate v2 Storm Shadow! Shin Densetsu: Quote: |
Also the weapons are seriously out of scale, which I will have to fix now.
| That's what threw me off when I first opened the package. Quote: |
Didn't realize Hard Master had those new lower arms which will be perfect for making a more accurate v2 Storm Shadow!
| Actually he doesn't, they are new arms, they even have the stripes/lining from the upper arm molded in. Your best bet is to repaint the Wave 12 Ninja Viper.
This is a great set, I love the accessories, I was very surprised to see the amount of new accessories, all of them are new! instantramen: i'm so excited for these figures! the snake eyes looks especially cool 
great review, thanks ^^ MikeyT: Yul Brenner was awesome. I loved that guy in the 10 commandments, "Ramses, Let my people go!" Mandingo Rex: I'm glad all you comic guys love it. I could care less about him. Maybe once I get the Marvel reprints, I'll appreciate it.
The accessories are cool, but I am absolutely sick of that ninja mold. Again, instead of painting ANOTHER Snake Eyes/Storm Shadow (it's technically both now, Thanks Hasbro), I would like to see an accurate Leatherneck repaint. Hell, I'll even take the version with the Awe Striker, just in the right colors. Buzzer gear, Gung Ho head and all.
I still really wish that tiny thumbnail I saw forever ago when these first pics were shown was actually Lifeline. Lifeline and Leatherneck, how awesome would that have been?
Instead, we got this. Another ninja. alcoholic ewok: Quote:
Originally Posted by Shogi Fans have been wanting a Hard Master figure for the longest time now, unfortunately this body just doesn't give off the impression of an Arashikage master. As much as I hate the body they used for this figure, the great head sculpt and accessories save this figure. Also the body could be used for a Lifeline custom pretty easily, so it's possible to get parts for two great customs out of this one figure.
Figure Rating: 6 out of 10 | I had opened the figure w/ my contacts out and didn't realize it was a string attached to the sheath until your review, lol. I'd had these figures sitting up on a shelf, and also wondering why hasbro hadn't included an accessory for the chest hole from the snake eyes mold (also asking why they used it) and then realized the arrow fits in the hole.
so that answers the questions i'd had about the figure choice. and would make for an interesting zombie custom for this or the v3 snake eyes sculpt. 
the figure's age seems about right depending on how young/old snake eyes is during this time. i'd put snakes at around early-mid 20's and this guy around 40's somewhere. slg: I have been wanting a hard master fig since the 80's but this is not the one I have been looking for. The head looks ok but I hate the body. This is not what he looked like in the comic!! DrKain: So who is Hard Master anyway? Is he any way at all significant? Lion: Ok, between Storm Shadows Shredder Mask, and Hard Master Foot Clan Mask, are we headed for a TMNT/Joe Crossover?? slg: Quote:
Originally Posted by DrKain So who is Hard Master anyway? Is he any way at all significant? | He was a master of same clan that snake eyes and storm shadow came from. Cobra-La: When I took off the headband it ripped a couple of chunks of paint off of the handmaster's head. Weak.
Also, what is the deal with those daggers on his waste? If he does a high kick or a sit-up they'll go right into his jimmie. Pimp Daddy Darklon: So... any good replacement for a more traditional Hardmaster body? Anything from Star Wars? They seem to have a lot of robed figures. Shogi: Quote:
Originally Posted by Pimp Daddy Darklon So... any good replacement for a more traditional Hardmaster body? Anything from Star Wars? They seem to have a lot of robed figures. | Personally, I'm using a Red Ninja body from the 5 pack with Hiss Driver upper arms and Hardmaster lower arms and head. I was hoping the colors would match but the arms will have to have a darker wash painted over them hamutaro: Quote:
Originally Posted by Shogi it is my favorite out of this set by far as it is almost identical to the Snake-Eyes in the comic. This figure looks like it stepped right off the pages of the comic. | thanks for the review sir! pardon the ignorance, but from which comic series did this version pop out of? the DDP?
also, how can the oversized weapons be remedied? PrometheusX: first thing i thought about seeing the arrow was that it might be able to fit in that hole in his chest to recreate the scene where he is shot by FireFly/Zartan... Colonel Abernathy: Quote:
Originally Posted by hamutaro thanks for the review sir! pardon the ignorance, but from which comic series did this version pop out of? the DDP?
also, how can the oversized weapons be remedied? | The Hard Master's death directly or indirectly involved:
Snake Eyes
Storm Shadow
Zartan
Firefly
Cobra Commander
The Soft Master
Professor Onihashi
Stalker (sort of; very indirect)
There's probably more I'm forgetting. The event was told in Marvel's Joe comic issues 26-27. Basically, Hard Master's death was the reason for Storm Shadow becoming a Cobra in the early days. The death is a major plot point and involves the intertwining of several characters' stories.
Thanks to alcoolic ewok for pointing out the chest hole/arrow combination! Hit n Run: Great review! I think i would bye this one just for the parts and accessories. Dansolo: Quote:
Originally Posted by PrometheusX first thing i thought about seeing the arrow was that it might be able to fit in that hole in his chest to recreate the scene where he is shot by FireFly/Zartan... | Same here... Ev!L ErN!E: meh, I just want the Hard Master for the accessories Troynos: I posted in another thread about how the arrow comes with a tip that goes in the hole on the Hard Master. spacemonkeymafia: Quote:
Originally Posted by Troynos I posted in another thread about how the arrow comes with a tip that goes in the hole on the Hard Master. | but its meant for the knives that SE came with.... Troynos: Quote:
Originally Posted by spacemonkeymafia but its meant for the knives that SE came with.... | The mold, yes, but look at the arrow. The tip is designed with a peg on it that fits perfectly into the hold on the Hard Master's chest.
Someone at Hasbro realized the hole was there and made the arrow so it would fit and recreate the Hard Master getting shot. mjv306: you gave the straight repaint a higher score than the figure who is a repaint with a bunch new accesories?
Wha.....? Shin Densetsu: Quote: |
also, how can the oversized weapons be remedied?
| The easiest way is to cut off a piece of the blade, the handle itself is not too long, but the blade seems too long for a katana. percehonson: Looks like we'll be getting a Lifeline figure pretty soon. COL Abernathy: Quote:
Originally Posted by percehonson Looks like we'll be getting a Lifeline figure pretty soon. | Wait til you hold it in your hands. Cover his head and you can swear you're holding a lifeline figure. Zefram: Damn, I wasn't going to get these guys, but now I might have to score two. The HM in his mask, with maybe some paint customs, makes him look like some kinda badass elite ninja. Training Snake Eyes can just be some everyday ninja scrub.
I gotta hand it to hasbro though. Using the hole in the chest as a place for the arrow to fit was a stroke of genius. shinokage: I think they're cool and I'll buy them... but as much as I love SE and ninjas, I think I need another ninja like I need a hole in the chest... Oop! Faux Pas. Seriously though, great acc. packed in, but how many ninja figures do we really need? DarthBrett: No more really. Though I would buy a better and more accurate v2 SS and SS NF v3 if they made him. We still need Jinx, who I really, really want bad. And even though he is a samurai and not a ninja, I'd love a new Budo (the new SS is on the right path). Lifeline 71: Well, as many others have noted, I made the Hard Master into a Lifeline figure, courtesy Broken Arrow Toys (thanks, Alyosha!). It's a near-perfect likeness. I haven't decided what I'm going to do with Snake Eyes though. I think the accessories will be set up in an area of my Mobile Command Center as a sort of meditation/weapons room for Snake Eyes. bluemax151: Snake Eyes' hands are terrible and my HM's blindfold/bandanna came painted to his head and when I removed it left white paint specks. Otherwise pretty nice set based on accessories alone. I doubt we'll see a bokken again. |
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