Vintage ARAH Cobra Frag Viper

Review by Daniel Enriquez

Resolute - Duke.

11.03.2009 - The new face of GI Joe is here, in the form of Resolute! I haven't collected the 25th Anniversary figures because they're just the classic characters in the classic designs (80's costumes), but with updated sculpting and articulation. In terms of new scultping and articulation, they're great. But, what I really want is modernized designs of the classic characters, updated for the 2000's. Sigma 6 was an okay attempt, but it failed to be the proper update to the GI Joe universe.

For those that don't know, GI Joe: Resolute is an upcoming online animated micro-series, written by comic book write, Warren Ellis. It will consist of ten 5-minute webisodes, and one 10-minute finale. It will feature top notch animation, updated versions of classic characters and vehicles, a more mature and realistic story compared to the classic cartoon, real bullets as opposed to lasers, and killing! Yes, there will be on screen deaths, hehe!

Now to the figure. Duke is among the first releases of the Resolute figures, along with Cobra Commander and Cobra Trooper. With this new Duke figure, I haven't been so excited for GI Joe in a long time. I actually enjoyed the previous new sculpts from GI Joe Vs. Cobra, Spy Troops, and Valor Vs. Venom, but GI Joe Resolute aims to properly update these characters. In my opinion, this is the best Duke design yet. Not without some flaws, but otherwise near perfect...

The accessories.

Armed and dangerous.

The cocking bolt on the rifle is a nice touch.

One of the things I like most about this Duke figure is his striking resemblance to actor Channing Tatum, who will be playing Duke in the upcoming live action GI Joe: The Rise Of Cobra movie. So, it's kinda like a preview.

And just for fun... ;)

Other fans who have this figure are unhappy with the lack of functioning holster and sheath for the pistol and knife on the figure, but I really don't mind the sculpted on holstered pistol. Overall, great figure, I'd give it a five out of five.

- Mach Diesel


For more toy reviews check out Mach site at SMUToys where this was reviewed.

Vintage ARAH Repeater Figure

Review by Daniel Enriquez

Rise of Cobra - Jungle Assault Ripcord

Posting by vince04 » Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:40 pm

The first time I heard that the ROC wave 5 is coming out, I'm really fascinated by this Ripcord variant. I told myself I would like to have this figure if I saw it on sale at the pegs.

A lot of people seem to disregard this Ripcord variant, mainly because they say his ugly head is a butt of jokes, just another Ripcord, a Hasbro waste of plastic, Wayans "hater", etc., etc. Add to the fact that the MUCH HYPED, all new "International Toy of the Year ", new variant of Snake Eyes - the City Strike, is included on wave 5.

But for me, I loved this figure right from the start. You may wonder why I like this variant so much, so now, I try to make a short review of this mostly overlooked figure from wave 5.

Ripcord is, at most, my favorite figure of ROC wave 5. He wears a brown digital camouflage pattern, which can blend well in the jungle environment.





Ripcord is stripped down: his equipment included the Pit Commando hat and vest, ROC Shipwreck's belt, three assault rifles, a jungle bolo, stand, and the usual pencil missile launcher.

Upon closer inspection, underneath the vest is the reactive impact armor torso used in the RIA Duke / Ripcord. Ripcord's arms and hands were taken from Desert Ambush Duke, which IMHO is the best arms on the ROC line suitable for assault rifles.


Ripcord's thigh, legs and boots were taken from 25th Dusty / ROC Pit Commando. Shown here posing ala "Andres Bonifacio atapang a-tao, hindi a-takbo". :D (Andres Bonafacio; so courageous he wont run away from a fight!)

Holding his assault rifles:

Some Articulated Poses

Group shots:

Pros:
- Great articulation and poseability.
- Awesome camo pattern.
- Cool accessories.
- Another military-themed figure from Hasbro.

Cons:
- The price.
- The scarcity of ROC wave 5 on local stores.
- The pencil launcher should have been replaced by a backpack or other useful military accessory.

My verdict: 8.5 / 10

Rise of Cobra - City Strike Snake Eyes

Resolute Snake Eyes ::
Post by mickeyrdj » Sun Oct 11, 2009 3:14 pm

got lucky in getting this fig.. thanks for the heads-up Toreador.. ;)

anyway.. not much to review in this fig.. he is basically the same as the ROC Rescue Mission Snake Eyes with grey colors and new head sculpt..some who got this fig and some who saw the fig up-close didn't like the fig.. some say they want it black.. for me i think this one's a keeper.. :D

Now on to the pics.. ;)

This is actually named as "City Strike Snake Eyes" but everyone knows that this is his Resolute look..





Comparison Pics ::
together with the RM SE.. if one has either i still recommend to get the one you dun have.. ;)
both figs for me have some sort of touch/effect or lets say "iba ang dating.."


Gear ::
i like how he can hold his rifle.. the butt of the rifle really is held up against his shoulders.. as if the rifle was fit exactly for SE..


Im not good with gun names.. but these look like baby guns hehe.. (i got the other one from RM SE)
also i dun get why they gave him snow spiked shoes.. wierd.. :roll:

I gave his back pack (similar to the Arctic Assault SE) to the ROC Snow Job (the one that ca me with the Rockslide ATAV)

Note also that he came with a hand gun.. i didnt want to place it in his hand because it kinda loosened it.. this happend to my RM SE..


Resolute Snake Eyes and Duke ::
how to appreciate your CS SE better? have him stand beside Duke.. \m/
raiding team.. hehe..



Overall, i'd give this fig (9.5/10)

I really like this fig.. been waiting for this and was surprised it came out earlier than i expected.. thanks to help of toreador and got lucky im in the area..

My only issue on this fig is that his ankles cant bend.. its good they didnt give this fig that crappy missile launcher.. ;)

TS118 Sidewinder Project - Modular Diorama

OPERATION: SIDEWINDER VERDE

Some quick notes..

- Inspired by the ARAH GI Joe the movie.

- Displayed last October 10-11, 2009 at the Robinson’s Place Manila Mall (Philippines) in celebration of Collecticon 2009, organized by Hobbiworx and PinoyToyKolektors (PTK).

- Brought to you by the same team that came up with O:Shock and Awe, O:Killzone, O: Forced Entry…the Philippines only local 3 3/4 (1:18) Joe online community.. TS118

- This diorama changes display every four-five hours. It is the first of its kind in the Philippines for action figures (regardless of scale). We dubbed it as a “dynamic modular diorama” or DMD.

- Took only 2 weekends of preparation given the tropical storms that hit the Philippines last September and actual dio-work to complete (figures/structures/vehicles).

- Collaboration done by at least 10-14 members (builders, pledgers/financiers, consultants, etc.)

- Simulated actual body of water (stream) by using four large bottles of setting lotion poured over a bed of Styrofoam sprinkled with pebbles (it actually lasted the entire two days without even drying).


Re-post for Glennmarc the Flash

Convention Exclusive Crimson Attack Viper

The Good - Another variant that can be added into your growing collection of Cobra Vipers.

The Great - Red for me is cool, so is gold. Add them together on a novel and excellent sculpt then you get a great figure

The Nice - Articulation is improved by using a new set of rehashed legs, making the viper do better poses. Hands have slightly changed too, for better grip on its weapons.

The Better - Good thing the figure employed the HOH mold with the chrome head, which to some say is more of a fingernail than a faceplate.

The Best - more weapons, you get an AK-47 variant aside from the standard Viper assault gun.





The Relative - the red footstands have some hesitation, since it would be kinda off along with the regular footstands on display. Well HOH has gold ones so I guess red is pretty much a better substitute than that. The reddish tan skin finish is kinda low quality for me, rather they just stick to the original material they used for the regular figure issues. Too much red I guess.

The Verdict:

These Crimson Strike Vipers are part of the Convention Exclusive sets that right now sell at evilbay for 350++ a pop. Sure you get a whole troop of vipers, plus of course a sexy red baroness variant and the exclusive twins, but at that price I rather spend it on a vintage Defiant. Nevertheless for completists in the 25th line, this is one baby you should collect. The others can view it as an expensive endeavor altogether and rather pass.

8/10 for me...