Ahaha. I know what you mean. If I said I was unhappy I’d be lying though. I love the new material and stuff to spend on. I’m an addict, fully. I’d rather be spending than wishing for new stuff.

Also...

I am calling the Storm Shadow mask being removable. If they are trying to cut a black battle-mask right under a white mask they are begging for paint application disasters. A tiny piece of white plastic between flesh-tone eyes and a black mask? Dubious. Money it’s removable.

 

Haha, we’re both addicts. I’m just at the point where I’d rather have all companies stop making things because that’s the only way I can stop myself from thinking about it and buying this stuff.

Will see how it goes with that mask. I mean, it’s one thing to have new designs, it’s another to just be a cheap ripoff like people are saying. If I wanted Mortal Combat, I’d buy those.

 

Glad you have your hands on them. How are the joints on your samples?

 

Both figures joints were in that sweet spot where they weren't too tight, but not too loose either if you know what I mean. Only joint I had to work out a little bit was the lower knee joint on SE's right leg and even that wasn't bad compared to some of the Marvel Legends I've bought. Joint lockups are a funny thing. I think paint seepage into the joints is one of the biggest culprits om Hasbro figures honestly.

 

Yeah, this! I understand, we have to reinvent the brand to keep up with what's "hip" and "happening." (Are those terms used correctly?) I get it. But man oh man, I sure hope we see the original 12 in a more traditional release. It's a lot like the debate on the direction of the Masterpiece TF line. Some folks like the heavily toon-centric direction of late, like MP-44; others prefer the more detailed toon/toy balance from earlier, like MP-10. It's hard to please everyone.

I know, Joe is a very sci-fi (Sci-Fi?) property. Personally, I liked the *slightly* more realistic designs from the first couple of years. Nothing realistic about Rock 'n Roll's very non-regulation beard, but man, that M60, though. I'm cherry-picking so far. The first five I;m down for; just have to swap out the weapons. The jury's out on the ninjas so far. Here's hoping!

 

Joe is my first love, and my toy buying is based on my love of those 80s designs. I can see what I want for my joes in the sculpts. The decos on these, along with the armored up bits, IMO, will look out of place in my retro themed modern toy display.

I could customize them to make them fit more in line with the aesthetic I want, but I don't want to repaint just about every $20 figure I buy. Not to mention the silly looking weapons they come with, and having to spend as much on replacement weapons as the figures themselves.

I hope the line does well and pulse and online retailers can do a fan channel line that will give me what I want. But if not, oh well, I won't be buying these figures.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the Marauder Gun Runner crew is coming up with guns to use with the Classified figures.

 

I understand people keep saying that, but I am unconvinced it is actually going to work.

At least I can do a decent wave 1 Snake Eyes vs Red Ninjas display with these (from what I have seen) and be happy.

 

I'm in the hospital for a couple of weeks and my wave 1 of Classified toys are duy to be delivered today. I hope that I don't run into the knife fitting problems some have experienced.

As for redesigns, I'm all for them but I'm not of the attitude that a redesign is inherently better than sticking closer to an earlier design, especially when iconic for a character.

So far, the redesigns shown aren't dissuading me from purchasing whole waves but I think there can be improvements. Even with Destro's redesign, I think it's fantastic but I also think reasonable improvements could be made.

More than anything, I am pulling for the success of Classified so we can get more G.I. Joe toys in this scale. I'm most impressed with the design team's implementation of joints that are usually only found in higher tier toys, namely the drop down hips and joint at the base of the neck.

 

That picture means everything to me. If Hasbro even gets close to replicating all I see in that picture I can die a happy man.

 

Oh man! I’m hopeful that gets completed in the new line. It’d be cool if they did some version of the OG 13 Green Shirt uniform in Classified. Like if Rock N Roll comes out looking like V2 or Resolute, they do make a V1 styled version. I know one of the resin casters is making 6” Jet Packs.

 

I'm hoping we get some vintage carded figures for Classified with figures retooled/repainted to match their ARAH designs, similar to what Hasbro is doing with Marvel Legends(figures with modern/current costumes sometimes in main waves, figures with classic costumes on vintage cards). While this logically seems inevitable for the Classified line, it's also yet to be confirmed/guaranteed. I just hope it gets to that point.

And if it does ever get to that point, there's 2 vintage looks to choose from, toy or cartoon. There's also some variations seen in the comic(V1 Storm Shadow after he joined the Joes with V2 camo from 1 of the Marvel covers, something like this screams fan channel exclusive).

 

Thinking about it, if Hasbro does have a long term plan, or if I were in charge of the brand. I can see the reason from a business perspective of releasing Joe with classic characters with 2020 updates. You will one get those that will buy anything, those willing to try the line out, and whatever else is or maybe interested (the kid who see's the figure at retail). Then once the line sells, introduce the classic characters again as there original 3 3/4" design knowing collectors will buy, then rereleasing the same characters/designs on vintage cards (like the current 40th ESB Black Series cards for SW).

 

I would agree with that if this was 10 years ago when the retail climate was different and 6" Hasbro figures weren't at the $19.99 MSRP just yet. I think your plan fares better for the 3.75/4" scale, where classic designs have already been released and newer designs might be more embraced initially.

 

As much as I want them all, I can't see them cranking out all of the OG13 individually given the combination of fewer slots, higher price point and sameyness of the '82 crew. But, what they could do is a Pulse/fanchannel exclusive 'greenshirt' with extra heads, webgear and weapons/accessories. You could squeeze enough in there to make Grunt, Breaker, Short-Fuze, Zap, and Rock N Roll out of it. Zap and RnR wouldn't have their lighter/darker green, but if it's between that or not getting them at all, I'd take it. It was such a PITA to round up the OG13 in 25th; be nice if they could make it a little easier this time.

 

A rare look at my old school joes

 

3.75 inch RAH was probably my favorite collecting memory as a kid. It might actually have been my favorite toy line. Star Wars was a close second and then transformers took over everything. But RAH was insanely fun.

 

I was just thinking the same thing. Perfect deluxe exclusive.

 

I wish it was a line that maintained the same design philosophy of pairing fully articulated figures with vehicles derived from current and future technology. Back then we got stuff inspired by the F-14(Skystriker), SR-71(Night Raven), Chinook(Tomahawk) but by 91 that run was definitely shifting. I wouldn't mind new characters as 4" Joes with vehicles inspired by the F-35, AH-64 with compound wing, F-15EX, et al. Yea things changed a lot in 30 years but I can't help but want what brought me to the line in the 1st place back in the 80's.