No one knows G.I. Joe toys like CJ Stunkard of Stunk’s Stage. Luckily, CJ has taken an in-depth look at the new line of toys based on G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and you can read the articles right here at Pop Culture Zoo. Check back each day to read about what you’ll want to pick up and avoid in order to re-create the movie in your own home. Thank you, CJ!
The flagship category of Hasbro’s Rise of Cobra toy product is the single carded 3 3/4” line, featuring various versions of the film’s many characters. The single-carded figure assortment was the bread-and-butter of mid 80s line, allowing any kid with a decent allowance the opportunity to build their armies one figure at a time. Hasbro appears to be cashing in on the same principle, offering single-carded figures at a moderately good price on toy shelves across the nation. I was able to acquire 12 of the first 13 figures from the first wave; and for the most part, they are up-to-par with the high-quality, beloved 25th Anniversary/modern line.
Each figure is packaged on a bubble-and-blister-card combo with an artist’s rendering from the film. The figure and many of the accessories are in full view for the most part; and the figure’s name is available on a label at the very front of the blister bubble. The back of the card gives a brief synopsis of the G.I. Joe story as well as a file card to cut from the blister and collect. Six Headshots of other figures available in the wave are shown at the bottom. I would have liked to see more available figures advertised on the back, but there was not the space; and frankly, given an insert included with all the figures, showing more characters on the cardback may have been overkill. Bottom line– the carded presentation is solid, but it’s also just the beginning.
Before moving forward, however, I want to highlight one significant bonus afforded in the packaging. When opening the figure, the best bet is to pull the blister bubble from the card, leaving the card fully intact. Following this, if one cuts across the entire card at the filecard’s bottom, just above where the other characters are shown, one can use the remaining lower portion of the cardback as a holder for the filecards one hopes to collect. I realize this description is likely inadequate, so I included pictures, I saved one cardback for Cobra and one of the Joes.
Once one opens the figures, there is plenty to love. Each figure comes with multiple accessories, the aforementioned filecard, an insert that unfolds into a poster and a multitude of accessories, including one large firing weapon. This bevy of accessories, in addition to each figure’s extensive detail and articulation, makes each well worth the investment; and frankly, I am a believer in this latest iteration of the G.I. Joe Brand.
Most, if not all of the figures possess swivel joints at the wrists, double-hinge joints at the knees and ball-joints (or similar-type joints) everywhere else—neck, hips, elbows, ribs, shoulders, and feet. This allows for stellar posing with weapons with a few exceptions—like if the shoulder stock is too long for the arm, or the weapon too large, etc.
Speaking of weapons, I am going to take a moment to highlight the shooting weapons, which have not been seen in the mainstream, full-release basic 3 3/4” Joe line since the 90s. First things first, the weapons are very large and bulky, no getting around it. In some instances, they are too large; and in others, I think they are appropriate. For example, many of these weapons have the same mold, which can be well-used as a bazooka. Similarly, some of the other assorted shooting weapons can be held well as large-scale missile launchers, and they fit fine with the characters. Others do not. For example, Storm Shadow’s shooting weapon is downright lame. I could pose it with the figure, but I did not like it one bit. That being said, the return of shooting weapons to the single carded Joe releases is not the end of the world. Some fans may hate them, and that’s fine. I for one think they synthesize well into the line (for the most part), and if the kids like them, let them have them. Stay tuned over the coming days as I get into a few specifics for each figure and continue into reviewing some of the recent vehicle releases.