Order Of Battle: G.I. Joe Classified

This will be an ongoing post of my G.I. Joe Classified figures.

 Deluxe Snake Eyes (Hasbro Pulse Exclusive)

Obtained: August 4, 2020 (Ordered March 1, 2020)

 Roadblock

Obtained: July 30, 2020 (Ordered May 13, 2020)

 Snake Eyes

Obtained: July 30, 2020 (Ordered May 13, 2020)

 Destro (1st Run - Circle Head)

Obtained: September 2, 2020

Destro (2nd Run - No Circle on Head)

Obtained: July 30, 2020 (Ordered May 13, 2020)

 Duke

Obtained: July 30, 2020 (Ordered May 13, 2020)

Scarlett

Obtained: July 30, 2020 (Ordered May 13, 2020)

 

Cobra Commander (figure photo coming soon)

Obtained: (Ordered July 11, 2020)

 

Regal Variant Cobra Commander (Hasbro Pulse Exclusive) (figure photo coming soon)

Obtained: October 14, 2020 (Ordered July 12, 2020)

Gung Ho

Obtained: October 11, 2020 (Ordered July 11, 2020)

 

Red Ninja (figure photo coming soon)

Obtained: October 14, 2020 (Ordered July 11, 2020)

 

Snake Supreme Cobra Commander
 Hasbro Pulsecon 2020 Exclusive

Obtained: September 28, 2020 (Ordered September 23,2020)

 

Beach Head (Brown Eye Version)
Sub-Series: Cobra Island
Obtained: August 1, 2020

Beach Head (Blue Eye Version)
Sub-Series: Cobra Island
Obtained: September 2, 2020

 

Roadblock
Sub-Series: Cobra Island
Obtained: August 1, 2020

Cobra Trooper (Black Collar Version)

Sub-Series: Cobra Island

Obtained: August 1, 2020

Cobra Trooper (Blue Collar Version)

Sub-Series: Cobra Island

Obtained: September 27, 2020

The Baroness with Cobra C.O.I.L.

Sub-Series: Cobra Island

Obtained: August 25, 2020

Arctic Mission Storm Shadow (Amazon Exclusive)

Obtained: August 18, 2020

Profit Director Destro

Obtained: October 13, 2020 (Ordered August 6, 2020)

Firefly

Sub-Series: Cobra Island

Obtained: January 28, 2021 (Ordered September 26, 2020)

 

Cobra Viper

Sub-Series: Cobra Island

Obtained: January 28, 2021 (Ordered September 26, 2020)

 

Duke (Repaint)

Obtained: February 4, 2021
 

Snake-Eyes (Repaint)
Obtained: February 4, 2021

 

Scarlett (Repaint)
Obtained: February 17, 2021

Roadblock (Repaint)
Obtained: February 17, 2021

 

Zartan

Obtained: February 22, 2021 (Ordered September 26, 2020)

 

Cobra Infantry

Obtained: February 22, 22021 (Ordered September 26, 2020)

Lady Jaye
Obtained: April 9, 2021

Flint
Obtained: April 9, 2021

 

Major Bludd
Obtained: May 16, 2021

 

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Should You Have To Go To Eight Stores?

What is it about toys these days that make them so difficult to find in stores? Seriously, should one really have to make a day of going from location to location to find action figures? Now before you say, "Oh, this is just another rant," hear me out. This is actually not that at all.
 
When I found myself wanting to slam my head against a wall after what was turning into a vain attempt to obtain three figures and a vehicle / figure combo pack, the latter of which doesn't appear to be out yet, I decided I would spend my time while traveling making phone calls. Not to retail stores. Instead to two specific people.

The first was my mother. As the first person in my life to plant the toy bug, I had a question for her. Was it always this hard to find toys when she was shopping for birthdays and Christmas? Was she going from store to store, struggling to fulfill our wish lists?

For her, the answer was, "No." Any number of department stores, such as Sears, JC Penny, Montgomery Ward, and of course, Toys R' Us, always had an abundance of stock. She recalled the toy isles always filled to the rim, with no effort being involved beyond flipping through a couple pegs and finding one of each of an entire series of figures.

However, she also said that most of the time she didn't even have to waste her time with this, thanks to the annual Sears Wishbook and other Christmas catalogs. "Not once," she said that she ever ordered something that was back ordered or sold out. Stock was plentiful.

Mind you though, she was buying toys in an era where toy collecting, while I'm sure it existed, wasn't as large of a hobby as it has become since the early 90's. With that perspective, I made my second call. This time to my uncle.

Unlike my mother, my Uncle Skipper has been a collector for as long as I've known him. Stamps, coins, and baseball cards have been a lifetime passion of his. His perspective was not surprisingly very different from my mothers.

He regaled me with a tale of how around 1984 to 1985 it was relatively easy for him to walk into any card store or 7-11 and find pack after pack of baseball cards. However, he noticed around 1986 or 87 that things suddenly changed. The hobby boomed, and more and more people were trying to collect.  He specifically sited the 1986 Fleer Jordan rookie card, which quickly became a must have card.

Prices started to skyrocket, and product became rather rare. He recalled many trips to 7-11 at 4:00 AM to hunt down packs, telling me that if he didn't buy them when he saw them, he would never see them again because average buyers or dealers would swoop them all up, find the rare cards and take them to card shows or their stores.

This was an interesting story, because I honestly didn't expect it. In my mind, scalping was a thing that came about in the 90's when 80's children had a gnawing bug of nostalgia. It honestly never dawned on me that the presence of a secondary market had always been a predominant factor. It makes sense. How many sports cards and comic stores were around back then versus now? The only real difference is that with the aid of the internet and sites such as ebay, everyone can be a second hand dealer - Or scalper if you prefer.

Turns out this is not a new concept. It's with the aid of the internet, with exposure to people across the globe, versus the guy at your local shop, that the secondary market is so transparent as to just how many people are in the game of flipping. I suppose as long as collectibles exist, there will always be a group of people looking to exploit any hobby for profit. Toys have just become yet another means to that end for people looking to make a quick buck.

In that regard, perhaps the answer to the question is, "Yes." You really should have to go to eight stores to find three figures. Does it suck? Absolutely. However, I'd be lying if I said the eventual payoff wasn't a just reward - When it happens.

As a final thought to this article, I'm looking to build a network among the other bloggers who are actively collecting this line. Let's help each other out. If there's a figure you're looking for, tell me so I can keep an eye out for you. Please be prepared to reciprocate. The more people we get involved, the easier finding these figures will be for all of us. - Though before you ask, sorry, I was only able to find one duplicate from the Target wave today, and it is already claimed by someone.

The spirit of this is to not price gouge each other. Let's keep it retail (with applicable shipping). If you're interested in that, leave your name or blog site in the comment section. Feel free to also add your current want list.

I currently only have an additional Snake Eyes from the case of wave one I bought, and will have two Cobra Commanders and one Gung Ho from the case of wave two, when it arrives. I will keep looking in the wild for more of the Target exclusives to help others out.

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G.I. Joe Classified: Deluxe Snake Eyes

I love coming home to boxes on my stoop. Especially when it's a box I've been waiting an extended period for. I was super excited that Hasbro Pulse finally shipped this bad boy out. Admittedly, based on how things have been going with the line, I'm honestly surprised it even arrived.

I don't know what I was really expecting, but the first thing I took notice of was how massive the packaging for the Deluxe Snake Eyes figure is. At 14 X 11.5, it's probably the largest figure box I have ever personally had. No, I take that back, Nickelodeon's History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gets that award. Still, this box was large.

When I slid the slipcase off, I have to admit I had to take a moment and pause. The inner box is truly a work of art. The shiny layering with etched design is beautiful.

As someone who doesn't typically give boxes much thought, I'm honestly considering if this one is worth keeping, versus pitching it in the trash - As I often do with toy boxes. On one hand it seems a shame to do so, but on the other, at the end of the day, it's a box. What would I do with it beyond store it? To that end, what purpose would it ultimately serve?

Inside the package is a nice piece of artwork, which is essentially the design for the engraving on the box.

Underneath the artwork is the heart of the package, the figure and the additional accessories.

When compared to the retail version, ultimately there is value to the additional ten dollars you would have paid pre-ordering this figure from Hasbro Pulse. For starters, it comes with a slew of accessories, and mind you, these are just the ones packed in with the actual set. There are even more packed in with the figure.

 Deluxe Pack-In

The accessories in the photo above are all new, and while I initially thought they were designed specifically for the deluxe set, it appears to only be the staff that was - for now. The remaining weapons will all be packed in with the wave two, Red Ninja.

A nice added touch was this amazing looking display stand, which holds all of the above noted weapons.

When placed on the rack, while they do look nice, the overall design feels wobbly. In other words, I don't expect these weapons to stay in place long term, and I dread if this thing gets the slightest bump.

The best accessory, in my opinion, is the inclusion of Snake Eyes' signature Uzi. The suppressor, which was also included with the basic figure, not only fits on the pistol, but also the sub-machine gun.

Figure Pack-In

While they're a nice touch, the additional hands don't really excite me. Rather than sculpt a throwing star into the left hand, I would have preferred having just a loose star. The open palm karate chop of the other hand is relatively boring to me, serving little to no purpose. I went ahead and stuck them back in the box for safe keeping.

The packaging for the figure is in line with the basic assortment. However, rather than using color artwork, it's instead silver, and somewhat reflective. The only exception is the red text and clan symbol.

The numbering of the figure is denoted as 00, which makes this version officially the first in the series.

In terms of the figure, it's essentially the same one as packaged in the basic assortment, just with additional paint. Now that I have the figure in front of me, I honestly don't really like it all that much when compared to the basic assortment version. The only perk to the upgraded paint job is the silver visor, and it's a shame we had to buy a deluxe version just to get that aspect. For me, had the visor of the basic figure been silver, I wouldn't even see a reason to keep this figure.

I don't really have much more to say about the overall design that I haven't already said in my wave one review.

The shelf of G.I. Joe Classified is growing, and while I was annoyed that the Target exclusive wave was going to cause long term grief, things, while not ideal, are on the up and up with this line. Hopefully Hasbro (and any exclusive retailers) can right their course and save this series from sinking.

Until next time, here's a collector's hunting tip - Look under the shelves at your local stores. Yes, under. Physically lift the bottom shelf up. You may be surprised what you find hiding from other sneaky collectors and / or store employees who may have been short on cash.

For a look at wave one, as well as, a peak at the entire line as we know it to date, click HERE. Another fun page to check out is the official G.I. Joe Classified site. Specifically, take a look at the character tab. Hasbro has eluded that this page is where you can get a hint of figures that are coming in the series.

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Mail Call! A Package From 20 Years Before 2000

A little while ago, 20 Years Before 2000 posted about the upcoming Free Comic Book Day, now turned Free Comic Book Summer, as a result of the pandemic. In the post, it mentioned a specific Spider-Man title which was going to be included with this batch of books. Well, that was enough to excite me. This one to be exact:

There was only one problem. I don't know of any comic shops in my area which have opened yet.

I went ahead and left a comment in the post, asking that if an extra copy was found that it could come my way. Because I don't know if he wants his name posted on the internet, I'll just go ahead and word it as, 2000 came through in a big way.

When this package arrived on my doorstep, I expected nothing more than the comic noted above. Instead, what I got was this!

 Batman Nightwalker Special Edition

Batman Nightwalker Special Edition is a 2019 excerpt from the graphic novel of the same name.

A ruthless new gang of criminals known only as Nightwalkers is terrorizing Gotham, and the city’s elite are being taken out one by one. On the way home from his 18th birthday party, newly minted billionaire Bruce Wayne makes an impulsive choice that puts him in their crosshairs and lands him in Arkham Asylum, the once-infamous mental hospital. There, he meets Madeleine Wallace, a brilliant killer…and Bruce’s only hope. Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel, but is he convincing her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees?

 Superman / Batman

This was a 2006 reprint of Superman / Batman number one. It was released as part of the promotion for the film of the same name, but is not related, story wise.

When Metallo attacks Metropolis and Gotham, Superman and Batman join forces to oppose him, with a little help from Lex Luthor and his mysterious super-team.

 Detective Comics #27

Most comic book fans need no introduction to this comic. It's the first appearance of the capped crusader in 1937. I'm really intrigued to read this.

In his 75 years, Batman has been the central figure at the forefront of graphic storytelling. From the printed page to the big screen, Bob Kane's creation has never been a more significant fixture in popular culture the world over. This BATMAN 75 DAY COMIC 2014, free for a limited time, features the Dark Knight's origin from DETECTIVE COMICS #27 in 1939, as well a retelling of the story by New York Times bestselling novelist Brad Meltzer and illustrator Bryan Hitch and another short story by current BATMAN scribe Scott Snyder and artist Sean Murphy. Also included is a sneak peak at the reimagining of Batman's 1939 comic book debut, designed by Chip Kidd with a script by Meltzer. Join us as we celebrate the Dark Knight's 75th anniversary.

Spider-Man

Marvel's Silver-level FCBD title provides two exciting tales connected to the coming major storylines in Venom, Amazing Spider-Man and Black Cat from top creators Donny Cates, Ryan Stegman, Jed MacKay, Patrick Gleason and more!

 

 Ultimate Spider-Man

This Ultimate Spider-Man issue was a sneak peek of the comic book and television series from 2012.

Inside the package were also a couple bumper stickers. I'm very tempted to put the Knight Rider one on my car.

I actually used to have the below trading card from Topps Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret Of The Ooze series. While I don't anymore, and won't be actively seeking to complete another set, I'll put this card in the case of my CD soundtrack for the film.

Last up was a score of WB tattoos! This is probably something I'll share with the numerous neighborhood kids who stalk the sidewalks these days with their bikes and games. It's honestly nice to hear kids outside playing on a daily basis, as opposed to them being glued to some form of digital entertainment.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for Free Comic Book Summer. For updates on what titles are coming, and when, stay tuned to their website, HERE. Thank you so much, 2000 for not only grabbing me the Spider-Man issue I was looking for, but for all the wonderful extras.

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Retro Spins: La Bamba

I got introduced to Lou Diamond Phillips in his role as Chavez in the two Young Guns films - A guilty pleasure of mine to watch back to back every year. I always felt like he wasn't really utilized to his fullest potential in films, but have to say his portrayal of Ritchie Valens was superb.

The Man, the Myth and the Music that brought America to its feet and catapulted 17 year-old Ritchie Valens to rock 'n' roll stardom lives again in "LA BAMBA." A Mexican-American farm laborer obsessed with music and full of reams, Ritchie (Lou Diamond Phillips) bursts into the glittering world of 1950's rock with a string of chart-busting singles. Clinging to the love of his girlfriend Donna (Danielle von Zerneck) and haunted by a growing conflict with his half-brother Bob (Esai Morales) and eerie premonitions of his own death, Valen's meteoric rise to the top is suddenly halted by a final, shattering tragedy. A vivid portrait of Valen's vibrant life, "LA BAMBA" is alive with the electricity of his hits, "Come On Let's Go," "La Bamba" and "Donna," performed by Los Lobos, as well as the legendary sounds of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Chuck Berry. - Back of the original VHS

Okay, so this may be cheating. It's not exactly chalk full of 80's material. However, unlike Dirty Dancing, which I dinged for this, these versions are at least re-recordings in the 80's.

Los Lobos does a fantastic job bringing the music of Ritchie Valens to a new audience, while also providing them with the break out they needed in the USA. Unfortunately, this album would eclipse their own 1987 entry, By the Light of the Moon - An album I'll be reviewing in 2021 as a Retro Spin.

It was easy for me to get into this album because I'm a fan of jukebox style 50's hits, and there are plenty offered here. Los Lobos contributes eight of the twelve tracks. However, I have to admit, beyond Brian Setzer, I didn't recognize any of the other contributors by name. Still, their songs didn't offend.

While you can't go wrong with La Bamba, the song, the stand out track for me actually wasn't a Los Lobos track. Instead it was Crying, Waiting, Hoping by Marshall Crenshaw (originally Buddy Holly). I enjoyed it so much that I actually played it again when I finished listening to the entire soundtrack.

Overall, it was a nice change of pace from the typical sounds of the 80's, and also nice to finally dig out a good album after the recent flops I had been subjecting myself to.

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Movieland Drive-In Theater (Remco)

Movieland Drive-In Theater
Remco
1959

I don't talk about many toys which predate the 1970's, so today is pretty special for me here at The Toy Box. Today, I'm looking at the 1959 Remco Movieland Drive-In Theater.

This is part playset, part toy cars and part projector. It's main feature, the projector, came with six film slides which could be displayed off the 4 X 6 playset screen. These included scenes from Have Gun Will Travel, Heckle and Jeckle, Captain Kangaroo, Dinky Duck, Mighty Mouse and Farmer Alfalfa.

While that alone would have made for a fantastic toy, the set also included interchangeable marquees and six tin toy cars. All of which could be displayed around the lot, snack stand and ticket booth. All of this for $5.98!...Which equates to over fifty dollars these days.

The real beauty to this set is the attention to detail. It looks exactly like a miniature drive-in movie theater.

You can grab one of these complete on secondary markets for around a hundred dollars with the box. That honestly surprised me, as I really expected this thing to be upwards of four figures. At the very least, if the commercial is still available on Youtube, I highly recommend you check it out.

I'd love to see Hot Wheels make some retro playsets and vehicles based on the fifties and sixties. Wouldn't it be awesome to get a drive-in movie theater, vintage style drive thru's for food, ice cream shops, etc.? I'm not a big car collector, but I could certainly endorse a line like that. 

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G.I. Joe Classified - Target Screws It All Up...Again

If the pre-order debacle surrounding their exclusive wave of G.I. Joe Classified figures wasn't enough of a problem, Target has ramped up their incompetence. If you recall from my prior post on the subject, pegs had been set up at a lot of local stores for the upcoming wave of figures and vehicle / figure combo. Not only that, but employees seemed to be well aware of the August 14th, 2020 street date, and were doing all they could to adhere to this.

Well, that is until recently.

Target made an announcement through their "Ask Target" handle, which most collector's have missed. What they said was not only unexpected, but has led to Target once again screwing everything up when it comes to having an exclusive product that is not only highly anticipated, but in small quantity. First, go ahead and read the announcement for yourself.

Yes, you read that correctly. The street date of August 14th, 2020, was only intended for the online pre-orders. Stores have had the green light to sell the figures since July 26th, 2020. No surprise, when the scalpers found out about this, they swarmed their local stores across the country. While some stores have adhered to the original street date in August, refusing to sell them, most have complied and sold out.

Will they get more? Who knows. Will there be product in store on the originally anticipated street date? Don't count on it.

Many people have taken to Twitter to call Target out for their incompetence, as well as, voice complaint about how some stores are taking the pegs down now that they've sold out, claiming they don't expect to get anymore in stock. If you thought there was a silver lining around the possibility of getting these figures in store, you may want to go ahead and toss that idea out the window.

Thanks, Target!

If you want to voice your complaint with Target, and I really think everyone annoyed by this should, follow the original tweet HERE.

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