G.I. Joe: The Pursuit of Cobra (Hasbro)

G.I. Joe: The Pursuit of Cobra
2010 - 2011
Hasbro

The iron was hot for the striking, and Hasbro came down on it with all their might. Right on the heels of their prior Rise of Cobra line, Hasbro dove headlong into the all new Pursuit of Cobra which ran from 2010 to 2011.

Though Joe fans were eager to swoop up what they could, truth be told there were a lot of questions as to what happened to the line as showcased at Joe Con in 2009. What hit shelves wasn't what was in correlation to what was initially displayed at the convention. To much dismay of collectors, several pieces had been cancelled prior to the line even getting an opportunity to thrive.

Despite this, Hasbro was able to please with what they did deliver - Six waves of figures, three waves of vehicles and a handful of exclusives.

 WAVE 1

Beachhead (City Strike)*Duke (Jungle Assault)*Snake Eyes (Desert Battle)*Snow Job (Arctic Threat)

Alley-Viper (City Strike)*Firefly (City Strike)*Storm Shadow (Desert Battle)*Cobra Commander

We love how Cobra Commander got his own "Cobra" themed card for this particular release. It adds all the more menace to his persona. We also love how Hasbro consistently creates artwork for each character in general leaving no one package the same as the other.

WAVE 2

Dusty (Desert Battle)*Recondo (Jungle Assault)*Snake Eyes (Jungle Assault)

Destro (Arctic Threat)*Jungle-Viper (Jungle Assault)*Zartan (Desert Battle)

WAVE 3

Duke (Desert Battle)*Snake Eyes (Desert Battle)

Cobra Shock Trooper (City Strike)*Storm Shadow (Arctic Threat)

Admittedly, one of our biggest complaints about this particular line is the over production of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow figures. We get that the two are popular, but it has become an annoying trend that each new series of G.I. Joe often times ignores other great characters that could be made in lieu of mass producing these two over and over.

WAVE 4

Low-Light (City Strike)*Skydive (Jungle Assault)

Destro (City Strike)*Shadow Tracker (Jungle Assault)

WAVE 5

Blowtorch (Jungle Assault)*General Clayton "Hawk" (City Strike)*Steel Brigade (Desert Battle)

Cobra Commander (City Strike)*Cobra - The Enemy (City Strike)*Jungle B.A.T. (Jungle Assault)

One of the things we love the most about pretty much every G.I. Joe line that has been produced to date is that they can all be incorporated together fairly seamlessly - As if they were just one giant line that's been running non stop for the past 30+ years. Not only that, but the look of the characters has stayed fairly consistent with their prior rendition. In other words - If you were to look at say, Crazy Legs from this line, and compare him to his 1980's counterpart, you would easily be able to tell that this is the same figure - Just in a different outfit.

WAVE 6

Crazy Legs (Jungle Assault)*Snake Eyes (Arctic Threat)

Cobra Viper (Desert Battle)*Croc Master (Jungle Assault)*Iron Grenadier (City Strike)*Rock Viper (Arctic Threat)

Personally we really appreciate the fact that exclusives were kept to a minimum for this line. There's nothing worse than not being able to complete your collection because you can't find or worse, afford a particular piece. Hasbro only released two exclusive figures via Toys R' Us, and even then they were fairly plentiful at the chain.

EXCLUSIVES

Quick Kick

Spirit Iron-Knife

While Hasbro planned, but then eventually cancelled a mail away version of Cobra Commander, the figure has still seemed to find its way to secondary markets. What's notable about it is that it contains all new accessories and a redesigned package. The figure itself is the same as what was released in wave one.

 MAIL AWAY

Cobra Commander

Every good Joe line needs a set of vehicles, and Hasbro made sure to deliver. Not only did they produce a fine few waves of sets, but each one came packed with a figure you couldn't get any other way.

 WAVE 1 - ALPHA CLASS VEHICLES

Ghost Hawk with Tomahawk (Jungle Assault)

Doom Cycle with Storm Rider (City Strike)

 WAVE 1 - BRAVO CLASS VEHICLES

Wolf Hound with White Out (Arctic Threat)

Cobra H.I.S.S. Tank v5 with Tank Driver (Desert Battle)

During production, Hasbro changed the color of the Cobra H.I.S.S. Tank v5 to black, and discontinued the original green version. Without opening it, the only way to tell if the version you are getting is green or black is to look at the production number on the bottom of the package. Production number 02381 (or higher) are the black ones. Numbers lower than 02381 are the green version.

 WAVE 2 - ALPHA CLASS VEHICLES

A.W.E. Striker with Nightfox (Desert Battle)

Cobra Ice Cutter with Snow Serpent Officer (Arctic Threat)

 WAVE 2 - BRAVO CLASS VEHICLES

V.A.M.P. with Double-Clutch (Jungle Assault)

Cobra Fury with Alley-Viper Officer (City Strike)

 WAVE 3 - MECHS

Steel Maurader with Kickstart (Jungle Assault)

Cobra Deviant with Cyber-Viper (City Strike)

Hasbro also planned on releasing two additional mechs - Minotaur with Desert Scorpion (Desert Battle) and Mountain Wolf with Alpine (Arctic Threat). Unfortunately these items were cancelled.

Two vehicles initially planned for a 2011 release were the G.I. Joe Cycle Armour and H.I.S.S. Attack Scout. Hasbro shopped the vehicles around to numerous retailers, but found little success until Winners of Canada accepted it as a store exclusive.

 G.I. Joe City Armour with Ashiko (City Strike)

H.I.S.S. Attack Scout with H.I.S.S. Scout Pilot (Desert Battle)

Finding G.I. Joe toys today on store shelves is just as much fun as finding them back in the day when the line was in its prime. There's no denying that Hasbro found something special with the 3 3/4 inch line, and it's just fantastic that they've managed to keep it relevant for so many collectors for so long. We're sure the franchise will be thriving for decades more.

Join us next time when we take a look at Rob Zombie Presents The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto!

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G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Hasbro)

I'll admit it. I really liked the G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra movie. But, then again, I also liked the original animated G.I. Joe movie with Cobra La - So, perhaps when it comes to G.I. Joe, either I simply have no taste, or I just feel like the series can do no wrong.

Despite general public outcry over the film, it didn't stop Hasbro from producing a toy series, and furthermore didn't stop collectors from depleting the toy isles of them within days of release.

SNEAK PREVIEW MULTIPACK

The series launched with the widely released multipack known as the M.A.R.S. Troopers. While at the time few knew just what exactly a M.A.R.S. was, it helped to fuel the online rumor mill, and build up more anticipation for the film - Something that was vastly needed as the film was already suffering major backlash from fans chiming in on various movie related websites voicing their concerns over set pictures and casting decisions.



BASIC FIGURES AND EXCLUSIVES

The basic figures launched in full assault just days before the film hit theaters. Rather than focus strictly on the film, Hasbro took the opportunity to appease Joe fans by releasing updated, modernized figures of characters who didn't appear in the film, while at the same time also producing ones that did. In the long run, it was probably what kept the series alive for the short time period it lasted.

Toys R' Us must have seen some form of potential in the series as they took the opportunity to offer exclusive figures right off the bat.


Conrad "Duke" Hauser (Desert Ambush), Snake Eyes (Ninja Commando), Barbeque (Firefighter) (Toys R' Us Exclusive)
Baroness (Attack on G.I. Joe PIT), Destro (Weapon Supplier), Storm Shadow (Ninja Mercenary), Firefly (Saboteur) (Toys R' Us Exclusive)

A known variant exists for the Snake Eyes (Paris Pursuit) and Cobra Commander figures. Snake Eyes has been found with both a black and a grey wolf, while Cobra Commander has been found with and without holes in the chest.


Conrad "Duke" Hauser (Reactive Impact Armor), Shana "Scarlett" O'Hara (Desert Ambush), Snake Eyes (Paris Pursuit) (Grey Timber), Snake Eyes (Paris Pursuit) (Black Timber), Bench-Press (Infantry Combat Specialist) (Toys R' Us Exclusive)
Cobra Commander (Holes in Chest), Cobra Commander (No Holes), Ice Viper (Arctic Assault), Storm Shadow (Paris Pursuit), Snow Serpent (Polor Combat Specialist) (Toys R' Us Exclusive)

Both Rex "The Doctor" Lewis and Storm Shadow (Arctic Assault) were released with variant versions. Rex has both a black and a white coat - While Storm Shadow comes with and without his mask.


Conrad "Duke" Hauser (Ultra Accelorator Suit), Wallace "Rippcord" Weems (Reacitve Impact Armor), Snake Eyes (Arctic Assault), Baroness (Paris Pursuit), Para Viper (Cobra Paratrooper)
Rex "The Doctor" Lewis (Black Coat), Rex "The Doctor" Lewis (White Coat), Storm Shadow (Arctic Assault) (No Mask), Storm Shadow (Arctic Assault) (with Mask)

Abel "Breaker" Shaz (Technical Surveilance), Heavy Duty (Heavy Weapons Specialist), Wallace "Ripcord" Weems (Ultra Accelorator Suit), Shana "Scarlett" O'Hara (Covert Operations)
Shipwreck (Naval Commando), Cobra Viper Commando (Desert Ambush), Zartan (Master of Disguise)

Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger (Special Weapons Officer), Deep Six (Combat Diver)
Heavy Duty (Reactive Impact Armor), Sgt. Stone (Special Forces Commando)

The G.I. Joe PIT Commando (Covert Military Force) was released with a variant version which was only different by way that the accessories were displayed in the package.


Agent Helix (Covert Operations), Anthony "Flash" Cambello (Laser Rifle Trooper), General Clayton "Hawk" Abernathy Attack on the G.I. Joe PIT), G.I. Joe PIT Commando (Covert Military Force), G.I. Joe PIT Commando (Covert Military Force)(Variant)
Cobra Eel (Underwater Trooper), Crimson Neo-Viper (Combat Royal Guard), Elite-Viper (Elite Regiment Officer)

Charbroil (Flamethrower), Kamakura (Ninja Apprentice), Carl "Doc" Greer (Arctic Threat) (Toys R' Us Exclusive), Shipwreck (Arctic Threat) (Toys R' Us Exclusive)
Nano-Viper (Cobra Commando), Night Adder (Cobra Security Officer), Red Fang Ninja (Cobra Ninja)

Commander "Duke" Hauser (City Strike), Wallace "Ripcord" Weems (Jungle Assault), Snake Eyes (City Strike)
Desert Viper (Desert Battle), Storm Shadow (Arctic Threat)

EXCLUSIVE MULTIPACKS

Target, Toys R' Us, and K Mart all offered exclusive multipacks.


G.I. Joe Rescue Mission, Attack on the G.I. Joe PIT Headquarters
Cobra Senior OFficers, G.I. Joe Senior Officers

Five Pack 1 of 2, Five Pack 2 of 2
Four Pack

TARGET EXCLUSIVE DELUXE FIGURES

Target offered deluxe figures, most of which were repainted prior figures.

James "Grand Slam" Barney with Air Assault Glider, Snake Eyes with Arashikage Cycle
Air Viper Commando with Cobra C.L.A.W., Cobra Eel with Wave Crusher

Wet Suit with Dragonfish, Air Viper with Rocket Pack
Cobra Viper Commando with Serpent Armor, Storm Shadow with Arashikage Cycle

WALMART EXCLUSIVE 2-PACKS

Walmart released exclusive two packs in their store known as the "Vs." line. Each pack included a G.I. Joe team figure, and a Cobra team figure. The packaging was the same for the first three figures, than changed for the last.

Gung Ho Vs. Copperhead, Shockblast Vs. Night Creeper
Tunnel Rat Vs. Monkey Wrench, Snake Eyes Vs. Storm Shadow

WALMART EXCLUSIVE MINI PLAYSETS

Walmart also released a set of mini playsets. Each set contained two figures and a stationary diorama playset.

Heatseek Missile System, Outpost Defender
Laser Artillery Weapon, Surveillance Port

VEHICLES

What was great about the line of vehicles that were released was that all of them included a figure packed in, most of which were never released on single cards.

The Cobra Gunship was released with two versions of Firefly - One with a black helmet, and another with a red helmet.


Armored Panther with Sgt. Thunderblast, Rockslide A.T.A.V. with Snow Job, Ice Dagger with Frostbite
Mole Pod with Terra-Viper, Snake Trax A.T.V. with Scrap-Iron, Cobra Gunship with Firefly (Red Helmet)
Night Raven with Air-Viper, Cobra Gunship with Firefly (Black Helmet), Steel Crusher A.P.V. with Nitro-Viper

Rocklide A.T.A.V. and Mole Pod Two Pack with Snow Job and Terra-Viper
PIT Mobile Headquarters with General Clayton "Hawk" Abernathy

The Snarler Cycle with Wayne "Beachhead" Sneeden and Rollbar was released in two different versions, but with nothing different other than the figure location in relation to each other in the package. The first has Rollbar sitting in the side car while the second has him standing behind the bike.

The Mantis Attack Craft with Aqua-Viper also has two variations, which are also only changes to the actual packaging. The first has the figure with no helmet on. The second has the helmet on.

Sky Sweeper Jet with Air Raid, Snarler Cycle with Wayne "Beachhead" Sneeden and Rollbar (Rollbar Sitting),Snarler Cycle with Wayne "Beachhead" Sneeden and Rollbar (Rollbar Standing)
Dragonhawk XH1 with Wild Bill, Mantis Attack Craft with Aqua-Viper Officer (Helmet Off)
Mantis Attack Craft with Aqua-Viper Officer (Helmet On), Crimson Hydra with Aero-Viper

Polar Sharc Submarine with Ice Storm, Desert Rockslide A.T.A.V with Dusty
Tiger Claw A.T.V. with Leatherneck, Lava Pod with Volcano Viper

RIP ATTACK VEHICLES

Rip Attack vehicles were vehicles packed in with hand held launchers. Load the cycle on, hit the button, and launch it forward.

Jet Storm Cycle with Snake Eyes, Tiger Snake with Street Viper

EXCLUSIVE VEHICLES

Target and Toys R' Us both offered exclusive vehicles.

R.H.I.N.O. with Rampage
Rockslide A.T.A.V. with Snow Job Past and Present Two Pack, Sting Raider with Copperhead and Swamp Viper

Several more figures and vehicles were planned for The Rise of Cobra series that were never released. However, rather than dumping the designs completely, Hasbro rolled over the majority of these concepts into the next G.I. Joe line, "The Pursuit of Cobra which launched shortly after this series ended. We'll take a look at that series another time, so stay tuned for that.

Join us next Monday for our look at Adult Swim!

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