So, what toys did you buy or get this week?

[anarky]

I got the Arctic HISS, FLAK Cannon with Cobra CLAW, and Stinger at Ross for $8.99 each. This was the wave that was canceled, then resurrected as an Entertainment Earth exclusive. Ran, I'd recommend looking for these, especially the Stinger and FLAK, two of my favorites as a kid.

Also picked up a set of Rise of Cobra Joes at the same time (an offscreen set containing Zartan, Law & Order, Dial-Tone, Repeater, and Footloose). It actually cost more than the vehicles, I'm guessing because they've gotten other 25th Anniversary vehicles that didn't sell particularly fast at the $13 price point and had them for less to begin with.

[Ran]

I was reading the forums at hisstank and heard about that wave showing up. I haven't been to Ross yet, but I'm hoping to find the Flak set and maybe the Stinger. Still considering getting a VAMP from TJ Maxx. The problem is I cut back to 30 hrs/week and the VA hasn't sent me any money yet.

[anarky]

Ouch.

Mrs A will be going on maternity leave in a few weeks, resulting in a nice pay cut for the following two months. Since she makes the bulk of our income, that's going to mean I'm going to be cutting back. I would've waited on these, but, given how they were an online exclusive, I seriously doubt they'd stick around.

Still see the VAMP, SHARC, RAM vs Trouble Bubble, and even the Firebat at both Ross and Marshall's quite often.

[Ran]

Last time I was in TJ Max, they still had those. I was in Marshalls the other day and saw the movie version of the Firebat (light gray/blue-ish color), mole pod, & the motorcycle w/ Beachead & Rollbar. They also had some other Cobra water vehicle that looked like something from the vintage line (but can't remember the name). Best I can describe it that it sort of looks like Slave I, except the cockpit faces the other way.

I wanted a HISS tank, but I don't like the white version.

EDIT: Found the vintage version. It was the Sea Ray.

[anarky]

Yeah, I saw those, too. The Snarler Cycle is nice; if it were cheaper, I'd get a second. However, they're selling them for the same amount as the larger ROC vehicles (and I have resisted the temptation to army-build the chopper, only buying one extra of the Hummer and Cobra Airship). Mole Pod is decent, but nothing special. I picked up two blue Firebats, and need Cobra stickers for them somehow. The Manta Ray is also cool, but not a vehicle I'd even want multiples of. To be honest, if I got a second, I'd get it for the driver, who's got a better Harrison Ford headsculpt than any Han Solo or Indiana Jones figures.

One thing I wouldn't mind you keeping an eye open for me would be the final wave of the ROC small vehicles. They were canceled in the US, but shipped in other countries, so there's a chance they could show up at Ross. If they do, I don't expect them to last long. There was ATV, a movie SHARC, some other small land vehicle, and a "Lava Pod," which is the Mole Pod repainted in a different color. The one I'm most interested in is the Lava Pod, because the pilot (Lava Viper) is one amazingly sweet kitbash (of the sort that would require some really intricate painting to replicate at home).

[Ran]

The only one of those I knew about was Leatherneck with the ATV. It would be cool if it popped up somewhere.

[anarky]

I'd love to get any of them. Not paying scalper pricers, though.

I hadn't looked really closely at the Leatherneck ATV, but he's a much nicer Leatherneck than the desert-themed one that came with the Target exclusive AWE Striker.

I'd rank them, based on the pics:
1) Lava Pod. That Volcano Viper (which I called a Lava Viper earlier) is fucking beautiful, even if I already have one normal Mole Pod and the TRU repaint.
2) Tiger Claw. It'd be nice if it had a Tiger Force paint scheme, but, eh, it still looks sweet and the Leatherneck is a nice-looking figure (even if it's just a repaint of the earlier one and they still didn't fix his Gung Ho head, it looks nicer).
3) Polar SHARC. Surprised this didn't make it out in an earlier wave, seeing as how it appeared in the movie. The figure looks useless, though that may be a new head (I can't think of anyone else with a knit cap pulled down so low on the head).
4) Desert Rockslide. I've got two of the normal ice-themed Rockslides (got both in the Target "Then & Now" Polar Battle Bear sets, one on dirt-cheap clearance) and it's not an especially noteworthy vehicle. The Dusty doesn't look especially necessary, either, though the helmet looks new and pretty cool. (Not sure why they've never re-used any of the Dusty parts from the DVD set.)

But, yeah, if you see any of these at one of the closeout stores and either don't want it or they've got an extra, I'd take any of them.

There was also a repaint of the Volcano Viper that was sold in large numbers on eBay for a massive markup, done in bright colors. Silly as that is for most Joe figures, it looked downright sweet for this particular one, and the colors actually made sense for a dude who's got some sort of lava-safe protective gear.

[Ran]

My wife let me buy the Stinger and FLAK. Didn't even have to beg.

[Rollo Tomassi]

I got the DCUC Green Lantern 5-Pack from Walmart. It has Guy Gardner, Tomar-Re, Sinestro(in GL uniform) Hal Jordan with gray temples, and John Stewart in his Mosaic era uniform.

[Ran]

Stopped by TRU this afternoon. I didn't buy anything (yet), but I checked the prices on a few things. The sticker on the shelf below the Sting Raider (Water Moccasin) said $19.99. I scanned it under the price scanner anyway and it rang up around $13. A couple other things that were marked wrong were the A-Team and the Prince of Persia figures. I think they were both around $4 even though the stickers on the pegs said $5 and $7. Doubt I'd buy any of those (although a few months ago I bought the A-Team van fors $7 and one Prince of Persia figure for $2 at Target).

[Rollo Tomassi]

Picked up Marvel Universe Galactus. Aside from the ridiculously laughable voice its a nice BIG figure that puts my other two Galacti to shame. (Yes, I have the original Toybiz version. Vintage Galactus is cheesy bragging rights)

[Rollo Tomassi]

I was in Walmart and found the new SuperHero Squad 3pack with Rescue. I also got TF Generations RedAlert and STRAXUS! Straxus was trying to be clever by hiding in the toy aisle under an assumed identity but I wasn't fooled for a minute.

[anarky]

Damn, I've not seen Red Alert and the Lord of Darkmount Who Shall Not Be Named. Aren't Blurr, Soundwave, and Dirge supposed to hit around the same time? Just when I thought I was caught up....

You seen who the Straxxus repaint scheduled for a few months out is? No pussy loser like Banzai-Tron. Onoes.


Okay, maybe not immediately obvious, but it's the bad-assest looking Pretender of all, who was a huge fucking colossal pissant in the comic: Skullgrin!

Edit: I looked it up. If you found Red Alert, and others have found Dirge and Blurr, then that means we're all the way up to Wave 4 (with two new guys in each wave). Cybertronian Megatron and Soundwave are also out. Damn, I'm behind by six already.

The following wave has Tracks and Jazz (about damned time!), who look sweet. There's also FallOutback, but he looks like he's done in movie style, and some guy named Mindset, who's apparently a Generation 2 character I never heard of. After that, Perceptor, Thunderwing, Skullgrin, Grapple, and Cybertron Cliffjumper. (This leads me to believe they'll eventually do a white Cybertron Optimus as Cybertron Ultra Magnus.)

[Rollo Tomassi]

They had Cybertronian Megatron and Soundwave there, but I'm not made of money dammit.

[Ran]

We had a $5 off $25 coupon at TRU. Bought the Sting Raider, Charbroil, and Stormshadow from the first new wave. I figured Charbroil is an update of Blowtorch. Only got Stormshadow because anarky said he was cool. I considered getting either the Snowcat or the new Snowspeeder instead of the 2 single figures but went the cheap route instead.


Edit: Didn't see any of those Transformers you guys were talking about, but did see a big ass Sea Spray at Target.