G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra: Cobra Sting Raider FLOATS!!!

Dude I still don't think we're going anywhere

A good long time friend asked after the review of the Cobra Sting Raider if it floated. It was a good question and I wanted to know that as well. But I didn't have a swimming pool so I could not think of any really dignified way of doing this.

So here it is in a "batiya" It was the largest water basin I could find. Happily, yes the Cobra Sting Raider does float! Note however that the rear of the Cobra Sting Raider lies low in the water. Add the weight of two more figures and the rear of the Cobra Sting Raider sinks.

G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra: Cobra Trooper (Wave 5)

Presenting the Cobra Trooper from Hasbro's G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra series Wave 5. I found it pleasantly surprising that Hasbro decided to included the POC Cobra Trooper in the same series as the G.I. Joe Steel Brigade Trooper. Almost as if Hasbro was begging to have the two compared. The only attempt that Hasbro made to separate the POC Cobra Trooper from the POC Steel Brigade Trooper are their "scenarios." The POC Cobra Trooper is in the Urban scenario while the POC Steel Brigade Trooper is in the Desert scenario. There have been many Cobra Troopers released over the years so I thought that this was nothing special. These are, after all, the Cobra Troopers - the cannon fodder that you see running away from the G.I. Joes in the cartoons. But I have to say I actually like this particular figure.The POC Cobra Trooper has its faults as you will see, but it does have some things going for it. 

G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra: Steel Brigade (Wave 5)

Presenting the G.I. Joe Steel Brigade Trooper from Hasbro's G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra Wave 5. I fondly remember the G.I. Joe Steel Brigade Trooper from way way back in 1987 when he was first introduced as a mail-in promotional prize. In essence, the G.I. Joe Steel Brigade Trooper was probably the first "Frankenstein" born of Hasbro spare parts - save for the head which was an original piece - or probably the only left-over of a failed figure. While the G.I Joe Steel Brigade Troopers were supposed to be personalized, they were all the same and the only thing happily personalized was the blister card that accompanied the figure. Back then you filled up the form that was usually found in comic books, assigned a military specialty, a personality (Whether he was brash or cool-handed, etc...), and a name. You could even make the G.I. Joe Steel Brigade Trooper a ninja - which seemed really weird considering his uniform. Sadly I never got one since the promotion was only open to United States residents. Still it was a cool idea so it was a pleasant surprise to see that the G.I. Joe Steel Brigade Trooper was part of the Pursuit of Cobra Wave 5. They return as the "Grunts" of the G.I. Joe Team: Special forces members who just not as good as the G.I. Joe members yet but are quickly climbing the ranks hoping for the day they can claim a unique name for themselves. 

G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra: Cobra Jungle B.A.T. (Wave 5)

Presenting, the Cobra Jungle BAT - from Wave 5 of the G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra line. I've never really liked the name BAT. Call them what they are "Battle Android Troopers!" They deserve a name with the dignity worthy of their toughness and literally undying resolve (Like the "Battling Bastards of Bastogne"). The first time I saw the Cobra BAT was in the Marvel Comic Book when the PIT was compromised by Cobra Commander and Destro leading an army of Cobra BATs. And boy were they tough! They literally refused to die and just kept on coming. They only finally gave up when General Ryan blew up the PIT and buried everyone. Most of the Bastard Android Troopers probably looked as shot-up as the picture to your right. But they still just kept on coming.  Wave 5 of the G.I. Joe Pursuit Line presents a Cobra BAT Variant, the Cobra Jungle BAT which is modified to be resistant to heat and humidity - which you can read as, Hasbro took old BATs, stabbed their chest panels with pencils several times and gave repainted them with jungle cammo. 

Transformers Cybertronian Soundwave

Presenting Soundwave from the TF War for Cybertron Video Game. After our feature on the Reveal the Shield Perceptor, where we showed that Perceptor was a triple changer thanks to the creatives minds at Seibertron.com, I thought that we might as well show another Transformer gifted with a third form thanks to Seibertron.com: The Cybertronian Soundwave. I am particularly fond of this "third" form because - if you've played War for Cybertron - then you do know that the Cybetronian Soundwave is indeed a triple changer and is one of the bosses that the Autobots have to battle - along with Soundwave's little friends Laserbeak, et.al. 

G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra: Hawk (General Clayton Abernathy) G.I. Joe Commander

Presenting the G.I. Joe Commander General Clayton "Hawk" Abernathy from Wave 5 of the G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra series. My wife and I found the Pursuit of Cobra General Hawk yesterday evening in the same store that I purchased the Pursuit of Cobra Wave 6 set. It was again being sold as a set. Surprisingly my favorite toy supplier Victoyoyos called this morning and offered me the same set. He's offering the entire set of 6 for PhP 3,300 (PhP 550 per figure). I picked it up in Greenhills for PhP 3, 800 (PhP633 per figure), so go contact Victoyoyos instead. We first saw the Pursuit of Cobra General Hawk courtesy of a shared review taken from TNSi back in March. Since then the G.I. Joe Commander has gained/regained his trademark chest holstered pistol. I have to say I like this particular incarnation of General Hawk. He has a very modern look to him very reminiscent of the American troops currently deployed in the middle east. Initially I thought that General Hawk would be a figure assigned to the "Desert" scenario that the G.I. Joe figures are being molded for. Surprisingly despite the light camo, POC General Hawk is part of the "Urban Warehouse" Scenario along with Low-light, Snake-Eyes and Beachhead. 

Toy News: Darkchilde Rising

Presenting Illyana Nokolievna Rasputina, also known as the former New Mutant and now X-Man Magik (Currently under arrest), also known as the Darkchilde, ruler of the dimension of Limbo. Little sister or snowflake to Piotr Nikolaievitch Rasputin, also known as the X-Man Colossus; and Mikhail Nikolaeivitch Raputin, Russian Cosmonaut and mentally unbalanced would be world messiah. The Darkchilde's visage, as she is seen in X-Infernus # 1 (Original art by David Finch), is immortalized in polystone by Sideshow Collectibles. She will be available starting the 3rd Quarter of 2011 and only 500 of these exclusive comiquettes  will be made - so pre-orders yours at this website today. Check out the photos after the jump. Please note that this is a presentation of the Darkchilde prior to her re-taking of Limbo, which explains why she's holding a battle-axe instead of her traditional Soulsword. But don't worry, the Darkchilde comicquette also comes with a Soulsword that you can substitute for the battle axe. 

Toy News: 5th TAGCOM - Toys & Hobbies Convention

The Gathering is indeed upon us. If you have nothing to do this weekend, do drop by the 5th TAGCOM - Toys & Hobbies Convention that will run from May 20-22, 2011 at the Robinsons Midtown Mall Atrium, Ermita, Manila.

Transformers Reveal the Shield: Perceptor

Presenting Transformers Reveal the Shield Perceptor. I have to admit that I wasn't too keen on collecting Perceptor because I really hated that he transformed into a Half-track ATV instead of a Microscope. But then I chanced upon Reveal the Shield Perceptor's entry in Seibertron.com and was quite happy to see that Reveal the Shield
Perceptor had a fans-concept third transformation mode: a Microscope. So when I chanced upon Reveal the Shield Perceptor in Toys R'Us at a shelf price of PhP 699.75, I grabbed him. I have to admit that its not a perfect transformation, but the lenses and knobs do line up where a microscope's would which makes it good enough.

All I want for Christmas

I don't suppose I can buy this on ebay. This is the one time where the statement "It's all a lot of fun till someone loses a head" does not apply

Halo 3: Mongoose

Halo 3 Mongoose

Presenting the Halo 3 Mongoose! Easily one of the worst possible vehicles you can find yourself driving in that awesome video game. If you've played the game then you know that the Halo Mongoose is unarmed, tends to skid a lot - great for drifting - has a horn for an offensive weapon (Beats shouting "Get out of the way!")  and is one of the most unstable gun platforms (Even with a rocket-launcher) in the game - one of the easiest if not the easiest to overturn. I came across this particular Halo 3 Mongoose in Filbars while spending the afternoon with my wife. It cost me around PhP 1,600. It costs around PhP 1,000 on Amazon sans shipping

G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra: Cobra Sting Raider

Dude, I don't think we're moving.

Presenting the G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra: Cobra Sting Raider. As previously mentioned in a news break here on Dark Lord Dungeon, the Cobra Sting Raider used to be available for PhP 1,699. It is a solid vehicle that came with two G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra action figures: Copperhead and Swamp Viper. However I did not feel any real motivation to buy it. I didn't feel any motivation to buy the Cobra Sting Raider when its price dropped down to PhP 1,000. But when Toy Kingdom finally dropped it to PhP 500, I grabbed it and quickly recommended it as a nice troop builder. The Cobra Sting Raider is available on Amazon for US$ 31.75. Two solid "drone" figures and a vehicle for a price that's less than the cost of a regular Pursuit of Cobra Action Figure? You can't go wrong.

Transformers: BTS-03 G1 Prime Matrix of Leadership

Presenting BTS-03: The Matrix of Leadership custom add-on for the Gen 1 Optimus Prime! Lighting our Darkest hour - sorry, I know it's a cliche, but you can't be a Transformers fan without loving that statement.  Created by Best Toys, the BTS-03 G1 Prime Matrix of Leadership is probably the best upgrade for the G1 Optimus Prime available in the market.... well come to think of it it's probably the only upgrade for the G1 Optimus Prime in the market... well there's the trailer. 

I have to admit I've never liked the G1 Optimus Prime because of how crude it is in comparison to the many available Optimus Primes in the market today - I know, sacrilege and the G1 Optimus Prime was ahead of its time. But it always felt so incomplete. You can see the sun through a huge gaping hole in his chest and the rifle looked like it was going to expel paste. So when my favorite E-Bay supplier Victoyoyos said he had it, I had to grab it. 

STAR WARS Clone Wars: Pre Vizsla, leader of the Mandalorian Death Watch

Presenting Star Wars Clone Wars Pre Vizsla, leader of the Mandalorian Death Watch. 

I'm not a very big fan of the Star Wars Animated Series - despite being a Star Wars fanatic. I've never liked cartoons that distort the human form i.e. the Justice League Animated series, etc... and have always preferred those that stayed "truer" to the human form i.e G.I. Joe, Thundercats, He-Man, etc... Don't get me wrong, I think the Star Wars Animated Series presented a wonderful action filled  world that provided fans with a deeper understanding of the Clone Wars, but the spindly bodies always kept me from collecting them as toys. I'd watch the cartoons, yes, but that's all.

However, every now and then certain unique characters come  out of the Clone Wars with unique characteristics that warrant collecting and this is one of them. Pre Vizsla, leader of the Mandalorian Death Watch. 

  

Pre Vizsla is unique because of a weapon that he has that his ancestors stole from the Jedi, one of the most unique weapons in the Star Wars Universe, a Darksaber.