Yeah, I’m running way behind on reviews, though I am simultaneously working on Wave 5, the 2011 Convention Set, and this Dial Tone as well…once the floodgates open, they’ll start flying out!

I have updated my 25th Anniversary Reviews Page (and put it on the GIJCC Reviews Page as well) or you can check out the review itself at the link below:

• GIJCC Exclusive Dial Tone

I know the reviews have been a bit sparse, but I am about 75% done with 6 or 7 different reviews, and they should all come pouring out within the next week or so.

Enjoy!

It only makes sense that Snake Eyes has pretty much been the backbone of the G.I. Joe mythology for a long time, and that he would bookend the Hall of Heroes assortment.  At the same time it seems somewhat bizarre that this line, supposedly geared so strongly towards collectors, would include two separate figures of a character who collectors claim to be sick of.

Of course, we’re all aware of the strange life of the Hall of Heroes, and how the fan vote was given before we even knew about other figures coming out, and the production cycle takes so long that the coolest figures within the Hall of Heroes had already been released in other formats before they even got their “deluxe” treatment.

But I digress…  check out my 25th Anniversary Review Page, or just scope out the links below:

• Hall of Heroes Zartan
• Hall of Heroes Commando Snake Eyes

Next in line for the GeneralsJoes review treatment are the Hall of Heroes Crimson Guard and Flint!  Both of these figures feature mostly cosmetic updates, though Flint suffers from the fact that an even better version was released in a different set around the same time.

A recurring theme?  Check out my 25th Anniversary Review Page, or just click the links below:

• Hall of Heroes Crimson Guard
• Hall of Heroes Flint

Continuing along with the weeklong review process, today we are covering the Hall of Heroes Beachhead and Cobra Viper!  Two of the better Hall of Heroes offerings, these two figures  capture the spirit and the excellence of some of the Anniversary offerings quite nicely.

They both fixed issues that hampered initial releases, even if other fixed figures came out previously.

Check out the 25th Anniversary Review Page, or click the links below.

• Beachhead
• Cobra Viper

The next two Hall of Heroes figures are up to “B.A.T.” for review today!

Initially marketed as coming with the battle damaged head, the original carded release of the Cobra B.A.T. left collectors disappointed, even as impressive a figure as it was.  Well, the Hall of Heroes version goes all out, and even though the Defense of Cobra Island B.A.T. gave us the same package, it’s nice to get it in single pack form.

Storm Shadow?  Well, that’s another story…

Check out the reviews on the 25th Anniversary Review page or directly at the links below:

• Hall of Heroes Cobra B.A.T.
• Hall of Heroes Storm Shadow

I don’t think I’ve made it much of a secret that some of the ideas behind the 25th Anniversary line were a bit lost on me.  I can understand and appreciate the history of the Real American Hero, but I’ve never  been one to be taken by nostalgia, and often would prefer the Joe line evolve and move on rather than continually look back.

However, I know a lot of fans out there loved the Anniversary stuff, and I feel for those folks who thought it died before its time.  Now that I have an extensive Anniversary collection, I join many fellow fans in wanting to see certain holes filled in the roster.

But I thought the Hall of Heroes was a pretty big missed opportunity in 2009.   Lots of minor repaints, some strange marketing decisions…  the concept was far more noble than the final result.  That being said, in the past 2 years I have received more demand for the Hall of Heroes reviews than I have for pretty much anything else.  So here they are.  All week long I’ll be reviewing two figures from the 10 figure assortment, and I start off today with:

• Snake Eyes
• Firefly

Also, keep checking the 25th Anniversary Review Page as I prepare to begin listing the other 8 figures as well.  Hopefully this will make some folks happy, and also help kick off the GeneralsJoes “Review Recap” period where I’m going to start grabbing some stuff from past years and trying to fill in some of the gaps in my review archive.  I won’t get ‘em all, but hopefully some old favorites will finally earn their place in these pages.

Enjoy!

More big thanks to Big Bad Toy Store for sponsoring another Flashback Review, this time, for the second G.I. Joe Five-Pack featuring General Hawk, Flint, Lady Jaye, Shipwreck, and Snake Eyes!  As an added bonus, BBTS has these for sale now for 20% off!

While a couple of these figures became somewhat redundant with the Hall of Heroes set, there is still a lot to love for a pretty reasonable price.  Check out the full review right here!

• DVD Battle Pack #5 – “Best of the 80′s”

• Blowtorch
• COBRA Commander (Resolute)
• COBRA Trooper (Resolute)
• Duke (Resolute)
• Firefly
• Torch

• COBRA Diver
• COBRA Trooper
• Crimson Guard (Python Patrol)
• Ninja Viper
• Ripper
• Tripwire (w/ Desert Element)