And since Hasbro has gone to windowless packaging they make it even easier to skip all of that. Can't see the figure? No need for me to be a MIB collector on this line. Which sucks.

Agreed, Agreed, Agreed, Agreed, and Agreed.

But that's typical of being a GIJoe collector, it's been like this since 1982. They release "new" figures with old molds new paints.

Python Patrol - I collect Python Patrol because it make sense. Cobra picking a viper/BAT/CG etc., from each unit to form a specialized stealth strike group with radar absorbent paint for a special mission. That's cool!

Tiger Force - not so much. GIJoe is already a specialized strike force with specialized members, just throwing "tiger stripes" on their uniforms does absolutely nothing. The only ones I collected were new characters, like Skystriker (although it's kind of dumb to name a guy with the same name as an already well established vehicle.)

Slaughter's Marauder - the blue, brown, green paint scheme supposedly "enables them to successfully blend into a woodland or jungle environment"? Not really, not with the blue. They just stick out looking ugly no matter where they are. However, I did collect the vehicles, which are repurposed vehicle bodies with new turrets. The Equalizer remain one of favorite, looking a lot like a Flakpanzer Gepard.

https://www.yojoe.com/images/resize/...2465/79090.jpg

Sky Patrol - Opposite of the Marauders, I only collected the figures, while chrome vehicles look cool, but they make no sense for a military unit.

Night Force - if they didn't go all out into neon color in later years, they wouldn't need night force. Ha ha.

I will admit that I would probably pick up a Night Force Tunnel Rat, since that was the one I had growing up, and I like the look better than the regular TR. But they probably will just do a TF instead.

But Slaughter's Marauders Barbecue was an easy pass for me. I wasn't that thrilled with the CI figure, and I don't need two.

Just received a "shipping soon" notification for Mindbender.

Yeah me too. I guess I should be happy, but when I placed the orders for that and Serpentor I kind of expected to have more time between when each of them shipped. I guess I need to have BBTS ship the Slaughter that is in my pile of loot, but I am waiting for Sentai Spider-man which is also about to arrive.

Ah yes, the BBTS Pile of Loot dance. I have quite a bit in mine at present.

HAsbropulse just shipped my python bat . viper doesnt seem to be coming until the next batch/boatload of hasbro products floods in.
But My Serpentor payment just went through and is shipping soon.

After having around $150 leave my account for Serpentor and Mindbender I thought "it's okay, that's it for the year". But now I'm seeing reports that the Dusty/Zarana/Crimson Guard wave are starting to show up. Guess I need to get ready to drop another $75 on preorders.

Can't speak on Zaranna and Dusty, but BBTS put my Crimson Guards in my POL at the end of Sept.

https://www.toyark.com/forums/attach...1&d=1668659760

Bring on the Vipers repaints!

The green and grey and grey and black ones i would be so down for.

Finally got around to opening my Sgt Slaughter from my loot pile and man...I like him, but I don't love him. I'm really not thrilled in how he was handled, which is a shame because this had to be the most hyped and requested figure in the line since its inception. They should have casted the torso in flesh tone and painted on the tank top, but instead...Hasbro did the exact opposite, casting the torso in black and painted the flesh tone on the chest and shoulders. The result is pretty sloppy looking...with the fleshtone painted areas not matching the skintone on the arms.

Worse yet, they skimped out on some coats, as there are parts where you can see the black plastic peeking through. It looks like a WWE Elite figure that's been packaged wearing a soft goods shirt, which ends up often leaving ink stains on the figure wearing them before you've even had a chance to play with it. It's a nasty eyesore that I can't unsee.

The headsculpt and accessories are stellar, but that poor production decision on Hasbro's part actually has me preferring the Vala version of the Sarge...despite its smaller build.

Oh wow. That is definitely a poor decision on Hasbro's part.

Ah shit, I forgot to cancel my Mindbender preorder and now he's on his way.

As for Slaughter's build, he's supposed to be some high rank training officer. I couldn't take him seriously if he isn't built like what a trainer should be built like.

In all fairness...most of the TIs that I dealt with in BMT weren't built like the Sarge...most of them were smaller built, yet were simplt highly motivated individuals who could run circles around 95 percent of the trainees...but I digress. Looking back...some of the female trainers were actually more intimidating than the male ones at times...lol

I'm honestly thinking of kitbashing together another Sarge and adding a cloth goods tee since he and Gung Ho have similar builds...but I really need to sit down and compare the two figures.

A YouTube review that I watched recently made an interesting comment about the Valaverse Sarge in comparison to the Hasbro version, stating that the smaller stature of the Vala figure could very well pass for an older, more grizzled version of the Sarge, as people as we age tend to shrink in size and muscle mass. The Classified one could pass for a younger version of the same character.

I have no doubt we will see a few more figures of the Sarge in the future (such as the Mail-a-way or Marauders versions)...but hopefully, Hasbro doesn't make the same mistake by choosing to paint fleshtone over colored plastic as opposed to it being the other way around.

TIs and BMTs? What do those mean?

I do like the idea of the Val one being an older version just like the Target Outback being an older version of Outback. It's an interesting idea I'd like to see tackled in the future.

Hell, I'd love to see them do GI Joe Extreme Lt Stone and then do one based on his Sigma Six design as an older version. They could make it that he lost his arm and eye in the final battle against Iron Klaw.

TI or MTI (Military Training Instructor) also known as a DI depending on the branch of service. (I served in the Air Force...where we called them TIs, so if another member here who's served could give me the correct term for other branches so as I dont incorrectly title Instructors in the other branches...it's appreciated.)

BMT (Basic Military Training) as it's referred to officially by the US Armed Forces.

If we get Lt Stone...I hope to God he has a Brendan Fraser inspired headsculpt.

But Brendan Fraser is Sgt Stone from the movie, totally different character from Lt Stone (British guy from Sigma Six) and Lt Stone (Marine and Duke wannabe from Extreme).

One of the best figures in the line.

Nice. I received a shipping notice for mine today, and just got charged for Mindbender yesterday. Soon my Cobra figures will outnumber my Joes almost 2/1.

Nice! I just received mine, haven’t had a chance to open him yet

My Crimson Slaughters arrived:

https://i.imgur.com/mD6818n.jpg

I just checked my Slaughter, you definitely got one of the bad ones. Sucks they're blind boxed. The color on my Slaughter's shoulders are thicker and applied more precise. I think the dumb decision was probably based purely on how much black paint they'd use on flesh plastic versus how much flesh paint they'd use on black plastic. Still not a good reason.

I hate hasbro company (not the product) so much but cant seem to quit them cold turkey .

I just had a thought that Hasbro would do a Haslab for a Thunder Machine and put Trasher, Ripper, Torch, and Buzzer as unlockables in the campaign. Which I hope does not happen.