Hi gang, Hasbro doesn't sell GI Joe here anymore after the dismal failure of the Spy Troops and VvV lines (the Cobra Infantry Trooper 6-packs shelfwarmed here while you guys were being scalped left, right and center).

However, a friend of mine is in the US at the moment and I'd like to ask him to get me some figures.

I need suggestions and recommendations from what is currently available right now. Bear in mind that I grew up on the cartoon, so I'm not particularly interested in comic-centric characters or stories

- A must is a Crimson Guard. I was NEVER able to get an original, and this, I suppose, is more than good enough. Are they hard to find?

- Which is better, the 2007 version 29 Snake Eyes or the 2008 version 30? I note 29 is his 'classic' (or most well-known) ninja-inspired look, while the 30 is his commando-look.

- Any hope whatsoever at getting the Battle Packs now?

I'd appreciate any help you guys can provide - he's kind of in a rush so I couldn't take the time to simply research months of posts about these subjects


EDIT: He's in someplace called Costa Mesa, in LA. We have no idea where to look, or even what stores to look in. Walmart is probably a priority due to their new exclusive Movie repaints. Big Daddy!

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For Snake Eyes, the all black commando version should be available now on a single card. It's a pretty excellent figure with cool gear and his articulation is improved over the visor version. I haven't seen the visor version (with the wolf) for a while, so that may not even be an option at retail at the moment. Hopefully your friend can find the commando version at least.

I'd also highly recommend Storm Shadow on the single card.

For the Crimson Guard, you can either go with the single carded version which has a non-removable helmet, or the comic pack version which has a removable helmet. I think the single card version is better cause his bare neck isn't showing, like on the comic pack.

I am pretty sure the CG and Storm Shadow and even Snake Eyes are fairly hard to find. You have to be in the right place at the right time to get them. They are very popular figures, and collectors are buying them, army builders are buying them, scalpers are buying them, and maybe even non-collectors would be picking them up for nostaligic value. You pretty much have to be at the store right when they are stocked on the shelves, cause these figures are not going to hang on the pegs for long!

I wish your friend the best of luck in securing these items for you!

I don't exactly know where that is offhand, but it sounds like a place that may still have the 5-packs. If so, have him get you 1 of each.

For single packs, you already have the Crimson Guard covered. He's actually not any more difficulat to find than the rest of the figures. Well aside from hooded Cobra Commander, Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow which still seem to be the figures left on the shelf.

It was mentioned to get the all black Snake Eyes with corrected crotch. This is a nice version of the figure.

I'd also have to suggest Stalker (with corrected crotch), Snow Job, IG Destro, Lady Jaye, Zartan, and the 2 Cobra troopers. If you're getting just a few that would be a nice list to go home with.

Now if you're wanting to go further, have him bring home some of the comic 2 packs too. If you don't get any 5-packs, get the Hawk/Scarlett set. The Dreadnok set is also a must, but then you need the Buzzer single pack. Ace and Wild Weasel are some nice figures. Tomax and Xamot would be good to go with your Crimson Guard, but they're hard as I don't know what to find. The Battle Damage Snake Eyes vs Storm Shadow is a nice set due to getting the new comic and the figures are well done. Any 2 packs is great really since you don't already have the single carded figures.

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Thanks guys.

Where would the Battle Packs be sold? I have very hazy memories of them being some kind of exclusive? Hopefully I'm wrong. Quite honestly the main the reason I would want them is the sound box

CRASHING THROUGH THE SKY,
COMES A FEARFUL CRY!

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I'd recommend Torpedo and Snow Job. Both are a little hard to find right now, but should be on Wal-Mart pegs in California.

Stalker is also an excellent choice.

Torpedo is, by far, one of the best figures from the line.

ZombieGuide has the sound boxes for sale if thats all you want. well guess just the Joe one http://www.joearmory.com/25thgijoelogos ... ssory.aspx but I'm sure some of the people who got multiple of the Legions set could hook you up with a Cobra one.

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Most of the battlepacks are gone by now. The only places that might have some left are Toys R Us, Walmart & Kmart. Toys R Us also has their exclusive 5 packs (the Red Ninja & Night Watch set).
I would suggest the comic pack CG because of the removable helmet. Unfortunately he suffers from a poor weapon choice.
It's too bad your friend didn't come when the cartoon packs come out.
I can find pretty much wave 3 & 4 easily. The newer 2008 waves are more difficult to find & that includes the single CGs. The black Snake Eyes should of course be easy to find.

KMarts still have thier 5 pks (all three) at full price right now here in Denver.

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Yeah, K-Marts and TRU's still have the 5-packs, but that's about all. I also would recommend the 25th Beachhead and Red ninja. They're kind of hit and miss around here. You see a ton of them, then they're gone, and then they're back. Crazy distribution.

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The TRU here in Baton Rouge, LA still has about 8 battle packs.

Is Costa Mesa a suburb of the city of L.A.? Or someplace in the state of LA.? I suspect the former since it's a spanish name, not French but if so you left out an "." there's an 1800 mile difference in that "."

As a fellow cartoon fan, I'd say the battle pack is an excellent direction to go for iconic figures that are still readily available. The carded CG is a winner as well.

-CJack

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Thanks guys. Hopefully we'll get lucky. I'll have to warn him about scammers swapping figures, though. That criminal behaviour is really rare in Australia.

Well, I'd like the figures, too!

I just think is pretty awesome for Hasbro to do something that is made almost solely so collectors and older fans can have a chuckle.

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