G.I.Joe POC action figures - wave 1

When I first saw the above photo of the 2010 G.I.Joe The Pursuit of Cobra (POC) wave 1 figures, the first thought in my mind was ”wow”!  They look like the classics line brought into the real life movie universe, very nice!  I don’t know if they are mostly new molds or repaints.  Can someone confirm that?

This G.I.Joe toyline is called ” The Pursuit of Cobra”, so that implies that Cobra escaped soon after the movie and is on the run for 2010 right?  Then what happened to poor Destro?  Is he still stuck in prison?  LOL!

I like that new sceptre of Cobra Commander.  Everyone in this wave looks more heavily armoured and weaponized than before.  Look at Storm Shadow (the white ninja), he now has 4 katanas!  Good gosh, how many Joes is he expecting to slash in 2010?  Oh, it also means that Storm Shadow survived from the movie!

These POC toys are scheduled for worldwide release in the coming months (around 3rd quarter).  If you collect them, keep your fingers crossed that we’ll see them in our local departmental stores too, and hopefully at lower prices than the 2009 G.I.Joe The Rise of Cobra (ROC) movie toys!  Happy saving and waiting for these cool toys!

If you are a collector of the 2009 series of G.I.Joe movie action figures and vehicle toys by Hasbro, you would most likely have acquired nearly all or everything you wanted from this toyline by now. 

I visited several local departmental stores this week and observed that most of them don’t carry these passe toys anymore.  They were either sold out or returned to the supplier to make way for the next in trend Iron Man 2 movie toys that are flooding the retail pegs and shelves now. 

If you do spot any G.I.Joe movie toys left in any departmental stores, those are the leftovers that no one wants.  At this rate, I expect the rest of the unsold stock to be returned to Hasbro Singapore soon to await a possible upcoming major toy warehouse clearance sale sometime this quarter at a large shopping mall atrium.  Hence if there are any mass brands toy clearance sales taking place in the coming weeks and months, I shall blog about them when I do come across. 

Currently, if you are still looking for some choice pieces of G.I.Joe movie toys, your best bets are the local collectors’ toy shops like Simply Toys, Toy Outpost or at the Sunday Toy Market in China Square Central.  The prices there will range from sale prices to slight premium prices, depending on which pieces you are looking for.

Happy tail end of G.I.Joe movie toys shopping and collecting!

Since I blogged about the great G.I.Joe The Rise of Cobra (ROC) toys clearance sale in local departmental stores some months ago, I still get some queries on where to find this and that particular ROC figure or vehicle, or playset at the rock bottom prices. 

Well you have to understand the pattern of stock clearance at retail stores, especially for fad items such as toys that are based on movies.  When the toys are collectibles popular with fans and collectors, a clearance sale would wipe out the most sought after pieces from the departmental stores very quickly. 

The next “big things” for the local toys scene are the Iron Man 2 movie toys, as well as those from Disney’s Toy Story 3 movie.  Hence inevitably, passe toylines like the 2009 G.I.Joe movie and 2009 Wolverine movie toys have been on clearance sale for the past several months to make shelf and peg space for the latest toys from other upcoming 2010 movies.

Nonetheless, some great gems from the ROC toyline are still found at very good prices, but in only very few departmental stores and some selected collector’s toy shops.  The local departmental stores that still carry the ROC toyline as of this week are: OG, Metro, and Toys “R” Us.  I don’t know what exact pieces they still have in their stores.  You’ve got to go there and find out yourself.

G.I.Joe The Rise of Cobra Pit Mobile Headquarters playset

For harder to find ROC figures, vehicles and playsets, most of them have been cleared from the departmental stores.  Your best bet now would be collector’s toy shops like Simply Toys, and the Sunday Toy Market at China Square Central (CSC).  The ROC toys still available there may or may not be at the rock bottom prices you prefer.  Well good luck to you, since we’re now at the tail end of this toyline.  It’s kind of like take it or leave it.

Here is a video review of the ROC Pit Mobile Headquarters.  This massive playset can still be found at Simply Toys at SGD 49.90, or at SGD 45.00 for their members.  You can call them to check for the stock availability before going there.  The box itself is very bulky and rather heavy, so preferably arrange your own private transport to bring it home!  Happy last minute ROC toys shopping, while stocks last!

If you have no plans for the weekend and you’re in the mood for some impulse toy buying, you can drop by a certain departmental store that is situated very near our favourite Sunday Toy Market.  A friend spotted large numbers of this “nocturnal bird” on further clearance sale there yesterday!

G.I.Joe The Rise of Cobra (ROC) Night Raven @ SGD 20.00 each.

Nearly all the boxes there are creased or dented along certain edges.  It’s as if each of them had dropped onto the floor at least once to end up with those damaged packaging.  I hope the toys inside are all right.  No wonder they are now selling at a much lower clearance price than before (my guess only).

Update on 28 Feb 2010: There are still around 50 boxes of this ROC Night Raven toy seen at the store, as of today.  The photo above shows 1 of the 2 stacks of these toys there.  Toy sightings information is accurate as of 28 Feb 2010.  On any date after that, I cannot guarantee if they still have stocks.  You’ve got to go there and find out yourself.

Dept Store Location: O*, but only at the outlet nearest China Square Central (CSC).

Note: Please read the location description above very carefully before you head there to check it out.  Make sure you understand where’s that location I’m referring to!

This is a catalog photo showing how the jet toy looks like out of box. 

Here is the video review of the ROC Night Raven vehicle toy for your reference. 

G.I. Joe Movie Accelerator Suit Duke Figure @ SGD 20.00

Hasbro in Singapore has sprung another pleasant surprise for local G.I.Joe movie fans and toy collectors.  This time the G.I.Joe: The Rise of Cobra (ROC) super sale items are:

- Accelerator Suit Duke action figure is now on clearance sale at SGD 20.00!

- The Attack on G.I.Joe Pit Headquarters 5-pack box set is going at only SGD 10.00 now! 

- Others like the hugely popular but bulky Pit Mobile Headquarters playset (on super clearance price of SGD 30.00 only) were all gone within 1 day of being offered at this rock bottom price!

As of today, the first 2 items are still available.  If you are keen on getting them, hurry down to the the departmental store asap!  Happy toys shopping!

As mentioned in my blog post yesterday, here are more photos that I took of the San Diego Comic Convention (SDCC) 2009 exclusive G.I.Joe The Rise Of Cobra (ROC) McCullen-Destro 3.75-inch action figures 2-pack box set.

This is the front view of the exterior box that is sealed.  You can’t examine the figures contained inside while you’re at the store, unless the store personnel slice open the clear tape for you.

Once you open the exterior box, you’ll find another box packaging inside that resembles a very thick ancient book.  This the “front cover” of the “book box” packaging.  

Another view of the “front cover” of the “book box” packaging. 

The back view of the ”book box” packaging. 

Another back view of the ”book box” packaging. 

The “book box” can be opened (like a real book) to reveal the 2 MOC 3.75-inch figures inside.  The medieval ancestor of modern day Destro is on the left, while the latter is on the right. 

A close up view of ROC 3.75-inch James McCullen IX (the 9th) action figure MOC.

A close up view of ROC 3.75-inch James McCullen XXIV (the 24th) action figure MOC.

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Overall, this is a very nice pair of ROC 3.75-inch figures.  The original retail price tag was SGD 59.90 during the Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Convention (STGCC) last year.  It used to be a Toys “R” Us (TRU) exclusive here, but not anymore.  It has since showed up in other local departmental stores on clearance sale (@ SGD 15.00). 

I prefer the corporate attire version of ROC Destro figure to the single pack version in some classic dictator uniform.  If you see this SDCC exclusive on sale, it’s worth picking up for your ROC toy collection!  It’s still available at OG Orchard where I got this piece from.  Happy ROC toy sale shopping!

As a follow up to my blog post yesterday about my G.I.Joe the Rise of Cobra (ROC) vehicle toys sale hauls, here some more of the heavily discounted ROC toys I’ve picked up this week from OG for a collector who is overseas. 

I didn’t buy all these ROC toys and those I posted about yesterday in one trip.  Most of my ROC toy hauls were “surprise catches”, meaning I went to the store to pick up other common ROC toys, but was lucky enough to meet the new discounted stocks being put out for sale! 

This is supposed to be an overseas Toy “R” Us (TRU) exclusive, but the Hasbro delivery guy removed every TRU sticker off each box before displaying them in OG, LOL!  There are 5 pcs of 3.75-inch figures and a black Mole Pod vehicle in this box set, all for SGD 24.90 only!  Of course every piece of toy in there are repainted versions in some way or another.

Nevertheless, the main characters like Duke and Ripcord are included, plus you get a Neo Viper Officer, a black repaint of normal Neo Viper and a G.I.Joe Pit Trooper!  All for about SGD 5.00 per figure, while you get the Mole Pod for free!  I find the glossy black Mole Pod here nicer looking than the single pack version.

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@ SGD 14.90 each.

Hmmm, what can I say for this ROC Senior Ranking Officers 3-pack?  Suitable for troop building?  They are all repaints (as usual).  The bronze colored Delta 6 Accelerator Suit looks rather interesting.  Perhaps it can serve as a prototype upgraded suit or something similar.  Sgt. Stone is great, if you don’t have him yet.

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@ SGD 14.90 each.

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This is a very cool looking ROC Deluxe 2-pack.  I would give the bike to Scarlett so that she can join in the Paris Pursuit street chase with her team to save the Effel Tower.  The Snake Eyes figure can go train with the other Joe figures who are dressed in similar blue camou uniforms.  There were still 2 more pieces of this ROC Snake Eyes with Bike when I left the store that day.

There was also a rather nice looking ROC Storm Shadow repaint (white w/some red stripes) on a similar white bike.  However the last piece I saw there had some paint job defects on Storm Shadow.  The rest were grabbed by a local ”Alpha Pack” G.I.Joe collectors clique I encountered that day.  They “swooped in” for the “kills” as soon as these ROC Deluxe 2-packs were unboxed by the Hasbro delivery guy…

@ SGD 15.00 each.

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Okay, this is one ROC toy that no one competed for.  Incidentally, it also happens to be one of the discounted ROC toys most worth picking up, and it’s quite numerous in number too (nearly 50 pcs there).  All the boxes were sealed.  The Hasbro delivery guy was helpful enough to slice open a box to let me view the 2 exclusive figures contained inside.  His kind gesture was much appreciated, thanks!

The San Diego Comic Convention (SDCC) 2009 Exclusive ROC McCullen-Destro box set is very interesting.  I saw this set being sold during Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Convention (STGCC) last year.  The retail price back then was a hefty SGD 59.90, and it was a TRU exclusive here.  Now the same set is on clearance sale for only SGD 15.00!  Since I have the chance to examine it up close, I shall take more photos of it and post them here tomorrow!

Update: The above toys were indeed there on sale as of 15 January 2010.  On any date after that, I cannot guarantee.  You’ve got to go there and find out yourself. 

This has been a rather hectic week of G.I.Joe the Rise of Cobra (ROC) toys sale shopping for me.  I’ve been asked to buy some heavily discounted ROC toys from our local departmental stores for an overseas collector.  In a way, I enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, but not so much the lugging of the bulky toy boxes home, LOL!  Here are some of my ROC toy hauls that I “netted” for him from OG. 

ROC Cobra Gunship @ SGD 29.90 each.

I wonder why they call this vehicle a “gunship”?  If you didn’t watch the movie and look at this toy alone, you would have thought that this is a kind of submarine.  Instead, it’s some sort of futuristic helicopter that flies without using rotors.

This is easily one of the coolest vehicles seen in the ROC movie, and it’s also a personal favourite of mine, together with the Night Raven and Steel Crusher APV.  I bought the APV too, but the photo turned out blurred.  I’ll take another photo and post it here when the natural lighting at my “toy photo studio” is good!

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ROC Rockslide ATAV @ SGD 17.90 each.

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I could barely remember this vehicle until I rewatched the ROC movie on DVD recently.  For a long while, I thought that the larger ROC Ice Dagger vehicle was the one portrayed in the movie.  Anyway, the Rockslide toy (I think “Snowslide” sounds like a more appropriate name for it) sits only 1 figure, unlike what you see in the movie where 2 people could fit into one such vehicle.

By the way, my friend asked me if the ROC Arctic Snake Eyes figure can fit into this Rockslide vehicle.  I’ve seen a video review of this toy on YouTube and it shows that the accompanying “Snow Job” figure (above) is quite a tight fit in the cockpit of the toy.  I think Arctic Snakes Eyes (who looks bulkier due to his eskimo outfit) may not fit in.  Can anyone who has these 2 toys loose, confirm this?  Thanks!

ROC Mantis Attack Craft @ SGD 17.90 each.

This ROC vehicle was a surprise catch.  I think the most suitable place I have for it is the BBQ pit!  Well you see, BBQ stingray happens to be one of my favourite local food.  The Joes can grill this “Manta Ray” during their camping trips by the sea, and down it with beer, LOL!

Then the Cobra forces would de-fin the Joes’ ROC Sharc submarines (named after and shaped like sharks) and sell the fins on the black market for exorbitant profits in revenge!  Tell me who’s smarter?  Haha!  So far I haven’t seen any ROC Sharc toys here yet.  I think they are a “highly endangered species”!

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ROC Night Raven @ SGD 29.90 each.

The Night Raven is another impressive vehicle in the ROC movie.  Too bad the jet in the movie had to be sacrificed in the end to save humanity.  Anyway this large toy comes with electronic features (batteries not included) that gives out lights and sound effects, unlike the smaller ROC vehicle toys.  In a way, it reminds me of the Blackbird Jet from the X-Men movies, but much slimmer in built!

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The above is just “part 1″.  Part 2 is coming up in my next post!  Come back again tomorrow to see what other interesting ROC toys I managed to haul in with my “nets”!

Update: The above toys were indeed there on sale as of 12 January 2010.  On any date after that, I cannot guarantee.  You’ve got to go there and find out yourself.

I was at OG Orchard yesterday to pick up some of the heavily discounted G.I.Joe movie toys for an overseas collector.  I thought that it was going to be a quick toy shopping trip (I wanted to leave before the impending rain outside) until I encountered the Hasbro delivery guy busy unboxing all the newly supplied G.I.Joe movie toys there.  

There were some other adult male collectors ‘hovering’ around the delivery guy.  Some were in a clique, while the others were “lone rangers”.  It was interesting to observe how some of the very eager collectors ’swooped’ in for their ‘kills’ as soon as the G.I.Joe movie toys were unboxed and placed on a surface (e.g. on top of other merchandise, on the floor etc.) by the delivery guy.

For me, I was more like a ‘jackal’ who lingered along the fringes until the main ‘hyena pack’ had dispersed, before I could go in to pick at the ’scraps’, LOL!  For the G.I.Joe movie toy collectors who weren’t there yesterday, there are indeed new stocks, and not re-stocks! 

1) G.I.Joe movie 3.75-inch figures - Bench Press & Snow Serpent @ SGD 10.00 each.

2) SDCC 2009 G.I.Joe movie Destro-McCullen 2-pack (above) @ SGD 15.00 each.

3) G.I.Joe movie Senior Ranking Officers 3-pack - Cobra & G.I.Joe Teams @ SGD 14.90 each.

4) G.I.Joe movie Attack on the G.I.Joe Pit HQ boxset - containing 5 x figures & a repainted Mole Pod @ SGD 24.90 each.

5) G.I.Joe movie assorted Accessories Packs - the most notable are Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow on Bikes @ SGD 14.90 each.

Updates on previously reported G.I.Joe movie toy stocks there:

a) Night Raven, Steel Crusher APV & Cobra Gunship @ SGD 29.90 each, are still available, even after a customer called in to reserve 10 pcs of Night Ravens.

b) Smaller vehicles like Mole Pods @ SGD 17.90 each, have diminished to less than 10pcs.  But with the new availability of the glossier repainted and cheaper Mole Pod in the Attack on the G.I.Joe Pit HQ boxset, the single pack Mole Pods may not be as popular for now.

c) One of my blog readers asked me to name all the 3.75-inch figures (@ SGD 10.00 each) I saw there.  (Wow, he wants to test my memory skills is it, LOL?).  I’m new to this toyline, and I am still dazzled by the new stocks that came in yesterday.  Still, I do my best in what my memory could afford me:

- Neo Viper (Attack on the Pit)

- Cobra Viper (Desert Ambush)

- Duke (in brown army uniform)

- Heavy Duty (in army uniform)

- Zartan

- Cobra Commander

- Destro

- Bench Press (arrived yesterday) 

- Snow Serpent (arrived yesterday)

- Storm Shadow (Ninja Mercenary, just 1 pc but with bad face paint job) 

- Abel ‘Breaker’ Shaz (the techie guy)

- Duke (Reactive Armor Suit)

- The Baroness (Attack on the Pit)

- Ice Viper

For collectors looking for Storm Shadow (Paris Pursuit) and Snake Eyes (Ninja Commando), there are a few pieces left at OG Chinatown.  But their backcards are all badly folded.  Most of the stocks there are like that.

That’s all folks, happy toy shopping!

Update: The above toys are indeed there on sale as of 12 January 2010.  On any date after that, I cannot guarantee.  You’ve got to go there and find out yourself.

The following 2 More G.I.Joe movie toys are going for SGD 19.90 (usual price: SGD 49.90) in our local departmental stores now!  I saw their video reviews online and decided to share them here.  These 12-inch figures would be great for the younger kids, as well as the toy collectors who collect action figures in this scale.

G.I.Joe movie 12-inch (Electronic) Snakes Eyes action figure review.

G.I.Joe movie 12-inch (Electronic) Storm Shadow action figure review.

The packaging of the above 2 figures have a hole for you to press a button to activate their electronic sounds in them.  I usually see kids, and some adults testing out the ‘devices’.  I did so too when I saw these figures recently.  There aren’t many of these 12-inch G.I.Joe movie figures left, especially Snakes Eyes.  If you want them, go grab them quickly, while stocks last!  Happy toy shopping!