Well, this is it: I've finally decided to start reposting my old "Alexx Shorts" G.I. Joe reviews. They're the reviews that lead to what eventually became this blog! I'll be posting them in straight copy-and-paste format, separating them with bold dotted lines so you know where they begin and end, and then I'll post some final thoughts on what I think of the figure currently.
For those unfamiliar: I used to take random pictures here and there, but by the time the Rise of Cobra toys came out, I was getting annoying with how much people had been bashing the figures which were clearly better than the previous 25th Anniversary offerings. I set out to show people how awesome they were, and things went from there, forming into "Alexx Shorts", named so because I thought I was going to keep to a short format with a few pictures. I did not do that.
Spoilers for the final comments: I STILL LOVE THIS FIGURE:
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Alright, I've been trying to limit these to figures that I figured were on the low end of people's "gotta have" lists, or completely off that list. I know I don't need to help this figure get some love! Nonetheless, as it is plainly obvious by now, I love taking pictures, and this version in particular came with one accessory that was more hilarious than the giant missile launchers. I will start with that accessory:
Yes, I know how it is supposed to be used! It's got freakin' handlebars, though!! How could I possibly use it the right way?
There are two big things I look for in a figure: Awesomeness factor, and comical use. This guy brings 'em both home! I might as well get on with the other pics, though, in the "awesomeness factor" area. First, I tried the head swap that I was very excited about...
....and then was subsequently saddened. The neck is just too long, so it would take some modification to get either to look right. *sigh* No point crying over spilt milk, however, since the figure is fine as-is!
You'll notice that, for some reason, they painted the sword's handles differently. I mean, I know one reason: the sword handles on the first figure were painted with flat paint that chips easily. So, these new ones are the gloss that we are used to, however, they neglected to color the upper part of the hilt and add the cool ninja clan symbols:
Thought that was odd. Also, above, you'll notice that his gun is now silver and white instead of black. A nice addition! Makes his side arm match the rest of him.
Alright, let's wrap up with some simple action shots.
Like I said, I don't need to sell this one. He's got the standard articulation if you weren't happy with the first one, and he's got the best unmasked head for Storm Shadow that I've ever seen, so go get 'em!
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So the opening to this review reveals some thoughts I had back then: Apparently I was trying to only review figures that I thought people would overlook. Well, that certainly changed, later! Man, I completely forgot I had some sorta mission statement, back then.
Anyway: I LOVE THIS FIGURE. If that wasn't obvious at the beginning. He's still awesome, the headsculpt is still the best, and the simple functionality of the sidearm and swords all fitting on him is one of the best feelings for any action figure (though he does come with some sais he can't really put anywhere, but the accessories that count are the ones that fit).
Then...THEN...there's the Suction Cup Cycle. I believe it was supposed to be some sort of wall-climbing gear, but it seriously had motorcycle handlebars on it. No question. I mean look at it! It couldn't be anything else. So either he uses it as intended and...I dunno, flops up a building while hanging off of it, or he rides it like a cowboy and everyone stays the hell out of the way of Storm Shadow's Hover Buddy.
Seriously man, check this one out, if you get the chance. He's still awesome, and one of my favorites Joes, in general. I can only hope they make proper use of this mold, because the open-collared jacket is just AWESOME, and I wana see it used elsewhere.
I'm still partial to the previous version with the trenchcoat - at least, once you cut the sides of that to give him his leg articulation back. At the time, I thought that was a really neat look for SS, and the fact that he wore it in Retaliation as well adds to its appeal for me.
ReplyDelete(I *think* it's the only costume that basically repeated between the two movies, since they re-designed SE so heavily and Duke, CC and Zartan obviously were completely different)
But you're right, the headsculpt is great. Except for the fact that I have a bunch of 'em because it showed up in the Retaliation figures, and THOSE showed up in large numbers during the three weeks or so Target was open in Canada.
(Heh, while checking for this I saw the second PoC Storm Shadow, aka the version that shamed his forefathers. That's one of my favourite Shorts reviews!)
Yeah, trenchcoat one is awesome, and I really don't regret buying the repaints, but I love the look of the open coat collar on this one.
DeleteAnd I'm glad you liked the Shaming his Forefathers review! I always felt like I went a little overboard, but everyone seemed to like it.
Yeah, if I had way too much time on my hands I'd use the upper torso and arms from this with the remainder of the other figure.
DeleteI suspect we'll talk about him more in two years when we hit that SS, but... it's such a shame, they had a Storm Shadow version of Ryu from Ninja Gaiden and he turned out terrible, even setting the action gimmick aside.
I had at LEAST been expecting, at the time, to use that gimmick Storm Shadow for parts, but I never did find any bodies that looked good with the head OR the armor! Like you said, it's a shame. It SEEMS like there should be something good about it!
DeleteThis is honestly one of my favorite GI Joe figures ever. It's simple, but damn effective. Byung-Hun Lee did such a phenomenal job as Storm Shadow that I'm okay with his likeness being the head sculpt (it's really not like he *doesn't* look like Tommy anyhow), and honestly, it could be for all future ones too for all I care, he was the absolute shining star of those movies. This head sculpt being used again was one of the reasons I made an effort to make sure I secured the Retaliation "Ultimate" Storm Shadow as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm still not sure what the suction cup thing ultimately was for though. It was cool enough though.
The suction cup thing was obviously for me. Couldn't have been anything else.
DeleteGood figure and his head was better proportioned than the 1st RoC Storm Shadow. I dig the reuse of the torso for that later Retaliation Firefly too.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I forgot about that Firefly! He's...in the pile.
DeleteI was never into GI Joe as a kid. I wanted to like the 25th anniversary stuff, but there was just something... not there. I think the biggest problem is that I really wanted a cool modern ninja figure, and the classic stuff just wasn't appealing.
ReplyDeleteRoC was a godsend, and I got into GI Joe because of the RoC toyline. Because of it, I was able to get into the older stuff and appreciate the classic Joe stuff a heck of a lot more.
As I said, I was really looking for good modern ninjas, and this one is definitely one of the best. Since I ended up with a bunch of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadows, I came up with the story that the Arashikage had melded with GI Joe and Cobra. The motorcycle Snake Eyes is "Old" Snake, training a new generation of GI Joe ninjas, all of which are code-named Snake Eyes as a sort of legacy.
Thomas Arashikage had died, but Cobra had cloned him, so Paris Pursuit was "Tommy" Arashikage, and the Cobra Arashikage ninjas were the other Storm Shadows.
Too bad Retaliation, and GI Joe in general, died. Between Figuarts and MOTUC stuff, I don't really play with 1/18th stuff any more.
Ha, that's awesome! I've often thought about different Snake Eyes (that was a similar story I used for Sigma 6, actually). I'm glad RoC kinda made for your own Joe universe - I had been selling it as whatever you want, as a Joe fan, but I'm glad it got folks like you into the fold from zero interest as well! It was a fun little line, and I'm hoping other people look back on it as such as well.
DeleteThe Suction Cup A-Go-Go lets Storm Shadow seize control of any building it's attached to, allowing him to ride the building as if it were his loyal steed. It is forbidden ninja magic.
ReplyDeleteYOU'RE A GENIUS
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