G.I. Joe Classified Series

I'm in CT and I just got shipment confirmation yesterday. I was fully expecting it would be canceled on me, and was preparing to have to hunt for him.

My crystal ball informs me that my Crystal Ball will be here today.

The odd balls and freaks that make up the 1987 Cobra roster were really done justice by the Classified Series and Crystal Ball looks to be no exception. Looking forward to him.

docsilence said:

Out of curiosity, anyone in the Northeast had their Crystal Ball ship? I swear Walmart just ships wherever the trucks happen to show up with a particular item. Not a single CB anywhere within 50 miles of me according to their website, though maybe I should try Brickseek or something? I Haven't cared enough since before the pandemic to chase stuff in stores, but Wally is such a clusterfuck it might be worth my time.

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I'm in Upstate NY and my Crystal Ball is out for delivery today.

I have yet to see any in stores, but as far as I know, only one local Walmart has put out the new island collector display.

docsilence said:

Thanks. I'm up in Mass and I find that if the local stores don't get any in stock, we don't get our preorders either. But they haven't canceled mine yet, so... hope springs eternal, even for Walmart.

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I'm in MA too. No movement on my order yet either. My Spirit Spider shipped yesterday and should arrive today though. So who knows what will happen with CB.

yojoebro82 said:

The odd balls and freaks that make up the 1987 Cobra roster were really done justice by the Classified Series and Crystal Ball looks to be no exception. Looking forward to him.

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Yeah, I'd been saying that 86 was my cut off since I wasn't interested in the new recruits from the movie or in Cobra La, but Big Boa, Croc Master, Raptor, and Crystal Ball have been such fun, well done figures, that I had to grab them. Plus they help fill out the Cobra side a bit more, who feel a bit out numbered against the Joes.

Boy Wonder said:

Plus they help fill out the Cobra side a bit more, who feel a bit out numbered against the Joes.

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That made me realize how many Joes I skip because my shelves are definitely very Cobra heavy.

This line is so good it makes a lot of us like figures we didn't even like as kids. Road Pig, Big Boa, and Crystal Ball are top shelf figures.

Since my suggestion for athletes landed so well, I'm doubling down!

You know what else I'd buy? All the characters from the GI Joe episode of Community!





And Fumbles/Trouser Snake from Robot Chicken! He can hang out with Mo-larr!

Don't forget the submachopter.

That's next year's Haslab

I have one more Crystal Ball for cost plus shipping if someone needs it. I'll have him out this afternoon with the other two I'm dropping off at the PO. Just send me a PM if you want him.

Walmart actually delivered on Crystal Ball. This was the order I put in on May 21. My original order was March 13, along with '77 Spidey and New Etheria She-Ra. I just canceled that CB as it hadn't even moved into "preparing".

The figure itself is in every way an improvement over the vintage design. What was such a corny carnival act of a character now actually seems formidable and frightening. And that's even without his Cthulhu head. He reminds me of Marvel's Mysterio in that way. I dig the outfit, the accessories, and I especially love how he looks with Raptor, Croc Master, and Big Boa. Along with the Techno Viper and armored Cobra Commander, this was the only full wave of Cobra figures I fully completed as a kid. Came close the year before but never found a BAT. I am relieved he was delivered and not canceled, and I'm psyched to have him.

Speaking of which, I really want to finish off the rest of '87 with Fast Draw, Crazylegs, Sneak Peek, Psyche-Out, and maybe even Gung Ho.

Crystal Ball and Cobra Commander w/Combat Armor both arrived from Walmart today.

Big fan of both!

Since we were talking about how Cobra has the sexier design work over in the SnowCAT thread:

Codename: Snakeskin
File Name: Unknown
Allegedly recruited from one of the finest fashion houses in Europe, Snakeskin receives a generous stipend to design both Cobra uniforms and consult on vehicle design. The former has resulted in distinct, iconic, highly recognizable and coherent thematic uniforms and combat gear for Cobra soldiers to improve morale and provide an intimidating field presence. The latter has resulted in what Cobra engineers call "some of the craziest shit physics has ever been asked to to comply with, but somehow it works. The Buzz Boar alone is a crime against nature but when you see one tearing across the battle field, you can bet the other guy is going to need new skivvies."

"We all know Cobra Commander is a clothes horse. But also, if you're going to recruit people for world domination and you want people who aren't already psychotic, you need to do two things: pay them well and make them feel cool. When he's on, Snakeskin excels at the latter. Sure, some of his designs can hew a little close to... war crime territory, but when you see your own face reflected back at you in a Viper's mask or stare into the empty eyes of a Range Viper's skull mask, it's hard to not feel a twinge of fear. Also, everyone's butts look AMAZING in those pants."