tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730351558727980814.post3376125789035407414..comments2024-03-27T10:13:19.073-07:00Comments on Forgotten Figures: 2004 Urban Assault FireflyRobot_Sonichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14046347432548886565noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730351558727980814.post-40641606069102774522018-03-28T10:28:56.520-07:002018-03-28T10:28:56.520-07:00In 2002-2003 some new sculpt figures got beefy and...In 2002-2003 some new sculpt figures got beefy and tall. For VvsV they over-corrected and many new figures started looking puny. The overall problem with the era was the lack of consistency in the new stuff. You have figures that you wonder how they ever got approved (the Valor vs Venom Alley Viper!).<br /><br />And yeah, the theme was lacking. A lot of redundant monsterized Cobras and yet another model of BAT. Joes that already had current figure redone, while fan favorites went unmade. A-Mannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730351558727980814.post-10042000154305102292018-03-27T17:26:13.534-07:002018-03-27T17:26:13.534-07:00I remember as a kid really losing interest in Joe ...I remember as a kid really losing interest in Joe when the VvV line came out. The entire concept of the line seemed really dumb to me, and the majority of the figures looked like 1994 by way of New Sculpt. Lots of really dumb new characters, and the color variety didn't seem particularly good either.<br /><br />Hasbro went overboard with Firefly figures during the 2000's, but I have to admit there isn't one I don't like at all. This figure and the CP version are my favorites.Nekomanhttp://viperpit.xyz/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730351558727980814.post-13642181351015172342018-03-27T10:50:12.748-07:002018-03-27T10:50:12.748-07:00The VvV mainline stuff was a real step down sculpt...The VvV mainline stuff was a real step down sculpting wise from a lot of the Spy Troops line, and it doesn't help that Hasbro also went to gimmicky features and overt sci-fi. The second G.I. Joes stop having traditional construction, the line is in trouble- the 90s, 04, whenever they started putting out 5POA figures in the modern error. <br /><br />R.T.G.http://atticagazette.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730351558727980814.post-2041646648472291512018-03-27T10:50:06.652-07:002018-03-27T10:50:06.652-07:00The paint applications that were employed during t...The paint applications that were employed during this era--specifically skin tone, makes them less desirable compared to the figures from RAH. They stick out and I think it is more of a plastic coloring, or different plastic being used. That compounded by the switch in molding, spy troops and valor vs venom. I collected them but the figures didn't fit in with the rest of the collection and they faded out. I recently got back into the figures from 82 to 94, I am thinking of selling my 25th/modern era collection to bulk up on the classics. mickjigghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13077739431632058492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730351558727980814.post-70862094510359164542018-03-27T08:36:34.548-07:002018-03-27T08:36:34.548-07:00I just remember January of 2004 being the line in ...I just remember January of 2004 being the line in the sand. From August through December of 2003, Joes shipped constantly and sold out everywhere. Wal Mart, Target and TRU all had full wall displays of them with hundreds of packs. My local stores would rotate through cases every week. Online retailers had orders cancelled so that Hasbro could fulfill the needs of big box stores. It was crazy.<br /><br />Then, as soon as VvV stuff showed up in January, it all just sat and sat. I think part of it was partly just retail fatigue from a line that had been successful for a two full years. Other parts were probably cultural as 2004 brought a lot of new issues to the political forefront. But, Hasbro also got lazy. Look at the 6 packs and how the figure and accessory quality progressed. The main line declined, too. I think that had the DCT stuff been released in late 2004, it might have saved the line for another year or two. Though, I do recall Joe selling well enough during the 2004 holidays. But, the 2005 stuff sat and sat. Even the Crimson Guard set ultimately reached clearance. Robot_Sonichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14046347432548886565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730351558727980814.post-80571149485688357722018-03-27T08:31:03.688-07:002018-03-27T08:31:03.688-07:00I missed out on the $15 Urban strike sets. I think...I missed out on the $15 Urban strike sets. I think. I know I got two sets, though. Yes, the 50% character ratio was a factor, but there was a lot of stuff to buy at the time. In terms of urban forces, I was full of Alley Vipers from 2002 (and the heavily clearanced wave 1.5). <br /><br />Too much Firefly and Storm Shadow at the time, ARAH and new sculpt, that even the good ones gets overshadowed. Hasbro missed out the chance to make the 6-pack they think everyone wanted: <br />Duke<br />Tunnel Rat<br />Roadblock <br />Snake-Eyes <br />vs<br />Storm Shadow<br />Firefly<br />A-Mannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730351558727980814.post-25180025863432415902018-03-27T08:20:13.892-07:002018-03-27T08:20:13.892-07:00There was Hasbro questionnaire in 2002? Maybe it w...There was Hasbro questionnaire in 2002? Maybe it was. It was online, too and talked about, yet I cannot find it or threads about it. Asking about characters we wanted to see ("Destro's General" being mentioned), mutli-packs...and this was when it sounded like more 8-packs were considered...as opposed to the novelty one we got.<br /><br />Anyway, at least half the Cobra Urban line up was given. The third figure may have been Night Creeper or Alley Viper. <br /><br />I was looking at stuff regarding the cancelled 2005 Rise of Robots/Robot Rebellion series and it was said sales of 3 3/4" weren't bad, but sales of the 12" JOEs were, and retailers looked at the line as a whole. I dunno, I remember the 12" stuff from the time, it wasn't popular with collectors, but I don't recall it clogging up the aisles especially.A-Mannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730351558727980814.post-17967931999565679602018-03-27T06:03:54.830-07:002018-03-27T06:03:54.830-07:00Hasbro always seemed to ensure they did the Firefl...Hasbro always seemed to ensure they did the Firefly figures with a degree of quality that was better than other figures. A while back A-Man mentioned that the Urban Set was voted on by fans, with knowledge that Stormy and Firefly would be in it. I distinctly remember voting for it as I thought it would be the 88 Storm Shadow mold. <br /><br />I wonder what caused G.I. Joe to fall off the rails in 2004. There was a steep decline in quality of the new sculpt figures (and the Valor vs. Venom idea was really stupid!), and the 80s nostalgia wave wasn't very strong, and seemed to end around the same time Reagan died. R.T.G.http://atticagazette.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com