Wave 8 Comic Packs

Wave 8 Comic Packs

It's been a while since we reviewed anything here at the LBAM Toy Review, and there's plenty to catch up on. For the time being, let's handle Wave 8 Comic packs. You may notice that we have skipped from Wave 6 to Wave 8; this would be because I would not piss on the Wave 7 comic packs if they were on fire. I mean honestly; Deep Six in a comic pack? Hasbro wants me to buy three versions of Deep Six? Crappy un-articulated #1, modestly improved Deep Six from the SRO pack, and shiny yet still crappy, still unarticulated, Deep Six? Really? A second Gung Ho, only in slightly more realistic colors on his Leather Daddy vest? Also, don't get me started on the disappointment that is the Iron Grenadier. And nobody needs a second Battle Armor CC. Nobody. Not even with the Fred Head. Anyway...Wave 8 Comics. Let's start with Destro and Tunnel Rat.

Destro

I thought I said I didn't wanna see any more Destro heads without vac-metal, Hasbro. I thought we had an understanding. I think I'm gonna hafta call the Antignano Brothers and send 'em over to your factories. Sure would be a shame if some of those fancy new movie-toy molds got busted up, huh? Don't let it happen again.

I like this Destro, but it's just not all it could be. I'm intrigued by all the new parts, the new headsculpt and so forth...but it's really kind of a hodgepodge that doesn't quite work. If he's a pilot, why does he have claws on his boots? Why is he wearing a proton pack?

Somebody saw a cockroach up on 12.

The annoying part about this figure is that I really like all the parts on their own. The armor is cool, headsculpt is sweet (except for not being metallized), the pack is cool, the wrist computer is cool. But all together it makes for a rather dorky looking figure, really. And this coming from the guy with possibly the biggest nonsexual man-crush on Destro in history.

Makes a hell of a tip c alculator, I tell ya what.
or
You know the whole economic crisis? I did that. From this thing right here, on my wrist. Yeah. I'm just that good.

LBAM Rating: 7.0. This is by far the lowest rating I will ever give a Destro figure.



Biggest height disparity in the 25th Anniversary Line? You decide.

I've got nothing. Just thought the way the gun snapped into focus here.

I will end the first one of you roundeyes to make a single joke about fried rice. Just try me.

I wasn't kidding, you blond-haired prick.

Tunnel Rat's cool and all, but I have no idea what else to say. I wish he had his backpack, his flashlights, and I wish his damn knife weren't molded on. Kudos on the working holster on his webgear though; fantastic. I really do like this figure quite a bit, and I think people who are trying to see racism in the face are looking a little too hard. This is a damn fine figure, honestly.
LBAM Rating: 8.5/10 - Missing his backpack hurts a little, as does the molded knife.

Shockwave and Storm Shadow

First of all, I don't care if they call him Shockblast. He's Shockwave. Let's just get that out of the way.

Second, I admire any guy who is totally badass yet still has "Choir" as his secondary military specialty. He can kick your ass in key.

It's not that he's compensating for something anything. It's just that he's got them tuned to shoot in different keys. Okay, that was lame. I dunno where else to go with this. Shockwave is a sharp figure with sweet accessories. Not every caption needs a joke, ok? And not every joke is going to be a winner. It's a lot of pressure man, I'm telling you. Let's just pretend that caption was funny and move on. I'll try to find a winner before the post is over.

The business end of an MP5 is no fun to look at. The fact that the guy gunning you down with it is can probably belt out "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" at the same time is probably not comforting.

Shockwave rules. But he needs friends, compadres, comrades, fellow SWAT members. I think the odds of other GI Joe 'police' characters getting made is pretty slim. In fact, I can't even remember any of their names...Long Arm? Surefire? Bullhorn? (man, Bullhorn would own in 25th form...I'd kill to see an updated version of him). Anyway, he looks great. Solid job on the hat, helmet, and gas-mask; those kinds of touches go a long way with me. Missing his backpack, and his SMG; I can easily replace the one but not the other. So, whatever, a solid 8.8 or something. Yeah. He needs other SWAT guys. That silly blue firefly doesn't make a terrible one. Just not a great one.

Why not?

And finally, another Storm Shadow. Joy. It's actually a really good figure, could've been one of the best and most original Storm Shadows of the line.

Storm Shadow's broken dream: USA Olympic Kayaking Team.

It's a pretty sweet ninja, though why he has an axe and that double-bladed monstrosity, I'll never know. Storm Shadow needs knives, swords, a bow, and throwing weapons; not great big polearms and heavy axes. You know what else he doesn't need?

This mask.

The axe and mask are clearly an homage to Dice, which immediately raises the question, why would anyone want an homage to this? Seriously. That thing is a blight on the GI Joe line. An abomination of an action figure. But ninja-loving fanboys everywhere get all tight in the pants at the thought of him being remade. I'll never understand why.
LBAM Rating 7. Loses points for the Dice homage, and for the fact that he is packed with his helmet on, meaning when I took it off, it stripped some paint off his headsculpt, leaving a big ol' brown mark on his face, which bothers the heck out of me.