Michigan Sightings....

[ShaneReinecke]

Hemo-goblin and Moonstalker 2 pack found in Jackson, Michigan.....

No Dune Stinger, Shock Berserker, or Sky Grinder yet, although I will be keeping my eyes wide open for them.

I heard that these were found somewhere in Texas last week, and I just found these yesterday (Sunday) afternoon. There were four total (I took two sets), and they are priced at $14.99 as usual.

As far as the figures go, I haven't had a lot of time to "play" around with them (and there are excellent reviews of wave 2 already on line) so I'm not going to really get into it here, but.....

I really like the Moonstalker, but I'm a little underwhelmed by the arm (wrist) articulation, the leg and "toe" articulation, and also the lack of peg holes on most of the extremities of the Hemo-goblin. He also is the first figure not to have one of the little hand grip "xevolver thingies".

Someone (I believe the person in Texas, apologies for not remembering who this was) also said that they did not come with any gag accessories, but I disagree. The tiny extra wings that the Hemo-goblin comes with are it's gag piece, and I kinda feel that the steel trap that the Moonstalker comes with is kinda-sorta his gag piece (although not necessarily since it is also sort of a "serious" weapon too).

Anyway, even with the shortcomings of the Hemogoblin, which I'm sure that I'll either get over quickly or realize were intentional design elements as I "play" around with these later this evening, this set is still an excellent addition to "the greatest toy line ever".

-Shane

[Squishee Slinger]

[glow=aqua,2,300] Wow! The greastest toyline ever, huh? I think it's my favorite current toyline, but I'm not sure It's the greatest toyline ever by a longshot yet. It certainly has potential to rank up there though if hasbro handles is right. I'll let you know what I think about it in a few years if we are still going strong.

~SS~[/glow]

[ShaneReinecke]

More New Michigan Sightings....

Bay City, Michigan

West Side Meijer

2 Dune Stinger

2 Shock Berserker

$6.99 ea.

Sorry to anyone from the Baycity area, I was up North/East (slightly) for the weekend and stopped by that Meijer (after searching five others in between South Central MI and that area the past two days ), and came across these purely by accident (I had already given up the hunt for the weekend).

So I snagged up both of each. If it's any consolation I doubt that it will be long before more will show up, and I got the wrong instruction/ bio booklet with my one of my dunestinger figures (a shock berserker bio book, odd), I'll call Hasbro tomorrow and see if they'll send me a replacement (they generally have a pretty good parts replacement department), if not I may just have to take matters into my own hands .

Tis been a very good week for Xevoz finds (haven't even had the time to open the 2nd Stalker/Goblin pack from last Sunday yet).

I'm really diggin' these two new figures (there are already great reviews on line for these so I've no need to really review them again, but feel free to ask any questions), the dune stinger is excellent, the shock berserker is great but it has a couple of slight weaknesses in it's upper leg design and ankle articulation department IMHO. All around though, pretty excellent figures once again. Especially my Berserker Desert Scorpion with flaming eye staff MOD .....

If anyone has any Q's, as always, feel free to ask.

-Shane

[ShaneReinecke]

Well, the good finds just keep on rolling.

After the past two weekends unexpected excellent finds (at least for MI area this early on), 2 Hemo/Stalker 2 packs a couple of Sundays back, and 2 each of the Shock Berserker and Dune Stinger figures last Saturday, I've hit gold yet again (or as I prefer to think of it, little blessings from God, for a good weeks work).

I stopped by the local Target (for Laundry detergent, not even intending this to be a toy run), oddly enough I had stopped at this same Target on Friday (on the way home from work) only to find nothing new.

Well, things were a bit different then expected this afternoon (and now to the point).....

2 Skyginder figures (bought both)

Jackson, MI

Target

$9.99 ea.

Sorry to anyone else who may be in the area, but I did take both of them, not sure if it makes much of a difference seeing as how it appears that no one has even purchased one deluxe figure from here yet (in the 2 weeks since they arrived), which kinda surprises me because our TRU (in the same mall as this Target) has yet to even stock the deluxe figures (but the basics and 2 packs have been flying off the shelves).

As for the figure, yet another very nice addition to the Xevoz collection. The spring loaded winged backpack is very cool, the three heads are all interesting (tough choice which two I like best), a hover board AND in line skates, 2 different sets of melee weapons, and lastly he comes with 8 individual rockets (3 different varieties) to use as you wish.

The figures articulation seems top notch, the upper legs seem a bit out of proportion (length wise) to the lower legs, but they work well for this particular figure. Finally, his torso is in a permanent hunch (which again, works well for this particular figure) to give him the combined look of perpetual forward motion and/or being weighed down by the wing pack.

This figure is a great addition for me, having been a bit (yeah, just a bit ) of a skate(board) punk back in the mid-late eighties/early nineties era, and also greatly enjoying snowboarding, surfing (not around here), and in-line skating over the past decade.

Well, that appears to about wrap it up for wave 2, unless Transcorcher is going to be considered to be part of wave 2 (I'm thinking wave 2.5 or 3?). We have yet to see him making the usual early appearance on Ebay, EE says May sometime, and ToyWiz says June sometime (tough to guage by these guys though, seeing as how they don't even have wave 2 up yet), so who knows at the moment. It also appears that wave 3 is not going to be around until August/September now, so it appears that my wallet may just get that well needed rest from Xevoz afterall . Of course, with how many new figs are slated to be released in August/September it's likely that I'll be shelling out a modest chunck of cash come then, so it's not really a rest as much as a "rebuilding period" now is it?

Later people,

-Shane

[ShaneReinecke]

Well, not that I needed any more of them (although it gets harder and harder to avoid adding a few more Jacks to the collection), and hence I didn't buy any (see above), wave 2 basics (Duney and Shockey) in stock at the local Target in South Central Michigan (Jackson to be exact). And yet another re-stock (third one now) of Wave 2 deluxes with Mr. S. Grindery also at Target. AND, more wave 2 - 2 packs (Wolfey and Gobby) at TRU.

Whew!! Wave 2 semi readlily available around these parts now.

Since I was one of the first people to report finding all of wave 1 and wave 2 very early on (oddly enough since I'm usually at the end of many a distro, HUGE THANKS GOES OUT TO GOD, AND whomever else was responsible for that intelligent move , sorry, it's the only plastic fix that I actually jones for anymore ), I figured that I would post this report as a "heads up" to start looking.

Now, I will also put this out there, but I really hope that I don't get a million people e-mailing me. If I do it's at my discretion, but it would probably end up being someone that would be helped out the most (like someone that can't get them any other way type of deal, or someone that I "know"). If these don't go fast-ish by the locals (sorry all, but I want to see locals get first dibs, gotta get em' addic....errr....I mean interested, to keep things a flowin' ) I will be willing to pick some things up for people.

This is kinda a disaster waiting to happen (since I likely may get bombarded, but....), give it a few days to see if your local stores get their wave 2 cases as a "rollout" all together or somethin', and to avoid any situations where people end up paying "cost + shipping" and then find them locally a day before they arrive (always a big "DOH" ya' know ). PM me if you're really interested though and we'll see what we can do.

So, there you have it, wave 2 showing up at Targets and TRUs near you, very soon....hopefully.....ummmm yeah....hopefully......

Now, Heh, Heh....where's wave 3? and uhhhh.....hee, hee, wave 4? (which coincidentally, I hear, is sure to thoroughly impress, not merely please). I for one, cannot wait to see where this line is gonna go and how long it could possibly last. I can honestly see this line being the next Transformers or G.I. Joe, OR maybe even bigger in the long run....seriously, MUCH bigger....the potential is all there.....all there I say .....all there indeed (insert Golem like "Precious" here, just joking, just joking).

[CJK Toy Bay]

I know what you are now!! I know your profession!! Your a comedian moving up the ranks really quick and your setting up a deal with Fox right now to be the next Seinfeld Have I mentioned I love reading your posts?

I'm with you on this line being one of the greatest, like I mentioned in another thread I've been actively collecting for around 12 years now and I've amassed quite a large collection. At one time I had a database going of my collection. I lost it in a freak computer accident in '98 and at that time I had around 1500 items not counting multiples and loose figures. Based on my background with all that I'd say Xevoz has more potential then any other line that has ever shown up. The tree is growing nicely and I have faith in Hasbros pruning abilities. ;D

[ShaneReinecke]

Heh, heh, uhhh...thanks CJK....I definitely have my wacky moments....right back atcha' man, you're one of my favorites to chat with around these parts (no offense to anyone else though, I love you all equally )....

When I posted this I was making a quick pit stop by the comp. while migrating to my drafting table (which coincidentally happens to be right next to the PC) after watching some more of Family Guy season 2, so I had just had a fresh injection of COM-O-DEE into my system.

That is one heck of a collection size wise, and based on what I know of your tastes it's gotta be pretty darn impressive selection wise also. Although I've been collecting for many years, my collection has taken many hits over the years.

Let's see....

There was....

DOH', times up.....I'm gonna get on my way home so I'll pick this up later on this afternoon.....(sorry I don't want to have to remember what I've already typed, nor do I want to take this text file home with me, but I will certainly finish this post shortly)

[SFGMaster]

ShaneReinecke said:

wave 4? (which coincidentally, I hear, is sure to thoroughly impress, not merely please).

All right, there you go again with the cryptic pseudo-insider-information stuff. I don't even have a Shock Berserker or a Moon Stalker-vs-Hemo Goblin yet (EE is being slow about getting more ) and here you are telling me I'm going to be totally wowed by the wave that's after the wave I saw cool pictures for that's after the wave I haven't finished collecting yet?? Sheesh. I'll settle for being thoroughly impressed by wave 2 once it finally gets here ;D

[Gigerlicious]

Scored the Iron Spectre Tackle box at the Ypsilanti Target as part of their Summer stock reset. He's righteous.

[ShaneReinecke]

Heh, heh....

That's where I scored mine at middle of last week GL (the Ypsilanti Target on Carpenter Rd.).

Sorry, I guess that I forgot to update this thread with the new info.

AND it looks like I have yet another Xevomaniac in very close proximity .

[Gigerlicious]

You've got quite the toy patrol if you're based in Jackson and making it all the way to Ypsi!

Don't worry, though. I'm a pretty laid back collector and tend to only pick stuff up these days when I happen to need to go to the store for other purchases.

[ShaneReinecke]

Update First, Giger second, anyone else that cares can read it all

1. Crypt Curse uhh...Was at Target in in Ypsilanti, MI. But only one left, and no other new figs, and now for a brief rant, actually lets call it a warning, yeah a small little rant-ish like warning to rally the voices.....

....okay here goes....

Yes, I found A, single, thats 1 folks...Crypt Curse figure, buried at the back of the bottom rack,

AND it was surrounded by (here we go with the bad parts kids), 2 slege troopers, 1 inferno fury, and (what I would assume) was 2 sky grinders...all in the new styled packaging (denoting that they were all in the new cases)....that makes a nice even 6 figure case by my uhhh, dare I say estimating (I mean, come'on it's opnly simple math here )....

Here it comes....if you haven't already figured it out....

If this is the way the current case ratios are being packed, we are going to have 2 big problems on OUR hands really quick here...

1. A bunch of figures that were JUST CLEARANCED the past three weeks and took about that long just to move off the racks are now going to be clogging the pegs, while a handful of us collectors pick off the new stuff, which will in turn bring about...

...The appearance that the line is not selling, which in turn could lead to....

(oh, and I believe has begun already)

...retailers only half-heartedly carrying, or not carrying the line at all anymore.

Which would be why MY closest Target, and one that is approximately 30-50 miles from the next 5 closest Targets for me (2 North, 1 West, 1 East, and the afforementioned store which is Farther East for me), has not planogrammed Xevoz into the current Figure reset.

Now, this is only an early warning, no one should get too alarmed, not yet at least, but if this kind of distro keeps up it won't be good for the line as a whole, neither short term, nor long term...

Needless to say, I am not happy at the moment. In fact, I was borderlined pis....uhhh...ticked off, upon leaving my local Target (after driving all the way home, hoping to have seen some **miracle** reset fully stocked with all of the new basics AND the new deluxe kit (2 packs have not been spotted at retail yet), at one of the two other Targets that I hit on the way home.

I'm A okay now, it's not that big a deal in the long run, it was just an extremely disappointing, and long, (as in 2 hour long , as in 3 hours of commutning today alone) trip home. After being tempted and excited by getting my hands on only 1 new figure, and then finding out that my local Target reset no longer includes Xevoz .


Part 2. Actually Giger it's not too far out of my way once every week or two (maybe even a couple of times a week if there's something that I'm REALLY looking for. It's kinda a long story regarding work and offices and home, and maybe I'll get into some other time. AND I don't really hit a lot of stores very often, I'm just very focused on the current "hot" spots, and I happen to have a quite a few choices in the average span of a week.

Anyway, It may end up being twice this week for Ypsi, assuming that I actually go into the office tomorrow , that is if I'm feeling okay . Did anyone hear that it is supposed to be an absolutely beautiful day in lower MI tomorrow? ;D

Oh, and by the way, if I find something when I stop in there (or any other Target that I hit for that matter) I'll let you know ASAHP , and IF you stop at the Ypsi Target and happen to see anything, if ya think that you could let me know ASAHP, it would be much appreciated.

Anyway all, Hello? anyone still there? Heelllloooo? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?.....

Alrighty, I guess, that I'm all done for now.

Later folks...

[goshou]

Heya Shane, I hear ya. I'm from the Detroit/Dearborn/Troy triangle in Lower MI and have easy access to no less than 5 Targets.

2 have finished their resets and no Xevoz. Heck, Dearborn still hasn't dropped their clearance Xevoz to the 30%/50% markdown yet (I've got my eyes on the 2 remaining ShadowBlade / BoneCutter packs). None of my Targets got any Wave 2's in, but every Meijers got at least one shipment of them in, which sucks.

I'm not going to 'freak' yet; there's still the good chance that the plan-o-gram will be updated in a month or so; at least classic-ly Targets did that as Christmas drew closer.

In an interesting note, a few weekends back I went down to Cincinnati and stoped at about 5 Meijers thru Ohio. Each one of them had a fairly good selection of Wave 2. So, I'm really hoping that Meijer's manages to keep up the numbers for us MI collecters.

Oh, also, I'm going to AnnArbor this weekend. Is there still reason for me to stop at the Yspi this weekend other than to check up? Was there still any Iron Spector Tackles there? Please, please say yes...

*sniff sniff*

[Squishee Slinger]

That's pretty bad news, Shane. we still have a lot of wave 1 and some wave 2 MM packing the pegs here. Wave 3 with only a third of case packed with CC is going to absolutely clog the pegs with unsellable fodder.

I think this would have been a better pack out...

1 Sledge Trooper or 1 Inferno Fury (alternate cases)
2 Sky Grinders
3 Crypt Curses

I hope Hasbro gets their stuff together and doesn't let these poor case pack decisions kill off the line.

~SS~

[Grayfox]

What I'd like to know is WHY is Hasbro ging with such weird case ratios?