A brand new Target store opened near me today! Yay! It will make it easier to stay on top of the new Target exclusives.
Speaking of which, I went today to make sure I got first crack at whatever new sets they may have - and I found these four! They are very cool - actually much better in person that I expected. They retail for US$2.99 each, which is a very good price for what are essentially two Specials packaged together.
I have not yet opened the packages since I had to leave for work immediately after going to the store, but from looking at them I have some impressions.
First off the set of knights - you get two cool knights for a decent price, but i do not see too much here that is new. Two knights at good price, but nothing beyond that.
Secondly, the Roman and the gladiator. This set is very cool. The gladiator is similar to the Special 4653, but he has a different torso design (although he still has the same blue colored outfit), collar and armor for his arm, as well as having the net and trident associated with the Retiarius. The Roman soldier also looks to have a new design and color combination, but I must admit I do not yet have all the Roman sets, so he may be a duplicate.
The "cops and robbers" set is very interesting. The policeman looks to be pretty standard, but the bad guy is where this set stands out. He looks great as a gang member for modern days, yet could easily be converted to a ninja type warrior. Also, the tattooed arms will be very useful for viking and pirate customs as well.
Lastly, the pirates... what can I say, other than I'd love to see more and more sets like these. The color combinations on the pirates are terrific, and as far as I can tell, the bodies are all new. Both use the new "fringed sleeve" pattern originally seen on the Romans, and they will prove to be very useful for customs. I love these guys straight out of the box, and multiple sets will provide some very interesting variations.
All told - these are excellent sets at a VERY good price. I'd highly recommend getting your hands on these.
