Just to show what kind of whirlwind the past month has been, I somehow neglected to post that Episode 79 of What’s on Joe Mind was released!  Featuring the impressive vocal talents of the immortal Brian Cummings, we talk about his role as Dr. Mindbender in the Sunbow series, and have a lengthy discussion about codpieces.

Yes, really.

But that’s not all!  We also bring our good Marvel buddy Arune Singh on to talk about Iron Man 3, C2E2 and get prepared for the upcoming ComicCon.  Check out this latest episode on our Podbean page, or the embedded players below.  As always, Show Notes are after the jump.

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And they pretty much ROCK.  Cobra’s first ever desert combat specialist the Desert Scorpion was a long time favorite of mine, and the Collectors’ Club did him justice.  Using the Snake Eyes-like head sculpt from the Steel Brigade Delta figure and the head wrap from the Night Creeper, as well as 25th Anniversary Zartan’s body and an amalgamation of legs (I really dig those HISS Driver lower legs).  I can’t quite place the arms at that angle, but the rest of the figure looks very classic themed.  I approve.  Interestingly, the figure is very close in design to the canceled Cobra Minotaur driver, with just some very minor part changes (specifically the head sculpt).  It will be interesting to see if this version has the Crimson Twins arms like that older version was meant to.

Meanwhile, Widescope… hoooly cow.  Back in the early 2000′s, Widescope was merely conceived as a Shockwave place holder, since Hasbro didn’t have the appropriate trademarks for him.  With this figure, the Club really takes Widescope to a new level, and maybe it’s just me, but this figure makes the 25th Anniversary Shockwave look pathetic.  Yes, it’s essentially a repainted Shock Trooper with a Shockwave head and hat, but the blue paint scheme is fantastic.  I really  dig that camouflage on the legs, too.  It looks very similar to the “Urban Rain” color scheme from the 2005 Steel Brigade Convention figures.  Very unique look.

I fully admit to being a fan of the first generation Figure Subscription Service, and man, version 2.0 is out pacing it at almost every step.  If this is any indication, we’re in for some great product from the Club over the next series of years.  I love the fact that a relative unknown like Widescope is getting really great treatment and a chance to live on in a modern format.  Really good stuff.  Keep checking GIJoeClub.com for the latest information, and I’ve mirrored the most recent two images below.

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We talked about it quite a bit leading up to the 2013 G.I. Joe Convention in Indianapolis, and now the episode is online for all of our listeners to enjoy!  The What’s on Joe Mind crew held a panel at JoeCon where we interviewed Brian Savage from the G.I. Joe Collectors Club, took input from the audience, and generally had a great time.

Check out this Special Edition episode on our Podbean page, or the embedded links below.  Show Notes are at the bottom.

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SHOW NOTES

During this year’s JoeCon, WOJM was allowed the very unique opportunity to host a panel for the attendees.  Thus, “WOJM Live!” was born.  Join Mike, Justin and Gary as they interview the GIJCC’s own “Headman,” Mr. Brian Savage himself.  Yes, for the first time ever, the club submits to an interview…what will they say?  Following the interview, we send Mike out into the crowd to talk about your one-word issues.  What will the randomness result in when our own “Roving Mike” put a microphone in front of a stranger’s mouth?  So in case you’ve missed it (like Chuck), here is WOJM on-stage debut at the 2013 JoeCon in Indy!  Enjoy!

No spoilers here, but reports are coming throughout the web that Figure Subscription Service round 5 is now hitting mailboxes!  This is the second to last shipment, which means we are on the verge of discovering who that mysterious 13th figure is going to be.  Can’t wait!  I know some folks get annoyed at the whole surprise angle, but I’m really loving it, and I’m looking forward to the revelation.

For those who are interested in spoiling themselves, this thread on YoJoe.com has the characters, and HissTank.com has some images.

The 2013 G.I. Joe Convention is now behind us, and What’s on Joe Mind is prepared to move forward into the bright future of the G.I. Joe brand.  In this episode we tackle G.I. Joe Convention news and notes, talking about the concept case, take reader mail, and get generally pissy about various things.

But hey, if we weren’t a little pissy, you guys would wonder what was wrong with us!  In all honesty, it’s a great, very up front episode with a LOT of straight-up G.I. Joe talk.  Nothing fancy.  Check out the latest episode on our Podbean page, or through the embedded players below.  Show notes are after the jump.

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The time has come!  We are just about two weeks removed from the 2013 G.I. Joe Convention in Indianapolis, and I finally have everything together to post the review.  I’m doing something a little different this year, rather than a single combined review, I actually separated everything into a whopping eighteen separate reviews.

Yes, eighteen.

In times past I’ve pushed the reviews out a day or two at a time, but I think this set is so intertwined, it would be very tough to do that.  All of the reviews are cross referenced in a single hub page for the overall look and feel of the Convention Set.  Check out the main hub review at the link below, and the other reviews are linked as well:

• 2013 G.I. Joe Nocturnal Fire Convention Boxed Set
  • Convention Boxed Set “Hub”
  • Charbroil
  • Cobra Mortal
  • Crimson Asp
  • Frag Viper
  • Hit & Run
  • Letal
  • Muskrat
  • Psyche Out
  • Repeater
  • SAW Viper
  • Spearhead
• 2013 G.I. Joe Nocturnal Fire Convention Extras
  • FLAK w/ Steeler
  • Chuckles
  • Freestyle
  • Lady Jaye
  • Night Boomer
  • Kre-O 6-Pack and Hit & Run ParaDrop

These reviews will, of course, also be linked at the G.I. Joe Collectors Club exclusives page as well.  Enjoy!

Man, consider me impressed.

Last year when I launched the concept case surveys for the 2012 JoeCon, I was impressed by the turn out… within the first week I’d gotten about 600 responders, and kept the survey open an additional week so I could capture around 1400 all told throughout the period of… three weeks I think?

Well at this point the 2013 Concept Case survey has been up for about 3 days and there are already over 700 responses!  You guys ROCK.

If you haven’t participated yet, please do so!  Please note, this survey is completely and totally unofficial and not endorsed by Hasbro, but as mentioned at the Hasbro seminar at JoeCon, they are looking for any feedback they can get.  YOUR VOTE MATTERS.

Check out the Concept Case Survey right here and let your voice be heard!

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The comic world has changed in many ways over the past several years, and writers have learned to adapt to this new mentality.  Writing for the trade, or building stories in a certain way is considerably different now than it was even 15 or 20 years ago.  The entire landscape is different.

Someone forgot to tell Larry Hama this.

To read the full review of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #189 click the Read the Rest of the Story link below.

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While the world is shaking apart in the main IDW universe with some title reconfiguration, the Larry Hama Real American Hero title powers on, and powers on magnificently.  Issue #189 continues the excellent Red Shadows storyline.  Check out the preview below.

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G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #189

Larry Hama (w) • S L Gallant (a & c)

G.I. JOE takes to the high seas to stop the BLACK MAJOR from eliminating the hostages aboard an oil survey ship. Can SCARLETT, STALKER, TORPEDO, GUNG-HO and BEACH HEAD storm the ship and get the hostages to safety? G.I. JOE is in for choppy waters in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #189!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

*Variant Covers:

            Larry Hama variant sketch cover!

Granted this one is a lot more low key than the infamous Concept Case survey that  GeneralsJoes helped lead last year, but with some more new concept figures being shown in Indianapolis last weekend, it seemed like a good idea to kick another one of these off.

There were only a handful of new figures shown, and those figures will be the focus of this round of surveys.  However, depending on the results of this one, expect another round at some point to take the winners of the 2012 survey and the winners of this survey for a more all encompassing look at every concept figure shown thus far.

You can hit up the Survey at the SurveyMonkey page itself, or embedded below.  This one should be a quickie.