When the folks over at UnderScoopFire asked me to participate in a “Top 100 Toys of All Time” list, I thought it sounded like a fun project to take part in.  That feeling quickly gave way to sense of “oh crap PANIC” when I started digging through the massive list of favorite toys to attempt to narrow things down.  It was simply impossible.

Thankfully all I had to do was submit my own list of 20 and then let Under Scoop Fire put the actual list together (and accept all the hate mail).  I’m free and clear!

Well, not totally free and clear.  One of my main jobs on the participation side of things was to submit thoughts under the G.I. Joe umbrella, and I think I represented that very well…with one glaring ommision.

But don’t take my word for it.  Hit up the UnderScoopFire Top 100 Toys of all Time list to check it out yourself.  First of all, a caveat.  The “Top 100″ toys currently only has 90 listed.  You’ll have to check in tomorrow to listen to the Under Scoop Fire Podcast, Episode 21 to hear the top 10, and then the final top 10 will be posted shortly thereafter.

Enjoy!

And remember…all hate mail is addressed to UnderScoopFire.  I’m innocent!

Were folks wondering what the GIJCC Exclusive Footloose looked like from all angles?  Wonder no more!

The Collectors’ Club has posted a great YouTube video featuring their 2012 exclusive incentive figure Footloose, and finally gives us a good look at all sides of this great looking figure, including the backpack.

Check it out embedded below.

If you think the figure is cool, hit up GIJoeClub.com to join the club before March 16th!

EDIT – The GIJCC has also sent along a nice close up image of the Club exclusive figure, too.  Looking GREAT.

Things have been quiet from the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club lately, which folks have noticed, especially when it comes to the FSS (Figure Subscription Service).  There are obviously some technical issues at work here, and hopefully we’ll get some information sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, the Collectors’ Club has renewed their push for membership and has posted some reminders via Facebook and elsewhere that if you want the 2012 Membership figure, you have to make sure you either join or renew by March 16th!

Hopefully folks who have suffered from the great Dial Tone shortage of 2011 will have learned from the experience and they realize that the $42 annual membership is worth the figure as well as the newsletter.

Speaking of the newsletter…  maybe I’m alone, but I think it’s been on a pretty great upswing in recent months.  The Adventure Team bio’s have been very well written and have integrated extremely nicely into the Real American Hero universe with some very cool homages to characters like Doc and Snow Job.  The Adventure Team comic has also been a pretty impressive piece of story telling, with art by G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero legend Rod Whigham. How can you go wrong?

But to me, the best piece of the newsletter is the ongoing Real American Hero comic story.  I think Dave Lane, Jesse Wittenrich, and Dan Khanna are really doing something fun with the comics.  This past issue began a “Footloose” storyline that had some fantastic cameos by the Night Stalkers, Hotwire, the Black Dragon helicopter and the Steel Brigade!  For folks who are jonesin to see their Pursuit of Cobra era figures in comic book form, this is what you’re looking for!  It certainly doesn’t hurt that it looks like they may possibly be touching on the whole Zombie Viper storyline…something Hasbro really should have better explored.  It also picks up on some loose ends from past convention comics, specifically the 2010 Vacation in the Shadows one!  Good stuff.

I think folks who have been sitting on the fence should get off that fence and consider signing up.  If not just for Footloose (which is a good enough reason itself) but also for the improving newsletter as well. Not even to mention the upcoming Figure Subscription Service… I think you’ll find the $42 well worth the cost.  You can check GIJoeClub.com for sign up details.

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This has been kicking around in my head for a long time…probably ever since the announcement of the death of the o-ring format.  Certainly many fans hold that treasured construction close to their heart, but I am literally stunned at how fast and furiously the movement has been to the new “modern era” style.  Even five years ago, if the figure wasn’t an “o-ring” it was immediately cast aside as inferior, and now here we are in 2010, and the fandom at large as moved far away from the o-ring format, and has happily embraced something totally different.

With the (albeit remote) possibility out there that G.I. Joe: Retaliation may re-invent the wheel yet again, I really got thinking…over the past 28 years, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero has undergone a number of format changes and face lifts.  Which were the best or most impactful?

Now for this list, I’m not counting the o-ring.  That was a standard from day one.  I’m specifically talking about enhancements.  A change or progression that moved the toyline along and continued to revolutionize the industry.  So, let’s get to it.

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I figure there are lots of folks probably doing the whole “Best of” lists for 2011 (myself included eventually!) so I figured I’d take a somewhat different approach.  Rather than considering only the “best” or “worst” I figured I’d take a look at significance.  And because I’m wishy washy, I couldn’t narrow it down to just 10, I had to sneak an 11th in there just for discussion purposes.

Click the “Read the Rest of this Story” link below for the full article.

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So the site has been inundated with G.I. Joe: Retaliation news and articles…so when the always awesome Monte Williams offers to submit a list of Overrated and Underrated Joes of the “Modern Era” I just can’t help but jump on it.

Even if it ends up sitting in my mailbox for a week or so first.  :shifty:

Seriously, this was a great article, and a huge thanks to Monte for taking the time to write this up for the site.  It’s greatly appreciated!  Click the “read the rest of this entry” link below to view Monte’s list and argue it out in the comments below!

Read the rest of this entry »

Not to be outdone by the G.I. Joe: Retaliation trailer, the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club continues to reveal items from their FSS (Figure Subscription Service).  This time around, they give us a nice close up shot of the FSS Barrel Roll, which pretty much looks like the Direct To Consumer version of the figure.

Check out the mirrored image below, and of course, follow the G.I. Joe Club on Twitter, Facebook, and at GIJoeClub.com for all the latest info!

Fans have been asking, and the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club is delivering!

Now that pretty much all of the card art has been revealed, the GIJCC is providing some more great close up shots of the figures that are destined to be released in the Figure Subscription Service.  Today, we got a great look at Iron Klaw with his removable beret!

VERY cool.  Check out some mirrored images below, but be sure to check out the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club on Facebook for even more details!

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I freaking LOVE this figure.  The detail work on the facemask is insane.  A fantastic looking figure, for sure.

Also of note…the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club has added a Terms and Conditions page for the Figure Subscription Service.  No pricing yet (except for the $20 – $25 per figure number that we’ve known about for months) but it’s a very detailed document that should answer some questions out there.  Check it out right here.

Over on Facebook, the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club continues to update the waiting fandom, this time with more images of full card art from the upcoming FSS (Figure Subscription Service).  They have added a number of new art pieces, including TNT, Tan Grunt, Dice, Cover Girl, and Topside.  Heck there might be something else new there, too, I’m starting to lose track!

To avoid missing anything I am mirroring every piece of full card art we’ve seen to date down below.  Check them out and enjoy!

Also remember to keep tuned to the Collectors Club on Facebook, Twitter, and at GIJoeClub.com.

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So, after GeneralsJoes faithful Monte chided me in my comments for a lack of updates, I went into last week to see when I posted last and holy crap!  Somehow I missed some art updates from the FSS (Figure Subscription Service).

As of this point, the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club has revealed character art for ten of the subscription figures (no dedicated Sure Fire or TNT images yet), and posted a little update about the source material for the art as well.

They also provided a terrific image of a Jinx close-up that looks to be a retooled and modified Valor vs. Venom head sculpt.

I’ve mirrored those images below, and you can stay up to date on GIJoeClub.com.

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Also, just to keep all up to date, below you can see all of the close-up card art we’ve seen so far.  I haven’t included any of the full cards here, but this is a good look at what we’ve seen to date.  The two missing characters can be seen in the compilation image above as well.

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I know the art style has been a hot button topic throughout these reveals, and I still stand by my thoughts that these are no worse than anything we’ve received in the past few years, and in fact, I think they maintain the style pretty well.  Balancing cost against resources is an ongoing battle, and we must remember the limited budget involved in packaging these.

If I had my preference, I’d say just sell them loose and eliminate those costs altogether, but I know there is a popular surge amongst the fandom to have packaged versions of these figures available.  I don’t understand it myself, but apparently there is a presence there.

I think the most important thing to remember when providing feedback for anyone, keep it respectful.  I have seen some downright mean, condescending, and bordering on belligerent comments about this artwork online, which is frankly pretty disappointing.  It’s fine to express that this art is not your cup of tea, but keep in mind that there is always a human being on the other side of the digital paintbrush, and while constructive criticism is always appreciated by an artist so they can grow their craft and improve, insults and hurtful words do nothing to help the artistic process.  It’s a shame that I actually have to type those words considering we’re all adults in this hobby, for the most part, but there you are.

Again, make sure and keep tabs on GIJoeClub.com for all the latest news and information.