Judging be reactions in the Twittersphere and elsewhere, the Hasbro reveal of additional concept case items yesterday was met with mixed reaction to say the least. Don’t get me wrong, nobody was arguing that the figures weren’t nice, but there seemed to be some heat about whether or not Hasbro should continue to reveal these items considering there were no official releases announced this weekend.
Going by what the Hasbro reps were saying, though, they felt like they deserved to show G.I. Joe fans a little something, even if it wasn’t actual product. What they showed was a mind-blowing assortment of newly sculpted items that appears to be similar to what we saw at the Concept Case last year.
Previous releases were in the case as well, including Flint, Lady Jaye, Beachhead, and others, but what really knocked Joe fan socks off were none other than Gung Ho, Leatherneck, and ’88 Storm Shadow, Rock n Roll, and Destro. The most impressive thing about the figure grouping was that both Destro and Gung Ho were physically larger and far more imposing than the figures next to them. Obviously built off a larger framework, the intricate detail and the astoundingly accurate Destro head sculpt (looking back at the original card art) gave us a really fascinating insight into the mind set of the designers.
This was not a move meant to frustrate the fandom by any means. It was something meant to excite and interest fans, and reassure us that even though no new retail offerings might be in the pipeline, work always continues to innovate and inject the G.I. Joe mythology with something exciting.
It’s important to understand these items are not in any stage of final production, and there is not much likelihood of these figures being released in the immediate future, but I for one am fascinated by these early looks at G.I. Joe product, and will certainly be hanging on every word of Hasbro representatives going forward to see if these figures can expect release in the coming years.
Check out the YoJoe Photo Gallery below, and big thanks to notpicard from YoJoe for being right there with a camera when I could not be and snagging those pics for the YoJoe Gallery. Also a huge thanks to Fred from JoeBattleLinesand JoeCanuck friend Jon S. for supplying some fantastic images themselves that are mirrored nicely below.
I apologize, I wrote this post yesterday and thought it had posted over here on GeneralsJoes, but apparently it had not.
The G.I. Joe Collectors Club panel happened yesterday, and much was discussed about the creative process with convention and club exclusives, but the most exciting news of the day was the official announcement of the FSS Series 2!
Click the Read the Rest of the Story link below for the full details.
The guys at Codename: Iowa first approached me to review their minimalist posters a while ago, and I was surprisingly infatuated with Series 1 and 2. I found myself really looking forward to Series 3, which would feature the all star Joe and Cobra cast from 1984. I was curious how they were going to make it work, considering some of the more… “flamboyant” uniforms that characters starting getting in ’84.
Well, I got my set, and I got my answer. Check out the full review in my Miscellaneous section, or the direct link below:
Throughout the crazy week of G.I. Joe: Retaliation prep and reaction, pop culture fan site BrainFreeze has been posting some great updates to their G.I. Joe themed articles! These include interviews with some collectors (including yours truly!) and a great look at the animated series, review sites, and more.
It is really cool to see a site like this putting so much effort into pushing and publicizing G.I. Joe! I have posted links below to all five parts, you need to check them out, they are really entertaining reads and a great look at some folks within our hobby and some aspects that make our hobby great.
There are much more to come, but these six articles are pretty fun reads! You should check them out. A big thanks to Axel for taking the time to get this all together and to get it all translated! A great effort.
With the information yesterday that the 2013 G.I. Joe Convention will feature a paradrop with a Kre-O KreOn figure, and not a traditional G.I. Joe figure, some folks figured that meant there would be a convention exclusive Kre-On figure used.
Need to plan your convention experience? Well, the G.I. Joe Collectors Club has just made it a whole lot easier. They’ve posted the schedule for the 2013 G.I. Joe Convention right here. Featuring a lot of the great panels you’ve come to expect from Hasbro, the voice actors, Larry Hama and Kirk Bozigian, this year they’ve also branched out some.
Dave Tree is travelling over from the UK to do a Palitoy Action Force seminar and there’s What’s on Joe Mind Live–…
Wait. What?
Dammit Godsoe, you never tell me anything!
Check out the full Convention Schedule right here.
Continuing the GeneralsJoes “G.I. Joe Kre-O Week” we have just one review today, featuring the Cobra Armored Assault set. I suspect that most fans, myself included, picked up this set primarily for Flint, but they may find some other things to love here, too. Check it out at my Kre-O Review Page, or the direct link below.
In celebration of episode #52, we offered listeners a chance to call in and talk with us directly about their burning G.I. Joe issues, and the response was incredible. We all had a blast doing it, so we figured to celebrate our diamond anniversary of episode #75 we’d do it again. I think we’re all glad we did. It was a raucus, “from the hip” whirlwind where we eschewed news and current events and just leaped into talking with YOU, our listeners. Joined by good friend Erik Arana, who provides some great insight into our hobby and the toy industry in general.
Because there wasn’t much in the way of news or intel, the show notes are just below. You can find the episode on Podbean, or via the embedded players below.
It’s our second ever listener call in show! We put the news, email, and Twitter on hold and take your calls and answer your questions! Show friend, Erik Arana hangs out with us and gives us a unique perspective on our hobby. If you don’t know who Erik is, you need to listen in! Special appearances by WOJM contributors Eduardo M Freyre (with a lemon twist), Ryan Costello, Jr. WOJM Twitter laureate, Twitziller, Noted Author, James Kavanaugh, Jr. and Numbers from Ages 25 and Up. It’s a festive, from the hip episode where the only thing that matters is taking your calls…and making fun of Chuck. Enjoy!
Now this is just too cool. Jim Sorenson dropped me a line to let me know that his partner in crime on the G.I. Joe Field Manual(s) Bill Forster has launched Cobra Commander into space, and recorded the event for prosperity.
Check out Jim’s post on Disciples of Boltax with Bill’s first hand account. And of course, we gotta hit up the YouTube video below. Hopefully he didn’t bring any Lunartix back with him…
Click the Amazon links below to order the G.I. Joe Field Manual, Volume 1, or to pre-order the G.I. Joe Field Manual, Volume 2!
This Saturday, March 23, 2013 from 5-8PM, BAIT will host an in-store event to celebrate the release of the GI Joe x The Loyal Subjects 3″ Mini Collectible Series and the GI Joe: Retaliation film.
Designed by Les Schettkoe, the GI Joe x The Loyal Subjects collection features articulated 3″ vinyl representations of classic characters like Cobra Commander, Destro, Duke, Snake Eyes, Zartan, Storm Shadow, Gung-Ho, Snow Job, and three mystery chase figures. The series is packaged in blind boxes that retail for $12.99 each.
Schettkoe will be in-store to help launch the figures, offering fans a chance to get their vinyls signed by the mind that created them.
This is a unique opportunity for G.I. Joe fans to interface with the artists who have created these excellent products and to get a first look at the Loyal Subjects G.I. Joe licensed offerings. BAIT is located in Diamond Bar, California (further details are in the attached image).
Thanks to the Loyal Subjects for passing this information along!
