Category Archives: Reviews

G.I. Joe FSS 4 Bullhorn & Inferno BAT reviews!

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G.I. Joe FSS 4 Bullhorn Inferno BAT

G.I. Joe FSS 4 Bullhorn and the Inferno BAT reviews have been posted!

It’s that time again when Chris and Fred sit down to tackle new FSS reviews.  In this latest shipment from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club fans received the updated version of the 1990 Intervention Specialist Bullhorn as well as a new take on the Cobra Inferno BAT!

It’s an odd pairing– a negotiator and an incendiary automaton designed for mass destruction but that’s par for the course when it comes to G.I. Joe FSS 4 shipments. Can this hot-headed android and this cool intervention specialist get along?  Bullhorn and the Inferno BAT might not make for an ideal showdown but this marks the first time that either of them has been updated to generation 3 construction.

The big question is: are these figures worthy additions to any G.I. Joe Collection?

Head on over to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index and check out two long-time Joe fans’ opinions on the G.I. Joe FSS 4 Bullhorn and the Inferno BAT. Afterwards feel free to let us know what you think in the comments below or over on the JBL Facebook page!

G.I Joe FSS 4 Review: Jammer & Pathfinder

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G.I. Joe FSS 4 Review Jammer & Pathfinder

It’s time for another G.I. Joe FSS 4 Review!

One’s a DiC era Jungle Warfare specialist with a penchant for heavy machine guns and landscaping equipment!  The other’s UK Z-Force communication specialist that bears a striking resemblance to the G.I. Joe team‘s original Ranger from Detroit.  Together, they keep the world safe for freedom!  That’s right Joe fans– this month’s G.I. Joe FSS 4 Review odd couple is none other than Pathfinder and Jammer!

It’s been nearly two weeks since the last G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 4 boxes arrived in the mailboxes of subscribers.  Chris and Fred took these figures and once again put them under the G.I. Joe FSS 4 review lens– and this time they even brought along a special consultant on one of the figures!

Are these two worth picking up? Do Chris and Fred find anything to agree on?  Does Deadpool continue his string of gratuitous cameo appearances?  These questions will indeed be answered in the latest G.I. Joe FSS 4 Review installments.  Check out both Jammer & Pathfinder over on the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index!

 

G.I. Joe FSS 4 Barricade & Ice Ninja Reviews

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G.I. Joe FSS 4 shipment 2

G.I. Joe FSS 4 Barricade & Cobra Ice Ninja reviews are live!

It was just over a week ago that subscribers to G.I. Joe FSS 4 began receiving their second of six shipments with the latest two figures in the line.  Today, Chris and Fred pull Barricade and the Cobra Ice Ninja off of their cards and throw them under the review lights!

What did our two intrepid reviewers think of these latest figures from G.I. Joe FSS 4?  Did they break new barriers or were they met with a chilly reception? Does Fred keep trying to make inane ice and cold puns?  Does Deadpool make yet another cameo? (Like you had to ask…)

These questions and more are answered in two reviews chock-full of banter, obscure sci-fi references and more links to Wikipedia than you can shake a stick at!

Check out the reviews of Barricade and the Cobra Ice Ninja from G.I. Joe FSS 4 over at the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index and let us know what you think in the comments below!

JBL Review: FSS Quarrel action figure

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G.I. Joe FSS Quarrel

JBL Reviews the FSS Quarrel action figure!

Fear not, Joe fan!  You’ve not stepped through a rift that’s transported you back in time nearly three years!  Rather, the JBL admin has decided to whittle down his massive backlog of reviews and delved back into the first series of the subscription service to review FSS Quarrel!

Two years.  That’s the time difference between the first and last photos shot for this review.  In that time no less than 2 successive waves have hit and been reviewed.  It’s the problem with stockpiling photos with all the obsessiveness of a digital horder.   It all leads to a massive stockpile of product that has been shot, watermarked, but never reviewed and posted.  (Heck, there’s still last year’s Joe Con set to get through!)

However, enough ranting from the admin.  FSS Quarrel first dropped back in early 2013 as part of the first series of the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service.  Based on the classic 1983 Action Force character, this marked Quarrel’s first appearance in the “modern era” of G.I. Joe figure construction.

Was it worth the wait?  Is she a solid addition to any Joe collection?  Do she and Duke use the same hair dye?  Only two of this questions will be answered but to find out which two, head on over and check out the review of the FSS Quarrel figure in the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index!

G.I. Joe 50th Swamp Steam 2-pack Review

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G.I. Joe 50th Swamp Steam two-pack

The G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Swamp Steam two-pack has been reviewed!

I’ll admit it– I’ve fallen a bit behind on getting these posted.  Too many trips on the road for work and some pesky house issues around the JBL photo setup have pushed reviews back a bit further than I would have liked.  Thankfully, after this week, much of the obstacles to publication will have been removed and we can get the review train rolling again!  After all, there are a few three packs and the Silent Strike set yet to cover!  (The Rock Rampage 3-pack continues to prove decidedly elusive.)

The Swamp Steam pack has the distinction of being the set that few people saw coming during the Hasbro reveals at Joe Con 2015.  Based on two cancelled Pursuit of Cobra figures, this set finally puts the more tactically-colored Blowtorch and the Python Patrol Croc Master in the hands of fans after a four year delay.

Was it worth the wait?  Are these figures worth adding to your collection?  Will the name “Swamp Steam” ever make sense?

Head on over the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Review Index and find out one Joe fan’s opinion!

Marissa Fairborn & Afterbreaker Review

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G.I. Joe & the transformers marissa fairborn & afterbreaker

The Marissa Fairborn & Afterbreaker G.I. Joe & the Transformers set have been reviewed!

Thanks to our good buddy Otto “The Otter” Phillips, JBL has a fresh review of this shared exclusive set from both the G.I. Joe & Transformers Collectors Clubs.  Featuring the future daughter of Flint & Lady Jaye as well as Techno-bot team member Afterburner, um… Afterbreaker, this set has something for fans of both lines.

Is the Marissa Fairborn & Afterbreaker two-pack worth your hard-earned cash?  Did Otto finally convert over to being a full-time Transformers fan?  The answers to these questions and more can be found over at the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index!

G.I. Joe Classic Clash two-pack review

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G.I. Joe Classic Clash two-pack

The G.I. Joe Classic Clash two-pack review has been posted!

He’s a native American tracker with a degree in psychology who can find anyone anywhere.  He’s a former assasin who comes from an ancient and mysterious ninja clan who once served as the bodyguard for the “most dangerous man alive.”  Together– they comprise the G.I. Joe Classic Clash two-pack!

Who’s the better figure – Spirit or Storm Shadow?  Does either one of them know where Freedom is?  Will Deadpool make a cameo?  Does any of these even matter?

Check out the two reviews from the G.I. Joe Classic Clash pack over in the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Review Index!

Also, for Joe fans who are having trouble finding these– EntertainmentEarth.com still has FULL CASES of two-packs available shipped for only $119.99!

Hunt for Cobra Commander two-pack review

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G.I. Joe Hunt for Cobra Commander

The G.I. Joe Hunt for Cobra Commander two-pack review is now posted!

It’s been a bit of a busy week here at JBL HQ but that’s not stopping us from whittling our way through the new G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary two-packs!  This time, Fred takes a look at the Hunt for Cobra Commander set which pits the 2012 concept case Shipwreck up against a darker more sinister Cobra Commander.  These sets are just now hitting Toys R Us stores across the nation and full cases are STILL available at EntertainmentEarth.com for just $119.99.

Who will emerge victorious?  Do the red shoes help?  Should Deadpool make more cameos in reviews? Does it even matter?

Check out the Hunt for Cobra Commander Shipwreck and Cobra Commander reviews over in the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Review Index!

FYI – We want your feedback!  Either drop us a comment below or post thoughts on this set and our review over at the JBL Facebook page!  (Seriously, we love to talk G.I. Joe!)

SDCC 2015 Desert Duel review

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SDCC 2015 Desert Duel

 

The SDCC 2015 Desert Duel exclusive set review has been posted!

This year was a pretty good year for SDCC exclusives.  The Crimson Strike set featured two new vehicle deco’s and four exclusive figures.  Yet, it only told half the story– which was completed in the Toys R Us exclusive SDCC 2015 Desert Duel set.  This set featured only two exclusive characters over the standard retail version that’s starting to hit stores now but it also introduced the Joe fandom to the upgraded FOE Striker and Cobra Basilisk!

Want to know what two long-time Joe fans thought of the SDCC 2015 Desert Duel set? Did the FOE Striker live up to the hype? Is the Cobra Basilisk going to replace the familiar HISS Tank any time soon?  Can Fred and Chris agree on anything this time around?

The answers to these questions and more await in the SDCC 2015 Desert Duel review!  You can check it out either by clicking on the image above for by visiting either the Exclusive Review Index or the 50th Anniversary Review Index here at JBL!

Plus, stay tuned to JBL as the first shipment of the 2015 50th Anniversary two-packs arrived today!

SDCC Kre-O Slaughter’s Marauders Review

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SDCC Kre-O Slaughter's Marauders

The 2015 SDCC Kre-O Slaughter’s Marauders set has been reviewed!

When it comes to both Sgt. Slaughter and Kre-O, I know of no bigger fan than Todd Weinzierl of JBL’s sister site Magnum6Delta.com.  So, when it came time to review this set I had to seek out the expert– and luckily he was willing to share his thoughts on the SDCC Kre-O Slaughter’s Marauders set that has taken the fandom by storm this summer.  After all, many fans thought that they’d never see Hasbro have the opportunity to produce another Sgt. Slaughter figure again!

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