G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative – the Souvenirs

g.i. joe zombie initiative souvenir items

Whew!  It’s the end of the G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative reviews! Happy Halloween!

If you’ve stuck with JBL this week then you’re seen that Chris and I have been covering the 2014 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention Zombie Initiative set!  We’ve already covered the ECO-Force, the Zombie Hunters, and the Cobra Forces.  You might be asking yourself “What’s left?”  Why the souvenir items, of course!

In this final installment we take a look at the ECO-Striker, G.I. Joe aka Joe Colton,  the Steel Brigade Delta and his VTOL, the Zombie Hunter VAMP, and lastly the Zombie Steel Brigade 3-pack!  Sadly, only one of owns a Septic HISS so images of that will be posted later.  Lastly, you might be thinking that we omitted the parachute figure- Night Force Crazy Legs.  Don’t worry– he’ll be covered soon enough but will be posted when we cover the 2013 Nocturnal Fire set!

So, head on over the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index and check out the final installment of the Zombie Initiative!

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Review – Eco-Force

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Eco Force

JBL is counting down the days until Halloween with a look at the Zombie Initiative!

Each day from now until All Hallows Eve this Friday, Chris and I will be delving into the 2014 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention set – the Zombie Initiative!  It’s a varied set filled with evil scientists, zombie hunters, and the unfortunate infected that make up the hordes of the walking dead!  The best part is that the set is still available at the G.I. Joe Club store if you’re still looking to pick one up for yourself!

Today’s reviews focus on that group of brave scientists and soldiers tasked with finding a way to cure the infected of the Zombie Initiative!  That’s right– I’m talking about the E.C.O.- Force!  Check out the reviews of Clean-Sweep, Flint, and Ozone in their generation 3 builds over in the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index!

Check back tomorrow as JBL unveils the next installment of the Zombie Initiative in our Halloween Countdown!

G.I. Joe Convention 2014: Eco-Striker and Souvenirs List

G.I. Joe Convention 2014

G.I. Joe Convention 2014 has begun in Dallas, TX and we’ve got some early indication as to what exclusive items round out this year’s 1:18 Zombie Initiative convention set.

Last night an image of the attendee exclusive Eco-Striker was posted to the G.I. Joe Con Official Facebook page.  Molded in blue and yellow plastic, this vehicle seems to compliment the “Neon 90’s” vibe the 1:18 set has going for it this year.  The vehicle itself seems to be a reissue of the G.I. Joe Retaliation version released last year– complete with the spring-loaded missile launcher.

G.I. Joe Convention 2014 Eco-Striker

 

G.I. Joe Convention Eco-Striker bottom

Over at GeneralsJoes.com, Justin has posted the descriptions and production numbers for the remaining souvenirs as found in the convention program/comic.  It’s an interesting list that I’ve mirrored below:

  • Steel Brigade Pilot w/ VTOL (LE800)
  • Cobra Septic HISS Tank mk II (DTC HISS repaint by the looks of the comic art) (LE 800)
  • G.I. Joe Rescue Ops 2-Pack (no idea, and no clear insight based on internal comic art) (LE 700)
  • Steel Brigade Zombie 3-Pack (LE 1,000)
  • Kre-O Zombie Initiative 7 Pack (LE 600)
  • Night Force Para Trooper Crazy Legs (LE 500)

It’s the last piece on the list that is a real “kick in the o-ring” to this particular Joe fan!  The amazing 2013 Convention set “Nocturnal Fire” featured terrific updates of the Night Force roster and yet the paratrooper Crazy Legs was missing– replaced with a Kre-O figure due to the logistics of the parachute drop.  The fact that he was put off until this year means that many of last year’s attendees are going to be spending a pretty penny on trying to snag one on the secondary market just to complete their sets!

We’ll post more information as the weekend progresses!

G.I. Joe Convention 2014 Eco-Force Clean Sweep Revealed!

It’s just a little over two months until the 2014 G.I. Joe Convention and the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has released another preview image from this year’s “Zombie Initiative” convention set.  Ladies and Joe fans, meet Eco-Force member Clean Sweep!

G.I. Joe Convention exclusive Clean-Sweep

Poor Clean Sweep– he’s been without any sort of action figure presence since his 1991 Eco-Warriors debut and subsequent discontinuation the following year.  Okay, so his original was sort of bland in comparison to his teammates but I always liked Specialist Daniel Price– even if his head sculpt looked more like a high school science teacher than a member of the G.I. Joe team.  For his G.I. Joe Convention update, the folks over at Boss Fight Studios worked hard to come up with a suitable update and their efforts paid off.  I see some Data-Viper parts and the Retaliation Cobra Trooper rifle.  Plus, I’m loving that HAZMAT helmet!

All-in-all a TERRIFIC update to the original design.  Now if only he keeps his “high school science teacher” head sculpt!

ECO-Force Clean Sweep comes complete with everything shown.

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie HuntersOutbackT’J BangSteel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. ForceFlintOzoneClean-Sweep
  • Cobra Lab Rat x2, Toxo-Vipers x 3Toxo-Zombies x 3, and Repulsor with Dawg (NEW K-9).

For more information on the 2014 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention, visit GIJoeCon.com

G.I. Joe Convention 2014 – Ozone Revealed!

2014 G.I. Joe Convention

The 2014 G.I. Joe Convention is 68 days away and yet it’s time for another reveal from this year’s convention set: The Zombie Initiative!  This time the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has unveiled ECO-Force technician Ozone!

G.I. Joe Convention exclusive Ozone

This year’s convention set has been a series of almost spot-on updates to designs from the latter half of the A Real American Hero run and this is no exception.  Ozone is a terrific update to his 1991 Eco-Warriors version both in terms of color and overall aesthetic.  I strongly suspect the expert hands of the team at Boss Fight Studios in this update which includes the reuse of recent parts like the grenade web gear from the G.I. Joe Retaliation Cobra Trooper!   Otherwise it looks the the Resolute Zartan arms are seeing some use as are the thighs that were most recently used with the Retaliation Kamakura action figure.  Now, if only we could see his bearded head!!!  Also, is it me or is that helmet sitting a bit odd on the shoulders?  Otherwise, solid work from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club!

ECO-Force Ozone comes complete with everything shown.

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie HuntersOutbackT’J BangSteel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. ForceFlintOzoneClean-Sweep
  • Cobra Lab Rat x2, Toxo-Vipers x 3, Toxo-Zombies x 3, and Repulsor with Dawg (NEW K-9).

For more information on the 2014 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention, visit GIJoeCon.com

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Cesspool Reviewed!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club Cesspool

Cesspool! He’s a toxic menace who’s out to destroy the world! The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club figure has arrived!

In the early 90’s, environmentalism was all the rage.  TBS had “Captain Planet” and the recycling movement was gaining steam.  Ever the product of its time, G.I. Joe responded and introduced the heroic Eco-Warriors vs. the embodiment of corporate pollution– the evil Cobra C.E.O. Cesspool!  Once a greedy corporate tycoon, this twisted mad man was driven to bring the world to its knees with the use of his Plasma-Tox chemicals!  Thanks to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service, this insane villain is now ready to menace Joe collections everywhere!

Chris Chung of Joesightings.com and I sit down to take a look at this latest FSS release that sports an all-new head sculpt from the talent team at Boss Fight Studios.   Does this figure live up to the hype?  Or is he a toxic addition to the ranks of Cobra?

Check out the review in the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index!

G.I. Joe Convention 2014: Eco-Force Flint Revealed!

2014 G.I. Joe Convention

What’s this– another preview image from the 2014 G.I. Joe Convention Set? The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has unveiled the next figure in the 2014 Zombie Initiative set as the Eco-Force Flint!

G.I. Joe Convention 2014 Eco Force Flint

Well, no one can say that the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club isn’t trying to stay true to the original Eco-Warriors Flint from 1991!  With this bright green and yellow color palate, it’s pretty clear that nostalgia fever will be running high at the con this year.  While I see the giant cannon that was originally released with the wave 1 Retaliation Duke, I also see what appears to be some Resolute accessories (on the left arm) and a brand new helmet!  Plus, that’s a brand new head sculpt!  It is interesting that the figure’s web gear is molded in black– almost in an attempt to add a bit more realism to the character design.

This is one of those times when the GIJCC has to walk a fine line between faithfulness to the original design and keeping the figure marketable.  The 90’s were a neon age that was heavily influenced by toy lines like the TMNT.  The original Eco-Warriors Flint was so bright that he required Joe fans to wear shades just to look at him.  With this update, the original color scheme has been preserved but it’s also been muted some– a change that works very much in this figure’s favor!

The Eco-Force Flint Commander comes complete with everything shown.

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie HuntersOutbackT’J BangSteel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. ForceFlintOzoneClean-Sweep
  • Cobra Lab Rat x2, Toxo-Vipers x 3, Toxo-Zombies x 3, and Repulsor with Dawg (NEW K-9).

For more information on the 2014 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention, visit GIJoeCon.com