Hasbro Pulse Con is coming October 22 – 23, 2021

HASBRO ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF THE SUCCESSFUL 2-DAY EVENT “HASBRO PULSE CON” ON OCTOBER 22-23, 2021 

Hosted by Jackie Jennings and Khleo Thomas, the Ultimate Pop Culture Celebration Promises Access to Iconic Fan Brands, G.I. JOE, Magic: The Gathering, NERF, Power Rangers, Transformers, Dungeons & Dragons, Ghostbusters, Fortnite, Marvel and Star Wars™, Plus Special Guest Appearances, Including the Cast of “Power Rangers Dino Fury”! 

Hasbro Pulse Con 2021 Will Be Livestreamed Exclusively on the  

Hasbro Pulse YouTube Channel  

View the Hasbro Pulse Con 2021 Sizzle Reel HERE! 

 

PAWTUCKET, RI – August 20, 2021 – Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) today announced the return of Hasbro Pulse Con 2021 on October 22-23, 2021, which promises fans in the US, Canada and UK one-of-a-kind experiences to celebrate the company’s iconic brands through engaging brand panels, exclusive content drops, over 50 new product reveals, celebrity appearances, exclusive Pulse Premium Member opportunities, fan interactivity and more. Hasbro Pulse Con will be livestreamed exclusively on the Hasbro Pulse YouTube Channel 

 Presenting fans with the best in entertainment and toys, Hasbro Pulse Con will showcase programming based on its iconic fan brands, including G.I. JOEMagic: The GatheringNERF, Power RangersTransformers and Dungeons & Dragons, along with premier partner brands Star Wars™, Marvel, GhostbustersFortnite, and more. Jackie Jennings, SYFY Wire on-air correspondent, writer, and producer, returns to Pulse Con to co-host the pop culture celebration and joins new co-host Khleo Thomas, actor, influencer, artist, and entrepreneur. The program will feature special guest appearances including the cast of Power Rangers Dino Fury as well to get fans excited for the show’s highly-anticipated return this fall: Russell Curry (Red Ranger), Kai Moya (Blue Ranger), Hunter Deno (Pink Ranger), Tessa Rao (Green Ranger), Chance Perez (Black Ranger) and Jordon Fite (Gold Ranger).  Continue reading

Rank & File Vol 4 – Now Available!

Volume 4, the latest volume in the incredible Rank & File series of G.I. Joe guide books is now available from James Kavanaugh!

Look, anyone who’s been following JBL for any length of time knows that this site LOVES the Rank & File Guide series. (Yes, each word is a link to a different post!)  They’re some of the most detailed modern G.I. Joe reference works available and have a proud place on my reference shelf next to books by Mark Bellomo, Dan Klingensmith, and 3DJoes.com

Volume 4 made a “special edition” debut at The Last Joe Con this year from Fun Publications with a special cover and insert pages.  However, that was just a sample– a taste of what the full-fledged volume would contain.  Now, G.I. Joe fans and toy collectors can order their own copy of this exciting volume that delves into the world of “the exclusives”…

However, don’t take our word for it… check out the press release from “Noted Author” James Kavanaugh himself!

Continue reading

GIJoeCon 2018: Boxed set and souvenir first look videos

GIJoeCon 2018 has come and gone and I’m still playing catch-up posting the convention coverage.  The JBL staff (IE Fred) drove to the con this year and apparently making the solo 8.5 hour drive back in 9.5 hours wasn’t the best idea in the world.  Maybe it’s true what Indiana Jones said:

It’s not the years… it’s the mileage…

Regardless, I managed to post a few LIVE videos over on JBL’s Facebook page with a quick look at the various souvenir items.  I’ve archived them below for easy viewing.  In reverse order, these videos cover the following:

Python Peril: Marauders to the Rescue 2018 boxed set

including:

Slaughter’s Marauders:

  • Footloose
  • Mutt & Junkyard
  • Spirit & Freedom
  • Hardball
  • Sgt. Smasher

Python Patrol 2.0:

  • Major Bludd
  • Laser Viper
  • HEAT Viper
  • Lampreys

Continue reading

GIJoeCon 2018: Final Twelve and other Club offerings

GIJoeCon 2018 is one for the history books.  The last official Joe Con is over with the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club conducting one last Club Roundtable panel on Sunday June 24, 2018.  However, the Club didn’t go out with a whimper but instead surprised fans not only with some retrospective slide shows and musings about what the past 22 years of conventions have meant to them and the community but also with a final slate of exclusive products set to drop in the coming weeks.

Note: we have no information on pricing, release date, or even overall availability.  However, if the sellout of the Dreadnok 4WD with Heartwrencher was any indication, it’s best to pre-order these as soon as possible after the orders go live.

Let’s start with the one item we knew was coming.

Cobra Night Stalkers 3-pack

GIJoeCon 2018 night stalkers 3-pack

The long-awaited updated to the 2007 Night Stalkers is coming soon! Based on the build of the the female Cobra Troopers released in 2017, this 3-pack of figures compliments the FSS 6 Night Stalker Commander.  Each three pack will include three different skin tone variations including the first African-American female Cobra trooper!  (I’m also really digging the back mounted knife sheath!) Continue reading

GIJoeCon 2018: The Mystery of Major Bludd’s Missing Moustache

It looks like some GIJoeCon 2018 figures have some unplanned battle scars…

GIJoeCon 2018 missing paint apps

At last night’s Golden Ticket package pickup, Brian Savage had to make an announcement regarding a quality control issue that was discovered in the sets that arrived in Chattanooga.  It would appear that the paint app for Major Bludd’s moustache was omitted during production.  It was present on the Club’s samples but lacking in the final product. However, there’s more…

It would seem that some of the Laser Viper’s are also missing the paint apps on one of their eyes.  (Maybe they looked into the laser when they shouldn’t have?)  The figure I examined last night appeared to be fine but this is a pretty widespread issue.

Fear not: the Club is going to make this right for those who purchased a convention set.  At some point in the future, new heads will be sent out for both Major Bludd and the Laser Vipers to those who purchased them directly through the Club.  For those of you who are purchasing the figures on eBay or through a third party, be aware that this issue exists and ask your seller if they’re willing to also provide you with the replacement heads.

Now if only they’d fix that stupid right arm on Major Bludd…

Lastly, until I can get my set in hand tonight, here’s a few quick pics I shot on the con floor last night.

And now you know…

GIJoeCon 2018 Comic reveals souvenir list

GIJoeCon 2018 is almost officially here but last night was the Golden Ticket package pickup!  This means that Golden Ticket Holders were able to not only acquire their convention sets one night early (more on this later) but they were also able to pick up their 2018 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention comic books– which included the following souvenir list:

GIJoeCon 2018 souvenir items

That’s right– these are the Club’s extra offerings for GIJoeCon 2018. Continue reading

G.I. Joe FSS 8 Munitia is the mercenary of your dreams!

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has unveiled the design for the FSS 8 Cobra Mercenary Munitia!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 8 Munitia

COBRA MERCENARY
Code Name: MUNITIA
(Inspired by the 2008 DTC: GIJCC action figure.)
Features NEW head sculpt!
Includes: bladed pistol, assault rifle, radio, and figure stand.

Ah… Munitia… I’ve been waiting for this reveal ever since the Club announced her as part of FSS 8.

There are some characters that fans just find appealing, regardless of how little media presence that character may receive.  Such is the case with this mysterious mercenary femme fatale.  Munitia was initially slated to be released as part of the DTC Wave 4, a series of G.I. Joe that was exclusive to both HasbroToyShop.com and Toys R Us at the end of the o-ring era.  Sadly, that wave was cancelled along with the rest of the Direct-to-Consumer line and G.I. Joe went into a hiatus period at retail.  (Sound familiar?  The pendulum swings…) Continue reading

G.I. Joe FSS 8 Bushido is a warrior with honor!

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has released the preview of G.I. Joe Ninja Commando Bushido!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 8 Bushido

G.I. JOE NINJA COMMANDO
Code Name: BUSHIDO
(Inspired by the 1993 action figure.)
Features NEW samurai face mask!
Includes: removable samurai helmet with face mask,
tactical harness, double sheath with swords x 2,
Kusarigama weapon, and figure stand.

Talk about a career change!  Bushido went from being a “Snow Ninja” to a “Ninja Commando”.  I wonder if Snake Eyes will feel threatened now… Continue reading

G.I. Joe FSS 8 Recoil will whip it good!

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has unveiled the preview for the upcoming member of Devo… uh.. LRRP Trooper Recoil!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 8 Recoil

G.I. JOE L.R.R.P. TROOPER
Code Name: RECOIL
(Inspired by the 1989 action figure.)
Features re-tooled mine case & dual weapon!
Includes: removable helmet, tactical harness, pistol,
assault rifle, mine case, dual tactical weapon,
backpack, combat knife, radio, and figure stand.

Recoil occupies an interesting space in G.I. Joe to me. He was released not long after I stopped actively buying figures so I have zero nostalgia attached to him.  He was also pictured on the package of the Battle Force 2000 Pulverizer as the driver without actually being a member of that ill-fated team.  (Dodged a bullet there, didn’t he?)  I discovered the character as an adult during the “hiatus period” post DTC but pre 25th Anniversary and found his design to be interesting.  Sure, there’s the whole Devo helmet and the baby blue weapons but aside from that his figure design and file card made him an interesting character to this Joe fan.

So, how does the FSS 8 version compare to the vintage 1989 Recoil? Continue reading

G.I. Joe FSS 8 Over Kill is ready to terminate the Joes!

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has revealed the preview for the FSS 8 incarnation of BAT Commander Over Kill!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 8 Over Kill

COBRA B.A.T. LEADER
Code Name: OVER KILL
(Inspired by the 2003 version 2 action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, harness, “human” face mask,
neckerchief, gauntlet, claw hands x 2, rivet gun,
hand-held assault weapon, and figure stand.

Sometimes, there’s so much to love about a figure that I don’t know where to begin.  This is one of those times.

I’m pretty unapologetic when it comes to my love of the Valor Vs. Venom era of G.I. Joe.  It was a time when the line straddled a delicate line of appealing to both kids and adult collectors and it did it well.  The toys were rugged and build for kids but there were enough nods to the line’s past that Collector’s were happy.  Yes, there were some design and proportion issues but it honestly felt like the brand was moving FORWARD in a way that I’ve not really seen since.  It embraced the old while still attempting the new. Continue reading