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

G.I. Joe FSS 8 Payload is out of this world!

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has unveiled the preview of their upcoming FSS 8 Payload!

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

G.I. JOE DEFIANT SHUTTLE PILOT
Code Name: PAYLOAD
(Inspired by the 1987 action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, MMU backpack,
control arms x 2, and figure stand.

Be honest– did you ever think we’d have a modern update to the G.I. Joe shuttle pilot?

Of all of the figures on the FSS 8 roster, Payload was likely to be the hardest to pull off.  Simply put– there aren’t a lot of parts out there that can emulate the original 1987 Payload very easily.  The shuttle astronaut featured a fairly unique build with a lot of specialized parts. Continue reading

G.I. Joe FSS 8 Blizzard will treat you right!

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has unveiled the digital mock-up for the FSS 8 version of Arctic Attack Soldier Blizzard!

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

G.I. JOE ARCTIC ATTACK SOLDIER
Code Name: GREG “BLIZZARD” NATALE
(Inspired by the 1988 action figure.)
Includes: removable arctic coat, sniper rifle, backpack,
skis x 2, ski poles x 2, boot cleats x 2, and figure stand.

Hmmm… so Blizzard isn’t what I expected.  At all…

The signature design element of the original 1988 Blizzard (to my  eyes) was his uniquely-designed removable helmet.  Rather than a hood or a stocking cap, this guy went full bore with a combat helmet and attached googles.  It gave him a tactical look that set him apart from being written off as “just another guy in a thick coat.” Continue reading

G.I. Joe FSS 8 Desert Clutch hits the dunes!

The 1984-inspired Desert Clutch is the latest preview from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 8!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 8 Desert Clutch

G.I. JOE V.A.M.P. DRIVER
Code Name: LANCE “CLUTCH” STEINBERG
(Inspired by the 1984 version 2 action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, vest, assault rifle,
pistol, work cones x 2, and figure stand.

It’s hard to be objective about some figures based on the lens of nostaglia.

I discovered G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero at my local KB Toys back in 1982.  As a kid I was volunteering at used book sale for our animal shelter that was at our local mall.  Our table was stationed right outside of KB and so when I was done for the afternoon my folks let me go in and pick out one item as a reward for giving up my Saturday to help the shelter.  It was there on that fateful day that my eyes came to rest on the original VAMP with Clutch.  It was my first G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy and I’ve had a soft spot for the VAMP and it’s charismatic driver ever since.

As such, it’s hard to be objective here simply because Clutch has always been a favorite of him. Continue reading

G.I. Joe FSS 8 Lt Clay Moore will hunt down the traitor!

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 8 previews continue with a look at Cobra Shock Troops Commander Lt. Clay Moore!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 8 Lt. Clay Moore

COBRA SHOCK TROOPS COMMANDER
Code Name: LT. CLAY MOORE
(Inspired by the Sunbow cartoon & 2007 GIJCC design.)
Includes: removable helmet, grenade bandolier, pistol, knife,
assault rifle, bazooka, backpack with shells x 4, and figure stand.

Well, this is certainly an interesting build…  Continue reading

G.I. Joe FSS 8 Bullet-Proof will make the streets safer!

Another day, another FSS 8 preview from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club.  Today we have our first look at (former) DEF Leader Bullet-Proof!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 8 Bullet-Proof

G.I. JOE BATTLE CORPS COMMANDER
Code Name: BULLET-PROOF
(Inspired by the 1992 action figure.)
Includes: removable grenade bandolier, pistol, knife,
rifle, rocket launcher with projectile, and figure stand.

The old expression goes “No good deed goes unpunished.” In the case of the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club that expression could be modified to “No new head sculpt goes without reuse.”  Continue reading

G.I. Joe FSS 8 Red Laser emerges from the shadows

The next G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 8 preview has been posted and it’s the nemesis of Action Force —  Red Laser!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 8 Red Laser

RED SHADOWS WEAPONS TECHNICIAN
Code Name: RED LASER
(Inspired by the European exclusive action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, advanced combat rifle,
laser pistol, Red Shadows flag, and figure stand.

The build for this particular should come as no surprise to anyone.  The original 1983 Red Laser was a repaint of the 1982 Cobra Commander packaged with a repainted HAL. The character was billed as a weapons tech for the Red Shadows organization– the arch foes of the UK Action Force.  According to his bio, he was a former member of a Japanese terrorist organization prior to joining up with Baron Ironblood. Continue reading