G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS Admiral Keel-Haul Review

G.I. Joe Collector's Club Keel-Haul

One strength of the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service has been its roster of characters.  For every TNT and Surefire, there’s been a Big Boa, Cesspool, and even a Nano BAT.  The FSS has breathed life into some of the more obscure figures who might never have received an update otherwise.  Case in point: Admiral Everett Colby – code name: Keel-Haul!

The good Admiral has the distinction of being the vehicle driver of the largest G.I. Joe vehicle ever produced– the incredible USS Flagg.  He’s also one half of the second-to-last shipment of FSS 2.0!  So, does this new version of Keel-Haul “blow me down” or should be just be consigned to Davy Jones’ locker?

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

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 2.0 Shipment 5 is Now Arriving!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club Figure Subscription Service 2.0

When it rains, it pours in the land of G.I. Joe!

In the middle of all of the Toy Fair excitement, it has been revealed that the next shipment in the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 2.0 is now arriving.

I know… there are people who don’t want spoilers. For those folks, I can only advise you to STOP READING NOW.

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Okay, for the rest of you… it’s one of the shipments I’ve been waiting for: the pairing of Keel-Haul and Bombardier!!!

Keel-Haul has always been a favorite of mine– ever since I got a USS Flagg for Christmas as a kid. Unlike his Sunbow counter-part of Admiral Ledger, Keel-Haul was a former fighter-pilot-turned-carrier-commander. With his slanted hat and Burt Reynolds moustache, he was just PURE awesome and the GIJCC and Boss Fight Studio nailed this perfectly!

Bombardier is a very interesting figure to me for a variety reasons.  Years ago I remember when pictures of a “blonde Flash” surfaced on the internet and yet no one could identify who he was.  It took years and the Action Force knowledge of Dave Tree and Ron Conner to reveal that this was originally intended for Palitoy’s Action Force!  In fact, it was a high point of the History of Palitoy panel at the 2013 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention. You can read the full story HERE.

I’ve mirror the images that were originally posted at HISSTank.com but if you’d like to check out the original discussion thread, here’s the link!

G.I. Joe FSS 2.0: Keel-Haul and Big Bear revealed!

With the deadline to sign-up for the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service 2.0 approaching in 12 days, the final two mock-ups have been revealed!

Big Bear:

First, there was the Joe Con 2012 Operation Bear Trap set.  Next, came the reveal of Dragonsky as part of the FSS 2.0 service.  Finally, the latest member of the Oktober Guard has been unveiled!  Big Bear has never been a huge presence in my mind when it comes to the Oktober Guard and yet I’m happy to see his inclusion in this round of the FSS.  After all, you can never have too many people fighting “For the peace-loving people of the Warsaw Pact Nations!”  It’s also nice to see elements of the body of the cancelled Alpine Mech Pilot seeing some use.  Plus, this head would make for a great Marko Ramius from “The Hunt for Red October.”

Keel-Haul:

I don’t know why but I’ve always had a soft-spot for the character of Keel-Haul.  (Or “The Admiral” as I referred to him.)  With his aviator jacket, cocked cap, and Burt Reynolds moustache he was a bit of a retired bad-@$$ in my Joeverse.  After reading his filecard, the Admiral was one of the Joes that saw field action rather than spending his days resigned to the wheelhouse on the USS Flagg.  When it comes to his FSS version, I’m liking what I’m seeing– although the inclusion of the flag is a bit puzzling.  However, I’ll say this– there’s never a bad reason for a Joe to hold up the Stars and Stripes respectfully– or in this case the flag of the Flagg itself!

Check out all of the other released mock-ups below.  If you’re inclined to sign-up, check out the FSS 2.0 page at GIJoeClub.com and place your order before the deadline!