Joe Con 2016: Hasbro’s G.I. Joe 2016 lineup announced!

Hasbro unveiled their G.I. Joe 2016 plans and YoJoe.com was LIVE from Joe Con 2016 with a Facebook LIVE session directly from the  panel!  We’ve got the embedded video below after the notes.

Hasbro G.I. Joe 2016

We’ve got some hastily transcribed notes below.  Expect a cleaner article with some commentary later tonight as part of the Saturday Armchair Coverage round-up!

Hasbro Writer’s Room:

  • Combination of television/movie/comic book writers. Hasbro is very proud of the talent they have amassed.
  • Creation of a shared universe combining their intellectual properties. Officially dubbed “Hasbro Cinematic Universe”—separate from IDW.  Intended as multi-film story arc.  Goal is to start to develop shared and combined stories.  Derryl was able to spend two weeks with the writers and get to work with them on shaping this shared universe.

Joe vs Transformers SDCC set:

  • Deco is decal-based. Includes Joe, Cobra, Autobot decals. This way the toys can be whatever you want them to be in your own collection.
  • Soundwave is the 5th most-popular Decepticon but hard to justify now as a cassette tape. (Same with Megatron.)

Hasbro Pulse Crossword Puzzle includes all characters listed below:

  • Stiletto
  • Scarlett
  • Zartan

Derryl – Joe is in quieter year.  Harder to get resources to produce more figures during those years. In those years, previously tooled harder-to-find figures are ideal for re-release.  100% of tooling budget is used for NEW figures.

Toys R Us G.I. Joe 2016 line-up: (November 2016)

  • Focus on figures vs vehicle sets which were slow sellers
  • Two packs will be in a 10 pack case—ALL EVENLY PACKED!

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Update on G.I. Joe FSS & Joe Con 2015 Reviews

FSS Crimson Guard Immortal

Sigh… I hate this kind of post.  I really do.

Joe Con 2015 and G.I. Joe FSS reviews are coming.  Really.  I had photos shot for these reviews for weeks now and even have the web page built.  Joe Con 2015, Joe Con 2013, and the FSS reviews for Hit & Run, Alpine, Crimson Guard Immortal, Big Ben, and Frostbite are about 85% ready to go!

So, you might find yourself asking, what’s the holdup?

Between my current real-life job and some family obligations, I’ve just not had the time to sit down and really finish the writing.  Knock on wood I can sequester myself away this weekend for a bit and finalize my portion of the text.

However, I don’t want to leave folks hanging.  Below is a preview gallery of images from many of the G.I. Joe FSS and Joe Con 2015 reviews that will be hitting here soon.  Consider it a bit of a “mea culpa” for being so tardy.

 

G.I. Joe Con 2013: The first group shot of Nocturnal Fire is up!

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club released the first “composite image” of the 2013 1:18 scale Convention set Nocturnal Fire today!


(click to make larger)

Sure, we’ve seen the previews over the past week but there’s something about seeing all of the figures together in one shot that shows how everything comes together.  The Joes look good together while the Cobra forces are a bit less cohesive.  (You can’t blame Letal for this one– Crimson Asp and the SAW Vipers aren’t helping.)  Still, Cobra Mortal manages to look above it all in his spotless white uniform.  It’s a diverse group of figures pulling from a variety of sources of inspiration– and it’ll set Club members back a cool $360.00 to bring it home!

For registration information, keep your eyes peeled to both JBL and GIJoeCon.com!

G.I. Joe Con 2013: Crimson Asp and Saw-Vipers revealed!

Tonight’s reveal from the 2013 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention set Nocturnal Fire came a bit later than previous nights but once again the Club has unveiled TWO new figures!

COBRA SABOTEUR: CRIMSON ASP

– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure
– NEW Head on NEW Female Cobra Character
– Includes Cobra Logo Stand, Grenade Launcher,
Assault Rifle, Explosive Charges, Flamethrower,
Connection Hose and Backpack

COBRA MACHINE GUNNERS: S.A.W.-VIPERS

– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure
– Troop Builder THREE Action Figures in Box Set
– Modern Update Based on Action Figure from 1990
– Includes Cobra Logo Stand, Removable Helmet,
Squad Automatic Weapon (S.A.W.) Machine Gun
with Removable Ammo Box, Backpack,
Tactical Vest with Radio and Removable Knives

Okay, I’ve got to say that this is an interesting pair.  Crimson Asp has some nice details, using the Resolute Baroness body to good effect.  Her head sculpt reminds me of the one-eyed Russian spy from the animated series Venture Brothers and her overall color scheme seems better suited to a Marvel Comics HYDRA agent than a Cobra saboteur.  She most definitely did NOT come from the Firefly school of Saboteur Chic.

On the other hand, the Cobra SAW-Vipers are a near perfect update of the original ARAH era figure.  The body is covered with the same tac vest as the Iron Grenadiers from the 30th Anniversary line with the Retaliation G.I. Joe Trooper’s dual knife sheaths taking the place of the steady-cam gun mount.  It’s an interesting use of parts and one that shows a great deal of innovation on the part of the GIJCC.  The arms may look familiar– they were last seen on the 2012 Joe Con Oktober Guard Stormavik figure!

So tonight’s reveal is one solid win and one that I’m not entirely sure about yet.  Still, Nocturnal Fire is shaping up to be a very promising set indeed!