Rest in Peace, Madmac41…

There are posts you never want to make.  This is one of those.  In fact it’s probably the hardest post I’ve ever had to make. 

Yesterday, I learned that Scott “Madmac41” McAllister passed away.  He was a long-time member of the Joe Community, a long-time member of JBL’s staff, and, most importantly, he was one of my oldest friends.  In many ways, the word “friend” doesn’t really cut it– he was like a brother to me.

Scott McAllister at Joe Con 2018.

The G.I. Joe community was a different place when I first met Scott just shy of 20 years ago.  Back then, the online Joe world was limited to a select few websites and their online forums.  Each of those sites became its own community and they were as unique as the individuals that comprised them.  It was at a local meet-up of the now-defunct “Chicago Coil” that I first encountered one of the best friends I’ve ever had.  Sitting in Sam Damon’s living room I found myself face-to-face with this older bearded biker with a pronounced Kentucky drawl.  I was the admin of JBL and he was a staunch advocate of a different online community.  I still remember him looking me in the eye with a lot of skepticism and saying “Who the Hell are you?”

Apparently he liked my answer because at the end of the day I left Chicago with a good friend.  Continue reading

Hasbro Pulse Con 2021 Schedule Revealed

HASBRO REVEALS STAR-STUDDED ROSTER OF CELEBRITY AND MUSICAL GUESTS FOR THE RETURN OF 2-DAY “HASBRO PULSE CON” FAN EVENT OCTOBER 22-23, 2021

Special appearances by Patton Oswalt, Matthew Lillard, the cast of “Power Rangers Dino Fury”; music headliner Weezer; and 2-days of interactive experiences, reveals and surprise guests for Hasbro’s iconic fan brands; Only livestreamed on the Hasbro Pulse YouTube Channel

View the Hasbro Pulse Con 2021 Sizzle Reel HERE! 

 

PAWTUCKET, RI – October 20, 2021 – Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), today released the official programming schedule of experiences for Hasbro Pulse Con 2021, a two-day, free livestream event, featuring a thrilling panel lineup, fan favorite celebrity guests and must-see music appearances. Featured guest talent include Patton Oswalt, Matthew Lillard (Scream, Scooby-Doo), select cast members of the upcoming film Ghostbusters: Afterlife, author of Doctor StrangeThanos, Thor and Venom comics Donny Cates, Power Rangers comics writer Ryan Parrott from BOOM! Studios,  Marvel comics artist David NakayamaBen Burnley (Breaking Benjamin), the cast of the hit television series Power Rangers Dino Fury – 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), popular content creator and artist Rudy Willingham, and more who will make appearances during the course of the event, along with unique experiences from musical guests including Weezer and Transformers legend Vince DiCola. The event will be available exclusively through the Hasbro Pulse YouTube Channel on October 22-23, 2021.

Continue reading

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

JBL Reviews Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins

That’s right, true believers!  JBL is actually posting a review of Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, the film that dares to retell the cinematic origin of the the Joe’s most enigmatic team member from when it was first presented in 2009.  Our resident hack admin was able to go and catch a Thursday night screening of the film a week and a half ago as our local theater has finally reopened. 

Did this film take the character to new heights?  Was our trusty reviewed wow’ed to such an extent that it replaced Big Trouble in Little China as one of his favorite films? 

Check out the review for yourself and find out one Joe fan’s opinion…

JBL Reviews Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021)

G.I. Joe Rank & File Vol 5 is Coming Soon

G.I. Joe Rank and File volume 5 cover

G.I. Joe Rank & File vol 5 is coming soon.  REALLY soon!  As in “end of the month” soon!

I won’t lie– I’ve been a big support of “noted author” James Kavanugh Jr’s guidebooks since he first pitched the idea and the results have been nothing short of spectacular.  Each book is meticulously photographed in painstaking detail with every figure and accessory presented in an easily identifiable format.  Now, THE definitive guide series to Generation 3 construction G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comes to an epic conclusion in Rank & File volume 5.  


However, enough of the rankings of a semi-retired admin.  Here’s the official press release as well as some more killer preview images to whet your appetite further!

The latter half of 2007 brought an all-new 4” construct to main line G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero action figures, a stylistic direction that is still prevalent today!  This refined, sans O-ring design spanned across ten years of the product line and, as of this printing, still used for exclusives.  During this time, the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line was further catapulted into the pop culture mainstream via two live-action motion pictures.  These feature films changed the landscape of G.I. Joe in a global, multi-media market and various exclusives were made available between movies and mainline series.

 

During this time period, fans revisited some of their most cherished icons within the G.I. Joe mythos, while also introduced to new characters that are now known and loved.

 

This resource guide is the fifth volume in a series that displays every action figure produced as a Convention Exclusive and through the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club—complete with every accessory and variation produced.  Accessories are not only shown, they have been carefully cataloged in a forthcoming volume that guarantees the proper shade of accessory belongs with the correct action figure.  To top it off, every vehicle and playset produced as exclusives have also been documented and every easily removable piece has been individually photographed—ensuring collector completion.

 

Whether you’re a seasoned, returning, or novice collector, an enthusiast or toy vendor, the guide series is the definitive compilation of G.I. Joe action figures, vehicles, and playsets produced between 2007 and today.  Let the guide series serve as a reference for completion or a scrapbook to the next big turning point of G.I. Joe:  A Real American Hero.

 

Basic Information

 

The MSRP for The Rank & File guide Volume 5 is $20 and will be made available at www.rahcguide.com sometime during the weekend of June 25-27 (provided my order promptly arrives).  Buyer will pay all additional shipping and handling costs. If you have purchased the R.A.H.C. guides before, the process will be very similar.  All guides are self-published and produced in quantities reflecting previous sales, so do not hesitate to order and miss out.

 

You may join the mailing list at: rahc.guide@gmail.com and like on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/RAHCGuide to get the latest updates between press releases.

 

Sincerely,

 

James M. Kavanaugh Jr.

Owner/Author of R.A.H.C. Guidebooks

Hey JBL – Where Have You Been?

It’s been pretty quiet around JBL for the past 13 months.

No new reviews, no news postings, no snarky nostalgia-filled pieces about things that just happen to pique the admin’s interest.

Instead, it’s been quiet.  Or, in the words of Elmer Fudd “vewy vewy qwiet…”

What’s the reason for that silence?  Well, I can’t really say but there are several things that have contributed to it. Continue reading

Save 50% off Collecting the Art of G.I. Joe at 3DJoes.com

Talk about a Black Friday sale! From now through November 30, fans can save 50% off the complete six volume set of Collecting the Art of G.I. Joe!

50% off Black Friday sale on Collecting the Art of G.I. Joe from 3DJoes.com.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, then you’ve heard of 3DJoes.com.  Whether it’s for the innovative 360 spin views of the classic G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line or the painstaking restoration of the vintage package art, this site has quickly become a go-to to resource for Joe fans everywhere. 

However, 3DJoes took things to a whole new level with the Collecting the Art of G.I. Joe 6 volume series.  These softcover volumes feature careful digital restoration of every single piece of packaging art from the 1982 – 1994 classic toy line.  The final volume in the series made its debut at the 2018 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention where all six volumes were available in a GORGEOUS slipcase.  It was a fitting end to a series of reference books that resurrects the artwork and packaging that captured the hearts and minds of countless children decades ago. 

3DJoes Collecting the Art of G.I. Joe six volumes

As stock in this incredible series dwindles, 3DJoes is offering an incredible deal.  All six volumes with the slipcase for 50% off list price.  That’s right– every piece of ARAH-era packaging artwork collected in definitive series for $120.00.  The series was a STEAL at $225.00 but this makes it all the more affordable.

Here’s the kicker– there are LESS THAN 150 sets remaining as I type this.  (In fact, after checking in with the author, I’d say that they’re down to half that amount.)  If you want to own this series at this incredible price– go NOW.  Don’t wait until November 30th if you can.  Snag your copy ASAP and see what all the hype is about for yourself.

Continue reading

The final G.I. Joe Collector’s Club pre-orders are LIVE

It’s last call, Joe fans.  Yesterday, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club opened up pre-orders for the final slate of new products that were unveiled in The Last Joe Con panel in Chattanooga earlier this year.  However, hold on to your wallets– this is going to hurt.  Hard.

GI Joe Collector's Club Final Twelve group shot
Final Twelve composite courtesy of the Surveillance Port

Before I go any further, I’m going to provide links to the products and provide the cost per each item.  That’s the objective part of this piece.  After that, the filter will be removed. 

Here are links to the Final Twelve, Zartan and the Cold Slither Cycle, and the Night Stalkers.

For those of you wanting to purchase one of everything, you’re looking at a cool $694.00 before shipping with payment due immediately at the time of order.  The items are slated to ship in January.

Wow…  Just wow…

Continue reading

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club releases Final Twelve figure images

All good things must come to an end.  Or, as is the case with the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club, all licenses must come to a conclusion.  Either way, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has released the last image of their “Final 12” roster of figures which will be going up for pre-order shortly. 

Since JBL has apparently been slacking off lately with individual reveals, here’s a look at each of the “two-packs” as well as some thoughts on the roster as a whole. 

The Final 12 – composite courtesy of the Surveillance Port

Just a quick note: it was announced at the last Joe Con that these figures would be sold in pairs.  If you want one– you have to get its pack-mate as well.  Without further adieu, let’s start the breakdowns…

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