Category Archives: Conventions

If JBL has covered or attended a convention, the information will be here.

SDCC 2016 Hasbro exclusives to hit HTS on August 9, 2016

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SDCC 2016 is fleeting memory but the hunt for the Hasbro exclusives is only just beginning for many fans.  According to the updated FAQ at HasbroToyShop.com, the remaining inventory of SDCC 2016 Hasbro exclusives will be available online on August 9, 2016.

SDCC 2016 Hasbro exclusives

As stated in this morning’s FAQ update, all exclusives will be available under the “Exclusives” category starting on August 9, 2016.  In addition, the per-person limits that were enforced at SDCC 2016 will apply to all online transactions as well.

sdcc 2016 hasbro exclusives FAQ

So there you have it.  Depending upon the availability and the timing, a great many fans of Hasbro properties will be frantically hitting the F5 key that day in order to try and snag the latest 2016 exclusives.  (This particular fan is eyeing both the G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set as well as the Marvel Legends Collector’s Vault set.  Man, I NEED more Howard the Duck in my life! Plus, MICRONAUTS!)

It’s a pretty full-slate this year with Hasbro showcasing more of their lines (and upcoming properties) than this fan can recall the Pawtucket toymaker doing in previous years.

Here’s the full list of SDCC 2016 Hasbro exclusives: Continue reading →

Toys R Us SDCC G.I. Joe exclusives from the Loyal Subjects

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Toys R Us has revealed their SDCC exclusives including two new G.I. Joe Loyal Subjects vinyl figures!

Yesterday, ToyNewsI.com broke the news of the highly-anticipated Toys R Us SDCC exclusive list.  Many of the usual suspects were represented– Transformers, My Little Pony, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, etc.  However, in spite of the fact that this is a “quiet year” for G.I. Joe, one item on the list caught my attention:

G.I. JOE TIGER FORCE WRECKAGE AND BEACH HEAD 2-Pack from The Loyal Subjects

That’s right– Toys R Us will be offering a SDCC exclusive G.I. Joe Loyal Subjects vinyl two-pack featuring Tiger Force Wreckage and Beach Head.

SDCC Toys R Us Loyal Subjects G.I. Joe exclusives

Featuring the likeness of WRECKAGE and BEACH HEAD from G.I. JOE’S TIGER FORCE™ unit, these 3.2-inch tall vinyl figures feature 14 points of articulation, several accessories to help bring the action of this special subteam to life and come complete in a window box for display. Available only at the Comic Convention and online at Toysrus.com/ComicConvention.

Interesting… I’ll give props to both Toys R Us and the Loyal Subjects for their selection of some out-of-the-normal decos for these characters.  I’m especially excited to see a new spin on the Joe Con 2004 Tiger Force Beach Head who, in spite of his garish color scheme, manages to look AWESOME!  This figures will be available online at ToysRUs.com from July 21 – July 24 in limited quantities.

Continue reading →

Joe Con 2016: Sky Patrol Skystrikers in Club Store

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Joe Con 2016 is now one for the history books but we’ve got one last bit of news.  The Sky Patrol Skystrikers are now available online!

Joe Con 2016 Sky Patrol Skystriker

That’s right Joe fans– the remaining inventory of the silver finish Joe Con 2016 Sky Patrol Skystrikers are now up for sale to anyone with a Club membership.    They’re limited to two per member and each jet will set you back a cool $160.00 but for fans who were debating purchasing one on Ebay this is your chance to get one for retail!

Here’s the official verbiage describing this latest reissue of the G.I. Joe F-14 Tomcat:

LIMITED TO 2 PER MEMBERSHIP.

The Cobra Air Force won’t know what hit them with the Sky Patrol Sky Striker (XP-26) Combat Jet! This fantastic 3 3/4-inch scale aircraft has tons of moving parts and amazing detail. The Limited Edition convention exclusive Sky Patrol Sky Striker features a unique silver color scheme and has wings that sweep in and out, working landing gear and removable missile accessories.

Vehicle and accessories are packed in a silver metallic display box (Figure Not Included)

However, as the informercials say: “But wait, there’s more!” Continue reading →

SDCC 2016: Micronauts return in exclusive set!

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As we get closer to the full launch of the Hasbro Cinematic Universe, we’re hearing more and more mentions of the properties involved.  Case in point: the Micronauts are returning to SDCC 2016!

SDCC 2016 MICRONAUTS CLASSIC COLLECTION Set

As first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, this year’s Hasbro San Diego Comic Con exclusives will include a special reissue set consisting of three classic figures from the original 1976 – 1980 toyline that was released in the US by Mego.  The original Micronauts line itself was based on the Takara Microman line that was sold in Japan beginning in 1974.

The Micronauts set will be available at the Hasbro booth at SDCC 2016 from July 21 – 24 and with limited stock available after the show at HasbroToyShop.com.  They’ll also be making an appearance at Fan Expo Canada from Sept. 1-4 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center.

The SDCC 2016 Micronauts set includes modern reissues of three original line characters including:

While I would never considered myself a life-long Micronauts fan I’m just old enough to have had a few figures from the line as a kid– including Pharoid.  Granted, I was probably too young to truly appreciate him (which explains why he’s missing ALL of his accessories now) but seeing him included in the set tugs on the nostaligic heartstrings in such a way that I’m going to do my darndest to try and acquire one of these SDCC 2016 Micronauts sets when they drop on HTS post-show.  I still have enough vague memories of the old Micronauts commercials from TV to get excited about their inclusion in the Hasbro Cinematic Universe!

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Joe Con 2016: G.I. Joe Collector’s Club news & FSS 5 lineup

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The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has completed the Joe Con 2016 Roundtable panel and it was a doozy!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club logo

Perhaps the biggest news of Joe Con 2016 concerning the Club came from the Hasbro panel held earlier in the day where it was revealed that Hasbro has decided to continue its relationship with Fun Publications through 2018.  Despite rumors and all evidence to the contrary earlier this year, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has a two-year lease on life! Whatever transpired in the months since the Club announced that all memberships would end on December 31, 2016 it certainly seemed to be beneficial for the folks at Fun Publications.  (Did the Save G.I. Joe petition have any impact?)

Next year’s convention will be June 15 – 18, 2017 at Walt Disney World!

Hasbro announcement

However, the most pressing question on the minds of most G.I. Joe fans out there was “What is the line-up for FSS 5?”

Here are the “Quick Notes” from today’s panel…. including this year’s FSS announcement!

Introduction:

Brian Savage, David Lane, Lanny Lathem, and Pete Sinclair take the stage.

  • Contract for the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has been extended for two more years. The Club, FSS, and convention will continue through 2018.
  • Membership renewals will turn back on later this week.
  • If your membership ran out in May & June, go to the store, login, and add it to your cart. It should reapply to your account.
  • Contract was initially NOT renewed. However, this was changed and Brian thanked the fandom for their support, including the petition from Joe Colton.  Derryl DePriest is acknowledged as the person who turned things around for the Club.
  • The renewal only took place in the last two weeks.

Sky Patrol discussion: Continue reading →

Joe Con 2016: Marauder Gun-Runners adds new items and exo-suits!

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Marauder Gun-Runners announces new exo-suits, male accessories, and fully articulated K-9 military unit for 2017!

Marauder Task Force

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Marauder Gun-Runners here at JBL.  Going all the way back to the very first series which debuted at Joe Con 2005, we’ve followed the progress of this customer-service driven company with great anticipation.  Returning to Joe Con after an absence of several years, MGR once again blew fans minds with the announcement of some brand new products including:

  • new male figure accessories
  • new exo-suits (coming in 2017)
  • new highly articulated military K-9 units (coming in 2017)
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In addition, the Marauder Gun-Runners booth offers THREE brand-new convention exclusive decos for their amazing Marauder Task Force figures– including new “light brown” bearded and goatee heads!

These exclusive figures will be available at the Marauder Gun-Runners store after the con but convention attendees have the opportunity to purchase them at 20% off during the event at the MGR booth!  Talk about some customer service!

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And, as they say in the infomercials… “But wait, there’s more!”  The first test shots of the Marauder Task Force Valkyries line will be on display at the booth this weekend!

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To check out the pictures at the original source, visit the Marauder Gun-Runners Facebook page and to pick up some the best 1:18 modern military gear out there head on over to the Marauder Gun-Runners online store which will reopen on June 22th!

Plus, you can view JBL’s reviews of the first few series at the Marauder Gun-Runner’s Review Index!

Joe con 2016 armchair coverage featured

Joe Con 2016: Closer look at the SDCC G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set

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JBL’s Armchair Coverage of Joe Con 2016 continues!

Friday typically isn’t a “big reveal” day at the annual Joe Con and this year was no exception.  Hasbro’s big panel doesn’t occur until 11:00am MST on Saturday and the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Roundtable event isn’t until 4:00pm MST as well.  However that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t anything major to see today.

The good folks from Hasbro put a few pieces in the display case today from this year’s forthcoming SDCC exclusive G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set!  It’s the first time that fans got an in person look at the upcoming releases of Powerglide as a Cobra Rattler and Soundwave as a Cobra HISS tank.  It was also the first opportunity for Joe fans to see convention exclusive Scarlett and Zartan figures.

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I’ll admit– the items do look a bit better in these images than from the first batch of leaked images from ACToys.net.  Still, for $99 the set seems like it’s missing something especially after the 2013 set included a Skystriker, a VAMP, and three figures plus the exclusive Ravage figure.

There are some additional pictures posted over at HISSTank.com as well.  At this point I think it’s safe to say that part of Hasbro’s reveals for the Toys R Us exclusive line tomorrow will include a Cobra Rattler, a plane that hasn’t been released since the Target exclusive 25th Anniversary release.

Stay tuned to JBL for more coverage of Joe Con 2016 in Loveland, CO!

Joe con 2016 armchair coverage featured

 

Joe Con 2016: Souvenir items revealed!

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joe con 2016 g.i. joe collector's convention

Joe Con 2016 souvenir item images have arrived!

Joe Con 2016 registration night has begun and the Golden Ticket holders are picking up their sets.  That means the line for the souvenirs at the Club Store is queuing up and we now have our first images of this year’s souvenirs!  Thanks to Mike Tinnel of the G.I. Joe Discussion Facebook Group, I’ve mirrored some images below.

  • G.I. Joe Glider 2-pack featuring Skymate and Cloudburst – $75.00
  • Heli-Vipers 3-pack – $85.00
  • Sky Patrol Skysweeper jet – $68.00
  • Cobra Hydra jet with Aero-Viper – $85.00
  • Sky Patrol Skystriker – $160.00
  • Sky Patrol JUMP 6-pack – $55.00
  • Cobra JUMP 6-pack – $55.00
  • Parachute drop figure: FREEFALL – $35.00

Bonus Attendee Item: Sky Patrol Air Raid figure

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I have to say– ANOTHER Skystriker?!!!  Plus a repaint of the RoC Skysweeper jet (which itself is a repurposed Firebat), a pair of Air Assault gliders, and faction-changed 2003 Skysweeper jet?  Fans of the late 1990’s era are going to LOVE this set but the more military-minded folks might just consider saving their pennies.

We’ll have more images from Joe Con 2016 as they become available!  Stay tuned for more Joe Con 2016 Armchair Coverage from JBL!

Joe con 2016 armchair coverage featured

SDCC 2016: G.I. Joe vs Transformers exclusive set official images

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Just earlier this week fans got their first look at the SDCC 2016 exclusive G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set that will be released later this summer.   Now, thanks to SDCCBlog.com we have our first official images of this set that features Powerglide, Soundwave, Scarlett, and Zartan.

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According to the blog post, this set will retail for $99.00.  No word on quantities available but it’s safe to assume that some quantity of the sets will be available over on HasbroToyShop.com after the show is over.

Again, it’s not a bad set– the fourth in a series that began with a G.I. Joe vs Transformers Cobra Commander & Starscream, continued with a Soundwave/Shockwave/Destro/BAT set, and originally concluded with a Jetfire/Baroness/Ravage/Bludgeon/Snake Eyes/Blaster set in 2013.  However, it would be nice to have Transformers that, well, actually transform!

We’ve mirrored all of the G.I. Joe vs Transformers images below but you can see pics of all of Hasbro’s SDCC 2016 exclusives over at SDCCBlog.com!

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2016 SDCC G.I. Joe vs. Transformers exclusive revealed?

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SDCC 2016 gijoe vs transformers cover

A new G.I. Joe vs. Transformers exclusive is apparently coming to SDCC 2016.

In the age of the internet, it has become increasingly more difficult to keep things under wraps.  Case in point, we’re apparently getting a brand new fourth G.I. Joe vs Transformers set featuring Scarlett, Zartan, a HISS Tank version of Soundwave, and a Cobra Rattler version of the Autobot Powerglide.

Pics dropped this weekend over on ACToys.net thanks to user Vincentzl and they hold back nothing.  If these are truly representative of the film product, the set appears to contain:

Interesting… Continue reading →