Category Archives: Fandom

3DJoes.com Kickstarter is Now LIVE

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3DJoes.com Kickstarter

The staff at JBL are big fans of the website 3DJoes.com.  (Let’s not forget its sister site Vintage3DJoes.com!)
Running a website is a labor of love and, for the most part, it’s a strictly not-for-profit endeavor.  All of those costs that go into keeping a site up and running are typically absorbed by the site owner unless he or she happens to generate some ad revenue.  Or, if you’re very very clever like Carson Mataxis, you can sell some truly AWESOME posters to help offset the costs.

Unfortunately, to produce such high quality posters also costs money– which is where the 3DJoes.com Kickstarter comes in.  Here’s the announcement from Carson:

For two years I’ve been building 3DJoes.com, the ultimate G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero archive! 3DJoes is the only interactive, three dimensional museum of G.I. Joe A Real American Hero nostalgia. Best of all, it’s ad-free.

To help pay for the site, I’ve created three awesome posters (check them out here). I’ve taken a HUGE gamble each time I’ve printed one of these posters. The last couple posters have gone on a credit card and they have each taken over four months to break even. I simply cannot put another poster on credit, but that won’t stop me!

I’m ready to make three more, and I need your help! Each poster costs $3,000 to produce. SO, I’ve set the goal at $3,300 (to cover Amazon and KS fees) and hope to at least produce one of the following posters. If we hit the first stretch goal ($6,600), we’ll make two, and if we hit the second stretch goal ($9,900), we’ll make all three!

As always, I’m impressed with the level of detail that Carson puts into restoring each image to optimum quality.  If you’ve seen his previous work, you’ll know that the final product is the best possible version of each piece of art.  Now, imagine that level of meticulous detail applied to the vehicle artwork, or the 1986 – 1987 Joes, or even smaller pieces like post cards of the “To The Rescue” or “Yo Joe!” posters.  Or, if artwork isn’t necessarily your cup-o-Joe you can walk away with a fantastic embroidered hat– just for supporting a truly terrific fan resource.

Even better– top-tier supporters can walk away with some of their items autographed by two of the minds behind the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero era — Larry Hama and Kirk Bozigian!

With 42 days to go, the project already has 42 backers and has raised $2,816.00 of its modest $3,300.00 goal.  Let’s push that over the top and ensure that 3DJoes.com can keep on spinning!  The deadline to contribute is September 3, 2014 at 8:01pm CST.

Show what support you can and let ’em know that the fan community supports 3DJoes.com!

3DJoes.com Kickstarter Project

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G.I. Joe #21 Silent Interlude Gets Animated

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Yes, this isn’t exactly “breaking news”.  However, in light of IDW’s forthcoming 30th Anniversary Silent Interlude hardcover release I found this to be pretty relevant.

A number of years ago, Youtube user xgivanx sat down and “animated” the most famous issue of Larry Hama’s Marvel G.I. Joe run.  It’s not as flashy as some of the more recent motion comics that Marvel has produced but this nine minute video is a fun way to revisit one of the most copied comic stories of all time.  With the state of Joe being what it is anymore it’s doubtful that we’d ever get a real motion comic version so in the meantime this will have to suffice.

So sit back and enjoy a little lunchtime theater.  It might help take the sting out of another Monday…

TheBreauxShow.com Interviews Boss Fight Studio!

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Boss Fight Studio

If there’s one thing I really missed seeing by not attending the 2014 G.I. Joe Convention this year it was the debut of the Boss Fight Studio Vitruvian HACKS line.

If you’ve not heard of Boss Fight Studio, then you’ve been living under a rock for the past year and have deprived yourself of all G.I. Joe news.  They’re the talented studio of former Hasbro employees who have been responsible for the 2014 Zombie Initiative G.I. Joe convention set, design work on the Marauder Force Kickstarter action figure line, and now their own in house project “Vitruvian HACKS” which promises to be one of these most customize-able toy lines ever.

Mike Breaux, host of TheBreauxShow, was able to attend this year’s Joe Con and sat down with the geniuses from Boss Fight.  It’s a quick five minute interview but it’s always a pleasure to watch folks who are passionate about their work talk about their products.

Questions?  Comments?  Discuss this in the JBL forums!

Girls of The Finest Calendar is A-GO!!!

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Girls of the Finest Calendar

Congratulations to the Girls of The Finest on reaching their calendar goal!

As previously reported here at JBL, the Girls of The Finest have launched their own calendar project to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

With 12 days left they’ve beat their goal of $7500.00 and have raised a total of $8175.00!  That’s right– not only is the calendar project guaranteed to happen but these lovely ladies have raised over eight thousand dollars to help out our wounded veterans!

C’mon Joe fans– let’s push them over the top, help the brave men and women who receive assistance from the Wounded Warrior Project, and get a slick fan-generated calendar to boot!  The deadline to fund the project is April 11, 2014 so make your contribution today!

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/girls-of-the-finest-2015-calendar

 

Girls of The Finest Calendar to Benefit Wounded Warrior Project

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Girls of the Finest Calendar The fans of the G.I. Joe community are some of the most charitable around.  Countless times have I seen fan groups holding events and raising funds for charity– giving of their time and energy to help those who are less fortunate.  Such is the case with The Finest – a G.I. Joe costume club whose current IndieGoGo project is helping to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.

The premise is this– for a contribution of $25.00 on their IndieGoGo project site, fans will receive a full color printed calendar (as well as a digital .PDF copy) featuring “the Ladies of the Finest” in some fantastic G.I. Joe-themed photo shoots.  It’s all tastefully done and features characters both familiar and brand new!  It’ll be a perfect way to start off 2015 and help our wounded veterans as well.  However, there are multiple contribution tiers as well– each with their own unique contribution rewards!  Remember, once printing costs are covered, all proceeds will go to the Wounded Warrior Project!

With 46 days left they’re just over halfway to their stated goal of $7500.00.  C’mon Joe fans– let’s push them over the top, help the brave men and women who receive assistance from the Wounded Warrior Project, and get a slick fan-generated calendar to boot!  The deadline to fund the project is April 11, 2014 so make your contribution today!

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/girls-of-the-finest-2015-calendar

Sgt. Slaughter to Appear at Retro Con 2014

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sgt slaughter

The fan-run convention Retro Con gets better and better with each new announcement. First, the event for 2014 has been extended to two days.  Next Zack Hoffman (the voice of Zartan from the Sunbow animated series) is added to the guest roster.  However, yesterday Retro Con pulled out all the stops– wrestling legend and “real life” G.I. Joe Sgt. Slaughter is now scheduled to appear for both days of the nostalgia event!   You can read the original announcement here.

Autographs or posed photos will be available for $20 with a discount being available for both. So grab your vintage Sgt. Slaughter file cards and make plans to head to Oaks, PA!

Long-known to fans of G.I. Joe from his appearances in the second season of Sunbow’s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series, Sgt. Slaughter joined WWE (then WWF) in the early 80’s and quickly achieved celebrity status.  Brandishing his signature move “the Cobra Clutch”, he delighted wrestling fans each week with his hard-nosed drill sergeant persona.  Yet it may be his appearance in the animated G.I. Joe: The Movie that permanently endeared him to Joe fans around the world with his leadership of the Renegades and his “itty bitty ditty bag.”

Retro Con 2014 will run from September 27 – 28 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.  To keep up with the latest on Retro Con 2014, keep your eyes peeled to JBL and follow them online on Twitter at @Retrocons and at www.RetroCons.com.

Code Name Iowa’s Assembled Required 2013 is This Weekend!

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There are myriad reasons to live in the Midwest: changing seasons, friendly people, good regional food, and more G.I. Joe gatherings than you can shake a stick at!  Earlier this year, Midwestern fans were able to attend Coil Con IV in Kokomo, IN and this weekend they’ll be able to attend Code Name: Iowa’s annual Assembly Required gathering in Des Moines!

In it’s third year this event has grown to such an extent that it requires a brand new location!  Join fans from around the nation in attending panels, checking out dealer tables, and mingling with some very special guests.  It promises to be a fantastic free event that will be fun for collectors of all ages!

Special guests at this year’s event include:

  • Ron Wagner – comic artist from Marvel/IDW
  • Matt Brandenburg – former Hasbro prototype painter
  • Joe:Declassified exhibit – the premiere “behind the scenes” exhibit of rare prototypes, design sketches and more will be on hand featuring G.I. Joe archivists Gary “Goggles” Head and Chris “Topson” Murray

In addition, fantastic door prizes include a set of 20 G.I. Joe Retaliation Night Vipers and a MISB Killer W.H.A.L.E. hovercraft!  That’s right Joe Fans– two lucky individuals are walking away with prizes that will make even the most hardened Cobra loyalist green with envy!   However, as the game show hosts are fond of saying “But wait… there’s more!”

This year marks the debut of the next series of incredible minimalist art prints featuring the 1985 line-up!  Plus, two special minimalist prints will be given away as prizes– Flint and Lady Jaye signed by Bill Ratner and Mary McDonald-Lewis herself!  So, what are you waiting for– a signed invitation for Serpentor himself?!!  Make plans to hit the road this Saturday and join in on the fun! The Code Name Iowa Assembly Required event is THE place to be!

The event is free to the public. For more information visit CodeNameIowa.com or follow them on Facebook at Code Name: Iowa!  (Oh yeah, and tell ’em JBL sent you!)

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Cobra 1st Legion Hosts Costume Party to Benefit Food Bank

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Cobra First Legion

The Cobra 1st Legion is back and this time they’re taking on their most vile foe yet: hunger!

If there’s one thing I love about the Cobra 1st Legion, it is the dedication that these guys show in helping their communities!  Not just are these men and woman fantastic ambassadors for the G.I. Joe brand but they’re also strong supporters of their own cities and townships.  These fans give their time and energy to help others in a way that makes them all “Real American Heroes” in this admin’s eye.

On November 23th, the Legion is taking over the Stork Club at 2330 Telegraph Ave in Oakland, CA to host a costume party and dance that will benefit the Alameda County Community Food Bank.  Admission to the event is either 5 cans of food or $10 – with the proceeds to help the hungry of the Alameda County!

It’s a fantastic event hosted by a great bunch of fans and featuring a number of popular CA bands including DISASTROID, Matt Holdaway’s Army, Victoria and the Vaudevillains and Maritime Wilderness.

If you’re a Joe fan looking for a fun night out or just a concerned citizen looking to help those who are less fortunate, check out this event and more as the Cobra 1st Legion continues to march onward!

Cobra 1st Legion costume party and food drive

Holiday shopping alert – Larry Hama signed items and cover sketch!

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G.I. Joe A Real American Hero 195 cover sketch by Larry HamaAs the holiday season approaches, consumers everywhere are left with the dilemma of what to get for those friends and family members on their respective lists.  Even more perplexing can be the question: “What do you get for the G.I. Joe fan on your holiday list?”  Well, thanks to Joe fan and published author Mark Bellomo, this might have become a lot easier.

As of last night, Mark opened the floodgates and has listed a plethora of Joe-themed goodness up on internet auction site Ebay.  However, what makes a lot of these items truly unique is that they are signed by the “godfather of G.I. Joe Larry Hama”– and many of them come from his private collection!  In corresponding with Mark he’s revealed at even more items are coming– just keep an eye out on  his eBay page for future updates.

Check out the Joe goodness that is listed!

Normally this type of news wouldn’t make the front page here at JBL but for a chance to own something truly unique– a piece signed by Larry Hama himself– well, we’ll make an exception.

Yet, as as they say in the infomercials: “But wait, there’s more!” There is something even cooler on Ebay as well– Larry Hama himself has listed the original cover sketch for IDW Publishing’s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #195!  With just over a day remaining, here’s a great chance to own a real piece of G.I. Joe history with a piece that features Shockwave, Lady Jaye, and the ever-popular Roadblock!

 

Cobra 1st Legion hits October events in force!

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Cobra First Legion

The Cobra 1st Legion in on the move once again!!!

Not content to rest on their laurels after an amazing slew of events in September, the G.I. Joe community’s own costuming army is back in force with a whole bevy of appearances lined up for October.  Check out these hard-working cos-players at the following locations:

Seriously– if you’re living anywhere near ANY of these events, stop on by, pose for some pics with the crew, and give them a hearty “YO JOE!” (or “Hail Cobra!”) to show your support!  These talented guys and gals are bringing our favorite Real American Heroes to life for fans across the nation!

Cobra 1st Legion October 2013