Category Archives: Toys

News related to the G.I. Joe toy line.

This Week in Geektastic History – G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary

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Geektastic History

Depending upon which source you use, this week marks the birthday of my favorite franchise of all time.  To commemorate the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary, the folks at The Breaux Show have put together a short video tribute as part of their “Geektastic History” series.  Short and to the point, it’s a nice look back at 5 decades of “America’s Movable Fighting Man”!

Check back on Saturday Evening as the host of The Breaux Show will be traveling to New York City for Hasbro’s special Pre-Toy Fair Media event!  This event showcases Hasbro’s entertainment brands and their products for 2014 from Transformers to Marvel to a spotlight on the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary!

G.I. Joe Retaliation Ultimate Roadblock Review

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G.I. Joe Retaliation Ultimate Roadblock

It’s no secret that Roadblock was the focal point of the G.I. Joe Retaliation marketing efforts.  Simply put: you don’t put someone like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a film and then ignore his presence.  This also means that the accompanying toy line is going to be chock-full of Roadblock figures– each with something just a bit different to make them unique from the rest.  Such is the case of the wave 3.5 release of “Ultimate Roadblock” which attempts to be the most screen accurate version of the character to date.

So, is this really the “Ultimate Roadblock” or just “yet another Roadblock”? Is he worth a purchase after the wave 2 Battle Kata Roadblock version?

Head on over to the G.I. Joe Retaliation Review Index and check it out!

G.I. Joe Convention 2014 – Ozone Revealed!

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2014 G.I. Joe Convention

The 2014 G.I. Joe Convention is 68 days away and yet it’s time for another reveal from this year’s convention set: The Zombie Initiative!  This time the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has unveiled ECO-Force technician Ozone!

G.I. Joe Convention exclusive Ozone

This year’s convention set has been a series of almost spot-on updates to designs from the latter half of the A Real American Hero run and this is no exception.  Ozone is a terrific update to his 1991 Eco-Warriors version both in terms of color and overall aesthetic.  I strongly suspect the expert hands of the team at Boss Fight Studios in this update which includes the reuse of recent parts like the grenade web gear from the G.I. Joe Retaliation Cobra Trooper!   Otherwise it looks the the Resolute Zartan arms are seeing some use as are the thighs that were most recently used with the Retaliation Kamakura action figure.  Now, if only we could see his bearded head!!!  Also, is it me or is that helmet sitting a bit odd on the shoulders?  Otherwise, solid work from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club!

ECO-Force Ozone comes complete with everything shown.

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie Hunters: Outback, T’J Bang, Steel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. Force: Flint, Ozone, Clean-Sweep
  • Cobra Lab Rat x2, Toxo-Vipers x 3, Toxo-Zombies x 3, and Repulsor with Dawg (NEW K-9).

For more information on the 2014 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention, visit GIJoeCon.com

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G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Cesspool Reviewed!

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G.I. Joe Collector's Club Cesspool

Cesspool! He’s a toxic menace who’s out to destroy the world! The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club figure has arrived!

In the early 90’s, environmentalism was all the rage.  TBS had “Captain Planet” and the recycling movement was gaining steam.  Ever the product of its time, G.I. Joe responded and introduced the heroic Eco-Warriors vs. the embodiment of corporate pollution– the evil Cobra C.E.O. Cesspool!  Once a greedy corporate tycoon, this twisted mad man was driven to bring the world to its knees with the use of his Plasma-Tox chemicals!  Thanks to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service, this insane villain is now ready to menace Joe collections everywhere!

Chris Chung of Joesightings.com and I sit down to take a look at this latest FSS release that sports an all-new head sculpt from the talent team at Boss Fight Studios.   Does this figure live up to the hype?  Or is he a toxic addition to the ranks of Cobra?

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

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Night Force Lt. Falcon Reviewed!

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Night Force Lt. Falcon

Ladies and gentlemen, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Night Force Lt. Falcon has arrived!

January’s Figure Subscription Service shipment brought two of my more anticipated figures right to my door in one convenient package.  Even better– this delivery helped to complete the Nocturnal Fire convention set roster!  JoeSightings.com admin Chris Chung stops by to offer this thoughts as two Joe fans examine the newest addition to both of our G.I. Joe collections!  Was he worth the wait?  Does he fit in with the Nocturnal Fire set?  Is he scared of the dark?

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

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS Shipment 4 is Now Arriving!

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

It’s a brand new year and the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club is ensuring that some fans will be starting 2014 with some brand-new Joes! That’s right, shipment #4 of the Figure Subscription Service is now shipping!

Now it’s become a big deal that some folks are discussing which figures are in the shipment as soon as they arrive.  I can understand that some people want to be surprised while others want to know which of the figures they paid nearly $30.00 each for are arriving.  I won’t sink to dragging this discussion down into the sewers by outright revealing who has arrived even though the internet is a conduit for information.   However, if you find yourself staying up all night with your curiosity piqued and want to seek out the answer like some sort of nocturnal bird-of-prey, then scroll down a bit further for some images courtesy of the G.I. Joe Reference Guide Facebook page.

 

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Okay, you’ve been warned.  It’s Cesspool and Night Force Falcon!

Finally we’re getting to what I consider to be the real meat of FSS 2.0!  When the list was first announced at Joe Con 2014, these were two of the figures that convinced me to sign up, along with Dragonsky, Admiral Keel Haul, and Tollbooth.  Early images of Falcon spotted on the web show that he is a straight-up repaint of the Slaughter’s Marauder’s version but now features the web gear of the 30th Anniversary Cobra Trooper.  Cesspool utilizes the awesome 30th Anniversary Techno-Viper body and features an AMAZING new head sculpt from Boss Fight Studios.   Personally, I can’t wait for these two beauties to arrive in my mailbox– most likely on Tuesday!

So, there you have it– the identities of the next two figures. Just like the cartoon said: “And now you know…”

Check back later this coming week for two brand-new reviews of the latest FSS figures added to the Collector’s Club Review Index here at JBL!

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G.I. Joe Figure Subscription Service Shipment 3 is Now Arriving!

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

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has decided to send Figure Subscription Service subscribers an early Christmas present.  That’s right, Joe fans, FSS shipment 3 is hitting mailboxes now!

Okay, here’s the skinny– I’m going to spoil who is in the shipment.  I’m not doing this out of malice but rather excitement because these are two of my more anticipated figures in the entire second round.  So, if you don’t want to be spoiled, stop reading now and go pick up a Larry Hama G.I. Joe trade instead.

Okay, you’ve  been warned.

Really, you have.

It’s TOLLBOOTH and the DESERT SCORPION!!!  WOO HOO!!!!

Expect a review to drop in the next few days but I just wanted to throw this out there now.  Merry Christmas from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club!!!

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Figure subscription service 2

 

Figure Subscription Service 2.0 is Shipping!!!

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

It may be a long time until new G.I. Joe product is on store shelves but some fans will have a surprise waiting for them in their mailboxes very soon!  The first shipment of the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service has shipped and a few lucky fans already have theirs in hand!

Caution: Spoilers ahead for those who want the shipment to be a surprise.  However, for the remaining 95% of the fandom, the identities will be revealed below.

Master customizer and all-around great guy Alyosha of Broken Arrow Toys posted a few quick shots of his shipment on Facebook over the weekend to reveal that the first shipment is a box of Tiger Force goodness!  That’s right Joe fans, Tiger Force Shipwreck and Airtight should be arriving on subscribers’ doors very very soon.

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I have to admit– this shipment is a mixed bag for me.  Let me start off by saying that I’ve NEVER been a big fan of the original Tiger Force color scheme.  Sorry gang, but yellow and black striped shirts seem like they’d blend better at Mardi Gras than in any of the world’s jungles.  As such, I’ve never owned much in the way of Tiger Force ANYTHING save for the Valor vs. Venom Tiger Force Alpine & Crosshairs two-pack and the Toys R Us Exclusive Tiger Force 6 pack.  Not one vintage piece is found anywhere in my collection.  HOWEVER, I have to say that these are growing on me.  Airtight is probably the Joe whose original color scheme is closest to his original release and, well, Shipwreck is Shipwreck.  Thanks to Sunbow I have a soft spot in my Joe fan heart for the character and cut him a lot of slack.  (In some ways he’s Sunbow’s equivalent to Deadpool.)

Expect some reviews of the final product once they drop on my door step in the coming days.  However, so far I don’t hate them like I thought I would.  However, I’m going to go on record and say now that I’d still rather see some more 1:18 Adventure Team in the next FSS than I would more Tiger Force!  (Or Sgt. Savage!!!)

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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!

 

2013 SDCC G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set now in stock at HasbroToyShop.com

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G.I. Joe vs. Transformers SDCC 2013 exclusive set

There’s no need for a lot of verbiage here!  This year’s SDCC G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set is finally available!

UPDATE: 10/16/2013 AS OF NOW THE SET APPEARS TO BE SOLD OUT!

Now that the lawsuit between Hasbro & Harmony Gold has been settled it would seem that the flood gates have been opened for the 2013 SDCC G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set featuring Jetfire, Hound, Blaster, Bludgeon, Baroness, Ravage, and more!  (Okay, there’s that Snake Eyes repaint but who REALLY needs Snake Eyes v 10,203 anymore? It’s a solid set and the “epic conclusion” to the series that began three years ago with Cobra Commander & Starscream and then evolved to Destro & Shockwave in 2012.

Got get it at HasbroToyShop.com:

http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/gi-joe-transformers-jetfire-vehicle?BR=496&ID=32166

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