In Hand Images of the SDCC Danger at the Docks Set!

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Fred Meyer

The SDCC Danger at the Docks sets have shipped from ToysRUs.com and JBL admin Madmac41 received his set yesterday.

I have to say that I hate him for it! Oh jealousy, you are truly a green-eyed monster.

After a quick phone conversation, I was able to get a few thoughts on the set:

Flint is built using the Resolute head and the Retaliation 3-pack torso.
The plastic on the vehicles, like much of the 50th product, is softer. Apparently he’s had some issues with the rear axle.
The Night Landing weapons crate appears to contain an updated version of Road Pig’s wrist crossbow.
Overall, he’s pretty happy with the set and would like to see a Cobra Stinger re-release soon!

Check out the images of the SDCC Danger at the Docks set below. These were posted to the JBL Facebook page earlier this afternoon. My set is scheduled to arrive tomorrow so I have the feeling tomorrow night will be spent putting together a review as fast as my greedy little fingers can type!

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SDCC Danger at the Docks to Hit TRU.com on July 24

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Fred Meyer

It’s almost time for SDCC 2014!

Next week is the 2014 San Diego Comic Con! It’s a celebration of genre-related goodness with everything from panels featuring the latest movies to forthcoming toy lines on display. It’s also a time when exclusive products are made available through manufacturers and retailers. The G.I. Joe brand is no stranger to this concept– with a history of SDCC exclusive items sold through HasbroToyShop.com including the “Pimp Daddy” Destro, Sgt. Slaughter, and Jinx figures and even some G.I. Joe/Transformers cross-over items. This year, however, the place to check out at the con is the Toys R Us booth!

As reported earlier here at JBL, Toys R Us will be offering an exclusive version of the forthcoming 50th Anniversary “Danger at the Docks” set at the Entertainment Earth Booth (#2343) featuring Flint in his classic colors as well as the first-ever Generation 3 update of the desert VAMP Mk 2. However, this item will also be available online starting on July 24, 2014!

That’s right– this set, along with a host of other items including this admin’s sought-after movie-accurate TMNT figures, will be available at the following link on July 24, 2014!

http://www.toysrus.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=11433485&sr=1&origkw=sdcc

So get ready to hit those F5 keys and set your browser bookmarks! July 24th is going to be an interesting day to shop online!

Please note: there is also a standard “urban” version of this set available as part of the 50th Anniversary line which will be available at brick & mortar Toys R Us stores later this Summer/early Fall.

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Last Call for G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Fred Meyer

Today is the day– the final day to sign-up for the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0. In order to provide that final incentive, the Club released the following “group shot” yesterday.

Yes, it’s just a composite image of the previews shown thus far but it provides the only real “at a glance” look at what subscribers will receive over the forthcoming months.

It’s an interesting roster– with many Nocturnal Fire alumni, three Cobra-affiliated ninjas, a member of Action Force, and the final member of the Stall family whose saga played out in the file cards of the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra era.

As an addition teaser, the Club showcased hard resin prototypes of three of the unique headsculpts from the line that were designed by the insanely talented Boss Fight Studio team. Seen below are the sculpts for Bombstrike, Big Ben, and the Crimson Guard Immortal.

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It’s not a cheap subscription– with the subscription running $315.00 if paid in full with additional charges for both shipping and credit card processing. (Or paid in three installments of $105.00 each.) However, if you really want to obtain these figures and don’t want to have to deal with the hassle of tracking them down individually the subscription is the way to go– and the only way to guarantee receipt of the “mysterious 13th figure”.

To subscribe, visit the sign-up page for the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service 3.0 today.

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G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Unveils FSS Bombstrike

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Fred Meyer

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has released a teaser image of Bombstrike from the Figure Subscription Service 3.0 roster!

Normally, I’ve been enjoying these previews but this time I can’t honestly tell what we’re getting. This is by far the most “digital’ of all of the mock-up right down to a head that might have been lifted directly from a video game!

The original Bombstrike figure was released in Valor vs. Venom wave 7 in a two-pack that also featured the redesigned Croc Master. That version was clad in a tan t-shirt and camouflage pants. The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club appears to be basing this version on Renegades version of Scarlett from a few years ago based on the legs and torso. However, rather than showcase mock-up of the sculpt we get a full-on digital version. Honestly, I understand that the Club is wanting to release preview images as far out from production as possible but I have very little idea what the final head sculpt will look like based on this. That might be the Agent Helix hair or that might be something entire new. I’d also like to know why Bombstrike is looking decidedly evil in that photo. I guess part of the “surprise” of getting this FSS will be seeing what Bombstrike actually looks like when she arrives.

If you’ve not already subscribed to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0, you’ll want to do so before June 30, 2014!

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Crimson Guard Immortal is the next FSS reveal!

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Fred Meyer

The staff of the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club have only a few more previews left from Figure Subscription Service 3.0 to reveal. Check out the latest mock-up– the Crimson Guard Immortal!

As far as the updates go, this one looks pretty close to the 1991 vintage Crimson Guard Immortal figure, especially considering the fact that the only new part is the figure’s head!

The whomever is helping build these figures for the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has a solid eye for which existing parts are most similar to the classic designs. In this case, the body seems to be the very one used to build the G.I. Joe Retaliation Crimson Guard with a re-use of the Pursuit of Cobra Firefly vest to help round out the torso. Also, perhaps my eyes are playing tricks on me but do the figure’s weapons appear to be chromed? Very interesting indeed.

If you’ve not already subscribed to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0, you’ll want to do so before June 30, 2014!

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G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Reveals FSS Big Ben

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Fred Meyer

Even with Botcon 2014 in full swing, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club gives fans one more preview of Figure Subscription Service 3.0. Meet Special Action Force Commando – Big Ben!

Look at this image it’s pretty clear that the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club design crew is a fan of the 1991 original version!

In terms of body construction, I see a lot of parts that were recently used for the Night Force Lt. Falcon— and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Plus, a brand new head from Boss Fight Studio is always a welcome sight. I like the Union Jack on the right hand shoulder which better reflects Big Ben’s origins. Plus, making him a formal member of Action Force means that Quarrel and Bombardier have some company now!

If you’ve not already subscribed to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0, you’ll want to do so before June 30, 2014!

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G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Teases FSS Cobra Slice

Posted on June 18, 2014 by Fred Meyer

With Botcon’s opening imminent, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club previews of Figure Subscription Service 3.0 are happening later and later in the day. Check out the Cobra ninja henchman – Slice!

Slice & Dice go together like peanut butter and chocolate. With the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club having already released Dice as part of the first FSS, it was only a matter of time until his partner showed up!

This one is pretty much a no-brainer, being based on the Renegades Storm Shadow / Red Ninja body that has been released many times in the past few years. I’ll admit– the color scheme is pretty much spot on to the 1992 original version although I’m hoping that the black crosses on the torso aren’t quite so pronounced on the final version.

If you’ve not already subscribed to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0, you’ll want to do so before June 30, 2014!

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G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Previews FSS 3.0 Repeater

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Fred Meyer

Better late than never, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club starts off the week with another preview of Figure Subscription Service 3.0. Feast your eyes on the G.I. Joe machine gunner Repeater!

As with many of the Nocturnal Fire characters in this series, Repeater is back to basics! Based on the G.I. Joe Retaliation Ultimate Roadblock body, this figure is generation 3 version of the original 1988 Repeater!

Owners of the 2013 Night Force Repeater raved about the figure design when it was used in that year’s Joe Con set. The bulky body design gave the character a lot more body mass than the original but that was fitting for a soldier who wielded the massive steadicam machine gun that came in the convention set. This time around, however, Repeater has been downsized just a bit and is merely a “machine gunner”.

He’s got a slick painted SAW but I can’t help but miss the character’s signature weapon more than just a little. Fans have been mixed in their reactions to some of the recent FSS 3.0 reveals from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club so it remains to be seen if this will get the same attention that Hit & Run’s missing face paint did. Still, it’s a nice update on the original, even if his kit looks a bit light.

If you’ve not already subscribed to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0, you’ll want to do so before June 30, 2014!

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G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Unveils FSS 3.0 Hit & Run

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Fred Meyer

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club rounds out the week with another preview of Figure Subscription Service 3.0. As you get ready for the weekend, feast your eyes on Hit & Run!

You could have heard the collective gasp from the fandom when the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club announced that Hit & Run was going to be included in FSS 3.0. Based on his appearance from the Concept Case as revealed at Joe Con 2012, this figure instantly became one of those “lost gems” that many fans wanted simply because he wasn’t scheduled for production. It was ironic considering that Hit & Run never had much of a presence in the original G.I. Joe line outside of his vintage 1988 version. It wouldn’t be until 2009 when fans would receive a 25th Anniversary version as part of the Assault on Cobra Island 7 Pack with a second generation 3 release that was based on a cancelled vintage vehicle driver as part of the 2013 Joe Con Nocturnal Fire set. The convention version was met with some controversy due to the color deviance from the original ’88 version and so it seems the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club is taking one last shot at giving members the Hit & Run they asked for.

The FSS version appears to be straight out of the concept case and essentially replaces the 2009 version as a modern interpretation of the character. All the signature elements are there– including the missing camouflage on the figure’s face– something that was noticeably absent in the Nocturnal Fire version. The base green color is gone– which is most likely a cost-savings issue in terms of paint apps but overall the look of Hit & Run is still there. (Since this is a recoloring of the same version that was in the Nocturnal Fire set they’re using the same paint masters for the head and just adding in the striping.) While he doesn’t have his duffle bag, it’s not a deal-breaker for me and I find that this version will easily replace the 2009 release in my collection.

If you’ve not already subscribed to FSS 3.0, you’ll want to do so before June 30, 2014!

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G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Previews FSS 3.0 Vypra

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Fred Meyer

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club continues the previews of Figure Subscription Service 3.0 with a look at the Cobra courier Vypra!

I’ll just say it– Vypra is one of those characters that fall into the “take it or leave it” bucket for me. I own a Rattler 4WD which included the original 1998 Vypra but she really never made much of an impression upon me. Essentially I viewed her as a repaint of the 1987 Jinx and that was that. It wasn’t until year’s later when I read some of the dio-stories over at GeneralsJoes.com that I gave Vypra a second thought.

I’m not surprised that the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club opted to use the Retaliation Jinx figure to produce Vypra but the bland color scheme leaves me very underwhelmed. With just a charcoal gray and black color scheme, the overall look is incredibly bland. It lacks some visual element to give the design some much needed “POP!” and the result is a gray Jinx– the fourth reuse of this body in two years. The addition of the legs from the Renegades Scarlett help but visually it’s just not an interesting figure. Even the original Vypra had more of a textured look in her paint apps while this preview just shows a mostly solid color design.. After some other strong entries, this is the one that just leaves me cold.

It’s a shame that the visual aspect is so bland as I like the updated specialty as a courier, making her more than just a Stinger driver. I even like the reuse of the case with the SMG and computer screen that first debuted with the Resolute Destro. (Of course, we’re seeing an awful lot of that case too lately.)

If you’ve not already subscribed to FSS 3.0, you’ll want to do so before June 30, 2014!

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G.I. Joe news, action figure reviews, and discussion

Category Archives: Toys

In Hand Images of the SDCC Danger at the Docks Set!

SDCC Danger at the Docks to Hit TRU.com on July 24

Last Call for G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Unveils FSS Bombstrike

Crimson Guard Immortal is the next FSS reveal!

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Reveals FSS Big Ben

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Teases FSS Cobra Slice

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Previews FSS 3.0 Repeater

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Unveils FSS 3.0 Hit & Run

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Previews FSS 3.0 Vypra

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