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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G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Items Hit Ebay

Posted on July 6, 2014 by Fred Meyer

It was bound to happen sooner rather than later. Ebay seller viperskingdom has listed several items from the forthcoming 50th Anniversary collection up for auction. I’ve mirrored some of the images below but all of his auctions may also be found HERE.

First, the pictures, then some commentary….

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Okay, I’m just going to go straight to the elephant in the room– the incredibly poor paint applications seen on the Lady Jaye figure. Really– that’s one of the worst paint decos I’ve seen since the 2000 relaunch of the brand with the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra era. This is the same head that was used by the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club for the Night Force Lady Jaye that was a 2013 Joe Con convention souvenir which means that fans have already seen how this head can turn out. They’ve now got something to compare this “G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary” version to. (I still argue that it’s really the “32nd Anniversary of ARAH”.) Those same fans have also come to expect a certain level of quality from Hasbro produced items.

This isn’t it. It’s like QC just took the night off and let the interns take a shot at painting.

As for the rest of the line? Well, quite honestly– it’s uninspired. Rather than celebrating the wide half-century history of a brand that redefined action figures for generations the marketing folks at Hasbro cobbled together a collection of repaints and some concept vault figures and called it a night. While the more recent Joe fans might like the offerings, this long time Joe fan finds them lazy, uninspired, and downright insulting to the collectors of the 1:6 era that put G.I. Joe on the map in the first place.

Sure, there’s going to be a Snow Wolf and a “mostly new” Leatherneck, but overall this line is nothing even close to what it really should have been.

Check out the rest of viperskingdom’s current G.I. Joe auctions on Ebay.

Happy Independence Day!

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Fred Meyer

JoeBattlelines.com would like to wish everyone a Happy Independence Day!

Today is more than just a day filled with cookouts, days off of work, and fireworks. For those of us in the United States, it’s the birthday of our nation. More importantly, it’s the birthday of a nation based upon the principles set out in these words:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Dated “July 4, 1776”, the document quoted above was signed by a group of brave men who sought to free their friends and neighbors from what was then an oppressive government and establish a bold new experiment in representative government. Their actions forever shaped the world and helped create a nation that has forever changed the way people view the notion of “Freedom.”

So, to all who read this– we here at JBL wish you a happy and safe 4th of July. Whether the time be spent with family, friends, or even in some quiet reflect, take a few moments today to be thankful for the freedoms that you enjoy.

A full copy of the Declaration of Independence may be found here.

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 Revises FSS Hit & Run

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Fred Meyer

Apparently, if you complain loudly enough, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club will listen. Check out the REVISED image of Hit & Run from the Figure Subscription Service 3.0.

The Club posted this brief comment along with the updated image:

Thanks for all your feedback and interest in the GIJCC: Figure Subscription Service 3.0 selections. Upon reviewing your comments for HIT & RUN, we have made some changes that we feel best represent the majority of requests we have received.

Please see the updated image above. In addition, we appreciate your passion and comments. Thanks again for being so involved in the G.I. Joe Brand.

Now, if only they’d also fix the Night Creeper Leader which is a completely different version than the one that was originally shown at JoeCon 2014.

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 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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JoeBattleLines

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

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

G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Items Hit Ebay

Happy Independence Day!

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

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

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

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