Zed takes on “The Many Faces of Firefly” in a mega-review

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The Many Faces of Firefly

The Many Faces of Firely @ ZedsJoeSite.com

It’s been forever since I’ve written a review for JBL.  However, that hasn’t stopped me from still reading reviews of Joe products both old and new.   As such, I’ve been LOVING the “Many Faces Of…” series that Zed has been posting over at ZedsJoeSite.com.  Sure, I may not always agree with his ratings but I still enjoy seeing such a comprehensive look at the many versions of a single character that Hasbro has inundated fans and collectors since the relaunch of G.I. Joe back in 2000.

It seemed a no-brainer that both Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow would be featured given the fact that they seem to have a new version released every third Thursday of the month.  However, I was extremely pleased to see that Zed takes on Cobra’s premiere saboteur in his latest installment!

Check out The Many Faces of Firefly over at Zed’s site!

G.I. Joe comics this week from IDW – Cobra Civil War #0

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It looks like it’s time to start reading the Cobra Civil War.   IDW has this to say about Cobra Civil War #0

IDW's G.I. Joe: Cobra Civil War #0

Cobra Civil War #0

G.I. JOE: Cobra Civil War #0
Chuck Dixon, Mike Costa (w) • Javier Saltares, Antonio Fuso, Agustin Padilla (a) • Tom Feister, Fuso, Gabriele Dell’Otto  (c)

COBRA CIVIL WAR BEGINS HERE! The Commander is dead! Long live… Cobra Commander?! But the questions is, who will BE the NEXT Cobra Commander?! The role of Commander must be filled—now the most lethal and cunning Cobra operatives will COMPETE TO REIGN SUPREME. The winner—he who kills the most G.I. JOES—will take the reins of COBRA! Bonus: Ninja Force!!!!! Yeah, baby! 30 big pages of story at regular price! This is the place to jump on board and see what everyone’s been talking about!
*3 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1-to-1 basis
FC • 40 pages • $3.99

The hunt for the new Cobra Commander will run through all three new G.I. Joe series beginning with next month’s three debuts: G.I. Joe #1, Cobra #1, and Snake Eyes #1!

 

 

I have mixed feelings about this event.  While it is bound to make for some interesting reading, I feel that it happened almost a bit too quickly.  We had only just began to get a real glimpse of the current IDW Commander- less used-car salesman and pyramid scheme manager and more of a classic James Bond shadow leader– when he was assassinated by Chuckles in the now infamous single panel kill shot.  I’ve enjoyed IDW’s run on G.I. Joe so far when it has strayed into new territory so I’m still along for the ride.  Still… I think this event might have had more impact if readers had been exposed to the now-deceased Commander just a bit more.

The following are the titles are hitting comic shops this week from IDW Publishing

IDW PUBLISHING
Angel 100-Page Spectacular (Nick Runge Regular Cover), $7.99
Eternal Descent Volume 1 TP, $24.99
G.I. JOE Cobra Civil War #0 (Cover A Antonio Fuso), $3.99
G.I. JOE Cobra Civil War #0 (Cover B Gabriele Dell’Otto), $3.99
G.I. JOE Cobra Civil War #0 (Cover C Tom Feister), $3.99
G.I. JOE Cobra Civil War #0 (Javier Saltares Variant Cover), AR
G.I. JOE Cobra Civil War #0 (Tom Feister Cover Gallery Book), AR
G.I. JOE Cobra Civil War #0 (Incentive Lithograph), AR
G.I. JOE Cobra #1 (Hundred Penny Press Edition), $1.00
G.I. JOE Cobra Commander Tribute 100-Page Spectacular (Antonio Fuso Regular Cover), $7.99
Next Men #5 (John Byrne Regular Cover), $3.99
Next Men #5 (John Byrne Sketch Variant Cover), AR
Spike #7 (Of 8)(Nick Runge Regular Cover), $3.99
Spike #7 (Of 8)(Jenny Frison Variant Cover), AR
Star Trek Countdown #1 (Hundred Penny Press Edition), $1.00
Transformers #18 (Cover A Marcelo Matere), $3.99
Transformers #18 (Cover B Nick Roche), $3.99
Transformers #18 (Marcelo Matere Sketch Design Variant Cover), AR
Transformers Rising Storm #3 (Of 4)(Brian Rood Regular Cover), $3.99
Transformers Rising Storm #3 (Of 4)(Carlos Magno Variant Cover), AR

Source: http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/newreleases/this-week

 

 

RAHC Guide ordering information!!!

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If you missed this year’s Collector’s Convention, you missed out on the opportunity to pick up a copy “in hand.”  However, James has come through with the promised information on how to order you very own copy and have it delivered to your door!

Hi gang, the moment is finally here!  I’m not going to set up a fancy lil e-mail, just type out the bare basics so please visit www.rahcguide.com to catch up on all the fan reviews of the R.A.H.C. Guide on your favorite message boards!!  With that being said, the cost of the book is $40 with $5 shipping and handling.  Payment can be paypalled via kuukuuson@hotmail.com.  You may send the payment as a gift but if you choose not to, please allow paypal to adjust your payment to accomodate paypal fees.  Orders will be held until total payment is made and you will be notified of any additional costs.  When you send your paypal payment, please include your address and any specific information for your order in the paypal notification as that is how I will be keeping track of your order.  I will copy and paste the address so please make sure it’s correct.  I will gladly entertain international orders so please contact me here (rahc.guide@gmail.com) so I can look into how much shipping is to your location.  
I am very excited to provide this book for you and can’t wait to hear your response!  Please remember that not only is this guide self published in limited quantities, it is being processed and shipped by myself and might take some time.  Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding!
Sincerely,
James “KuuKuuSon” Kavanaugh Jr.
Seriously– what are you waiting for?  Order your copy TODAY!  (I know I have.)

IDW’s Tales from the Cobra Wars debuts!

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In a new twist, IDW is publishing a prose short-story collection of all new G.I. Joe fiction!  Max Brooks (author of World War Z and G.I. Joe/Cobra) edits this brand new volume with tales featuring our favorite Joes and Cobras.  Aside from some movie tie-ins released in 2009 and the old Find-Your-Fate series, this marks one of the only times that Joe has been featured in prose!

I pre-ordered this book back in December on Amazon.com when it was first listed and I’m waiting for that box to hit my doorstep on Friday!  Consider my weekend reading already accounted for!

IDW's Tales from the Cobra Wars anthology

IDW's Tales from the Cobra Wars anthology

G.I. JOE: TALES FROM THE COBRA WARS
Max Brooks, Chuck Dixon, Matt Forbeck, Jon McGoran, Jonathan Maberry, John Skipp & Cody Goodfellow, Duane Swierczynski, Dennis Tafoya (w) • Gabriele Dell’Otto (c)
GI JOE: Tales from the Cobra Wars is an action-packed collection of all-original prose stories. Flint, Scarlett, Destro, the Baroness―they’re all here as the ongoing war between GI JOE and COBRA is depicted from every angle. This trade paperback presents eight novella-length tales, penned by today’s leading crime and thriller writers, such as Jonathan Maberry, Duane Swierczynski, Chuck Dixon, and Dennis Tafoya. Cobra Wars is edited by Max Brooks, who also supplies a new story, and features new illustrations for each story.
TPB • BW • $16.99 • 320 Pages • 6” x 9” • ISBN: 978-1-60010-881-5

 

If you’re still looking to order, Amazon.com has it available now for $11.55!  While you’re at it– they’ve got pre-orders up for G.I. Joe: Special Missions vol 4 and G.I. Joe Classic vol 11!

No love for Grand Slam? One fan’s rant…

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G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary Grand Slam

25th Anniversary Grand Slam

Let me just preface this by saying that I cannot take credit for any of what follows.  Posted on RTM’s ToyBuzz forum earlier today by “Smitty”, the following article takes a humorous look at one fan’s frustration with the seeming anonymity of his favorite character: Specialist James J. Barney – code name: Grand Slam.

Due to the “temporary” nature of posts over at RTM, I’ve decided to re-post the text here.  Oh, and if you’re reading this Smitty– I too am a fan of Grand Slam!  (I’ve included some links to Grand Slam reviews at the end.)

Rant on, Smitty… Rant on.

It is with pride, and just a bit of anger that I declare myself part of an underground movement.

Though I cannot reveal our names or membership size, I can tell you we call ourselves:
F.O.O.G.S.
That is, Friends of ‘Ol Grand Slam.

Seriously, Grand Slam is easily the most obscure and under-utilized character of the first ten years of G.I. Joe: ARAH. And I have always had a thing for the underdog, the character that didn’t get much screen time. As a kid, I always wanted to know about the background characters.

Yeah, Batman is cool, but what would he be without Commissioner Gordon or Alfred to play off of?
Sure, we know Sherlock Holmes is the man, but where is he without Dr. Watson?
Mr. Bond? Where are you without Q?
Would Jack Lord have had a catch-phrase without Danny?
Who will be Javert to your Jean Valjean?
Ok. Sorry for the Les Mis reference.

What I’m getting at is that the background/support/3rd-string characters make up the fabric of any corporate culture, and GI Joe is no different.

So I’m going to get to the bottom of it by going straight to the horse’s mouth, to the source of all things Joe. Yes, an exclusive interview with the one, the only, the M*A*S*H* actor, Larry Hama. Yeah, the guy that put the screws to Major Frank Burns.

But before that, I want to adequately provide a chronicle of Grand Slam’s under-use, as it were; I will bring light to the vast right-wing conspiracy against him. A conspiracy that has provided many slights and abuses to our friend, James J. Barney of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Continue reading →

Follow JBL on Twitter for 2011 convention coverage

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Yes, the admin of the site is stuck at home this year but JBL staff will be on site to provide updates from the 2011 Collector’s Convention in Orlando!  CmderinChief (aka “Gary”) is live and one the scene in Florida and between drinking mojitos and chasing Mickey around, he’ll be manning JBL’s Twitter feed!

Follow Gary’s exploits on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/joebattlelines!

Shout Factory bring MASK complete series to DVD

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Okay, it’s not G.I. Joe, but it was another pretty awesome series in the 80’s. I can remember buying my first (and only) MASK vehicle and wishing that the Condor motorcycle was in scale with my Joes. However, if Matt Trakker can make a cameo appearance in the Joe 25th line then this qualifies as good 80’s nostalgia news.  No release date has yet been announced.

Given the quality of Shout Factory’s G.I. Joe & Transformers sets, this is going to be another great addition to anyone’s DVD rack!

For Immediate Release

SHOUT! FACTORY AND FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES
BRING POPULAR CLASSIC ANIMATED SERIES

M.A.S.K.

TO HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND DIGITIAL DISTRIBUTION

Los Angeles, CA (March 30, 2011) – Shout! Factory and FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) announced today a deal to bring the renowned classic animated series M.A.S.K. to the home entertainment marketplace. Under its multi-year agreement with FME, Shout! Factory will be the exclusive home entertainment distributor with digital rights to the first 65 action-packed episodes of M.A.S.K. (known to fans as the original series aired in 1985) in North America. The announcement was made by Shout! Factory’s founding partners Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; and Jeff Siegel, FME VP of Home Entertainment, The Americas.

“This deal with FremantleMedia Enterprises continues to build on our proven success with some of the premiere animation and family-friendly brands in the marketplace. We are delighted with this opportunity,” state Shout! Factory founding partners. “M.A.S.K. has been one of the fan favorite classic animated series in TV history, with a highly successful presence in many countries across the world.”

Siegel stated, “FME is dedicated to bringing content from our extensive catalogue, including a classic series like M.A.S.K., to the home entertainment marketplace. We are thrilled for Shout! Factory to bring this long lost, retro series from the 80’s to its fans in North America.”

Popular animated television series M.A.S.K. debuted on television and in wide syndication during the 1980s, features M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand), a secret organization led by Matt Trakker that fights crime in an unusual way. By donning specially charged masks, they have extraordinary powers to fight the villains of V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem). In addition to the masks, our heroes and their counterparts have super vehicles capable of a wide range of defensive and offensive actions, from changing a car into a jet or becoming a submarine. Throughout the years, M.A.S.K. boasts a large fan following and spawned a series of toyline, comic books and video games.

Continue reading →

The con is nearly here… let the commercials begin!

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This is old news but appropriate considering that the 2011 Collector’s Convention with the now-sold out “Mission Brazil II” sets is this week.

You won’t see this on TV nationally but check out Hasbro’s commercial for the annual Joe Con!