Tag Archives: 1:18 scale

G.I. Joe FSS 3 Bombstrike & Night Creeper Leader Reviewed!

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G.I. Joe FSS 3 Bombstrike Night Creeper Leader

The next two G.I. Joe FSS 3 figures have arrived!

We’re one shipment away from the end of G.I. Joe FSS 3 and that means it’s time for two more figure reviews.  This month it’s the unusual pairing of G.I. Joe team member Bombstrike with the affiliate of Cobra – the Night Creeper Leader!

Do this blind-folded ninja master and forward air controller go together like chocolate and peanut butter?  Or is this pairing more of a case of oil and water?  Even more importantly, do Chris and Fred agree on anything when it comes to these two penultimate figures from G.I. Joe FSS 3?

Find out the answers to these exciting questions and more over in the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index!

 

G.I. Joe FSS 3 Shipment 5 is arriving now!

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G.I. Joe FSS 3.0 logo

G.I. Joe FSS 3 Shipment #5 is now shipping!

Thanks to Alyosha of BrokenArrowToys.com, images of the latest G.I. Joe FSS 3 shipments have been posted on Facebook.  Having glanced at the pictures, I can safely say that this is most definitely a “glass half empty/glass half full month” with this shipment containing one of the most anticipated and one of the least desired figures from the entire series.

Want to know more?  Keep reading, Joe fan!  If you don’t want to be spoiled then stop right there! Continue reading →

Rank & File v1 is now available online!

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Rank & File cover

A few weeks back JBL reported that “noted author” James Kavanaugh was releasing a new reference book entitled Rank & File centered on the “no-ring” era of G.I. Joe figures.  Now, we’re happy to report that Rank & File is now available online!

That’s right, the first volume of this amazing guide series to the “modern era” of G.I. Joe is available for just $20 + shipping.  (US & International)

Trust me, Rank & File lives up the high standard set by the RAHC Guide that covered 1997 – 2007.  I was fortunate enough to pick up a copy at Joe Con 2015 from “the man himself” and have been pouring through it ever since.  (Expect a review in the near future!  Really!) From the detailed photography to the intuitive layout, this book is sure to become a “much used tome” on your G.I. Joe reference shelf!

So run, don’t walk, over to RAHCGuide.com and snag your copy of Rank & File v1 now!  Quantities are limited and you won’t want to miss out on this terrific companion to your ARAH Generation 3 G.I. Joe collection!

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Joe Con 2015: The convention wrap-up is posted!

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Joe Con 2015

Sure, it’s been over a week since Joe Con 2015 ended and most of the news from the event has already washed over the fandom like a tsunami.  However, it’s become a bit of a tradition here at JBL HQ to post a summary of the event.  I’ve updated the Joe Con 2015 coverage page with links to previous posts and added in some new commentary as well.

Also, a big thanks to the crew at ToyWorldOrder.com for recording Dave Tree’s awesome UK Action Force panel which I’ve embedded in the coverage.

Also, keep your eyes and ears tuned to JBL as the 2015 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention set review is coming!  Pics are mostly done and now it’s on to the text!

Joe Con 2015: Club announces FSS 4 and renewal figure

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

At Joe Con 2015 the final “big announcement” panel was the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club annual round table.  Brian Savage, David Lane, Pete Sinclair, and Lanny Lathem took to the stage to discuss this year’s convention set as well as to unveil both the line-up for FSS 4.0 as well as next year’s renewal figure.

The crew from the Club was upfront about one thing– last year they took a lot of flack over the images used in the panel which were intended to illustrate the choice of character but that were not necessarily representative of the figure’s final deco.  As such, this year images were minimal as many of these figures are VERY early in the production process.

Also, figures released in the FSS are often chosen because they will NOT be released in that deco in a future convention set.  The FSS is a way to allow these characters to get to collectors and fill in gaps in individual collections.

We’ll start with FSS 4.0: Continue reading →

Joe Con 2015: Hasbro retail two-packs unveiled!

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Wow– there’s a lot to report for Joe Con 2015!

The Hasbro panel was yesterday and Derryl DePriest and Mark Weber revealed a whole new slate of products that will be exclusive to both Toys R Us and BigBadToyStore.com.  The line is essentially a continuation of the 50th anniversary series and will be available on August 1, 2015. Eagle-eyed fans will recognize some of these figures from previous concept case displays.

Swamp Steam

  • Croc Master & Blowtorch
  • the two announced-but-not-released figures at last

Swamp Steam 2pk
Continue reading →

Joe Con 2015: Hasbro three packs revealed!

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The Hasbro panel was yesterday at Joe Con 2015 and Derryl DePriest and Mark Weber revealed a whole new slate of products that will be exclusive to both Toys R Us and BigBadToyStore.com.  The line is essentially a continuation of the 50th anniversary series and will be available on August 1, 2015.  As with previous offerings, it’s a mix of existing parts and pieces that have only been glimpsed in concept cases of previous shows.

Chase for the MASS Device

  • Cobra Commander, Cobra CLAWS Trooper, Duke
  • revisits figures from the elusive final 25th Anniversary DVD pack

Chase for the MASS Device 3pk

Continue reading →

Joe Con 2015: Custom Contest Entries

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joe con 2015 custom preview

One of the highlights of Joe Con 2015 (and pretty much any Joe Con) for this fan is the annual custom contest.  Just seeing the creativity and the sheer talent that the fan community displays each and every year is honestly one of the most inspiring aspects of this hobby.

I’m not a customizer myself but I have incredible respect for those who take brush and knife to one figure to produce something entirely new!

Here are JBL’s initial pics of this year’s custom contest entries from Joe Con 2015:

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Joe Con 2015: Price increases hurt this year for souvenirs

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Joe Con 2015

Ah Joe Con 2015… you’ll go down as “the year the Club broke the fandom’s wallets.”

The Club Store is now open at Joe Con 2015 for the Golden Ticket holders and the prices for the exclusives have been revealed.    Hold on to your hats, kids!  This is going to hurt!

Joe Con 2015 Tiger Hawk

  • Iron Grenadier Air Assault 2 pack – $72
  • Tiger Shark w/ Felino – $83
  • Tiger Sting w/ “Sgt Kazenbogen” – $83
  • Tiger Force Helicopter Crew (Alpine, Skystriker, Frostbite) – $86
  • Tiger Hawk Helicopter – $168
  • Iron Anvil Officer Paratrooper – $34
  • KreO Tiger Force 6 pack – $39

Seriously… I appreciate the fact that Club’s expenses are higher this year because of having to air freight the souvenirs over to the US but seriously?!!  Due to poor planning and lack of appropriate timetables, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has essentially doubled the prices for the overall souvenirs.

Especially since many of these vehicles are near duplicates of the vintage versions readily available on the secondary market.

The sad part is that one prices go up they rarely seem to go down.  I hope this isn’t the case with the Club but I have the feeling that I’m going to be disappointed.

Here are few quick images from Steve Unger, Jr and Jeff Patton of the G.I. Joe Discussion Facebook Group:

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Joe Con 2015 Tiger Hawk in case
Joe Con 2015 price list
Joe Con 2015 Tiger Hawk
Joe Con 2015 Tiger Shark w/ Felino
Joe Con 2015 Iron Grenadier Annihilators
Joe Con 2015 Tiger Sting w/ Bazooka
Joe Con 2015 Tiger Force Helicopter crew
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Joe Con 2015: Souvenir Item Details… sort of…

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Joe Con 2015 Tiger Force vs Iron Grenadiers

Another piece of Joe Con 2015 news– this time related to the souvenir items.

Thanks to folks already in Springfield, IL we have this list of what’s coming:

  • Iron grenadiers air assault 2-pack LE 900  (Possibly TARGAT)
  • TF helicopter crew 3-pack LE 800 (Possibly Tiger Force Frostbite, Sky Striker, Tiger Force Alpine)
  • TF helicopter LE 600
  • Tiger shark w/felino LE 800
  • Tiger sting w/sgt katzenjammer-Bogen LE 800
  • Iron anvil officer w/parachute LE 600

So, it looks like the Tiger Force Tomahawk is going to indeed be “a thing” this year and the forthcoming Club exclusive Sharc submarine may be getting a Tiger Force repaint. (I’d rather have that over a straight up redo of the vintage Tiger Shark!)

Continue reading →