Joe Con 2015: Attendee exclusive Sting Raider

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It’s Golden Ticket registration night at Joe Con 2015!  While those that paid a premium price for what is purported to be premium service wait in line to pick up their Tiger Force vs Iron Grenadiers convention sets, we have our first bit of information!

Thanks to Madmac41, we have this image of the attendee exclusive item:

Joe Con 2015 Sting Raider

That’s right Joe fans– the 2004 Cobra Sting Raider appears once more on the side of darkness!  This time, it’s an Iron Grenadier submersible!

We’ll have more news all weekend long as the JBL admin is heading to Joe Con 2015 tomorrow night!  Keep your eyes on our Twitter feed during the Saturday Hasbro and Collector’s Club panels and check back each evening for more coverage of Joe Con 2015!

Cobra Invasion Team Firefly review

g.i. joe retaliation firefly

G.I. Joe Retaliation Cobra Invasion Team Firefly has been reviewed!

Joe Con week is usually a pretty busy time for JBL– especially when the admin is actually attending the event this year.  However, there is still plenty to talk about in the world of G.I. Joe as this latest review by Otto Phillips proves!

Firefly has been called the “Boba Fett” of the G.I. Joe world– a skilled mercenary who maintains an air of mystery and works for the highest bidder.  He’s long been a fan favorite and yet Hasbro seemed to have trouble finding the perfect update to the character for ARAH Generation 3.   The 25th Anniversary version was decent and the first Retaliation version was different but it took a three pack to get the Cobra Saboteur “just right”…

Check out Otto’s review in the G.I. Joe Retaliation Index and find out just how well he feels this version of Firefly holds up compared to the original!

Rank & File: More info from author James Kavanaugh!

Rank & File cover

No sooner did we post the press release info for the forthcoming Rank & File guide to ARAH generation 3 Joes than “Noted Author” James Kavanaugh Jr reached out and provided some addition information on the all of the volumes in this new and exciting series:

Basic Information

The MSRP for The Rank & File Guide Volume 1 is $20.  Volume 1 will be first available at Joe Con in Springfield, IL and available to purchase online after the show at www.rahcguide.com.  Buyer will pay all additional shipping and handling costs.  If you have purchased the R.A.H.C. Guide, the process will be very similar.   This guide was self published and produced in quantities reflecting the R.A.H.C. Guide’s sales so do not hesitate in ordering if owning a guide is a priority. You can join the mailing list at: rahc.guide@gmail.com and like on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/RAHCGuide to get the latest updates between press releases.

 

In order to get content to the fans as quickly as possible, the decision was made to divide the series up into, as of this announcement, up to six volumes.  They working divisions are as follows:

 

Volume 1:  Introduction, 25th Anniversary, Resolute

Volume 2:  The Rise of Cobra, Pursuit of Cobra

Volume 3: Celebrating 30 Years of A Real American Hero / Renegades, Retaliation, Basic G.I. Joe Asst., 50 (should include 2015 figures and possibly beyond).

Volume 4:  Convention Exclusives, G.I. Joe Collector’s Club (up to at least 2015)

Volume 5:  Complete and organized Accessories section comprised of Volumes 1 through 4

*** Depending on sales and other factors*** Volume 6:  Complete Sealed Packages comprised of Volumes 1 through 4.

James was also good enough to share a custom image from the book with JBL that showcases the quality of the work contained within!  Check out this look at two of the admin’s favorite figures from the G.I. Joe Resolute line! Continue reading

Rank & File – new guide to debut at Joe Con 2015

Rank & File cover

Rank & File is coming!

Long-time friend of JBL and noted author James Kavanaugh Jr returns to the published world with his second G.I. Joe reference guide!  (His first book, the RAHC Guide, is an essential tome here at JBL HQ!)  Not only that, but the book will make its fandom debut at Joe Con 2015 with online sales to begin shortly thereafter!

Check out the press release that dropped in the G.I. Joe Discussion Facebook Group over the weekend: Continue reading

Joe Con 2015 – Of price increases and parachute drops

Joe Con 2015

We’re one week out from Joe Con 2015 in Springfield, IL and the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has posted an update to their FAQ page.   The new text is below:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

03-31-2015

Q: If I received multiple emails for package pick-up, which one do I go by?
A: The emails are sent out by invoice number, class participants, exhibitors and people on the tour. You can go by any one of them, but we recommend you use the earliest time you received for package pick-up.

 

Q: How much money should I bring to buy all of the 2015 convention exclusive souvenirs?
A: Costs have gone up because of the complexity of the deco on the items and air freight caused by the dock workers issues on the west coast. There is also an additional souvenir item this year and one that is a large vehicle. If you want to get one of everything you will need approximately $600 for the convention 3 3/4″ items and $200 for the 12″ items.

 

Q: I was able to purchase a box set, but the attending bagged sets were sold out. When non-attending allocation goes live will I be able to order a bagged set then?
A: No. You have to purchase a non-attending set to get the few loose sets reserved for that group. We will verify each order and those that try to break the rules will be deleted less service fees.

 

Q: Will there be any bag sets at the show or can I call the office and have one added to my box set?
A: No.

 

Q: On Friday are there general admission passes available?
A: No. Registered attendees only on Friday. This is a private preview no general admission.

 

Q: Is the freebie item per registered person/badge or is it by box set? I got 2 boxed sets, so how many of the freebie item do I get?
A: Attending items are by boxed set(s). Each person will only have one name badge and one voucher to use for the souvenirs until limits are raised.

 

Q: Are we going to need to print our confirmation that was emailed to us and bring to package pick-up?
A: You will need a copy to prove which time slot will be yours for package pickup. The slots are by invoice number. More instructions will be emailed to you before the event.

 

Q: Has the parachute drop been confirmed one way or the other yet?
A: Unfortunately, the venues we were trying to get for the drop did not work out. Therefore, there will not be a drop this year. However, you will be able to purchase the parachute figure starting on Thursday night and it will be very close for everyone to get a figure.

Okay, let’s address three of these FAQ’s in short order: Continue reading

Review: 2012 G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Footloose

G.I. joe Collector's Club footloose

JBL has a brand-new guest review of the 2012 G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Footloose renewal figure!

No, you didn’t step through a wormhole and land back in 2012!  Long-time G.I. Joe fan (and hopefully frequent JBL contributor) Otto “The Otter” Phillips offered to lend a hand and contribute some guest reviews to help fill in the backlog here at JBL HQ!

His first feature is a childhood favorite that received an updated version as the 2012 G.I. Joe Collector’s Club membership renewal figure.  Was Otto happy with this figure?  Did it live up to the nostalgia of his childhood?

Check out the review over at the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index and find out one Joe fan’s opinion!

Were you a fan of Footloose?  Would you like to see more contributions from Otto?  Let us know in the comments below!

G.I. Joe FSS 3 Shipment 4 is Inbound!

G.I. Joe FSS 3.0 logo

G.I. Joe FSS 3 Shipment 4 is inbound!

It would seem that the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club is doing their best to get caught up on the FSS shipments as shipment #4 has seemingly deployed early!  Of course, with Joe Con 2015 scheduled to occur in just under a month, the Club most likely wouldn’t be able to process shipments as normal at the end of the month.

So, who’s in the shipment this time around? Continue reading

Joe Con 2015: Attention! It’s General Mayhem!

 

The reveals for the Joe Con 2015 Tiger Force vs. Iron Grenadiers set conclude with the unveiling of the Iron Grenadiers’ General Mayhem!

Joe Con 2015 General Mayhem

– 25th Anniversary Modern Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure
– NEW HEAD SCULPT on 1st Modern Era Character Release
– NEW OFFICIER’S JACKET with Rank & Campaign Medals
– Based on 2005 GIJCC Design with Removable Helmet
– Includes Cobra Logo Stand, Rocket Propelled Grenade
Launcher with Removable Grenade and Submachine Gun.

Hmmm… this figure definitely borrows the color palate and overall design concept from the 2005 General Mayhem.  In terms of construction, I’m seeing what appears to be the legs and possibly a modified torso of the Pursuit of Cobra Destro figure.

The helmet appears to be a reuse of the 2012 Operation Bear Trap Voltar accessory.

Continue reading

Joe Con 2015: Here’s Metal-Head! BANG!

The reveals for the Joe Con 2015 Tiger Force vs. Iron Grenadiers set continue with the unveiling of the Iron Grenadiers’ premiere anti-tank specialist: Metal-Head!

Joe Con 2015 Metal Head

– 25th Anniversary Modern Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure
– NEW HEAD SCULPT on 1st Modern Era Character Release
– Based on 1990 Design with Removable Harness, Sheath & Knife
– Includes Cobra Logo Stand, Backpack System with Positionable Arms,
2-Connection Cables, 8-Removable Rockets, Assault Rifle, & Pistol.

(Note: Photo depicts mock up and final product may slightly differ.)

Interesting…

Continue reading

Joe Con 2015: Tiger Force Sgt. Stalker Preview

The reveals for the Joe Con 2015 Tiger Force vs. Iron Grenadiers set continue with at the Joe team’s first Ranger: Sgt. Stalker!

Joe Con 2015 Tiger Force Stalker

– 25th Anniversary Modern Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure
– NEW HEAD SCULPT with removable Beret and Tactical Vest
– Based on 2003 Design in traditional theme Tiger Force deco
– Includes G.I. Joe Logo Stand, Assault Rifle, Pistol,
M-2 Machine gun*, Backpack/Frame/Antenna & Phone
(*disassembles into 4- parts that attach to backpack frame!)

Once again, the Joe Con 2015 set is going back to the  2003 Toys R Us exclusive Tiger Force set for inspiration.  Lonzo R. Wilkinson gets an update that’s based on the o-ring Sgt Stalker v3 only without the vibrant blue paint apps of the original.

Continue reading