G.I. Joe Collector’s Club store to reopen TODAY!

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Fred Meyer

It’s been a rough year for the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club in terms of their online presence. A major data vulnerability left their membership’s financial information compromised which resulted in the rebuilding of both their website and their online store. While the former has been functional for some time, it is the latter that was the subject of an email sent out to members last night:

This quick update is going out to all members of both clubs.

Both stores are closed until tomorrow at approximately noon CDT when we are planning to bring the G.I. Joe Club Store online. The Transformers Club Store will come back online at the same time.

For the G.I. Joe Club members:

Please note that there are LIMITS on the loose Footloose, carded Footloose and signed carded Footloose membership figures.

You are limited to ONE of each (per membership account) until we see how the demand goes. We can track exactly how many of each are ordered by account. If you place more than one order, we WILL CANCEL all of your orders and charge you a 25% administration fee. Please do not try this as we want as many members as possible to get these figures at the offering price. Quantities are limited.

In addition, we are still adding items to both stores, so it will take approximately another week to get all of our inventory back in the new stores.

Thanks to both groups for your patience and the two great conventions this year!

Brian

That’s right Joe fans– not only is the Club Store going back online but fans JUST might have a chance at snagging a carded Footloose in the process. Now, I’m not psychic in any way but the thought of two different fan clubs both hitting their online store around the same time means that there are likely to be some server issues. Be prepared for some MattyCollector-esque freezes and other hiccups as the club is essentially hit with a DoS attack. Hopefully the new servers are up to task and fans can snag the Footloose they’ve been dreaming of!

It’s good to have the G.I. Joe Club back up to speed!

EDIT: Here’s the link to the new store at the “Toyarama” domain: https://www.toyarama.com/store/

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JBL Review: G.I. Joe Retaliation Trooper

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Fred Meyer

What? Another new review at JBL? Isn’t this site supposed to be dead?

Another new review has indeed been posted– and this time it’s the G.I. Joe Retaliation G.I. Joe Trooper! (This figure might get the award for using the term “G.I. Joe” more than any other in its title.) Originally released in June in time for the film’s intended release, these figures won’t bee seen again at retail until some time in February. However, the old adage about “absence makes the heart grow fonder”… especially in the case of this addition to the rank and file of the Joe team. Besides, doesn’t that helmet look familar? It’s almost “spartan” in its appearance…

So, is this figure worth a purchase when he returns to shelves in February? Check out the newly built (and currently very empty) G.I. Joe Retaliation Review Index and read the review for yourself!

Also, feel free to sound off as to what you’d like to see covered next? The SDCC Shockwave HISS Tank? The 2012 Collector’s Convention Oktober Guard? More Retaliation figures? Your feedback is very much wanted as JBL gets back up to speed!

Alexx Shorts: Dollar General Cobra Commander

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Alexx

Dollar General exclusive Cobra Commander action figure

He’s got a SWORD! Come on man! LET’S GO!

(It’s Cobra Commander after all…)

Reminder: G.I. Joe Concept Case poll first round ends Monday at GeneralsJoes.com!

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Fred Meyer

Just a quick reminder– the “Concept Case” poll over at GeneralsJoes.com ends Monday! If you’re dying to see some of those G.I. Joe figures released, make your voice heard BEFORE Monday July 23, 2012. To vote, just click the image link below.

On the subject of electioneering, some GUNG-HO fans of a certain Innuit mercenary have put together a short video tribute for their top candidate. Check out their campaign efforts over at VoteKwinn2012.com and watch the video below:

Lastly, let’s not forget the greatest Marine in the whole of G.I. Joe history– the ragin’ Cajun: GUNG-HO! Don’t let this be his only original Generation 3 version! (I don’t count the too-short Walmart Resolute version.)

UPDATE ME!!!!

SDCC: G.I. Joe exclusive Kim Arashikage (standard version) reviewed!

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Fred Meyer

As the theme song from the dreadful series “Enterprise” starts out: “It’s been a long time…” (Nearly four years since I’ve penned a figure review to be exact.)

This year’s San Diego Comic Con exclusive has landed– on her feet as a ninja should! Lucky attendees of the SDCC were able to snag an updated version of Kim Arashikage (aka “Jinx” to her friends and teammates) at the HasbroToyShop.com booth. Released in two different versions, Jinx features Generation 3 tooling and articulation– and even a movie-accurate head sculpt on her variant version. However, she’s also proven to be a true ninja– elusive to acquire on HTS.com!

So, is this figure worthwhile? Check out the 2012 SDCC Kim Arashikage review and see what this Joe fan thinks!

Also– note that Jinx isn’t linked anywhere but on the main page of JBL currently. As part of a return to the review-writing world I’ve got a few maintenance issues to take care of in terms of the site organization. Look for a new “exclusives” index to be launched soon as well as a section dedicated to the G.I. Joe Retaliation line!

SDCC: Items up at HTS now! (Joe already out of stock.)

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Fred Meyer

In what is becoming a bit of a tradition, Joe fans have been hitting HasbroToyShop.com since the SDCC ended on Sunday, eagerly hitting F5 to refresh their screens in the hope of getting a chance to snag the sought-after exclusives.

It would seem that the inventory is now showing up online– however, the Joe items are already “sold out” for now.

Here are a few direct links for those who are going to brave server crashes and other techno-gremlins:

Alexx Shorts: Dollar General exclusive Cobra Trooper

Posted on July 8, 2012 by Alexx

Did you see a blue Trooper and want him painted black? Well you’re in luck!

Alexx Shorts: Dollar General exclusive Shipwreck

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Alexx

Dollar General exclusive Shipwreck figure

Don’t I do nice things for you? Here, read about Shipwreck. Go on. SHOO.

Joe Con 2012: Hasbro’s G.I. Joe press images

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Fred Meyer

While I wasn’t able to attend the Con in person this year, JBL has had a lot of help from “on the scene” photographer Photonut! However, he’s also got some help– Justin from Hunter PR has sent along these “official images” of items revealed at the 2012 Hasbro Convention presentation.

One of the biggest surprises are the PVC mini-figs know as “Micro Force”– featuring 80+ blind-packaged collectible figures. That’s right– tiny G.I. Joe figures that are perfect to adorn any computer desk. (You can see where I’m going with this already.)

In terms of G.I. Joe Retaliation movie items, here’s what you’ll see in the images below. (I’m borrowing some details from over at GeneralsJoes.com. (Justin’s done a great job covering things as usual!)

Micro Force Quarter-Sized collectible figures in blind bags. Over 80 figures to collect and trade. Foot holes are compatible with normal vehicle foot pegs for display!
Alpha sized Night Landing vehicle with Cobra Eel. Cobra Eel figure is the canceled Rise of Cobra Ripcord which is extremely detailed, highly accessorized and uses the figure design that was sculpted to resemble the Sigma 6 Sigma Suits
Night Viper is moved up to Wave 3
Combat Ninja is intended to be “movie accurate” Cobra Trooper
Very movie accurate “Ultimate Firefly” with mini-HISS in Wave 3
Very movie accurate “Cobra Trooper” (Cobra Combat Ninja) in Wave 3
Movie accurate “Ultimate Duke” (with Data-Viper Predator Drone) in Wave 3
Comic accurate/toy accurate Snake Eyes ’85 w/ Timber totally newly tooled in Wave 4
Crimson Guard in Wave 5 with customizable label sheet

You can check out all of the images in the gallery below. A big thanks to Hunter PR for making these available to fans everywhere!

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Joe Con 2012: Pics of the convention diorama!

Posted on June 30, 2012 by Fred Meyer

This is easily one of my favorite parts of the entire Joe Con experience. Seriously– I LOVE the con diorama and every year that I’m fortunate enough to attend I snap far more pictures than I should of it. There’s just something about seeing all of the figures that you’re anticipating purchasing in action– battling Cobra and keeping the toy shelf safe for democracy.

Here are Photonut’s excellent pics of the 2012 multi-setting Con diorama!