G.I. Joe FSS 8 Recoil will whip it good!

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has unveiled the preview for the upcoming member of Devo… uh.. LRRP Trooper Recoil!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 8 Recoil

G.I. JOE L.R.R.P. TROOPER
Code Name: RECOIL
(Inspired by the 1989 action figure.)
Features re-tooled mine case & dual weapon!
Includes: removable helmet, tactical harness, pistol,
assault rifle, mine case, dual tactical weapon,
backpack, combat knife, radio, and figure stand.

Recoil occupies an interesting space in G.I. Joe to me. He was released not long after I stopped actively buying figures so I have zero nostalgia attached to him.  He was also pictured on the package of the Battle Force 2000 Pulverizer as the driver without actually being a member of that ill-fated team.  (Dodged a bullet there, didn’t he?)  I discovered the character as an adult during the “hiatus period” post DTC but pre 25th Anniversary and found his design to be interesting.  Sure, there’s the whole Devo helmet and the baby blue weapons but aside from that his figure design and file card made him an interesting character to this Joe fan.

So, how does the FSS 8 version compare to the vintage 1989 Recoil? Continue reading

Joe Con 2017: Video reviews of the Battle Force 2000 vs BATs set

Gi joe con 2017 logo

Joe Con 2017 is ramping up and Mike Tinnel of Just Another G.I. Joe Show has been hard at work already, providing details of the souvenir sets and other intel from the show floor.

Late last night, Mike broke open his convention set and posted a series of videos showcasing the figures that comprise the Force of Battle 2017!  He even brought along vintage counterparts of the figures for comparison purposes.  (I wonder what the TSA made of Avalanche, Blaster, Blocker, Dodger, Knockdown and Maverick.) Joe Con 2017 probably raises a few eyebrows at security checkpoints.

I’ll be embedding all the parts of his review below for your viewing pleasure as they go live this morning!

Continue reading

Joe Con 2017: Souvenir list and first look at the set

Joe Con 2017 coverage

Joe Con 2017 has begun and the golden ticket holders have picked up their sets. Thanks to Mike Tinnel of Just Another G.I. Joe Show, we have some information on this year’s souvenir list.  So, without further adieu:

  • BF 2000 Vector Jet (repainted Conquest) – $132.00
  • Cobra Sky Serpent w/Pilot (rumored to be a Black Dragon VTOL) – $95.00
  • BF 2000 Marauder Snowmobile 2 Pack (repainted Polar Battle Bears) – $64.00
  • Cobra Laser Vipers 3 Pack (concept case version from a few years ago) – $80.00
  • Ultimate Enemies 2 Pack (two pack of DeeJay and his Brazilian repaint Corasao, an Eco-Warriors foe) – $58.00
  • Cobra B.A.T. Rocket Glider 2 Pack (rumored to be the Cobra Jet Pack) – $58.00
  • Battle Force 2000 weapons pack – $13.00

This year’s attendee exclusive is a red & blue Cobra release of the Laser Artillery Weapon

Joe Con 2017 LAW

 

Over at GeneralsJoes.com, Justin has some screen shots from the comic that back up a lot of our guesses here.

In addition, the rumor is that Backstop may be the parachute figure this year.  This makes sense given the design of the Joe Con 2016 Static Line whose head was an amalgamation of two design.

Lastly, here’s a quick look at this year’s set courtesy of Mike Tinnel’s cell phone:

Joe Con 2017 set

For those who purchased bagged sets, it’s being reported that three of the figures are packaged sans accessories.  The Club will be providing the missing pieces to purchasers at a later date.  However, if you bought a set on eBay, be sure to check with the seller to make certain that they will ship you the missing gear!

We’ll have more information as it becomes available but this is what we know thus far from the first night of Joe Con 2017!

And now you know!

Joe Con 2017: Battle Force 2000 Blocker revealed

A new week and a new Joe Con 2017 preview.  Meet Battle Force 2000 Eliminator driver Blocker!

G.I. Joe Con 2017 Battle Force 2000 Blocker

G.I. JOE BF 2000 TEAM:
David “Blocker” McCarthy

– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure.
– 1st Modern Era Release of Character based on 1987 design.
– NEW Head Sculpt and includes removable Vest,
Tactical Shotgun, original XL-13 Laser weapon,
with G.I. Joe Logo Stand.

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

Just like that we’ve now seen every member of the Joe Con 2017 iteration of Battle Force 2000.

Blocker’s not bad… It looks like we’ve got another Club use of the Retaliation G.I. Joe Trooper web gear to recreate the original 1987 Blocker torso.  I see my least favorite Pursuit of Cobra Snake Eyes lower legs as well.  We do get a brand new head sculpt for the figure– but it appears to be missing the visor found on the original figure.  Really?  That’s kind of big omission but the Club seems to be going with head sculpts that require ZERO additional attachments these days– most likely to keep costs down.  Thank goodness that cost savings was passed on to the Joe Con 2017 attendees.  Oh wait

Overall, it’s a decent approximation of the original vintage figure.  Plus, there’s the recreated 1987 sidearm that the Club has tooled up for each member of the team.

With this preview we’re down to the preview of the new BAT v1.8 — of which there will be eight included in the set.  (Let’s hope it’s good.)

In case you’re keeping score, here’s the roster and all of the previews shown thus far:

Battle Force 2000:

Cobra:

According to the convention brochure, this year’s Joe Con 2017 boxed set will retail for $410.00.  Also, there’s no word on souvenir pricing at this time although it’s a safe bet that prices will remain at or around levels seen in both 2015 and 2016.  With so many vehicle drivers in the mix it’s a sure bet that the souvenirs this year will be mostly vehicles.  The question remains– which vehicle molds will be repainted and reused?

For more information on this year’s event at Walt Disney World, visit GIJoeCon.com!

Joe Con 2017: Meet Battle Force 2000 Blaster

Registration for Joe Con 2017 is now LIVE and we’ve got another preview: Battle Force 2000 Blaster!

G.I. Joe Con 2017 Battle Force 2000 Blaster

G.I. JOE BF 2000 TEAM:
Brian “Blaster” Davis

– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure.
– 1st Modern Era Release of Character based on 1987 design.
– NEW Head Sculpt and includes removable Holster, Knife,
Assault Rifle, original DK-528 Laser weapon,
with G.I. Joe Logo Stand.

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

Now THAT’S what I’m talking about! Battle Force 2000 Blaster is looking GOOD!

Let’s be honest– reaction to the Joe Con 2017 preview images so far has been pretty mixed.  Fans seemed to like Maverick and Avalanche and they were lukewarm to both Dodger and Knockdown.  With only three figure designs left to show, it was up to the Club to turn the tide with the remaining figures.

Blaster does a pretty solid job in that department.  Yes, it’s the return of the tried and true PoC Duke torso that has been used by the Club for both Psyche-Out and Barrell Roll. I think I’m seeing the PoC Jungle Viper arms and at least the lower legs of of the amazing PoC Snake Eyes.  For the most part, it’s a decent match to the original 1987 Blaster design.  I’m still not 100% sold on retooling the vintage weapons but c’est la vie.

I’m very curious to see what this head sculpt looks like in a non-digital sense.  It’s still hard to get a feel for what Blaster will really look like from this Photoshop preview.

With this preview we’re down to two previews remaining– Blocker and the new BAT v1.8 — of which there will be eight included in the set.

In case you’re keeping score, here’s the roster and all of the previews shown thus far:

Battle Force 2000:

Cobra:

According to the convention brochure, this year’s Joe Con 2017 boxed set will retail for $410.00.  Also, there’s no word on souvenir pricing at this time although it’s a safe bet that prices will remain at or around levels seen in both 2015 and 2016.  Regardless, it will be interesting to see how the Club intends to replicate the signature vehicles of this DARPA-inspired team.  Could another RHINO re-release be in the works?

For more information on this year’s event at Walt Disney World, visit GIJoeCon.com!

Joe Con 2017: Battle Force 2000 Dodger unveiled

The Joe Con 2017 preview came early today with a look at Battle Force 2000’s Dodger!

G.I. Joe Con 2017 Battle Force 2000 Dodger

G.I. JOE BF 2000 TEAM:
DODGER

– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure.
– 1st Modern Era Release of Character based on 1987 design.
– NEW Head Sculpt and includes removable Vest, Gaunlet,
Tactical Shotgun, original Ulta-Sonic Photon Rifle,
with G.I. Joe Logo Stand.

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

Okay, I’ll just say it— “a swing… and a miss!!!”

I get it… not every one of these previews can be a winner.  In the case of Dodger… yeah, I don’t know what happened.

Several years ago, I sat down and reviewed the 1987 Battle Force 2000 Dodger figure.  Of all of his compatriots, Dodger was the most realistic looking in terms of overall design.  From this sculpted web gear, to the darker hues of green and orange used for his uniform, to the helmet design, the Marauder driver conveyed the impression that his design might be plausible someday in the future.  The only thing about his design that seemed truly fantastic was his rifle and that was my least favorite part.

I don’t know– maybe it’s the fact that this image is HEAVILY Photoshopped.  Maybe it’s the fact that the odd hue of metallic green is so prevalent that it overpowers the entire image.  I just know that the figure that I was looking forward to the most in this Joe Con 2017 isn’t all that and a bag of chips in this preview.  At all… (Plus, I really really hate those gimmicky Snake Eyes legs.)  He’s missing some of the bulk that made the original Dodger so impressive. Plus, where’s the comms gear from his helmet?

We’re now over the halfway point when it comes to the previews of this year’s set.  So far, the reaction online has been “lukewarm” to the set.  Hopefully the remaining three previews will knock it out of the park as fans have been requesting Battle Force 2000 for years now.  (I hate to think of what the Club will charge for the souvenir vehicles this year.)

Here’s the roster, just in case:

Battle Force 2000:

Cobra:

According to the convention brochure, this year’s Joe Con 2017 boxed set will retail for $410.00.  Also, there’s no word on souvenir pricing at this time although it’s a safe bet that prices will remain at or around levels seen in both 2015 and 2016.  Regardless, it will be interesting to see how the Club intends to replicate the signature vehicles of this DARPA-inspired team.  Could another RHINO re-release be in the works?

For more information on this year’s event at Walt Disney World, visit GIJoeCon.com!

Joe Con 2017: Battle Force 2000 Avalanche preview

The Joe Con 2017 previews continue with a look at Battle Force 2000 Avalanche!

Joe Con 2017 Battle Force 2000 Avalanche

G.I. JOE BF 2000 TEAM:
Ian “Avalanche” Costello

– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure.
– 1st Modern Era Release of Character based on 1987 design.
– NEW Head Sculpt and includes removable Bandolier, Knife,
Assault Rifle, Re-tool of iconic P-460 Sub-Zero Stun Gun,
with G.I. Joe Logo Stand.

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

Holy Photoshop, Batman! The preview of Battle Force 2000’s Avalanche is more digital than real!

According to the description, we’re getting a new head for this figure, which is a good thing.  However, given the fact that the helmet is non-removable and the design deviates somewhat from the original 1987 design, it’s a good bet that we’ll be seeing this head reused in the next FSS as we did with Airborne into Scoop.  (I’m thinking maybe Windmill?  That’s just some idle speculation on my part.) There’s also the fact that last year’s Static Line head bore more than a passing resemblance to Persuader driver Backstop.  Hmm…

Additionally, we’re seeing another original Battle Force 2000 weapon retooled for this figure.  This begs the question: are THAT many fans really enamored with BF2K’s vintage weapons?

As far as the rest, I think I’m seeing the Retaliation Firefly torso, and maybe Wraith’s lower legs?  (I can’t be certain the last point– it’s been a long time since I looked at my Wraith figure.)

With four Joe Con 2017 figures previewed, we’re at the halfway point for the character designs in this year’s set.  As such, that leaves just four more previews before the entire set is revealed.

Here’s the roster, just in case:

Battle Force 2000:

Cobra:

According to the convention brochure, this year’s Joe Con 2017 boxed set will retail for $410.00.  Also, there’s no word on souvenir pricing at this time although it’s a safe bet that prices will remain at or around levels seen in both 2015 and 2016.  Regardless, it will be interesting to see how the Club intends to replicate the signature vehicles of this DARPA-inspired team.  Could another RHINO re-release be in the works?

For more information on this year’s event at Walt Disney World, visit GIJoeCon.com!

Joe Con 2017: Brochure now online and pricing revealed

As Joe Con 2017 grows closer, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club is releasing more details about this year’s event in Walt Disney World.  Yesterday, the convention brochure was released— containing details on this year’s sets as well as the pricing.

Gi joe con 2017 logo

You can view the entire Joe Con 2017 brochure HERE but here are a few of the highlights:

Battle Force 2000 vs. Cobra BATs:

We’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of the G.I. JOE Battle Force 2000 team with this untold tale of the original team members from a recently declassified special mission.

 

The G.I. JOE BF 2000 team is the walking, breathing proving grounds for tomorrow’s battlefield technology today! These highly trained specialists are entrusted with one-of-a-kind, state-of-theart prototype weapons. Their mission is to field-test experimental equipment under battlefield conditions.

 

COBRA has developed a new laser weapon system so dangerous that it threatens the safety of the entire planet! The G.I. JOE BF 2000 team is called into action and must travel through the Pacific Northwest into British Columbia to dismantle the operation. What they don’t know is that COBRA is ready for them with a battalion of their upgraded B.A.T. (Battle Android Troopers) guarding their base. This G.I. JOE team will be fighting against insurmountable odds, and must pull their individual specialties together to battle these deadly threats. Will the cold and calculated programming of the COBRA B.A.T. SQUAD LEADER be the end of this G.I. JOE team?

 

Our 2017 exclusive 3 3/4-inch convention set contains a highly requested G.I. JOE team and some new additions to your COBRA army that are available for the first time in the modern era 25A action figure style. This special edition 15 action-figure set includes:

 

Six G.I. JOE team members: Ian “Avalanche” Costello, Brian “Blaster” Davis, David “Blocker” McCarthy, Thomas “Maverick” Kiley, Knockdown, and Dodger.

 

Nine enemy combatants: COBRA B.A.T. SQUAD LEADER, and COBRA B.A.T. V1.8 (troop builder x 8). Each of these great teams comes with their classic weapons, accessories, figure stands and file cards!

We now have the roster for this year’s set: 6 members of Battle Force 2000 vs. 1 Cobra BAT Squad leader and 8 Cobra BATs.  This means that the Club will be utilizing a total of 8 unique figure designs this year to produce the boxed set. Continue reading

Joe Con 2017: Battle Force 2000 Knockdown unveiled

As the Joe Con 2017 reveals continue, feast your eyes on Battle Force 2000 Knockdown!

Joe Con 2017 Battle Force 2000 Knockdown

G.I. JOE BF 2000 TEAM:
KNOCKDOWN

– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure.
– 1st Modern Era Release of Character based on 1987 design.
– Includes removable Helmet and Vest, Tactical Rifle, Re-tool
of iconic Ground to Air Pistol, and G.I. Joe Logo Stand.

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

The Battle Force 2000 Sky Sweeper driver Knockdown is back– even if this image is pretty Photoshop heavy.  Right off, I’ll admit that I didn’t see the reuse of the 2013 Retaliation Lift Ticket helmet coming but it works!  The PoC Techno-Viper lower legs are a decent approximation of the original 1987 Knockdown design— or at least as well as could be done with existing parts.  I can also appreciate the newly-tooled vintage weapon recreation– even if I’d much rather have a new head sculpt for the character.

As far as the Joe Con 2017 previews go, he’s not bad.  He’s not the strongest of the three, but he’s not bad.  Definitely a decent approximation of the original design.

So far, we’ve had the following characters from this year’s set revealed:

G.I. Joe Battle Force 2000:

  • Avalanche, Blaster, Blocker, Dodger, Knockdown, Maverick

Cobra: BATs:

Without a greater description of this set, we’re still left wondering just who exactly is coming on the Cobra side of this year’s Battle Force 2000 vs Cobra BATs set.  Could Overkill be in the works?

For more information of this year’s event, visit GIJoeCon.com.

Joe Con 2017: Meet the Cobra BAT Squad Leader

The Joe Con 2017 previews continue with a look at the Cobra BAT Squad Leader!

Joe Con 2017 Cobra BAT squad leader

COBRA B.A.T. SQUAD LEADER

– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure.
– Modern Era Character Update with NEW Head Sculpt!
– Includes removable Hands with Weapon attachments x 3,
Rocket Launcher with projectile, and Cobra Logo Stand.

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

Hmmm… do I see a 1991 BAT v2 design in this Joe Con 2017 preview?  I believe I do!

There’s not a lot of surprises in this reveal as the BAT v2 design is a classic that has yet to have a good update in the generation 3 era.  With a set that is going to be chock-full of mechanical Cobra troops, I was going to be surprised if we DIDN’T see this design presented.  However, I like the new head sculpt with is a very faithful recreation of the original.  (This design hasn’t been used since 2003’s BAT troop builder packs!)  Plus, with the title of “Squad Leader” there’s only going to be one of this mechanical menace in the set.

Hmm… now that just begs the question: what will the other Cobra BAT’s look like?

With the reveal of Battle Force 2000 Maverick, this makes two reveals down– more to come!

For more information on the Joe Con 2017 event, visit GIJoeCon.com!