50th Anniversary Heavy Conflict and Mission Accepted reviews

The Heavy Conflict and Mission Accepted G.I. Joe two-pack reviews are LIVE!

G.I. Joe Heavy Conflict Mission Accepted reviews

It’s been a while since we’ve had any new reviews here at JBL.  The holidays, a lost family pet, and some crazy workloads led to a crazy few weeks here at JBL HQ.  However, we’re getting back on track and that means not one but TWO brand-new reviews from the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Collection, year 3!

Check out what Fred and Chris have to say about the four figures from the Heavy Conflict and the Mission Accepted two-packs!  It’s a brand new take on Heavy Duty and Duke and the debut of Fan’s Choice figure Stiletto and Tombstone!

There’s some good.  There’s some bad.  There’s a few rants by Chris and some snark from Fred.  There may even be a Deadpool cameo or three.  However, there’s something that almost everyone can find to love in both the Heavy Conflict and the Mission Accepted two-packs.  After all, what’s not to love about the return of two familiar faces as well as the debut of two brand-new characters?  Well… if I told you then you wouldn’t have to read the reviews!  (Unless you just want to look at the pretty pictures.  That’s okay too.  Really.  This way you don’t have to deal with another “Chris rant.”)

You can check out all four reviews over at the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Review Index!

 

G.I. Joe Zombie Patrol two-pack review

JBL reviews the new G.I. Joe Zombie Patrol two-pack– featuring the reissue of the highly sought-after Zombie Viper!

Zombie Patrol Zombie Vipers

Our server migration is finally complete and almost everything seems to be working on the back end.  (FINALLY!)  As such, it’s time to get back to business around here when it comes to reviews!  For the new crop of 50th Anniversary product I’ll be tackling some of the reissue sets solo. Chris and I will team up for the new release figure sets.

Case-in-point: the Zombie Patrol two-pack!

This set was initially released during my self-imposed hiatus from the online community.  (I pretty much took off the time arom Rise of Cobra through Retaliation.)  The Zombie Viper was part of the 30th Anniversary line which weaved the notion of the mysterious Compound Z throughout several waves.   The figures proved to be a hit with fans but were challenging to find at retail and now command some solid prices on the secondary market.  Thankfully, Hasbro listened to the fans and the Zombie Patrol two-pack was released in November at Toys R Us and BigBadToyStore.com.

Is this set worth all of the hype?  Are the Zombie Vipers all that they’re cracked up to be?  Didn’t people get enough of them the first time around?

Check out the Zombie Patrol two-pack review over at the 50th Anniversary Review Index and find out one Joe fan’s opinion!

2016 G.I. Joe figures up for pre-order at BigBadToyStore.com

Looking for the new 2016 G.I. Joe figures and don’t have ready access to a Toys R Us?  Look no further!

2016 G.I. Joe two-packs

When Hasbro first announced the 2016 G.I. Joe line-up it was stated that these figures would hit retail “November 2016.”  In spite of this fact, pre-orders for that line have been virtually non-existent.  However, over the past few days sightings have started pouring in from various Toys R Us locations ranging from Louisiana to Texas to Illinois where the release date seems to have been broken.

Yesterday, online retailer BigBadToyStore opened up pre-orders for the 2016 G.I. Joe line— from individual two-packs and three-packs to full sets and even cases of the three packs.

The FULL inventory is available here.  However here are two quick links that will get you “one of each” of each set available.  (Note, these aren’t affiliate links.  JBL makes NOTHING from any orders placed by clicking on these.  We’re just trying to help out the community any way we can.)

G.I. Joe 2016 Vs two packs:

G.I. Joe 2016 Squad 3-packs

  • All Cobra packs and all Joe packs
  • Cobra Legion: BAT, SAW Viper, Female Cobra Officer (with pony tail)
  • Special Forces: NF Outback, NF Lt Falcon, Shooter! (w/ rifle case and rifle)

Joe Con 2015: Hasbro three packs revealed!

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: Hasbro info gleaned from Con Comic

Joe Con 2015 has begun!

Technically it began a few days ago but last night was package registration and souvenir purchasing at the store.  In true Joe Con fashion, getting through the lines was a lot like the intended cruise on Gilligan’s Island – it was a 3 hour tour!

This year’s convention comic contains an introduction by new brand manager Mark Weber which offers some clarity as to the direction the brand will take in 2015.

Mark Webber intro

  • The G.I. Joe 50th line will continue as a shared Toys R Us/BigBadToyStore.com line in the Fall of 2015.  New product will be shown at the Hasbro booth this weekend. (PLEASE have Concept Case Gung-Ho!!!)
  • There will be a new SDCC 2015 G.I. Joe exclusive that will be sold at the SDCC with limited quantities to be available on HasbroToyShop.com later.

I’ve included scans below of both the cover and the intro page with the full introductions.  Now it’s time to pack the car and head back down to Springfield for Joe Con 2015 day 2!  (Really 1.5)  Expect some souvenir pictures up on JBL within the next 24 hours as well as new Joe Con 2015 pictures this evening!

G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Now A Shared Exclusive

G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Danger at the Docks

The G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary line is due out this Fall and apparently it won’t just be available at Toys R Us!

Many Joe fans had a bit of a surprise waiting in their email boxes this morning.  Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com announced that the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary line will now be a shared retail exclusive.  Even more interesting is that not all of the announced packs are currently listed for order– possibly indicating that Hasbro intends to stretch the series out over a longer period and two waves.  A quick bit of clarification posted at ToyNewsI.com states that Hasbro has no set release date for the missing two-packs featuring the Baroness vs. Lady Jaye and Snow Job vs. a Cobra B.A.T.

Here’s the actual text with the individual links:

BBTS SHARED EXCLUSIVE GI JOE 50TH ANNIVERSARY FIGURE TWO-PACKS 
The first of the new 50th Anniversary listings is the Figure Two-Packs. This wave includes Night Marksmen (Low-Light Vs. Night Viper) and Heated Battle (Blowtorch Vs. H.E.A.T. Viper), and they are available at $29.99 for the Set of two Two-Packs, or $16.99 for each Two-Pack singly.
BBTS SHARED EXCLUSIVE GI JOE 50TH ANNIVERSARY FIGURE THREE-PACKS 
This wave of Three-Packs is titled Outnumbered and includes The Vipers Pit (Cobra Trooper, Cobra Viper, Beach Head) and The Eagles Edge (Destro, Leatherneck, Hawk). They are priced at $22.99 each, or at $39.99 for the Set of two Three-Packs.
BBTS SHARED EXCLUSIVE GI JOE 50TH ANNIVERSARY DANGER AT THE DOCKS SET 
The first of two vehicle packs is the Danger at the Docks Set, which includes the GI Joe VAMP MK II with Flint Versus Cobra Eel with Night Landing Craft. This Set is listed at $29.99.
BBTS SHARED EXCLUSIVE GI JOE 50TH ANNIVERSARY BATTLE BELOW ZERO SET 
We also have the Battle Below Zero Set listed. It includes Cobra Wolf with Ice Viper Versus Arctic Sky Hawk with Arctic Snake Eyes, and is priced at $39.99.

So, the pre-orders are up and fans now have at least two locations to shop for new product.  It’s good news for fans who are seeking to track down the 32nd Anniversary… uh 50th Anniversary line.  (That’s a discussion for another day, however.)

And now you know…

Dreadnoks & Marauders exclusive 7-packs IN STOCK @ BigBadToyStore!

This is a time for less talk and more action!  BBTS now has the exclusive 7-packs listed as IN STOCK!!!  That can only mean that it’s just a matter of time until pre-orders for these plastic gems start shipping!  As of right now, not a single set is listed as “sold out” which means there’s still time to add Sgt. Falcon, Barbecue, Spirit, Mercer, Taurus, Red Dog, Zanzibar, Burnout, Thrasher, Road Pig, Gnawgahyde, Zanya, and Xandar to your Joe collections!  (No “licensing friendly” names used around here!)

Seriously– run, don’t walk and order these today!!!

30th Anniversary wave 4 pre-orders hit BBTS, Kokomo Toys, and SmallJoes.com!

After a long drought, it seems like Joe fans are about to be swimming in product.  Several online e-tailers have now listed pre-orders for wave 4 of the 30th anniversary line!  That’s right– at a time when most fans still haven’t found wave 3 at retail new versions of Airtight, Law & Order, Lifeline, Sci-Fi, and the infamous Zombie Viper are due to arrive in early December!

I’ll be honest– wave 3 took me completely by surprise.  My pre-order from SmallJoes.com hit early this past week and I’ve been FLOORED by the quality of the product.  The articulation, the design, and even the accessories (which were pared down from what was originally shown) are all pretty spectacular.  In many ways, the 30th Anniversary run is FAR superior to the early waves of the 25th Anniversary line but that’s just my opinion.

Check out the links below.  Many of these e-tailers are still accepting orders for some individual figures.

BigBadToyStore.com:

Kokomo Toys:

SmallJoes.com:

For clarification, the “set of 5” includes one each of: Lifeline, Airtight, Sci-Fi, Zombie-Viper, and Law & Order.  The initial case pack seems to be: Lifeline (x 1), Zombie-Viper (x 2), Sci-Fi (x 1), Law & Order (x 1), Techno-Viper (x 1), Steel Brigade (x 1), Airtight (x 1), Scarlett (x 1), Ripcord (x 1), Tunnel Rat (x 1), and Cobra Trooper (Renegades version) (x 1).