GIJoeCon 2018 is almost officially here but last night was the Golden Ticket package pickup! This means that Golden Ticket Holders were able to not only acquire their convention sets one night early (more on this later) but they were also able to pick up their 2018 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention comic books– which included the following souvenir list:
That’s right– these are the Club’s extra offerings for GIJoeCon 2018. Continue reading
The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has unveiled the design for the FSS 8 Cobra Mercenary Munitia!
COBRA MERCENARY
Code Name: MUNITIA
(Inspired by the 2008 DTC: GIJCC action figure.)
Features NEW head sculpt!
Includes: bladed pistol, assault rifle, radio, and figure stand.
Ah… Munitia… I’ve been waiting for this reveal ever since the Club announced her as part of FSS 8.
There are some characters that fans just find appealing, regardless of how little media presence that character may receive. Such is the case with this mysterious mercenary femme fatale. Munitia was initially slated to be released as part of the DTC Wave 4, a series of G.I. Joe that was exclusive to both HasbroToyShop.com and Toys R Us at the end of the o-ring era. Sadly, that wave was cancelled along with the rest of the Direct-to-Consumer line and G.I. Joe went into a hiatus period at retail. (Sound familiar? The pendulum swings…) Continue reading
The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has revealed the preview for the FSS 8 incarnation of BAT Commander Over Kill!
COBRA B.A.T. LEADER
Code Name: OVER KILL
(Inspired by the 2003 version 2 action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, harness, “human” face mask,
neckerchief, gauntlet, claw hands x 2, rivet gun,
hand-held assault weapon, and figure stand.
Sometimes, there’s so much to love about a figure that I don’t know where to begin. This is one of those times.
I’m pretty unapologetic when it comes to my love of the Valor Vs. Venom era of G.I. Joe. It was a time when the line straddled a delicate line of appealing to both kids and adult collectors and it did it well. The toys were rugged and build for kids but there were enough nods to the line’s past that Collector’s were happy. Yes, there were some design and proportion issues but it honestly felt like the brand was moving FORWARD in a way that I’ve not really seen since. It embraced the old while still attempting the new. Continue reading
The GIJoeCon 2018 previews are nearly complete with a look at the Python Patrol Major Bludd
PYTHON PATROL INFANTRY COMMANDER:
MAJOR BLUDD– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure.
– Modern Era Update of Character based on 2003 design.
– Features NEW Head Sculpt with removable helmet.
– Includes removable grenade harness with pistol,
handgun with rocket, backpack with rockets x 3,
sonic bazooka, and Cobra Logo Stand.
Hmm… I find myself conflicted on this one.
On one hand, the overall deco looks fantastic! It’s an excellent recreation of the 2003 six-pack Major Bludd! (Those colors are just ridiculously engaging.) I like the Cobra Shock Trooper legs and the Retaliation Cobra Trooper harness and torso look great together! Heck, I even like the backpack choice. I’d say that 85% of this figure is pure win. Continue reading
The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club dropped the final FSS 7 preview today: Crystal Ball!
COBRA HYPNOTIST
Code Name: CRYSTAL BALL
(Inspired by the 1987 action figure.)
Features NEW head sculpt!
Includes: removable vest, pistol, knife,
Re-tooled Hypno-shield, and figure stand.
Finally! My reason for subscribing to FSS 7 has been revealed!
Let’s start off and see how this mock-up stands up to the original 1987 Crystal Ball.
I’m seeing the legs of the 25th Anniversary Iron Grenadiers Destro. The vest appears to be from the 30th Anniversary Gnawgahyde while the hypno-shield looks to be brand new. (Please, let that be a lenticular decal. Seriously– that’s non-negotiable.) However, that’s not the real selling point of the figure. Continue reading
Another FSS 7 preview today before the Thanksgiving holiday: the Ice Viper Officer!
COBRA ARCTIC TRANSPORT OFFICER
Code Name: ICE VIPER OFFICER
(Inspired by the 2007 action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, goggles, harness,
radio, rifle, sais x 2, boot cleats, and figure stand.
So, there he is– the FSS 7 Ice Viper Officer.
He’s pretty much exactly what this Joe fan expected: an updated version of the 2007 Collector’s Club exclusive “Flaming MOTH” Cobra Arctic Technician figure. The design of that exclusive has been updated pretty much 100% to the current style of construction. Continue reading
We have another FSS 7 preview today, thanks to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club. The subject: Arctic Cobra Commander!
COBRA SUPREME LEADER
Code Name: COBRA COMMANDER
(Inspired by the unreleased “arctic” action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, holster with pistol,
advanced combat rifle, cobra staff, and figure stand.
So, the Arctic Cobra Commander is revealed at last– and he’s virtually identical to the cancelled figure from 2010. (Check out this breakdown of the intended two-pack over at HISSTank.com.) The color palate is a dead-ringer for that particular release. Only the accessories are different– with the longer staff replacing the smaller scepter and the “advanced combat rifle” added to the gear. (I have my doubts on how well old Snake Head will be able to hold that piece of firepower.)
Parts of the coat should look familiar as the Club used them previous in the 2012 Elite Guards from that year’s Joe Con set.
Overall it’s a nice compliment to the Arctic Mindbender released by the Club as a renewal figure a few years ago.
For those who are keeping score, here’s the roster of FSS 7:
The FSS 7 page is LIVE now! The cost of the thirteen figure set (including the bonus piece) is $375.00 plus shipping. Place your order prior to December 4, 2017 and keep your eyes peeled to GIJoeClub.com for more previews.
The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club released an update regarding G.I. Joe FSS 6 and FSS 7 yesterday afternoon:
Hello Members,
Here are our latest updates:
FSS 6.0 has landed on the west coast but is not here yet. We expect it in the next 10 days or so.
In the meantime, if you have moved since this summer, please update your shipping address here.
In addition, you can use the same link to confirm that your correct credit card (installment only customers) is on file. We won’t set the billing date until they are here but it is still anticipated to be the beginning of December.
FSS 7.0 figure previews and order period will start next week and end December 4. You will all be very excited about the coming figures. These should ship starting in the Spring, just after FSS 6.0 concludes.
Convention information will be released in early January with registration starting in mid-January.
Thanks for your support!
Brian
Well, well, well… it seems that we could see FSS 6 hitting subscriber mailboxes before Thanksgiving! Now that’s a great way to start off the 2017 Holiday Season for Joe fans!
Even more compelling, we’ll start to see FSS 7 previews next week. At Joe Con 2017, we found out the identities of only two members of the roster: Shattered Glass Tomax and Crystal Ball. This means we’re going to have the reveal of a whopping TEN MORE FIGURES! As for the rest of the FSS 7 roster– it’s anyone’s guess. Will there be more Ninja Force? Action Force? Could Night Force Sneak Peek actually happen? What about Hardball whose weapon was reissued as part of the Force of Battle convention souvenirs?
(It also means that JBL staff have to get off their collective keester and POST the rest of the FSS 5 reviews! SLACKERS!!!)
For those of you wanting a refresher, here’s the full roster for FSS 6:
Hasbro Pulse has a brand new article posted – an interview with designer Bobby Vala. The subject? The Cobra Missile Command Headquarters!
I’m not going to lie– I LOVE the Cobra Missile Command Headquarters. First, I ranted about it here on JBL. In addition, I raved about it over on Just Another G.I. Joe Show. It’s been a “Holy Grail” item for me for years and this year’s convention exclusive release was essentially a dream come true. (Save for its limited availability- but that’s a story for another time.) Yet, I found myself wondering “Why this playset? Why now?”
In a rare opportunity, this admin was able to sit down and discuss this iconic playset and the process of its reconstruction with Hasbro designer Bobby Vala. He discusses the process of recreating this iconic piece of A Real American Hero history as well as the process of updating the included figures to modern specs. Bobby’s passion for this project shines through in every answer. As a result, it’s obvious that this was truly a labor of love!
Check it out over on Hasbro Pulse! Plus, if you’d like to see more features like this, let us know in the comments below!
SDCC 2017 is in full swing and G.Hasbro’s annual G.I. Joe exclusives are very much on everyone’s mind! However, it would seem that those of us who are stuck at home know just when the sought-after comic con items will be dropping on HasbroToyShop.com.
Yesterday, two product listings were quietly added to the website.
Included in each product description was the note “available 8/14”. Apparently that day, the second Monday in August, will be when fans from around the globe will be hitting the site, frantically hitting F5 to refresh their screens in the hopes of completing their transactions before the items sell out. While the exclusives of the past few years have been pretty easy to obtain, there’s something about this year’s two G.I. Joe-related SDCC items that feels very different.
I’m not going to lie– I’m giddy over the prospect of BOTH of these sets, for very different reasons. Nostalgia plays a heavy hand in my love for both sets but I’d be hard-pressed right now to choose one over the other if I had to prioritize dropping one in my cart first. One one had there’s the AMAZING recreation/update to the Cobra Missile Command Headquarters but on the other hand there’s the IDW Hasbro Comic Crossover Mega-Set that includes Renegades Roadblock, ROM the Space Knight, and the Micronauts. Decisions, decisions.
Regardless, August 14th is the day to put on your calendars kids!
And now you know…
Hasbro’s IDW Revolution Comic Crossover Mega-Set:
Cobra Missile Command Headquarters:
