Meet the FSS 4 Cobra Ice Ninja Night Creeper!

The FSS 4 Cobra Ice Ninja comes out of nowhere in today’s Figure Subscription Service 4 preview!

FSS 4 Cobra Ice Ninja

COBRA ICE NINJA: NIGHT CREEPER

(Based on the 1998 Toys “R” Us exclusive action figure!)

Includes: removable head wrap, snow cloak, crossbow, sword, backpack, and figure stand.

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The Cobra CLAW has arrived! For REAL!

1984 Cobra CLAW

Remember the Cobra CLAW?  You know, the then-futuristic powered glider that debuted back in 1984?

Apparently the future is NOW because Swiss aviation enthusiast Yves Rossy has released a spectacular video of his jet-powered glider taking to the skies of Dubai.  Sure, it lacks a dorsally-mounted laser cannon or wing tip missiles but otherwise this is for all intent and  purpose a real life CLAW!

First Howe & Howe Tech create the Ripsaw, a real-life HISS tank that was featured in G.I. Joe Retaliation, and now this?  Someone keep an eye on Microsoft for something resembling a Weather Dominator!  Or maybe Apple IS working on their own Pyramid of Darkness!

Check out the video below and check out more coverage at Jetman.com!

SDCC Danger at the Docks to Hit TRU.com on July 24

SDCC Danger Docks VAMP mk2

It’s almost time for SDCC 2014!

Next week is the 2014 San Diego Comic Con!  It’s a celebration of genre-related goodness with everything from panels featuring the latest movies to forthcoming toy lines on display.  It’s also a time when exclusive products are made available through manufacturers and retailers.   The G.I. Joe brand is no stranger to this concept– with a history of SDCC exclusive items sold through HasbroToyShop.com including the “Pimp Daddy” Destro, Sgt. Slaughter, and Jinx figures and even some G.I. Joe/Transformers cross-over items.  This year, however, the place to check out at the con is the Toys R Us booth!

As reported earlier here at JBL, Toys R Us will be offering an exclusive version of the forthcoming 50th Anniversary “Danger at the Docks” set at the Entertainment Earth Booth (#2343) featuring Flint in his classic colors as well as the first-ever Generation 3 update of the desert VAMP Mk 2.  However, this item will also be available online starting on July 24, 2014!

That’s right– this set, along with a host of other items including this admin’s sought-after movie-accurate TMNT figures, will be available at the following link on July 24, 2014!

http://www.toysrus.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=11433485&sr=1&origkw=sdcc

So get ready to hit those F5 keys and set your browser bookmarks!  July 24th is going to be an interesting day to shop online!

Please note: there is also a standard “urban” version of this set available as part of the 50th Anniversary line which will be available at brick & mortar Toys R Us stores later this Summer/early Fall.

Crimson Guard Immortal is the next FSS reveal!

The staff of the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club have only a few more previews left from  Figure Subscription Service 3.0 to reveal.  Check out the latest mock-up– the Crimson Guard Immortal!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS Crimson Guard Immortal

As far as the updates go, this one looks pretty close to the 1991 vintage Crimson Guard Immortal figure, especially considering the fact that the only new part is the figure’s head!

The whomever is helping build these figures for the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has a solid eye for which existing parts are most similar to the classic designs.  In this case, the body seems to be the very one used to build the G.I. Joe Retaliation Crimson Guard with a re-use of the Pursuit of Cobra Firefly vest to help round out the torso.  Also, perhaps my eyes are playing tricks on me but do the figure’s weapons appear to be chromed?  Very interesting indeed.

If you’ve not already subscribed to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0, you’ll want to do so before June 30, 2014!

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Teases FSS Cobra Slice

With Botcon’s opening imminent, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club previews of Figure Subscription Service 3.0 are happening later and later in the day.  Check out the Cobra ninja henchman – Slice!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS Cobra Slice

 

Slice & Dice go together like peanut butter and chocolate.  With the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club having already released Dice as part of the first FSS, it was only a matter of time until his partner showed up!

This one is pretty much a no-brainer, being based on the Renegades Storm Shadow / Red Ninja body that has been released many times in the past few years.  I’ll admit– the color scheme is pretty much spot on to the 1992 original version although I’m hoping that the black crosses on the torso aren’t quite so pronounced on the final version.

If you’ve not already subscribed to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0, you’ll want to do so before June 30, 2014!

G.I. Joe Retaliation Cobra Night Viper Reviewed

G.I. Joe Retaliation Cobra Night Viper

 

If the Cobra Night Viper is doing his job properly, he’s never seen.  With that logic, these troopers must be some of the most effective Cobra Troopers in history as, up until recently, very few people have ever seen one at retail!  Through some blind luck and the courtesy of another Joe fan, JBL is finally able to review the G.I. Joe Retaliation Wave 4 Cobra Night Viper!

Were these troops worth the wait?  Do they hold up to months of searching?

Hit the G.I. Joe Retaliation Review Index and find out ONE Joe fan’s opinion!

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Dr. Venom Figure Review

G.I. Joe Collector's Club Dr. Venom

 

Dr. Venom– the original Cobra evil scientist.

Long before Dr. Mindbender stripped off his shirt and donned his monocle to create Serpentor, Dr. Venom was the scientific brains behind Cobra.  His Brainwave Scanner, first introduced before the Marvel series completed its first year, has long since remained a key tool for interrogation.  However, it wasn’t until 2010 that this fan-favorite was finally given the action figure treatment he so long deserved?

Did that figure live up to the decades-long wait?  Find out the opinions of two Venom fans as Gary Godsoe of What’s On Joe Mind and I take a look at this evil action figure.

Check out the review in the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index!

G.I. Joe Convention Toxo-Vipers Previewed!

As the 2014 G.I. Joe Convention draws ever nearer the Collector’s Club continues to tease fans with images from this year’s exclusive “Zombie Initiative” convention set.  Today’s reveal is none other than the Toxo-Vipers!

G.I. Joe Collector's Convention Toxo-Viper

The Toxo-Vipers made their debut in 1988 and saw a single update in 1991.  These environmental polluters spread the Plasma-Tox compound during their heyday and now have seemingly converted over to the dissemination of the dreaded Compound Z!  Heavily inspired by the second (and some might say “more iconic” look), this figure features a removable helmet — which only makes me wonder: WHAT IS UNDERNEATH IT? The rest of the body would seem to be made up using the torso of the PoC Arctic Destro, the arms of the 30th Airtight, and the legs of the 30th Techno-Viper.  Simply brilliant work by Boss Fight Studio!

Overall, a solid addition to the G.I. Joe Convention set!

The Cobra Toxo-Vipers come complete with everything shown.

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie HuntersOutbackT’J BangSteel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. ForceFlintOzoneClean-Sweep
  • Cobra Lab Rat x2, Toxo-Vipers x 3Toxo-Zombies x 3, and Repulsor with Dawg (NEW K-9).

For more information on the 2014 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention, visit GIJoeCon.com

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Big Boa Reviewed!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club Big Boa action figure

Big Boa has the distinction of only having received one single figure release in the classic G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero era.  It wasn’t until last year’s debut of the Figure Subscription Service from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club that fans had a chance to own an updated “no-ring” construction version of the character.  For many fans, Big Boa was THE reason to sign up for the debut run of 13th figures from the GIJCC.  In the intervening year, this figure’s popularity hasn’t diminished and demand for him on the secondary market remains strong.

However, is Big Boa worth owning?  Is he a champion or a chump?

Head on over to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index and find out one Joe fan’s opinion!

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Desert Scorpion Reviewed!

Cobra Desert ScorpionIt’s been a bit of a dry spell but thanks to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club, fans have some new Joe figures to get excited about!

The third shipment from the Club’s Figure Subscription Service hit just before the holidays bringing with it both Tollbooth and the Cobra Desert Scorpion.  In cooperation with JoeSightings.com, Chris Chung and I take a look at the second figure from the FSS delivery.  Is he the new hotness or did he leave us cold?  (Get it?  It’s a weather joke!  ‘Cause it’s cold outside and he’s from the desert?  Yeah, I’ll stick to my day job…)

Plus, don’t miss some very special images contributed by the renowned Gyre-Viper of JoeDeclassified.com!

Check out the review in the Collector’s Club Review Index and find out the opinions of two Joe fans!