G.I. Joe Convention Exclusive Reviews Coming Soon!

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Fred Meyer

G.I. Joe convention exclusive reviews are coming!

You’d never know it by looking at the front page but it’s actually been a busy few weeks here at JBL. There’s been a lot of behind-the-scenes work as JBL migrated from our existing (and failing) server to a brand new virtual location. Now it’s time to get back to work and that means add more new reviews to the site!

Chris and I’ve been frantically writing away these past few weeks and we’ve got a slew of new reviews coming. We’ll be looking at both the G.I. Joe Convention 2015 “Peril in Paradise” (Tiger Force vs. Iron Grenadiers) and the 2016 “Operation Downfall” (Sky Patrol) sets. In addition, thanks to a hassle-free sale at HasbroToyShop.com there’s also this year’s G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set to cover! (Hello new Scarlett figure that’s still available!)

The order of publication is still up in the air but it’s about time that we got back on track here at JBL. No excuses… while this is a hobby site and not a full-time job, it’s about time that the admin got off his butt and got back to work.

Do you have a preference on the order? Are you more excited about Powerglide than Tiger Force Big Brawler? Does Flying Scorpion rate higher on your priority list than another Zartan release? Let JBL know in the comments below or over on the JBL Facebook page.

Joe Con 2016 Sky Patrol Skystriker assembly video

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Fred Meyer

Our good friends over at TheBreauxShow have released a video showing the assembly of the Joe Con 2016 Sky Patrol Skystriker!

Much like the JBL staff, our good friends over at TheBreauxShow.com weren’t able to attend Joe Con 2016 in person. However, that didn’t stop intrepid videographer Mike Breaux from snagging an in stock Sky Patrol Skystriker from the Club Store.

This silver-hued beauty arrived late last week and to celebrate the Breaux Show put together a short assembly video of this Joe Con 2016 exclusive item. While the general construction of the jet is familiar to most Joe fans through its multiple releases over the past few years, the time-lapse video really shows off the color scheme and deco of the Sky Patrol Skystriker!

Check out the embedded video below and be sure to check out more videos over on The Breaux Show YouTube Channel!

Joe Con 2016: Sky Patrol Skystrikers in Club Store

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Fred Meyer

Joe Con 2016 is now one for the history books but we’ve got one last bit of news. The Sky Patrol Skystrikers are now available online!

That’s right Joe fans– the remaining inventory of the silver finish Joe Con 2016 Sky Patrol Skystrikers are now up for sale to anyone with a Club membership. They’re limited to two per member and each jet will set you back a cool $160.00 but for fans who were debating purchasing one on Ebay this is your chance to get one for retail!

Here’s the official verbiage describing this latest reissue of the G.I. Joe F-14 Tomcat:

LIMITED TO 2 PER MEMBERSHIP.

The Cobra Air Force won’t know what hit them with the Sky Patrol Sky Striker (XP-26) Combat Jet! This fantastic 3 3/4-inch scale aircraft has tons of moving parts and amazing detail. The Limited Edition convention exclusive Sky Patrol Sky Striker features a unique silver color scheme and has wings that sweep in and out, working landing gear and removable missile accessories.

Vehicle and accessories are packed in a silver metallic display box (Figure Not Included)

However, as the informercials say: “But wait, there’s more!” Continue reading →

Joe Con 2016: Legends of the West

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Fred Meyer

Joe Con 2016 concludes today but we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about Legends of the West.

Earlier in the Armchair Coverage of Joe Con 2016, there was mention of the Broken Arrow Toys booth and how there were several lines being displayed there. JBL’s already highlighted Spero Studios Animal Warriors of the Kingdom but now it’s time to acknowledge another more classic-themed line: Chicken Fried Toys’ Legends of the West!

Imagine if you will a brand-new 1:18 scale series of Western-themed figures. Now, take those figures and add in incredible sculpting detail. Sound pretty good? Let’s take it a step further and give them modern-level articulation! Now, if that doesn’t make you want to saddle up and support the line I don’t know what will!

According to the images shown at the Broken Arrow Toys booth, the line will consist of the following figures:

The Head Honcho
The Gunfighter
Trail Drover
Masked Lawman
The Marshall
The Sheriff
Territories Lawman
The Shopkeeper
The Trail Boss
The Ranch Hand

There’s also the possibility of two others who, according to the initial artwork, seem to be a combination of parts from the other figures. Each figure also appears to include at least two accessories (firearms) as well as a unique Chicked Fried Toys display base.

But wait, there’s more!!! Continue reading →

Joe Con 2016: G.I. Joe Collector’s Club news & FSS 5 lineup

Posted on June 18, 2016 by Fred Meyer

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has completed the Joe Con 2016 Roundtable panel and it was a doozy!

Perhaps the biggest news of Joe Con 2016 concerning the Club came from the Hasbro panel held earlier in the day where it was revealed that Hasbro has decided to continue its relationship with Fun Publications through 2018. Despite rumors and all evidence to the contrary earlier this year, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has a two-year lease on life! Whatever transpired in the months since the Club announced that all memberships would end on December 31, 2016 it certainly seemed to be beneficial for the folks at Fun Publications. (Did the Save G.I. Joe petition have any impact?)

Next year’s convention will be June 15 – 18, 2017 at Walt Disney World!

However, the most pressing question on the minds of most G.I. Joe fans out there was “What is the line-up for FSS 5?”

Here are the “Quick Notes” from today’s panel…. including this year’s FSS announcement!

Introduction:

Brian Savage, David Lane, Lanny Lathem, and Pete Sinclair take the stage.

Contract for the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has been extended for two more years. The Club, FSS, and convention will continue through 2018.
Membership renewals will turn back on later this week.
If your membership ran out in May & June, go to the store, login, and add it to your cart. It should reapply to your account.
Contract was initially NOT renewed. However, this was changed and Brian thanked the fandom for their support, including the petition from Joe Colton. Derryl DePriest is acknowledged as the person who turned things around for the Club.
The renewal only took place in the last two weeks.

Sky Patrol discussion: Continue reading →

Joe Con 2016: Hasbro’s G.I. Joe 2016 lineup announced!

Posted on June 18, 2016 by Fred Meyer

Hasbro unveiled their G.I. Joe 2016 plans and YoJoe.com was LIVE from Joe Con 2016 with a Facebook LIVE session directly from the panel! We’ve got the embedded video below after the notes.

We’ve got some hastily transcribed notes below. Expect a cleaner article with some commentary later tonight as part of the Saturday Armchair Coverage round-up!

Hasbro Writer’s Room:

Combination of television/movie/comic book writers. Hasbro is very proud of the talent they have amassed.
Creation of a shared universe combining their intellectual properties. Officially dubbed “Hasbro Cinematic Universe”—separate from IDW. Intended as multi-film story arc. Goal is to start to develop shared and combined stories. Derryl was able to spend two weeks with the writers and get to work with them on shaping this shared universe.

Joe vs Transformers SDCC set:

Deco is decal-based. Includes Joe, Cobra, Autobot decals. This way the toys can be whatever you want them to be in your own collection.
Soundwave is the 5^th most-popular Decepticon but hard to justify now as a cassette tape. (Same with Megatron.)

Hasbro Pulse Crossword Puzzle includes all characters listed below:

Stiletto
Scarlett
Zartan

Derryl – Joe is in quieter year. Harder to get resources to produce more figures during those years. In those years, previously tooled harder-to-find figures are ideal for re-release. 100% of tooling budget is used for NEW figures.

Toys R Us G.I. Joe 2016 line-up: (November 2016)

Focus on figures vs vehicle sets which were slow sellers
Two packs will be in a 10 pack case—ALL EVENLY PACKED!

Continue reading →

Joe Con 2016: Marauder Gun-Runners adds new items and exo-suits!

Posted on June 18, 2016 by Fred Meyer

Marauder Gun-Runners announces new exo-suits, male accessories, and fully articulated K-9 military unit for 2017!

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Marauder Gun-Runners here at JBL. Going all the way back to the very first series which debuted at Joe Con 2005, we’ve followed the progress of this customer-service driven company with great anticipation. Returning to Joe Con after an absence of several years, MGR once again blew fans minds with the announcement of some brand new products including:

new male figure accessories
new exo-suits (coming in 2017)
new highly articulated military K-9 units (coming in 2017)

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In addition, the Marauder Gun-Runners booth offers THREE brand-new convention exclusive decos for their amazing Marauder Task Force figures– including new “light brown” bearded and goatee heads!

These exclusive figures will be available at the Marauder Gun-Runners store after the con but convention attendees have the opportunity to purchase them at 20% off during the event at the MGR booth! Talk about some customer service!

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And, as they say in the infomercials… “But wait, there’s more!” The first test shots of the Marauder Task Force Valkyries line will be on display at the booth this weekend!

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To check out the pictures at the original source, visit the Marauder Gun-Runners Facebook page and to pick up some the best 1:18 modern military gear out there head on over to the Marauder Gun-Runners online store which will reopen on June 22th!

Plus, you can view JBL’s reviews of the first few series at the Marauder Gun-Runner’s Review Index!

Joe Con 2016: Closer look at the SDCC G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Fred Meyer

JBL’s Armchair Coverage of Joe Con 2016 continues!

Friday typically isn’t a “big reveal” day at the annual Joe Con and this year was no exception. Hasbro’s big panel doesn’t occur until 11:00am MST on Saturday and the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Roundtable event isn’t until 4:00pm MST as well. However that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t anything major to see today.

The good folks from Hasbro put a few pieces in the display case today from this year’s forthcoming SDCC exclusive G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set! It’s the first time that fans got an in person look at the upcoming releases of Powerglide as a Cobra Rattler and Soundwave as a Cobra HISS tank. It was also the first opportunity for Joe fans to see convention exclusive Scarlett and Zartan figures.

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I’ll admit– the items do look a bit better in these images than from the first batch of leaked images from ACToys.net. Still, for $99 the set seems like it’s missing something especially after the 2013 set included a Skystriker, a VAMP, and three figures plus the exclusive Ravage figure.

There are some additional pictures posted over at HISSTank.com as well. At this point I think it’s safe to say that part of Hasbro’s reveals for the Toys R Us exclusive line tomorrow will include a Cobra Rattler, a plane that hasn’t been released since the Target exclusive 25th Anniversary release.

Stay tuned to JBL for more coverage of Joe Con 2016 in Loveland, CO!

Joe Con 2016: Souvenir items revealed!

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Fred Meyer

Joe Con 2016 souvenir item images have arrived!

Joe Con 2016 registration night has begun and the Golden Ticket holders are picking up their sets. That means the line for the souvenirs at the Club Store is queuing up and we now have our first images of this year’s souvenirs! Thanks to Mike Tinnel of the G.I. Joe Discussion Facebook Group, I’ve mirrored some images below.

G.I. Joe Glider 2-pack featuring Skymate and Cloudburst – $75.00
Heli-Vipers 3-pack – $85.00
Sky Patrol Skysweeper jet – $68.00
Cobra Hydra jet with Aero-Viper – $85.00
Sky Patrol Skystriker – $160.00
Sky Patrol JUMP 6-pack – $55.00
Cobra JUMP 6-pack – $55.00
Parachute drop figure: FREEFALL – $35.00

Bonus Attendee Item: Sky Patrol Air Raid figure

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I have to say– ANOTHER Skystriker?!!! Plus a repaint of the RoC Skysweeper jet (which itself is a repurposed Firebat), a pair of Air Assault gliders, and faction-changed 2003 Skysweeper jet? Fans of the late 1990’s era are going to LOVE this set but the more military-minded folks might just consider saving their pennies.

We’ll have more images from Joe Con 2016 as they become available! Stay tuned for more Joe Con 2016 Armchair Coverage from JBL!

Joe Con 2016: Armchair Coverage Begins!

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Fred Meyer

Joe Con 2016 has officially begun!

Sadly, this year it wasn’t in the cards for the JBL admin to attend what is Fun Publications final year as administrator of the annual G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention. While I’ll miss not being able to catch up with some old friends and getting to see the new product reveals at Saturday’s Hasbro panel, it doesn’t mean that JBL will be going dark throughout the weekend.

Instead, we’ll be doing our best to provide comprehensive coverage of the event, thanks to the efforts of all of the other individuals attending. We’ll provide links to coverage as it goes up on sites from HISSTank.com, to ToyNewsI.com, and even our fellow “at home” correspondants over at GeneralsJoes.com.

Sure, you’ll get some commentary along the way but that’s just part of the experience. Coverage of this year’s event will be archived on the 2016 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention page.

Now, on to the news!

Wednesday Golden Ticket Package Pickup:

Tonight was intended to be the Golden Ticket package pickup in which those individuals who spent the extra $300 to purchase the “Joe Con Speed Pass” get a first crack at their sets and at the bonus attendee exclusive item. However, it was announced by the folks from Fun Publications that their “shipment was delayed at customs and then held up due to a sick driver” and that, hopefully, items will arrive by tomorrow and the Golden Ticket pickup will be at 3pm, with the rest attendee registration beginning at 6pm MST.

The t-shirts and the comics were on hand but were not permitted to be released until the sets arrive.

That’s all we know for now… so stay tuned to JBL for more Joe Con 2016 coverage!