JBL Review: G.I. Joe Retaliation wave 1 Storm Shadow

G.I. Joe Retaliation Storm Shadow

I’m playing catch-up on my reviews of G.I. Joe Retaliation! (And Rise of Cobra, and 25th Anniversary, and every other line that dropped during my nearly 4 year hiatus…)  I was planning on jumping ahead and hitting the newer waves first but some figures are just so interesting that you can’t put them off for too long.  Such is the case with the wave 1 Storm Shadow figure.  I’ve had him sitting around since the figures dropped in 2012 but only recently sat down and spent some time really looking at the new design for Thomas Arashikage.

Do fans really NEED another Storm Shadow figure in their collections after having been inundated with them over the past few years?  Hit the G.I. Joe Retaliation Review Index and check out this Joe fan’s opinion.

More reviews are coming– soon!

JBL Review: G.I. Joe Retaliation wave 3 Lady Jaye

G.I. Joe Retaliation Lady Jaye

G.I. Joe Retaliation reviews continue here at JBL with Lady Jaye!  Actress Adrianne Palicki brings Lady Jaye to life in the big budget film debuting March 29, 2012!  Based on the incredibly poseable G.I. Joe Resolute Scarlet body, Hasbro gives fans the first figure female figure from the new movie line.  Currently packed “one per case” she’s proving surprisingly elusive right now.  So, is she worth the effort to find at retail?  Read on and find out one Joe fan’s opinion!

Check her out in the G.I. Joe Retaliation Review Index!

Is it March 29th yet?

JBL Review: G.I. Joe Retaliation Firefly!

G.I. Joe Retaliation Firefly

When G.I. Joe Retaliation hits theatres in just shy of two months, fans will see the return of Duke, Snake Eyes, as well as the introduction of several new faces for the Joes in the form of Flint, Lady Jaye, and Roadblock.  Cobra, on the other hand, only sees one familiar character make his cinematic debut: the mercenary Firefly!  A long time favorite of fans, the Cobra Saboteur is brought to life by actor Ray Stevenson– recently seen in other genre films like Thor and Punisher: War Zone.

The good folks at Hasbro included Firefly, complete with actor likeness, in Wave 2 of the G.I. Joe Retaliation toy line which is just now hitting toy shelves.  So, is this new incarnation of Firefly, complete with Blast Board, worth adding to any Joe collection?  Check out the review at the G.I. Joe Retaliation Review Index and find out one Joe fan’s opinion!

On a side note, I’ve finally got most of my photo set-up put back together post-move so expect more reviews of Retaliation figures in the coming days!

G.I. Joe Retaliation Wave 3 Joe Colton reviewed!

It’s been a while since any new G.I. Joe reviews have been posted at JBL and there is a good reason.  After a year long search, I finally bought and moved into a new house over the holidays. The good part is that there is a lot more room for Amanda, the cats, and I.  The bad news is that most of Joe stuff is still in boxes– and that includes the photo setup.  However, some quick jury rigging allowed me to shoot a few pics recently of my most anticipated figure from the entire G.I. Joe Retaliation line: Joe Colton!  Sure, the photos are quite up to my usual standards but they proved to be a lot of fun to shoot!

I won’t lie– I don’t see this figure as the bearded General that Larry Hama first introduced us to back in G.I. Joe vol 1 #86.  Instead, I picture him as a certain plucky New York cop who always seems to find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time when terrorists attack.  That’s right– I’m talking about Officer John McClane of the Die Hard franchise.

Regardless of how you use this Bruce Willis action figure in your collection, check out JBL’s first review of 2013 in the G.I. Joe Retaliation Review Index!

G.I. Joe Retaliation Snake Eyes Joe Colton Roadblock

JBL Review: G.I. Joe Retaliation Trooper

G.I. Joe Retaliation G.I. Joe Trooper review

What? Another new review at JBL? Isn’t this site supposed to be dead?

Another new review has indeed been posted– and this time it’s the G.I. Joe Retaliation G.I. Joe Trooper!  (This figure might get the award for using the term “G.I. Joe” more than any other in its title.)  Originally released in June in time for the film’s intended release, these figures won’t bee seen again at retail until some time in February.  However, the old adage about “absence makes the heart grow fonder”… especially in the case of this addition to the rank and file of the Joe team.  Besides, doesn’t that helmet look familar? It’s almost “spartan” in its appearance…

So, is this figure worth a purchase when he returns to shelves in February?  Check out the newly built (and currently very empty) G.I. Joe Retaliation Review Index and read the review for yourself!

Also, feel free to sound off as to what you’d like to see covered next?  The SDCC Shockwave HISS Tank?  The 2012 Collector’s Convention Oktober Guard?  More Retaliation figures?  Your feedback is very much wanted as JBL gets back up to speed!

SDCC: G.I. Joe exclusive Kim Arashikage (standard version) reviewed!

2012 SDCC Jinx

As the theme song from the dreadful series “Enterprise” starts out: “It’s been a long time…”  (Nearly four years since I’ve penned a figure review to be exact.)

This year’s San Diego Comic Con exclusive has landed– on her feet as a ninja should!  Lucky attendees of the SDCC were able to snag an updated version of Kim Arashikage (aka “Jinx” to her friends and teammates) at the HasbroToyShop.com booth.  Released in two different versions, Jinx features Generation 3 tooling and articulation– and even a movie-accurate head sculpt on her variant version.  However, she’s also proven to be a true ninja– elusive to acquire on HTS.com! 

So, is this figure worthwhile?  Check out the 2012 SDCC Kim Arashikage review and see what this Joe fan thinks!

Also– note that Jinx isn’t linked anywhere but on the main page of JBL currently.  As part of a return to the review-writing world I’ve got a few maintenance issues to take care of in terms of the site organization.  Look for a new “exclusives” index to be launched soon as well as a section dedicated to the G.I. Joe Retaliation line!

Alexx Shorts: Dollar General exclusive Shipwreck

Dollar General exclusive Shipwreck figure

Don’t I do nice things for you?  Here, read about Shipwreck.  Go on.  SHOO.

JBL Review: Marauder Gun-Runners Wave 6

Wow… it’s been nearly 4 years since I’ve been able to say this but I’ve posted a new review as of last night.  Marauder Gun-Runners Series 6 has hit the fandom in recent weeks and it was enough to pull on aging reviewer out of retirement.  Chock-full of modular weapons and a cornucopia of rifle accessories, Joe fans are sure to find SOMETHING in this wave to appeal to collection needs.

However, don’t just take my word for it.  Head on over to JBL’s newly updated Marauder Gun-Runners Review Index and check out the 3 page review of wave 6!

Alexx Shorts: Retaliation Cobra Commander (with black variant)

Why does Cobra Commander always wear either black or blue?  Is it because he is always taking a beating?

Alexx Shorts: Slaughter’s Marauders 7-Pack

Now I get to put the laughter in Slaughter!