Joe Con 2016 Sky Patrol Skystriker assembly video

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

Breaux Show Sky Patrol Skystriker Joe Con 2016Much 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: Souvenir items revealed!

joe con 2016 g.i. joe collector's convention

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

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 featured

SDCC 2015 Crimson Strike set review!

SDCC 2015 G.I. Joe Crimson Strike

The SDCC 2015 Crimson Strike set has landed at JBL!

G.I. Joe has had a pretty good run of SDCC exclusives over the past few years.  Starting with the infamous “Pimp Daddy Destro” and going all the way through the Danger at the Docks, fans have found themselves anticipating the announcement of each year’s newest piece.

The Crimson Strike is, by all means, a reverse of the forthcoming Silent Strike set that will debut at Toys R Us in August 2015.  Here, G.I. Joe and Cobra have essentially traded vehicles– with the Cobra Scythe taking to the air while the G.I. Joe Chimera attempts to stave off its attacks.  Somewhere on the ground, a random Alley Viper Officer runs around causing chaos.

Is the Crimson Strike set worth the effort to track down?  Does the HISS work as a G.I. Joe vehicle?  Is the Skystriker really flying for Cobra now?

Check out the review by either clicking on the picture above or by visiting the Exclusives Review Index!

A big thanks to both Hasbro and the folks at Hunter PR for helping JBL acquire this set!

Update on G.I. Joe FSS & Joe Con 2015 Reviews

FSS Crimson Guard Immortal

Sigh… I hate this kind of post.  I really do.

Joe Con 2015 and G.I. Joe FSS reviews are coming.  Really.  I had photos shot for these reviews for weeks now and even have the web page built.  Joe Con 2015, Joe Con 2013, and the FSS reviews for Hit & Run, Alpine, Crimson Guard Immortal, Big Ben, and Frostbite are about 85% ready to go!

So, you might find yourself asking, what’s the holdup?

Between my current real-life job and some family obligations, I’ve just not had the time to sit down and really finish the writing.  Knock on wood I can sequester myself away this weekend for a bit and finalize my portion of the text.

However, I don’t want to leave folks hanging.  Below is a preview gallery of images from many of the G.I. Joe FSS and Joe Con 2015 reviews that will be hitting here soon.  Consider it a bit of a “mea culpa” for being so tardy.

 

2013 SDCC G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set now in stock at HasbroToyShop.com

G.I. Joe vs. Transformers SDCC 2013 exclusive set

There’s no need for a lot of verbiage here!  This year’s SDCC G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set is finally available!

UPDATE: 10/16/2013 AS OF NOW THE SET APPEARS TO BE SOLD OUT!

Now that the lawsuit between Hasbro & Harmony Gold has been settled it would seem that the flood gates have been opened for the 2013 SDCC G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set featuring Jetfire, Hound, Blaster, Bludgeon, Baroness, Ravage, and more!  (Okay, there’s that Snake Eyes repaint but who REALLY needs Snake Eyes v 10,203 anymore? It’s a solid set and the “epic conclusion” to the series that began three years ago with Cobra Commander & Starscream and then evolved to Destro & Shockwave in 2012.

Got get it at HasbroToyShop.com:

http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/gi-joe-transformers-jetfire-vehicle?BR=496&ID=32166

SDCC 2013: G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set revealed!

G.I. Joe vs. Transformers SDCC 2013 exclusive set

The 2013 San Diego Comic Con exclusive G.I. Joe vs. Transformers set has been announced via USA Today and trust me, this SDCC set is a doozy!

Listing at only $99 and available at the HasbroToyShop.com booth, this year’s set includes the following:

  • Jetfire (modified Skystriker)
  • Hound (modified 25th Anniversary VAMP)
  • Snake Eyes
  • Baroness (new head sculpt!)
  • Ravage (with leash)
  • Blaster (with 3 cassettes)
  • Bludgeon (based on the forthcoming Budo body!)

Just looking at this list it’s easy to see that Hasbro is going for broke with what is billed as the “epic conclusion” to their series of G.I. Joe vs. Transformers exclusives.  With two larger vehicles, three figures, and a slew of new accessories it’s easily the most impressive piece in the series.  (Last year’s Shockwave HISS w/ Destro and Constructi-BAT was no slouch, however.) For the cost, this set is a STEAL!

For me, one of the high points of the entire set is the Baroness and Ravage which hearkens back to the cancelled statue that was based on early artwork from Dreamwave’s G.I. Joe vs. Transformers crossover comic series.   The new Baroness head is awesome and, well, Ravage has been one of my favorite Transformers since G1 debuted!  Plus, the VAMP has been and always will be my favorite G.I. Joe vehicle– throwing in Jetfire just makes this set PURE WIN to me.  The use of the forthcoming Budo body to produce Bludgeon is just the icing on the cake.  (Nice work by John Warden and the guys in Pawtucket on this one!)

Check out Brian Truitt’s article on USAToday.com for some great quotes from both John and Derryl DePriest about this set and start making plans now to snag this one– I have the feeling that Hasbro could never produce enough to meet the demand this time!

Skystrikers now $19.99 at Amazon.com!!

The holiday deals from Amazon.com continue!

On Black Friday the Skystrikers dropped to $24.99.  Today, they’ve dropped again– to a whopping $19.99!   That’s a full 56% off of the MSRP!!

$19.99 Skystriker w/ Captain Ace – $19.99

These jets are normally $39.99 at the Toys R Us store near me.  At this price, I can snag 2 for the price of one– and possibly even toss the extra into the Toys For Tots bin.  At this price, I’ve no idea how much longer Amazon is going to keep discounting them but if you are looking for a few more jets to fill up the deck of the USS Flagg or merely wish to fill the ceiling of your Joe room with a flying armada, this is the time to buy!

Cyber-Monday: Skystriker reissue $22.49 @ Amazon.com

Sure, it’s late in the day but it’s still not too late to save on Cyber-Monday.  Online retail giant Amazon.com has a deal that can fill the decks of many a USS Flagg out there!

Skystriker reissue for $22.49

If you’ve not pulled the trigger yet and picked up one for nostalgia’s sake, this might be the time to add to your Joe air wing now!  This is about $13.00 LESS than the jet is currently priced at my local TRU.

C’mon— Captain Ace needs a new home!

 

Skystriker returns in 2011!! New Cobra Osprey!

It’s times like this that I miss no longer attending Toy Fair.  However, Justin of GeneralsJoes.com was diligently on the scene and has provided some great information to accompany Hasbro’s latest slew of press images.  It would seem that 2011 marks the return of a fan-favorite vehicle that many had assumed was lost for good – the SKYSTRIKER! 

Not only that, but eagle-eyed fans of G.I. Joe Renegades should like what they see being added to Cobra’s arsenal!

Mid-Size – Due Summer, 2011; MSRP $19.99

  • Cobra HISS w/ HISS Driver
  • G.I. Joe VAMP Mark II w/ Steel Brigade Delta
  • Cobra Black Dragon VTOL w/ Air-Viper

G.I. Joe Skystriker w/ Ace – Due Summer, 2011; MSRP $29.99

For more pics, check out Justin’s AWESOME coverage at GeneralsJoes.com!

2011 G.I. Joe SDCC exclusives images

sdcc 2011 gi joe vs transformers starscream cobra commander

Hasbro really knocked one out of the park this year with their SDCC exclusives!  Based on Devil’s Due Press’ first volume of “G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers”, this year will see the release of a non-tranformable “Starscream” Skystriker as well as a pilot version of Cobra Commander.  However, the icing on the plastic cake comes in the form of the Commander’s accessory– MEGATRON himself!!!

Even though I won’t be attending SDCC, I’ll be doing my darnedest to get my hands on one of these!