G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0 Shipments Arrive!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club Figure Subscription Service logo

The long wait for the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0 shipments is about to come to an end!

This afternoon, early reports trickled in from both HISSTank.com and the Facebook G.I. Joe Discussion Group that first shipment had landed.  Those reports also confirmed the identity of the figures in the first shipment.

If you want to be surprised, stop reading here.  If you don’t, read on.

Seriously– don’t make me repeat myself.  I don’t want to psyche you out but this is your last warning.

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It’s Repeater and Psyche-Out!  (As if my heavy-handed hints didn’t give it away.)  Take a look at the pic below, originally posted by BearViper of the HISSTank forums:

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 3 Shipment 1I’ll admit– I wasn’t expecting these two to be in the first shipment at all.  Perhaps the Club is getting the repaints of previously-released Club figures out of the way first before shipping out the newer pieces.  Regardless, after a LONG dry spell fans finally have some new G.I. Joe figures inbound!

Check out these images courtesy of Alyosha of Broken Arrow Toys!

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0 Ships Soon!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club Figure Subscription Service logo

According to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club, the first installments of Figure Subscription Service 3.0 should be shipping in the very near future!  Check out this email from the Club that dropped in member mailboxes yesterday:

Happy New Year!

Yesterday we unloaded the container for the FSS 3.0 figures.  We are working on getting out the first wave to you this week.  You should receive the first wave by Jan 23rd.  The second wave will go out the last week of the month.  This will get us caught up from all of the shipping and port delays.

For those of you on the subscription billing, we have set the two billing dates:  February 2nd and March 16th.  Please make sure your CC is good standing before those dates.  You can change your information in thesystem so you don’t miss out!   If you are planning on moving before the end of May, you can update your shipping information at the same link above.

Thanks for your support and we hope you enjoy your new figures!

 

Brian

Now, the question remains– who will be arriving in the first shipment?  Will it be the controversial Hit & Run figure that sparked much debate amid the fandom?  What about one of the five repainted figures from the 2013 Nocturnal Fire convention set?  Or will it be the odd choice of the Night Creeper Leader v2?

(My suspicion is that the v1 with the Tiger Striped pants that was originally teased in the FSS 3.0 announcement will be included in the 2015 Convention set.)

Regardless of who it is, subscribers should keep their Eagle Eyes turned toward their mailboxes over the next few weeks as two new Joe figures are on the way!

NECA 1989 Batman Review from The Breaux Show

Neca 1989 Batman

 

The Breaux Show’s video toy reviews are back with the Toys R Us exclusive NECA 1989 Batman!

I was in high school when Tim’s Burton’s 1989 Batman film exploded onto the big screen and took the nation, and the world, by storm!  A marked contrast to the campy 1966 portrayal, the film which starred Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson presented the Dark Knight as just that– a dark brooding figure in a crime-filled world full of despair.  It established Batman as a serious and complex character in the mind of many movie-goers and led to a pop culture renaissance of the character that included the debut of the seminal Batman: The Animated Series.  Like many comic fans, I was hooked and the Keaton Batman became the benchmark by which all other cinematic attempts at Batman were measured.

So, imagine my delight when NECA managed to redeco their video game inspired action figure in a more traditional colo palate and pair it up with an anniversary Blu-Ray copy of the film, exclusive to Toys R Us!

Even better– good friend of JBL, The Breaux Show, managed to get his hands on one of these amazing figures and uploaded a brand new video review!  Either check out the NECA 1989 Batman review on his YouTube Channel or embedded below!

Joe Con 2015 features a Tiger Force theme?

G.I. Joe Collector's Convention

 

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club loves build up excitement to the official reveal of the each years Joe Con theme.  This year’s tease was slated to appear in the “G.I. Joe vs. Cobra #7” comic that shipped to retailers in December.  (The issue itself is a mass-market release of the 2014 “Zombie Initiative” comic.)

Thanks to John Stottman from Facebook’s closed G.I. Joe Discussion group, some fans got an early look at that teaser image over the weekend.  The ad features the Baroness with an automatic pistol standing in front of a semi-distinctive background– that just happens to contain what appear to be tiger stripes.

That’s right– it’s looking like the theme for Joe Con 2015 will feature the Tiger Force sub-team!

This isn’t without precedent from the Club– Tiger Force was featured back in 2004 as part of the Dreadnok Rampage convention set and the FSS has featured Tiger Force versions of Shipwreck and Airtight.  There’s also the fact that Club recently produced an exclusive HAVOC Mk 2 based on a recolored Snowcat which was part of the theme back in 1988 as the Tiger Cat. Could this vehicle be making a con reappearance?

I’ll be honest– I’m pretty ambivalent on the theme.  I’ve never been a Tiger Force fan so this one just doesn’t resonate the same way that Night Force did a few years ago in the Nocturnal Fire theme.  However, there is one call out from the ad that has gone unnoticed in much of the discussion regarding the ad: both Hasbro and IDW are listed as attending.  Hasbro was noticeably absent at the 2014 50th anniversary convention and IDW hasn’t been in attendance since Kansas City 2009 to the best of my recollection.  Either way, keep your eyes turned to GIJoeCon.com for more information as the Club reveals it.

Take a look at the ad below and feel free to weigh in with your own thoughts.  Love it? Hate it?  Were you hoping for Sky Patrol?

(Click the image to see it full size)

2015 Joe Con Tiger Force teaser

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS and Con Registration News

G.I. Joe FSS 3.0 logo

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club sent out an email this morning to members regarding the status of FSS 3.0 orders as well as a tentative ETA on when to expect registration to open up for the 2015 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention.

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!

For all you comic collectors, the Diamond edition of the 2014 G.I. Joe vs Cobra Issue #7: “Zombie Initiative” is now in the store.

Our end of year and archive sale continues with quantities dwindling down to just a handful on many of the items.  In order for your items to arrive by Christmas, please place your orders by Friday.

The FSS 3.0 is on the water headed this way.  Because of the dock workers on the west coast issues and the seasonal delays, we don’t think we will get them until the first week in January.  Because of the delay, our current plan is to ship the first figures during the week of January 5 and follow up with the second shipment at the end of January to get us sort of back on track.  This puts the second billing for the installment plan buyers around the end of January/first of February and the final billing around the middle of March.  As soon as they arrive, we will set the official billing dates.  I’m also sending this info from the FSS email system so you may get 2 updates.

And finally, we anticipate the registration being available for GIJoeCon after the first of the year.  Please note that the hotel is about 70% full and is attached to the convention center.  You can make your reservation now by following the link at GIJoeCon.com.

Merry Christmas!
Brian

It looks like Spring 2015 is going to be a financially heavy time for some Joe fans with 2 FSS payments hitting before the 2015 Collector’s Convention. Again, no hard ETA on con registration other than “after the 1st” but hopefully registration will go more smoothly than it has in previous years.

Still, for fans who were watching their mailboxes expecting an early FSS Christmas present it just means the wait is going to be a little longer.

Steel Brigade Deltas Have Landed on Ebay

steel brigade delta

The Steel Brigade Delta has apparently invaded Ebay!  (Or at least one particular seller’s listings.)

Over the past few days, Ebay seller fzwlcmfyr has listed over 50 auctions for the Steel Brigade Delta v1.  Originally included with the 2011 30th Anniversary VAMP Mk II, the Steel Brigade Delta proved to be a surprise hit with fans– to the point where the Collector’s Club released their own version as part of the 2014 Zombie Initiative convention set.  However, for troop builders the figure has proven to be a bit more challenging to acquire.

Until now.

The auctions on Ebay appear to be for complete figures– and include the figure’s helmet, rifle, and two combat knives as well as a figure stand. (Also included is the VAMP Mk II’s ammo belt and firing projectile.)  Most of these figures are currently listing under $11.00 which is a significant price drop from the prices they’ve been closing for in recent months.

So, if you wanted to stock up on this troop builder and still now blow your Holiday budget, now is your chance!

Check out the auctions while they’re still active and good luck!

G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Arctic Threat Review

g.i. joe 50th anniversary arctic threat

The G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Arctic Threat review is long overdue!

Of all of the two-packs released thus far, this one features a pairing of characters that makes the most sense.  Snow Job is the G.I. Joe team’s premiere cold weather specialist and the Cobra Battle Android Troopers are immune to the frozen temperatures of the Arctic regions.  One is a highly trained specialized and championship marksman while the other is a relentless killing machine.  In almost any context, this is a recipe for excitement!

Is this two pack worth a purchase?  Or, is it along the lines of the “Heated Battle” which is still lingering on the pegs in stores?

Check out Snow Job and the Arctic BAT as part of the Arctic Threat review!  It’s posted in the 50th Anniversary Review Index!

Also, you can now get your 50th Anniversary fix at the Zone Comic Shop!  Check out their website for your current G.I. Joe needs!

G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Social Clash Review

g.i. Joe social clash review

 

The G.I. Joe Social Clash review has been posted!

Of all of the 50th Anniversary sets available this year, the Social Clash was one of the most anticipated by fans.  Featuring the mass market release of the “Concept Case” Lady Jaye as well as a re-release of the Baroness, this two-pack was part of the “second wave” of product hitting both Toys R Us and BigBadToyStore.

Were these two ladies worth the wait?  Or was it a case of the anticipation being greater than the realization?  Check out the Social Clash review over in the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Review Index and find out one Joe fan’s opinion!

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative – the Souvenirs

g.i. joe zombie initiative souvenir items

Whew!  It’s the end of the G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative reviews! Happy Halloween!

If you’ve stuck with JBL this week then you’re seen that Chris and I have been covering the 2014 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention Zombie Initiative set!  We’ve already covered the ECO-Force, the Zombie Hunters, and the Cobra Forces.  You might be asking yourself “What’s left?”  Why the souvenir items, of course!

In this final installment we take a look at the ECO-Striker, G.I. Joe aka Joe Colton,  the Steel Brigade Delta and his VTOL, the Zombie Hunter VAMP, and lastly the Zombie Steel Brigade 3-pack!  Sadly, only one of owns a Septic HISS so images of that will be posted later.  Lastly, you might be thinking that we omitted the parachute figure- Night Force Crazy Legs.  Don’t worry– he’ll be covered soon enough but will be posted when we cover the 2013 Nocturnal Fire set!

So, head on over the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index and check out the final installment of the Zombie Initiative!

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Review – Zombie Hunters

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Zombie Hunters

 

The countdown to Halloween continues with another review from the 2014 G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative convention set!  Today, meet the ragtag group of exterminators who are tasked with extermination– the Zombie Hunters!

A ninja, a survivalist, and a security team commander walk into an infestation zone. It sounds like the opening to a macabre anecdote that might be told to friends on Halloween.  Instead, trio of T’Jbang, Outback, and the Steel Brigade Commander are assigned to wade into the hordes of infected and thin their numbers.  The ECO-Force team was tasked with finding a cure but the Zombie Hunters have only one goal – eliminate the threat of the Zombie Initiative the only way they know how…

Are these soldiers up to the task?  Do they have a prayer of reining in the threat of Compound Z?  Check out the next installment of the G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative convention set review and find out two Joe fans’ opinions!  It’s posted at the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index!

Just a reminder- this set is still listed as “in stock” over the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club store if you’d like to snag your very own Zombie Initiative!  Check back tomorrow for the next installment in our Halloween countdown!