G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Review – Eco-Force

G.I. Joe Zombie Initiative Eco Force

JBL is counting down the days until Halloween with a look at the Zombie Initiative!

Each day from now until All Hallows Eve this Friday, Chris and I will be delving into the 2014 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention set – the Zombie Initiative!  It’s a varied set filled with evil scientists, zombie hunters, and the unfortunate infected that make up the hordes of the walking dead!  The best part is that the set is still available at the G.I. Joe Club store if you’re still looking to pick one up for yourself!

Today’s reviews focus on that group of brave scientists and soldiers tasked with finding a way to cure the infected of the Zombie Initiative!  That’s right– I’m talking about the E.C.O.- Force!  Check out the reviews of Clean-Sweep, Flint, and Ozone in their generation 3 builds over in the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index!

Check back tomorrow as JBL unveils the next installment of the Zombie Initiative in our Halloween Countdown!

G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Eagle’s Edge Review

 

G.I. Joe 50th anniversary Eagles edge

It’s a new week with a new G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary review!  This time JBL takes on the Eagle’s Edge three-pack featuring General Hawk, Leatherneck, and a brand-new Destro!

It’s an interesting mix of old and new– a mix of G.I. Joe Retaliation and Pursuit of Cobra as Hasbro attempts to celebrate a half century of “America’s Moveable Fighting Man.”  I won’t lie– there’s some good, some bad, and some ugly but it’s still three classic characters in one reasonably-priced retail three-pack that’s currently available at both Toys R Us retail locations and online at Bigbadtoystore.com.

Check out the individual reviews in the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Review Index!

Plus, check back this week as JBL debuts a series of Halloween-themed reviews tomorrow!  Plus, the Social Clash review is coming soon!

G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Reviews Return!

G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary HEAT Viper

It’s been a bit but the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary reviews continue with the first two two-packs in the line– the Heated Battle and the Night Marksmen!

I’ve been sitting on these for a while now– digesting what may be some of the last new 1:18 Joes from Hasbro for a while.  As with much of this 32nd Anniversary of A Real American Hero 50th Anniversary of G.I. Joe line, it’s a case of “what was old is new again.”  These two packs feature three characters who have seen prior releases and one that makes his debut in the generation 3 style of construction.

So, were Blowtorch, Low-Light, HEAT Viper, and Night Viper worth picking up?

Head on over to the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Index and check out one Joe fan’s opinion!

Coil Con V is September 13, 2014 in Indianapolis!

Coil Con V

It’s that time of year again– Coil Con V is happening in just over a week!

Nothing says “end of summer” like Coil Con, the fan-run convention that brings together G.I. Joe collectors from across the Midwest!  This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever as the event has outgrown its previous venue in Kokomo, IN (at ever-amazing Kokomo Toys) and instead takes over the Wyndham Indianapolis West Hotel in Indy!

In addition to a toy drive to benefit the Child Life initiative at the Indianapolis Children’s Hospital, this year’s event will feature a host of vendors, the door prize/raffle table, and the always exciting travelling exhibit of JoeDeclassified.com.  Plus, if you’ve not already seen it, check out this preview of Shrike, this year’s exclusive Coil Con figure!  (JBL received permission to mirror the images below.)  He’s the creation of Coil Club designers Jay Hunger & Brian Kauffman and will be part of a 2 figure set that’s limited to only 40 pieces!

This year’s roster of guests includes:

Check out the Coil Con V event page over at CoilCon.com for the full details and make preparations to join your fellow Joe fans in Indy in just over a week!

Plus, check out these photos from last year’s event held at Kokomo Toys!  C’mon– you KNOW you want to go!

SDCC 50th Anniversary Danger at the Docks Review

50th Anniversary Danger at the Docks

Last week the SDCC 50th Anniversary Danger at the Docks sets went up on ToysRUs.com and this site admin was lucky enough to snag one!  It finally arrived last week and that means it’s time for a brand new review here at JBL!  Was this set, which features the VAMP Mk 2 and Flint in their original color schemes worth it?  Or, was it another case of “wash, rinse, repaint?”

Head on over to the brand new 50th Anniversary Review Index and check it out the review of the SDCC 50th Anniversary Danger at the Docks to find out one Joe fan’s opinion!

In Hand Images of the SDCC Danger at the Docks Set!

SDCC Danger at the Docks in hand

The SDCC Danger at the Docks sets have shipped from ToysRUs.com and JBL admin Madmac41 received his set yesterday.

I have to say that I hate him for it!  Oh jealousy, you are truly a green-eyed monster.

After a quick phone conversation, I was able to get a few thoughts on the set:

  • Flint is built using the Resolute head and the Retaliation 3-pack torso.
  • The plastic on the vehicles, like much of the 50th product, is softer.  Apparently he’s had some issues with the rear axle.
  • The Night Landing weapons crate appears to contain an updated version of Road Pig’s wrist crossbow.
  • Overall, he’s pretty happy with the set and would like to see a Cobra Stinger re-release soon!

Check out the images of the SDCC Danger at the Docks set below.  These were posted to the JBL Facebook page earlier this afternoon.  My set is scheduled to arrive tomorrow so I have the feeling tomorrow night will be spent putting together a review as fast as my greedy little fingers can type!

G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Items Hit Ebay

G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Social Clash Lady Jaye Baroness

It was bound to happen sooner rather than later.  Ebay seller viperskingdom has listed several items from the forthcoming 50th Anniversary collection up for auction.  I’ve mirrored some of the images below but all of his auctions may also be found HERE.

First, the pictures, then some commentary….

Okay, I’m just going to go straight to the elephant in the room– the incredibly poor paint applications seen on the Lady Jaye figure.  Really– that’s one of the worst paint decos I’ve seen since the 2000 relaunch of the brand with the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra era.  This is the same head that was used by the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club for the Night Force Lady Jaye that was a 2013 Joe Con convention souvenir which means that fans have already seen how this head can turn out.  They’ve now got something to compare this “G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary” version to.  (I still argue that it’s really the “32nd Anniversary of ARAH”.)  Those same fans have also come to expect a certain level of quality from Hasbro produced items.

This isn’t it.  It’s like QC just took the night off and let the interns take a shot at painting.

As for the rest of the line?  Well, quite honestly– it’s uninspired.  Rather than celebrating the wide half-century history of a brand that redefined action figures for generations the marketing folks at Hasbro cobbled together a collection of repaints and some concept vault figures and called it a night.  While the more recent Joe fans might like the offerings, this long time Joe fan finds them lazy, uninspired, and downright insulting to the collectors of the 1:6 era that put G.I. Joe on the map in the first place.

Sure, there’s going to be a Snow Wolf and a “mostly new” Leatherneck, but overall this line is nothing even close to what it really should have been.

Check out the rest of viperskingdom’s current G.I. Joe auctions on Ebay.

Last Call for G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0

Today is the day– the final day to sign-up for the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club FSS 3.0.  In order to provide that final incentive, the Club released the following “group shot” yesterday.

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 3.0Yes, it’s just a composite image of the previews shown thus far but it provides the only real “at a glance” look  at what subscribers will receive over the forthcoming months.

It’s an interesting roster– with many Nocturnal Fire alumni, three Cobra-affiliated ninjas, a member of Action Force, and the final member of the Stall family whose saga played out in the file cards of the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra era.

As an addition teaser, the Club showcased hard resin prototypes of three of the unique headsculpts from the line that were designed by the insanely talented Boss Fight Studio team.  Seen below are the sculpts for Bombstrike, Big Ben, and the Crimson Guard Immortal.

It’s not a cheap subscription– with the subscription running $315.00 if paid in full with additional charges for both shipping and credit card processing.  (Or paid in three installments of $105.00 each.)  However, if you really want to obtain these figures and don’t want to have to deal with the hassle of tracking them down individually the subscription is the way to go– and the only way to guarantee receipt of the “mysterious 13th figure”.

To subscribe, visit the sign-up page for the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service 3.0 today.

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Revises FSS Hit & Run

Apparently, if you complain loudly enough, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club will listen.  Check out the REVISED image of Hit & Run from the  Figure Subscription Service 3.0.

G.I. Joe Collector's Club Revised Hit & Run

The Club posted this brief comment along with the updated image:

Thanks for all your feedback and interest in the GIJCC: Figure Subscription Service 3.0 selections. Upon reviewing your comments for HIT & RUN, we have made some changes that we feel best represent the majority of requests we have received.

Please see the updated image above. In addition, we appreciate your passion and comments. Thanks again for being so involved in the G.I. Joe Brand.

 

Now, if only they’d also fix the Night Creeper Leader which is a completely different version than the one that was originally shown at JoeCon 2014.

If you’ve not already subscribed to FSS 3.0, you’ll want to do so before June 30, 2014!

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!