G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Reveals FSS Big Ben

Even with Botcon 2014 in full swing, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club gives fans one more preview of Figure Subscription Service 3.0.  Meet Special Action Force Commando – Big Ben!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS Big Ben

Look at this image it’s pretty clear that the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club design crew is a fan of the 1991 original version!

In terms of body construction, I see a lot of parts that were recently used for the Night Force Lt. Falcon— and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.  Plus, a brand new head from Boss Fight Studio is always a welcome sight.  I like the Union Jack on the right hand shoulder which better reflects Big Ben’s origins.  Plus, making him a formal member of Action Force means that Quarrel and Bombardier have some company now!

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!

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Teases FSS Cobra Slice

With Botcon’s opening imminent, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club previews of Figure Subscription Service 3.0 are happening later and later in the day.  Check out the Cobra ninja henchman – Slice!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS Cobra Slice

 

Slice & Dice go together like peanut butter and chocolate.  With the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club having already released Dice as part of the first FSS, it was only a matter of time until his partner showed up!

This one is pretty much a no-brainer, being based on the Renegades Storm Shadow / Red Ninja body that has been released many times in the past few years.  I’ll admit– the color scheme is pretty much spot on to the 1992 original version although I’m hoping that the black crosses on the torso aren’t quite so pronounced on the final version.

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!

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Previews FSS 3.0 Repeater

Better late than never, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club starts off the week with another preview of Figure Subscription Service 3.0.  Feast your eyes on the G.I. Joe machine gunner Repeater!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 3.0 Repeater

 

As with many of the Nocturnal Fire characters in this series, Repeater is back to basics!  Based on the G.I. Joe Retaliation Ultimate Roadblock body, this figure is generation 3 version of the original 1988 Repeater!

Owners of the 2013 Night Force Repeater raved about the figure design when it was used in that year’s Joe Con set.  The bulky body design gave the character a lot more body mass than the original but that was fitting for a soldier who wielded the massive steadicam machine gun that came in the convention set.  This time around, however, Repeater has been downsized just a bit and is merely a “machine gunner”.

He’s got a slick painted SAW but I can’t help but miss the character’s signature weapon more than just a little.  Fans have been mixed in their reactions to some of the recent FSS 3.0 reveals from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club so it remains to be seen if this will get the same attention that Hit & Run’s missing face paint did.  Still, it’s a nice update on the original, even if his kit looks a bit light.

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!

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Unveils FSS 3.0 Hit & Run

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club rounds out the week with another preview of Figure Subscription Service 3.0.  As you get ready for the weekend, feast your eyes on Hit & Run!

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

You could have heard the collective gasp from the fandom when the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club announced that Hit & Run was going to be included in FSS 3.0.  Based on his appearance from the Concept Case as revealed at Joe Con 2012, this figure instantly became one of those “lost gems” that many fans wanted simply because he wasn’t scheduled for production.  It was ironic considering that Hit & Run never had much of a presence in the original G.I. Joe line outside of his vintage 1988 version.  It wouldn’t be until 2009 when fans would receive a 25th Anniversary version as part of the Assault on Cobra Island 7 Pack with a second generation 3 release that was based on a cancelled vintage vehicle driver as part of the 2013 Joe Con Nocturnal Fire set.  The convention version was met with some controversy due to the color deviance from the original ’88 version and so it seems the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club is taking one last shot at giving members the Hit & Run they asked for.

The FSS version appears to be straight out of the concept case and essentially replaces the 2009 version as a modern interpretation of the character. All the signature elements are there– including the missing camouflage on the figure’s face– something that was noticeably absent in the Nocturnal Fire version.  The base green color is gone– which is most likely a cost-savings issue in terms of paint apps but overall the look of Hit & Run is still there. (Since this is a recoloring of the same version that was in the Nocturnal Fire set they’re using the same paint masters for the head and just adding in the striping.)  While he doesn’t have his duffle bag, it’s not a deal-breaker for me and I find that this version will easily replace the 2009 release in my collection.

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

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Previews FSS 3.0 Vypra

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club continues the previews of Figure Subscription Service 3.0 with a look at the Cobra courier Vypra!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 3.0 Vypra

 

I’ll just say it– Vypra is one of those characters that fall into the “take it or leave it” bucket for me.  I own a Rattler 4WD which included the original 1998 Vypra but she really never made much of an impression upon me.  Essentially I viewed her as a repaint of the 1987 Jinx and that was that.  It wasn’t until year’s later when I read some of the dio-stories over at GeneralsJoes.com that I gave Vypra a second thought.

I’m not surprised that the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club opted to use the Retaliation Jinx figure to produce Vypra but the bland color scheme leaves me very underwhelmed.  With just a charcoal gray and black color scheme, the overall look is incredibly bland.  It lacks some visual element to give the design some much needed “POP!” and the result is a gray Jinx– the fourth reuse of this body in two years.  The addition of the legs from the Renegades Scarlett help but visually it’s just not an interesting figure.  Even the original Vypra had more of a textured look in her paint apps while this preview just shows a mostly solid color design.. After some other strong entries, this is the one that just leaves me cold.

It’s a shame that the visual aspect is so bland as I like the updated specialty as a courier, making her more than just a Stinger driver.  I even like the reuse of the case with the SMG and computer screen that first debuted with the Resolute Destro.  (Of course, we’re seeing an awful lot of that case too lately.)

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

G.I. Joe Adventure Team Sea Adventurer Review

G.I. Joe Adventure Team Sea Adventurer

 

The G.I. Joe Adventure Team Sea Adventurer was the last piece released in 2011 as part of the Collector’s Club’s foray into merging the 1:18 and 1:6 continuities.  Part sailor, part engineer– he’s a specialist who is more at home in the oceans than he is on the land.  When the call of the Adventure Team went out and the mission was set at sea, he was the man that answered!

Is this version of the G.I. Joe Adventure Team Sea Adventurer worth purchasing?  Does he measure up to the legacy of the Adventure Team line that ran from 1970 – 1976?  (A fact that is completely ignored by Hasbro’s “50th Anniversary line” this year.)

Check out the review of the 1:18 scale version of the Sea Adventurer in the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index and find out one Joe fan’s opinion!

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Reveals FSS Muskrat!

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club starts the week off with another preview from the roster of the Figure Subscription Service 3.0.  Today’s image of of the team’s expert swamp fighter- Muskrat!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS 3.0 Muskrat

I really like the 1988 version of Muskrat but I grew to like the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Nocturnal Fire version that was released just over a year ago.  However, as nice as the blue version is this green one is better!  Plus, for those fans out his boogie board the Club has produced a brand new version!

It is interesting to note that Muskrat has some changes to his kit including the Kwinn’s rifle and a different combat shotgun.  Plus, he comes equipped with the Pursuit of Cobra Recondo’s bear trap!. In addition, it looks like he’s sporting the Resolute Cobra Trooper’s backpack this time around.

I was a bit skeptical about the reuse of so many Nocturnal Fire characters in this round of the FSS but even this stodgy Joe fan has to admit that seeing the original color schemes on characters like Muskrat and Psyche-Out stokes the old fires of nostalgia more than just a little.

It’s another solid preview of a very solid roster.  If you’ve not already subscribed to FSS 3.0, you’ll want to do so before June 30, 2014!

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Unveils FSS Psyche-Out

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has dropped another preview from the roster of the Figure Subscription Service 3.0.  Today’s image of of the team’s resident psychological warfare expert – Psyche-Out!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS Psyche Out

I was a fan of this figure design when the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club first unveiled his appearance in the Nocturnal Fire 2013 convention set.  In fact, at that time I said that Psyche-Out was turning into one of the strongest figures in the entire set.  That opinion still stands as the GIJCC was able to replicate the original 1987 color scheme and yet have it look plausible.  Everything that worked for the convention design works here as well.

It is interesting to note that Psyche-Out has some changes to his kit including the Resolute Cobra Trooper SMG and a different backpack that was originally seen with the 25th Anniversary Zartan.

It’s another solid preview of a very solid roster.  If you’ve not already subscribed to FSS 3.0, you’ll want to do so before June 30, 2014!

Boss Fight Studio Kickstarter Reaches Its Goal!

Boss Fight Studio Kickstarter
With 36 more days to go, the Boss Fight Studio Kickstarter has reached it’s initial goal of $75,000.00!  This means the Vitruvian HACKS line is guaranteed to go forward and that any subsequent funds raised will count directly toward the amazing Stretch Goals offered!

This is what BFS member Dave Proctor had to say earlier today:

Attention Boss Fighters! Our very own Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. action figure Kickstarter has met the $75,000 funding goal!!!!! A HUGE heart felt thanks, from all of us here at Boss Fight, to all of you that have helped us to come this far! We are preparing a very special reveal from our series three lineup to celebrate this milestone, please stay tuned! Know lets hunker down and start working on those stretch goals….

That’s right– now that the project is funded it’s time to focus on those amazingly Stetch Goals!  After all, who doesn’t want a veritable army of Gorgons and Spartans!  To contribute, check out the Boss Fight Studio Kickstarter and let’s keep this project growing!

Congratulations to the entire crew of Boss Fight Studio on the successful funding of their first in-house figure line!  Soon fans will be able to set up their own Vitruvian HACKS Spartan army!

“THIS… IS… BOSS FIGHT!!!”
Boss Fight Studio

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Unveils FSS 3.0 Night Creeper Leader

And the FSS 3.0 reveals from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club keep on coming.  This time, it’s the Night Creeper Leader.

G.I. Joe Collector's Club FSS Night Creeper Leader

Interesting…

It’s obvious that this figure is from the “Neon 90’s” with his purple and gold color scheme.  This deco is clearly inspired by the Night Creeper Leader v2 from 1994 rather than the more familiar 1993 tiger stripe version.  (I may be in the minority but I’m actually a bit sad we’re not getting that version.  A ninja clan leader in tiger-stripe pants is a man who isn’t afraid of anything.)   Who knew that the Aleph was a graduate of Louisiana State University?

The web gear is from the G.I. Joe Retaliation 3-pack version of Snake Eyes which works pretty well and I like the tattoo on the right arm.

The biggest downside that I see to this that the body and head right now look a bit odd with so little color other than the flesh tone.  Maybe some sinister black eyebrows would help.

To sign-up, visit the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service sign-up page!

Three down and 9 more to go…