Tag Archives: Toys

Toy Fair 2014 Coverage Coming Later Today

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toy fair 2014

 

Just a quick reminder– JBL’s coverage of the Hasbro Brand Entertainment Preview Event from Toy Fair 2014 will be going live later today!

Good friend of JBL, Mike Breaux of The Breaux Show has braved the East Coast winter weather to make the trek up to NYC to attend the event which starts at 1pm EST today.  As soon as he’s able to report back, we’ll post coverage of whatever Hasbro’s plans may be for the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary.

There’s been a lot of speculation as to what, if anything, Hasbro will be doing to commemorate this half-century of the first action figure.  My own opinion is that we’re not likely to see anything before Q3 2014– meaning that more information could potentially be revealed at Comic Con 2014 than at Toy Fair this year.  However, that’s just my opinion– it’s not based on any insider knowledge.  Whatever the folks in Pawtucket decide to do, we can all agree that G.I. Joe has provided countless boys and girls, men and women with a source of inspiration and imagination over the past 50 years.

You’ll be able to view the coverage HERE as it is submitted!

If you’re looking for early info before it’s posted here, follow @TheBreauxShow on Twitter.

 

Jada Toys Robocop 2014 Action Figure Reviews

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Robocop 2014 figure review

What’s old is new again– in the case of 1980’s properties.  Jada Toys, better known for their collectible die-cast lines, has produced action figures for the Robocop 2014 remake of the classic 1987 film.  Unable to resist the pull of nostalgia, I snagged a pair of these guys and decided to put them “under the lens”.  Are these guys the “future of action figures” or are they better left in the slammer?  Read on to find out one Robo-fan’s opinion!

Check out the reviews in the brand new Miscellaneous 1:18 Scale Review Index!

Also, would you like to see more “non-Joe” reviews here at JBL?  Sound off in the comments section below!

G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary Coverage from Toy Fair 2014 Begins Saturday

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toy fair 2014

 

Next week the International Toy Fair in New York City begins! This Saturday at 1pm EST, Hasbro will be holding an advance Entertainment Brand Preview Event which is slated to feature the latest in Marvel, Transformers, Star Wars, and My Little Pony brands and is scheduled to include a spotlight on the G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary. In partnership with The Breaux Show, JBL will bring you coverage of the event beginning Saturday evening.

What can fans expect to see from Hasbro commemorating a half century of “America’s Movable Fighting Man”?  At this point no one knows but hopefully Saturday will offer some insight into what plans, if any, the folks in Pawtucket have in store for fans and collectors everywhere.

Keep your eyes peeled to this page or any of the following links to see coverage as it goes live:

In the meantime, check out these two articles that offer some speculation as to what might lie ahead for the brand.

G.I. Joe Retaliation Ultimate Roadblock Review

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G.I. Joe Retaliation Ultimate Roadblock

It’s no secret that Roadblock was the focal point of the G.I. Joe Retaliation marketing efforts.  Simply put: you don’t put someone like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a film and then ignore his presence.  This also means that the accompanying toy line is going to be chock-full of Roadblock figures– each with something just a bit different to make them unique from the rest.  Such is the case of the wave 3.5 release of “Ultimate Roadblock” which attempts to be the most screen accurate version of the character to date.

So, is this really the “Ultimate Roadblock” or just “yet another Roadblock”? Is he worth a purchase after the wave 2 Battle Kata Roadblock version?

Head on over to the G.I. Joe Retaliation Review Index and check it out!

G.I. Joe Convention Zombie Hunter Outback Unveiled!

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The 2014 G.I. Joe Convention previews continue!  For today’s reveal, the folks at the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club have released the final member of the “Zombie Initiative” containment team– Zombie Hunter Outback!

G.I. Joe Convention Zombie Hunter Outback

I’ll admit it– the announcement of Zombie Hunter Outback intrigued me from the get-go!  When picking a team to contain a zombie outbreak the inclusion of a survival specialist seems a pretty logical choice.  Using the Pursuit of Cobra Snow Job head and the Pursuit of Cobra Recondo/ Retaliation Joe Colton upper body with some parts from the Desert Nomad Zartan, the result is a very new look for the team’s survival specialist. It is a bit odd that the survival guy is wearing ear protection but that’s just my opinion.

Zombie Hunter Outback comes complete with everything shown.

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie Hunters: Outback, T’J Bang, Steel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. Force: Flint, Ozone, Clean-Sweep
  • Cobra Lab Rat x2, Toxo-Vipers x 3, Toxo-Zombies x 3, and Repulsor with Dawg (NEW K-9).

For more information on the 2014 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention, visit GIJoeCon.com

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G.I. Joe Convention Joe Colton Revealed!

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2014 G.I. Joe Convention Joe Colton

Sometimes the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club pulls off a surprise in their G.I. Joe Convention reveals.  Today, rather than release an image from the “Zombie Initiative” set, they’ve instead given fans a look at a figure that will be available as part of the 12″ set– the “original Joe” General Joe Colton!

It’s an interesting idea– and based very much on his appearance in Marvel Comics G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol 1 #86 in which he was identified as “just a guy named Joe”.  Working with “Jane”, his former nurse and now an astrophysicist, they managed the operations for a Strategic Defense Initiative station located in the Chrysler Buidling in New York City!

In terms of parts, this is pretty much the SDCC Rise of Cobra Destro body with one of the 1:18 Club Exclusive Adventure Team heads on top.  It’s a good look for General Joe and one that directly captures his comic appearance.

As previously announced by the Club, Joe Colton will be available as part of the 12″ set loose and sold carded separately.

For more information on this year’s G.I. Joe Convention in Dallas, TX visit GIJoeCon.com.

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G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Big Boa Reviewed!

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G.I. Joe Collector's Club Big Boa action figure

Big Boa has the distinction of only having received one single figure release in the classic G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero era.  It wasn’t until last year’s debut of the Figure Subscription Service from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club that fans had a chance to own an updated “no-ring” construction version of the character.  For many fans, Big Boa was THE reason to sign up for the debut run of 13th figures from the GIJCC.  In the intervening year, this figure’s popularity hasn’t diminished and demand for him on the secondary market remains strong.

However, is Big Boa worth owning?  Is he a champion or a chump?

Head on over to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index and find out one Joe fan’s opinion!

G.I. Joe Convention 2014 – Ozone Revealed!

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2014 G.I. Joe Convention

The 2014 G.I. Joe Convention is 68 days away and yet it’s time for another reveal from this year’s convention set: The Zombie Initiative!  This time the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has unveiled ECO-Force technician Ozone!

G.I. Joe Convention exclusive Ozone

This year’s convention set has been a series of almost spot-on updates to designs from the latter half of the A Real American Hero run and this is no exception.  Ozone is a terrific update to his 1991 Eco-Warriors version both in terms of color and overall aesthetic.  I strongly suspect the expert hands of the team at Boss Fight Studios in this update which includes the reuse of recent parts like the grenade web gear from the G.I. Joe Retaliation Cobra Trooper!   Otherwise it looks the the Resolute Zartan arms are seeing some use as are the thighs that were most recently used with the Retaliation Kamakura action figure.  Now, if only we could see his bearded head!!!  Also, is it me or is that helmet sitting a bit odd on the shoulders?  Otherwise, solid work from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club!

ECO-Force Ozone comes complete with everything shown.

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie Hunters: Outback, T’J Bang, Steel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. Force: Flint, Ozone, Clean-Sweep
  • Cobra Lab Rat x2, Toxo-Vipers x 3, Toxo-Zombies x 3, and Repulsor with Dawg (NEW K-9).

For more information on the 2014 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention, visit GIJoeCon.com

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G.I. Joe Convention 2014 – Zombie Hunter T’Jbang Revealed!

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2014 G.I. Joe Convention

We’re 71 days away from the 2014 G.I. Joe Convention and it’s time for another preview image from the Zombie Initiative set! This time the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has unveiled Zombie Hunter T’Jbang!

2014 G.I. Joe Convention T'Jbang

Wow!  Talk about being lifted directly from the vintage line!  T’Jbang is spot-on from his original 1992 A Real American Hero version!  I like the reuse of the armor that we’ve seen previously with the Resolute Comic Pack Storm Shadow and the Temple Guardian Snake Eyes!  Plus, the new head really just pops!  Sure, he’s an obnoxiously colored figure from the 90’s– but he’s a COOL-looking obnoxiously colored figure from the 90’s!  Solid work from the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club!

Zombie Hunter T’Jbang comes complete with everything shown.

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie Hunters: Outback, T’J Bang, Steel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. Force: Flint, Ozone, Clean-Sweep
  • Cobra Lab Rat x2, Toxo-Vipers x 3, Toxo-Zombies x 3, and Repulsor with Dawg (NEW K-9).

For more information on the 2014 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention, visit GIJoeCon.com

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steel-brigade-commander
zombie-initiative-box
eco-force-flint
tjbang
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G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Cesspool Reviewed!

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G.I. Joe Collector's Club Cesspool

Cesspool! He’s a toxic menace who’s out to destroy the world! The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club figure has arrived!

In the early 90’s, environmentalism was all the rage.  TBS had “Captain Planet” and the recycling movement was gaining steam.  Ever the product of its time, G.I. Joe responded and introduced the heroic Eco-Warriors vs. the embodiment of corporate pollution– the evil Cobra C.E.O. Cesspool!  Once a greedy corporate tycoon, this twisted mad man was driven to bring the world to its knees with the use of his Plasma-Tox chemicals!  Thanks to the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Figure Subscription Service, this insane villain is now ready to menace Joe collections everywhere!

Chris Chung of Joesightings.com and I sit down to take a look at this latest FSS release that sports an all-new head sculpt from the talent team at Boss Fight Studios.   Does this figure live up to the hype?  Or is he a toxic addition to the ranks of Cobra?

Check out the review in the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Review Index!