G.I. Joe FSS 5 Gaucho steps into view!

Another G.I. Joe FSS 5 preview has been released – Z-Force Gaucho!

G.I. Joe FSS 5 Gaucho

Z FORCE MECHANIC: RICO “GAUCHO” GONZALLES
(Based on the European exclusive Command Centre action figure!)

Includes: removable vest, grenade launcher, wrench, tool satchel, boot knife, pistol, and figure stand.

NOTE: All images are Photoshop representations, final product, accessories and/or colors may vary!

To quote the 1980’s Saturday Night Live character the Church Lady: “Well isn’t that special…”

It’s no secret that I’m a HUGE fan of the 2015 Gung-Ho action figure which I regard with the same reverence that some folks reserve for their favorite sports teams.  It is an AMAZING figure that fixed ALL of the issues I had with the abominable 25th Anniversary release and then some.  Seriously– it’s one of the best pieces that Hasbro has released in years and nothing will ever persuade me otherwise.

Gaucho, from his very origins, was a repaint of Gung-Ho and so, it seems logical that the Club would take the path of least creative resistance and merely re-release Gung-Ho in a different color scheme.  I should be fine with this… except that I’m not for the simple reason that this figure looks like a lazy repaint to me.  When Gaucho was released as part of the 2010 convention set, his skin tone was changed to reflect his ethnic background and it really helped to set the character apart from Gung-Ho who is, in my opinion, one of the more visually distinctive members of the G.I. Joe team.  As such, I was expected the G.I. Joe FSS 5 version to be similarly produced.  Call me crazy, but this just feels lazy to me.  Even the FSS 4 Jammer wasn’t just a straight repaint of the 25th Anniversary Stalker.

Sorry Gaucho fans, but you deserve better than this figure.

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Joe Con 2016: G.I. Joe Collector’s Club news & FSS 5 lineup

The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has completed the Joe Con 2016 Roundtable panel and it was a doozy!

G.I. Joe Collector's Club logo

Perhaps the biggest news of Joe Con 2016 concerning the Club came from the Hasbro panel held earlier in the day where it was revealed that Hasbro has decided to continue its relationship with Fun Publications through 2018.  Despite rumors and all evidence to the contrary earlier this year, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has a two-year lease on life! Whatever transpired in the months since the Club announced that all memberships would end on December 31, 2016 it certainly seemed to be beneficial for the folks at Fun Publications.  (Did the Save G.I. Joe petition have any impact?)

Next year’s convention will be June 15 – 18, 2017 at Walt Disney World!

Hasbro announcement

However, the most pressing question on the minds of most G.I. Joe fans out there was “What is the line-up for FSS 5?

Here are the “Quick Notes” from today’s panel…. including this year’s FSS announcement!

Introduction:

Brian Savage, David Lane, Lanny Lathem, and Pete Sinclair take the stage.

  • Contract for the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has been extended for two more years. The Club, FSS, and convention will continue through 2018.
  • Membership renewals will turn back on later this week.
  • If your membership ran out in May & June, go to the store, login, and add it to your cart. It should reapply to your account.
  • Contract was initially NOT renewed. However, this was changed and Brian thanked the fandom for their support, including the petition from Joe Colton.  Derryl DePriest is acknowledged as the person who turned things around for the Club.
  • The renewal only took place in the last two weeks.

Sky Patrol discussion: Continue reading