G.I. Joe Convention Toxo-Zombie has Arrived!

We’re 50 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 Cobra Toxo-Zombie!

G.I. joe Convention toxo zombie

Remember how the original 1992 Toxo-Zombie was based on the 1991 Toxo-Viper v2?    Apparently so do the guys at Boss Fight Studio and the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club as this figure is a straight homage to the vintage original and is heavily based on the previously-revealed G.I. Joe Convention Toxo-Viper!  It’s a solid update to the original that utilizes the Toxo-Viper construction as well as some pieces of the 30th Anniversary Zombie Viper.

The Cobra Toxo-Zombie comes complete with everything shown.

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie HuntersOutbackT’J BangSteel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. ForceFlint, OzoneClean-Sweep
  • Cobra Lab Rat x2, Toxo-Vipers x 3Toxo-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

G.I. Joe Convention 2014 Eco-Force Clean Sweep Revealed!

It’s just a little over two months until the 2014 G.I. Joe Convention and the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has released another preview image from this year’s “Zombie Initiative” convention set.  Ladies and Joe fans, meet Eco-Force member Clean Sweep!

G.I. Joe Convention exclusive Clean-Sweep

Poor Clean Sweep– he’s been without any sort of action figure presence since his 1991 Eco-Warriors debut and subsequent discontinuation the following year.  Okay, so his original was sort of bland in comparison to his teammates but I always liked Specialist Daniel Price– even if his head sculpt looked more like a high school science teacher than a member of the G.I. Joe team.  For his G.I. Joe Convention update, the folks over at Boss Fight Studios worked hard to come up with a suitable update and their efforts paid off.  I see some Data-Viper parts and the Retaliation Cobra Trooper rifle.  Plus, I’m loving that HAZMAT helmet!

All-in-all a TERRIFIC update to the original design.  Now if only he keeps his “high school science teacher” head sculpt!

ECO-Force Clean Sweep comes complete with everything shown.

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie HuntersOutbackT’J BangSteel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. ForceFlintOzoneClean-Sweep
  • Cobra Lab Rat x2, Toxo-Vipers x 3Toxo-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

G.I. Joe Convention Zombie Hunter Outback Unveiled!

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 HuntersOutbackT’J BangSteel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. ForceFlintOzoneClean-Sweep
  • Cobra Lab Rat x2, Toxo-Vipers x 3Toxo-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

G.I. Joe Convention Toxo-Vipers Previewed!

As the 2014 G.I. Joe Convention draws ever nearer the Collector’s Club continues to tease fans with images from this year’s exclusive “Zombie Initiative” convention set.  Today’s reveal is none other than the Toxo-Vipers!

G.I. Joe Collector's Convention Toxo-Viper

The Toxo-Vipers made their debut in 1988 and saw a single update in 1991.  These environmental polluters spread the Plasma-Tox compound during their heyday and now have seemingly converted over to the dissemination of the dreaded Compound Z!  Heavily inspired by the second (and some might say “more iconic” look), this figure features a removable helmet — which only makes me wonder: WHAT IS UNDERNEATH IT? The rest of the body would seem to be made up using the torso of the PoC Arctic Destro, the arms of the 30th Airtight, and the legs of the 30th Techno-Viper.  Simply brilliant work by Boss Fight Studio!

Overall, a solid addition to the G.I. Joe Convention set!

The Cobra Toxo-Vipers come complete with everything shown.

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie HuntersOutbackT’J BangSteel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. ForceFlintOzoneClean-Sweep
  • Cobra Lab Rat x2, Toxo-Vipers x 3Toxo-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

G.I. Joe Convention 2014 – Ozone Revealed!

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 HuntersOutbackT’J BangSteel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. ForceFlintOzoneClean-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

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

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 HuntersOutbackT’J BangSteel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. ForceFlintOzoneClean-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

G.I. Joe Convention 2014: Eco-Force Flint Revealed!

2014 G.I. Joe Convention

What’s this– another preview image from the 2014 G.I. Joe Convention Set? The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has unveiled the next figure in the 2014 Zombie Initiative set as the Eco-Force Flint!

G.I. Joe Convention 2014 Eco Force Flint

Well, no one can say that the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club isn’t trying to stay true to the original Eco-Warriors Flint from 1991!  With this bright green and yellow color palate, it’s pretty clear that nostalgia fever will be running high at the con this year.  While I see the giant cannon that was originally released with the wave 1 Retaliation Duke, I also see what appears to be some Resolute accessories (on the left arm) and a brand new helmet!  Plus, that’s a brand new head sculpt!  It is interesting that the figure’s web gear is molded in black– almost in an attempt to add a bit more realism to the character design.

This is one of those times when the GIJCC has to walk a fine line between faithfulness to the original design and keeping the figure marketable.  The 90’s were a neon age that was heavily influenced by toy lines like the TMNT.  The original Eco-Warriors Flint was so bright that he required Joe fans to wear shades just to look at him.  With this update, the original color scheme has been preserved but it’s also been muted some– a change that works very much in this figure’s favor!

The Eco-Force Flint Commander comes complete with everything shown.

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie HuntersOutbackT’J BangSteel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. ForceFlintOzoneClean-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

G.I. Joe Convention 2014 Reveal: Steel Brigade Commander

G.I. Joe Convention 2014

It’s time for another preview image from the 2014 G.I. Joe Convention Set! Today, “Commander Lane” has unveiled the next figure in the 2014 Zombie Initiative set as the Steel Brigade Commander!

Joe Con 2014 Steel Brigade Commander

 

Interesting.  The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club is definitely dipping into the “vintage well” with this design which seems to be a straight-up recreation of the 1992 Steel Brigade v2 figure.  From the bright blue body to the green vest to the gold helmet this figure is pretty much the ARAH era design brought forth into the generation 3 era.  I’ll be honest– it’s not really knocking the socks off of this particular Joe fan as I’ve never been a huge fan of the original Steel Brigade.  In many ways I wish the Club would have gone back to the color scheme that was used for the Steel Brigade Commander in the MARS Invades set.  I’m picturing this guy in the gray rain camouflage and it’s much more practical image than the Colorforms version I’m seeing here.  He’s just a bit too– “Crayola” for me to take seriously, especially facing off against a zombie invasion. Two previews in and I’m still looking for the “WOW Factor” in this particular set. Of course, that’s just one Joe fan’s opinion.  Vintage purists are probably going to love this!

The Steel Brigade Commander comes complete with

That leaves the following as the next preview options:

  • Zombie HuntersOutbackT’J BangSteel Brigade Commander
  • E.C.O. ForceFlintOzoneClean-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