Email just came in from the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club that the convention brochure is online now.
In the brochure, they outline what to expect for the convention, and of course, give us a rundown of the convention exclusives. This year, I am saddened to report, the 15-figure convention set is a 25th Anniversary reproduction of the Crimson Strike Team from 2002.
As a big vintage fan, the G.I. Joe Club figures are one of my most sought after and strongly desired figures of the entire year. I eagerly await pictures and details online and in the newsletter so I can see what great new concepts and new ideas the Club has up their sleeves this year. And now we’re getting 25th Anniversary reproductions of figures I already have? No new characters, new stories, or new ideas? One word: Disappointment.
Utter and total disappointment. Pictures of 25th Anniversary Tomax and Xamot figures have been floating around Asian auction sites for a while, and I continued to tell myself that the Club wouldn’t do that. They’ve always supported the vintage fan and they’ve always told us that their medium of choice was the vintage “o-ring” style. I am totally and completely disappointed by this choice.
They mention that the souveniers will feature members from the highly sought after “international teams”. So, in other words, probably more 25th Anniversary repaints colored up like foreign exclusives.
I’ve been coasting on a “Resolute” high for the past 4 hours, and this is just a kick in the gut. Bummer.
Totally agree…..good night…..
Uh…YAY for Resolute! ?!? Huge let down for me.
I join you in sadness.
However, my wallet is happy. Since there’s only 800 total, I can scalp to my hearts content!
Eh.
Better this than ARAH Red Shadows (as was rumored, WOO MISDIRECTION!), which everyone would want but require excessive paying out of the whazoo area.
But frankly, I’m not too surprised even Fun Publications is moving on… ARAH toolings are old enough to be turning to cheese at this point.
I’m just happy they’re going straight to 25th Anniversary style figures instead of using the always-inconsistant JvCSTVvV era figures.
As much as I’d have liked to see the speculated Red Shadows/Action Force set, this one makes me happy. I love 25th army builders and I don’t have the original ARAH Crimson set so this works for me. I’m probably going to get a bagged set as well.
Plus there’s always hope that the “International figures” will be ARAH. So you purists still have that.
Doubt the exclusives will be in ARAH format. Wouldn’t really mesh well with the main set.
Count me in as utterly disappointed with the set choice.
Am I the only one who is super ecstatic. I loved the crimson twins that showed up online and I can’t wait for these figures. Sorry for those who can’t get the ARAH though.
-Anonymous
To follow up, I’ve noticed this in the announcement:
“To celebrate the G.I. Joe brand’s 45th Anniversary, Hasbro has granted the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club a special edition of the 25th Anniversary sculpt 3 3/4” figures for the return of the Crimson Strike Team!”
Use of words like “granted” and “special edition” really make it seem like this is a one-time deal of sorts and 2010 may be back to using ARAH molds.
Food for thought, I suppose.
Yeah, Jay, I did see that, and I am hopeful. I’m just bummed, as this is the one thing I most look forward to in any given year. Anonymous, it’s not just about the RAH vs. 25th, because I’m a big fan of the 25th style as well…this set just screams a lack of innovation, and that’s the biggest hitch, in my opinion.
Jay and Justin,
I hate to say it, but I’m thoroughly convinced that the ARAH era of molds coming from the Club has gone the way of the dodo. Just because they said “special edition” and “granted” is the Club’s way of trying to balm the pain of this sad fact.