Along with the standard Hasbro fare, Saturday was also enjoyable due to the GI Joe Collectors’ Club round table that lays out the processes of getting the Convention Exclusives to the masses, as well as any potential projects that are in the wings.
Unfortunately, with the Convention being so early in the year this year, there wasn’t really any intel about the membership figure for next year or anything like that, but there are still some pretty cool things potentially in the wings. Click the “Read the rest of this entry” link below to check it all out.
So I already talked about the o-ring issues that were talked about at the Collectors’ Club round table, but I also wanted to talk about some other stuff as well… like the long-awaited Manta Squad!
Brian, Lanny, and Dave talked to us a bit about this Collectors’ Club exclusive set that may be in the wings.
- One 2-Pack would feature a Manta Squad Officer and Demolitions Specialist. The samples we saw were o-ring tooling using some Wet Suit parts, a basic face mask head, and some other miscellaneous parts. One figure was painted up like the Cobra Diver from the 25th Anniversary, and the other was colored slightly differently.
- The other 2-Pack would feature a 2-Pack of Hydro-Vipers painted up similarly to the Cobra Eel
All of the figures looked GREAT. Brian is concerned a bit about sell-through, though, and wanted some confirmation as to what we, as a fanbase, would prefer. O-ring or modern era tooling? He asked for an in-person vote, and the response was pretty much right down the middle.
So, currently, it’s up in the air as to when we’ll see these, and if so, what format they will be in.
More discussion came up about vintage tooling being cast aside, and unfortunately the original vehicle planned for the “Operation: Flaming MOTH” series was one of the toolings that got disposed of. And if your heart can take it… it would have been a newly deco’d Cobra Hurricane with a special Cobra Pilot.
ARGH.
Lastly, they spoke about the Adventure Team. There are currently some shipping related economic issues that have kept the holding containers in lock down. Brian is hoping that will be cleared up very shortly, though even after it’s cleared up, it could take another month for them to arrive state side.
Also they mentioned that while the Sea Adventurer is all tooled and ready, they haven’t committed to his vehicle yet, and production of the final item could also depend on sales response to the initial release of three.
Feedback was once again a big focus of the round table. They want to hear from us and have us tell them what they want…it really does go a long way. They said that because public outcry was so strong for Big Lob, they produced him for their club exclusive. So, if there’s something you want, let them know!
Images from the round table can be found below. Excuse some of the quality, the lighting was bad and these slideshows are a bitch to take pictures of.
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The Hurricane?
THE HURRICANE?
HASBRO HAD THE HURRICANE AND DIDN’T USE IT? sonova(bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep)
Where are those pics of James? :shifty:
O-ring or no-ring I just can’t see myself paying upwards of $25 for two Cobra Diver figures especially since the 25th Cobra Diver is still readily available.
Actually, I can’t really see myself paying upwards of $25 for any two action figures. And that’s my and I’d imagine a lot of other people’s biggest problem with the Club exclusives.
The Manta officer and demolitions specialist set doesn’t look that appealing to me. The Hydro Viper however, looks amazing in those colors. I really hope they put this out in o-ring form and not ME. I mean, if this is to possibly be the last o-ring set, why not go ahead and do it. It’s not like ME is hurting for figures.
I cannot believe they sat on the Hurricane and never used it. Oh man. That just breaks my heart!
“So, if there’s something you want, let them know!”
I WANT BILLY! GIVE ME A MODERN BILLY FIGURE, PLEASE!
And Kwinn, and the October Guard. Please. 🙂
Snake Eyes UNMASKED! And Kwinn,(proper Marvel esq looking Kwinn) The club wants to really pony up They could use some of the ROC/POC stuff that hasbro didn’t use in the line (HOWLER)!!! what about the minitank with outback? Time to ponyup JOECLUB!!!!!
did they have the Hurricane molds ready to produce or were they damaged like the Mauler
if they were ready and Hasbro/GIJ CC decided to scrap them anyway that is just unbelievable… I have supported the club and their decisions but this is really criminal, I would have paid $50-$75 for a new Hurricane but now its gone and i am going to go cry
Pythona! Pythona!
Others already said it, but, the Hurricane was available but disposed of? I think that is really sad. My 25th Wild Weasel fits inside as-is.
I think I’d go O-ring for the Manta squad. The Hydro Viper would just require too much tooling for the Club to do properly. Plus the Demolitions Diver looks identical to the ME Cobra Diver. I’d be into the Outback with Mini-tank so long as they give Outback the Tiger Force paint scheme.
Even so, the Hydro-Viper in those colours look fantastic.
yea do Billy or Kwinn, or even Pythona or a “real” Law and Order, Repeater, Muskrat, Footloose. Not the TRU repaints!!!
Oh, yeah. Some of you don’t cars about o-ring figure molds scrapped, but when the mold of a vehicle you wanted was melted down to make woks, it’s a travesty.