I think most fans seem to be having the same sentiment in regards to the concept shelf, and the same feeling of mixed emotions. Â While I personally love to see pre-production items, unproduced items, and things in various stages of design and production, having a full blown glass case of figures that are currently not due for release is a real blow to the gut.
That’s not to say I don’t want to see them and I want Hasbro to not show this stuff…I absolutely love it and eat this up, but it does fill me with some serious mixed emotions. Â Obviously the G.I. Joe: Renegades shelf hit me hard with very nice, crisp pre-production Coyote and Flint’s Jeep concepts. Â Scrap Iron was a beauty as well. Â But for many folks, it was likely the 30th Anniversary shelf that was particularly devastating.
An awesome Flint update with his classic look, accompanied by Lady Jaye.  Beachhead, HEAT-Viper, Snow Serpent, Laser-Viper, Tele-Viper…and Hit & Run.  Oh good God that  Hit & Run.  This figure is something I’ve been dreaming about with the character for years.  It reeked of Hit & Run perfection…but apparently it is not to be.  Twist that knife a little deeper, Hasbro.
In all seriousness, I cannot stop commending the Hasbro designers for what they’re able to do. Â This case was loaded with a ton of great looking figures that were by and large cobbled together from existing parts, and the fact that they could get updated designs to come out as strong and flawless as they did without doing too much new tooling is quite simply astounding. Â Applause, Hasbro designers… Â now, how do we convince the bean counters to let this stuff get to retail?
Check out some images below, as organized as I can make them. Â I will refine this all into a SuperPage at some point very soon, but for now, let’s just get the images up there.
G.I. Joe: Renegades
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G.I. Joe: 30th Anniversary and the Pursuit of Cobra
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G.I. Joe: Legend of the Arashikage Ninja
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G.I. Joe: Zombie Attack
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G.I. Joe Vehicle Concepts
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Items of note… the guy with the hockey mask is a “Dreadnok Trooper”. Â The Howler and the Diver were both shown in Providence. Â The diver figure has the familiar “Sigma 6” ports on his uniform, so that wounds me like a gunshot. Â The bearded guy behind the Dreadnok Trooper is an unreleased PoC Clutch.
In talking with John Warden and Derryl, they were certain to point out that these are all definitely concepts and not to expect release on anything shown here, however, they were very interested to hear in our favorites. Â They strongly encouraged communication with Hasbro to express our interest in some of these offerings.
I plan on rolling out some polls and top ten lists perhaps next week once Con hysteria slows down to try and form up some sort of consistent message that can hopefully be relayed about how much we want to see some of these items released. Â I would imagine stuff like the G.I. Joe: Renegades items are pretty much off the table, just because of the nature of the brand at this point, but I would imagine there might be other possibilities if we can express our opinions intelligently and constructively.
As I said, I will get this better organized in a SuperPage format going forward, but I wanted to at least get the images out there, I know they are spreading like wildfire already as it is. Â Interesting note in my opinion was that all of the G.I. Joe: Retaliation product shown had shelf tags leading up to 4/12/2013, but nothing beyond. Â That shows to me there is still a lot planned for next year, so it will be interesting to see what ends up being revealed tomorrow at the Hasbro seminar.
Fingers crossed!
More coverage to come, I promise. Â Sorry for the delay on this stuff. Â Crazy day as you can imagine.
This display is kind of depressing. There’s so much good here, to not be able to actually get any of it makes me really disappointed in Joe’s ability to actually make a mark at retail.
But I think the 30th/POC stuff was doing well, it’s not the brand so much as Hasbro’s determination to try to push stuff that is unproven as a success over the stuff that was doing well.
If it was doing so well then stores wouldn’t have stopped stocking it and Hasbro wouldn’t have had to make some of the cutbacks they did with Retaliation.
This is why it frustrates me so much that Hasbro has to cancel everything completely when a movie is coming out. Instead of mixing in these items the long term fan actually wants in with the stuff to attract the new fans, they treat the long term collector like they’re not as valuable, and now that the movie is delayed they have nothing for either group. If they could have mixed the two together they could have some product to hold fans over until the movie gets actually released, but now no one wins.
Yeah they shouldn’t cancel things outright. They could have kept these for after the movie!
I suppose it is too late for them to get these to shelves for Xmas?
So beautiful, so sad! I absolutely love the cartoon accurate Duke, Scrap Iron, SE and SS. That Coyote is amazing. 30th Cobra Officer brought a tear to my eye. Here’s hoping we can get this stuff at some point.
If I had to pick 1 figure out of all these for them to actually make it’d be Zombie Cobra Commander..with Heat Viper a close second.
Which ones do I think are cool? ALL of them. My daughter would LOVE the Coyote (as would I). There’s a lot of mileage left in the brand, and here’s the proof in these pictures.
Who’s that in #45? It looks like Michael Biehn…
There was a lot of cool figures in this display! The only thing that was kind of weird was the Zombie Attack thing. Did Cobra go Compound Z crazy or something? lol
It makes me a little sad to see Kwinn in with the cancels. 30 for 30 would have been a hit.
That Coyote breaks my heart too. Good thing I didn’t see a Roadblock.
True!
They made a freaking COYOTE!? Damn you Hasbro. Even worse is Zombie line. Why did they have to scrap it? And Renegades Scrap Iron, and a show accurate Storm Shadow (with unmasked head)! Hasbro, what the hell were you thinking?
Love that Coyote. The Steel Wolf for Retaliation looked very good too.
AHHHHH So much I would love to have! Give me the full shelves of Renegades and Zombie Attack toys. What really hurts is seeing the drawings of Cobra La. They designed a snake Cobra Commander!
Right there with you, Shogi. I HAVE to see these sketches. I’m crushed!
No doubt. Six months later and it still smarts.
Some really cool stuff there.
There are some great figures sprinkled throughout, but those vehicles are a hit -every single one. I think they’d have a homerun issuing the Coyote as a Cobra transport but using ez-stick logos on the side to change factions a la Chameleon Mode (Cobra, ASP Delivery, Joe, IG, Okotober Guard, whoever). Like the Black Dragon, it wouldn’t necessarily need to be “Renegades”. But my vote would go to the “Steel Wolf” for sure. Better than anything the Avengers have!
Hit And Run looks awesome!
No one thought to pose the arms on that Renegades Scarlett?
Ow. This hurts me in my heart of hearts. That is a LOT of ridiculously awesome stuff we’re not getting. I can’t even comment on it all, except for the blue ninja with the skull. AWESOME. All of it is awesome. And among all the reuse of parts is a lot of new items as well! At the very least, I know we’ll see a lot of this stuff, because Hasbro does not waste molds. Just a matter of HOW we’ll see them.
Gonna be some hearts breaking. Some jimmies rustled (including mine)
I’d buy every 30th figure there, and all the Ninjas. So glorious.
The Renegade stuff looks terrific and the zombies are a lark.
I believe as Alexx does, that we’ll see this stuff in another form sometime/somehow/somewhere.
I pray that even a portion of this comes to light.
That Beachhead makes the retaliation version look, like, absolute crap
Man to see these up close. But I thought that Kwinn was to be released at some point? Were there any rumors or has anyone found out anything?
What torture. Great idea on the polls. Can’t wait to participate. The Flint and Lady Jaye have me salivating like one of Pavlov’s dogs…Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings. Excellent coverage Generalsjoes!
I..what is this…? Zombies…renegades…the STEEL WOLF…missing characters we’ve been waiting for an update…? I rest my case. But its nice to see what ”could have been”.
We NEED that Flint and Lady Jay. Followed by Beachhead and Hit & Run. I like that Laser Viper, but the helmet needs some more work. If they put out only HALF of those SB ideas that would be killer.
I’ll take everything on that Ninja Shelf(I have a ninja addiction :)). That Ghost Ninja is the winner though.
Lastly, I think a Zombie 7-Pack would be great. If anything just to get a Classic Cobra Commander W/O a diaper crotch.
hope we can see more pics of the coyote with the features like the slide roof the door and the hood, thanks a lot for the pics and the great work justin
Some really really awesome vehicle designs.
:'(
Does Hasbro not see how asinine it is to show 75 products they have no plan on producing the same day they reveal the next two waves of movie toys? No offense to anybody that likes the Retaliation line, but to me the protoypes are way more impressive.
I’m pretty sure they’ve had a display like this every year ever since the 25th line began. There may be actual planned product sprinkled throughout but I’m pretty sure the majority of this stuff is just customs to show what could be done with existing parts.
Who’s the green, obviously O13 guy with a new head?
Probably Grunt. I think he was rumored for a remack, but maybe we can get a confirmation.
If you are at the convention, I really hope all the people who are posting here will ask Hasbro some of these questions. It seems like most people just “ahhh” at whatever product Hasbro shows, without questioning them on their decisions. It should also be noted that there’s a big possibility, given Hasbro’s recent track record, that the stuff you’re gushing over isn’t even going to make it to retail.
One thing that bugs me personally is that Hasbro is crying about costs and saying that this is the reason for reduced articulation, price increases, etc, but a lot of those “Concept Figures” not planned for release seem to at least have made it to mold stage, So Hasbro has 100s of thousands of dollars to create new molds for figures that will never be released, but doesn’t have the money to keep the figures that are released at the previously established level of quality?
Are you kidding me?
Not to sidetrack a good time at the convention, but I wonder if our “big box store” chains are the ones that demand a certain price point?
I guess my question to Hasbro would be something like, back in the day, Hasbro would make something cool, and then go out and sell it.
Maybe if someone from Hasbro could compare 1984 to 2011, and tell us the factors in what makes things more cost-prohibitive now, than then?
I would think a 7-1/2 foot long play set was not an easy sell?
The “big box store” chains (particularly Wal-Mart) have a large control over what gets sold in their stores. Hasbro can design whatever product they want but if those chains aren’t interested in it, Hasbro is screwed unless they can find another outlet for it. For example, back when Transformers Energon was out Hasbro had plans to release a redeco of the Seacons as a giftset as a Wal-Mart exclusive but Wal-Mart backed out of it so Hasbro had to find a new outlet for it. It took them 4 years before it was eventually released to through the club.
As for new molds, what you’re seeing in these photos, aside from actual yet to be released figures like Kwinn, are most likely either parts from existing molds that have been modified or newly hand sculpted.
best pictures of these that anyone posted, im now going to go cry to sleep
I agree! Nice job!
Some of the best Joe stuff I’ve seen in a while. Would have been special to have this stuff dove tail into retail after POC. Thanks for the in depth coverage, Justin; I’d rather see these pieces and cry than never see them at all.
Cool stuff Hasbro but dear God why? Why would you not release any of that? I would kill for a Coyote for my Renegades team. Scrap Iron looks amazing and those two Dukes are killer.
That Flint and LJ are the absolute perfect version of those two characters. Why would you not release them? There is a serious market and appetite for this kind of work. I will say that the later waves of the Retaliation stuff is showing a lot of promise but this stuff is gold.
Hasbro you sons of *****! They really know how to shoot themselves in the foot, don’t they. Only they don’t use a gun, but a 120MM cannon.
Thank you for sharing!
The Coyote and Flint’s Jeep would have been easy purchases for me. They seem very true to the cartoon series form, and look like a lot of fun to play with!
That big armored transport has my interest, too….!
The vehicles and zombies look cool, but the remakes of O-ring figures is one of the reasons I do not buy many Joe figures anymore.
“Mmm. Yes, yes, this stuff is great. Some of your best work yet, Joe design team. I see you have the requisite Dukes and Snake Eyes and various ninjas, but manage to have a healthy mix of new and lesser known characters. That could go over well with collectors. Zombies are very chic right now, so those could sell like hot cakes. And, oh, look, you are celebrating your 30th anniversary. Look at that! Wow! Way to go! And okay, again, I want to emphasize that this is some great work, folks. Gangbusters! But bare with me. What if – and bare in mind your baring doesn’t hold any actual weight because I make the decisions and you make a substantially lower wage – what if instead of releasing some of your most intricate, best looking product to do date, you celebrate your 30th anniversary by cancelling all of this, disregarding your lam little milestone and -Hold on. You in the corner, quit scowling or I’ll use your 401k to wall paper my dog’s guest house!! – So, as I was saying, what if we cancel all of this and release a line of toys that includes figures with less articulation, including some with less than the original straight arm figures, based on another movie which may or may not even come out that year? Does that sound like something you can either do or quit over in a bad economy? Mmmm? Great. Now get out so that I can pow wow with Michael Bay about his new Jem as an alien stripper with guns for hands idea. Tha-aaaanks.”
– High Ranking Hasbro executive, early 2011.
Justin,
Two questions:
1. Any idea what the picutre of the snake with the man is supposed to be?
2. Also does anyone know what the idea with the Zombies and Ninjas was supposed to be? I love them, but both would have been pretty radical departures from POC or the 30th. Were they supposed to run alongside POC/30th or were they replacement lines?
Thanks
Jay West
That is a Cobra-La Cobra Commander. Probably the only figure I’m glad they scrapped.
I just took a better look at the picture and I see you are right. Yeah I wouldn’t want that either, but I know some would. Thanks for the info.
Quote :”In talking with John Warden and Derryl, they were certain to point out that these are all definitely concepts and not to expect release on anything shown here, however, they were very interested to hear in our favorites. They strongly encouraged communication with Hasbro to express our interest in some of these offerings.”
When did updates to classic characters in this style, become “concepts”? The zombie stuff, and I love zombies, is a concept. That Flint, Lady Jaye, Beachhead, Shipwreck, etc. are no different than anything they threw out there for POC or 30th. Why so timid now?
Since they need reassurance that there is interest in the same style of toy they’ve been pushing out for awhile now, how do I contact someone worth a damn at Hasbro to tell them that I would love to purchase figures that should be a no-brainer for production? Not every fan is at the Con and I don’t think customer service will actually pass my e-mail to the proper people.
The updated classic characters are things we’ve gotten already in some form though. I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure that stuff is more just to show what can be done with existing parts than stuff they intended to put out at some point. They’ve had displays like this every year since the 25th line started.
Yes, but them asking if we’d like to have them especially when they fit perfectly with POC/30th is silly. I already know they can kitbash some great figures.
We may have gotten, say Hit N Run, but I want something that fits into a display of classic or new characters that have a modern look. To have it waved in front of my face is what angers my blood.
True, but now that I’m seeing those collectible min-figs, I think the bulk of these things were intended for release. I see little versions of the ghost ninja, zombie Cobra Commander, and 30th Flint and Lady Jaye in the mix.
Anything is possible. After seeing the mini-figs I’m wondering if this is stuff that they were planning for after the movie line but had to scrap a lot of it because of the movie delay. The mini-figs were probably going to hit around the same time but since the movie line doesn’t have any impact on that sort of product, they’re going on with it.
My first-born for that Flint.
Your move, Hasbro.
What really kills me is that these “new” figures are mostly kit bashes. I’m not so naive as to think they could be put into production tomorrow but I think producing these would be a lot less expensive than if they were 100% new sculpts.
What really kills me is that these “new” figures are mostly kit bashes. I’m not so naive as to think they could be put into production tomorrow but I think producing these would be a lot less expensive than if they were 100% new sculpts.
Suggest this: If Hasbro is not so sure about a design, if it sells or not, why not do a subscription service? At least we as fans can vote with our money what we want and Hasbro gets the sales it badly needed, plus no problem with the retailers since Hasbro sells the figures themselves. they won’t have problems over stocking because every figure produce goes to someone. All they have to do is have a good logistics team.
Hasbro tried selling directly to consumers before over a decade ago with their first online store. They ended up shutting it down because the big retailers weren’t happy with it. They wont take that risk again.
Ha, that first Renegades Snake-Eyes pic looks like he just let out a major fart.
A surprising amount of different generic Joe troopers.
Is BBTS at the Con? Tell ’em to get on some Ninja and Zombie 7-packs.
Please release that version of Lady Jaye as a regular figure and not as an exclusive. Excellent job to the design team.
All I can say is, thank God those ****ing zombie figures won’t see release…
I love the Coyote, I want it for my Collection, and the other Vehicles look great as do the Figures, I am still waiting for more “New” Designs so of the Retal stuff that I got is re-hashed crap and the HISS is horrible, so cheaply built, and the Ghost hawk, I have already started to fix the MANY problems, the Steel wolf looks Like part of the Avengers? am I right? Yes I will buy, But I will only if I deem it good enough. SO HASBRO if your listening, dont make them as cheap as you did with the Joe:2 Movie toys….. I have been a collector for years, think about us.
1. KWINN
2. FLINT
3. LADY JAYE
4. HIT & RUN
5. DREADNOK TROOPER (!!!)
6 SLIPSTREAM (I think that’s who it is behind Dreadnok Trooper)
7. GHOST NINJA
8. GRUNT (great head sculpt!)
9. ZARTAN
10. BEACHHEAD
Please Hasbro!!!
The vast majority of these figures look fantastic. I sure hope that they will eventually see release.
Some quick thoughts on the showing:
– I would be all about a zombie subset in GI Joe. A zombie outbreak due to Cobra craziness makes more sense than a bunch of ninjas running around a battlefield…
– I have very mixed feelings about Hit & Run, one of my favorite characters. The sculpting looks amazing, but the face (which looks great) just doesn’t say Hit & Run to me… It looks too grizzled. I also wish the camo colors on his face were a deeper shade of green…
– Updates of Flint, Clutch, Beachhead, Snow Serpent, Eel, Tele Viper and many others look amazing. I’m not impressed with the Shipwreck or Lady Jaye, though. Neither seem to be improvements on previous releases.
– Bring on Heat Viper, Data Viper and that cool looking diver, please!
– I love the idea of a black ops subset that may or may not be affiliated with the Joes…
– I just don’t get the Kwinn love… (I’m a Sunbow guy…)
Those ninja zombies are amazing. Now look at my user name it is ninjazombie!! I am ninjazombie! ! I would have bought a zillion of thoes!!!