by Josh | Apr 23, 2018 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Collectors Club
Another week and another set of reveals from the Club. This week the GI Joe Collectors Club unveiled Lt. Clay Moore and Lance “Clutch” Steinberg. Lt. Clay Moore is based off the Sunbow Character from the episode The Traitor (Part II). The Club also produced him as part of the 2007 “Tanks for the Memories” set. I always enjoy seeing new characters that we really have not received from Hasbro so overall I enjoy this character. I think the overall build of the character is good. I have seen some complaints about the grenades being a little high on his neck and I echo those thoughts. With that said I still feel he looks good and will look great leading the Cobra Shock Troops.
The second reveal we got this week was for Lance “Clutch” Steinberg. The figure is based on the ’84 version and includes a removable helmet and work cones. Released in ’84 as the driver of the VAMP the FSS version looks great and stays true to the original. I have always been a fan of the VAMP and I can’t wait to see him paired up with his vehicle.
We currently sit half way through the reveals of FSS 8.0 and so far so good. Most of the figures look pretty good and I can’t wait to see the rest of the reveals. Make sure to head over to the Club website and sign up before May 2 to be part of FSS 8.0.
COBRA SHOCK TROOPS COMMANDER
Code Name: LT. CLAY MOORE
(Inspired by the Sunbow cartoon & 2007 GIJCC design.)
Includes: removable helmet, grenade bandolier, pistol, knife,
assault rifle, bazooka, backpack with shells x 4, and figure stand.
G.I. JOE V.A.M.P. DRIVER
Code Name: LANCE “CLUTCH” STEINBERG
(Inspired by the 1984 version 2 action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, vest, assault rifle,
pistol, work cones x 2, and figure stand.
by Josh | Apr 17, 2018 | G.I. Joe Collectors Club
Today the Club gave us a peak at Bullet-Proof, the Battle Corps Commander. Bullet-Proof was originally released in ’92 as part of the D.E.F. (Drug Elimination Force). It appears the club has changed the subset away from D.E.F. and gone with the Battle Corps. Bullet-Proof has a similar deco as his original ’92 release but with the FSS version it appears he will have a non-removable helmet. All in all he looks to be a great figure. It’s a shame that we can’t flush out the rest of the D.E.F. team.
Don’t miss out on this figure as well as the rest of the FSS 8.0. Head on over to the Club page and sign up today.
G.I. JOE BATTLE CORPS COMMANDER
Code Name: BULLET-PROOF
(Inspired by the 1992 action figure.)
Includes: removable grenade bandolier, pistol, knife,
rifle, rocket launcher with projectile, and figure stand.
by Josh | Apr 17, 2018 | G.I. Joe Collectors Club
The Club gave us two reveals last week for the FSS 8.0. We got our first glimpse of Fast Draw and Red Laser. While both of the figures look to be parts mash-ups from previous figures they both look put together quite well. As I previously mentioned FSS 8.0 is going to be bittersweet for many of us. I am super excited to see a lot of the figures that have been mentioned in the lineup but I also realize with each reveal we are that closer to wrapping up the Figure Subscription Service. With that said let’s look at Fast Draw and Red Laser.
Fast Draw is inspired by the ’87 release and stays true to the original color scheme. It looks like a lot of the figure comes from the Modern Era Blowtorch figure but I think it works pretty well. Fast Draw also comes with Duke’s launcher from the Pursuit of Cobra and looks ready for battle. All in all I think Fast Draw looks good and will look great with the rest of the ’87 figures.
The next reveal was Red Laser who is inspired by the European exclusive action figure. I personally don’t know a lot of the history on Red Laser so I had to do some searching. According to what I found Red Laser was originally released in ’83 as a repaint of Cobra Commander. He was available in the United Kingdom and Europe and was part of the Red Shadows. It looks like the Club opted for a repaint in this case as well using mostly what appears to be the Ultimate Cobra Commander. He looks really nice with the vibrant red color scheme and skull and crossbones flag.
If you’re interested in the FSS 8.0 make sure to jump over to the GI Joe Collectors Club and get signed up before the May 2nd deadline.
G.I. JOE MOBILE MISSILE SPECIALIST
Code Name: FAST DRAW
(Inspired by the 1987 action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, face mask, revolver pistol,
backpack missile system with 8 projectiles, remote controls x 2,
connection hoses x 2, and figure stand.
RED SHADOWS WEAPONS TECHNICIAN
Code Name: RED LASER
(Inspired by the European exclusive action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, advanced combat rifle,
laser pistol, Red Shadows flag, and figure stand.
by generalsjoes | Apr 6, 2018 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Collectors Club
An unexpected Friday surprise! The G.I. Joe Collectors Club has revealed the line up for the upcoming Figure Subscription Service 8.0! This is expected to be the final FSS as the contract for the Club is expiring, and by the looks of this line up, they’re going out with a bang.
This is a pretty impressive line up, I have to be honest. I love the choices of most of these characters (with the exception of tan Clutch which feels pretty unnecessary, even if he is filling the lone “1984” slot still open).
Recoil? YES.
Capt. Grid-Iron? Love it.
Fast Draw? WOOO!
Blizzard and Bullet-Proof are great choices as well, though it feels a bit late in the game to start revisiting DEF.
My GeneralsJoes cohort Josh has some perspective as well…
Josh: This is a bittersweet day for a lot of collectors. On one hand, we get to see some additional amazing figures from the club, but on the other hand this will be the final reveals that we will see. With the lack of Joe coming from Hasbro the Collectors Club FSS has provided us with a steady stream of figures and I for one am going to miss the reveals and the figures arriving in the mail. The first figure reveal for FSS 8.0 is Captain Grid-Iron. I have to admit I have always been a huge Captain Grid-Iron fan. Originally released in 1990 Grid-Iron spoke to my two greatest loves at the time, GI Joe and Football. The figure is based on the original figure and will sport (no pun intended) a new helmet and re-tooled officer’s pistol. The helmet will be removable and he will also include his signature football.
Good stuff to close out the G.I. Joe licensing contract… check out the full list below as well as an image of Captain Grid-Iron to kick things off!
The cost of FSS 8.0 will be $384 + shipping and can be broken up into installments. As always you will be charged an additional $6 for each installment payment. The deadline for signup is May 2, 2018 so hurry up and sign up today.
G.I. JOE INFANTRY OFFICER
Code Name: CAPTAIN GRID-IRON
(Inspired by the 1990 action figure.)
Features NEW helmet & re-tooled officer’s pistol!
Includes: removable helmet, armored vest, holster with pistol,
officer’s suppressor pistol, football “grenade” and figure stand.
G.I. JOE MOBILE MISSILE SPECIALIST
Code Name: FAST DRAW
(Inspired by the 1987 action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, face mask, revolver pistol,
backpack missile system with 8 projectiles, remote controls x 2,
connection hoses x 2, and figure stand.
RED SHADOWS WEAPONS TECHNICIAN
Code Name: RED LASER
(Inspired by the European exclusive action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, advanced combat rifle,
laser pistol, Red Shadows flag, and figure stand.
G.I. JOE BATTLE CORPS COMMANDER
Code Name: BULLET-PROOF
(Inspired by the 1992 action figure.)
Includes: removable grenade bandolier, pistol, knife,
rifle, rocket launcher with projectile, and figure stand.
COBRA SHOCK TROOPS COMMANDER
Code Name: LT. CLAY MOORE
(Inspired by the Sunbow cartoon & 2007 GIJCC design.)
Includes: removable helmet, grenade bandolier, pistol, knife,
assault rifle, bazooka, backpack with shells x 4, and figure stand.
G.I. JOE V.A.M.P. DRIVER
Code Name: LANCE “CLUTCH” STEINBERG
(Inspired by the 1984 version 2 action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, vest, assault rifle,
pistol, work cones x 2, and figure stand.
G.I. JOE ARCTIC ATTACK SOLDIER
Code Name: GREG “BLIZZARD” NATALE
(Inspired by the 1988 action figure.)
Includes: removable arctic coat, sniper rifle, backpack,
skis x 2, ski poles x 2, boot cleats x 2, and figure stand.
G.I. JOE DEFIANT SHUTTLE PILOT
Code Name: PAYLOAD
(Inspired by the 1987 action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, MMU backpack,
control arms x 2, and figure stand.
COBRA B.A.T. LEADER
Code Name: OVER KILL
(Inspired by the 2003 version 2 action figure.)
Includes: removable helmet, harness, “human” face mask,
neckerchief, gauntlet, claw hands x 2, rivet gun,
hand-held assault weapon, and figure stand.
G.I. JOE L.R.R.P. TROOPER
Code Name: RECOIL
(Inspired by the 1989 action figure.)
Features re-tooled mine case & dual weapon!
Includes: removable helmet, tactical harness, pistol,
assault rifle, mine case, dual tactical weapon,
backpack, combat knife, radio, and figure stand.
G.I. JOE NINJA COMMANDO
Code Name: BUSHIDO
(Inspired by the 1993 action figure.)
Features NEW samurai face mask!
Includes: removable samurai helmet with face mask,
tactical harness, double sheath with swords x 2,
Kusarigama weapon, and figure stand.
COBRA MERCENARY
Code Name: MUNITIA
(Inspired by the 2008 DTC: GIJCC action figure.)
Features NEW head sculpt!
Includes: bladed pistol, assault rifle, radio, and figure stand.
NOTE: These modern era club exclusive action figures will not be exact replicas of their vintage counterparts.All images are Photoshop mock-up representations, final product, accessories and/or colors will vary!
The cost of the twelve-figure subscription service is $384.00 (+ shipping for 6 shipments). You can pay all at once or in three installments of $128.00 (billed to your credit card). When you subscribe and choose to pay by Installment, you will be billed for the first two month’s shipments. Then in October 2018, you will be billed for the 3rd and 4th months’ shipments and finally in December 2018, you will be billed for the final two months’ shipments. Upon subscription completion, you will receive a bonus carded 13th mystery figure with the last shipment.
Please note that for the installment payment option, there is a $6 service charge per billing while the pay in full option has one $6 service charge. Please also note that for installment buyers, there is an additional charge each time a billing is attempted if your card is not approved. If your card has been declined and we have to re-bill, we will only be able to retry your billing three (3) times before your subscription is cancelled. Each retry has an additional fee added to your total charge (please see the Terms and Conditions.)
This Figure Subscription Service is a “build to order process” so you can order as many as you like, until the order period closes. At that time, we will not process any more subscriptions and we may/may not have additional figures in the club store at a higher per figure price.
Please note that the figure previews are Photoshop mock-ups and the final product may vary. Also, the colors are approximate as some may look more glossy or metallic on your monitor screen and everyone’s computer has a different color calibration.
Final figures colors/names/accessories will vary from the descriptions and preview pictures.
by Josh | Mar 31, 2018 | Uncategorized
Boss Fight Studio has headed back to Kickstarter with their follow-up campaign to the highly successful Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. figures. This time around they are launching their new Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. 1:18 Articulated Horses. The horses look absolutely amazing and will be a great compliment to the rest of the Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. figures. Each horse comes fully assembled but has the ability to be easily customized. As part of the Kickstarter campaign they are also offering tack kits to outfit the horses and gear kits to customize the Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. Blanks or carded figures. They have some great stretch goals as part of this campaign such as an Elk, unlocked at $210,000 or Male Centaur Kits to turn your house into a Centaur, unlocked at $315,000. Of course there are many other stretch goals that you can check out as part of the campaign. As of this writing the campaign sits at $84,618 of its $125,000 goal. It has 42 days left and is performing very well. Check it out today and jump on board. This looks like another fantastic Kickstarter by Boss Fight Studio. Head on over to Kickstarter to see more pictures, information and get your pledge in.
by generalsjoes | Mar 29, 2018 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Comics, IDW
A guest post by Skinny
Milestone.
It is a word that you don’t hear used a lot any more. That is because they just don’t happen too much any more. Our lives today are fast, We don’t follow Ferris Bueller’s advice to stop and look around. We also don’t put our hair in a mohawk in the shower. What I mean is, life is even faster and we can only take things in chunks. Anything long lasting is intimidating. G.I.Joe from day one continues to be something that was built to last. An exception.
It all began in 1982 when Hasbro visited the Marvel Offices and sought out a creator to bring their re-envisioned version of G.I.Joe to life. Chosen by elimination, Larry Hama took what could have been a side project and infused it with real storytelling.
The late Herb Trimpe, a veteran at Marvel comics, brought his art to the table. Jim Shooter, Todd McFarlane, Rod Whigham, Ron Wagner, Andrew Wildman, Michael Goldman, Mike Zeck, Mike Vosburg and most recently S.L. Gallant, Brian Shearer, J. Brown and Netho Diaz among countless others all contributed to the success and look of G.I.Joe.
250 issues. It has run from 1982 to 1994 and then again in 2010 picking up exactly where they left off in 1994. There were a few half issues in there expanding the stories from the sidelines, but the official 250th issue comes out today.
We have seen new characters, beloved comic only characters, the deaths of characters, the rebirths of characters, minds reprogrammed, cat fights, towns taken over, civil war, alien robots, disguises, close calls, patriotism, imposters, flashbacks, characters seeing the light, ninjas, detailed locales based on reality, a little bit of advice, military jargon, comical moments, and even one issue used as the basis for a movie about a giant asteroid hurtling toward Earth. It is the golden boy and Mom’s apple pie vs Orson Welles in a hood. It is the many faces of diversity both physical and of character.
The characters as Larry has admitted in several interviews are based on the people he knows so he can keep track of them. This provides a wonderful consistency and is the main reason no one can ever really nail down the character’s essences like he can. It would be like you trying to write about someone else’s uncle. You could get some things right but there would be something missing. I would love to meet the practical joker Airtight is based on he/she must be a wild one.
G.I.Joe is centered around the life of a stand out main character, who cannot talk. Imagine creating this tragic tale of a man who expresses himself in other ways besides speech. It is indeed a tragic tale. G.I. Joe, says Hama, is Junior woodchucks with guns. G.I. Joe takes us all around the world and back in time. G.I.Joe is different things to different people. Hama himself says it best however.
“They don’t understand the intrinsic fantasy. G.I.Joe isn’t a military fantasy, it’s not a war book, it’s a fantasy about loyalty and camaraderie. Which to a ten year old kid is an extremely powerful fantasy because every ten year old kid has been betrayed. Obviously. The idea of best friends that never let you down and will stand up for you; if you are in trouble they will come and get you. That’s a powerful fantasy and its also a fantasy of doing the right thing and having integrity without looking for the reward and about duty, and old fashioned things like that… that to a kid represents order and it’s very comforting.” (Larry Hama YoutubeInterview by Roy Turner 2018)
To center a comic around that theme, and not just make it a toy comic, pushed it into the pantheon of comics that last into the hundreds of issues. Iconic comics.
Milestones.
by Josh | Mar 9, 2018 | Uncategorized
Here is a quick update on one of the active Kickstarters going on right now. If you haven’t got in on the action check out the email below and head over to
Kickstarter to back it. As of this posting the Kickstarter is at 72% funded with 8 days to go.
Email from James M. Kavanaugh Jr.
Hi all! The Kickstarter is currently at 42%. That’s great but we only have ten days left, I know we can drive it home! A successful Kickstarter is the only way a reprint with updates will be available within the near future. This includes having copies available at the 2018 Joe Con this year in Chattanooga. I’m not trying to be conditional or seem negative, I just want people who are on the fence to know how important this Kickstarter is to fund.
But on a brighter side, these volumes will now be updated, corrected, and fully reflect our journey through the 4″ G.I. Joe toy line. These guides are perfect for completing collections or to seemingly hold an entire collection in your hands all at once. Let’s continue to make the Rank & File guide series available for G.I. Joe collectors and enthusiasts!
Thanks for any and all contributions!!
Sincerely,
James M. Kavanaugh Jr.
Owner/Author of R.A.H.C. Guidebooks
Thanks for your support!!
by generalsjoes | Mar 5, 2018 | Boss Fight Studio
This spring’s New Jersey Collectors’ Con has come and gone, and there were a ton of great reveals from the folks at Boss Fight Studio. While we’ve already seen some sporadic images from the show floor itself, over on ToyArk they’ve posted some insane galleries featuring all of the new figures that were shown. I’ve mirrored a small selection of their images below, but you can hit up ToyArk directly to see over 100 images of these great looking items!
This includes figures tentatively scheduled for Series 02, Waves 04 and 05:
- Naga Serpent
- Barbarian
- Gargoyle
- Dragon Harvester
- Half Orc Mage
- Psionic Warrior
Along with this, several great images of Bucky O’Hare figures were shown as well, including the previously unknown Stealth Deadeye Duck and Aniverse Bucky O’Hare releases!
Some more details were shown about the upcoming Mighty Steed Kickstarter, scheduled to hit this month, including the apparent inclusion of Aspen’s Elk!
Finally, we got a nice look at the Hellhounds, an upcoming product release from Dream Concept Studios, the folks who brought us the Zombie Lab Kickstarter not so long ago.
Man, I’m really digging the looks of those Hellhounds!
Lots of cool stuff revealed at the show, and if this is what the independent toy scene is looking like these days, I’m cool with G.I. Joe being off retail shelves for a little while. Check out ToyArk.com for even more images than what I’ve shared above.
by generalsjoes | Mar 3, 2018 | Boss Fight Studio
New Jersey Collectors Con is going this weekend, and as usual the folks from Boss Fight Studio are in attendance and have revealed some paint masters for upcoming Vitruvian HACKS product!
Thanks to Matt McGrath over at the Boss Fighters Facebook Group, we’ve got some awesome first looks at Wave 4 and potentially Wave 5 product of Series 02 Vitruvian HACKS.
Wave 4 is rumored to include the following:
- Gargoyle
- Barbarian
- Naga Serpent
And according to last year’s NJCC it was also supposed to include Twylla the Faerie, but it’s unknown if that’s still the plan.
We also got a look at the Dragon Harvester (who has appeared in concept art, but her specific assortment has not been announced), Orc Mage and the Psionic Warrior.
Keep posted, I’m sure there will be some more reveals throughout the weekend, especially with the Horse Kickstarter happening this month!
by generalsjoes | Feb 26, 2018 | Boss Fight Studio
Happy Monday and I’m adding to the review queue today with a three pack of reviews for the Vitruvian Basics line from Boss Fight Studio! Designed as a less expensive alternative to facilitate army building and customizing, these Basics figures also manage to add some fantastic depth to the mythology and integrate real nicely with the Character Creator Kits as well.
Check out these three reviews at the Vitruvian Basics Review Page or click the links directly below. Also don’t forget that the VitruvianFACTS Wiki Page is out there, too for some more great detail on this fantastic toy line!
