While Toy Fair news was pretty sparse in the way of Hasbro’s G.I. Joe line, the G.I. Joe Collectors Club started this week off on the right foot with a nice look at the upcoming 12″ Mike Power “Atomic Man” as well as a report that FSS 4.0 would start arriving “in the next week or so”!
Please bear with me today as I try and power through some post Toy Fair recap and news reports, both within and outside of the G.I. Joe realm.
First and foremost, for any G.I. Joe fans who are concerned with the recent rumors of the future of the G.I. Joe Collectors Club and JoeCon itself, the folks from the Regular Joes podcast posted an episode discussing this very event.
Anyone who has listened to this podcast before knows that these guys are long time G.I. Joe fans and collectors who really have their fingers on the pulse of things when it comes to the G.I. Joe Collectors Club. I’m not saying this episode has any sort of secret inside information or anything, but Barry, Dave, and Todd certainly know their stuff, and any insight they provide here should be considered quite valuable.
In the 1960’s Hasbro, quite simply, wasn’t what it is today. Beginning in 1923, the Hassenfeld brothers formed a company selling textile remnants, then migrated to school supplies, and finally, in the 1940’s spun off into producing toys. In 1952 with the arrival of Mr. Potato Head, they finally had a big toy brand to call their own.
Meanwhile, Mattel was rolling hard and strong with Barbie, and while Hasbro was doing okay, it wasn’t in the same league as its west coast competition.
Then came 1963. Then came the revelation that they could do what Mattel is doing and make a Barbie…but make it a Barbie for boys.
G.I. Joe was born.
Pitched in 1963, the brand depended on a successful reception at Toy Fair in New York City to spring forward into production. Deals were made in New York, not in the backrooms in the months leading up to what is now essentially a press event. Brands literally lived and died by their presentation.
It all came down to this.
With the above film reel from 1963, Hasbro officially convinced American retailers to buy into this brand. In 1964 and 1965 G.I. Joe made up 75% of Hasbro’s sales, and while it dipped in the late 70’s, it rebounded in the 80s to become the first multi-media toyline release with a cartoon, comic book, and landmark series of highly articulated action figures all hitting at once. It was an incredible feat of marketing the likes of which had never been seen before, and have rarely been replicated to such perfection even 30+ years later.
It all came down to that nine minute video. The concept of Action Figures was born there, and lives on today.
Today, three decades later, G.I. Joe remains one of the most recognized American icons and toy brands around the world.
Hey, all you 12″ fans, remember how mad you were when Hasbro wasn’t celebrating the 50th Anniversary? Well the G.I. Joe Collectors Club has just received the 12″ Lost Talkers! Immaculately recreated from the vintage designs with great new talking ability they are in the store and ready to ship now! Check out the YouTube video below with the press release following.
At long last, the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club is producing the last two figures in the very popular “LOST TALKER” series that started with the G.I. JOE “LOST TALKER” ACTION SOLDIER and the G.I. JOE “LOST TALKER” ACTION MARINE a few years back! These figures are not “lost” because they were never produced, rather because they feature two voice phrases that were recorded back in the 1960s but not included on the original figures released in 1967.
These NEW Club figures have been meticulously reproduced, featuring boxes and uniforms that stay true to the original but are made with today’s best digital production tools. Hear the original “voice of G.I. Joe” as never before as the ORIGINAL recordings are presented with a modern electronic voice box and crystal clear clarity! Many collectors have original talking figures from the vintage G.I. Joe line, but none of them sound like this! Rediscover the magic of your own G.I. Joe figure announcing his service branch and that he is “reporting for duty” along with 7 other phrases – PLUS – two phrases that were thought “lost” to the vaults of time. These figures feature the ORIGINAL recordings you recall from your childhood and two that were NEVER used until NOW!
Order your G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club exclusive LOST TALKER ACTION SAILOR and LOST TALKER ACTION PILOT today! For a preview of the figures, check out the video here.
9/8/2015 – NEW from the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club!
For Immediate Release
At long last, the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club is producing the last two figures in the very popular “LOST TALKER” series that started with the G.I. JOE “LOST TALKER” ACTION SOLDIER and the G.I. JOE “LOST TALKER” ACTION MARINE a few years back! These figures are not “lost” because they were never produced, rather because they feature two voice phrases that were recorded back in the 1960s but not included on the original figures released in 1967.
These NEW Club figures have been meticulously reproduced, featuring boxes and uniforms that stay true to the original but are made with today’s best digital production tools. Hear the original “voice of G.I. Joe” as never before as the ORIGINAL recordings are presented with a modern electronic voice box and crystal clear clarity! Many collectors have original talking figures from the vintage G.I. Joe line, but none of them sound like this! Rediscover the magic of your own G.I. Joe figure announcing his service branch and that he is “reporting for duty” along with 7 other phrases – PLUS – two phrases that were thought “lost” to the vaults of time. These figures feature the ORIGINAL recordings you recall from your childhood and two that were NEVER used until NOW!
Ohh, man. While Pythona is convincing me to remain a 3 3/4″ themed member of the G.I. Joe Collectors Club in 2016, I can confirm without hesitation that I will be also purchasing Mike Power. As most folks know, I love me some science-fiction mixed in with my G.I. Joe, and it doesn’t get much better than the Atomic Man! With an actual LED eye and clear bionic limbs, this 12″ figure looks BOSS. Of course now, if I pick him up, suddenly I’m going to feel like I have to go back and get all these other Adventure Team figures, too… must… resist.
Anyway, check out the first revealed images below as well as the press release. Good looking stuff!
NEW from the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club for 2016!
In 2015, the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club offered the first ever GLOW-IN-THE-DARK 12” G.I. Joe action figure! Doctor Isotope is his name, and he is the membership incentive figure for G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club this year. Anyone who had an active Club membership on March 16 of 2015 received Dr. Isotope in the mail at no additional cost. This unique figure is a villain bent on power and destruction, but as we all know, every great villain needs a strong hero to stand against him!
For 2016, the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club is raising the bar once again by offering a new version of the Classic 1970s figure – MIKE POWER THE ATOMIC MAN, a 12” inch figure which featured clear limbs and an eye that could be made to “blink” by blocking and unblocking the plastic pipe which carried light from the circle on top of the figure’s head to his right eye.
The NEW Atomic Man from the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club will feature kung fu grip hands, clear legs, a clear arm and an ALL-NEW head design which will include an electronic LED light up eye activated by tugging on his Adventure Team dog tag! The figure will come dressed in tee shirt, shorts, and white shoes based on the RARE vintage uniform from the Secret Mountain Outpost for Atomic Man produced in the 1970s. To add to the fun there will be an accessory uniform set for Atomic Man available for separate purchase!
To get the NEW Electronic Mike Power Atomic Man 12” figure, be sure to join the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club by March 16, 2016. With the NEW Atomic Man as a member of the Adventure Team, evil (and Doctor Isotope) won’t stand a chance!
For more information regarding Mike Power, G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club benefits and to JOIN the Club, be sure to visit Gijoeclub.com today!
