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Season 5 of Star Wars: Clone Wars footage pays homage to G.I.Joe

I haven’t talked about because well, it’s Star Wars, but  down in Florida right now the latest Star Wars Celebration is going on.  This is pretty much the year’s biggest Star Wars event, and they have debuted some great footage from Clone Wars Season 5 over on IGN.com.

Throughout the footage, a key character named Embo appears, with his trusty animal sidekick.  There is apparently some significant acrobatics, and the bounty hunter Embo has a pretty unique friendship with this animal.  Embo is also notoriously… silent.

If this whole dynamic seems familiar, it should.  According to Clone Wars supervising director Dave Filoni, Embo and his compatriot were clearly modeled after G.I. Joe ninja Snake Eyes and Timber.  IGN says the following in regards to the homage:

“After the clip was over, Filoni talked about how the quiet and deadly Embo and his fearsome and loyal pet were, “My homage to Snake Eyes and Timber.” As a kid, Filoni was a big G.I. Joe fan and recalls how cool he thought Snake-Eyes was, exclaiming, “He’s a ninja and he’s got a wolf!? Are you kidding me!?”

A pretty cool tip of the hat.  Thanks to Dan Uthman on Twitter for the heads up, and check out IGN.com for the full details, including  The trailer for Clone Wars Season 5, which contains a brief snippet of the footage described above.

Latest previews for IDW Cobra #16 and Danger Girl and G.I. Joe #2

More new G.I. Joe comics are hitting comic shops tomorrow, featuring the latest installment in the fantastic Cobra series by Mike Costa and Antonio Fuso as well as the second issue of the Danger Girl/G.I. Joe crossover!

Check out the previews below.

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Cobra #16

Mike Costa (w) • Antonio Fuso (a) • Antonio Fuso (c)

THE HUNT IS ON! The key to all of Cobra’s secrets is in the crossfire as FLINT’s secret G.I. Joe squad converges on FIREFLY and BLACKLIGHT! Everyone has their own agenda—and everybody has a lot of guns! It’s not-stop action and betrayal as secrets come to light and bodies hit the floor!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

*Variant covers:

Variant Joe Eisma & Juan Castro cover!

Bullet points:                                                                                             

  • NEW CHARACTERS! NEW MISSION!
  • SAME CUTTING-EDGE STORYTELLING!

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Danger Girl/G.I. Joe #2

Andy Hartnell (w) • John Royle (a) • J. Scott Campbell X 2 (c)

It’s the most dangerous event of the summer, and the action continues right here!  COBRA’s surprise attack has brought the G.I. JOE team to its knees.  But when Lady Jaye learns that Flint has gone missing behind enemy lines, she joins forces with the Danger Girls on a covert mission that aims to rescue her man and get the Joes back on their feet!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

*Variant covers:

Variant Black & White J. Scott Campbell variant cover!

IDW Solicitations for G.I. Joe titles – November, 2012

The latest solicitations for IDW G.I. Joe titles released in November, 2012 have been released.  The last issue from the G.I. Joe/Danger Girl crossover is offered as well as the latest installments from Snake Eyes, G.I. Joe, Cobra, and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.  Some exciting things on the horizon, including the IDW debut of the Oktober Guard!

Check out all of the solicitations with cover images after the jump.

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It’s the story, stupid – how I learned to love the new sculpt era again

It started with an interesting website article that was posted by a friend of mine a short while ago.  An opinion piece from Toy News Online which mentioned the need for narrative stories in children’s toys today.  I know us collectors don’t like to think of what we buy as “children’s toys” but at the core of our consciousness, I think we all understand that’s where this journey began.

Over the past few years, Hasbro has been producing some of the best toys they have made in a very, very long time…if not ever.  Using amazing inspiration from past G.I. Joe toys, other 80’s influences, and lots of great modern military equipment, the G.I. Joe team of 2010 – 2013 is an amazing collection of fantastically articulated, amazingly produced toys.

There’s only one problem…  who are these guys?  Who are they fighting?  Why are they fighting?  Why is Destro, who typically is a behind-the-scenes guy, strapping on a thick armored body suit and jumping into the action with a chain gun?  Why is Cobra Commander now wearing a skull mask and metal chest plate?  Does this story take place after the Rise of Cobra, or have we spun out into yet another universe.  I’ve been somewhat surprised to see that other collectors don’t seem to be curious about these things.  Sure, I might get flak for not having enough “imagination” but at some point I think a narrative voice is necessary to breath life into these characters.  If not necessary, it sure as hell helps.

Click the Read the Rest of the Story link below for the full article.

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And now for something completely different… TMNT Classics at Amazon

I’ve been seeing a ton of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles love in my Twitter stream, and I would imagine for many of you, the love is there, too.  TMNT took up a large chunk of many of our childhoods, from the awesome Mirage comics to the pervasive animated series…

But one thing we haven’t really had were cartoon accurate action figures that were actually decent toys.  That’s all changed!  Apparently, Toys “R” Us around the country have started stocking these Classic TMNT figures and apparently they are… amazing.  Both Newton Gimmick at Infinite Hollywood and Adam over at 16bit.com has some especially kind things to say about them.

Well, seeing as how I don’t have a Toys “R” Us near me, I was a bit discouraged…but hey, a timely email from Amazon.com cheered me up!  They have all of the TMNT classics in stock, and at a discount.  Throw in some Super Saver Shipping, and they just might be cheaper than retail.

I know I don’t usually talk about a whole lot other than G.I. Joe, but like Thundercats, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a pretty big part of my childhood, so I thought it was important to mention this here.  Click the links below to buy ’em up at Amazon.com.

A good discount and some awesome toys.  Can’t go wrong!

IDW Previews for G.I. Joe #16

Hitting comic shops this Wednesday is the newest issue of IDW’s ongoing G.I. Joe series.  Check out the preview below.

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G.I. Joe #16

Chuck Dixon (w) • Will Rosado (a) • Tommy Lee Edwards (c)

DEEP TERROR concludes! Scarlett and Team Bravo are trapped a mile beneath the Earth’s surface with an army of COBRA killers beneath on their tail! Their only hope is—Mainframe? Also: COBRA’s too-public campaign to destroy the Joes rolls on. How can America’s super-secret heroes survive in the light of day?

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

*Variant covers:

Black & White Tommy Lee Edwards cover!

Bullet points:

  • All-new direction for G.I. JOE continues!