by generalsjoes | Jan 5, 2016 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Collectors Club
Well, it’s still a mystery, for the most part. Folks are still suspecting that Fun Publications’ license with Hasbro will expire (and not be renewed) at the end of 2016. So far we have neither seen nor heard anything to contradict this.
Over on the GIJoeClub Message Board, a thread has opened up with an inquiry into this, but still no information is imminent.
At this point the most succinct reply is to “Check the January newsletter” for more information on their membership plans. This does continue to sound ominous, however, there is also a post on the forum there that mentions 2016 Club members being eligible to purchase FSS 5.0. That, of course, begs the question… will there be an FSS 5.0 if the license expires in 2016?
Perhaps Fun Publications will just not be able to hold a convention, yet can still produce product? Or if they launch FSS 5.0 within the 2016 calendar year, does that still fall within their license period?
Still many more questions than answers, though it sounds like once the January newsletter hits, we should get at least some information and some idea of what’s to come.
One thing is clear, and it was especially evident as I ran down my list of Top 10 figures for 2015, from a product standpoint, the Club going away would be unfortunate. There was some great figures released through the FSS and Convention in 2015, and with the G.I. Joe fandom especially grasping for any crumbs, this seems like a bad time to take away whatever morsels we might get.
Stay tuned.
by generalsjoes | Dec 31, 2015 | 50th Anniversary, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Collectors Club, G.I. Joe Kre-O, G.I. Joe Toys
The last couple of years as I sat down to write this up, I think ‘oh, this will be easy this year…there was barely any product’!
Then I go through all of my reviews over the past 12 months and realize that for a line that is supposedly on prolonged life support, we still got some GREAT stuff in 2015. Really great stuff.
Now, I migrated to a new review system in 2015, one that makes calculating review scores a bit more granular. But, I’ll be honest… I still went by the seat of my pants on this rundown, and looked at these figures from the perspective of a 100 mile view. It can be tough to write up a review “hot off the presses” right when I get a figure in hand, because honestly, that’s often when I’m in love the most. It can be tough to be impartial that close to the newness of that toy for the first time.
So I whittled down the list and ultimately looked at figures that I could step away from for a little while and gauge my appreciation.
The results are after the break.
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by generalsjoes | Dec 29, 2015 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe 3, G.I. Joe Collectors Club, G.I. Joe Comics, G.I. Joe Toys, G.I. Joe Video Game, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, G.I. Joe: The Movie, IDW, Kindle Worlds
At any given time throughout 2015 it felt like a pretty slow news year for G.I. Joe, but as always, when you stop and look back, suddenly things don’t look quite so small.
Granted G.I. Joe product at retail was pretty much focused to a singular burst in late summer as the 50th Anniversary exploded, then faded, even though we got Convention product and FSS figures earlier in the year. With all that being said, it still feels like there were plenty of “banner moments” in G.I. Joe news for the year that was.
News was breaking right up until the last moment, and I’m actually a bit worried that if I post this prior to December 31st I might end up missing something!
Click the “read more” link below to check out the full list!
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by generalsjoes | Dec 22, 2015 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Collectors Club
A few months ago word emerged that Hasbro had signed a deal with an International convention holder focused on developing a worldwide “Transformers Experience” and many folks feared what that meant for an annual Botcon. I’ll be honest, I kind of glossed over it myself, thinking that it was probably an entirely separate type of thing.
I might have been wrong.
According to AllSpark, word has emerged that the G.I. Joe and Transformers Collectors Club may be ending their agreement with Hasbro by the end of 2016.
There is no official word on this, so take it with a huge grain of salt right now, but a look at the Terms and Conditions on the Collectors Club membership renewals reveals the following:
Please note that at this time we are only accepting memberships and renewals for the 2016 calendar year. All memberships will end with the December 2016 issue. For example: if your membership renewal has a February start date, you will receive the FREE membership figure in the late spring along with 11 monthly issues. If your membership renewal has a March start date, you will receive the FREE membership figure in the late spring and 10 monthly issues.
You read that right, all memberships, regardless of when they were signed, are destined to expire at the end of 2016. That certainly seems to indicate 2016 as some cut off date for the joint agreement between Fun Publications and Hasbro.
As I said, there is NO official word on this yet and likely won’t be for a little while, but some puzzle pieces are starting to fit together, and the picture they’re painting isn’t a great one.
I know what a lot of people will think. A lot of people will think that this is great news, they’re tired of Fun Pub, it’s time to move on. But I think those same people need to stop and think ‘what are we moving on to?’
Whether you like them or not, Fun Publications was reponsible for over 30 G.I. Joe items in 2015, more than doubling Hasbro’s own Toys “R” Us exclusive product. Once that agreement ends (if it indeed does) what does that mean for future product?
I don’t think it means anything good.
Stay tuned for more on this developing story.
by generalsjoes | Oct 14, 2015 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Collectors Club, G.I. Joe Toys
Ohh yeah… I’ve been waiting for this one ever since it was announced at JoeCon earlier this year. Finally, after 28 years, for the first time ever, we’re getting a Pythona action figure!
Cobra La is a polarizing element of the G.I. Joe mythology, but fans at large seem to be unified in the fact that Pythona was a necessary addition to their G.I. Joe collections. Well, the Collectors’ Club has officially filled that void, and filled it pretty darn nicely.
Featuring what looks to be a new head, new hands, and possibly a new cloak (or perhaps the comic pack Storm Shadow cloak), most of the heavy lifting is being done with very intricate and detailed paint applications.
I’m pretty surprised with how nice it looks. I had some concerns that without significant new tooling this figure couldn’t be done right, but based on the Photoshop mock up at least, those concerns were for naught. This is a great looking figure, and it will feel fantastic to finally have Pythona in my display.
Check out the image below, and keep watching GIJoeClub.com for all the details. If you want Pythona, make sure you’re a member of the G.I. Joe Collectors Club as of March 16th. You’re not gonna want to miss this one!
by generalsjoes | Oct 6, 2015 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Collectors Club, G.I. Joe Convention, JoeCon 2016
A pleasantly surprising announcement from the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club today as we have the dates and location for the 2016 G.I. Joe Convention!
We’re back to summer dates next year with June 16th – 19th and the location is Loveland, Colorado, just north of Denver. Great news, and the lead up to the annual JoeCon is always one of my favorite times of year. Check out the email with full details below and keep watching for more information coming about the 2016 G.I. Joe Convention!
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The 2016 G.I. Joe Collectors’ convention to be held June 16-19
in the beautiful city of Loveland, Colorado
Fort Worth, TX – October 6, 2015 – Fun Publications, Inc., licensee for Hasbro’s official G.I. Joe Collectors’ Convention G.I.JoeCon, announced today that next year’s amazing convention will take place at the Embassy Suites Loveland Hotel June 16 through June 19 in Loveland Colorado, just north of Denver. Fans once again will come together from across the world to celebrate another exciting year of all things G.I. Joe at this fantastic event! You can make your hotel reservations now via GIJoeCon.com.
In the coming weeks, G.I. Joe fans will be able to register for G.I.JoeCon 2016 through the GIJoeCon.com online registration system. Fans and collectors who register for G.I.JoeCon as either a Real American Hero or General package holder will receive an exclusive convention box set, admission to the Friday private sales room experience, priority seating at all panels and seminars throughout the weekend and admittance to the Saturday night Casino Night and Awards Party. Finally, American Hero or General package attendees will also receive a special bonus G.I. Joe item to go along with their convention box set. General Admission for non-registered guests will be available on Saturday and Sunday only.
For all the information regarding the G.I.JoeCon show activities, hotel updates and the exclusive figure offerings, stay tuned to GIJoeCon.com. |
