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The Ten biggest G.I. Joe news stories of 2013

The dichotomy between 2013 and this upcoming new year couldn’t have been more stark than it was when I was researching the Top 10 biggest news stories for the past year.  We went from anticipating a new film, lots of new Hasbro release toys, the emergence of Kre-O, and many other potential new G.I. Joe events from the upcoming year to a year of total uncertainty.

Today marks the beginning of the 50th Anniversary of the G.I. Joe brand, a brand steeped in history and cultural relevance, and it seems to be a real shame that such an event would go mostly ignored by Hasbro, who wouldn’t exist as an entity today without G.I. Joe’s presence throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.  A damn shame that nearly four full decades of success relegates a once remarkable brand to the potential dustbins of history and pop culture insignificance.  G.I. Joe as a brand helped build you, Hasbro.  It would be nice if you would at least spend some efforts trying to return the favor.

Rant over.  🙂

Click the “Continue Reading” link below to see my list of the Top 10 biggest G.I. Joe news stories of 2013, let’s all cross our fingers that there are enough reasons to be writing up a similar list this time next year!

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What’s on Joe Mind Episode #88 4 Hour Holiday Spectacular!

Yes, we know the episodes have been a little more sporadic lately, but hopefully this four hour marathon makes up for it. We spend a healthy two hours talking to resident toy expert Mark Bellomo about G.I. Joe and the toy industry in general, and complement that great interview with some looks at recent G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club announcements, plus a look back at 2013 and a look ahead to next year.

Check out our Podbean page to listen to this latest episode, or just use the embedded player below, and take a peek at the show notes after the jump.

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3D Joes Completes their run of classic ARAH figures!

One of the most inventive G.I. Joe themed sites over the past couple of years, 3DJoes set a lofty goal ahead of themselves. A goal to acquire and 3D scan every single vintage Real American Hero figure for their stunningly awesome 3D Joes gallery.

Well, it took a while, but the job is done, and 3DJoes announced via their Twitter page tonight that they have now completed the full run of ARAH figures from 1982 – 1994! This is an amazing accomplishment, so let’s all give the folks at 3DJoes some big props, and while you’re at it, support their site by picking up one of their posters. It’s a small way we can show our support and help offset the costs associated with the 3D image capture software.

Congrats to Carson and 3DJoes for this great accomplishment!

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More guests added to 2014 G.I. Joe Convention

Next year’s G.I. Joe Convention in Dallas, Texas is turning into a treasure trove of voice talent as the G.I. Joe Collectors Club added two more guests to their already impressive roster this year.

According to GIJoeCon.com, both Morgan Lofting (Sunbow’s The Baroness) and Michael Richard Dobson (Cobra Commander from Valor Vs. Venom and Spy Troops) will be making an appearance at the Convention next year. They will join Michael Bell (Sunbow’s Duke) and BJ Ward (Sunbow’s Scarlett) for voice talent, as well as former G.I. Joe marketing whiz Kirk Bozigian and Marvel Comics writer Larry Hama.

Keep watching GIJoeCon.com for the latest information on next year’s Convention!

Michael Bell joins BJ Ward as a special guest at 2014 G.I. Joe Convention

In the Convention brochure that was released a couple of days ago, the G.I. Joe Collectors Club revealed that the original voice actress for Scarlett BJ Ward would be attending the G.I. Joe convention in 2014. Well, the Collectors Club revealed today that Scarlett will have Duke by her side in Dallas, Texas!

That’s right, the immortal Michael Bell will be joining BJ Ward as a special guest of the 2014 G.I. Joe Convention in Dallas. Considering how awesome the voice actor reading was last year between Bill Ratner and Mary MacDonald-Lewis, I can only imagine what it will be like this year.

Make sure you keep checking GIJoeCon.com for all of the latest information from the G.I. Joe Convention!

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Unofficial poll – which version of Billy would you want as an action figure?

His name comes up all the time on most fans “most wanted” lists, and unlike a figure like Pythona, you would think Billy could be done relatively easily with many existing parts.  So what’s stopping someone like the G.I. Joe Collectors Club from doing it?

According to the Q & A at last year’s JoeCon (and it seems like every year’s JoeCon) the Club doesn’t know what version of Billy the fans might want.  The Boy Scout assassin version (no thanks)?  Storm Shadow’s ninja apprentice?  A Devils Due-esque version in military gear and long hair?  Where do you stand?

Well, if you’re a member of the G.I. Joe Collectors Club, skinny has put up an unofficial poll to gather some fan consensus about what version of Billy we might want to see.  It’s pretty well known that the Club pays attention to fan requests, especially at their site or on their forums, so you should definitely check out the forums, and place your vote.

You never know, you might help shape FSS 3.0 or 4.0!

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