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The Evolution of a Toy Room – Part Four

As time continues to roll on, it feels a bit odd writing up these updates, considering how far along I am now, but how far back I feel like I should write so I don’t skip too much time.  Folks who have been following along, know that in Part Three I talked about the sudden appearance of 7 feet of copper piping on one wall, and how that threw my entire display idea into flux.  The builder accommodated nicely by walling around those pipes and the wall-mounted ventilation system, giving me some room to work with.

At this point, we’ve been living in the house for about two months, and the room is starting to come together.  Click the read the rest of the story link below for the full details.

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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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Official Press Release for Coil Con 2012!

Coming right around the corner, September 8th is the third annual Coil Con.  Very special guests Robert Atkins (artist for IDW Publishing’s Snake Eyes & G.I. Joe) and Frederic Doss (actor from G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Transformers, and actor/director for G.I. Joe fanfilm G.I. Joe: Initiate) will be present at the show, and for the first time EVER, the first four minutes of G.I. Joe: Initiate will be available for attendees to watch.

Not to mention the fantastic exclusive figures (including Zilant, already revealed).  Check out the full press release below:

The COIL Club and Kokomo Toys are proud to present the third annual COIL Con on Saturday, September 8, 2012!  Join hundreds of G.I. Joe and toy fans at Kokomo Toys, located at 1244 E. Morgan Street, Kokomo, Indiana, just 40 minutes north of Indianapolis off of US-31.  Special guests at this year’s event will include IDW G.I. Joe comic book artist Robert Atkins, historian Gary Head and the Joe Declassified exhibit, RAHC Guide author James Kavanaugh Jr., and Gary Godsoe and Mike Irizarry from the “What’s On Joe Mind?” podcast.  Finally, COIL Con will feature the world premiere of the trailer for G.I. Joe: Initiate, the much-anticipated fan-film from actor/director Frederic Doss (Transformers, G.I. Joe: The Rise Of COBRA).  Mr. Doss and other cast and crew will also be in attendance to sign autographs and discuss the project.

            Attendees will be able to buy their favorite G.I. Joe figures and vehicles from Kokomo Toys and over a dozen G.I. Joe dealers on the sales floor under the big tent in front of the store.  For the second year, designer Jay Hunger will be selling COIL Con-Exclusive figures when the convention officially kicks off at 9 a.m.  These exclusives are extremely limited to 40 sets, so be there and ready to buy early!

            This year’s COIL Con will also feature the return of the Community Door Prize table!  Attendees are encouraged to bring new or unopened G.I. Joe toys to donate as door prizes (maximum three donations/prizes per guest).  These prizes serve as the purchase price for raffle tickets — attendees who bring a new G.I. Joe toy for the community will also win a new G.I. Joe toy!  Grand Door prizes will be provided by the COIL and awarded at 5 p.m.  All attendees are eligible to win Grand Door Prizes.  Past Community Door Prizes and Grand Door Prizes have included San Diego Comic Con Exclusives, customs from recognized artists, comic art and more!  Attendees must be present to win all Community and Grand Door Prizes.

            Grilled hot dogs will be available free for Conventioneers!  Canned soda and bottled water will be available for sale, and attendees are also welcome to provide their own beverages in coolers.  Restroom facilities and a misting tent will also be provided.  The COIL is the Midwest’s largest society of G.I. Joe collectors with chapters operating in Indianapolis, Dayton/Cincinnati, Columbus (OH), Cleveland, Fort Wayne, and Chicago.  For more information, including suggested lodging and directions and COIL Con Exclusive set contents, visit the COIL Club online at www.coilcon.com.

Coil Con 2012 cranks it up a notch with ZILANT!

Wow…  it’s amazing what a little creativity can do with some easily accessible parts, and the guys over at the Coil Con (most notably, Jay Hunger from Carded Heroes) have knocked it out of the park with the first reveal of their Convention exclusive figures this year.

Zilant leads the Coil team, and he is rocking a great green and red paint scheme, using some awesome parts from various G.I. Joe: Renegades figures.  I think most people would agree that the infamous Black Ice figure is what really put the Canadian JoeCon on the map a number of years ago…I suspect Zilant may have the same affect for Coil Con.  A truly inspired, evil looking figure.  Kudos to Jay and the Coil guys for getting this together, and make sure you keep your browsers on CoilCon.com or the Coil Con Facebook Page for the latest info on the Coil get together.

It’s coming up soon, on September 8th, and will feature appearances by IDW artist Robert Atkins, author James Kavanaugh, and the JoeDeclassified guys as well.  Don’t miss it, it sounds like a great time.  Wish I could be there!

GeneralsJoes reviews canceled/pre-production 30th Anniversary Kwinn

Over the past week there has been a minor barrage of G.I. Joe news, from the Figure Subscription Service to the Canadian JoeCon, but over the next few months, things will probably be at a lull.

Well, what better time to showcase a figure that was initially slated for a final wave of the 30th Anniversary line, but never hit retail?  Hasbro has promised us a number of times that they would find a way to get this figure out there, and my conversations with Hasbro at JoeCon made me even more certain of that fact, but to date, this figure has not seen release.

As we’ve gotten used to over the past few years, G.I. Joe collector of pre-production items Gyre-Viper from JoeDeClassified.com has managed to get his hands on this figure, and he was kind enough to let me borrow it long enough to get this review posted.  Hopefully it provides an interesting look at a figure that will be hitting retail eventually.

With no further adeu, you can check out my 30th Anniversary Page, or hit the direct link below: