by generalsjoes | Oct 15, 2012 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Kre-O, G.I. Joe Toys, NYCC, Show and Convention Coverage
I know this has been out there on other sites already, but my travel back from Las Vegas interrupted my site focus a bit, but I’m posting the full press release below. I think most of us figured out how the Kre-O initial release was going to work based on the image names and the information gleaned from the NYCC presentation.
It looks like much of the components here are reused elements from the Battleship Kre-O line, but I think most would agree that the main draw here is with the vintage themed Kreons, I would certainly agree with that. Hate to say it, but those little guys are really growing on me.
Anyway, check out the full Press Release after the jump, and learn the names of the sets, release details (Blind bags!) and when to expect these at your local Toys “R” Us. I’ve also inserted the required images to give a better lowdown of what set comes with what items.
by generalsjoes | Oct 15, 2012 | G.I. Joe
Due to popular demand, the folks at Kokomo Toys have produced T-Shirts so toy fans everywhere can show their support for this great store! They are currently selling these t-shirts on eBay, so hit up the links below and buy shirts for the whole family.
Also make sure you’re looking at Kokomo Toys on eBay for all of your favorite vintage (and new!) toys for sale.
by generalsjoes | Oct 13, 2012 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Comics, IDW, NYCC, Show and Convention Coverage
Turns out the new creative team and new launch of the main G.I. Joe title isn’t the only big shift in 2013…thanks to skinny on Twitter and ComicsBeat.com we have some more intel about the G.I. Joe run of books from IDW next year.
Details straight from Comics Beat are as follows:
“Starting in February, GI Joe will be relaunched, with:
– GI Joe by Fred van Lenten and Steve Kirghiz
– Secret Missions by Chuck Dixon and Paul Gulacy (March)
– The Cobra Files by Mike Costa and Antonio Fuso (April)
Fred van Lente said his book would focus on a core team, including Duke, Cover Girl, Roadblock, Shipwreck, and Tunnel Rat, and that the Joe-Cobra war would be “very public” and “pretty hardcore.” Van Lente and Comic Book History of Comics collaborator Ryan Dunlavey will be doing GI Joe History variant covers.”
So by the looks of it, Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow are going away, making room for a somewhat more all encompassing “Secret Missions” which Chuck Dixon will continue to write. Cobra is morphing into “The Cobra Files”, but with the same creative team, I fully expect the greatness there to continue.
Just to satisfy anyone’s fears about a reboot, too, I contacted the new writer of G.I. Joe, Fred Van Lente, and was assured by him that G.I. Joe is not rebooting:
EDIT– According to Bleeding Cool, the title is “Special Missions” for the second G.I. Joe book. That one seems more likely (as an homage to the classic Marvel series).
by generalsjoes | Oct 13, 2012 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Comics, IDW, NYCC, Show and Convention Coverage
Straight from the horse’s mouth (meant in the most flattering way, possible, of course) IDW Publishing has just announced at New York ComicCon that their flagship G.I. Joe title will be starting over at issue #1 with a new creative team in 2013.
New writer Fred Van Lente (co-writer of Cowboys and Aliens among many others) announced the change on his Twitter page. He will be working alongside Steve Kurth, who is a familiar name to Joe fans who were around at the launch of the Devils’ Due title what seems like so many years ago.
Kurth was a tough guy to get my head around, to be honest. He had moments of absolute greatness, but then had moments of real inconsistency… but that was many years ago, and artists grow their skills just like anyone else, so I’ll certainly keep my hopes up.
I’m certainly very interested in what Mr. Van Lente brings to the table. He’s got a very broad resume with some high quality work in there. Folks who have been unhappy about Dixon’s pace and his unique mannerisms just might have something to look forward to here.
What does this mean for Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow as well as G.I. Joe: Cobra? Not sure as of yet, but trust me, I’m looking into it. More info as it becomes available.
by generalsjoes | Oct 11, 2012 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Kre-O, G.I. Joe Toys, NYCC, Show and Convention Coverage
Along with revealing the initial release toys themselves, Hasbro’s awesome stalwart PR agency has also made the images available to websites as well, and I’ve got ’em right here for you. Broken up into apparent vehicle sets and “single pack” figure sets, I’ve posted two galleries below of official images.
The more I look at these the more I’m thinking that while the sets are pretty neat, the Kre-On mini figures are very cool. Lots of the aesthetics and the spirit of the old school Joe stuff in mini figure form. Pretty damn cool.
That being said, still looking forward to Toy Fair. 🙂
G.I. Joe Kre-O Vehicle and Playsets
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G.I. Joe Kre-O Single Packs (Wave 1)
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Coverage of this year’s New York ComicCon is sponsored by KokomoToys.com!
by generalsjoes | Oct 10, 2012 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Kre-O, G.I. Joe Toys
Ruh Roh, Raggy. I was afraid of this.
Okay, so first images are now flooding in from the New York ComicCon preview night, courtesy of HissTank.com and from what we can tell, looks like the Kre-O stuff is G.I. Joe’s main showing. While I am a bit disappointed about that… I’m also feeling like I’m in a little bit of trouble here.
Those Kre-O’s actually look pretty sweet.
I can’t envision buying them all, but I’ll be damned if those aren’t some really imaginative sets there. Some vintage looking stuff, tons of real vintage-accurate Kre-On mini-figures, but to me, the coolest thing of all is that there are some new concepts built within the Kre-O vehicles themselves. Mech suits (with a new looking Cobra driver), a nice battleship, what looks to be a playset of sorts, and a bunch of vehicles of various sizes. I love the Cobra Urban looking vehicle.
Some really imaginative stuff. I imagine a bunch of this was likely repurposed from other Kre-O sets (particularly that battleship set, which I would imagine came from the Battleship movie Kre-O line). But really a lot of those Kre-On mini figures are quite cool looking and have a lot of style.
An interesting combination.
Will it be successful? No idea. But it does look pretty fun. I can’t promise I’ll jump into it with both feet, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least a little bit intrigued by what they are showing here. Images are on HissTank.com, and I would expect coming very soon to other sources as well. When I have some more time, I’ll mirror some pictures and talk a bit more about them.
by generalsjoes | Oct 10, 2012 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Kre-O, G.I. Joe Toys, NYCC, Show and Convention Coverage
I will preface this by saying that coverage will be here and there tonight as I’m still out of town for business, and will be departing for a business event soon. However, I’ll be combing the internetz and gathering together any related G.I. Joe news that comes out of Preview night for the New York ComicCon tonight.
Seibertron.com has already started posting images from new Transformers reveals at preview night, so the event is officially underway and hopefully we’ll get some Joe intel soon. I’m sure Kre-O will be a big focus, but I’m crossing my fingers for perhaps some action figure news for 2013 as well.
I do know Jay from Toy News International is in attendance, and The Terror Drome has someone there as well, so keep eyes out, and I’ll be back throughout the night to give my thoughts on tonight’s events. Wish I was there…
…wait a minute. I’m in Las Vegas. Never mind, I’m good.
by generalsjoes | Oct 10, 2012 | 12" Scale, 30th Anniversary, Customs, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary, G.I. Joe Collectors Club, G.I. Joe Comics, G.I. Joe Retaliation Toys, G.I. Joe Toys, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, IDW, Other Toys, Podcasts, What's on Joe Mind
Poor Gary has been trying for over 90 episodes (including Special Editions) to try and track down Marauder John and get him on the show, and he finally made it happen. Marauder “Gun Runners” is one of those companies that has been around for a long time in Internet years, and it’s hard to remember a time before they existed, but we talk to John about what got him started down this path and some of his collecting origins.
It was a fascinating discussion with a guy who has had a huge influence on the hobby through his weapons store, and even though I’ve talked to him a number of times over the past many years, it was great to “get together” with him again and talk. Any Joe fan will gain a wealth of knowledge from him, and on your next order mention that you heard him on the Podcast! He’ll throw in a free weapon for ya! And of course we want to encourage everyone to visit the Marauder “Gun Runners” Kickstarter as well to help fund the next series of weapons. It’s an awesome project with some awesome potential results, and worth contributing to for sure. Click here to contribute.
But that’s not all…the entire show was chock full of Joe news and discussion as it always is, and I had to leave early, so you even miss the GeneralsJoes corporate influence. Click on the embedded players below and Show Notes are after the jump.
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by generalsjoes | Oct 5, 2012 | 30th Anniversary, Comics and Cartoons, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe 2, G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation, G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary, G.I. Joe Toys, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, G.I. Joe: The Movie
We’ve talked about them quite a bit already, but now the relationship is official! Joining the GeneralsJoes team of fantastic sponsors is KokomoToys.com!
Specializing in G.I. Joe, Transformers, Star Wars, and Marvel, Kokomo Toys has an online store and a physical location in Kokomo, Indiana, the location for the annual Coil Con and a mecca for toy collectors all throughout the midwest.
Keep your browsers pointed to KokomoToys.com, whichever line you’re interested in… they’ll have ’em!
Huge thanks to Todd & Amber from Kokomo Toys, I’m personally thrilled to start this ongoing relationship with them.
by generalsjoes | Oct 4, 2012 | G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe Kre-O, G.I. Joe Toys, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
I mentioned a few evenings ago that it looked as if Hasbro was going to reveal some new G.I. Joe product at their little shindig prior to New York ComicCon next Wednesday, October 10th. While I think most of us were waiting with baited breath for some G.I. Joe: Retaliation or other 2013 G.I. Joe action figure news, Hasbro threw us a little curve ball today with the announcement of G.I. Joe Kre-O building sets!
From the sounds of things they will be Toys “R” Us exclusives and will launch in February, 2013.
There has already been some hot debate on Twitter and in the forums about what potential success of this and whether the G.I. Joe brand can survive an evolution like this, and as most people would expect, I’m remaining cautiously optimistic. I will say this up front… the Kre-O concept does not do a lot for me, and I’m not sure I’ll be partaking of this particular branch of the Joe brand, but I know there are a lot of folks out there who love the mini-figure concept, and this might just capture their attention, which is good.
Considering Transformers Kre-O sets have started sprinkling into clearance aisles, I was a bit concerned, but Twitter follower Kevin Hurd reminded me that the Transformers Kre-O sets sort of violate the basic tenet of Transformers, which is to…well.. transform. G.I. Joe doesn’t have that same base concept, so it was his thought that this evolution might work better for a Real American Hero than it did even for Transformers. I can see that perspective.
Regardless, the idea that the G.I. Joe brand is ready for another evolution is a good one, and one that I hope pans out for Hasbro and for Kre-O. And I will say, as much as I’m not really big on the mini-figure idea, and I’ve never been a die hard Lego fan, I gotta admit I had a huge-ass smile on my face when I saw this poster image. Even I had to admit this looked pretty awesome. Check out the mirrored image below, with the paragraph explanation.
Part of me hopes there are still some actual action figure items to be shown next week, but anything that gets G.I. Joe in the public eye and on the lips of consumers is a good thing for all of us. I’ll be watching this one.
“Hello Hasbro fans!
We hope that you remain as excited as we are for Hasbro’s NYCC Preview Night Party next Wednesday. Many of you have asked what new products we will be revealing that evening, so we wanted to give you a little taste of what’s in store for you on that night….
Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. We are looking forward to seeing you next Wednesday night!
YoJoe!”
