We’re getting down towards the end of this massive top 10 list, breaking down all of the coolest things we saw in the Concept Case at the 2012 G.I. Joe Convention. Even though I strongly suspect that the G.I. Joe: Renegades vehicles have zero chance of ever being released (and according to JoeDeClassified’s interview with Derryl DePriest, he agrees with me) I can’t help but give them spots on this list.
I already talked about Flint’s Jeep with my number 4 ranking, but here at number 2 I had to focus on the big beast itself.
2 – G.I. Joe: Renegades Coyote
I think most of us fans of the G.I. Joe: Renegades animated series have been dreaming about the eventual release of the Coyote, but realistically I never expected it to happen. Considering the quick dismissal of the excellent Renegades animated series by Hasbro, even considering that they would invest big money in tooling up a new, larger sized vehicle, seems totally out of the realm of possibilities.
That being said, I was so blown away by the look, feel, and playability of the Coyote vehicle shown in the Concept Case, that I just had to mention it within the confines of the Top 10 list. I know it likely won’t be released, but it looks awesome, the press-button play feature is golden, and it would make the perfect endcap for a G.I. Joe: Renegades collection. I think that is perhaps what is so painful about the whole G.I. Joe: Renegades situation. The fact that we may not even get a complete Renegades team (where’s Roadblock, HASBLoowWW/??!1/?) and even if, by some massive stretch of the imagination, we do get Roadblock, there is probably a 2% chance we’ll ever see their trusty vehicle. So close, yet so damn far away.
But that won’t stop me from looking at the pictures of the Coyote from the 2012 G.I. Joe Convention Concept Case and dreaming a little dream…
Getting down to the nitty gritty, which is where you’ll find this particular figure on most people’s want lists. To be honest, if I had been asked a month ago what my most wanted figure would be, this guy would be pretty much have hit the top of the list without any competition.
Well, when Hasbro unveiled the Concept Case at this year’s G.I. Joe Convention suddenly there was a LOT of competition. Vehicles, figures, ideas… it almost relegated this guy to the “been there, done that” pile. But not quite.
One close up look at this figure will tell you that even for folks who don’t really care for the character are still getting a very good G.I. Joe toy.
3 – G.I. Joe: 30th Anniversary Kwinn
Of course one might ask, among a team of heavily armored, heavily equipped, future tech sporting super-soldiers, where does an Eskimo with shorts, a khaki shirt, and a weasel skull necklace fit in? That question has obviously been asked a lot, especially by Hasbro themselves as this poor guy (who is a fully tooled and ready for release figure) still has not gotten an opportunity to be released yet.
I think Hasbro pushed fans near the breaking point when they actually displayed him in a case full of unused (and perhaps never-to-be-used) concepts, but based on conversations with Hasbro at JoeCon, I think chances of Kwinn being released are probably around 85 – 90%. This is not a guy you need to worry about never getting your hands on. Regardless, he still stands proud pretty close to the top of my Top Ten list. Admittedly, though, based on responses I’m seeing from the Concept Case survey, I am in the minority for putting him this far back, which should be good news for all of you Kwinn fans out there.
I will admit right up front that I know absolutely nothing about the Danger Girl universe. I was an avid comic reader in the 90’s, and read many Image titles, but for whatever reason, Danger Girl was not one of them. As such, this series doesn’t necessarily captivate me from the cross-over appeal, just more as a G.I. Joe story.
In that regard, it works to a certain degree, though I’m looking forward to seeing a bit more depth explored throughout the remaining three issues.
Click the Read the Rest of the Story link below for the full review.
Kickstarter seems to be bringing lots of projects to light that might not have ever been considered, and in my mind, that’s a good thing. So many people have some great ideas and never got the opportunity to showcase those ideas, mostly because they couldn’t get the backing of a corporate sponsor or the finances together to make the project happen.
I’ve spent a lot of time toting the Hero Project lately, and while spending some time on Kickstarter, another project has caught my eye.
Animation professional and Iraq veteran Richard C. Meyer has launched a Kickstarter for his Graphic Novel, told from the perspective of a veteran, and looking at a very real world battle situation. It is a true story about Marco Martinez, a Marine rifleman whose heroic bravery saved many lives in one particular battle. Mr. Meyer felt so strongly about what he witnessed and what he heard first-hand, he wanted to make sure this story got told.
Richard is also a big G.I. Joe fan, and I really think military enthusiasts, as you see throughout the G.I. Joe community, will appreciate this story. I think it appeals to most of us on many different levels. This story was initially released in 2008 and has received several great reviews, but the goal of this Kickstarter campaign is not only to get the book back out into circulation, but also to digitally color it and expand on the story.
Along with a couple other fan sites, the guys from JoeDeClassified and JoeBattleLines worked together to talk to Hasbro rep Derryl DePriest at ComicCon last weekend, and has posted the interview online here.
There is some great conversation throughout the entire scope of the interview, especially focusing on the possibilities of more Resolute or Renegades product beyond the scope of the Concept Case stuff, and while the answers certainly aren’t ones that I wanted to hear, it was very intriguing discussion, nonetheless.
Kudos to JoeDeClassified and JBL for gathering together some great discussion points. Check out the full interview here.
I’ve always been much more of an action figure and character guy than a vehicle guy, but even the cynical “vehicles take up too much damn space!” part of me fell in love with some of the vehicle concepts we saw at the G.I. Joe convention. As someone fully in love with G.I. Joe: Renegades, the minute I saw the Coyote and the Jeep in that case, my rational mind was completely overwhelmed by my drooling fanboy mind.
Combine that with the fact that Hasbro designers cited MASK as an inspiration for these vehicles? Sign me up.
4 – Flint’s Jeep from G.I. Joe: Renegades
I think most of us probably figured that the Coyote was in some form of production based on how heavily it was utilized throughout the G.I. Joe: Renegades animated series. Heck, the massive transport truck was practically a character in the show. But I’m fairly certain that the surprise I had at seeing Flint’s military Jeep in there was not only mine. Deco’ed in pretty straight up military greens, with a small light on top, the jeep bares only a passing resemblance to the one used on the show, but more importantly looks like a nicely sized, exceedingly fun play toy.
Combine that with the fact that there is a great button-key system that flips the Jeep from mere transport to gun-toting vehicle of awesomeness, and you have a can’t miss proposition. All I can do is think about what Major Bludd’s car from the animated series could possibly look at in toy form, and all I get all weepy inside.
It is a delicate balancing act between vehicle design, media accuracy, and play features, and by the looks of things, Hasbro hit every single right note with this one, and for that reason, it deserves one of the top spots on my list.
Just wanted to drop a line to remind folks that the Concept Case Survey is still rolling along, and Round 1 will end Friday, July 20th. Responses from Round 1 will be tabulated and I will post the actual SurveyMonkey charting to ensure 100% transparency.
Based on those results, I will set up Round 2 of the Survey to kick off, most likely next Monday, where the winners of Round 1 can face off against each other to get an idea of what the fans want!
Meanwhile, propaganda has started appearing online…the political machine is already at work. Ladies and gentlemen…Joe fans…I encourage you to vote with your hearts. But if you’re easily swayed…
Please be aware, as a neutral party, I believe in equal opportunity…if you have a candidate you want to endorse, find a creative way to express that, and let me know!
Along with the previews this morning, IDW also made available their solicitations for October, 2012, including a full compliment of G.I. Joe titles. We see the fourth (and final) issue of the Danger Girl/G.I. Joe crossover as well as new issues of Cobra, G.I. Joe, Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, and of course G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. The whole Target: Snake Eyes initiative kicks off this month as well, which actually excites me, especially if it can approach the levels of coolness we got with Cobra Command.
Of course, these releases are hitting in “Oktober” as well… a theme you will quickly recognize in the titles below.
Good stuff all around. Click the Read the Rest of the Story link below for the full list.
It’s another busy week at the IDW Publishing house this week, with two new G.I. Joe themed titles hitting on Wednesday! This week, hot off the presses we have Cobra #15 and the much anticipated Danger Girl/G.I. Joe cross over. Check out the previews for both titles below.
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Cobra #15
Mike Costa (w) • Antonio Fuso (a) • Antonio Fuso (c)
The lies and betrayals keep adding up, as Flint struggles to maintain his honor amidst his team of scoundrels and backstabbers. And is the information that Tomax has been supplying really on the level? Of course not… but what game is he playing?
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
*Variant covers:
Joe Eisma (Morning Glories) & Juan Castro cover!
Bullet points:
NEW CHARACTERS! NEW MISSION!
SAME CUTTING-EDGE STORYTELLING!
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Danger Girl/G.I. JOE #1 (of 4)
Andy Hartnell (w) • John Royle (a) • J. Scott Campbell X 2 (c)
The two most incredible covert action teams the world has ever known—so covert, in fact, that neither knows the other exists—are meeting for the first time ever! Repeat: Danger Girl and G.I. JOE, together. Spies! Girls! Ninjas! COBRA! If your head did not just explode, then you are one of the lucky few remaining that will live to enjoy a summer blockbuster you’ll have to see to believe!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
*Variant covers:
Black & White J. Scott Campbell variant cover!
Unique hand-sketched J. Scott Campbell variant cover!
From one Convention right into another. Fresh off of our return to normal broadcasting schedule from the 2012 G.I. Joe Convention, the crew from What’s on Joe Mind immediately jumps to the next convention, this time the familiar ComicCon in San Diego.
With not much G.I. Joe news likely there, we bring in Arune Singh to talk about Marvel’s presence there and what we might expect from the House of Ideas. We also bring in Moira Hunger to talk in more detail about the IDW seminar at JoeCon and comic nerdery in general.
But it’s not all about Comics, there is a healthy helping of G.I. Joe talk as well. Check out our latest episode on our Podbean Page, or via the embedded players below. Show notes as always are after the jump.
