Well, it looks like things have changed a little bit since Toy Fair, and mostly for the better. Site sponsors Big Bad Toy Store and Past Generation Toys have posted some new press images for the upcoming 3rd wave of 2011 Pursuit of Cobra figures, and there is a very interesting alteration:
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While most of the subtle coloring differences are mostly a result of Photoshop, one look at Cobra Commander tells us that his legs are being reused from the previous version instead of the classic Cobra Commander look. I think it’s a big improvement. It will be interesting to see what the final result looks like.
Thanks to The Terror Drome for the info.
As we bridge the gap between the first run of the G.I. Joe titles and this next flurry starting with the Cobra Civil War, the world of zombies invades the G.I. Joe universe. Check out the five-page preview below! G.I. JOE: INFESTATION #1 (of 2)
Mike Raicht (w) • Giovanni Timpano (a) • Timpano, John K. Snyder III (c)
IDW’s Infestation eventcontinues here in this bi-weekly two-part G.I. Joe tale! A robotic arm of unknown origin has been discovered and both the JOEs and COBRA race to discover its secrets. Little do the two sides know that the arm has its own agenda- assimilating the world’s military technology into the Infestation fold! A secret underwater COBRA base full of B.A.T.S. sounds like the perfect place to start! *2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Being on the road for most of the day, I didn’t really get a chance to talk about the two big news stories that the Collectors’ Club dropped today in regards to the upcoming G.I. Joe convention at the end of the month.
Big story #1 – Voice actress Morgan Lofting, better known as The Baroness will be appearing in Orlando as a guest of the Collectors’ Club! Very cool. By far one of the most distinctive voices in the original Sunbow cartoon, this is a great coup by the GIJCC and she should make for some very interesting discussion.
Big story #2 – Rare toy alert! Apparently the Collectors’ Club incentive figure for 2011 will give fans an even bigger incentive to attend the Convention. A very limited run of 600 Dial Tone figures will be available at JoeCon MINT ON CARD. Normally sold in a sealed baggie as part of the Club’s promotion, some select figures will be carded and for sale at JoeCon. Attendees will also have the chance to get these signed by Dial Tone’s voice actor Hank Garrett.
Two very cool bits of news. If you want to read the full press releases, click the “Read the Rest of this Entry” link below. (more…)
So, G.I. Joe: Renegades returns with new episodes next Friday, March 11th, but the episode shuffle has pushed “Whiteout” back to March 25th. To this point we hadn’t heard any episode details, but now TVGuide.com sheds some light on the subject:
“The prototype Shadow-Vipers and Storm Shadow follow the Joes to Canada, where they are hiding out with Snow Job.”
So Shadow-Vipers, Snow Job, and the return of Storm Shadow? Whiteout was initially an episode I wasn’t all that excited to check out, but suffice it to say, that’s changed now! Thanks to The Terror Drome for the information.
Yes, the trip in the way back machine continues as I look back and try to fill in some holes from the G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and 25th Anniversary era. Today, the victim is Arctic Snake Eyes. Check out the Rise of Cobra Review Page, or just hit up the review itself right here.
Well, we’ve seen the pictures already, but now Sideshow Collectibles has really given an in depth look at the weapon that the upcoming Cobra Viper comes equipped with! The Magpul Masada is apparently the weapon of choice of Cobra’s “Tip of the Spear”.
An absolutely awesome look at the high tech weaponry. Check it out right here, or view the mirrored images below. I gotta be honest, these pics are making me want to buy a second one. RESIST!
So, having a lull in product means I jump in my way back machine! This time around, I’m reviewing the G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra Skysweeper Jet w/ Air Raid. A Firebat repaint and retool, this little plane packs a big punch.
Check out the review on my Rise of Cobra Review Page, or just click here.
Stay tuned, because I’ll be doing quite a few more “old school” reviews over the next little while as we wait for more new product to hit.
So, some further information about the Jon M. Chu hire comes from Heat Vision, part of the Hollywood Reporter.
First and foremost, they confirm reports that Chu as the director is pretty much a done deal, but they also start talking about the potential for returning cast members. To no one’s surprise, Joseph Gordon-Leavitt is likely out, mostly due to his dance card being full after being thrust into the limelight with Inception.
They also specifically mention Sienna Miller and say that she doesn’t look hopeful to return as The Baroness, and that in fact, the role may end up “being recast or perhaps divided into a couple of new characters.”
Interesting. Sounds to me like they’re trying to separate themselves a bit from the whole Baroness/Duke/Cobra Commander triangle, which was one of the things I totally disliked about the original film. They also mention that the first priority is getting Channing Tatum back for Duke, which honestly, was probably the thing I disliked second most. But he is a larger draw these days and he could put butts in seats.
So, not a big fan of the director, but I have some faith in the writing team, and some of the writing is on the wall that the folks behind this film understand what went wrong with the first film, and steps may be taken to try to craft something a bit more recognizable this time around. Let’s all hope.
Apparently the trailer debuted on Cartoon Network last night.
Ummm… yeah. Wow.
Looks very fantasy based, and so far, a lot of stuff taking place on Thundera, and not so much Third Earth. Animation looks smooth and nicely done. Bring it on.
So, according to Deadline.com it’s all but a done deal and Jon M. Chu will be the next director in the G.I. Joe motion picture franchise. So, what does this mean, in the grand scheme of things? Eh, who knows? All I know is the only Hollywood motion pictures Chu has directed were Step Up 3D and Never Say Never starring Justin Bieber, which leaves me with little confidence that he can handle a potential big budget action blockbuster.
Does that mean he can’t do it? No. It just leaves me with little confidence. I really struggle to figure out how Paramount thinks a director who has spent much of his career filming song and dance videos and films is the right guy for a fast-paced action film, but hey, maybe they know something I don’t.
Now I won’t sit here and say this film now has no hope. I feel good about the writing team. I feel good that (unlike the first film) there is actually a cohesive writing process, instead of dealing with a writer’s strike and making things up on the fly.
There was also a quick little interaction at JoeCon last year between Alan Hassenfeld and one of the media directors during the Hassenfeld presentation, where it was abundantly clear that Hassenfeld wasn’t especially happy with how the Joe brand had been perceived post Rise of Cobra, and that we should all expect (and deserve) better.
Time will tell…we now have an official starting point and probably a good two years of build up before we find out what the pay off is. Hopefully it’s worth the wait. Thanks to Mysterious Stranger for passing the information along.
