Fort Worth, TX – October 26th, 2010 – Fun Publications, Inc, licensee for the Hasbro G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club, is pleased to announce new additions to its Fall 2010 Membership drive.
Customizers from across the G.I. Joe fandom can participate in the 2010 G.I. Joe custom contest, available to all club members. Details for the contest can be found at www.GIJoeclub.com
Next up, members have the opportunity to check out the offerings from the Transformers Collectors’ Club while receiving an EXCLUSIVE Dial-Tone art print by G.I. Joe Cover and Dossier artist Dan Khanna. That item can be found here
Lastly, speaking of Dial-Tone, he finally makes his official near finalized debut as there is now an actual production sample available to be viewed. Utilizing the 25th Anniversary sculpt, the 2011 3 ¾ inch membership incentive figure Dial-Tone features a stand, classic file card and accessories, including: 9mm parabellum submachine gun, pistol and an updated version of the original 1986 style radio communications backpack with positional microphone arm!
For more information on the G.I.Joe Collectors’ Club and all of its offerings, please visit www.GIJoeClub.com.
About HASBRO
Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, G.I. JOE and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. (C) 2009 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
About FUN PUBLICATIONS, INC.
For over 15 years, Fun Publications, Inc. has been a Hasbro licensee offering fans and collectors of pop culture memorabilia news, exclusive product and family events through different print offerings, websites, collector clubs and brand specific conventions such as GIJoeCon and BotCon. Located in Fort Worth Texas, Fun Publications reaches a large audience, serving the United States and many other countries such as Japan, Great Britain, Brazil, Australia and Canada. For more information visit www.TransformersClub.com, www.GIJoeClub.com, www.GIJoeCon.com, and www.BotCon.com.
With the JoeCon coming much earlier in the year next year, we’re getting some nice early hints about what to expect for the Convention set in 2011. Thanks to “The Commander” over on the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club forums (which members and non-members should really visit more often) we have the following clues:
“My, you look good in that camo pattern!”
“Time for a Rumble in the Jungle!”
The first clue was courtesy of the latest Collectors’ Club newsletter, while clue #2 came on the forums. I’m loving what I’m seeing so far. On the Convention request forums every single year, I’ve been practically begging for a jungle-themed set…certainly seems like this would be the year.
I have my own little guess, too… on the Collectors’ Club forums a number of months ago, I hypothesized that if the Club was moving to the modern sculpts, they should consider a “Special Missions: Brazil” type of theme. Use existing characters like Footloose, Dial Tone, Leatherneck, and Claymore, and do them up in jungle camouflage. This would get the fans the 25th homage Footloose and Leatherneck they want, and would also help nicely develop the more obscure (yet awesome) Claymore character from the original Toys “R” Us Exclusive set back in the day.
It seems clear from the 2011 exclusive Dial Tone that the Club is thinking along these lines, so let’s see what further clues bring! Once again, I strongly suggest fans visit the Collectors’ Club forums to stay abreast of all the upcoming convention updates.
I know there has been a lot of recent discussion about the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club newsletter, especially with the announcement of Dial Tone as the 2011 incentive figure. Well, in my mind, even if many fans weren’t wild about Dial Tone, the newsletter is still a pretty cool commodity, and John Warden is a big reason why.
Warden is the lead designer on the G.I. Joe line these days and has a deep impact on the figures you see on store shelves, and over the past few months, he’s contributed to the newsletter with some fantastic articles about recent figures. He’s already spoken about the SDCC Exclusive Sgt. Slaughter, the upcoming Wave 3 Snake Eyes, and this month, he talks at great length about the awesome Jungle-Viper. Some of the insights are fantastic.
He mentions that he came up with the figure in a dream, and immediately sketched the basic idea, and yes, the Cobra Night-Vipers were a very strong influence on the overall design. The red dots scattered throughout his optical “ghille suit” are actually miniature cameras, which give him a great view around him and “eyes in the back of his head”.
Speaking of eyes, many Joe fans have wondered why Jungle Viper’s eyes are white…according to John Warden, the “…eyes are a ghostly white, a side effect from relying on the optics for sight for months on end.”
Insight like this is awesome, and really makes for an interesting read. The details I mentioned above are just scratching the surface…there are three whole pages of text and great pre-production images that answer a LOT of fan questions about this character…and it sounds like there is plenty more to come! If you like what you hear, hit up GIJoeClub.com and join up! It’s worth it.
As we gear up for the 2011 Membership drive from the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club, some more details can be had about the upcoming 2011 exclusive figure, a 25th Anniversary Dial-Tone. Over on their Exclusive Figures page, the GIJCC has posted two silouettes, one for the Communications Officer, and one for the 12″ exclusive, the Man of the Sea.
From what we can see in the silouette of Dial-Tone (as well as what’s mentioned in the text), a few more details can be gathered:
Dial Tone will have a totally newly tooled head
The figure looks to be comprised of Buzzer’s Torso/Webgear, and Sgt. Airborne’s arms and legs. Legs could also be Gung Ho, tough to tell for sure
He will come with his familiar machine gun and what looks to be a retooled backpack to match his vintage version
They also mention on this page that the Adventure Team Sea Adventurer should hit release in early 2011.
If you even think you might be interested in this Dial Tone figure, I strongly recommend you join up and ensure that you get it. Big Lob sold out and I have absolutely ZERO doubts in my mind that Dial Tone will, too. And probably pretty damn quickly. Don’t miss this boat.
So, are you a member of the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club? If not, why not? I have a feeling the offer of the 25th Anniversary Dial-Tone in 2011 will drive many folks to become members, and hopefully many of them will find it worthwhile.
The monthly newsletter features many interesting articles…in the past there have been dio-stories (by yours truly…) and expect plenty of reviews and other articles going forward as well. Hasbro designer John Warden often showcases his talents and sneak previews there, and they are always interesting and enlightening.
Well, starting Monday, the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club is kicking off a membership drive! Straight from the homepage:
“This month we’re kicking off our 2010 Fall membership drive! Both members and non-members can expect all kinds of different reveals, contests, club store promotions and other activities that will highlight all the cool aspects of being a G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club member!
So what’s up first? Well, some things are already in motion, but next week fans will get the first close up look at the 2011 membership incentive figures: Dial-Tone (25A edition) for the 3 3/4-inch Officer level members and the “Man of the Sea” for 12-inch Officer level members! Be sure to tune in Monday too as we will be announcing our first contest!is month we’re kicking off our 2010 Fall membership drive! Both members and non-members can expect all kinds of different reveals, contests, club store promotions and other activities that will highlight all the cool aspects of being a G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club member!
So what’s up first? Well, some things are already in motion, but next week fans will get the first close up look at the 2011 membership incentive figures: Dial-Tone (25A edition) for the 3 3/4-inch Officer level members and the “Man of the Sea” for 12-inch Officer level members! Be sure to tune in Monday too as we will be announcing our first contest!”
A YouTube video has also appeared celebrating the membership drive, and there also happens to be a very subtle sneak peek at the upcoming 25th Anniversary Dial Tone. Check it out in embedded goodness below.
For folks who have not yet joined up, I hope you seriously consider it…for the price of a couple cups of coffee per month you get a very professional newsletter, great discounts from their online store, and a free figure that fills in a huge gap in the 25th Anniversary collection. Do it!
