So, I’ve been thinking about this a bit for the past 24 hours. I have no idea what the source of the JoeCon rescheduling is, in all honesty. I don’t know if there was a real issue with the venue, something with Paramount and a potential Retaliation screening, or some sort of Hasbro dictation that determined this rescheduling, but the end result is a pretty strange confluence of circumstances, resulting in some serious scheduling conflicts for pretty much every Joe fan.
It’s the summer of 2012, and G.I. Joe fans everywhere are going to be all fired up to go see G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
When does G.I. Joe: Retaliation hit theaters?
June 29th.
When is the first night of Convention registration?
June 28th.
Sooo… here’s the question. G.I. Joe fans (like myself) who are extremely fired up for G.I. Joe: Retaliation are going to have our hands full in New Orleans on the first weekend of G.I. Joe: Retaliation’s release. And Joe fans will be excitedly running out to the theaters while they could be absorbing the great news and info from Joe Con. Of course, this new timing I would think almost guarantees a special Convention screening of the film, and even if it’s not done officially, the fans can certainly invade theaters themselves, though with the rush of regular movie goers during the official release that might prove challenging.
I think having the Con the week before the film was a great idea. The chance for a “sneak preview” for Con attendees (if that was even an option), plus it gets the blood pumping in the fandom who are only too eager to run to theaters and drop cash on movie tickets for the Retaliation film the next week. Considering the movie was actually filmed in New Orleans and has a strong connection to that area also makes a Convention event likely and potentially enjoyable, and who knows, perhaps that’s an opportunity for some of the production team to be in attendance. One would almost think the theatrical release might draw them to larger venues, though.
Granted, the end result will be a weekend chock full of G.I. Joe related excitement, but I can’t help but think some of the Convention excitement and atmosphere will end up lost in the shuffle of Retaliation conversation. I know I was really looking forward to being online and participating in some heavy duty G.I. Joe: Retaliation post-premiere enthusiasm, and instead I’ll be in New Orleans practically disconnected from the web covering news from the Convention floor. A bit disappointing, but perhaps that’s just me.
The end result is a weekend of over-the-top G.I. Joe insanity, but part of me wishes it could have been drawn out over two weeks and given fans everywhere a chance to experience both. Ultimately I would think the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club would have wanted the same thing. Perhaps it was their decision, perhaps it wasn’t, but I think the end result provides some curious challenges for the Club and for the fans as well. We’ll have to see how it all turns out.
Please note that due to circumstances beyond our control with the anticipated venue for the convention, the dates of GIJoeCon will now be June 28-July 1 at a new venue, the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. We apologize for any problems or issues this change of date has caused. We hope to see you all in New Orleans June 28-July 1 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Convention (attending and non-attending) registrations will start sometime in February. Again we apologize for any problems or issues this change of date has caused
You can now make your hotel reservations at GIJoeCon.com.
Anyone who has asked for vacation time, looks like you’d better adjust your request. Registration starts in February!
Were folks wondering what the GIJCC Exclusive Footloose looked like from all angles? Wonder no more!
The Collectors’ Club has posted a great YouTube video featuring their 2012 exclusive incentive figure Footloose, and finally gives us a good look at all sides of this great looking figure, including the backpack.
Things have been quiet from the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club lately, which folks have noticed, especially when it comes to the FSS (Figure Subscription Service). There are obviously some technical issues at work here, and hopefully we’ll get some information sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, the Collectors’ Club has renewed their push for membership and has posted some reminders via Facebook and elsewhere that if you want the 2012 Membership figure, you have to make sure you either join or renew by March 16th!
Hopefully folks who have suffered from the great Dial Tone shortage of 2011 will have learned from the experience and they realize that the $42 annual membership is worth the figure as well as the newsletter.
Speaking of the newsletter… maybe I’m alone, but I think it’s been on a pretty great upswing in recent months. The Adventure Team bio’s have been very well written and have integrated extremely nicely into the Real American Hero universe with some very cool homages to characters like Doc and Snow Job. The Adventure Team comic has also been a pretty impressive piece of story telling, with art by G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero legend Rod Whigham. How can you go wrong?
But to me, the best piece of the newsletter is the ongoing Real American Hero comic story. I think Dave Lane, Jesse Wittenrich, and Dan Khanna are really doing something fun with the comics. This past issue began a “Footloose” storyline that had some fantastic cameos by the Night Stalkers, Hotwire, the Black Dragon helicopter and the Steel Brigade! For folks who are jonesin to see their Pursuit of Cobra era figures in comic book form, this is what you’re looking for! It certainly doesn’t hurt that it looks like they may possibly be touching on the whole Zombie Viper storyline…something Hasbro really should have better explored. It also picks up on some loose ends from past convention comics, specifically the 2010 Vacation in the Shadows one! Good stuff.
I think folks who have been sitting on the fence should get off that fence and consider signing up. If not just for Footloose (which is a good enough reason itself) but also for the improving newsletter as well. Not even to mention the upcoming Figure Subscription Service… I think you’ll find the $42 well worth the cost. You can check GIJoeClub.com for sign up details.
Well it must be that time of year again… sick and tired of the publicity the Joes are getting from the annual JoeCon, Cobra Commander has led an all out assault on JoeCon 2011 in Orlando! In fact, it looks like he’s taking it over for Cobra!
Check out CobraCon.com, and take a peek at the YouTube video below.
