2013 G.I.Joe con exclusive Freestyle review

Yo Joe! Freestyle is an excellent codename.  I have to start by saying that right off the bat, so many figures have been hindered by terrible names over the years, and in recent years we have seen very few new characters introduced, so i’m very pleased we get a new character, that’s female, an immigrant,minority, a new pilot, and she even has a name so cool and Joe esque it feels like a Joe should have already taken it.

freestylefilecardToday at the history of G.I.Joe panel Larry Hama said, “without moral and ethical cores you don’t have characters and without characters you don’t have a story.” (Larry Hama) I thought the first interesting thing I could do would be to stack this new Joe up against that qoute.  Freestyle comes from a diverse lower income background that by itself points to a resolute spirit that allowed to attain her spot with the Joes. There seems to be potential hinted at here, that she is serious and don’t unwind often and is more gaurded individual. Her ethical code might be one of hardwork, and no nonsense. Hama’s qoute plays out best when looking at a story arc, not a file card, and I think i’d like to see Freestyle get incorporated into future stories to further flesh her out. Her filecad isn’t spectacular like SE, or Hit n Run, but there is a spark of potential there.

freestyle1

On to the review. She makes use of the ROC covergirl/ 25th v 2 lady Jaye body parts except for 25th wild bills lower legs (which is unfortante in my opinion) and a Quarrel/Glenda Scarlet head. Her helmets original came with 30th ace(as pictured above) or 25th lift ticket. I’ve been told her vest is new, but it looks very similar to the canceled comic pack arctic scarlet to me. Continue reading

2013 G.I.Joe con CHUCKLES and freebie ATV review

Chuckles and the con attendee exclusive free vehicle are next up for my continuing series of reviews for Joe con 2013 review items (all will be on the page joecon2013 for easy and grouped viewing.)

First up is Chuckles, who is no longer sports a silly bright shirt, and goofy pop eye arms (as he did in the 25th era release.)

chuckles2

Chuckles now comes with a 25 th viper torso, renegade duke arms, upper poc wave 3 legs and lower legs used in various places like DG shipwreck but I am unsure of their first usage. Some of these parts have become nearly uniform with their re-use, and that’s okay because it’s only near uniform, things are still changed up and colored differently, and we still get unique looking characters, and the fact it helps Hasbro or in this case the club keep costs down only helps us get more of the new and unusual tooling.

chuckles1

I apologize for the washed out look of this pic, please keep in mind I took it in a hotel room the night I received the figure.

His shirt his still flowered helping him be easily identified as chuckles but with a much more believable look. The best is a nice tactical touch, and it’s good to have the optional hoslter but they two do not work well together.  Without the vest his lack of belt is obvious, but it’s not that troublesome.  some are not a fans of this head, but i feel it’s a good head, and it’s not necessary to match the old version exactly and I appreciate the consistency. I actually think this will replace the current normal chuckles on my shelf.

chucklesfilecard

I’d score this figure a 9/10

as a transition photo it’s worth noting that chuckles comes with a helmet which lead me to connect him with… Continue reading

Club panel quick notes

No crazy legs because hotel wouldn’t let the. Toss out a parachute of 4 ”

Light foot and other and not done because expensive accessories

Club says font blame them for rush and late notice of con

More of this set than anything else , demand on the rise

Look to be able try and control numbers as we register (with it being further out from registration )

Was a jerk that yelled about 2 lines,

No more 12 ” lost talker figures for now

Future kreo dependent on hasbro for permission

Future use of nf heads and characters in Fss possible if we demand it !

FFs 2 news from club

08_CobraCommanderThe FSS 2 line up has been revealed:

Dragon sky
Nf falcon
Skull buster
Big bear
Admiral keel haul
Brazil tiger force airtight
Bombardier )made Dave Tree happy)
Cesspool
Cobra desert scorpion
Brazil Tiger force shipwreck
Tool booth
Wide scope

and of course a mysterious 13th figure again.

It will have a Mid to late April order period

2 pics soon (dragonsky and skull buster incoming )

The club staff, when asked if  Keel-Haul would come with the flag, they joked about a flag in a bottle accessory, but honestly, I think that idea sounds awesome!

-revsears

CLICK HERE to head to the boards.

Quick notes from joecon 2013 hasbro panel

08_CobraCommanderWave 3 in late July
Wave 4 sounded a bit iffy

Admission pryce seemed like a missing hole from the the line sounded positive about it

No micro force wave 2 for now

Online retailers getting wave 2 of dollar store figure

Hints about sdcc exclusive
Will complete your set of similar figures
Number of 4 ” figs will surprise you

Clubs in talks to help get you sddc exclusives

Nothing new shown

2014 could not be discussed at this time

G.I.Joe Con Club Exclusive Iceberg pic and thoughts.

08_CobraCommanderIceberg is the club “free” incentive figure for joining the collector’s club. Each member of the club, who joined by a certain date this year, (march 15th i believe)  will receive a free bagged version in the mail.  At the con there was (and i saw was cause they sold out) a carded version available. Many MOC collectors grabbed this version, as well as folks who desired to have one to sell. There were also loose versions available but I did not get one, and will wait for my free loose version later.

Joecon2013ICEBERGexclusiveI think i should start off by saying, I’m not a club hater, or an apologist. I said great things about Jaye, and i have more great things to say about other figures, but not so much with this guy.

To quickly point out a couple of pros, he is an early figure in the line, he completes a whole in many collections for those who want all of the original ARAH figs in modern form, Hasbro won’t make the character (or we wouldn’t be getting him) and he comes with some cancelled weapons and gear from the unreleased ROC arctic Duke.

The bad? one fo the most obvious things is the headsculpt is just a real mold of the very dated 80’s figure. At one point we were told this head was just a mock-up and would be changed for the final version, it clearly wasn’t. I want to be understanding, and think that maybe they just didn’t have time, but regardless of whose to blame, i’m reviewing the figure not the people involved in the process of making him, and i feel this was simply unacceptable. It’s lack of detail makes him look reminiscent of Odo from DS9 with unnaturally smooth and crease-less ears  etc.  This figure is also very top heavy. The legs are from 25th spirit and do not match those from the snow serpent torso. The legs weren’t good to begin with but when paired with a bulky torso make this guy look like he is going to flop over, and those pants don’t look thick enough to provide him with warmth in the arctic.

Score: 1/10

Yes, I bought one, for a friend, but i can only see this appeal of this figure for an MOC completest.

It has occurred to me even while carded i need to take a shot of the back of this package for the filecard. I’ll update this, and the Lady Jaye as i can.

I blame not getting this up, or anything else, last night on the con movie showing being a full HOUR late.  I’m off to hear Dave Tree’s panel on action force, hopefully another review up later tonight and as aways hit up our forums to discuss this and more.

So chuckles are freestyle next? both are darn near ready.

-revsears.

G.I.Joe con Carded Lady Jaye pic and thoughts

My carded Lady Jaye is SIGNED by HAMA and Bozigian, and soon by Lady J herself! okay, now after that fan boy moment, I know most Joe fans have already seen the figures  but I wanted to put a shot of each (these aren’t getting taken out of the package) and give a small breakdown of the figures. (please keep in mind the pics are from prior to having LJ signed.)

Joecon2013LJexclusive

When the voice actor Mary McDonald Lewis was announced for  con many correctly guessed we would get a figure of LJ for her to sign, I’m glad they were right. Unfortunately as of this writing they have sold out and I was limited one, and no bagged versions were available !

Even without taking her out of the card I can tell you that it’s not exactly the concept case figure from last year. The torso here is from the 25th version which differs from the concept case. The legs are baggy in look, and originate from the POC shock trooper, arms appear to be from the 25th 2nd two pack Lady Jaye.

It’s worth noting her that the head is new, doesn’t have a removable hat but still looks great.  Her gold eagle is unpainted, and the card art differs in look by removing the knee pads, showing the emblem painted, and showing tighter pants.  Her gray is a very green gray which would almost make her work as a standard LJ but the NF logo on the hat makes it clear she is representing her sub unit here.

I’d rate it 7 out of 10 and if it was at retail I’d buy two.

Was hoping to get up more but I’m out of time, Iceberg at least and hopefully chuckles later tonight! Remember to click on our Forums to discuss the news as it rolls in.

-Sears

 

 

 

2013 Con Exlusive NF Steeler and Flak Cannon Review

I’m starting off my con reviews with the most pleasant surprise from con. Remember to check back often, and specifically the joecon2013 tag. Steeler was one of the con attendee exclusives this year, meaning even if you got a home front heroes package (ordering the con set by mail) you couldn’t buy this guy unless you came to the show (or hit up ebay!)

NFsteeler2

Cyclops wishes he was this Bad A

Steeler comes with an impressive night force flak cannon. Action Force Expert and WOJM UK correspondent Dave Tree said it was similar to a Z-force edition of the flak cannon.

Steeler was one of the original thirteen (013) ARAH G.I.Joes but  his inclusion was surprising as he wasn’t previously a member of night force.

NFsteeler1He is a fairly plain looking figure, yet that only makes him more aesthetically pleasing. The drab green, black and earth town brown makes him fit in with night force, but the lack of teal helps him fit in with the regular Joes as well. While simply, he isn’t overly simply, his buttons are painted as is holster which makes him pop more.

The parts including Retaliation Firefly’s torso, POC shock trooper arms and POC wave 3 Snake-Eyes Legs with 25th Steeler head. The Holster is a tight fit for him and I’ll probably place that and the cool but somewhat dated helmet aside.

NFsteelerfilecardThere is not really a lot of additional information or pictures necessary, he is what is, and thankfully that is a good update of one of the original and often neglected ARAH Joes.

NFflakcannon1The flak cannon he comes with is surprisingly nice. It’s mostly black with shades of green, both G.I.Joe and the Night Force team logos, a single star, as well as  4 Cobra’s that have be slashed out to display his kills/vehicles destroyed.

NFflakcannon2My only real complaint about the cannon is the green pant here, that appears to be a a scope or camera, is not painted well at the seem of the plastic and it is very noticeable.

Scoring these two together I’d give them an 9 out of 10.

I also can’t help but think his inclusion as given away who the mystery 13 figure is, if NF falcon is in FFS 2, and NF crazy legs is the one not left with a figure, i think he is a good candidate.

Remember to check back often, I hope to have at least one other review up tonight.

-Sears