Joecon 2015

There's going to be another TRU exclusive series. A few Concept Case releases with some decent redecos and frankensteinsalong with a few re-releases of hard to find figures, There's even a Troop builder 2-pack, although I have all of both troops that Ill ever need

New 2 Packs

Classic Clash – Storm Shadow (v2) vs. Spirit Iron Knife
Marine Devastation 2 Pack – Cobra Shadow Guard vs. Gung Ho
Cobra Commander vs Shipwreck & Polly
Croc Master vs Blowtorch
Iron Grenadier vs Steel Brigade
New 3 packs

Vanishing Act- Torpedo, Hit & Run and Zartan
Chase for the MASS Device – Cobra Commander, Cobra C.L.A.W.S. trooper, Duke (DVD set)
Rock Rampage – Cobra Shock Trooper, Cobra Rock Viper, Alpine
Sneak Attack – Specialist Dusty, Firefly, Bazooka
DESERT DUEL

Desert Duel Cobra Basilisk Snow Cat Repaint with Elite Horseman Driver
Desert Duel FOE Striker with Chuckles in Desert Deco! – IDW Version!! — Comes with Desert Tent and mini gun from 30th Vamp
SILENT STRIKE

Cobra H.I.S.S. Tank (Rail Gun Version) with HISS Driver
G.I.Joe Stealth Skystriker with Ace
Sightline, a new G.I.Joe Anti-Aircraft Support character who is a homage to Mr. Gary Goggles Head, aka Gyper Viper.


Mostly Im interested in vehicles. That Skystriker looks awesome but I already have the original issue of this mold and Jetfire. I just dont have the display space

I am heavily interested in the Awestriker Snowcat set

Also, next year's sign-on bonus is none other than PYTHONA. Plus an exclusive vehicle with a new Dreadnok named Heartwrencher

Heartwrencher was the cheesecake pin-up rollergirl from the early IDW comic series. Not sure how they'll make her without using the Zarana body once again, which is getting boring on the Dreadnok ladies.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Hasbro kicking out so much product in a non-movie year. They're all repaints/rereleases, but I still didn't expect it. The AWE (FOE) Striker is great, and I wonder why they didn't do this 3 years ago. The vintage HISS in orange is interesting, but I really wish they'd made a turret hatch with those new cannons. And included the cargo rails/baskets from the Arctic HISS. Since it's a 2-pack with the "stealth" Skystriker at $60-70, I probably won't buy many. Hasbro already knows they're marketing to adult collectors; they've got to know we're cheap! But I heard an explanation for multipacks: they allow more item releases in fewer slots. All in all, I like what they've shown and will be buying a lot this fall.

And I'm oddly underwhelmed with the SDCC set. The paint apps on the red & silver Cobra Skystriker (Scythe) are overdone, even if it is a trophy piece. As much as I love the v1 HISS, the olive green one for GIJoe (CHIMERA) just doesn't do anything for me. That one could've used some camo to liven it up (plus a turret hatch and rack). I'm glad the more useful variations are hitting retail. Since the Shockwave HISS set, I don't think they've been as creative on SDCC exclusives.

That Joe HISS is the only thing I want out of that set

If anyone goes there and gets that set, and if they want to part with the Chimera, Ill take it off their hands

The Joe HISS is neat in that "shattered glass" kind of way, but it's replaceable with a $10 junk HISS and a $3 can of Krylon. Having the real thing as a collectible is cool, but it's not different enough to me for the price. I felt the same way about last year's tan VAMP, and that's actually a different mold than the vintage version. It was great that the VAMP camo version, which would've been much more difficult to paint, hit TRU and wasn't the exclusive.

And I love the concept behind the Sightline figure, but it's so totally generic that it might as well be Night Force Steel Brigade Delta. Same Joe Trooper body they keep repainting and faceless head. I'll bet Boss Fight would've sculpted a head for free if Hasbro explained what it was for. Give it a Mouse helmet and pair of Dusty goggles and you've got a more meaningful tribute for almost nothing. I'm still not clear if it will be packed with the pricey Skystriker/HISS set.

I'm sounding like a downer, but I'm really excited about all the new product. It's just that it feels like we're being bought-off a little with some effortless repaints. I'm thankful for cheap(ish) fodder and the chance to support GIJoe financially, but people are really going wild about the stuff, and I wonder if it's the surprise factor or if everyone really wanted an orange HISS and another AWE Striker.

I think Sightline might be exclusive to the SDCC Awestriker pack. The same thing will later be sold at TRU without the extra two figures

Yeah, Ill likely be passing on a number of these packs.

- The Duke / CC / Cobra Soldier pack is kind of an insult
- The Alpine set has a couple solid army builders, but I have all of them Ill ever want
- Same with the IG / Steel Brigade set
- Shipwreck / Cobra commander doesnt really grab me. I dont hate it
- The Firefly 3-pack has a neat Firefly, but the other two dont grab me

The Stormshadow, Gung-Ho, Croc Master and Zartan sets interest me themost, for the Concept Vault figures. But the redecos in those packs are pretty decent

Definately want the Awestriker set. The Snowcat redeco will go with my Swampvipers perfectly