Toy Bender

Hasbro has graciously answered questions put forth to them pertaining to G.I. Joe figures/comics/and DVDs. Why don’t we check some of the most informative together?

Let’s open this up with a good one. Action Figure Insider asked a question to which the answer gets my blood boiling:

ActionFigureInsider: Will the GI Joe sky striker enjoy a re-release?

Hasbro: No, while we would like to do this, the original Sky Striker tool is not available.

Wait wait wait wait wait… the tool is missing for one of the most iconic Joe vehicles? Make a god damn new one! And how is this even possible? The Indian toy maker Funskool made ones a few years ago. Why can’t they partner up with them to get the tool back?

Action Figure Insider also asked:

ActionFigureInsider: We understand Plan A stood to make just 25 figures for the 25th. Now it does not to make financial sense to stop such a good thing at 25, much less, 62. Kenner’s Star Wars collection stopped at 200+ figures.

That number didn’t halt Hasbro from gunning for its 1,000th Star Wars figure in the close future of that new collection. Â Taking cues from that, can we too see G.I.Joe’s new anniversary collection continue on and on? Via his own “Legacy Line,� with his own “Expanded Universe� waves of the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s Joes? Giving something new to all of Joe’s broad base of fans (as Star Wars did with their broad base of fans spanning the movies, comics, and cartoons) all coalesced in this new 3.75 format? Reaching such a broad base, can maybe have Joe reach its 1000th figure. And, afford Joe’s own BMF-like Millennium Falcon, the U.S.S. Flagg - even if its just available during Christmas time. Like a Walmart or Target exclusive, as exemplified in the latter’s Christmas re-release of Star Wars “Emperor’s Shuttle,� of which sold-out so quickly just a few years back just as a Christmas-time exclusive. Come on. Wadduya say?

Hasbro: The short term plan is to continue the classic line until the movie line debuts in 2009. After the movie, we will look into all options, including an expanded universe. As for a large key driver item we are looking into all expressions for movie and will have more info in the coming year.

There are a number of problems with this question. The first is that G.I. Joe doesn’t have the support that Star Wars has. I also think Star Wars has more characters to work from along with a lot more obsessive fans that need obscure background character #3 as opposed to G.I. Joe fans that want a comic book based character.

Cool Toy Review asked a question about the future of the G.I. Joe line:

Cool Toy Review: As you know, the question of whether or not this line will continue past 2008 with more updates of classic (ARAH ‘82-’91) figures is frequently asked; and as of yet, still hasn’t been confirmed (or at least clearly). Can you tell us if we can look forward to more updates of classic characters (example, Dusty, Blowtorch, Monkeywrench, Big Boa, Low-Light, Recondo, Rip Cord, etc.) being made in 2009 and beyond? It certainly seems as though this line has made its mark and could sustain its popularity for many years to come!

Hasbro: The plan right now is to continue a classic based line until movie. At movie timing, the line will shift to a movie line look and focus; but classic characters like the ones you called out will be making appearances in this new line. The figures will all be based on 25th anniversary styling, so you will get the quality you are accustomed to.

This has gotten me a little nervous. Hopefully there will be more than just a smattering of figures we want among all the retarded looking movie figures. Yeah, I’m pre-judging like some sort of super nerd.

Joe Sightings asked about the comic book pakcs:

Joe Sightings: Comic packs are one of my favorite items so far. Including a new or reprint comic with a pair of newly redesigned or BRAND new characters is a great move. Will the comic packs continue into 2009?

Hasbro: Yes, the fans have voted and comic packs will continue into 2009.

I was wondering about this, because the Wal-Marts in my area have all their pegs chock full of packs that nobody is buying.

Yo Joe.com asks about the availably of single carded figures:

YoJoe: A lot of collectors are both excited at the success of the line and exceptionally disappointed in not being able to find figures on the shelves. We know Hasbro is not responsible for retailer inventory, but have there been any updates on Hasbro’s end to help get the figures into more stores more often?

Hasbro: We keep making more and it keeps selling. There are a lot of new figures coming this fall and we are making a large amount. We have dramatically increased production and figures should be easier to get your hands on.

Great! I’ll have to look at the figures I can’t buy now. (Insert Pac-man dying sound)

Yo Joe.com also asks:

YoJoe: We know that the 25th Anniversary collection is the most detailed figure design in the history of 3 3/4″ G.I.Joes. Is there any possibility of seeing more “vintage” styled figures, like those produced by the Official G.I.Joe Collectors’ Club?

Hasbro: No. We have made the leap forward with better articulation and detail and there are no plans to look back. The club will continue to offer product for fans who interested in this expression.

So no more classic Joes from Hasbro… Damn they had a good run.

Joe Battlelines asks about the possible return of classic Joes on DVD:

JoeBattlelines: Since the rights to the Sunbow library have been reacquired is there now a realistic chance of getting the complete Sunbow animated series released on DVD?

Hasbro: Yes there is a chance. There are no official plans yet, but we are looking into it.

Oh please make this happen, Hasbro. Sony sat on them for no reason, it’s time to release the movie and the rest of the cartoons on DVD, damn it.

Joe Battlelines asks about the San Diego Comic con G.I. Joe Exclusive:

JoeBattlelines: We saw the Cobra Commander Comic Con exclusive, but we can’t see
his articulation because he’s behind a podium. Does he have full GIJOE
25th anniversary articulation (ie: ball-jointed hips), or does he have more “Indiana Jones/Star Wars” articulation?

Hasbro: This figure has an Indy/SW articulation. The only way to do this figure was to share the tooling with Indy; but we accepted the change in style because the figure rocks and he was designed to stand at a podium so his waist articulation is less important.

Interesting. This should make his legs look more realistic, so that’s a good thing.

Figures.com asks about the San Diego Comic con Exclusive Cobra Commander’s availability outside of the convention:

Figures.com: Will Hasbro’s SDCC exclusives be available after the convention at Hasbro Toy Shop?

Hasbro: Yes, a limited number have been set aside for fans who could not attend SDCC.

Woot! I can’t wait for the crush of traffic that HasbroToyShop.com is going to have at that point, which will make buying anything nearly impossible.

Joe Reloaded asks about the old Marvel comics:

JoeReloaded: Is there a plan to release the entire Marvel published line in Trade Paperback format?

Hasbro: There are no plans at this time.

And why not? Holding off on all the doing reprints of the old comics doesn’t make any sense to me.

Joe Reloaded follows up with:

JoeReloaded: Is there a plan to release some or all of the comic series on DVD or CD-ROM?

Hasbro: There are no plans at this time.

Again, I don’t get it. Can we at least get them distributed digitally through downloads or something? Come on Hasbro.

By the way faithful readers: The site has had serious server issues and I don’t know when they will be fixed. I understand your frustrations. It is hard for me to do anything on the site, so updates might be sporadic.