GI JOE Convention 2013

[Bravo]

It's April 4-7 in Indianapolis, a day's drive from me. Still no desire to attend.

The exclusive set....(they've run out of ideas or realize that fans hate anything new "new"):

G.I. JOE: Night Force Team - Nocturnal Emissions Fire Squad and the Cobra Demolitions Team!

"G.I. JOE: Night Force is a covert unit specializing in nighttime surveillance and defensive operations. Each team member has been selected for their enhanced skills, sophisticated hardware and advanced technology to surprise and vanquish any enemy!

This fan favorite and highly requested team contains several of the classic Night Force members and some new additions available for the first time in the modern era 25A style.

Our special edition Nocturnal Fire squad includes: Charbroil, Hit & Run, Muskrat, Psyche-Out, Repeater and Spearhead with Max (NEW Bobcat).

The Cobra Demolitions Team is ready to take on any obstacle that gets in their path of destruction. Led by the mysterious Cobra Mortal, he employs Cobra Letal and the deadly saboteur Crimson Asp (NEW female character). Their specialized troopers include: Cobra Frag-Vipers x 3, Cobra S.A.W.-Vipers x 3."

That's right...they made a new bobcat. Also, the most uncreatively named female character ever? Mortal's back for those five people that didn't make their own modern custom of him already. And screw you if you wanted retail releases of SAW-Viper and Frag-Viper! Hey, it's just as well, GI JOE will probably be dead at retail by this time next year.

Edit: Character sketches here

But the real reason to go to the con is for the experience.

Extra charge for seeing the movie sequel. Extra charge for playing with shitty Lego knock-offs, extra charge for seeing the sites in Indianapolis (that would be the Indy 500 speedway and...what?).

[Zarana-X]

They charachter sketches look good, at least.

[Bravo]

First 3 figures revealed www.gijoecon.com/in2013/RAH13set-preview.cfm

Frag-Viper wear tights. LOLZ.

Letal is a case for not making a modern version of an obscure figure too much like the original. Neon nightmare.

Mortal is just blah. They went with the bland, even more obscure version.

[Felix]

Those are REALLY bad. I thought the con was still doing O-ring figures. I'm behind the times.

[Bravo]

Hasbro scrapped most of the vintage 3 3/4" molds years ago. No one likes "new sculpt" (they never got a con set...Haw-haw!) and the Club claims the last con sets sold out.

[Swindle]

Letal looks like a so-so custom job.

I thought Snake Eyes was pushed into this set from the thumbnail. ho hum.

Overall, I onlly like Frag Viper of the four I can see thus far.

[Bravo]

Muskrat and Pysche-Out are up. Muskrat looks okay. His hair should be brown. Hat looks a bit off.

Pysche-Out looks pretty good. I'll give them that. Sure, they didn't replicate his quilted look or long sleeves vintage arms, but still recognizable overall.

Joes are beating out the Cobras in appearances so far.

[Bravo]

Photos of SAW Viper and Crimson Ass Asp are up.

THey need to working on their naming. Her hair is red and that's it...Lady Lime!

SAW Viper is pretty awful.

[Bravo]

All up now. Hit & Run's got an odd head and Spearhead seems generic but his bobcat matches his card art more now. Repeater's got the wrong hair color, if it matters.

One of the least interesting sets the Club has done. The Cobras seem weak, even Molotov Cocktease-wannabe Crimson Asp.

[Swindle]

Hmm... overall, I agree. There's not that one great character/figure that grabs your attention.

I like Repeater the best because he looks like a real retail figure, not just a glorified custom.

[Zarana-X]

Repeater and Psych-out look the best. The Frag viper looks like he's wearing a cycling suit with ankle weights...

[Felix]

I was worried they wouldn't use turquois on Spearhead. I haven't bought anything JOE in a while, last thing I got was Sideshows Falcon. Newest thing I preordered is the 1/6 Hot Toys Movie Snake Eyes. Seems like a much better investment than the convention stuff

[Bravo]

More turquiose than the original, since this version has gloves and the original did not. For some reason they made Spearhead's uniform brown rather than dark grey.

[Bravo]

Gee, this thing is going on right now. I forgot about it. GI JOE COLLECTING, if you are unfamiliar with it, is a hobby of One-Percenters who every year go to a convention with other rich nerds and pay too much for toys that were never meant to be played with.

What's new:

Night Force Lady Jaye is some exclusive with an ugly new (?) head.

Night Boomer redo with the new Skystriker mold.

Night Force Chuckles and Freestyle (a new female joe that pilots the night boomer, she's Dominican and really isn't in night force colors, I think she's all recycled parts.)

Night Force Steeler with FLAK. Tank driver with stationary cannon. A stationary cannon is part of Night Force. Steeler's head is ugly as shit, too.

No other Cobra stuff because they are saving that crap for the figure subscription scam.

Night Force Kreon 6 pack. Yeah, keep pushing that crap. Good luck. Also, thanks, for already making that series hard to complete. RUINATION OF A COLLECTING SUBSET LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. Gotta love "fan" clubs.

[Swindle]

Freestyle is a crappy name and Chuckles looks creepy as fuck