G.I. Joe and Transformers Finally Coming Back to DVD

April 14, 2009 | Paul

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Hasbro has announced that both the original Transformers and G.I. Joe animated series are going to be on DVD again, brought to us via Shout! Factory and should be available later this year.

This is extremely welcome news to me, because both series have been out of print on DVD for years. As a Joe fan it was even worse than not simply being able to buy them. While the Transformers animated series saw a full release, the G.I. Joe series was never completed before the rights went from Rhino to Sony. Sony, for whatever crazy reason, sat on the license and completely missed the perfect windows for a releases like during the G.I. Joe 25th anniversary and the release of the first Transformers live action movie. In the mean time many fans spent a fortune for the out of print DVDs. For example, the final Joe season was going for over a hundred bucks on Amazon when it originally retailed for around 30 dollars, and the original Joe film was going for double it’s original retail price. Many fans who couldn’t afford the ridiculously inflated prices turned to bootlegs. Hopefully, those that turned to other methods to get their classic toon fix will reinvest in either animated series, so Joe fans can finally complete their collection.

Original Hasbro press release after the break:

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Toy Review Roundup (via Fanmode)

April 12, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy Corey Tincher reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Ocean Warrior Aquaman figure. Excerpt: “This is just an ugly costume, and they matched it quite well, meaning it’s an ugly figure too.”

Poe Ghostal reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Ocean Warrior Aquaman figure. Excerpt: “… because of the odd way Aquaman is hunched in the package, my Aquaman’s head was completely locked in a looking up” position.”

Poe Ghostal reviews the Mattel DC Universe Classics Booster Gold (modern variant) figure. Excerpt: “… one of the best-looking DCUC figures to date.” (more…)

You Sunk My Movie Themed G.I. Joe Vehicle

April 9, 2009 | Paul

You know what sucks about G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra aside from almost everything revealed about it so far? The fact that there’s all these new G.I. Joe tie-in products that have almost nothing to do with the Joes that I love. They’re filled with all this newfangled Joe movie stuff that certainly does nothing to bank on my nostalgia and therefore my insane desire to buy anything beloved from the days of my youth. Take G.I. Joe Battleship for example. It’s a cool update to one of my favorite board games of all time, yet there’s nary a classic vehicle or character on the box. Of course, there is the updated Night Raven, but it’s not THE Night Raven.

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Hot damn, now I know what it’s like to be one of those old guys who only collects the classic 12-inch Joes. It sucks.

Thanks to: Toy News International

5 Good (and 5 Not-So-Good) ’80s Toy-Based Feature Films

April 7, 2009 | Poe

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With the imminent release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra and the announcement that Tom Hanks may star in a Major Matt Mason movie, big-budget films based on toy lines are big business. The last (and first) time this happened was in the 1980s, when there was a slew of feature films based on the various fad toys of the era.

Here’s a look at some of the best and worst toy-based films of the 1980s. With one exception, all of these movies received a theatrical release. (more…)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

March 30, 2009 | Poe

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Artemis reviews the Diamond Select Toys Star Trek Deep Space Nine General Martok figure. Excerpt: “Qapla’!”

Updatedude reviews the Hasbro Transformers Animated Deluxe class Waspinator figure. Excerpt: “Unfortunately, Waspinator feels highly fragile and a tad unstable.”

Michael Crawford reviews the Triad Toys Black Wolffe International WITSEC (Witness Security Protection & Relocation) Agent Indigo 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “… great for various custom jobs.” (more…)

Sideshow’s Recon at Waypoint 12

March 30, 2009 | Paul

For those lucky enough to get a one of the radical Sideshow Snake Eyes figures, be prepared to be at least tempted by their mini-dio that comes with…wait for it…Timber!

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As much as I like little pieces to add flavor to a toy collection, I could live without the wall section if I had the figure. Still, the prospect of owning a Timber to go with the crazy cool Snake Eyes would be hard to pass up. I wonder how many collectors will be willing to drop $129.99 in this economy for what boils down to an accessory. I also wonder if they’ll ever make a Timber that looks a little less menacing for Saturday picnic dios. Maybe one that included a Frisbee in his mouth? Is that too much to ask for?

Check it out at Sideshow’s site.

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

March 27, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy Artemis reviews the Diamond Select Toys Battlestar Galactica Razor Kendra Shaw figure. Excerpt: “I don’t forgive her anything because of affection for the character, but her technical quality alone makes me quite fond of her.”

Updatedude reviews the Bandai Motion Revive Series (MRS) Kamen Rider Special Best Selection Kamen Rider Kabuto trading figure.

Dave Van Domelen reviews the Hasbro Star Wars Transformers Crossovers Shock Trooper to V-Wing Starfighter figure. Excerpt: “Making the arm joints more useful and adding pegs to keep them together in vehicle mode would have made this toy a LOT better.” (more…)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

March 23, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy MicroBry reviews the Onell Design Glyos System Buildman Ranic Phalanx Set. Excerpt: “… it doesn’t get much more fun than when you have a toy designed to allow you to rebuild it however you want …”

MicroBry reviews the Freeing Sky Girls Sonic Diver Rai-jin set. Excerpt: “With the huge range of posability, interchangeability with other action figures and 3 alternate modes, this is a pretty fun piece to own, marred really only by its delicate construction.”

Michael Crawford reviews the Enterbay 24 Jack Bauer and David Palmer 1/6-scale figures. Excerpt: “I think using the word WOW here is not an overstatement.” (more…)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

March 19, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy Newton Gimmick reviews the Character Options Doctor Who The Tenth Doctor (Aged and Ancient) set from Last of the Time Lords. Excerpt: “(Re: Aged version) He sort of eerily looks like my Grandfather.” (See also.)

Newton Gimmick reviews the Character Options Doctor Who Magnus Greel and Mr. Sin set from The Talons of Weng Chiang. Excerpt: “… I liked them MUCH more than I ever thought I would.” (See also.)

Newton Gimmick reviews the Character Options Doctor Who Captain Jack Harkness (Gelth Phantom Wave version) figure. Excerpt: “I simply love how the clothes are made on these figures.” (more…)

The Top Ten Mail-Away Action Figures of All Time

March 19, 2009 | Poe

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For young action figure collectors in the 1980s, the most desired, treasured, magical items were those enigmatic mail-away (or “mail-in”) figures. Unavailable at regular stores, they required a quest in order to get them.

It was a quest that required begging one’s parents for enough action figures to cut out the required number of Proof-of-Purchase cards, then begging them again to write out a check for the $5 or so needed for “shipping and handling.”

And even once that was done, you had to wait six to eight weeks for the figure to arrive–an eternity in childhood.

But one day, your parents would come back from getting the mail and hand you a small, nondescript brown or white box, labeled only with your address and a return address of “Hasbro” or “Kenner.” And inside would be a little clear baggie, and inside that…

At that moment, you knew what it felt like when Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb–or when Indy first laid eyes on the Ark. (more…)