The lastest installment of the Full Force podcast is now online, as the boys are joined by members of the What’s on Joe Mind crew to talk about the year that was in 2015. Lots of news to cover, lots of great Joe talk, both foreign and domestic, and a whole lot of G.I. Joe podcasting fun.
Check out the latest episode on the Podbean page, or embedded below.
The G.I. Joe Kindle Worlds joint project G.I. Joe: Legacy continues this weekend with Bill Nedrow’s installment, focusing on Stiletto! This is book 2 in a four book series, following on the heels of Jim Beard’s story focusing on Marcus.
It’s a great project, and the first two installments have been very enjoyable to read. Yours truly will be penning the third book, followed by Troy Osgood in the four slot.
Check out G.I. Joe: Legacy Book 2 on Amazon right now, and be sure to get caught up with Book 1 as well. Each novella focuses on a particular decade, so get ready for the Neon Nineties coming up next month.
That’s right…the day has almost arrived! Boss Fight Studio sent out a Kickstarter update letting all of us excited Vitruvian HACKS fans know that the first shipment of these fantastic looking figures may be shipped to them within the next TWO DAYS.
In fact, that update was a few days ago, and we’ve now received confirmation from Boss Fight, that packages are indeed ON THE WAY! Boxes will be air dropped to Boss Fight HQ, where they will be packed and shipped to eager and waiting Kickstarter backers.
Great news! Along with this great update, they’ve sent along some excellent pictures from the factory floor, showing the latest update of this product. The time grows near!
Hi Boss-Fighters!
The first shipment is on its way from Shenzhen, China to BFS HQ in Massachusetts! This shipment contains Spartan, Stone Spartan, Medusa, Coral Gorgon, Black Racer, Talos, Gray Male Blank, and Fire Orange Male Blank. Production will finish on the remaining items after Chinese New Year and we’ll keep you updated on the progress. In the meantime, please enjoy these photos of V-HACKS getting packed and shipped!
Best,
BFS
Meanwhile, hit up Boss Fight Shop to stock up on any figures you may have missed, prices are great, and stock is running low.
In the 1960’s Hasbro, quite simply, wasn’t what it is today. Beginning in 1923, the Hassenfeld brothers formed a company selling textile remnants, then migrated to school supplies, and finally, in the 1940’s spun off into producing toys. In 1952 with the arrival of Mr. Potato Head, they finally had a big toy brand to call their own.
Meanwhile, Mattel was rolling hard and strong with Barbie, and while Hasbro was doing okay, it wasn’t in the same league as its west coast competition.
Then came 1963. Then came the revelation that they could do what Mattel is doing and make a Barbie…but make it a Barbie for boys.
G.I. Joe was born.
Pitched in 1963, the brand depended on a successful reception at Toy Fair in New York City to spring forward into production. Deals were made in New York, not in the backrooms in the months leading up to what is now essentially a press event. Brands literally lived and died by their presentation.
It all came down to this.
With the above film reel from 1963, Hasbro officially convinced American retailers to buy into this brand. In 1964 and 1965 G.I. Joe made up 75% of Hasbro’s sales, and while it dipped in the late 70’s, it rebounded in the 80s to become the first multi-media toyline release with a cartoon, comic book, and landmark series of highly articulated action figures all hitting at once. It was an incredible feat of marketing the likes of which had never been seen before, and have rarely been replicated to such perfection even 30+ years later.
It all came down to that nine minute video. The concept of Action Figures was born there, and lives on today.
Today, three decades later, G.I. Joe remains one of the most recognized American icons and toy brands around the world.
Yo Joe indeed!
It feels like forever since I’ve been able to say this, but a new episode of the What’s on Joe Mind podcast is HERE.
Rescued from technical purgatory by our esteemed editor Gary, the 46th Special Edition focused on the fun of JoeCon 2015 in Springfield, Illinois! It’s a review of the excellent 2015 G.I. Joe Convention hot on the heels of the four day foray into G.I. Joe fun and nerdery.
Go check out this latest special edition on our Podbean page, or check it out embedded below.
