JoeCanuck

Updated because I was lucky enough to snag a Destro and the Ace/Wild Weasel comic pack off Toys R Us.com

This is kinda true.  The guests are kind of egotistical, but you sometimes get really good ones.  Jake Loyd was great - out in front of the table, shaking hands with kids, posing for pictures...  really cool.  Often, if there's a line, you're rushed through, but if there's few people in line, you can linger and chat a bit. 

And the deals are there - you just need to look for them.  The toys are a tad expensive, but if you're looking for a specific one, and they have it, it's often a lot cheaper than anything on eBay once you add in the shipping.  But yeah, there aren't any old ones...  that kind of sucks.  Comics though, you can get some sweet bargains on most comics and TPBs.

For me, it's an experience - I go every year with my brother, go in Friday to scope the place out and maybe grab an Autograph or two - then head back in on Saturday, grab a giant bag from Silver Snail and hunt down all the free swag I can.  The price I pay for admission is made up in the sheer number of posters I get alone.  And it's a good weekend with my brother, so that's a bonus.



I don't know - it seems like it would be the perfect crowd for this place.  Everyone there seems to be a collector in that they have that bug...  they buy one, they just need to keep going.   Maybe getting thousands of new people interested in the new Joes would provide the sales Canada needs to get the same treatment as the US.  But hey, get them all started and there's less out there for us, right?

So does any of this fan-meet business take place during the Fan Expo in Toronto?

If you're unfamiliar with it, Fan Expo is essentially a comic, Sci-fi, anime, horror, game convention held annually at the Toronto Convention centre. 

I find it's a great place to grab a few needed comics or figures and would think that a GI Joe booth would seem only natural.  Heck, last year there was even the rather portly pair of Destro and Cobra Commander walking about!  I'd post a picture, but the only one I have also has my brother in it and I don't think he'd like that...  suffice it to say, the Cobra's have really let themselves go!


Anyway, is anyone putting a booth there?  Or showing up for the fun of it?  Maybe if enough of us are going, we could have our own on-the-side Joe Meet?

I've been thinking of this for a long time and I think that you are the group of people that might appreciate it...

A few years ago I bought a Computer game called Joint Task Force.  It's a strategy game, but not the C&C-build-a-base type of strategy game.  The basic idea is that you're in command of an elite fighting force, give X amount of troops and funds then sent to effectively stop terrorists.  As your characters do more, they gain experience and level up - eventually gaining the option to be upgraded into an officer.  You get control of vehicles, special attacks (air strikes, etc) and the ability to call in reinforcements. 

If you're not familiar with the game, it'll be hard for you to envision it GI Joe'd - but I can wait while you go and play it (or give the demo a whirl)


So, you start off as some officer - this could easily be made into Duke
You are given army rangers - they can stay as is but when they get promoted to officers, you have the option of characters.  The promoted officers already have nicknames - it'd just be a matter of changing their corresponding picture and nickname to something like "Grunt" or "Rock N Roll" as your officers
You get medics - they stay as is to start but as they are promoted, you get Doc or Lifeline as your Officers
You get Commandos - they stay as is to start but as they are promoted, you get Snake Eyes, Stalker, etc.
You get engineers - they stay as is but as they are promoted...  I don't know...  maybe Tollbooth?  They basically repair vehicles...  I can't think of any fix-it Joes other than maybe Clutch, but he'd be a better driver
You get vehicle drivers - they stay as is but as they are promoted, you get Clutch, Cover Girl, Steeler, etc.
You get pilots - their upgraded officers can be Wild Bill, Ace, Lift Ticket, etc
And Snipers - I can't really think of any Joe Snipers, so I suggest Snake Eyes as a sniper instead of a commando...  but maybe I'm missing someone.

Then there's the vehicles - replace the Humvees with VAMPs, Copters with Dragonflys, Bugees with AWE Strikers, and all the artillery with suitable Joe equivalents.  And for bonus fan-service, the Black Hawk that drops off your troops can be replaced with a Tomahawk.


And the enemies you fight are "generic terrorists" - replace them all with "generic Cobra Troops and Vipers" and you're golden!  Just the missions would need to be revised to make them more canon.


If I knew anything about programming and thought I could get away with skirting the license, I'd edit the game to be a Joe game myself.  But I'm interested to know what you think of it.  Anyone here play the game and think it might sound realistic?  At the very least, I hope I've encouraged you to give the game a try and imagine your forces are Joes.

Hey guys!  I figured it'd be easy if I posted a list of the figures I'm looking for.  I only just got into the new 25th anniversary line, so I'm missing quite a few:

- Cobra Commander (Battle Armour)
- Zartan
- Destro (Weapons Supplier)
- Firefly
- Red Ninja
- Flint
- Snake Eyes (With Timber)
- Rock N Roll


- Target Exclusive Vehicles


I know, it seems long - I'm trying to grab what ones I can when I see them.  But I'd be very grateful to anyone that can help me out - I'll work out a trade or a way to reimburse you, just name it. 


I'll also knock figures off the list as I find them about, so hopefully that list will be shrinking soon.


Thanks!


Tradeables (all figures are Carded on Canadian Card):   Major Bludd, "Blue" Baroness, Duke, Wild Bill, Spirit, and the second Roadblock

I got back in last year when I found my Iron Grenadier Destro and Jinx figures...  then it snowballed into a frenzy 

But the 25th anniversary is what hooked me, this year.  Glad to hear that Hasbro's giving us some love!  I live close enough to the States that I can take a day-trip to the Toys 'R' Us' down there, if it comes down to it - but I'd rather not have to make too many trips like that!  If they open up the online store to Canadians, I'll be happy