So Saturday?s come and gone and with it, a good time to be a GI Joe fan in Montreal.
Last year?s meet was nothing more than a test to see if we could gather the fans of Montreal to share our hobby. Outside the morning?s recording of Sigma Six?s debut episode, and a TCG tutorial, no events were planned. We just got together with stuff, made a few trades, and had a good time.
This year, I wanted things to happen. Move away from the Meet format and more towards a convention. Unfortunately, I didn?t manage to herd the local comic shops, toy stores, and hobby centers to set up dealers tables, but people certainly enjoyed the bake sale. I did feel bad for Matt Stone, who showed up with a lot of Cobra insignia window transfers and left without a sale.
We had a customs table set-up, and damn did Kadarle steal the show. I felt like a simple Cobra Officer that happened to be in the room when Destro brought his mock-up for the ultimate Cobra headquarters.
As impressive as seeing K?s Terrordrome live was, it was ever more exciting talking shop about it. He doesn?t own a Terrordrome, wasn?t basing it on any schematics. Dude just knew about what it should look like and managed to build a playset that?s a step up from the untouchable classic. And the intricacy of his popsicle stick support beams, I wanted to run home with the damn thing.
Closest I came was leaving with this Trouble Bubble, a vehicle I?ve had a mad crush on since playing with Zombieguide?s this past summer.
Between the Pringles Venomization tube, the working popsicle stick jail, and the Kleenex box cannons, the dude took items everyone can get for under $10 and did with them something only a talented and dedicated architect could dream of. I?ve seen some amazing customs in my time, but I?ve never loved something like I love this.
Hopefully he has it finished next year. Jay and I set-up our share of customs as well, and Tank-Girl had a blast ?setting up Dios?.
The Customs Table
Jay?s Customs (Front), Scramble?s WIPs (Back)
Jay?s customs (Front), Scramble?s customs (Back)
Jay?s Customs (Front), Tank Girl?s Dios (back)
Hammertime!
CMB? Nope, FRAUD.
?My name is Mirage because I?m too good to be true.?
I think I?ve found my new Gay GI Joe Theatre cohort.
Even though attendance was low, I think everyone there had a great time. We started the day with the long-awaited debut of Men and Their Toys, the board game about adult toy collectors struggle to balance their hobby, job, and love life.
When I announced that the game was ready to go, it didn?t look like people were willing to pry themselves away from GI Joe Season 1 Part 2. But no way was I going to let five months (on and off) of design and two late nights of cutting and pasting go to waste. Once I guilted six players into picking up the dice, the game was one! Actually, I think it went quite well. I saw a few squares that could use clarifying and might want to see how the game plays with two dice, but I?d say it?s a pretty solid system.
Next was what many people were waiting for. The Speed Painting. Everyone received a sack of parts when they arrived: A head, torso, arms that matched, legs that matched, and a torso. These pieces fit together physically, but thematically and colour-wise, they were bizarre eyesores. But the participants looked past the pieces and saw the potential, then took up brushes and got to work.
Brought to you by A&W.
Jon's first custom ever!
The end products were pretty impressive for one hour of painting. Jay and Raptor even managed to get two customs done in the hour. The winner was Redmao?s camo-tastic Bowlhead, whose filecard full of toilet humour may have influenced the judges.
Raptor swooped down and took second place between his talons. I was impressed with what he managed to do with Armadillo?s head. But as the only judge who could tell you what the parts were before, I can say that it was more than just one part that won us over.
Runners up:
Pathfinder by Raptor
Solid Snake by Kadarle
Kablowski by Jay
Cougar by Jay
Here are a few more shots from the Meet, and then to La Cage Aux Sports, where we met up with Raptor?s wife and daughter for our post-meet supper.
Decals still available!
Before Scramble finishes pricing, Raptor is already shopping.
Everyone say hello to Bluefire, newest (active) member of Joe Canuck.
Better known as Jeantista. Seen here with Jon.
Raptor and our sponsor, Matt Stone.
La Cage Aux Sports:
We dine.
Tank Girl and Scramble.
Redmao
Raptor
The J-Team.
Baby. Looking cute.
Baby, still looking cute.
Jay, looking cute.
Redmao and the J-Team made me take this picture. Apparently a lemon in bar-b-cue sauce is representative of Montreal beating BC is football. Or something.
Left to Right: Redmao (back, in red), Raptor (front, in white $2 Bin shirt), Scramble (back, grabby), Jin (front row center), Jon (back, green), Kadarle (front. You may have trouble seeing him as he's camouflodged), Jean (back, thumb up).
No exclusive figure to pick up, no major retailers, and a few locals that couldn?t make it. But this shot is what these local meets are all about I recommend to everyone that at some point they track down nearby fans that share your hobby and get together.
