JoeCanuck

So what did everyone think of the GI Joe Day reveals?

By far the winner, for me, was the SNAKE Armour.   That thing looks like a beast and a great update to the original.   Can't wait to see how it works because so far the prevailing belief is that a figure can fit inside the torso in a seated position.

The AWE Striker looks okay, but not great.   It does look like back roll cage where the third person can sit will be removable to make it look more like the original.   The smaller front wheels are not great either.  I get what they were going for here, but I just feel like they took it a bit too far in the modernization direction.   Maybe they'll do a retro release more closely resembling the original down the line.  Crankcase is a fine update, but again give me the more retro look as well.

MASS Breaker looks good, but again a little too modern for what he is supposed to represent (cartoon version).   

Darklon is a winner in my books.   I love the alternate mask and broad sword.  The  rest is classic Darklon which is fine.

Slice and Dice look good, but it is the accessories that take this set to the next level.   Love all the options.

Ketchup and Mustard divers are probably my second favourite reveal.   Not only are they connected to MASS but again the accessory load out is fantastic.  I just wish they had given the Joe diver a DPV as well as the Cobra diver.   DPV is Diver Propulsion Vehicle, the little torpedo looking thing that assists in movement.

Retro Covergirl is not as good as I thought from earlier leaks.   She looks good, but doesn't really evoke the classic MASS Device blonde hair look, but rather a mix of that with more modern sensibilities.  Not really a Retro design per se.

Tele-Viper looks great.   Definitely a more cartoon accurate look, and I like the little word scroll on the visor.   Although I would have prefered one less head and more accessories.

Flint is probaby the winner of the Retro reveals.   While I was never the biggest Flint fan he does look great and much more in line with the Sunbow look.

Retro Viper is available for pre order on walmart.ca

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/G-I-Joe-Classified-Series-Retro-Cardback-Cobra-Viper/6000208725290?from=/search

I could see 3rd party move in.  I think this is just a toe in the water product.
https://tfsource.com/fans-hobby/ve-01-air-eagle-112-scale-fans-hobby-vehicle-elite/

It's tough because Fans Hobby has been doing this with Transformers for some time now.

However it looks like the Joe team (whoever makes the decisions, not the design team) isn't willing to let them go on without some repercussions.  Apparently Fans Hobby received a C&D about the design and that is why they made the small changes they did.  I would assume it is because the Joe team has a Classified Sky Hawk in the works. 

Will either one eat into the sales of the other?  Maybe, but on the Transformers side of things it hasn't reallyl hurt either side so far.   I imagine the same will hold true here.  The only question is will there be any long term value in either offering?

I could see 3rd party move in.  I think this is just a toe in the water product.
https://tfsource.com/fans-hobby/ve-01-air-eagle-112-scale-fans-hobby-vehicle-elite/

simply mitigating risk.
By licensing it out they receive money from others and don't have to put anything out for manufacturing. Its a smart business decision after losing a ton on their movie studio stuff. Honestly the whole market of toys seems to be shifting away from mass production, i would guess because the sales numbers just aren't sufficient for a lot of lines that aren't geared towards young kids.

Time for some new companies or new properties to get started, but yeah, that risk for them is huge. Money up front will probably be the new norm.

I also get the impression that Hasbro Canada will become a thing of the past.

Dial-Tone, SAW Viper, wave has begun to show up for Pre-order on a consistent basis on Amazon.  Haven't seen the three new Retro Cardback figures on Amazon yet.

From what I have read and heard Hasbro under Chris Cocks is moving away from manufacturing, which is why they are licensing out a lot of their properties.  Apparently they want to be more of a license holder and let other companies handle the production (and the inherent costs with that). 

Don't know if that is true, or not, but it would make sense with how things have gone in the past year with all the new licensing agreements that were announced.   I imagine their big, in house, brands will be the last to go fully licensed if that is what they are doing.

Overall with Classified I am not too worried about preordering because so much of it ends up available everywhere, and even on sale.  Yes there are exclusives, but general retail product is still pretty easy to find.   Guess we'll see how this year shapes up.

I have been hearing rumblings through the grape vine that Hasbro isn't in a good place financially.  They have changed they way suppliers can place orders, basically cash up front of pre-orders.  I have heard from two reliable sources that if you are placing pre-orders on any upcoming waves go with a place like amazon, that doesn't ask for cash up front as the waves might not be fulfilled.

This totally sucks, but based on the recent public news from Hasbro about financial losses, mixed earning reports, and layoffs it isn't really shocking to hear.
Also why are they licensing all of their product to other companies?  Short term gain and quick revenue?

Managed to snag the Transformers x GI Joe Triple T Kup with Sgt. Slaughter and Leatherneck from TRU.

Got a $100 gift card for TRU and had the "$30 off $100 or more purchase" coupon.  So $140 ($139.99) - $30 - $100 and no tax means I was only out of pocket for $9.99.

Love the Triple T/Kup design.   Man this line is doing great things with bringing TFs and Joe together.   I really love that they are basically using the ARAH designs and scale for the vehicles, and then working backwards from that to make the robot mode.

Also more O-ring figures!!!!

Wish Sarge came with more accessories, but both he and Leatherneck look great and go well with the previous releases.