Arm Chair Quarterbacking Toyfair 2011
Weren’t invited to Toyfair 2011? Well, sit down partner, neither was I! So welcome once again to a brief armchair review of some particularly juicy toyfair highlights.
G.I. Joe!
Can you believe that G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is 30 years old in 2012? I surely can’t. More than any other (possibly excluding Micronauts which I really didn’t have enough of), G.I. Joe was THE toy line I grew up with. While I may be a Transformers guy now, I came to the Transformers universe as I was putting the toys away to avoid the shame of being a “doll guy” in high school. But G.I. Joe was a toy I actually played with, and my figures have all the scars, lost thumbs, terrible paint experiments, and missing parts to prove it (although even at nine years old, I was still pretty careful with my toys for a nine year old.)
So I am really pleased and excited to see some of the early promo pictures to be coming out of Toyfair. Eminently more satisfying in fact than the Transformer releases, actually (but more on that later…)
First, figure-wise, let me say that I have been really happy with the cardbacks produced for Pursuit of Cobra, particularly the thickness of the cardboard. And the new card artwork really looks great. It will be so good to see it used for the likes of a new Steel Brigade member, Cobra Trooper and Blowtorch, as well as Crazy Legs and Techno-Viper.
Clearly the highlight of the G.I. Joe presentation had to be the Skystriker. I always thought it was a shame Hasbro hadn’t released it for the 25th Anniversary line like they had the Rattler and the Conquest. But here it is in all its glory. If you look closely at the nose cone and the cockpit, you can see this is not simply just a reissue of the original either, since the gun is notably different and the cockpit is a one seater.
But even better? A G.I. Joe / Transformers crossover! Yes, Starscream with Cobra Commander (and a little baby Megatron). I predict this will be the most sought after item at SDCC this year! Who wants another look? I DO!
Definitely have to call in some favours since failing in my efforts to get tickets…
Transformers
While it is not a big deal to see the Optimus Prime truck, it is really cool to see it with its trailer!
Kre-O is clearly Hasbro’s attempt at matching Lego and MegaBlock in the building blocks market. Think of it as Build-to-Rule 2.0! I actually liked Build-to-Rule, and I believe it got dealt a bad hand basically because it (a) focused on the big brand exercise of the time (i.e., Armada) rather than focusing on something more recognizable (i.e., Generation One), and (b) really only got the glitches out of its system in time for the very limited release of series two (i.e., Energon).
Kre-O seems to take what Hasbro learned from Built-to-Rule, while keeping the line relevant to collectors by incorporating a Generation One feel through the figurines. Whether this will pay off, it is hard to say, but I’m certainly on board for the effort. So far, we’ve seen a really great Optimus Prime, a decent Starscream, and a more-blocky-than-hoped Bumblebee. I really keen to see what future figures bring, including and especially Ratchet, Prowl and Jazz.
Rescue Bots is another return to past roots, this time Go-Go-Gobots 2.0, albeit with contemporary characters like Bumblebee and Optimus Prime. There’s even a base! Clearly there is a bit of Rescue Heroes influence here as well, but I can live with that, if it means that I can finally stop hoarding the increasingly hard-to-find GoBots in order to give tough, kid-friendly Transformer-brand transforming robots to the niece and nephews.
The new Transformers: Prime cartoon (RIP Animated) is getting the toy treatment it seems. The toys look fine, but I’m hardly excited about them yet, as I’ve not yet watched any of the cartoon. The best of the lot is clearly Arcee.
But of course, Dark of the Moon is the focus of the Transformers line. And there are some very nice toys that come out of it. For me the highlights were definitely the new Powerglide, the Voyager-class Skyhammer (nice use of a vintage Pretender name by the way), and Sentinel Prime (wonder if he will be as big a jerk as his Animated counterpart…) Otherwise, while there are some nice toys there isn’t a lot that really sings out to me yet. Oh sure, it’s nice to see the Optimus Prime toy with transforming trailer, but the line reminds me of Revenge of the Fallen - a lot of similar looking toys at the front end. Which saves me a bunch of cash actually for what one can hope are some super designed off-screen action in 2012.
What’s missing you ask? As reported by Battlegrips.com, there appears to be no further mention of Generation. As he rightly maintains, despite Hasbro comments to the contrary, it is entirely possible that comments regarding the continuation of this line is simply referring to planned toys yet to hit toy shelves. Like Wheeljack, Reflector, and others. Which wouldn’t surprise me - “Classics” went on hiatus for the first movie, Universe “2.0″ for the second. But it would sadden me all the same.
Final though? Can I say how awesome it is to hear that Vickie Stratford, missing last year from Botcon festivities, is now heading up the Star Wars line? That’s awesome - congrats Vickie! - I won’t tell them how young you are if you don’t!
Super-Heroes
Yes, it is the year of Green Lantern, Captain America, and Thor. Which, given my love of Green Lantern and flag wearing heroes, could make for a harsh year on the pocketbook. Unless Green Lantern’s figures end up looking this bad! I hope to have more details about these lines in the coming days. But for now, let me show off U.S. Agent and Taskmaster! And Catman (finally!) and Mr. Freeze!
Also, Captain Action! And the Doctor (love the sign in the background about the head) and a Classic Cyberman!
And Thunder-thunder-thundercats are back! I remember the cats although I didn’t have any myself at the time (I’ve since picked up a few including my favourite, Pantha, and a Thundercat that has subsequently discoloured).
First, that is a mean looking glove and sword combo. I figure it is for the new animated show, because here comes the classic sword. So much better than I put together when I tried my hand at Lion-O for Halloween.
And Bandai, to its enormous credit, is doing things right, releasing a new imagined version of the line and a classic version for collectors. And both look great! Except maybe for Panthro, who I don’t care for at all.
And that’s it for this round. Keep
(Thanks and apologies to asmzine.com, poeghostal.com, tfwiki.net, battlegrips.com, and idealhands for the references and links.)