L to R:
Canceled Sigma 6 Dusty, Bio-Viper custom by Hasbro’s Richard Woodhouse, canceled Desert Scorpion, yellow and orange Volcano Viper anomalies, canceled Desert Hiss Scout Driver, preproduction Nano-BAT (brown leg version).
Now that our interruption for SDCC is over, we can get back to taking a look at some of the amazing pieces on display at the Declassified booth at this year’s Joe Con!
Top row, L To R:
Long Arm, Iguanus, Iguanus, Warwolf, Slythor.
Bottom row, L to R:
Hand painted Col. Courage resin, Col. Courage test shot, hand painted Flak Viper resin, primored resin Flak Viper, T.A.R.G.A.T. version 2 test shot, T.A.R.G.A.T. VSP with variant head.
Despite the madness that is SDCC, Hasbro’s Derryl DePriest was kind enough to take out a few minutes for us to batter him with some Q&A. What follows, is my best attempt to transcribe such verbage, above the din of the overwhelming throng, and some Con-goers who didn’t understand what “private interview” meant. Special thanks to Joe Moscone and Justin Aclin of Hunter PR for giving us the opportunity, and Fred Meyer of Joe Battlelines for putting the contacts in place. As always, thanks to Derryl: a gracious, patient, and willing victim.
Declassified: You’re aware of the backlog issues at retailers, items/waves getting stuck at warehouses and eventually being pushed to discount stores; is there a plan to circumvent that?
DDP:
Well, that’s unfortunately part of the environment we work in. When things go according to plan, then there’s no issues. We’ll make our release decisions based on what we anticipate our future needs will be. We’ll release those waves right to it, and the size of that wave will meet the market need. So, if the fan-base is growing, we need to make enough of it, or fans will complain it’s short. But, if for some reason we’re delivering a substandard wave, or we’re not meeting the needs, then our point of sale will go down. That hasn’t necessarily happened. The big problem here has been calling the right size for G.I Joe in the absence of any entertainment activity, and we haven’t found the right cadence yet. So, what it means is that when we re-launch a new line, we’ll put our first shot in there of what we think we need, and if it doesn’t meet our needs, then we’re in trouble, because everything’s backed up after that. It’s all about calling the right numbers.
What is there to be said about SDCC? It’s a madhouse, to be certain. Despite lots of line standing for exclusives, we managed to snag some Joe-related pics from the Hasbro and Sideshow displays. Let’s let the photos speak for themselves:
Here we go again! Joe Con 2012:
L to R:
Storm Eagle wood pattern, Storm Eagle styrene model, Storm Eagle hard copy.
L to R, top to bottom:
Version 2 Lifeline proofcard, Flak-Viper presentation art.
Techno-Walker General Hawk 2-up paint master, with 1:1 hand painted resin lying flat; Techno-Walker Firefly 2-up paint master, 1983 Hasbro Appreciation gift to Hasbro employees of 25 years, 2-up paint master for Battle Rangers Shipwreck – with 2-up wax head and 1:1 primered resin below; custom Cobra Country Club patch made by James Kavanaugh Jr.
L to R, top to bottom:
Repeater presentation art, refined Sonic Major Bludd art, Sky Patrol Airborne proof card.
Internal sculpting buck, original 2-up hand sculpt for Ferret (by Bill Merklein), 2-up head for Cobra robot Techno-Walker, Hasbro in-house copy of the Darklon sculpt sheet, Darklon 1:1 hardcopy, Hasbro memo describing Darklon
A closer shot.
Questions? Hit us here.
More from the GIJCon Declassified booth:
L to R, top to bottom:
Presentation art for Bio Viper, presentation art for Slice.
Carded Korean Cobra Officer, carded Brazilian Letal, loose Letal, carded Funskool blue Snake-Eyes (1 of 3), carded Funskool Snake-Eyes (2 of 3).
Box for South Korean bootleg Dee-Jay model kit, carded Australian Rock & Roll, carded US Rock & Roll, loose Br. Rock & Roll, loose US Rock & Roll.
Unique to this photo: All 3 carded Funskool blue Snake-Eyes, carded Japanese Rock & Roll.
L to R, top to bottom:
Color presentation art for Nunchuk, refined Dorman pencil sketch for Sonic Fighter Dodger.
Carded Funskool blue Snake-Eyes, Funskool Beach-HEad, Funskool emerald Zap, “Argen 7.”
Boxed Mexican Rock & Roll, loose Ar. R&R, loose unknown figure (may be kitbashed), carded Ar. Ninja Ku.
L to R, top to bottom:
Original Norem artwork for G.I.Joe book, in-house Hasbro copy of Gung-Ho presentation art, Brazilian Water Moccasin box, Br. Furion box, Br. carded Crystal Ball.
Brazilian Python Swampfire, Br. SM Battle Barge, Br. Slugger, Br. Furion (Rage), and Br. Water Moccasin w/Invasor.
Top to bottom, left to right.
(on the wall) Refined unused concept art for Lobotomaxx, Refined concept art for Caracass
(laying flat) sketch for the creation of the buck used in the sculpting process for L:obotomaxx. U.S. carded salesmen samples for eventual Mexican figures. Mx. Predacon, Mx. Carcass, US Lobotomaxx, Mx. Lobotomaxx. Predacon testshot (on clear bag), Caracas hand painted resin (on clear bag)
Hit us up with questions or comments here.
From Joe Con 2012:
The Mean Dogs, L to R: Mexican, Funskool, UK, Brazil, US.
Foreigners:
L to R, top to bottom:
UK TF Outback, TF Tunnel Rat, TF Sneak Peek, TF Psyche Out, TF Hit and Run, US SM Lowlight, UK SM Lowlight
US Mean Dog, Argentine Mountain Howitzer, UK TF Blizzard, Argentine Watchtower, US Tiger Sting, UK Tiger Sting, UK Radar Rat.
Argentine Weapon Transport, Argentine Whirlwind, UK Whirlwind, UK FLAK, UK RPV.
L to R, top to bottom: (Br.=Brazil, Ar.= Argentina, US=USA, FS.=India)
Arg. Backstop, Br. Biosferra, Br. Biomassa, Br. Biologico, Br. Corrosao, Br. Poluicao, Br. Abutre Negro, Br. Escorpiao Voador, Br. Cobra de Aco, Br. Albatroz, Br. Aguia Commando, Br. Invasor, Br. Cobra Soldier, Br. Scarlett, Br. Estopim (tan Grunt), Ar. Sokerk v1, Ar. Sokerk v2, US tan Grunt.
Br. Tigor, Br. Leontor, Br. Urzor, Br. Kangor, Br. Marujo, Br. Ar Puro, Br. Felino, Br. Relampago, Br. Gatilho, Br. Maligno, US Toxo Viper, US Spirit, Br. Spirit, US Storm Shadow, Ar. Storm Shadow.
US HEAT Viper, Br. Raio Verde, US Crimson Guard Commander, Br. Reptil do Ar, US Ripcord, Ar. Ripcord, US Law, Br. Bolidus, US Blowtorch, Ar. Blowtorch, US Alley Viper, Br. Mortifero, US Iceberg, Br. Pantano, US Beach-Head, Br. Armadilha.
US Rampart, Br. Rampart, US Gung-Ho, Br. Gung-Ho, Us Airborne, Br. Ariborne, Ar. Airborne, US Crazylegs, FS Crazylegs, Ar. Crazylegs, Us Recondo (brown), US Recondo (dull green), US Recondo (bright green), Br. Leopardo, US Quick Kick, Ar. Quick Kick, FS Quick Kick, Br./US mail away Quick Kick.
Hit us up with questions or comments here.
Phew!
I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone that came by our booth at the show in New Orleans this past weekend. Not only was it a welcome back for co-founder Darren Howlett, but we expanded for the first time into 2 booths, gave out 200 copies of the Joe Declassified Brazil issue, and a Hasbro internal sculpting video on DVD. Not too shabby.
Of course, not of that would at all be possible without each and everyone one of you who came by the booth, talked with us, are members on the board, or donated money. Thank you, you make it worth it.
Sam Damon
Owner, JoeDeclassified
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