The Energon Pub

Awhile ago, I bought a copy of the GI Joe documentary Code Name: Blast Off. I don't think I've seen a comprehensive documentary on the GI Joe toyline development like this before. Transformers have had pretty good documentary about the franchise history on the movie and cartoon boxset special features but there hasn’t been a good one for GI Joe.

The documentary is centered on Ron Rudat, the senior designer of the GI Joe line. They chronicle the initial pitch of the toyline with the use of a repainted Tonka truck to pitching the USS Flagg and Hasbro executives freaking out over it. There is also sketches and photographs of the original prototypes of the initial figures.

It’s a wonderful look at the GI Joe franchise and I highly recommend it.

The first clip of GI Joe: Retaliation with a look at the trailer coming soon!

I don't know where I've been but I can't believe I missed the news that Bruce Willis is Joe Colton!

Anyone else read GI Joe #8 for the new Cobra Commander reveal?

Krake is revealed as the new Cobra Commander. I was hoping it would be an established character like Destro or Major Bludd.

I was kinda hoping that the lottery scratch cover was the variant. I didn't realize it was the standard cover. Now all I want to do is scratch off the cover. Think of the collectibility!



The actual cover scratched off (spoilers as well!)

These are the trades I've been waiting for since Marvel and IDW have been releasing the classic GI Joe comics. Issues #117 was one of the first comics I read. I randomly picked up issues up until #125. While I'm reading the series chronologically, I read #126 to finish off the ninja story that was introduced in #124, "Triple Threat." Though I kinda knew the Firefly reveal after years of the information on the internet and Snake-Eyes Declassified.

I should note that I loved "Triple Threat." I loved the way Larry Hama and Andrew Wildman tell three stories on each page in equal panel layouts.

I'm very much looking foward to reading these trades, especially the Destro arc, "Search & Destroy."

Supreme Convoy wrote:Anyone else read GI Joe #8 for the new Cobra Commander reveal?

Krake is revealed as the new Cobra Commander. I was hoping it would be an established character like Destro or Major Bludd.

I was kinda hoping that the lottery scratch cover was the variant. I didn't realize it was the standard cover. Now all I want to do is scratch off the cover. Think of the collectibility!



The actual cover scratched off (spoilers as well!)

These are the trades I've been waiting for since Marvel and IDW have been releasing the classic GI Joe comics. Issues #117 was one of the first comics I read. I randomly picked up issues up until #125. While I'm reading the series chronologically, I read #126 to finish off the ninja story that was introduced in #124, "Triple Threat." Though I kinda knew the Firefly reveal after years of the information on the internet and Snake-Eyes Declassified.

I should note that I loved "Triple Threat." I loved the way Larry Hama and Andrew Wildman tell three stories on each page in equal panel layouts.

I'm very much looking foward to reading these trades, especially the Destro arc, "Search & Destroy."

If the new CC was an established character that would've ended that character being usable. Would you really wanna loose Destro and his black Irish awesomeness? Also I have a hunch that the CC we all know will be back before the end of 2012

chuckdawg1999 wrote:If the new CC was an established character that would've ended that character being usable. Would you really wanna loose Destro and his black Irish awesomeness? Also I have a hunch that the CC we all know will be back before the end of 2012

At least in the IDW universe's Cobra comic book, it feels like no one is safe. After all, Mike Costa killed off Chuckles, Xamot, and Jinx. It felt like any establish Cobra villain could've taken the Commander title.

I just read Classic GI Joe volume 2 and 3.

The first volume was a good read. With the second volume, I get a very good sense of Hama channeling his inner Chris Claremont with creating subplots and world building in the GI Joe universe.

Volume 3 is when it seems GI Joe kicks into high gear with #21. So this will be the billionth time I’ve read The Silent Interlude and it’s still holds up.

And I love all the back stabbing and double crosses within Cobra Command. I have no idea why Cobra Commander trusts a man named Dr. Venom

Supreme Convoy wrote:I just read Classic GI Joe volume 2 and 3.

The first volume was a good read. With the second volume, I get a very good sense of Hama channeling his inner Chris Claremont with creating subplots and world building in the GI Joe universe.

Volume 3 is when it seems GI Joe kicks into high gear with #21. So this will be the billionth time I’ve read The Silent Interlude and it’s still holds up.

And I love all the back stabbing and double crosses within Cobra Command. I have no idea why Cobra Commander trusts a man named Dr. Venom

My one complaint is much like the cartoon Cobra Command broke down rather quickly and the infighting started far to soon for my tastes.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:My one complaint is much like the cartoon Cobra Command broke down rather quickly and the infighting started far to soon for my tastes.

Oh, I know. I would think there would be a slow build up in treachery.

But it's comic book logic so it gets a pass for me

Supreme Convoy wrote:I just read Classic GI Joe volume 2 and 3.

The first volume was a good read. With the second volume, I get a very good sense of Hama channeling his inner Chris Claremont with creating subplots and world building in the GI Joe universe.

Volume 3 is when it seems GI Joe kicks into high gear with #21. So this will be the billionth time I’ve read The Silent Interlude and it’s still holds up.

And I love all the back stabbing and double crosses within Cobra Command. I have no idea why Cobra Commander trusts a man named Dr. Venom

I loved the Early Joe comics stuff. Unfortunately, the later crazy influx of characters (which Hama fought as much as he could) and Ninja masters being introduced and then dying like Star Trek redshirts (among other things) began to quickly wear on me.

Hey guys we at WOJM? recently interviewed Jason Marsden the voice of Duke from Renegades. Lots of info on the show including when HE found out the show was going off the air.

http://whatsonjoemind.podbean.com/2012/01/20/episode-38-whats-on-joe-mind/

Finally found a copy of GI Joe: Battle Files, a book of profiles from the Devil's Due era.



People make fun of the exo-suits from the film but I didn't realize they were from the Devil's Due comics. I don't remember it from the comics. Eventually I'll get to it after reading the Marvel run.

Is Hasbro dropping the ball on G.I. Joe too? I really want like 5 zombie vipers, but I haven't seen any yet. Are they just skipping them like the FE Prime figures?

Evil_the_Nub wrote:Is Hasbro dropping the ball on G.I. Joe too? I really want like 5 zombie vipers, but I haven't seen any yet. Are they just skipping them like the FE Prime figures?

Like the FE Prime figures it's not Hasbro, it's the stores. POC was grossly under ordered due to the fact ROC didn't sell as well as Hasbro/retailers expected. Now you have a situation of wanting to make sure product is off the shelves for the movie figures. There are several online retailers that specialize in Joe Kokomo Toys and Joe Armory are two of note; and not just because they sponsor What's on Joe Mind.

I'm not sure it is the stores, the FE figures my TRU did get flew off the shelves and they got at least 2 or 3 shipments in and now the shelf is totally bare. The only Joe's I see are the Renegades figures and they keep putting more of the same out. The only Walmart I've been to that has Joe's only has a few figures left and it's the same at Target.

Evil_the_Nub wrote:I'm not sure it is the stores, the FE figures my TRU did get flew off the shelves and they got at least 2 or 3 shipments in and now the shelf is totally bare. The only Joe's I see are the Renegades figures and they keep putting more of the same out. The only Walmart I've been to that has Joe's only has a few figures left and it's the same at Target.

Because that's all they ordered. Hasbro can't make them buy stuff

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Evil_the_Nub wrote:I'm not sure it is the stores, the FE figures my TRU did get flew off the shelves and they got at least 2 or 3 shipments in and now the shelf is totally bare. The only Joe's I see are the Renegades figures and they keep putting more of the same out. The only Walmart I've been to that has Joe's only has a few figures left and it's the same at Target.

Because that's all they ordered. Hasbro can't make them buy stuff

From what I've seen their options are order the same stuff that's clogging the shelves, or nothing at all. If TRU put's out another case of the same figures that have been sitting on pegs for weeks I don't think they have any other choice.

Evil_the_Nub wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Evil_the_Nub wrote:I'm not sure it is the stores, the FE figures my TRU did get flew off the shelves and they got at least 2 or 3 shipments in and now the shelf is totally bare. The only Joe's I see are the Renegades figures and they keep putting more of the same out. The only Walmart I've been to that has Joe's only has a few figures left and it's the same at Target.

Because that's all they ordered. Hasbro can't make them buy stuff

From what I've seen their options are order the same stuff that's clogging the shelves, or nothing at all. If TRU put's out another case of the same figures that have been sitting on pegs for weeks I don't think they have any other choice.

How do we know TRU didn't over order? They've done it before

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Evil_the_Nub wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Evil_the_Nub wrote:I'm not sure it is the stores, the FE figures my TRU did get flew off the shelves and they got at least 2 or 3 shipments in and now the shelf is totally bare. The only Joe's I see are the Renegades figures and they keep putting more of the same out. The only Walmart I've been to that has Joe's only has a few figures left and it's the same at Target.

Because that's all they ordered. Hasbro can't make them buy stuff

From what I've seen their options are order the same stuff that's clogging the shelves, or nothing at all. If TRU put's out another case of the same figures that have been sitting on pegs for weeks I don't think they have any other choice.

How do we know TRU didn't over order? They've done it before

Like I said they had been sitting out for several weeks before they got more of the same stuff. Clearly nobody wanted it so why would they order more if something else was available? Combine that with the FE Prime figures just NOT showing up anywhere and I'm thinking Hasbro doesn't know squat about proper distribution.

Evil_the_Nub wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Evil_the_Nub wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Evil_the_Nub wrote:I'm not sure it is the stores, the FE figures my TRU did get flew off the shelves and they got at least 2 or 3 shipments in and now the shelf is totally bare. The only Joe's I see are the Renegades figures and they keep putting more of the same out. The only Walmart I've been to that has Joe's only has a few figures left and it's the same at Target.

Because that's all they ordered. Hasbro can't make them buy stuff

From what I've seen their options are order the same stuff that's clogging the shelves, or nothing at all. If TRU put's out another case of the same figures that have been sitting on pegs for weeks I don't think they have any other choice.

How do we know TRU didn't over order? They've done it before

Like I said they had been sitting out for several weeks before they got more of the same stuff. Clearly nobody wanted it so why would they order more if something else was available? Combine that with the FE Prime figures just NOT showing up anywhere and I'm thinking Hasbro doesn't know squat about proper distribution.

That or they were refresher cases and the new figures were sold fast. That's a mark against Hasbro

As a GI Joe and zombie fan, I'm not sure how I missed this new Zombie Viper.

I really need to get back into GI Joe toys.

Note: Marvel's GI Joe comics are not for children under 13 nowadays.

Kids in the 80's were more hardcore back then.

I read Classic GI Joe 4, 5, & 6 this past couple of days. Some thoughts...

There’s a great moment with Rip-Cord versus Zartan where you think Rip-Cord wins in #45. In reality, it was Zartan who defeats Rip-Cord. Hama, you sly bastard! Now I understand the Bongo the Bear profile I posted a few pages back.

Who knew I would be rooting for Rip-Cord?

How do you take down a bear? Put a satchel of explosives around his neck.


Who knew Barbecue was Barbecue the Barbarian!


I thought Norman and Harry Osborn were the only characters with the ridiculous Ditko Cornrows. Then theres’s this guy. Oy.


Volume 4 and 5 (#31 to #50) has even more characters that I loved as a kid like Flint, Lady Jaye, Tomax & Xamot, Beachhead, Barbecue, Bazooka, and Sgt. Slaughter.

I like Serpentor as a kid but as an adult realized that the franchise jumped the shark with that character. The introduction of Serpentor in the cartoon takes GI Joe from a military fantasy into science fiction territory. Even though Serpentor has the same Frankenstein-esque origins, it seems like he fits into this world more. Perhaps it is because Hama writes him as a clever character rather than an over the top villain.

IDW begins publishing never before reprinted materials in Volume 6. The reproduction looks a bit rough at times and ruins the lettering.


There are moments where the story continues in other GI Joe books. In hindsight, I wish that IDW would’ve published all the GI Joe books in chronological order. However, all these GI Joe titles are slowly being republished.



I don’t remember if there was a toy of this cool Cobra helicopter carrier. That would’ve been cool to own as a kid.


It’s interesting that I know this is the Marvel 25th Anniversary cover despite the missing characters. I guess those covers are ingrained in my head.


Snake-Eyes riding a shark. God, is that cool.


Early Todd McFarlane work!


I never realized that the cover of #1 from Devil’s Due was an homage to Michael Golden's Yearbook #2.

I love reading those old comics, definitely a lot of fun.

If anyone's looking for an Ashiko with Cycle Armour I have 1 for sale, MISB for $20+shipping coming out of California. Hit me up by PM if you're interested.

Finished Volumes 7 and 8. I love the story so far with Fred VII along with the Cobra Civil War.

The summaries I've read through GI Joe fansites definitely don't do these stories justice. Great comic book storytelling. I've mentioned it before but I love the soap opera nature of the book with tons of callbacks, even going back as far as the first issue.

I haven't really bought GI Joes in years other than a Snake-Eyes figure from the movie. But after reading the Cobra Civil War, it makes me want to buy all these figures just to make dioramas... who am I kidding, I'm going to play with them.