1:6 Customizer, Gary Stair, Inspired By the Work of Wayne Faucher, Creates His Own Versions of Captain Action Battle Armor and 1960s Jet-Packs

Creative Minds Think Alike— Inspired by the masterpieces of 1:6 scale wizard, Wayne Faucher, fellow customizer, Gary Stair (of Pennsylvania), combined another assortment of unrelated parts (including a set of Hulk Buster armor, a plastic Easter egg, a Star Wars figure and a Classic Collection GIjOE headsculpt) to create his own unique “B.A.D.A.S.S.” custom toy for use with his favorite hero—Captain Action. Out-STANDING work, Actioneer! (Photo: Gary Stair) Click to enlarge (and drool).

Like birds of a feather, customizers of 1:6 scale do indeed, “flock together.” In today’s exclusive, generously penned and provided to us by 1:6 customizing expert, Gary Stair (PA), we learn exactly how the work of one creative genius can quickly influence the work of many others. In the following two examples, Stair reports how his own custom work (as of late) has become greatly influenced by that of fellow customizer, Wayne Faucher; even to the point of requiring him to jump in his car and race over to Walmart, just to buy an Iron Man toy that was going on clearance. According to Stair:

Gary Stair (PA) (Photo: Gary Stair)

“I want to be Wayne Faucher in my next life. I LOVE his 1:6 scale custom stuff! So much so, I often try to emulate him in my own 1:6th creations. The recent Joe Report article describing his amazing Hulk Buster figure (HERE) had me out of my house in minutes and ZIPPING over to the local Walmart; where low and behold—I found one LAST Hulk Buster (HB) figure still sitting on the clearance shelf. Thanks to Wayne’s tip, I snagged it for a mere $11 bucks—with an additional 10% off!

The HB was missing its helmet, but that didn’t stop me. I found a plastic easter egg (clear on one side, yellow on the other) to serve as a replacement, leaving only a few additional items to make it complete. (Hey Wayne—Can you tell what I did over the weekend?) After multiple hours of painting and assorted customizations that utilized all sorts of miscellaneous parts and “do-dads” (to create self-balancing rockets and heat-seeking missiles), I’d soon created my very own Captain Action B.A.D.A.S.S. (short for what else?): the BATTLE ARMOR DEFENSE AIRBORNE SURVIVABILITY SYSTEM. I also intend to install an Iron Man-esque chest light, utilizing one of those 1:6 scale desk lamps I’d purchased previously at a Dollar Store (see HERE).”

EGGX-cellant! Gary’s superb solution to his missing helmet dilemma was to create one of his own using a 2-piece plastic Easter egg. Absolutely ALIENS-inspired! (Photo: Gary Stair)

Custom Armor-O-ACTION! Gary’s decision to go with a metallic blue paint job gave his custom creation a definite Captain Action twist. Sweet! (Photo: Gary Stair) Click to enlarge.

Built For Battle— The back view reveals there are few if any weak spots in the Hulk Buster armor. The possibilities for customizing this “suit” are practically limitless! (Photo: Gary Stair) Click to enlarge.

As seen from the side— Gary’s Hulk Buster armor sports one of Cap’s logo stickers (just so Dr. Evil knows who’s about to deliver the HURT on his squishy-brain head) and you can also see how Stair’s unique “Easter egg” helmet was painted and utilized. COOL! (Photo: Gary Stair)

“To further demonstrate how Wayne’s creations have been keeping me up at night, I tried to replicate his outstanding Lost in Space jet-pack (shown in a previous Joe Report article HERE). I also really love the scene in Thunderball where Bond uses the same jet-pack system to make his getaway from SPECTRE bad guys (see video clip above). Thanks largely to Wayne’s inspiring examples, I now have a Sean Connery 007 figure flying high in my toy room with a Wayne Faucher-esque jet-pack (or at least my version of it).”

Do you own a 1:6 scale jet-pack system for use with your custom Lost in Space or James bond figures? If not, WHY not? Just like Wayne and Gary, you can make one yourself! Hey, Gary, where’s the helmet? (Photo: Gary Stair)

Prepare for Takeoff— Gary Stair’s custom jet-pack was created from an assortment of, as he likes to call them, “odds-n-ends.” WOW!!!!! (Photo: Gary Stair) Click to enlarge.

“I want to give major KUDOS to Wayne Faucher for all the inspiration he’s provided to me and other 1:6 customizers around the world. I hope The Joe Report will continue sharing examples of his amazing work of 1:6 seale ART well in the future. I know they’ve inspired MANY customizers to strive for greater achievements and help keep our beloved 1:6 scale “vision” ALIVE!” —Gary Stair, PA

Wayne Faucher (Photo: WFT)

Bottom Line: Gary mentioned that he had grown up watching ARK II. We had never seen (or heard of) “ARK II” before, so we decided to check it out on YouTube today where we found the entire first episode (see link above). If you jump ahead to the 5:49 minute-mark, you’ll see the very same jet-pack system that Wayne and Gary have recreated so perfectly in 1:6 scale.

Wayne and Gary are both outstanding customizers and are leaders by example in our wonderful hobby. We hope these two “wizards” will stay in touch often, and that YOU too, will write in to us here at The Joe Report so that we can share YOUR creative projects with the world. Finally, a special note of thanks to Gary Stair for all his generous contributions to this article. Go, GARY!

Superb New (1:6 Scale Stop-Motion) “Anomalisa” Reveals the Future Potential For 1:6 Scale Films

Do you remember the regrettable tale of the world’s last major motion picture that utilized 1:6 scale “puppetry” in lieu of real, live human actors? We’re referring, of course, to 2010’s box office BOMB— Jackboots on Whitehall (JOW); a film that then, as now, was universally derided for its amateurish attempts at humor and the almost oppressive DULLNESS of its screenplay.

Well, Good News, 1:6 Scalers! Now you can take whatever money you saved by not buying a copy of Jackboots, and apply it instead, towards a ticket to see Anomalisa; a fascinating, delightful and touching 1:6 scale animated film, that is head-n-shoulders above Jackboots in every possible way.

Decidedly Different— Unlike the abysmal 2010 1:6 scale film, Jackboots in Whitehall, in which explosions and special effects were the focus and di regueur of the film, Anomalisa, by contrast, is completely and utterly character-driven. In fact, while the film’s backgrounds and sets add superb believability and visual context to each scene, viewers will tune all that out, focusing instead, on the touching and emotional lives of its 1:6 scale humans. (Photo: Paramount Animation) Click to enlarge.

In our 2015 review and analysis of Jackboots (see article HERE), we discussed in detail how that film’s dreadful screenplay and scattershot 1:6 scale puppet quality all contributed to its calamitous—yet predictable—failure at the box office. At that time, we acknowledged how incomprehensible it seemed (to us) that ANY film using 1:6 scale action figures (or “puppets”) and costing $6 million dollars to make, could go on to gross a mere $20,776. In fact, the financial failure of Jackboots had been SO bad, the prospects for future 1:6 scale films appeared to be slim—to none.

Careful!— Posing (and remembering) each incremental second of action in a 1:6 scale film requires intense concentration, skill and dedication. Simply exiting an elevator in Anomalisa required MANY hours to stage and film convincingly. Note too, the filmmaker’s use of a variety of realistic (non-Barbie doll style) body types. Absolutely Out-STANDING attention to detail! (Photo: Paramount Animation)

 Thankfully… MANY lessons were learned from Jackboots tragic and utter failure. And we can happily report that the creators of Anomalisa, co-directors, Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson have deftly and expertly avoided ALL of JOW’s pitfalls. Their new film is superbly character-driven, inspirational AND entertaining. Of course, for us 1:6 scalers, it’s especially exciting to see someone else pick up the mantle of 1:6 scale filmmaking and prove that stop-motion films (in this scale) can indeed be made to be both entertaining and financially successful.

Parts, Parts, Parts— This prop room photo of the film’s collection of body parts will look VERY familiar to any collector of 1:6 scale action figures. (Photo: Paramount Animation) Click to enlarge.

It’s all in the Details— With cameras photographing from only inches away, prop masters need to carefully check every little detail before a shot. (Photo: Paramount Animaton) Click to enlarge.

Lighting is Crucial— You can have the best scale sets in the world, but scenes like this airport exterior would fall flat without all the tiny added details created by effective lighting. Note the glow from the streetlight, both near and far away, the car’s headlights and the building in the distance showing glowing windows with curtains and little blue roof lights. Even the airport terminal building shows the correct (i.e. less “warm”) coloring of drab, florescent lighting. WOW! (Photo: Paramount Animation) Click to enlarge.

Posing Figures? No Problem!— With all the years of experience 1:6 scalers and Joeheads have with posing action figures, it seems that we’d be able to easily get jobs working as prop masters on some of these labor-intensive 1:6 scale animated movies. HA! (Photo: Paramount Animation)

Build your sets up on TABLES— Utilizing a method that would benefit many 1:6 scale diorama projects, the production designers (John Joyce, pictured above) placed many of their sets on easily accessible tables. That saves a lot of wear and tear on your knees! (Photo: Paramount Animation) Click to enlarge.

It Takes a Director’s Eye— To properly “frame a shot,” director Duke Johnson has to get down in close and imagines what the scene would look like in real life in order to recreate it convincingly at 1:6 scale. (Photo: Paramount Animation) Click to enlarge.

Having a Drink Together— The two main characters of Anomalisa get to know each other over a quiet drink in the film’s superb 1:6 scale recreation of a hotel bar. Imagine all the scenarios you could recreate with an outstanding diorama like this. WOW! (Photo: Paramount Animation) Click to enlarge.

Working in a World of Miniature— The creators of Anomalisa surrounded themselves with the multitude of props and specialized equipment required to create their amazing 1:6 scale film. (Photo: Paramount Animation) Click to enlarge.

The Men to Thank— Co-Directors Charlie Kaufman (left) and Duke Johnson (right) on the set of Anomalisa. Fans of 1:6 scale owe these two gentlemen a great deal of thanks for helping to keep the unique genre of 1:6 scale filmmaking alive. (Photo: Paramount Animation) Click to enlarge.

Bottom Line: Fans of 1:6 scale (and GIjOEs in particular) continue to dream of a special sort of 1:6 scale animated GIjOE film, possibly Adventure Team-themed, perhaps along the lines of the classic 1960s Jonny Quest cartoons. But until such a film is made (if it ever is), we highly recommend that you check your local theater listings for showings of Anomalisa so as to (financially) reward all of Kaufman and Johnson’s hard work. Finally, here’s another video that has some good shots of Anomalisa’s various body molds, head sculpts, props and costumes, which will give you a better idea of the superb artistry required to create the 1:6 scale “puppets” in this amazing film. Enjoy!

Everything Must Go (Again!)———G.I. Joe’s “#1 Fan,” James DeSimone Will Definitely “Sell it All” at One Final Estate Sale to be Held at His CA Home

The more you look, the more you’ll want to buy— There are literally piles upon PILES of vintage toys, action figures, vintage cereal boxes and much more, crowding the Burbank, CA home of renowned pop-culture collector, James DeSimone. Dedicated fans will have a rare opportunity to paw their way through this “Mecca of Merchandise” during his May 1st estate sale. (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

A Lifetime of Collecting— DeSimone’s passion for toys began when he was a child (above). Now, it’s time to let it all go. (Photo: James DeSimone)

If at first you don’t succeed in getting rid of your life-long GIjOE and vintage toy collection via local toy shows, online sales or auctions, then try, try again; this time with an estate sale held—at your own home! Yes, once again, the man whom Hasbro deemed “GIjOE’s #1 Fan,” James DeSimone, is preparing to put (what remains) of his massive vintage toy collection up for sale—at an estate sale—on May 1st, 2016.

Buyers and collectors will have to travel to James’ home in Burbank, CA, but this time they’ll be rewarded for their efforts by being allowed to dig through decades of collectible treasures, piled high up to the sky (or at least to James’ garage ceiling), and inspect each and every item up close and personal before deciding on a purchase. But remember, estate sales are “first come, first served,” so you better get there early (with cash in hand) if you want the best chance at snagging those long, lost toys of your childhood. According to the sale’s information page HERE, this is what to expect:

“GIJOE and Vintage Toy Estate Sale!! Featuring the sale of the collection of James DeSimone, consisting of GIJOE plus thousands of other TOYS from the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, including: 1000s of 1960s GIJOE accessories. 1000s of 1980s GIJOE accessories. 1000s of 1960s Ken/Barbie accessories. 1/6 scale vehicles, 1000s of VINTAGE toys by Gilbert, Marx, Tonka, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Topper, Kenner, Ideal, Hasbro, Mattel, Mego, Aurora, Batman, James Bond, Captain Action, Space toys, GIRLS toys, tools, Playsets, all kinds of TV/movie character toys and figures, toy cap guns, models, food and advertising toys, games and the list of different stuff goes on and on! NOTE THE DIFFERENT LOCATION FOR THIS EVENT: 1524 Broadway Burbank, CA 91504 Hours are 8AM to 5PM. Come take pictures with a replica 1966 Batmobile! This is a special one time event held at this location, don’t miss it!! The show will return to the Ramada Inn for the December show.” If you have any questions, please email: jamesdesimone@hotmail.com

What we’re observing is that a collection as large and diverse as DeSimone’s is proving to be quite the challenge for him (or anyone) to disperse. In the beginning, James utilized his CA GIjOE shows, then held an auction (see HERE) and now, will try selling the remainder of his 1950s, ’60s and ’70s vintage toys at his upcoming estate sale. Regarding this unique event and its impact on his life, James graciously provided the following insights—exclusively to readers of The Joe Report:

“GIJOE’s #1 Fan,” James DeSimone (Photo: James DeSimone)

“Hi Mark (et.al), Forgive me. I just don’t have the ability to do much anymore, including long responses. But I owe you at least that for all your support. It may take a few hours to write this all to you. The doctors are telling me to handle my affairs, and my body agrees. I want to live long enough to see my daughter (shown below) graduate from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 7 weeks.

Yes, everything is going. Fortunately, I dont need the money. I need peace of mind, knowing that my family doesn’t have to deal with all this. It’s interesting you should mention Hasbro’s #1 fan. I was just wondering about that. It has the prototype 12″ Duke body and a custom head Hasbro made and gave me, a hand-cast prototype 3 3/4″ Duke, a #1 production 3 3/4″ Soldier; both of which Hasbro gave me. In addition, a Hasbro employee watch, ring and a gold dogtag, all of which Hasbro gave me. I think I would like to sell it all as a set (as it was presented to me) to one person who will appreciate it and won’t use it for target practice! (lol)”

Proud Papa— DeSimone in a recent photo with his son, daughter and wife. (Photo: James DeSimone)

“As for how I feel… I once wrote a story about Artie Rickun, a friend and toy dealer from Milwaukee, at one time had 10,000+ packaged GIjOE items! He told me that once I had kids, nothing else would matter to me. Having died once already, I consider myself fortunate to have had a little time to plan. So no, it is of no great loss to see it all go. Very little matters to me anymore. Hopefully, I will get some joy out of seeing someone buy something from me, like that all too familiar feeling of finding a GIjOE at a garage sale!”

James with “The King”— DeSimone (left) poses for a quick pic with fellow toy dealer, Artie Rickun, at a toy show in the early 1980s. Rickun had just purchased a warehouse full of over 15,000 vintage boxed and packaged GI Joes and accessories. Holy inventory, Batman! (Photo: James DeSimone)

“All of my toys used to be upstairs on the second level. For the past couple of months, volunteers have been helping me bring it all downstairs so that it will be accessible to foot traffic. Right now, its all a mess. I thought I would have a couple months to sort it all out, but my energy level is non-existent now and I haven’t been able to do very much. Thankfully, I’ll have volunteers helping the week before the sale to set it all up in my home.”

Horses, Horses, Horses— Johnny West and MARX fans take note… There will be a LOT of vintage “Best of the West” for sale at DeSimone’s estate sale. (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

Oh, Ken. You’re such a DOLL— There will also be boxes full of vintage Ken dolls, carrying cases and related ephemera. Study these photos carefully! (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

Beam me up! What set did this interesting Star Trek bridge come from? It appears to come with railings and perhaps chairs, as well. (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

Dusty but DELICIOUS— That vintage “Bop-a-Bear” target set is certainly dusty, but we bet if you took a vacuum cleaner with a brush hose attachment, it would clean up like new in seconds. We also see GIjOE, Major Matt Mason and more in this pic! (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

You want more? James has MORE! Vintage toy-aholics will be drooling at this estate sale. How much of this wonderful stuff do YOU remember? (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

Lookie there! There’s a Sky Rail set! Boy, those are getting hard to find. Enlarge this pic and start hunting for YOUR childhood favorites! (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

Take your covered wagon to the Beauty Parlor— Whoa… check out those cool, retro Barbie beauty parlor hair dryers and chairs. Or, are they space helmets? Or…? You’ll only find out if you’re there in person! Too cool for school, dude! (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

All will be revealed, May 1st!— Remember that vaunted (haunted?) secret shelf James built in his garage to house his overflowing toy collection? What did he store up there? At one time it held parts of his massive GIjOE diorama. Now, it looks like there’s some vintage missile launcher sets from REMCO. Oh, to be a fly on the wall of this sale! (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

On and on it goes— Click each pic to enlarge and DROOL. (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

How keen is YOUR toy eye?— We spy a 60s “Tiger Joe” tank, an in-the-box Rockem’ Sockem’ Robots game, some vintage Transogram games and much more. (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

Put ’em up, Pahdnuh!— A tub full of vintage cap pistols and their VERY rare holsters is sure to get cowboy/cowgirl hearts a-beatin.’ Yeeee-HAAAAA!!!!!! (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

Toy Heaven is (apparently) a dusty garage— Vintage Barbies, ’60s space toys and much more will be sold at James DeSimone’s house on May 1st, 2016. (Photo: James DeSimone) Click to enlarge.

“GIjOE has provided me with a great life; a life that most people could only dream of. But, GIjOEs are only toy possessions, none of which matters anymore, simply because I cant take them with me. I have raised 2 of the greatest kids a man could ever hope for. I share a love with a woman which is the stuff epic novels are written of. And I have made my peace with God. —James DeSimone

Bottom Line: This certainly sounds (and looks) like “no-miss” event, especially if you’re within driving distance of southern California. Our sincerest thanks (again) to James DeSimone and his wonderful family for all of their contributions to the vintage toy and GIjOE collecting hobbies. Take care and We wish you all the BEST!

Konichiwa! Captain Action’s 50th Anniversary “Ultraman” Uniform Set in Retro Window Box

Holy Haiku, Actioneers! This new Ultraman set from Captain Action Enterprises is a definite MUST-HAVE for any serious CA collection. Whoosh! (Photo: CAE) Click to enlarge.

Do you know that anxious feeling you get when you first see a new toy for sale, and you know IMMEDIATELY that you’re going to have to buy TWO of them? Well, here we go again, my friends. This new Captain Action (CA) Ultraman costume set from Captain Action Enterprises (CAE) looks SO cool in its retro window box packaging, that we know that we (and many other CA fans) will most assuredly decide to buy two of them—one for play, and the other for display.

Indeed, unless you’ve lived under an action figure rock for the last 50 years, you know you’ll need TWO of this ultra-cool set of Ultraman long-johns. Yes, being a dedicated CA collector sometimes drives us (and our wallets) CRAZY with action figure desire, but this sort of thing is often out of our control. HA! Seriously— regardless of how many new CA Ultraman costume sets you buy, 2, 1—or none—you’ll at least want to know what CAE’s head honcho, Ed Catto, has to say about the matter. In his latest, short-but-sweet press release, Catto, states:

Ed Catto of CAE. (Photo: Ed Catto)

“Here’s our latest – We’re revealing the packaging to our upcoming Ultraman costume set. As you can see, as this is part of our 50th Anniversary, we’ve gone very retro with the styling. This will make a cool collectible to display in or out of the box! Our next release will be for our 2nd Audio book. That should be coming out soon. Thanks! —Ed Catto, CAE

Kiii-YAH! The back panel contains the expected information, but we can’t help feeling CAE missed an opportunity here to discuss CA’s 50th anniversary, or to create some sort of exciting “mail-in” promotion. That way, you could cut an entry form off the back panel (of the extra set you bought) and not feel too bad about ruining the package. Or could you not bring yourself to do that? (Photo: CAE) Click to enlarge.

Bottom Line: Release dates and prices for this new set have yet to be announced, but as we said, this looks like a certain “two-setter” to us. What it lacks in boots, gloves and equipment, it more than makes up for in its unique kitsch and COOL factors. Go, Captain Action! Go, Ultraman!

Psst! Have You Seen the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club “Stealthy” Deep Sea Diver Uniform Set, Matey?

Man-oh-man-oh-Deep Sea Diver MAN! JoeCon 2016’s “stealthy” DSD suit is clearly a keeper. We won’t be throwing THIS fish back in the sea. Excellent work and truly BAD A–! (Photo: GIJCC)

According to the GIjOE Collector Club’s official press release re: this photo…

“This is the reproduction 12-inch 1969 Aquanaut stripped of his long box gear and redressed in ONE of the uniform sets included in the larger outer box that holds the entire 12-inch convention set. “DIVE INTO DARKNESS” is a new spin on the classic DSD look of the vintage 12-inch G.I. JOE. There are things in the hidden darkness of the ocean floor. For his own safety, Joe must ‘blend in’ to avoid the attention of creatures both unseen and unknown.

This second uniform set comes with:

– Black Dive Suit
– Black Gloves
– Silver-tone Diving Helmet
– Oxygen Pump and Hose
– Compass
– Brass-tone Weighted Belt & Harness
– Brass-tone Weighted Brown Boots
– Treasure Chest
– Treasure Coins
– Dive Knife and Sheath” —GIjOE Collector’s Club

Bottom Line: A picture’s worth a thousand words. (Phew! That saves us a lot of typing!)

A Ride With Greatness———Chung Kim’s Exclusive In-Car Interview With “Classic Collection” G.I. Joe Artist-Illustrator Extraordinaire, Larry Selman

Ready to Fly— GIjOE B-17 Bomber Crewman (Art: Larry Selman)

Okay, let’s all take a deep breath, sit back and just CHILLAX. Even with yesterday’s jarring news that the GIjOE Collector’s Club and its “JoeCons” will soon be no more, there’ll still be a plethora of GIjOE-related shows for fans and collectors to attend for the foreseeable future, especially in fan-rich, high-population states such as Georgia, California, Ohio and Texas. In addition to those events, GIjOE “expatriates” and Action Man fans living in countries such as the UK, Mexico and Brazil have long proven that they can survive (and yes, THRIVE) without control from a so-called “official” GIjOE or Action Man fan organization, and that they will continue to do so for many years to come.

So… Let’s all just take a moment to regroup, relax and enjoy some insightful “insider-intel” from ace TJR field reporter, Chung Kim, who graciously provided the following exclusive interview with GIjOE Classic Collection artist, Larry Selman; conducted interestingly enough, during a car ride through the streets of beautiful downtown Atlanta, GA, in the waning hours of Joelanta 2016. Enjoy!

Intrepid TJR Field Reporter, Chung Kim (Photo: Chung Kim)

“I attended JOELANTA 2016 this past weekend. I enjoyed myself. I experienced a truly one of a kind moment when I (and my friend Scott Norris) had the opportunity and pleasure to ride with Mr. Larry Selman. He is the artist responsible for the painted artwork used by Hasbro for their line of GI JOE Classic Collection figures. After the show ended, a number of attendees usually go out to a nearby restaurant as a post-show ritual for dinner, conversation, and to also watch THE WALKING DEAD. I’m not that familiar with the Atlanta area, so Buddy Finethy arranged for me and Scott to ride along with Mr. Selman.

Larry Selman, renowned GIjOE packaging illustrator and artist (Photo: Larry Selman)

He drove us to the post-show dinner at Mellow Mushroom Pizza. During the ride there, I apologized in advance to Mr. Selman for going into fanboy mode and asked him some questions about how he came to the opportunity of creating some truly memorable artwork on the GI JOE Classic Collection box covers.” He told me prior to his involvement with Hasbro, he was primarily known for doing western-themed artwork and the opportunity presented itself for him to create a variety of painted artwork used for the GI JOE Classic Collection boxed figures. This was during a time when Hasbro had an actual art department dedicated to the GI JOE product line. His personal favorite GI JOE Classic Collection artwork is the one used for the Blue Angels Pilot figure. In addition, when he did the artwork for the series of Classic Collection figures based on real life Medal of Honor recipients, he told me that the artwork used to portray the real life HOH recipients had to be approved by the actual recipients (who were still alive at the time) or through their estate/family.”

Whoosh! Selman’s outstanding artwork for GIjOE’s Blue Angel Pilot box. (Art: Larry Selman)

“In particular, he told me how he spoke with Audie Murphy’s son and the discussion they had with regards to appearance and depiction of Audie Murphy used on the box cover for the figure as well as some historical references and research he performed to capture the action moment that earned Audie Murphy the MOH.”

This will BLOW YOU AWAY— Can you imagine a better way to decorate the wall of your Joe Room than a new 2016 calendar (available HERE) from famed GIjOE artist, Larry Selman? His stunning painting of MOH recipient, Audie Murphy (above) was featured for January. Out-STANDING! (Photo: Mark Otnes)

“Given how my collecting niche is 1:6 scale female figures, I asked him about the background behind the artwork used for the GI JANE figures produced by Hasbro under the Classic Collection line. It turned out he used a variety of female models. In particular, he told me how he used a number of female models carrying a guy on a stretcher a number of time in order to capture the visual used for the artwork on the GI JOE Vietnam Nurse figure.

On the flip side, around the time the Vietnam Nurse figure came out, the focus on artwork presentation on the box packaging was beginning to change to a marketing perspective in terms of product packaging, size, and display visual, where the artwork was no longer a concern. This was primarily due to retailers requesting greater display and packaging efficiency.”

The Beginning of the End— According to Selman, Hasbro’s desire for GIjOE paintings was “beginning to change” around the time he completed this masterful depiction of US Army nurses in Vietnam. As a result, many of the pieces he created for the toy company were (sadly) never used. (Art: Larry Selman)

“I asked Mr. Selman if doing artwork for toys like GI JOE and others from that period is now a ‘lost art;’ because nowadays, the display box and packaging for most toys found at large mass retailers are usually devoid of any real and true artwork and simply a clear packaging that shows the toys with very basic and minimal visual graphics and not any true artwork. He agreed, because back then, the artwork used on the GI JOE Classic Collection figures was also a visual, attention-generating selling point of the figure as well.

Mr. Selman attended past JOELANTA conventions where he is a featured guest. He autographs the GI JOE Classic Collection boxed figures featuring his art. In addition, his table features a variety of prints featuring his artwork, of which he’ll also autograph. I found him to be very approachable and his experiences and insight with Hasbro were very enlightening.” —Chung Kim

Bottom Line: Our sincerest thanks to Chung Kim for his excellent reportage today, and to Larry Selman (once again) for all of the superb artwork he’s created utilizing military and western subject matter and themes. If you’re a Selman fan (and who isn’t?) HERE again is Larry’s official website.

Bummer!———It’s Official: The G.I. Joe Collector’s Club Is “Not Taking Any New Memberships”

Where will fans go in 2017? GIJCC founder Brian Savage meets with collector’s during last year’s JoeCon 2015 in Springfield, IL. (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

Well, this is a sad day. According to an official post from the GIjOE Collector’s Club on Facebook:

“Thank you to each and every one of you that has supported us over the last 20 years. We have a great 2016 planned, with the FSS 4.0 currently shipping and info on FSS 5.0 right around the corner!  In regard to memberships, some quick follow ups. If you are a member as of March 16th, 2016 you will be able to purchase the FSS 5.0. If your membership expires during the time period when the 4.0 or 5.0 are shipping, you STILL can pay the installments (if that is the option you selected) and you will receive all your figures as you normally would.

As far as concerns over auto renewals after March 16th. As we have said, we are not taking any new memberships after this date, so there are no auto renewals as there will be no memberships to renew. With less than 3 days left to sign up for the GIJCC though, don’t miss this last opportunity to be part of the Club that has been a part of G.I. Joe for 20 years! You can sign up HERE.

Finally, back to the very first point. Thank you! Thousands upon thousands of you have supported the Club over the years and right now, as of today, the GIJCC is as strong as it ever has been! That is because of all of you, your love for 12 inch G.I. Joe, the Real American Hero line and everything in-between! So many of you truly enjoy what the GIJCC offers and enjoy what we do and none of what we have done would have been possible without you. You are an amazing fan base and thanks to all of you who continue to have an important impact on the hobby! You all are what makes this fun to do!” —The GIjOE Collector’s Club

Bottom Line: We want to thank Brian Savage and all of his wonderful staff for the many years of superb service they’ve provided to fans and collectors of GIjOE and GIjOE-related action figures. Our sincerest and best wishes to all of them in all of their future endeavors. Go, GIjCC!

JoeCon 2016’s “Eight Ropes of Danger”Accessory Set to Include Reproductions of Vintage Deep Sea Diver’s Uniform, Equipment———and Much More!

Get Ready to Blow Some Bubbles—This first pic of the club’s exclusive 12″ uniform set for JoeCon 2016 reveals that it will include a faithful reproduction of Hasbro’s original DSD. (Photo: GIJCC)

Dive! Dive! Dive! If this is the last 12-inch exclusive set the club will ever produce, then they’re definitely going to go out with a BANG. In addition to the set’s two outstanding repro boxes and fully dressed Aquanaut figure we’ve already shown you, this exclusive will also include everything you see in the photo (above). Here’s the official tally, according to the club’s official press release:

“This is the reproduction 12-inch 1969 Aquanaut stripped of his long box gear and redressed in ONE of the uniform sets included in the larger outer box that holds the entire 12-inch convention set. THE EIGHT ROPES OF DANGER is one of the most iconic accessory sets ever made for 12-inch G.I. Joe. It is featured on the art for 1969 Aquanaut’s ‘red top’ long box and comes with:

– White Dive Suit
– White Gloves
– Brass-tone Diving Helmet
– Oxygen Pump and Hose
– Compass
– Octopus
– Silver-tone Weighted Belt & Harness
– Silver-tone Weighted Black Boots
– Treasure Chest
– Treasure Coins
– Dive Knife and Sheath”

Bottom Line: This is pretty much what fans expected to see in this set, but what we’re not so sure about, is what the club’s “stealth” Aquanaut uniform will look like. Stay tuned, Aqua-NUTS! 🙂

Savage Reissues Cryptic Statement Many Believe Foretells the End of Fun Publications’ Operation of Official G.I. Joe Collector’s Club, Stating, “All Memberships Will End December 31, 2016”

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cryp·tic

adjective, 1. having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.

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In an official statement received from the GIjOE Collector’s Club today, Brian Savage concluded a rather routine update of the registration progress at JoeCon 2016 with the following statement:

Brian Savage, GIjOE Collector’s Club (Photo: GIJCC)

“Please note the following:  March 16 is the last day you can join the GI Joe Collectors’ Club.  If you are interested in receiving the discounts for GIJoeCon, the 2016 FREE figure(s) or in FSS 5.0 you will need to be an active member as of March 16.  All memberships will end December 31, 2016.

We appreciate your support over the last 20 years.” —Brian Savage

Bottom Line: Yes, we’ve reported on the rather unclear phrasing of Brian’s press releases before (see HERE), but with the addition of this new “We appreciate your support” line, it’s beginning to look more and more like this be the final year for the GIjOE Collector’s Club; at least in its current form as operated by Savage and Fun Publications. At the moment, we’re not sure when (or if) Brian will issue a clarification, but we promise to keep a sharp eye on the situation and pass along any updates ASAP. Stay tuned!

G.I. Joe Marine “Sighting” Discovered in Un-Aired SNAFU Bloopers From R. Lee Ermey’s “Mail Call”

If you enjoy watching military documentaries, films, and television programs, and/or anything that features America’s favorite USMC senior drill instructor, R. Lee Ermey, then you’ll DEFINITELY want to see his hilarious collection of SNAFU bloopers and deleted scenes that were never aired publicly on the History Channel TV show, Mail Call. Here are some screenshots from the video:

YOU are a disgusting Fat Body! R. Lee Ermey’s “Mini-Lee” voices his displeasure regarding the physical condition of the Pillsbury Dough Boy in a deleted scene from Mail Call. (Photo: The History Channel)

Mini-Lee orders a vintage GIjOE Marine to hit the deck (and give him 25) in one of many scenes from the show utilizing 1:6 scale action figures. Out-STANDING. OOHrah! (Photo: The History Channel)

Bottom Line: If you’re a GIjOE or R. Lee Ermey fan (and who isn’t?), then you’ll want to skip forward to the hilarious 5-minute compilation of Ermey’s “extra-salty” Mini-Lee outtakes, beginning at the 33:57 minute-mark. From that point, you’ll be able to enjoy watching Lee’s (decidedly adult-language) action figure take part in some exciting adventures as well as putting some disgusting “fat bodies” in their place, including the Pillsbury Doughboy and a vintage GIjOE Marine. Enjoy!