As the summer begins, the nerds, geeks, cosplayers, et al are getting ready. The two biggest annual conventions of popular culture and fandom are E3 the Electronic Entertainment Expo and the San Diego Comic-Con or SDCC for short. Usually held in Los Angeles, CA, E3 is the annual trade show for video game developers, and console and accessory manufacturers to finally reveal closely guarded secrets and preview their newest creations. The show starts tomorrow and runs from June 14 - 16, and just like every year the rumors have been spreading for months. It has been confirmed for quite some time that Nintendo is working on a new console, dubbed the NX, but will they reveal anything at E3. Likewise, Microsoft and Sony are working on upgraded versions of their current consoles the XBox One and the Playstation 4 respectively, yet it's uncertain if either will be on display. Other than the consoles, the fans are also treated to new video games announcements, trailers and sometimes playable demos, but what new games will be revealed at the show? If you are a fan and want to watch the press conferences from Microsoft, Nintendo or Sony or you obsessively need to know more about your favorite games, there are several methods to watch parts of the show. You may be able to watch on your consoles, on YouTube or you catch up on coverage at the official E3 website.
The San Diego Comic-Con is an annual expo that primarily showcases upcoming comic books, television shows, movies, and toys. Marvel and DC are normally the biggest to have a presence, but over the last several years the SDCC tends to focus more on their shows and movies, than their books. Studios such as Disney and Warner Brothers hold press conferences to make announcements, reveal trailers or to introduce the cast of a movie to the crowd for a Q&A session. This year's event takes July 21 - 24 in San Diego, CA and similar to E3 there is a high level of secrecy as to what will be revealed. There is little doubt Warner Brothers and DC will showcase footage from the upcoming Suicide Squad movie, but will they have anything from their anticipated Wonder Woman movie, in production now. Disney and Marvel have confirmed a Doctor Strange cast panel, but will they show any footage or release a second trailer. Will Marvel reveal any details about Thor Ragnarok, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, or any of the other Phase 3 films? You can keep current with the 2016 SDCC at aggregate sites like comicbookresources.com, screenrant or on the official SDCC website.
Other than the movie announcements, I am most excited to see what plans Hasbro has regarding the GI Joe toy line. Earlier this year, there were rumors that Hasbro wasn't going to produce a line of action figures if there was no GI Joe film, to support them. Now it looks like things have changed. Hasbro has revealed an unfinished crossword puzzle teasing a line of 18 figures for 2016. The puzzle does include Stiletto, the Kindle Worlds Fan Choice from Bill Nedrow's thrilling tale Body Count. Astute GI Joe fans have filled in the rest, using name lengths as a guide to bridge off from Stiletto, and making several guesses to complete the puzzle. The official line-up will be revealed in it's entirety at the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Convention in Loveland, Colorado on June 18th. There will be an exclusive at the 2016 SDCC and the line will be available at Toys R Us soon afterward.
During the Comic-Cons of 2011 through 2013 Hasbro released very popular crossover sets, that blended GI Joe with the Transformers. I am fortunate to have all three of these sets in my collection. However I along with the GI Joe fan community was disappointed when an exclusive crossover set was not released at the 2014 or 2015 SDCC. Again it looks like Hasbro has changed their minds, about their GI Joe property. Exciting news of a new crossover set was announced a few days ago. At the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con the Soundwave/HISS Tank and Powerglide/Rattler set with Zartan and Scarlett will be available to purchase. The silver decals on the Soundwave/HISS Tank look great and the standard cannons have cleverly been replaced by Soundwave's spring loaded blasters that doubled as microphones when in his tape player mode. It is disappointing that none of his cassettes are included, especially since Ravage was in the crossover set from 2013 that included Hound and Jetfire. The Cobra Rattler is one of my favorite vehicles ever and it also looks great decorated as Autobot Powerglide. The Zartan and Scarlett figures look good and include plenty of accessories. Like the previous crossover sets, the box features an exciting showdown in a dynamic, retro style. Any fan of GI Joe or the Transformers should be excited to add this set to their collection.
What does it mean, that Hasbro reconsidered producing GI Joe action figures and presumably vehicles for a 2016 line up, and reintroduced the GI Joe and Transformers crossover at the SDCC. There were rumors of a new animated show, not based on the movies from Universal Studios and the IDW comic book is getting a relaunch of sorts. Whatever it is, we may know more after the San Diego Comic-Con and I will most likely brain out loud about any new developments.
The San Diego Comic-Con is an annual expo that primarily showcases upcoming comic books, television shows, movies, and toys. Marvel and DC are normally the biggest to have a presence, but over the last several years the SDCC tends to focus more on their shows and movies, than their books. Studios such as Disney and Warner Brothers hold press conferences to make announcements, reveal trailers or to introduce the cast of a movie to the crowd for a Q&A session. This year's event takes July 21 - 24 in San Diego, CA and similar to E3 there is a high level of secrecy as to what will be revealed. There is little doubt Warner Brothers and DC will showcase footage from the upcoming Suicide Squad movie, but will they have anything from their anticipated Wonder Woman movie, in production now. Disney and Marvel have confirmed a Doctor Strange cast panel, but will they show any footage or release a second trailer. Will Marvel reveal any details about Thor Ragnarok, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, or any of the other Phase 3 films? You can keep current with the 2016 SDCC at aggregate sites like comicbookresources.com, screenrant or on the official SDCC website.
Other than the movie announcements, I am most excited to see what plans Hasbro has regarding the GI Joe toy line. Earlier this year, there were rumors that Hasbro wasn't going to produce a line of action figures if there was no GI Joe film, to support them. Now it looks like things have changed. Hasbro has revealed an unfinished crossword puzzle teasing a line of 18 figures for 2016. The puzzle does include Stiletto, the Kindle Worlds Fan Choice from Bill Nedrow's thrilling tale Body Count. Astute GI Joe fans have filled in the rest, using name lengths as a guide to bridge off from Stiletto, and making several guesses to complete the puzzle. The official line-up will be revealed in it's entirety at the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Convention in Loveland, Colorado on June 18th. There will be an exclusive at the 2016 SDCC and the line will be available at Toys R Us soon afterward.During the Comic-Cons of 2011 through 2013 Hasbro released very popular crossover sets, that blended GI Joe with the Transformers. I am fortunate to have all three of these sets in my collection. However I along with the GI Joe fan community was disappointed when an exclusive crossover set was not released at the 2014 or 2015 SDCC. Again it looks like Hasbro has changed their minds, about their GI Joe property. Exciting news of a new crossover set was announced a few days ago. At the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con the Soundwave/HISS Tank and Powerglide/Rattler set with Zartan and Scarlett will be available to purchase. The silver decals on the Soundwave/HISS Tank look great and the standard cannons have cleverly been replaced by Soundwave's spring loaded blasters that doubled as microphones when in his tape player mode. It is disappointing that none of his cassettes are included, especially since Ravage was in the crossover set from 2013 that included Hound and Jetfire. The Cobra Rattler is one of my favorite vehicles ever and it also looks great decorated as Autobot Powerglide. The Zartan and Scarlett figures look good and include plenty of accessories. Like the previous crossover sets, the box features an exciting showdown in a dynamic, retro style. Any fan of GI Joe or the Transformers should be excited to add this set to their collection.
What does it mean, that Hasbro reconsidered producing GI Joe action figures and presumably vehicles for a 2016 line up, and reintroduced the GI Joe and Transformers crossover at the SDCC. There were rumors of a new animated show, not based on the movies from Universal Studios and the IDW comic book is getting a relaunch of sorts. Whatever it is, we may know more after the San Diego Comic-Con and I will most likely brain out loud about any new developments.
 |
| 2011 Starscream/Skystiker, 2012 Shockwave/HISS Tank and 2013 Hound/VAMP Jeep & Jetfire/Skystriker |
Comments
Post a Comment