Toy Maniac: GI Joe Retaliation Blues (Mania.com)

By:Robert T. Trate
Date: Friday, June 01, 2012
Source: Mania.com

I honestly didn’t think GI Joe Retaliation was going to be the definitive GI Joe movie. I had some hope, “just a fools hope”, that is was going to be fun. If anything I loved the GI Joe Retaliation toys I saw at Toy Fair (see article). After the news broke that the movie was being pushed back for a proper 3D conversion, I immediately emailed my Hasbro contacts. Here is Hasbro’s official word: 
 
“G.I. Joe is an ongoing consumer franchise and therefore there is merchandise available to consumers.  There is a limited amount of G.I. Joe Retaliation product at retail now, but in light of the movie moving out to March 29, 2013, the majority of the movie line will be made available early next year in time for the film’s release.” - Hasbro
 
So what does this mean for toy collectors and GI Joe fans? 
 
It means price mark-ups for all those GI Joe Retaliation toys that were already shipped out. Hasbro can’t have possibly have recalled all of them. The day of GI Joe’s delay I saw pictures from my favorite comic book store of the new toys in their store. They had them posted on Facebook. There are already tons of figures and boxes of figures on eBay (start shopping here). 
 
Let us also not forget that Comic Book Conventions run rampant in the summer. I personally have plans for two already. I know that I will see GI Joe Retaliation figures everywhere at triple the store price. 

 

So what does this mean for Hasbro?

It means a huge loss. Battleship may have sold some more board games but GI Joe Retaliation was their one two punch along with GI Joe Renegades. My last time in the toy aisle, looking for the GI Joe Retaliation toys, I found only a mere speck of GI Joe Renegade figures. Even then it was four of the same guy. If the movie was a success this summer, Hasbro would have released multiple waves of toys from July through the end of the year. Now, they’ll have to store tons of product for a film that already has fanboys turning their noses up at it. 

 

So what does this mean for the Toy Maniac? 

 

 

Hasbro’s GI Joe Retaliation Comic Con Exclusives were not on my must-pick-up list but now that Shockwave/ Hiss tank might be (top right). I was all about getting both the new Firefly and Cobra Commander figures as the characters were always personal favorites. Though the biggest bummer about the delay is that the Arashikage Clan gear won’t be available (bottom). 

 

 

This summer just got a little less fun for the Toy Maniac. Hopefully, Hasbro will release more of these products. With all the rumors circulating the internet about reshoots for Channing Tatum’s character I doubt it. Mix those with the 3D conversion excuse it’s hard to have that “fools hope” for the film now. Personally, I would have taken the film as is. More Tatum and 3D might look good for box office numbers but they aren’t for this fanboy. They are just excuses to fix a movie and rob me of my toys.


Robert Trate writes three weekly columns for Mania: the DVD Shopping Bag, the Toy Maniac, and The Geek Life. Follow Robert on Twitter for his for Geek ramblings, Cosplay photos and film criticisms.

 



Series: