Hasbro Q & A Round 4 - The Answers! Options

[General Hawk]

1. Fans have been asking for Pythona, Cool Breeze, Mangler, cartoon Space Shock Troopers, and other media-exclusive figures for years, but we have still haven't gotten them. Instead we're getting oddities such as Hard Master, "do-jo" Snake Eyes, a skeleton in an upcoming DVD set, and endless repaints of the same four core characters. With such a fever pitch going on for the line, why can't we get some more never-before-seen characters that have also contributed to the G.I. Joe mythos? Hard Master at least is a step in the right direction, but why not others who are arguably more popular? Especially when all the fan requested figures could be made with existing parts, just with new heads?

For the past year we have been balancing creating figures for our core fans and keeping figures on the shelf which are welcoming to more casual fans from the 80's (and kids) who want to get back into G.I. Joe. For this reason, you are likely to see a Snake Eyes on shelf at all times. We also try and mix in newness and cool figures hence Wraith, Matt Trakker, Para Viper, and the original 13.


2. With the releases of the classic vehicle molds such as the Vamp and HISS in their window packaging, are there any plans to extend into the smaller playsets such as the Cobra Battle Bunker, Checkpoint Alpha, and Bivouac?

We are looking into this and hope to be able to announce something soon.


3. I know we've heard that the articulation and body style for the movie toys will be the same or similar as the Anniversary toys. However, many movie based toy properties also have spring-loaded "action features". Can we expect stuff like that with the movie toys, or can we hope that the figures themselves will maintain their full normal range of motion and articulation?

The 3 3/4'' movie figures will maintain the same high level of articulation and detailed styling as the 25th Anniversary line. Any "action features" will be separate pieces that can be added to the figures.


4. Although fans have been actively wondering why the original 13 were not produced initially as part of the 25th line, is there a strategic plan that rolls out characters from successive years (i.e. 2009 = 1984/85, etc)?

The original anniversary plan was only a few waves of figures, so we started with the best figures from the G.I. Joe history. There is/was no plan with regards to specific years and figures.


5. You have been asked numerous times (and will probably continue to be asked numerous times) about missing characters like Ripcord, Dr. Mindbender, Recondo, etc... but perhaps we can ask it a different way. Is Hasbro consciously avoiding the production of core characters of the Joe mythos so that they can potentially release them in a "post movie" style toyline? We all know that Transformers Classics essentially returned after the movie stuff with the Universe line, is Hasbro concerned that they will run out of popular/famous characters if they don't keep some characters "in the hopper" for future release? That's about the only explanation we can think of, because many of these highly desired characters would fit seamlessly into comic packs with mostly existing parts. Can we at least get some kind of explanation or information about why such key characters seem to be getting ignored?

Many of these figures are coming before movie. A couple such as Ripcord and Heavy Duty are not being released before the movie so we don’t confuse our new kid consumers getting into the brand. Most of the major characters fans have asked for will be delivered before the movie.

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