NewsFlash!

[The Baron]

http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/newsflash1.jpg
www.BLOODFORTHEBARON.com (http://www.BLOODFORTHEBARON.com)

[Mainframe]

I have no clue what this is.....

[rob0213]

What?

Is that supposed to be a Joe figure?

[TheBaroness]

Wow.

[CaptainTripps]

Wait, why is his crotch in the crosshairs?

[Dawg99]

kinda looks like cobra de aco

[RuckusJr]

Wow, viral advertisiing for something on the net! How INGENIUS! How REVOLUTIONARY! How GROUNDBREAKING! And I jizzed...In...my pants!

[The Baron]

http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/newsflash2.jpg
Blood For The Baron!!! - View topic - NewsFlash! (http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=3420)

[Dr. Vile]

oh Baron Blood, when will you learn world domination is too much work...

[spacemonkeymafia]

Whats going on? Should we shoot?

[RuckusJr]

The only thing that blows is the Toyark.com level of spamming.

[kneroh]

Whats going on? Should we shoot?

RuckusJr already did.

[xFlintx]

Looks like Spam to me....

[RuckusJr]

Seriously, who celebrates their 6th anniversary with this sort of self-important fan fare? Wait till 10.

[Warrant Officer Flint]

Hmm.. this has been on YoJoe for a long time, here is the link..

YOJOE.COM | Mystery G.I.Joe Figure (http://www.yojoe.com/archive/unknown/mysteryfigure.shtml)

I guess they finally figured it out.

[The Baron]

Looks like Spam to me....

Look again.

http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/6/newsflash.html

[GGPiKE]

This is huge news in the Joe collecting community. Not many people on this site are going to know about this (evidenced by the post getting tagged as spam.) The mystery figure has been floating around for years. There have been some who tried making customs of it and pawning it off as the real thing, etc. All that was known about the figure was that it was a prototype recolored flash. Beyond that, no one knew what he was supposed to be, if he was Action Force / Gi Joe, and unproduced Listen N Fun Flash. . . the speculation was always ongoing.

This is finally looking like someone found the answers many of us have been seeking for a long time. Kudos to The Baron! I looks forward to more information from your find!!

[volleydan]

I know a lot of people on this board are new to the collecting community, but let me just say that the folks over at BFTB have solved one of the biggest mysteries in GI Joe history here.

Since I first became interested in collecting as an adult ten years ago, people have wondered just where this strange gray Flash came from....Ron Conner even offered a reward for information leading to its origins (since he owned it and didn't even know where it came from).

Was it an unreleased "Listen N Fun" Flash?
Was it an unreleased item from the Q Force line?
Was it from South America?

Now, thanks to the work of Dave Tree and the BFTB staff, we have the answer. I would think that deserves a bit better treatment than to be dumped in the "spam" category. 90% of the people who post here seem to have no concept of the rich history of GI Joe - this should be front page news so they can start to learn about it.

[Hicks_Royel]

kinda looks like cobra de aco

Which is while we'll all be that much more surprised when it turns out to be... ... ... Someone Else! Mwah-hah-ha-haaaa...?

[C.I.A.D.]

This is huge news in the Joe collecting community. Not many people on this site are going to know about this (evidenced by the post getting tagged as spam.) The mystery figure has been floating around for years. There have been some who tried making customs of it and pawning it off as the real thing, etc. All that was known about the figure was that it was a prototype recolored flash. Beyond that, no one knew what he was supposed to be, if he was Action Force / Gi Joe, and unproduced Listen N Fun Flash. . . the speculation was always ongoing.

This is finally looking like someone found the answers many of us have been seeking for a long time. Kudos to The Baron! I looks forward to more information from your find!!


Right, this is really BIG news. The question I posed to the Baron though is this:

Playing Devil's Advocate, do we allow ourselvest to believe that this figure has finally been found...or is this just the beginning of a WICKED April fools gag?

I want to believe it's real. I really, really do.

[C.I.A.D.]

Now, thanks to the work of Dave Tree and the BFTB staff, we have the answer. I would think that deserves a bit better treatment than to be dumped in the "spam" category.


Agreed & Moved.

[Warrant Officer Flint]

I was always looking on YoJoe at the figure, interested in the figure and hoping the origin was found. It looks like it has, and it's very cool! I hope it's real but as C.I.A.D. stated, it could be a fake. Let's hopes its real!

[volleydan]

I appreciate this thread getting moved up where it "belongs".....as to whether the revelation is valid or not, consider these points:

Dave Tree has an incredible rep in the Star Wars community for his work with the UK line. He's as straight of a guy as you could find in the community.

He has nothing to gain and everything to lose if this is a hoax. It's not like he came out and said "oh look I found these and I want to sell them". He's admitted they aren't his and he's asked for nothing in return for his discovery. It's being publicized because of it's importance to the Joe community at large not because he's looking for anything out of it.

In the meantime, the credibility of not only Dave but to some extent, BFTB are at stake here. And as I said, he's got a lot of personal credibility to lose. There's just no motive for him to be misleading us about this.

[kneroh]

YoJoe.com had the story on this early... wow. A Flash repaint. I know the back story but I just never really cared that much.

[MAJOR BLOOD]

I e mailed Hasbro about this figure last month and this was their answer:

Hi Anthony,

Thank you for your patience.

We have checked with our GI Joe team and they are not aware of this figure. They think it may be an international release.

We appreciate having the opportunity to assist you.

I guess Action Force could be it. Glad to finally get some type of answer.

[C.I.A.D.]

I appreciate this thread getting moved up where it "belongs".....as to whether the revelation is valid or not, consider these points:

Dave Tree has an incredible rep in the Star Wars community for his work with the UK line. He's as straight of a guy as you could find in the community.

He has nothing to gain and everything to lose if this is a hoax. It's not like he came out and said "oh look I found these and I want to sell them". He's admitted they aren't his and he's asked for nothing in return for his discovery. It's being publicized because of it's importance to the Joe community at large not because he's looking for anything out of it.

In the meantime, the credibility of not only Dave but to some extent, BFTB are at stake here. And as I said, he's got a lot of personal credibility to lose. There's just no motive for him to be misleading us about this.


Agreed, Dan. Which is why I had/have to play Devil's Advocate. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, there are many in our community that would not only point the finger and call it fake, but not take time to understand the importance of the piece (well, the quasi-importance to those of us who care about these things).

Unfortunately, it's our job to doubt. That's how we get answers.

Do I believe it 100%? As I said on the Island, I want to. I just can' allow myself to because then that means that so many more questions beg to be answered...and I honestly don't have another 20 years to wait. (smile)

[Sigma6_fan85]

if its part of GIJOE (or action force) it has my respect.

[SNAKE EYES]

Pretty cool can't wait to find out the answer.

Here is a link to the mystery Joe figure:
YOJOE.COM | Mystery G.I.Joe Figure (http://www.yojoe.com/archive/unknown/mysteryfigure.shtml)

[jack138]

This is the pinnacle of my 'Adult Collecting' lifestyle.

I'll have my manservant and young ward Pablo fetch me one for the "adult Collection"...

[TheLongestDay]

Thanks Baron and congrats on the anniversary! (please excuse the rude behaviour of some)

[The Baron]

Thanks! Watching your auction right now in fact...

[Shin-Gouki]

This is HUGE news!! Finding a Straight Armed one is even bigger news! Good Shit man!

[Shogi]

Wow, I'm speechless....To me, this is like the discovery of some lost temple that holds secrets of our history.

To finally find out where this figure belongs in the world (looking at it now, I don't see why I never made the Action Force connection before :D ) But to also find out that there was a whole other Action Force team!?

Awesome news! (Time to start making some customs :) )

[TheLongestDay]

Thanks! Watching your auction right now in fact...

ah cool cheerz!! :)

[TTT]

Huh...well I'll be danged.

[MrClean]

This is AWESOME news! i've always liked that mystery Flash figure. Thought he'd look good alongside Dolphin and Moondancer. And now to know not only it's history, but his name, is great news! and a whole other team!
I admit to a bit of sadness at it's 'could've been" status.
So, let the customs begin!

[SNAKE EYES]

So his name is Bombardier and he is part of the U.K. Action Force, cool. Well as MrClean said lets see some customs it will help clear some Flash figures off the pegs too :)

[Shogi]

What does it say about me that I'm more excited about those Palitoy F-Force figures than I am about Bombadier? :)

[Devil King]

What does it say about me that I'm more excited about those Palitoy F-Force figures than I am about Bombadier? :)

What was that about F-Troop?

[artiepants]

What does it say about me that I'm more excited about those Palitoy F-Force figures than I am about Bombadier? :)

are those other guys "new" molds or redeco'd/parts bashed Kenner Star Wars molds (that's what the look like to me, Hoth type guys and a general, but i'm not to up on vintage SW figs...)

[Bub]

I want a modern era bombadier!

[vega-1]

BRAVO! Great find... I always knew he had some sort of part in the Action Force line just because of some of the figures that where repainted like him. Again Bravo!

[alcoholic ewok]

Agreed, Dan. Which is why I had/have to play Devil's Advocate. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, there are many in our community that would not only point the finger and call it fake, but not take time to understand the importance of the piece (well, the quasi-importance to those of us who care about these things).

Unfortunately, it's our job to doubt. That's how we get answers.

Do I believe it 100%? As I said on the Island, I want to. I just can' allow myself to because then that means that so many more questions beg to be answered...and I honestly don't have another 20 years to wait. (smile)

Agreed. I kind of wish it was pictured alongside another figure b/c for some reason that one looks like a handpainted one compared to the swivel arm version on yojoe.com, which is due to the differences in flash's swivel arm body vs. the straight arm body. Still damn impressive, hopefully there's more that can be uncovered there.

[A.V.A.C.]

holy crap. that figure always screamed southern western hemisphere to me, not action force, especially not a whole un-released team. this is the last thing i ever expected to see tonight, wow.

[Porkchop Sandwiches]

this is all very uninteresting

[kneroh]

Now I know how Captain Pierre-Francois Bouchard felt when he discovered the Rosetta Stone.

[wild weasel]

Right, this is really BIG news. The question I posed to the Baron though is this:

Playing Devil's Advocate, do we allow ourselvest to believe that this figure has finally been found...or is this just the beginning of a WICKED April fools gag?

I want to believe it's real. I really, really do.

same here

[The Baron]

It's not April.

[Shogi]

are those other guys "new" molds or redeco'd/parts bashed Kenner Star Wars molds (that's what the look like to me, Hoth type guys and a general, but i'm not to up on vintage SW figs...)

They all look to be redecoed, the Dr might be a head swap redeco. The three that are the same mold share that mold with the Arctic Assault figure. The camo even looks like it may have been the same paint mask they used on the Arctic Assault figure

[gunslingercbr]

awesome discovery!

[Lody]

Quite an interesting read. it always struck me as odd that no one had any info on this figure. After reading the article, consider the following.

Is this Dave guy is everything some of the people here claim to be, in the small insiginificant world (OUR world) of GI Joe toys and collecting, what does he have to prove by making this story up? What's his angle? Who, besides us, cares? I do agree that this is quite interesting and I do hope that one day I myself (living a stone's throw from Hasbro HQ)will stumble upon some sort of discovery such as this (pre-production, carded, unreleased figures) stashed away somewhere and only known to a possible few who have no idea of the interest in these items. I live vicariously through the story and was quite interested in reading it. Is it true? I think only time will tell.

[butter_the_pure]

Wow. I never thought I would see the day when the mystery was solved. Amazing, absolutely amazing. Thank you.

[SUNSTQRM]

Wow, You guys are lost. This is EZ. Its python patrol stinger driver Flash. He'll be in targets in about a month . he comes with a pink hiss tank.

[theprocess]

This is what cobra commander looks like in the movie...I know cause my uncle is the director.

[Melissa]

ohhhh Bombardier yes I thought we all knew that all ready. I would have said something sooner. lol j/k

[quintonarledge]

Finally! Now I can sleep at night and move on with my life because this haunting mystery has been solved. My soul's finally at peace now.

Okay, all sarcasm aside. This is a pretty interesting story, but since "Bombardier" isn't even a real Joe, this is kinda like getting all excited because a prototype Bronze Bomber figure got ID'ed or something.

[statesofeuphoria]

Wow. I never thought I would see the day when the mystery was solved. Amazing, absolutely amazing. Thank you.

For real. I had wondered about this figure for years. It seems the mystery has been solved.

[Troynos]

Everyone has to admit that the Baron could have done a better job of presenting this. Those first couple posts with the image definately looks like spam.

Would have been a lot better to just make a post titled "repainted flash figure finally named" and then give a quick thing of text and including a link to the larger post by Tree.

People were well within their right to call the first couple postings as spam, because that's what it was. Also, technically, it does violate the HissTank rules about linking newsposts from other sites.

Other than that, it's pretty cool news. Now comes the swamping of Bombardier customs.

[TheLongestDay]

Everyone has to admit that the Baron could have done a better job of presenting this. Those first couple posts with the image definately looks like spam.

Would have been a lot better to just make a post titled "repainted flash figure finally named" and then give a quick thing of text and including a link to the larger post by Tree.

People were well within their right to call the first couple postings as spam, because that's what it was. Also, technically, it does violate the HissTank rules about linking newsposts from other sites.

Other than that, it's pretty cool news. Now comes the swamping of Bombardier customs.

I think the Baron was just trying to present this news in a fun way.

A little bit of an unveiling so to speak.

[darthdoug]

Wow, viral advertisiing for something on the net! How INGENIUS! How REVOLUTIONARY! How GROUNDBREAKING! And I jizzed...In...my pants!
haha

[t34bag]

very cool, I wonder how long it will take for someone to make a 25th style custom tribute figure.
...I'd do it but I don't have any spare flash's around :p

[REDVIPER]

maybe is that a new thundercat figure??

[Troynos]

I think the Baron was just trying to present this news in a fun way.

A little bit of an unveiling so to speak.

I'd buy that except for the "only one website has it" line. That's self-promotion. That and it being the Baron's site's 6th anniversary. Makes me wonder how long this info sat before being made public.

Don't mind me, I'm just cynical.

[TheLongestDay]

I'd buy that except for the "only one website has it" line. That's self-promotion. That and it being the Baron's site's 6th anniversary. Makes me wonder how long this info sat before being made public.

Don't mind me, I'm just cynical.

isnt everybody these days? :P

[darthdoug]

I'm surprised nobody has realized the importance of this figure yet. This could very well be the very first customized figure. It has thrown off everyone who did not know what customized figures were so they assumed it was real. This should go into the Hall of Fame for Custom Figs. (Although I did a custom snow trooper when Empire SB came out). I actually colored him many different colors which did not seem right as Imperial troopers were only to be white. My... how times have changed.

[The Baron]

Wow, viral advertisiing for something on the net! How INGENIUS! How REVOLUTIONARY! How GROUNDBREAKING! And I jizzed...In...my pants!

Ah. If only your father had been so wise.

[takarajap]

"celebrates their 6th anniversary"? ....thats just another birthday at this point in time. YOE, ummm "F" .....................

[MLos1]

It's interesting how the leg design switched from the starwars leg type, to the ball jointed when you look at the other figures Tree found in the basement.

[Onslaught Six]

It's interesting how the leg design switched from the starwars leg type, to the ball jointed when you look at the other figures Tree found in the basement.

Not particularly. Most early Action Force figures were of the SW-type construction, while they occasionally used Joe moulds as vehicle drivers and the like.

I'm surprised nobody has realized the importance of this figure yet. This could very well be the very first customized figure. It has thrown off everyone who did not know what customized figures were so they assumed it was real. This should go into the Hall of Fame for Custom Figs. (Although I did a custom snow trooper when Empire SB came out). I actually colored him many different colors which did not seem right as Imperial troopers were only to be white. My... how times have changed.

What?

[volleydan]

Makes me wonder how long this info sat before being made public.


I believe Dave said in one of his posts that he had the information for about 4 weeks before going public with it.

I can't say for sure, but my guess would be that the delay was partly so he could do his homework (don't want to make an announcement like this without dotting i's and crossing t's) and partly becuse the BFTB site was down for the past couple of weeks due to a change in servers.

[Autobot_Goldbug]

Thanks Baron and congrats on the anniversary! (please excuse the rude behaviour of some)

Indeed! I think this is the only Joe board where I have put people on my ignore list.
I think Bombardier is probably his specialty since he was supposed to come with a MMS. He probably never got a codename.

[VIPER109]

Indeed! I think this is the only Joe board where I have put people on my ignore list.
I think Bombardier is probably his specialty since he was supposed to come with a MMS. He probably never got a codename.

I just updated my ignore list and this thread just became 10 times more intelligent.

[babyjelly]

Hmmmm...

How important is this???

Well it's relative to your sphere of interest - it is, undoubtedly news of extreme importance - basically a secret hidden away in the vaults of an old UK toy company that has been rediscovered after 20+ years. To many UK fans, the SAS/Red Shadows era of Action Force/GI Joe is the 'best' as it's popular. In essence much of their interest lies in a 2 year period of GI Joe/AF history, so finding a fifth team is a bit like finding out there was a third ninja planned in th Snake Eyes/Storm Shadow backstory right from the get-go.

Of course the news is momentous, and I have no doubt it's genuine because Dave wouldn't string along his comrades on BFTB, but if a particular fan has zero interest in the UK GI Joe story, then it won't be news at all.

My personal favourite era is the time where the Flint/Footloose/Jaye era were packaged as Action Force and internationalised as a UK based team, so that's a couple of years after the Red Shadows era, but just because it's not 'my' era doesn't mean I can't appreciate the excitement it might generate in other people.

The whole GI Joe/Action man/Action force story is one of the most interesting stories in any toy line, full of coincidences and changes and reinterpretations that are fascinating. Of course nothing is stopping anyone from standing inside their own sphere of interest, but they could be missing out on a great and interesting story.

As for the hints and the teases and the waiting for the anniversary issues - I can see how it might frustrate, but I, for one, realised how it was intended.

[Cobra Invasor]

Just AWESOME!

[The Baron]

http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/newsflash3.jpg

http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/links/noman.gif (http://www.bloodforthebaron.com)

[RazorOye]

baron

were you around the zcult?

[fhersanke]

is bombardier ????

[The Baron]

RazorOye, sure was.
fhersanke, what?

[The Baron]

You know, this thread is all about BFTB discovering the identity to the mystery Joe Flash figure.

W I N a $ 1 0 0 .0 0 S H O P P I N G S P R E E (http://treasuresntoys.com/webcampspree.htm)

Why are we sitting in the Fan Art section?

[Serpentor79]

Is this the a repaint of a 25th flash like that repaint version of flash from the 80's?

[The Baron]

Nope! Go to my homepage and click on the "No Man Left Behind" link for the full five-page article.

The article sort of follows on from the "History of Action Force" piece, so it may be worth reading that first.

Ron Conner has now verified the Flash Figure Find as being authentic.

[Serpentor79]

Cool! Thanks

[The Baron]

Here's a quick recap and some direct links.

For many years a single question has haunted the GI Joe collecting community; who is the mystery Flash repaint?

http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/6/mysteryjoe1.jpg http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/6/mysteryjoe2.jpg

Yo Joe! Magazine (http://www.yojoe.com/magazine/00/index.shtml#unknown)
YOJOE.COM | Mystery G.I.Joe Figure (http://www.yojoe.com/archive/unknown/mysteryfigure.shtml)
T (http://www.treasuresntoys.com/webcampspree.htm)

After years of rumour and speculation, BFTB is proud to unveil the truth. He is ACTION FORCE.

Our resident investigator Dave Tree has been doing exhaustive research into the line and along his travels has discovered an unreleased team... Special Weapons Force!

Click here for the full story! We claim our $100 reward!

http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/links/noman.gif (http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/noman/noman1.html)

If you are unfamiliar with the Action Force toyline, a full history of the range can be read here.

http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/links/history.gif (http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/history/index.html)

[PRev]

I had heard about this some time back on Yo Joe and figured I would hear big news about it someday, guess today is the day! If youv'e been collecting for many years and you have an interest in all things Joe, you may get a taste for the international. I found Action Force many years ago thru the wonderful comic books that found its way to my local comics shop and they were AWESOME! I gotta give BFTB my sincerest "ATTABOY!" And glad to have added you to my Favorites list or as you guys say my Favourites!

[The Baron]

Thank you kindly!

I have every single Action Force comic available for view and free download on my site.

[theohiostateguy]

Okay, that's over...........now everyone.............BACK TO THE CHOPPAH! GO NOW!

[The Baron]

I say again, why has this thread been moved to Fan Art? Please can it be moved back to News and Rumors?