[46 Zone]

Thanks Trazz. At least I'll save some gas this year. This is disappointing. Hopefully, the SDCC exclusive will knock it out of the park!!! I'd be ok if there was a troop builder in it too.

[80s_kid]

Thanks to Trazz for the update and photos. This news is disappointing, but not unexpected. I think we all had to know that this was likely the case, particularly when the GI Joe Brand manager position was downsized away. It is certainly "low tide" folks, but I am hoping we will eventually soon see a corresponding "high tide" in the near future.

[80s_kid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrimsonGuard

This the problem with this forum. Too many people spreading misinformation. Gi Joe does have a brand manager..just not Mark anymore. Daryl Depriest is at the reigns until they officially announce Mark's replacement. Again..after reading two more pages of posts (which apparently most of you don't do), THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL HASBRO NEWS! Fun Pub put it in their magazine and serves their own best interest to say that their will be no new Joes. Come on people! In the age of information, do your research.

I don't believe that this is misinformation. As of early May of this year GI Joe did not have a brand manager. Putting aside the fact that's it's difficult to prove a negative, this is corroborated. There is a discussion in this thread right here, post #16 was from a helpful fan who called into Hasbro to inquire, but found that no GI Joe brand manager was listed at all.

Farewell and good luck to Mark Weber

Here is the post in quotes:

"I just got off the phone with the Hasbro Corporate Office, after verifying that Mark Weber no longer appears in the Hasbro Global Registry anywhere.

It does not even list any Brand Manager for G.I. Joe, as if there is just a big gaping hole where G.I. Joe used to be.

I was directed to try Edward Masiello (Senior Product Design Manager), to determine if he knows what is happening with G.I. Joe.

But I thought that he was handling Transformers, unless that is a recent change too? :"

Granted, it is possible that the position of GI Joe brand manager still exists, and simply has not been filled. I know that some folks were concerned and were speculating that perhaps the brand manager position had been completely eliminated. I recall hearing similar concerns a few years back that "Hasbro had no GI Joe team at all."

Also, Derryl DePriest is a great champion for the GI Joe brand, however he is not the official GI Joe brand manager. His current title is listed as VP of Global Brand Management. That is available from several sources, including Linkedin. I believe that puts him higher up the chain of command. In that capacity he has worked on a number of different items, for example I recall him saying in an interview that he almost got to work on the My Little Pony line. I have no doubt that Derryl DePriest is/will be involved in the future plans for GI Joe, but based upon this information there is no specific brand manager attached to GI Joe right now.

I don't pretend to know much about the internal machinations at Hasbro, so it may be that GI Joe is functioning well and that someone is indeed at the reins. However, I can understand why some fans would be concerned with the optics of GI Joe not having an official brand manager.

[Kolschey]

Thanks to folks for the official confirmation on this. My own suspicion was that the chances of a retail release were slim, and that if they did happen, they would again be 75% kitbashes and repaints (Who wants a light grey viper with green accents, up against a version of Gung-Ho in Light Brown cammies?)

The positive part of this year is that I am seeing some great new things coming out of the various Kickstarter and third party folks like Boss Fight, Marauder, Eagle Force Returns etc., so I'll have a few nice things to look forward to with beautiful sculpts to add some intriguing new characters to my desktop.

[sbartek1974]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trazz

Can you imagine the complaining...

Can you imagine the not-complaining? Now that would be weird!

[Trazz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbartek1974

Can you imagine the not-complaining? Now that would be weird!

That's the thing, I just can't. I've been here too long

[stillagijoefan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rangeviper88

Its official, no retail line this year...

Thanks Trazz for the confirmation

Thanks for the pic. That message from Depriest is crystal clear. We had a good run while it lasted.

[Justus Prime]

I'm buying the shit out of BFS series 2 with all my extra cash!

[stillagijoefan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolschey

Thanks to folks for the official confirmation on this. My own suspicion was that the chances of a retail release were slim, and that if they did happen, they would again be 75% kitbashes and repaints (Who wants a light grey viper with green accents, up against a version of Gung-Ho in Light Brown cammies?)

The positive part of this year is that I am seeing some great new things coming out of the various Kickstarter and third party folks like Boss Fight, Marauder, Eagle Force Returns etc., so I'll have a few nice things to look forward to with beautiful sculpts to add some intriguing new characters to my desktop.

I would have been fine with 75% kitbashes. Especially if it filled in some holes. On top of my head I would have been all over a jungle bat, xamot, tomax, zarana to name a few. And the Toysrus stores in my area, the last line seemed to have sold out at full retail.
But it's ok. No complaints. I'm happy with what I got.

[Xerofall]

They closed two of the three Toys R Us stores in my area, sucks big time.