GI Joe 2008 Convention In Dallas, TX

08-15-08
Greetings! I'm behind in blogging the GI Joe 2008 convention in Frisco, TX (near Dallas), but here we go. Fun convention at a great hotel! New product teasers with great merchandise on the way to continue the 25 years plus of the Real American Hero! The big buzz HANDS DOWN was the presentation clip of a new GI Joe animation project called "GI Joe Resolute." It was a few minute short that was later showed at San Deigo Comic Con, and someone leaked a recording on YouTube. The clip features the characters of Duke, Roadblock (or Heavy Duty, not sure), Snake Eyes, and a ton of Cobra soldiers. It included a more real world take with bullets, muzzle flashes, and shell casings, instead of laser bolts like its 1980's counterpart. The Hasbro panel showed production art, explained details, and answered a lot of questions. Resolute definitely has more of a PG or PG -13 feel, with "little to no blood" but you still see swords swinging, blades twisting, and you can hear bones breaking, so the violence is more implied than showed. A++ on Resolute!


The convention had A LOT of cool custom contests as well as dioramas and interesting panel discussions. Hearing some of the back story on the production of the original 1980's GI Joe Real American Hero product line was interesting for collectors. Pictures of the con can be seen by clicking the link below. Enjoy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28403997@N02/

New GI Joe Comic From IDW

08-14-08
With Devil's Due Publishing's run on the GI Joe comic book now over, IDW has the license now and are relaunching it in October with issue #0 and issue #1 in January. Unfortunately, 25 years of story continuity will be scrapped for a new relaunch on the property. However, on the upside, the original writer and "Grandfather of GI Joe," Larry Hama, is returning to write. In his interview posted on hisstank.com he explains that IDW is giving Hama alot of creative freedom and letting him do it "his way" this time. It will be interesting to see what Hama comes up with. Robert Atkins is the new artist and has posted some of his GI Joe artwork on deviantart.com. It is worth a look! Check it out!

Dead Monster Washes Ashore In Montauk

08-14-08
From gawker.com:

No, Lizzie Grubman's still alive. This is an actual monster, some sort of rodent-like creature with a dinosaur beak. A tipster says that there is "a government animal testing facility very close by in Long Island," but unless the government is trying to design horrible Montauk monsters that will eat IEDs and fart fire at bad Iraqis, we're not sure why they would create such an unthinkable beast. Our guess is that it's viral marketing for something.

Mom Gives Birth On Front Lawn

08-14-08
From usatoday.com:

Fullerton, California (AP) - Alone and in labor, Jessica Higgins found the first place she could to give birth — her front lawn. The 36-year-old was driving home from the mall Tuesday when little Mary Claire decided to arrive six weeks early.
Higgins — with her 2-year-old son sleeping in the back seat — called for an ambulance as she arrived at her home, but she had already pushed her daughter out when police arrived.
"She was just standing in the driveway rocking the newborn, who was still attached to the placenta," Officer Manny Ramos said Wednesday.
Higgins' husband, Jeff, arrived in time to cut the baby's umbilical cord under the front-yard ficus tree.
The proud mother, who was recovering at a hospital Wednesday, said "everything happened so fast." She said she had her son's portrait taken at the mall earlier in the day and was on hold with the doctor's office when the baby started pushing.
Mary Claire was born at 5 pounds, 11 ounces and was doing fine at a local hospital, Higgins said.

Bigfoot Body Found

08-14-08
From news.com.au:

Two professional Bigfoot hunters claim to have found a body of the legendary creature and will present evidence of the astounding discovery to the world's press and scientists tomorrow.
Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, who run Bigfoot expeditions, say they found a dead Bigfoot in the woods of north Georgia about two weeks ago and have put the carcass in a freezer.
They along with "the real Bigfoot Hunter" Tom Biscardi, who has endorsed the find, will front a press conference in California, where they say DNA and photo proof will be presented.
Mr. Whitton, a Georgia police officer on leave to recover from a shooting, and Mr Dyer, a former prison officer, have posted photos of their "find" on their searchingforbigfoot website.
They describe the creature as being a 2.3m tall "part human and part ape" male and weighing over 230kg with reddish hair and blackish-gray eyes.
The infamous feet are described as being flat and 41cm long with five toes.
The hands also have five fingers and and the teeth are more "human-like than ape like".
The hunters claim several Bigfoots were spotted walking upright in the area the body was found but won't reveal the location "to protect the creatures".
Mr Whitton, Mr Dyer and Mr Biscardi say they will soon mount a secret expedition to capture a live Bigfoot.
Commenting on the discovery Scientific American said the apparent reluctance of the Bigfoot hunters to actually display or hand over the body would make those skeptical roll their eyes.