Sideshow Collectibles has unveiled its first major announcement from Toy Fair 2008 – G.I. Joe 12-inch figures. Take the jump for the complete press release.
Thousand Oaks, California (February, 2008) – A leader in the manufacturing of licensed and proprietary high-end product, Sideshow Collectibles has signed an agreement with Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS), through its licensing division HPG, to create a new line of 12-inch figures based on characters from the ‘G.I. JOE VS. COBRA’ Universe. G.I. JOE has been one of Hasbro’s core brands for over forty years. Hasbro recently celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the ‘G.I. JOE VS. COBRA’ Universe, which introduced characters such as Snake Eyes and Cobra Commander. A live-action G.I. JOE movie is currently in pre-production and slated for release in 2009, helmed by blockbuster filmmaker Stephen Sommers, director and writer of the The Mummy franchise.
“This is a golden era for G.I. JOE, and Sideshow is proud to share in the excitement around the 25th Anniversary of ‘G.I. JOE VS. COBRA’ and the coming film,” said Sideshow Collectibles’ President and CEO Greg Anzalone. “Collectors can look forward to an incredible line from Sideshow – it’s really a line created by fans for fans – very detailed and utilizing the best modern production techniques, and heavily inspired by the classic Real American Hero era designs. It’s a fresh approach to G.I. JOE, which will appeal to fans of the ‘G.I. JOE VS. COBRA’ Universe and collectors with a passion for military inspired products. The timing simply could not be any better.”
The combined news of the upcoming feature film and Hasbro’s reintroduction of the ‘G.I. JOE VS. COBRA’ characters with the 25th Anniversary line has added momentum to the G.I. JOE brand, and set the stage for Sideshow Collectibles. Sideshow’s line of G.I. JOE 12-inch figures will offer highly detailed, mixed-medium versions of fan favorite heroic G.I. JOE and villainous Cobra characters. The figures are expected to release beginning in 3rd Quarter 2008, with retail prices starting at $79.99.
