IDW wins rights to publish GI Joe

[Omega Steve]

Check out this press release issued on Thursday 27 announcing a deal between IDW and Hasbro about GI Joe comics. Given all the crossovers between the two franchises I thought this might be of interest.

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HASBRO, INC. reaches agreement with IDW Publishing to launch new G.I. JOE Comics

Deal includes various New mini series and reprints of fan-favorite storylines


PAWTUCKET, R.I. (May 29, 2008) – Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) has reached an agreement with IDW Publishing, creators of the best-selling TRANSFORMERS comic book series, to launch an all-new line of G.I. JOE vs. COBRA comic books. As part of the agreement, IDW will produce a new monthly comic series, as well as deluxe reprints of the G.I. JOE property’s vast comic library, which helped catapult the G.I. JOE vs. COBRA phenomenon more than 25 years ago. IDW also has the rights for trade paperbacks and graphic novels.

The first products from this deal, a new monthly comic book series based on classic G.I. JOE vs. COBRA lore, will be launched with an introductory debut issue in October 2008. Featuring all-new storylines, the comics will portray the epic struggle of the G.I. JOE team against the evil forces of COBRA, while highlighting the brand’s favorite heroes and villains that made kids of the ‘80s today’s fans.

In 2009, IDW will also produce comic series both inspired by and based on the upcoming G.I. JOE live-action major motion picture from Paramount Pictures and Hasbro slated for August 7, 2009, as well as deluxe reprints from the vast G.I. JOE vs. COBRA comic history. The planned IDW comic book projects will be distributed to a wide audience through comic book outlets, trade bookstores and mass retailers.

“We are thrilled at the prospect of expanding our relationship with IDW. They’ve done an outstanding job with Transformers in the comic/hobby segment, national bookstores and mass market chains,” said Matt Gildea, Publishing Director, Hasbro. “IDW would bring that same expertise to the G.I. JOE brand in both new content and the existing G.I. JOE vs. COBRA library. Together, Hasbro and IDW would continue to engage G.I. JOE fans of all ages with amazing graphics and storylines.”

“G.I. JOE will be a perfect extension of the partnership we’ve developed with Hasbro over the past three years,” said Ted Adams, IDW’s President. “We are ecstatic about the opportunity to build upon the great history of the G.I. JOE brand and to present the type of entertainment and storytelling that our readers enjoy from our many licensed properties.”

[Omegastoopreme]

Makes sense that Hasbro would put their different toy properties with a single comic publisher. What do you think Steve, they likely to make any kind of appearance here in the future?

[Omega Steve]

I hope not but if they do let's pray the story is not 'in continuity'. A successful crossover is a rare thing and a pants one is common (just look at TF/Avengers). Plus TF/GI Joe has been done so often now that I'm not sure there's any appetite for it from the readers. We'll see.

Despite the logic of Hasbro keeping both properties with one publisher, Devils Due had GI Joe since 2003 or maybe earlier. Yet when the TF licence came up for grabs in 05 Hasbro awarded it to IDW and not Devil's Due. Clearly they have a better relationship with the IDW guys. Also there's the GI Joe movie coming out next year and the commercial spin offs from that must have been part of the thinking.

[Omegastoopreme]

I've seen a bunch of the pics for the joe movie, gotta be worth a butchers. Maybe Hasbro liked IDW's treatment of the TF movie and decided to give them a similar go with GI JOE.

Dunno if anyone's seen the character piccy's for the GI JOE movie, but here's a few of em....













Dunno about anyone else, but I think they rock.

[sentinelprime2006]

Snake Eyes rocks!! I hope they don't mess with this character like they did with Judge Dredd. Although they showed Snakes' face in the comic, this was before his accident.

[Omega Steve]

So 'Ninth Doctor' Chris Ecclestone is in it? I wonder who he plays? Ditto the comments above... Snake Eye's looks the business. Baroness and the girl with the curvy butt make an impression too. I dunno about Storm Shadow though - I mean, people would see him coming a mile off in those whites.

[Omegastoopreme]

He will be wearing a steel metal mask


From top to bottom, they are

Destro (Christopher Eccleston)
Heavy Duty (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje)
Breaker (Saïd Taghmaoui)
Duke (Channing Tatum)
Baroness (Sienna Miller)
Snake Eyes (Ray Park)
Scarlett (Rachel Nichols)
General Hawk (Dennis Quaid)
Ripcord (Marlon Wayans)
Storm Shadow (Byung-hun Lee)

Directed by Stephen Sommers

Other unconfirmed rumours have been

Arnold Vosloo ... Zartan
Brendan Fraser ... Gung Ho
Joseph Gordon-Levitt ... Cobra Commander (dodgy I know)
Jonathan Pryce ... U.S. President
Karolina Kurkova ... Courtney A. Kreiger / Cover girl

[Omegastoopreme]

I just read this so called "Leaked Script" someone posted on IMDB. Its actually really funny if you have any experience with GI JOE toys.

Here it is:

COBRA BASE- NIGHT

The GI Joe team sneaks through the hallways of the base. General Hawk takes the lead, followed by Duke, Scarlett, and Ripcord.

Duke: Shh! I hear something!

Hawk: Nobody moves until I make the command!

Ripcord: Here’s a command for you. Duck!

Cobra soldiers fire at them from down the hallway. The Joes fire back, killing all the Cobras. Ripcord falls to the floor.

Ripcord: Ahhh!!!!!

Duke: Ripcord, are you hit?

Ripcord: No!

Scarlett: Then what happened?

Ripcord: The rubber band in my back snapped! Now my legs and my ass are falling off!

Duke: This is bad! Unsnap his backpack!

Duke and Scarlett unplug his backpack from his back.

Scarlett: Okay, just lay still and breathe normally, Ripcord. We’re going to have to do open-toy surgery. Anybody have a second rubber band?

Hawk: They’re all back at the base! And it looks like the Cobras are attacking again!

More Cobra soldiers appear and fire at the Joes. The Joes fire back.

Hawk: I’ll have to radio for reinforcements! (into radio) Help, we need backup now!

A truck pulls up and five more Joes jump out, Flint, Dusty, Budo, Downtown, and Duke.

Flint: We’re here to help!

Hawk: Good, get in formation, we’re almost overrun!

Duke#2: Yes, sir!

Hawk: Hold up, who are you?

Duke#2: I’m Duke.

Hawk: We already have a Duke! What’s this about?

Flint: Grandma sent him here at Christmas. She didn’t know we already had one of him.

Hawk: Well put him away, then! I don’t like having two of the same guy around! It detracts from the realism!

A Giant Kid’s hand reaches into the base, grabs Duke#2, and pulls him out.

Duke#2: Agghhhhaaaaghhh!!! It’s not my fault! Adults think we’re all interchangeable!

Cobras fire at the Joes some more, and hit Flint, Budo, and Dusty. The Joes shoot all the Cobras dead.

Hawk: Who’s hit?

Duke: Flint and Budo are down! And I think Dusty is dead too! Shoot, I can’t tell!

Hawk: Damn it, how many times have I told you, Duke! You throw the dead guys into a pile in the corner when they die! How else are you supposed to remember who’s dead and who’s alive?

Duke: Sorry, General.

Scarlett: We’re losing Ripcord fast!

Hawk: Downtown, did you bring a backup rubber band?

Downtown: No, but check out this sweet-looking backpack!

Scarlett: That’s very nice, Downtown, but what does it do?

Downtown: I don’t know! But doesn’t it look awesome?

Hawk: Ripcord, can you hear me?

Ripcord: Yeah, boss! Bury me... in the garden... where the dog won’t chew on me....

Scarlett: You’re going to be fine, Ripcord. We’re going to have you fixed up, good as new. Wait, you’re missing your thumbs, too!

Ripcord: Oh, those snapped off a long time ago. Flimsy things break so easy!

Budo: I know that. (Budo picks up his sword, and his thumb snaps off) Damn it! There goes one of mine!

Cobra Commander appears in front of the Joes.

Cobra Commander: Hello, Joes!

Hawk: Cobra Commander! How is your wife, Mrs. Commander?

Cobra Commander: She is doing well! She recently joined a book club for the wives of terrorist leaders! But I have not come here to make small talk, General Hawk! I’ve come to end your meddling in my diabolical plans once and for all!

Hawk: Not while I’m in charge!

General Hawk takes a handgun from his holster, and his thumb snaps off too.

Hawk: Damn it!

Cobra Commander: Muahahaha! You thumbless soldiers are no match for the power of the Cobra! Behold our insurmountable power!

An awesome-looking plane with a Cobra insignia flies overhead.

Hawk: We’ve got to stop that plane! Downtown, how many missiles are in that launcher you brought with you?

Downtown: It came with six but I can only find four! The other two might be under the couch! Or maybe the vacuum cleaner got them! I don't know!

Hawk: Well fire what you have! Just remember to pick them up afterwards so you can fire them again!

Downtown: Yes, sir!

Downtown fires at the Cobra plane.

Duke: Damn you Cobra commander! Where did you get that plane anyway?

Cobra Commander: Someone down the street got tired of it and said we could have it! The battery in in no longer works! But all it did was make noises and we can make those noises ourselves! Bam bam bam bam bam!

Hawk: Well we can make battle sounds ourselves too, cobra scum! Everybody, make shooting sounds!!!!

Duke: Pow pow pow pow pow!

Budo: Hiya! Shwing! Slice!

Scarlett: Bang bang!

Hawk: Blam blam! I shot you!

Cobra Commander: No you didn’t!

Hawk: Yes I did!

Duke: Ratatatatatatat! Bam Bam! Uggghhhh.

Cobra Commander: The spit in your mouths has gone dry, Joes! Soon you will all rue the day you were taken from your packages!

Hawk: Well, its almost time for supper, so we’ll resume this in about 30 minutes!

Cobra Commander: Very well!

30 Minutes later...

Hawk: Now where were we?

Cobra Commander: Fighting!

Hawk: I think you’re right! We were!

Downtown: One more hit.....

Downtown fires the missile launcher again. The missile hits the Cobra plane, and the plane comes crashing down on top of Cobra Commander!

Downtown: KABOOOOOOM!!!!!!! Gotcha!

Cobra Commander: Agghhhhaaaagghhhhh!!!!!!! I just died!

Hawk: Yeahhh!!! We did it Joes! Let’s get back into the laundry basket until our next adventure!

The End

[killer]

So what actually went wrong that DDP got the dumped...?

[Omega Steve]

Good question. The impression I got was that fans were broadly happy with what Devils Due was doing, so it was probably Hasbro wanting to capitalise on the GI Joe movie and IDW looking like a safer pair of hands.

[Omegastoopreme]

I agree. Gotta be due to the movie connection. A bit of a coincidence otherwise.

[killer]

I think someone from the inside make deals. The movie is and will be quite different from the GI-Joe we grew up. Like TF movie it is totally different.