I Wish I Had Hasbro KRE-O G.I. JOE Toys When I Was a Kid
Despite a brief love affair with Star Wars LEGOs over a decade ago, construction toys aren’t in my current line-up of stuff I collect as an adult. I was sorely tempted when Hasbro announced their KRE-O building sets for its G.I. JOE brand.
You see, when I was a kid, one of my first action figures was a 12-inch JOE, and that translated into a love of the 3.75-inch figures when I was a little older. Back in the day I also had a lot of love for LEGO, but that was long before they had branched into licensed properties.
So, the combination of G.I. JOE and KRE-Os hits on a few strong nostalgic notes for me. That they included a throwback to the original fuzzy-haired 12-inch figure as one of their single-packed figures isn’t helping me resist them.
Keep on the lookout for G.I. JOE KRE-O sets and figures starting February next year at Toys R Us. Yo JOE!
HASBRO AND TOYS“R”US TEAM UP TO DELIVER
NEW KRE-O G.I. JOE BUILDING SET LINE
Construction Toys Based on the Classic G.I. JOE VS. COBRA Saga
to be Available Exclusively at Toys“R”Us in 2013
PAWTUCKET, R.I. – October 11, 2012 – Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) officially announced that it will create KRE-O building sets based on the world famous characters and vehicles from its G.I. JOE brand. The new line of KRE-O G.I. JOE building sets will be available exclusively at Toys“R”Us retail locations and www.Toysrus.com beginning in February 2013. Hasbro unveiled the new KRE-O G.I. JOE line last night in New York City at its annual New York Comic Con preview event celebrating the Company’s extensive portfolio of pop culture brands.
With G.I. JOE toys recently topping The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis’ list of “100 Toys That Define Our Childhood” at #1, the upcoming G.I. JOE: Retaliation movie from Paramount Pictures scheduled to hit theaters on March 29th, 2013 in 3D and an ongoing comic book series from IDW Publishing, the G.I. JOE brand from Hasbro continues to captivate generations of fans around the world. The addition of KRE-O G.I. JOE sets to the brand’s portfolio will offer the opportunity to build environments and vehicles to play out the G.I. JOE vs. COBRA fantasy and will feature KREON figures based on popular characters from both the heroic G.I. JOE team like DUKE and SNAKE EYES as well as the villainous COBRA organization like FIREFLY and STORM SHADOW.
“We’re thrilled to bring the G.I. JOE property to life in this new format and to expand the KRE-O line with the team at Toys“R”Us,” said Kimberly Boyd, Senior Marketing Director for the KRE-O brand at Hasbro, Inc. “With the introduction of KRE-O G.I. JOE building sets, Hasbro continues to offer tremendous value to construction consumers with high-quality building experiences featuring popular characters from properties unavailable anywhere else in the category.”
“The G.I. JOE brand and its deep roster of iconic characters are legendary in the toy industry and the KRE-O G.I. JOE line will be an exciting addition to the construction aisle at all of our retail locations,” said Lisa Harnisch, Senior Vice President, General Merchandising Manager, Toys“R”Us, U.S. “Hasbro has done a tremendous job of translating the epic saga of G.I. JOE vs. COBRA and favorite characters like SNAKE EYES and COBRA COMMANDER into a compelling line of construction toys, and we’re eager to bring KRE-O G.I. JOE building sets exclusively to Toys“R”Us customers early next year.”
At launch in February of 2013, the KRE-O G.I. JOE line available exclusively at Toys ‘R’ Us and www.Toysrus.com will feature the following building sets, ranging from $2.99 to $39.99:
KRE-O G.I. JOE KREON FIGURE PACKS (Ages: 6 – 12; Available: Spring 2013)
Start your KRE-O G.I. JOE collection with these iconic G.I. JOE and COBRA characters! Each G.I. JOE KREON figure comes with a unique weapon and cool accessories, and is sold blind-bagged. The first wave of characters includes CRAIG “ROCK N’ ROLL” MCCONNEL, KIM ARASHIKAGE, COBRA TROOPER, CRIMSON GUARD, SCARLETT, COBRA AXE NINJA, COBRA NINJA VIPER, QUICK KICK, ALLEY VIPER, EDWARD “TORPEDO” LEILOHA, and ADVENTURE TEAM COMMANDER. Each sold separately.
KRE-O G.I. JOE CHECKPOINT ALPHA set (Ages: 6 & up; Available: Spring 2013)
Help defend the G.I. JOE base at Checkpoint Alpha from the villainous forces of COBRA! Build the checkpoint tower with push-fire missile as well as FIREFLY’S motorcycle in this 82-brick set, which comes with a FIREFLY KREON character, LAW & ORDER KREON character and a KREON dog.
KRE-O G.I. JOE NINJA TEMPLE BATTLE set (Ages: 6-12; Available: Spring 2013)
Can SNAKE EYES save the G.I. JOE Dojo from COBRA’s ninja attackers? Build the Dojo, a weapons rack and a spinning blade training unit in this 100-piece building set, which also includes four KREON figures — SNAKE EYES, STORM SHADOW and two COBRA RED NINJAS!
KRE-O G.I. JOE SERPENT ARMOR STRIKE set (Ages:7-14 ; Available: Spring 2013)
When COBRA attacks with its new SERPENT ARMOR MECH SUIT, it’s up to the G.I. JOE team to ride into battle in the VAMP 4X4! Build both mighty vehicles with this 175-piece building set, including an opening cockpit and opening and closing claw on the SERPENT ARMOR, and rotating wheels and opening doors on the VAMP. Also comes with two KREON figures — DOUBLE CLUTCH and COBRA MECH SUIT TROOPER.
KRE-O G.I. JOE DRAGONFLY XH-1 set (Ages: 7-14; Available: Spring 2013)
COBRA has stolen the plans to the G.I. JOE team’s base and they’re flying away with them in the COBRA CLAW GLIDER. The only thing that can save the G.I. JOE team is the iconic G.I. JOE DRAGONFLY helicopter! The 152- piece building set builds a helicopter with opening hatch, push-fire projectiles and a propeller that spins with the push of a button! Also comes with two KREON figures — a COBRA TROOPER and WILD BILL.
KRE-O G.I. JOE COBRA ARMORED ASSAULT set (Ages: 7-14; Available: Spring 2013)
Build the ultimate COBRA assault vehicle to battle the G.I. JOE team in their BATTLE QUAD with push-fire projectile. The COBRA ASSAULT VEHICLE features a rotating turret with two spring-loaded projectiles, six rotating wheels, an opening front hatch and an opening back to store weapons. The 246- piece building set also comes with three KREON figures — FLINT and two COBRA TROOPERS.
KRE-O G.I. JOE THUNDERWAVE JET BOAT set (Ages: 7-14; Available: Spring 2013)
The battle between G.I. JOE and COBRA takes to the open water as the G.I. JOE THUNDERWAVE JET BOAT goes up against the new COBRA STING RAIDER. The THUNDERWAVE JET boat features a command center for interior play, spring-loaded firing weapon and a small land vehicle that can roll off the ship and down the opening ramp in the back. The 218- piece building set also includes three KREON figures— two G.I. JOE characters (LT. CUTTER and SGT. STALKER) and one COBRA character. Set is not intended for use in water.
KRE-O G.I. JOE BATTLE PLATFORM ATTACK set (Ages: 7-14; Available: Spring 2013)
Yo, JOE! Build the G.I. JOE team’s battle platform base as it comes under attack from COBRA TROOPERS looking to spring COBRA COMMANDER out of jail! The 372- piece building set allows you to build the base and two COBRA vehicles, the TROUBLE BUBBLE and FANG, as well as a G.I. JOE RAM CYCLE. The base includes a command center for interior play, rotating flick-fire missiles and an opening jail cell. Also includes five KREON figures — CONRAD “DUKE” HAUSER, ROADBLOCK, COBRA COMMANDER and two COBRA TROOPERS, each with unique weapons and accessories!
About the KRE-O Brand
The KRE-O brand from Hasbro successfully launched in 2011 and features high quality construction bricks that are compatible with major brands as well as KREON figures in each of its sets based on popular properties like TRANSFORMERS and BATTLESHIP. Hasbro recently announced a line of KRE-O STAR TREK building sets, under license from CBS Consumer Products, that will launch in 2013 based on the upcoming STAR TREK sequel from Paramount Pictures and directed by J.J. Abrams. Learn more about the KRE-O brand at www.KRE-O.com and watch stop motion videos, building tutorials and more at www.Youtube.com/KREO.
Despite a brief love affair with Star Wars LEGOs over a decade ago, construction toys aren’t in my current line-up of stuff I collect as an adult. I was sorely tempted when Hasbro announced their KRE-O building sets for its G.I. JOE brand. 
