The word has already spread to almost every fan of the original animated
G.I. Joeseries: Shout! Factory is gearing up for a July 21st DVD release of
G.I. Joe - Season 1.1, PLUS they are additionally finalizing their "
G.I. Joe - Complete Series Collector's Set", with plans to introduce (and sell) it at the San Diego Comic-Con International, running July 23-26, 2009. Afterward, they will sell it online
at a special website (currently "under construction"), while they determine when they will begin selling that big "footlocker" set in stores.
In the meantime, we've learned they have plans for a more "introductory" release, for new fans generated by the upcoming live-action film set to hit theaters in August. Shout! will bow, on
September 1st, a single-disc release titled "
G.I. Joe - A Real American Hero: The M.A.S.S. Device. They are doing something similar for Hasbro's other hugely popular property, with a same-day release of
Transformers - More Than Meets the Eye (details
here). Running 110 minutes, this release will contain the first 5-part mini-series which introduced the classic '80s animated program, plus a bonus interview (see below). The exact price of this title hasn't been revealed, but we're expecting it to end up roughly around the ten or fifteen dollar range.
We're also waiting on package art [
NOTE: SEE BELOW], but in the meantime here's a studio description for you:
Cobra Commander and Destro have a new weapon- the M.A.S.S. Device teleportation machine - and with it they will control the world. The only way the G.I. Joe team can stop Cobra is to build their own M.A.S.S. Device, but they need three rare elements from dangerous places around the globe. The G.I. Joe team races to find these precious materials, knowing that the fate of the world depends on their success.
G.I. Joe - The M.A.S.S. Device is the 5-part miniseries that began the epic story of America's highly-trained special missions force defending human freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world! 5 action-packed episodes on 1 DVD plus an all-new bonus feature "Looking Back" With Writer Ron Friedman.
G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra, a summer blockbuster from Paramount Pictures, directed by Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, Scorpion King), is in theatres Aug. 7, 2009. This single DVD - priced to move quickly - offers theatrical fans an easy entry point into the origin of the G.I. Joe phenomenon.
UPDATE (5/29): We now have a look at package art of that new title for you this morning:
