Ah yes, GI Joe Renegades, it’s as if we hardly knew ye. With only 1 season, this series managed to have a rather devoted following here, 1 vehicle released and figures in 3 waves of the GI Joe 30th Anniversary line. Nonetheless, it is a series fans miss, and 1 that many recognized as having lots of potential.
Another series that ended earlier than planned, was Transformers Animated. While IDW managed to release a few comics after the cartoon ended, there was something more that came in the form of Jim Sorenson. Sorenson wrote the Transformers Animated Allspark Almanacs, full color books printed on gloss paper. The 2nd volume had numerous homages to GI Joe A Real American Hero, and there were even some homages in the cartoon itself(documented here).
Sorenson is no stranger to GI Joe. He is working on a GI Joe Ark Style Book, with way more material to pull from than his Transformers Ark Books. In addition, Jim Sorenson is a fan of GI Joe Renegades. The description of Allspark Almanac 2 states:
The AllSpark Almanac II captures the magic of the most whimsical TRANSFORMERS series ever with a wondrous examination of this amazing universe. This volume is packed with behind-the-scenes sketches, interesting facts, production artwork, and musings from the characters themselves. Relive the thrill of the final season of Animated and learn what might have been had the show continued. Hard-core fans and neophytes alike will find this an essential tome. You won’t want to miss it!What if we had a GI Joe Renegades Almanac with the following? *Tweaked from the quoted passage above*:
The GI JOE RENEGADES ALMANAC captures the magic of the most whimsical GI JOE series ever with a wondrous examination of this amazing universe. This volume is packed with behind-the-scenes sketches, interesting facts, production artwork, and musings from the characters themselves. Relive the thrill of the only season of Renegades and learn what might have been had the show continued. Hard-core fans and neophytes alike will find this an essential tome. You won’t want to miss it!So the question is, do you want a GI JOE RENEGADES ALMANAC? Let’s hear it Renegades fans!
Shin Densetsu says
GI Joe Renegades was a cartoon that had lots of potential but was seemingly cut short. With only 1 season airing, it was a cartoon that had a devoted following here at the 'Tank. While some had doubts, it became a cartoon well received by the fandom here.
There is an author by the name of Jim Sorenson. This man is no stranger to GI Joe. In addition he is a fan of GI Joe Renegades. He is also working on a big GI Joe Ark Style Book, chock full of Sunbow GI Joe A Real American Hero design sheets, both used and unused! If the Transformers Ark books weren't big enough already(think like a phonebook), this upcoming GI Joe guide is going to be bigger, as Sorenson has substantially more material to work with.
With that said, it takes a dedicated fan and author to pull off an undertaking like that. While Sorenson has authored the Ark books, he has also authored books for another sorely-missed series, Transformers Animated. I bring this up because the Transformers Animated Allspark Volume 2, actually a number of GI Joe A Real American Hero homages within. Transformers Animated, like GI Joe Renegades, ended early(by 1 season). Thus the series was wrapped up in a way where many things that were planned were not fleshed out, and the story had to be sped up.
Like Renegades, there hasn't been much followup, as Hasbro moved full steam ahead with the Transformers movies and now, Transformers Prime. However, Sorenson and co were able to knock out not 1, but TWO Allspark Almanacs!
If you can't tell by now, I'm a big fan of the Almanacs. They're basically full color books that showcase Transformers Animated, from behind the scenes material, the origins of Animated as Transformers: Hero, prototypes that never made it, plans for the 4th season which got canceled, character designs, et al. They're basically the ultimate books for any Transformers Animated fan and imo, well worth the asking price of $20.
With a books like those available for TF Animated fans, I was thinking, how cool would it be to get a GI JOE RENEGADES ALMANAC written by Jim Sorenson? Just a thought. I haven't even seen all of Renegades but a book like that, would be bought on-sight. Can you imagine a book full of Clement Sauve's GI Joe Renegades Designs, vehicle designs, photos of prototypes by Hasbro, initial concepts, plot summaries, plans for subsequent seasons that were canceled, full color artwork, background art, et al, on gloss paper?
Seeing what Sorenson did with Allspark Almanac 2 with all those GI Joe references, and knowing that he too, is a fan of Renegades, gave me all the faith I needed. If Renegades ends like Animated, left in the past while Hasbro moves on to other incarnations of GI Joe, if we could at least have this I'll be happy.
So,
Do you want to see a GI Joe Renegades Almanac?
edhellman says
yesssssssssssssssss
Van Hammer says
I love the animated almanac and I would welcome a Renegades version.
Gyre-Viper says
It's funny you bring this up.
Cdt Weasel says
Snake Eyes-Joe Ninja says
I would prefer a comic continuation.
Bleak5170 says
I'm a big fan of almanacs but there's really not a lot to work with here. Renegades wasn't around long enough for me to really get into it. Now if it had gone on for several seasons as planned, then I would be all over this. As it is right now I really don't see the point.
Montross says
If it were to be made, I think a tribute to Clement Sauve would be appropriate.
Clement Sauve - G.I. JOE: RENEGADES' Character Designer passes away - GI Joe News
Ford says
Wouldn't a pamphlet do the job?
ndb says
Keep reading: Do You Want A GI JOE RENEGADES ALMANAC? - Page 2
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