17190777_10212325074109811_1607390189262306461_nToyLanta (incorporating JoeLanta, Botlanta and The Great Atlanta Toy Convention) begins tomorrow. One of the most-anticipated and well-attended panels at ToyLanta 2017 saw Felipe Monaco give a detailed presentation on Brazil’s version of GI Joe, Falcon, and also a look into his own production of custom outfits and figures under the banner of Louco Por Bonecos.

Felipe introduced American audiences to the amazing details of Brazil’s version of GI Joe, which was an amalgam of military GI Joe figures and 12″ versions of the smaller-scale American “Super Joe” line of the late 1970s.

He also presented background information on Brazil’s Estrela Toy Company, which basically had a monopoly on toy production in the South American country while Brazil was under military rule.

You can find more information about Felipe’s work at his website. Felipe will be on hand this year too, with an impressive line-up of custom outfits and heads.

This week’s PopCult posts have been prepared in advance, so that I don’t have to worry about missing a day while we made our way down South. There is a good chance that you may be seeing other posts that are being crafted while we’re en route to ToyLanta, but we wanted the option of taking it easy along the way, so we didn’t make any promises. I will try to post photos and maybe even video this weekend, once all the fun starts.