The 1980s will be remembered for many things. 
Questionable fashions (i.e. shoulder pads), wacky hairstyles, great music; this list could go on for a while but the one thing that might only make it on few person’s lists is the return of G.I. Joe. Back in 1964 when G.I. Joe first appeared he was a military man but by the 1970s military toys had fallen out of favor so G.I. Joe changed jobs and joined The Adventure Team. This rebranding of G.I. Joe kept the line going for a few more years but by the end of the decade G.I. Joe disappeared from shelves.
In 1982 G.I. Joe made his return albeit a bit smaller than his original incarnation. This new action figure line was just 3 ¾ inches similar to the popular Star Wars line produced by Kenner. This new scale allowed for more vehicles and larger playsets to be produced. G.I. Joe had also come full circle, once again he was a soldier only this time he was going up against a worldwide terrorist organization called Cobra. This battle between good and evil wasn’t just played out in the imaginations of the children who played with these toys; G.I. Joe had a cartoon to back it up.
G.I. Joe had a good run going from the early 1980’s up to 2016. During that stretch G.I. Joe changed sizes, going back to 12 inches, down to 8 inches and eventually back to 3 ¾ inches. The line once again vanished in 2016. Personally I missed collecting G.I. Joes so I was ecstatic when I heard that once again there would be a G.I. Joe line.
Hasbro has been producing figures in the 6 inch scale (1:12th scale) for both their Marvel Legends line and their Star Wars Black Series which sell very well so it wasn’t much of a surprise that the new line was 6 inches. As for the figures themselves Hasbro went back to what worked the best and that was the “Real American Hero” line from the 1980s. Those of us who collected these figures there is a great amount of nostalgia associated with them.
Now called, “G.I. Joe Classified” the first wave of these figures were straight out of our childhoods. The first wave consisted of Duke, Road Block, Scarlet, Destro and everyone’s favorite, Snake Eyes. These ultra poseable figures are amazing. I have to admit that it was love at first sight when I opened the shipping box.
First up for review is Roadblock. Roadblock stands approximately 6.5 inches tall. Just like the rest of the figures in Wave One, he is extremely poseable. His points of articulation are:
- Head
- Shoulders
- Biceps
- Elbows (Double)
- Chest
- Hips
- Thighs
- Knees (Double)
- Calves
- Ankle
- Foot
All of those points mean being able to attempt a multitude of poses. Since no G.I. Joe figure would be complete without weapons Roadblock comes with:
- Dagger
- Stylized Machine Gun
- Magazine (or power source depending on what the gun is supposed to do)
Next up is what seems to be everyone’s favorite, Snake Eyes. Having trained as a ninja since his childhood, Snake Eyes is a very formidable opponent. Standing approximately 6 inches tall, Snake Eyes is loaded with points of articulation. They are:
- Head
- Shoulders
- Biceps
- Elbows (Double)
- Chest
- Waist
- Wrists
- Hips
- Thighs
- Knees (Double)
- Calves
- Ankles
- Feet
Just because Snake Eyes is a trained ninja and can kill with his bare hands doesn’t mean he doesn’t need weapons; he likes options. His weapons are:
- Sword
- Sheath
- Dagger
- Machine Gun
- Pistol
- Backpack
Although Snake Eyes isn’t one of my favorite figures I have to admit I was very impressed with his poseability. Looking forward to setting him up against Storm Shadow for some cool “in battle” poses.
The third figure in this release is the only villain in this wave, Destro. An arms dealer and associate of Cobra Commander, Destro seems like he is only in it for the money, which he has proven in the past. Destro stands approximately 6 inches tall and is fully poseable. His points of articulation are:
- Head
- Shoulders
- Biceps
- Elbows (Double)
- Chest
- Waist
- Wrists
- Hips
- Thighs
- Knees (Double)
- Calves
- Ankles
- Feet
The look of Destro really pays homage to the 1980s. This figure looks almost identical to the 3 ¾ inch one that came out in 1983. The new Destro comes with just couple of accessories. These are:
- Brief Case
- “Gold” Sidearm
- Rifle
The number 4 in this release is Duke. The character of Duke was in charge of the team during the first season of the cartoon so he might just be the most memorable character from the 1980s. The G.I. Joe Classified Duke is approximately 6 inches tall and like every other figure so far he has incredible articulation. His points of articulation are:
- Head
- Shoulders
- Biceps
- Chest
- Elbows (Double)
- Waist
- Wrists
- Hips
- Thighs
- Knees (Double)
- Calves
- Ankles
- Feet
Duke comes with a couple of accessories. These are:
- Backpack
- Rifle
- Pistol
- Binoculars
The last figure from the first wave is Scarlett. This figure stands 5.5 inches tall. Scarlett, like her teammates is very poseable. These points of articulation are:
- Head
- Shoulders
- Elbows
- Chest
- Waist
- Hips
- Thighs
- Knees (Double)
- Calves
- Ankles
- Feet
Scarlett’s weapons are all for silent attacks. She comes with:
-
- Knives (3)
- Crossbow
- Quiver of arrows
I have to say that I am impressed by the rebirth of this line. The sculpts are great, both Duke and Scarlett have amazing faces. What really has me hooked is the poseability. The G.I. Joe Classified line is one of the best figure lines out there right now. They are affordable, they are poseable and they are well made. These are perfect not just for collectors but for children. I am looking forward to see what vehicles are introduced to the line. I would love to see a Humvee.
The G.I. Joe Classified series is in stores now. Suggested retail is $19.99. Let’s hope this line goes for many years to come…YO JOE!
Thanks to Hasbro for supplying the product for review.
