How’s that saying go? Things can change in an instant? It wasn’t that long ago that the G.I. Joe community at large was questioning just what sort of life was left in the brand. I’m not sure that specific question has been answered, but at least we know there’s something to look forward to in 2020!
In fact, if my suspisions are correct– there is a LOT to look forward to in 2020, not the least of which is Hasbro’s new 6″ G.I. Joe: Classified line.
I know, I know… “but GeneralsJoes, we grew up on 3.75″ G.I. Joe’s in the 1980’s why fix what ain’t broken??”
Well, let me start by saying– just because there’s a 6″ line coming doesn’t mean there isn’t a 4″ line coming. There’s still a lot of time left in 2020 leading up to a brand new movie in October, so I think given the next few months, 4″ G.I. Joe fans will have something to look forward to as well.
Now, as for this figure.
Holy crap. I mean, you all knew I was going to love it, right? Anyone who has followed my site for any length of time knows that my love of G.I. Joe isn’t necessarily restricted by scale or format. I was one of the biggest fans of Sigma 6 (both 8″ and 2.5″) back in the day, and as long as the toy is cool, I like it.
This toy, Joe fans, is damn cool. It also marks a milestone. For the first time in G.I. Joe’s 50+ year history, we are getting figures in the 1:12 (or 6″) scale. Figures that can stand alongside Star Wars: Black, Marvel Legends, DC Heroes, Power Rangers, etc…
Let me just say at a 6″ scale, this Snake Eyes figure is fantastic. I mean, I had high expectations as it was, being a fan of Marvel Legends, but I have to say this figure surpassed them.
DESIGN
First of all, the design work. Where Hasbro could have easily just taken a blow-by-blow replica of the ’85 version and done it in 6″ scale (and made many Joe fans happy) they went a different route and made something totally new. Granted, there are elements of the ’85 version here, with the knight’s visor and the bandolier, but there’s also a heavy influence from his Resolute version, which is one of my favorite looks for the Joe ninja commando, with just the right hints of the Retaliation version mixed in.
He’s got a good mix of body suit and military style, with baggy pants, shin-high boots mixed with knee and shoulder armor, gauntlets and some awesome layered armor sculpted on the torso (alongside the removable bandolier, belt and secondary webgear). On the surface and at a quick glance, the figure could easily be mistaken for a more modern version of the ’85 figure, but in truth, when you really look at him you realize just how new and different the figure really is, and I couldn’t be happier for that fact.
The color scheme is subtly fantastic as well. On first blush you figure, oh it’s another Snake Eyes, another black figure, big woop. Well, one thing I didn’t notice with other images was just how rich this figure was in different colors and hues. The brown leather harness and brown straps around the armored forearms and fingers really adds some nice different elements to the figure and takes away from that same old same old black Snake Eyes blandness.
Along with the overall design and sculpting work, Snake Eyes has a few functional holsters/sheaths, one for his pistol, one for his knife, as well as sheaths for his swords. He can’t hold everything he comes with, of course, but he’s got that handy weapons rack that I’ll talk about a little further down. The straps with pouches on his arms are removable, as is the bandolier, and if you were an enterprising enough customizer (I’m not) his belt and thigh holster/sheaths would be removable as well.
So, yeah, the sculpting is pretty amazing throughout this figure with all sorts of excellent details worked in which are even more evident on the larger 6″ scale. I guarantee if they did this exact same figure in a 4″ scale, G.I. Joe fans everywhere would be losing their minds.
ARTICULATION
Here is where I am totally blown away. Being a Marvel Legends collector off and on for a while, I know what sort of articulation is possible on a 6″ figure, which was a big reason why I was so excited for this line. But trust me when I say Snake Eyes goes a step beyond even my own high expectations.
The joints are tight and double jointed pretty much everywhere. He’s got great range of motion in all ball joints and is not at all restricted by any of the sculpting from what I can tell. Nearly any pose you can think of, Snake Eyes can achieve, and perhaps the best thing is that due to the tightness and fit of the joints, the figure has amazing balance, to boot. It’s one thing to be able to pose a figure, but to be able to balance him in those poses for display is another thing entirely, and this version of Snake Eyes hits that mark in spades.
The ab crunch isn’t noticeable at all with the armor sculpting, and he’s got very subtle swivel cuts in the thigh and calf which give his legs some nice range of motion. Ball joint hips, shoulders, rocker ankles and wrists– yeah this guy is crammed full of articulation.
His impressive elbow and shoulder articulation allows for any number of fantastic weapons holding poses, including rifles (courtesy of Marauder “Gun Runners”), swords, submachine guns and pistols.
ACCESSORIES
Uh. Holy crap. Now, granted, this version of Snake Eyes was designed as an exclusive to Hasbro Pulse, so he naturally comes with a lot more gear than the standard retail release figures will. That being said, he comes with a LOT of gear.
There’s a smaller group of accessories that come within his single box, that I believe will likely come with the retail figure as well, which includes those in the last image of the gallery you see above. Basically it’s an Uzi and pistol (which share a common silencer) a knife, two replacement hands, a backpack with sheath and his sword.
I’m thrilled to see that he does come with his trusty Uzi, which seems to be almost a miracle considering what Roadblock is saddled with. Along with the Uzi is a pistol with removable silencer, a sword that looks amazingly like the original ’85 classic, plus a bevy of other ninja-oriented bladed weapons. These weapons all helpfully fit on a very nicely designed ninja-themed weapons rack.
He also comes with a nice military backpack, and his bandolier is removable, so I guess we’ll consider that an accessory as well. Lastly, he’s got removable hands, one in a “karate chop/salute” pose (which actually has ninja climbing claws sculpted to his palm) and one holding a ninja shuriken. You want it, you got it with this version of the G.I. Joe ninja commando.
PRESENTATION
Normally I don’t talk about this much– after all, I’m primarily a loose collector so the way the box looks doesn’t matter to me a whole lot. But I felt like I had to mention it here. The design of the box, the artwork and everything surrounding this figure is top notch. You can tell a ton of thought and effort were put into it, from the Timber influences on the included paperwork to the great embossed detail of the packaging. The interior package is more similar to the retail releases, though the subtle differences in color schemes may be an annoyance to some.
CONCLUSION
When it comes to G.I. Joe, there is a time and place for nostalgia, but as a fan, I love seeing new concepts and new ideas. This version of Snake Eyes seems to walk that line very nicely. The larger scale provides a robust canvas for impressive sculpting, detail work and accessory integration, and the articulation of this figure is some of the greatest I’ve seen throughout G.I. Joe’s long and storied history.
Yes, the larger scale will upset some people, and yes, the chance of a widescale vehicle line for these figures is very slim, but taking a step back and looking at this version of Snake Eyes for what it is, I love it and I’m eagerly looking forward to having another retail G.I. Joe line to support throughout 2020 (and hopefully beyond!)
General Gallery
Outside Shots
Comparison, etc…
G.I. Joe Classified Snake Eyes (Hasbro Pulse Exclusive)
Sculpting
Paint Applications
Articulation
Accessories
5
Summary
What can I say? Did anyone really expect anything less than five stars? To be honest, I almost gave up the star ratings with this re-introduction to the G.I. Joe brand, but I figured I would set a new framework for some of the other Classified figures to match. To my mind, Snake Eyes deserves every one of these stars, even though it’s a new scale and a new look at our favorite brand.
Pros
– Tons of fantastic articulation
– Intricate and subtle paint applications are better than you think
– Great interaction with accessories, holsters and sheaths
Cons
– I still love my 4″ Joes and hope for a return to that scale
– Snake Eyes, as cool and necessary as he is, is a bit overdone. Looking forward to a deeper roster
As I write this, the majority of G.I. Joe related news out of Toy Fair has been reported, with the latest updates from both Jada Toys and Jazwares just pushed through this morning.
G.I. Joe: Classified
Most of us are aware that from the G.I. Joe: Classified 6″ perspective, the only figures we saw were Snake Eyes (Pulse Exclusive), Duke, Roadblock and Scarlett. This was disappointing for most of us, though keep in mind the reveals of Snake Eyes and Duke were both leaked by fan sites, so the Hasbro presentation could have had a lot more oomph if not for that. Below is a gallery of great images courtesy of Chris from The Full Force who was in attendance at Toy Fair reporting on behalf of GeneralsJoes.
You can see some various apparel in the images above, too, which is a cool touch.
Speaking of leaks, while only three figures were revealed from Wave 1 of the G.I. Joe: Classified line, thanks to some enterprising online retailers, we do know that Wave 1 should also have Destro and another Snake Eyes in it, so we should expect to see those figures revealed at some point. Because the tentative release date is June (which is before SDCC) I’d expect to see those revealed hopefully within the next 4 – 6 weeks, though that’s complete conjecture on my part. I know I’m pretty interested to see how the Wave 1 Snake Eyes will differ from the Pulse Exclusive version, and I’m absolutely dying to see what Destro looks like.
The cool thing about a lack of items revealed at Toy Fair is that there’s still a lot to look forward to over the coming months.
Jada Toys
We also learned that Jada Toys has acquired the license to produce die cast vehicles based on the G.I. Joe universe, and in fact the first two vehicles were revealed in the form of a 1:32 scale VAMP and HISS, along with some potential sneak peeks at a VAMP Mark II, Snow Cat and even stuff like a Night Raven, Dragonfly and MOBAT. Craaaaazy.
This has been a source of much back-and-forth among the fan community ever since it was first revealed. Chris and I were of the opinion that there was no way Jazwares would be making action figures, but a HISSTank report from the Nuremberg Toy Fair seemed to dispute that.
However, the word from Toy Fair is that Jazwares is indeed making– figures. Sort of.
According to a few reports, Jazwares will be making G.I. Joe “Domez” figures, which are static collectibles encased in transparent plastic domes. See the image of Jonesy below, which is from the Fortnite line, but should give some indication of what we might see on the G.I. Joe side.
Meanwhile, Chris and I jumped on a call first thing this morning to go through the Toy Fair recap, and you can find that News Burst on YouTube and also embedded below.
Thanks as always for following along, Toy Fair is always an exciting time and it certainly looks like there will be no shortage of G.I. Joe toys and licensing news going forward.
None of this is anything we haven’t seen already this weekend, but Hasbro has sent along the official press images and details for the revealed G.I. Joe: Classified figures. You can view them below.
G.I.
JOE Classified Series Snake Eyes Deluxe Action Figure (Hasbro Pulse Exclusive)
(Ages 4 and Up/ Approx. Retail Price: $39.99)
The triumphant return of G.I. JOE begins on Hasbro Pulse with exclusive collector’s edition Snake Eyes Deluxe Action Figure, the first time the iconic character has been depicted in 6-inch scale. Snake Eyes is a total mystery, but his unique combination of skill, stealth, Arashikage training, and strength of character make him one of the most elite operatives among the members of G.I. JOE. This Snake Eyes figure features design and accessories inspired by the original 3.75-inch figure released in 1982, nodding to the epic history of Snake Eyes figures that came before while providing exciting updates that bring the G.I. JOE ninja into the modern era. In addition to multiple points of articulation that make it highly poseable, the figure comes with an exclusive Arashikage Ninja Clan-inspired gear storage rack that features premium detailing and can be loaded up with included accessories such as the character’s signature katana, sheath, and multiple other pieces of ninja gear. This Snake Eyes figure also comes in exclusive packaging for Hasbro Pulse, featuring foil effects and original artwork from Tracie Ching and Miq Willmott. Available for pre-order on HasbroPulse.com on February 21, 2020 at 8AM EST.
G.I. JOE Classified Series Duke Action Figure
(Ages 4 and Up / Approx. Retail
Price: $19.99 / Available: June 1, 2020)
YO JOE! G.I. JOE explodes into a larger-than-life era with brand new 6-inch scale figures, evolving classic characters fans know and love into a highly articulated 6-inch scale with premium deco and details. The G.I. JOE Classified Series Duke Action Figure features a classic design updated to bring the decorated G.I. JOE operative, a go-to squad leader capable of commanding any type of situation, into the modern era. The figure comes ready for action, with multiple points of articulation making it highly poseable and accessories inspired by the character’s rich history, including Duke’s signature blaster rifle. The G.I. JOE Classified Series Duke collectible package will also make a mark on shelves, featuring display-worthy custom artwork from Francesco Francavilla. For G.I. JOE fans new and old, the G.I. JOE Classified Series line of actions figures captures the pulse-pounding excitement of G.I. JOE in a 6-inch scale. Available at most major toy retailers and for pre-order on HasbroPulse.com on February 22, 2020 at 4PM EST.
G.I. JOE Classified
Series Roadblock Action Figure
(Ages 4 and Up / Approx. Retail Price: $19.99 / Available: June
1, 2020)
YO JOE! G.I. JOE explodes into a larger-than-life era with brand new 6-inch scale figures, evolving classic characters fans know and love into a highly articulated 6-inch scale with premium deco and details. The G.I. JOE Classified Series Roadblock Action Figure features a classic design updated to bring the iconic G.I. JOE one-man wrecking crew, a gentle giant with exceptional strength and the courage to face any threat, into the modern era. The figure comes ready for action, with multiple points of articulation making it highly poseable and accessories inspired by the character’s rich history, including a heavy artillery blaster. The G.I. JOE Classified Series Roadblock collectible package will also make a mark on shelves, featuring display-worthy custom artwork from Mike Thompson and Ken Lashley. For G.I. JOE fans new and old, the G.I. JOE Classified Series line of actions figures captures the pulse-pounding excitement of G.I. JOE in a 6-inch scale. Available at most major toy retailers and for pre-order on HasbroPulse.com on February 22, 2020 at 4PM EST.
G.I. JOE Classified
Series Scarlett Action Figure
(Ages 4 and Up / Approx. Retail Price: $19.99 / Available: June
1, 2020)
YO JOE! G.I. JOE explodes into a larger-than-life era
with brand new 6-inch scale figures, evolving classic characters fans know and
love into a highly articulated 6-inch scale with premium deco and details. The G.I.
JOE Classified Series Scarlett Action Figure features a classic design updated
to bring the iconic G.I. JOE field operative, a competitive martial artist with
intelligence levels that are off the charts and a self-styled warrior of
justice who’s not afraid to bend the rules to do what’s right, into the modern
era. The figure comes ready for action, with multiple points of articulation making
it highly poseable and accessories inspired by the character’s rich history,
including Scarlett’s signature crossbow. The G.I. JOE Classified Series
Scarlett collectible package will also make a mark on shelves, featuring display-worthy
custom artwork from Phil Noto. For G.I. JOE fans new and old, the G.I. JOE
Classified Series line of actions figures captures the pulse-pounding
excitement of G.I. JOE in a 6-inch scale. Available at most major toy retailers and for pre-order on HasbroPulse.com on February 22, 2020 at 4PM EST.
So if you’re anything like me, you sat through nearly three hours of Hasbro presentations, and didn’t really come away with anything new regarding G.I. Joe: Classified (or the Snake Eyes film).
To be fair to Hasbro, the Duke reveal yesterday was a leak, not official, so it’s not entirely their fault that nothing new was shown today.
However, there are some additional interesting tidbits.
In a Full Force video of the showroom, some numbers are visible on the G.I. Joe: Classified Packaging:
Which, of course, begs the question… who are numbers 02 and 03? Those would likely belong to a couple of the villains who we didn’t get to see at Toy Fair for whatever reason, my guess being perhaps Destro and The Baroness, but honestly anything is possible.
To check out the full video courtesy of The Full Force, check below:
Along with this, over on his Facebook page, Mike Thompson (the Roadblock package artist, who also worked on the Rise of COBRA line) posted some fantastic images of Roadblock, while on Twitter, Francesco Francavilla revealed his work on the Duke packaging.
So, yes, in the grand scheme of things, a somewhat disappointing turnout for A Real American Hero, but with promises of more still to come, and hopefully sooner rather than later. If Wave 1 truly is scheduled for release in June, they’ll have to show something before SDCC.
For those of you who are members of Hasbro Pulse Premium, you can pre-order Scarlett, Duke, and Roadblock on the Hasbro Pulse Toy Fair page now. The approximate ship date is June 1st, according to the listings.
Pre-orders should be open to the public by 4:00pm Eastern.
So I came out of the gates hard yesterday morning with the G.I. Joe: Classified info revealed by IGN but my workday schedule was such that I didn’t really get a chance (at least not here) to talk about the inadvertent reveal from later in the day, courtesy of WalMart.com and HISSTank.
The upcoming G.I. Joe: Classified 6″ Duke has officially been revealed.
And I’ll tell you what– as someone who isn’t real crazy about Duke, this figure is probably my favorite of the first four revealed. A nice blend of military and sci-fi, some obvious throwbacks to his old school designs, and a weapon that is laser-based, yet still resembles more realistic military weaponry.
Good stuff and a nice further springboard into Toy Fair news later today.
