Flint is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of my all time favorite G.I. Joe characters. He’s another one of those guys who first came to life via Larry Hama’s file cards, even before I saw one second of him in a G,.I. Joe cartoon or on the pages of a Marvel comic book. Coming to the rescue with that lopsided grin– his Rhodes Scholar background– it just exemplified the character of Flint in my eyes.
I was a bit worried about “going back in time” to review some of these earlier figures, wondering if perhaps the shine had come off. I’m happy to say, in Flint’s case, it really hasn’t, at least not purely from an action figure perspective.
Ever since the 25th Anniversary line back in 2007 (holy crap was that really 15 years ago?!?) Flint has sort of existed as an extension of Duke, at least from an action figure perspective. Selfishly, I’ve always loved Flint as a character more than Duke, so I’m not a huge fan of his base figure being a Duke clone all the time, but it’s tough to argue with the results, especially once you layer on the updated tactical vest, different leg armor and a new head sculpt.
DESIGN
For as much hate as the initial waves of G.I. Joe: Classified get, they still remain, in my mind, a great collection of figures which weren’t afraid to add some unique modern elements to the timeless designs we were all accustomed to. Flint is a perfect example of this.
The sculpted textures in his uniform’s break up what could have a somewhat bland sculpt and even though most of the figure is essentially a repainted Duke it doesn’t feel that way. Hasbro obviously took inspiration from the vintage figure here, but really modernized the tactical vest and added darker toned shin armor to tie in some of the more video game/future tech inspirations they were going for. The result is excellent in my mind though I acknowledge I’m in the minority on that.
One thing that I find that I really enjoy about the six inch scale is how the different layers balance off each other with texture, color, etc. Flint’s pants with the pseudo airbrush camouflage beneath the more static color of the holster and straps really draw the eye and make each material feel different and apart. Obviously that’s a credit not just to the scale but to the design choices as well.
Then you have the updated head sculpt (which really feels like Flint) complete with removable beret, and his awesome updated vest. Rather than just the same old twin straps with shotgun shells we get a more armored, pouch laden “Resolute” style update which always gets bonus points in my book.
ARTICULATION
The base figure for Flint retains the same high level of articulation we’re all accustomed to throughout the entirety of the Classified line. Double joint elbows and knees, drop down hips, the nicely poseable ankles and neck all combine to give us a G.I. Joe figure with all the range of motion we expect as long time fans of the brand.
The only minor downside where Flint is concerned is due to his armored vest, which does end up restricting torso movement somewhat, but that’s a given. You can’t layer on an armored vest across an entire torso and expect the figure to move the same without carving some serious eyesore cuts into the armor. I think for what they tried to do, Hasbro found a great balance.
ACCESSORIES
But, of course, not everything is rosy when it comes to Flint. This figure was released during that window of time where Hasbro seemed unwilling to give their figures even somewhat realistic looking weapons. I think for what they had to work with, they did an okay job with Flint’s shotgun, managing to make it look somewhat future tech, but also with some hints of realistic undertones. Many folks have pointed out the inconsistencies with the pump-action and the break apart mechanism of the weapon, to which I say– this is G.I. Joe, not Call of Duty– a world where Trubble Bubbles, Air Chariots and clones of history’s greatest leaders exist. I’m sure why we can’t suspend our disbelief enough to not nitpick over a shotgun.
Where my complaints really come is with the number of accessories (or lack thereof) especially when compared to some of the newer releases. A single shotgun, pistol and removable beret feels like the bare minimum and while some might argue that Flint doesn’t really NEED more accessories, it does still feel a bit glaring.
CONCLUSION
For a repaint of Duke with a few added design elements, Flint does exactly what Flint’s meant to do. The new head sculpt, vest, weapons and lower leg armor go a long way toward separating this figure from Duke and make it stand on its own two feet.
While some might argue the futuristic elements were a draw back, I’d almost prefer to see a figure that looked like this rather than a bite-by-bite recreation of something initially released in 1985. From my POV, Flint is a pretty great balance between a throw back and a look forward.
General Gallery
G.I. Joe Classified Flint
Sculpting
Paint Applications
Articulation
Accessories
3.5
Summary
Coming out relatively early in the Classified run, Flint still holds his own among more modern releases. Yes, he’s a repaint of Duke, but with the right mix of new parts to make him stand out from the crowd.
Pros
– Great mix of vintage and modern
– Love the head sculpt and the armored vest
– Camouflage paint scheme on the legs works really, really well
Cons
– Where are the rest of his accessories?
– While this figure works as a repaint, it would be awesome to see a version of Flint that truly stands alone
Hasbro was still fully in the modernization mindset when they designed the COBRA Trooper to align with the initial assortment of Target releases and I couldn’t have been happier. COBRA’s backbone infantry unit was completely overhauled for 21st Century operations with layered body armor, a metal face mask, armored gauntlets and boots and a uniform rich with layered texture and awesome aesthetics.
At the time of its release, the COBRA Trooper was quite possibly my favorite figure of the line. Thus, when the COBRA Officer was announced, I was greatly anticipating the eventual reveal, but also, at the same time, a little cautious. What would they do? Simply repaint the trooper with the trademark silver sigil? Or would they make some other, more dramatic changes that might create unnecessary separation and division from within the COBRA forces?
Turns out, I needn’t have bothered to worry– the Hasbro designers in charge of G.I. Joe: Classified have quickly become some of my favorites and the COBRA Officer is a perfect reason why.
DESIGN
First of all, no Hasbro didn’t simply throw a silver logo on the COBRA Trooper and as much as I love the COBRA Trooper (and COBRA Infantry for that matter) I couldn’t be happier that they went in a different direction with the officer.
First of all– yes there are some connections to the trooper, which is exactly what you’d expect and want for the Officer. With similar blue hues to the uniform, he also has some of the same added texture to his balaclava, his arms and his legs, which immediately makes that much needed connection to the larger group of COBRA Infantry. The effective balance of black on blue, as well, especially on the shoulders and near the collarbone adds a nice divergence of color and breaks up the standard canvas nicely, adding more detail to the sculpted texture and some deviation from what could have been a bland, monochrome color scheme.
But, of course, they removed the bulkier battle armor, taking him a step away from the front lines, instead using web gear on him that’s somewhat similar to the old school officer, but with a bit of a modern touch.
With the opened “V” of the web gear, you can see the uniform beneath, featuring a smooth surface tunic with a nice rank ribbon on the upper chest, immediately adding a sense of significance to his position, settling him firmly in a stance of leadership among the other cadre of troopers. It’s a small touch, but a great one.
Along with the tunic and web gear, the lower half of his facemask is now a smooth cloth rather than the armored look, just as his gloves and boots look like more natural leather rather than next generation armored tech. The result is an update to the COBRA Officer which looks a bit more “real” but at the same time still blends in almost seamlessly with the existing trooper base. It’s a pretty great symbiosis between different techniques and they pull it off perfectly.
ARTICULATION
With a look closely aligned with the Trooper, I’m happy to say the Officer actually retains better articulation, specifically due to the thinner straps used for the web gear rather than the huge, full-torso battle vest which restricts movement on the Trooper and Infantry.
Elbows, knees, hips, all the rest of the requisite joints are present and accounted for and work really well, allowing for a wealth of various poses and positions. I didn’t notice any real stiffness or hindrance to range of motion and the various battle ready stances or gun-firing positions all worked really well.
ACCESSORIES
It seems like so long ago that Hasbro seemed wholly unwilling to put realistic weapons in with their figures. COBRA Officer comes with an AK-47 with removable magazine and scope, as well as submachine gun with a second removable magazine, a knife and a pistol. As Hasbro as done throughout the Classified line, there is room on the figure for all of the various accessories, which is an excellent detail, though I’ll admit it was a bit difficult to get the scope and the magazine where they belonged in the back of the belt.
A separate sleeve backpack is included as well, which will fit either weapon nice and snug, allowing for some customizability when it comes to which weapon he’s holding and which one he’s saving for later.
It’s not an extravagant assortment of various weapons, but simple and functional, even if the pistol seems a bit old school for the modern Officer to carry.
CONCLUSION
I had several different expectations when it came to the inevitable Officer release and somehow Hasbro eschewed them all and managed to surpass them all at the same time. The web gear, the various different smooth and rough textures throughout the body sculpting, the similarity, yet differences to the Trooper cadre– it all comes together to give us a spectacular version of the Officer which simultaneously adheres to classic tropes while at the same time bringing in plenty of more modern twists.
The COBRA Officer, in its unique and somewhat simple way achieves precisely what I’ve wanted Classified figures to achieve– latch on to some of that vintage inspiration that brings out the nostalgia, while at the same time not backing away from tying in modern elements that make it something new and different from an 80s faithful regurgitation.
They nailed it with this one and I’m thrilled.
General Gallery
G.I. Joe Classified COBRA Officer
Design
Originality
Articulation
Accessories
Value
4.2
Summary
The COBRA Trooper was an exceptional modern interpretation, several steps apart from its vintage counterpart– in a time when Hasbro seems to be looking firmly toward vintage designs for inspiration, how would they blend the two aesthetics in the COBRA Officer? As it turns out, pretty darn well. The COBRA Officer takes some of the intriguing textural elements of the Trooper while adding some more old school “officer type” layers and creates a figure that, while reminiscent of the 80s, isn’t beholden to it. Yet even with those subtle vintage elements, they manage to modernize it enough to blend with the existing Troopers, a feat that was likely far more complicated than they made it seem.
Pros
– Great modernization to the old school Officer vibe
– Love the removable magazines and that there’s a place on the figure for everything
– Variations in texture make for a very interesting looking figure
There are times, it seems, where nearly every memory of my childhood is at least tangentially related to G.I. Joe, as foolish as that sounds. As I was prepping this review in my head, I recalled that at some point in 1984, my best friend at the time and I were preparing to exchange Christmas presents. It was with some great, barely concealed frustration that I was wrapping a brand new Spirit figure for him– not because he didn’t deserve it, but because, dangit, the figure looked awesome and I wanted it. But my mom had been adamant that we give it to my friend for Christmas, so it got sealed in a box, wrapped in paper and forever removed from my eager, ten year old hands.
Fast forward a few days and my friend and I exchanged our gifts, both of us eagerly opening them– and much to our pleasure (and surprise) we’d both bought each other Spirit action figures from that new G.I. Joe toy line we both loved so much.
For whatever reason I clearly remember Freedom’s claws breaking within three days of opening him, but I loved that Spirit figure and by the time it finally saw retirement there was a broken thumb, a broken crotch and a lost belt to go along with Freedom’s claws.
Now, here were are in 2022, way more years later than I’d care to admit, and I just expressed similar excitement in opening the package of another version of Spirit Iron-Knife, one whose design was overseen by a group of Native Americans who had agreed to work alongside Hasbro to ensure the update to the G.I. Joe tracker was as inclusive and sensitive to their heritage as it could be.
As a result, some changes were made from the vintage version, but all things considered, this Spirit update is a credit to the fantastic history of the character, who took up prominent roles in both the comic and the cartoon back in the 80s.
DESIGN
As with most Classified figures these days, Spirit Iron-Knife certainly seems to take a healthy amount of inspiration from his classic look from 1984, but, ends up with just the right amount of updates and tweaks to thrust him into the modern day.
Like the classic Spirit he’s got his powder blue shirt and tan khaki pants, though Hasbro removed the belt and the frills along the boots, mostly, I suspect, out of respect for Spirit’s Native American heritage and without leaning on some of the more prominent stereotypes of that heritage. The result is a figure that looks instantly like he did back in the day, but without some of those more egregious design elements that could take away from an otherwise fantastic looking figure.
The secondary strap and knife sheath on his chest, along with the belt and leg holster and sheath are all in the same olive green color and fit the figure perfectly without restricting his articulation, a delicate balance that Hasbro has achieved to perfection here. The sculpting on Spirit is as terrific as always, his face full with the familiar character that we’ve seen throughout both Sunbow and Marvel, the look of grim determination as well as the red headband and a thin strand of hair hanging over the fabric which only serves to further express the figure in three dimensions.
The gauntlet on his left arm has two holes in it for Freedom’s claw pegs and the sizing is just right, allowing the large eagle to perch, ready to strike.
Speaking of that eagle, he comes with folded wings or wings outstretched, and includes ball-joint articulation for both as well as hip and neck– so he can be perched in wait, or in mid-flight. Some fantastic added detail only possible in a larger scale.
ARTICULATION
As mentioned, the design of the chest strap and sheath is great in that it does nothing to restrict the movement of the figure’s torso joint or shoulders, so Spirit Iron-Knife retains a full range of motion in nearly any direction.
A pet peeve I’ve often had for G.I. Joe figures in other scales was that the soldiers could never really quite hold their weapons “right” there were always some limitations to the way the figures moved. Well, Spirit can capture an almost perfect pose with the sniper rifle, either on his feet or on a knee or anything in between and while it might be a little thing, it makes a big difference.
Spirit Iron-Knife’s articulation is pretty much everything you’d want it to be and it gets bonus points because even the eagle has it!
ACCESSORIES
At some point during Classified’s inception, it was decided by the design team that they wanted to do whatever they could to have a spot for all of the various figures’ accessories either on the figure or in an included bag or backpack. They haven’t always hit that mark (there have been spare hands and hair pieces, for instance) but they’ve regularly come pretty dang close.
Spirit Iron-Knife is a perfect example of how they’re achieving this feat.
Obviously there’s an exception here — Freedom comes with two sets of wings, so they’re not going to have a place to store the alternate set– but everything else has it’s place. A holster for the pistol, two separate sheaths for both knives, a backpack with a peg for the sniper rifle as well as a mount for Freedom.
You can pose Spirit Iron-Knife with every bit of gear he comes with and he both holds that pose well and looks dynamite at the same time. Obviously, Hasbro elected to eschew the spear gun from 1984 in favor of a more traditional sniper rifle, and that totally works for me– even as a kid I wasn’t especially sold on that weapon. His pistol looks like an old school combat pistol and both knives are just different enough, while very much looking their part.
I’ve already expressed my pleasure with how Freedom came out as well, so in short — I cannot think of a single way they could improve the accessory compliment with this figure. It’s just fantastic.
CONCLUSION
Whether facing off against Storm Shadow in the Sunbow cartoon, or teaming up with Ripcord and Blowtorch alongside Bongo the Balloon Bear, Spirit has often played key roles, not just on the toy shelves but in various media as well — heck, he even made the shortlist for Sigma 6.
With this version of the character, Hasbro propels him into a slightly more modern look but with all of the great vintage throwbacks, and took great care to remain sensitive to his cultural history. All three figures in this assortment are spectacular and Spirit, I believe, stands atop that pile
General Gallery
G.I. Joe Classified Spirit Iron-Knife
Design
Originality
Articulation
Accessories
Value
4.7
Summary
It seems only fitting that Spirit Iron-Knife comes in the same assortment as Storm Shadow and although I always bristled at that conflict in the Sunbow cartoon, I find the giddy nostalgia satisfying nearly 40 years later. It certainly helps that Spirit is a hell of a great figure with some flawless sculpting, excellent articulation and great accessories.
Pros
– Amazingly detailed sculpt
– Poseable Freedom? Get outta here!
– Just the right touch of modernization
Cons
Knife handles are pretty small and his hand gets stretched out with the rifle so he can’t hold them all that well
Ever since I first sat down on my aunt’s corduroy couch in 1984 and read Storm Shadow’s file card, he has remained at the top of my favorites list. Even before I knew of his connections to Snake Eyes, even before I knew about the long and storied history of the Arashikage, the mysterious COBRA ninja was a permanent fixture in my adventures. This masked man who moved with “blinding speed” and could “scale walls with his bare hands and feet” had instantly elevated to near mythical status. While that was a long time ago (longer than I care to remember) I feel somewhat certain that Storm Shadow was my first introduction to the term “ninja” and I absolutely fell in love.
Ironic that these days I much prefer the near-future military stuff to the ninja stuff, but at 10 years old, ninjas were where it was at.
Fast forward nearly (cough cough) 40 years and G.I. Joe: Classified brings us a new 6″ version of Storm Shadow and in many ways he elicits most of the same emotions– but interestingly, that’s not necessarily a good thing.
DESIGN
Before I get too deep into this review, I need to make one thing crystal clear: from an execution standpoint this iteration of Storm Shadow is about as close to perfection as one can get. His stocky, muscular, somewhat oversized sculpting, yet maintaining an immaculate level of articulation– it’s a combination that Hasbro uses to absolute stellar success.
So why do I feel a bit mixed about the end result?
In two words: this guy.
Ever since the G.I. Joe: Classified line was launched and debuted on GIJoe.com, I have been losing my mind in anticipation of a figure from that image above. While I saw many fans scoffing at the metal mask and the Batman gauntlets, I absolutely fell in love with the modern-mixed-with-vintage aesthetic. The white base uniform, the ninja-themed mask– but enhanced with future tech and a nasty, sharp-edged flair (not to mention the amazing full-arm tattoos). Yeah… THAT was the Storm Shadow I wanted.
Instead, at some point shortly after the Classified kick-off, the design team shifted focus, moving from a futuristic tech-based aesthetic to one that adheres more faithfully to vintage looks. Initially, according to the designer, that was in celebration of the 40th Anniversary, but it seems to be how they’re approaching the line going forward. Don’t get me wrong — it’s agreeing with most of the fans out there (I’m a bit of an outlier when it comes to those things) but from my perspective… well, I was hoping for something a bit newer.
That being said– this figure is spectacular for what it is. To Hasbro’s credit, they do work in a few modern elements, including the great forearm gauntlets and gloves and a removable hood (which isn’t necessarily modern, but a different touch for this version). And while the source material for this figure doesn’t blow me away, the way they were able to capture the spirit of that vintage Storm Shadow in a 6″ scale is just– pretty much mind-blowing.
His secondary cross-chest strap has throwing stars that aren’t removable, but look like they could be, which is a great compromise, giving us that appearance without the risk of tiny accessories that would be all too easy to lose. Along with that strap, he has removable belt straps which allow you to pose him standing still, or in dramatic motion, with the belt waving in the wind.
If I did have one complaint about the execution– for reasons I can’t quite grasp this figure, more than others, has made me crave swappable hands. I want a Storm Shadow like this who has a flat “karate-chop” hand, multiple closed fists, all sorts of expressions that really bring the figures to life. All things considered, that’s a minor gripe, but one that would take a magnificent figure and make him– well– magnificenter.
ARTICULATION
What can I say about Storm Shadow’s articulation? G.I. Joe: Classified in general has been truly living up to the “America’s Movable Fighting Man” mindset when it comes to G.I. Joe and Storm Shadow is no different. Even with the somewhat bulky sculpting, the figure is amazingly poseable and well-articulated, able to achieve a number of great, deep joint poses from ninja crouches, to sword-fighting combinations and almost anything in between.
Drop down hips, double joint knees and side ankle joints allow very expressive movements from the waist down, and his butterfly shoulders, torso cut and double elbows give him a wide array of movements throughout the upper body as well. There’s no secondary vests or cumbersome web gear or sculpting to get in the way of his movements, and from that perspective, I can’t really think of a single improvement.
ACCESSORIES
Just like the vintage figure, Hasbro takes a shockingly straight forward concept and executes it to perfection with the backpack, twin sword sheath, removable arrow and a spot on the back of the pack for his new compound bow (an upgrade from the ’84 version and more in line with the ’88 camouflage iteration).
The removable hood feels like another call back to 1988, but one that I welcome, as it does add a neat new flair to this pure white version of Storm Shadow that the ’84 classic didn’t have.
The swords are sculpted with really great dragon-themed hilts, and while I like the bow, you can’t really pose it in a firing post, even with the removable arrow. If I have any complaint — WHERE ARE THE NUMB CHUCKS?!? (Yes I know that’s not what they’re really called). Maybe we’ll have to wait for the inevitable Quick Kick release to recreate our Enter the Dragon battle scene…
CONCLUSION
Unlike many G.I. Joe fans out there, I truly enjoy seeing new and different takes on this universe, and don’t necessarily want to constantly revisit the past. I do recall hearing the outcry from a few of the vocal fans when Classified first launched, decrying the gold armor and the futuristic weapons and I think Hasbro deserves a lot of credit for recognizing that and retooling some of their go forward plans.
That being said, I do believe there should be some sort of middle ground– a mix of vintage purist and a healthy injection of new elements as well. Some would argue this Storm Shadow accomplished that with the great modern gauntlets and the hood, and perhaps they did, but I simply cannot get over that amazing artwork on the GIJoe.com site and lament what could have been.
With all that in mind, however, this Storm Shadow figure is spectacular. The design, while a bit overly faithful is still immaculate. The articulation continues to take things up a notch and the plethora of accessories only further exemplifies all of the great things the Classified design team is doing right now.
While the inspiration isn’t necessarily 100% aligned with my preference, the action figure itself is difficult to find fault with.
General Gallery
G.I. Joe Classified Storm Shadow
Design
Originality
Articulation
Accessories
Value
4.4
Summary
We live in an era of eternal conflict and at the center of my conflict is STORM SHADOW. I kid– how can I possibly be upset at a figure this damn good? The truth is, I can’t, even though I would have preferred a more modern take on the venerable COBRA Ninja. That being said, the execution of this figure is almost as flawless as you can get, in spite of a bit of a lack of originality and devotion to the vintage themes.
Pros
– Amazingly detailed sculpt
– Fantastic assortment character specific accessories– but where are the NUNCHUKS
– Love the addition of gauntlets and separate hood piece
Cons
– A little bit too devoted to the vintage aesthetic
For folks who have been following along on my social media pages, you know that I’ve been working my way through the Classified review backlog a bit. I’m happy to say I’m (more or less) caught up. No I haven’t reviewed Profit Director Destro, Arctic Storm Shadow or Snake Supreme COBRA Commander yet, but I’m not sure I’ll get those done or not. I love ’em, just– gotta prioritize, you know?
At this point, I’ve added Zartan, COBRA Infantry, Firefly and COBRA Viper to the G.I. Joe: Classified Review Page. If you haven’t checked them yet, now’s your chance!
