Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Action Figure Review: Bradley "Big Lob" Sanders from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Hasbro is starting off 2026 with some slam dunks in the G.I. Joe: Classified Series line. Don't believe me? Then check out the first of the newest series of figures out there: Big Lob! Big Lob didn't appear in the vintage toyline; he's another character from the 1987 G.I. Joe animated movie that never got a vintage action figure from Hasbro. A grenade throwing basketball? Add him to the roster of other sports themed Joes like Bazooka, The Fridge, Hardball, Captain Gridiron, Red Dog, and Backstop. No, not all of those guys are in the Classified Series yet (only Bazooka, so far) but don't worry; they'll get there. Big Lob never had a vintage figure but the G.I. Joe Collector's Club released an o-ring version in 2010 as the annual membership figure and a generation 3 version in 2017 as the annual exclusive. Those were made by the G.I.J.C.C. though, so technically this is the first time Hasbro is tackling Bradley "Big Lob" Sanders. Why Bradley Sanders? He was given the same file name as his voice actor, Brad Sanders. Cool detail! Big Lob has been showing up at Walmart in a hanging display box (with Lifeline, Hit & Run, the Mole Rat [Stage 2], and the Night Viper) and on Hasbro Pulse, but he should be everywhere soon. Ready to see if Big Lob shoots and scores? Then join me after the break...





The Facts:

Height: 7 inches 

Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, 'boot' swivels, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, ball-jointed drop down hips, ball-jointed waist, hinged mid-torso, butterfly pecs, swivel/hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, balljointed neck base, and a barbell jointed head.

Accessories: 3 swappable hands, 1 basketball holding hand, grenade, grenade launcher, bandolier, pistol, holster, knife, and rifle w/ removable magazine.

Non-Scalper Price: $28 dollars




The Positives:

* While Hasbro did reuse some parts from their ill-fated Starting Lineup revival on last year's basketball playing Gambit from X-Men '97, they didn't reuse anything on Big Lob so far as I can tell. He seems to be 100% a G.I. Joe: Classified Series figure. A tall one, though. At 7-inches, Big Lob is one of the tallest guys on the team. He's slim, though, which differentiates him from some of the outright bruisers like Roadblock, Gung-Ho, and Sergeant Slaughter. His outfit is simple, both matching his outfit in the animated movie but also giving him more details on his jersey, the wrist bands, and a more intricate belt. The edges of his jersey are sculpted, not just painted on, and besides having his #14, he also has a small image of a basketball and the G.I. Joe logo on it. 




* Most of the characters in the animated movie (and the animated series overall) were a little bit silly. I mean, Big Lob narrated what he was doing, spoke in the third person, and had a haircut that didn't look like it would pass military standards. Not that the Joe team seems to care about stuff like that much, but Hasbro has really modernized Big Lob a bit. His portrait looks excellent, making him look like an adult rather than some teenager running around throwing grenades in a basketball jersey. It's a great portrait, giving him a cocked right eyebrow, too. I love it.








* Having Big Lob's last name on the back of his jersey is a cool touch. The printing is really neat and clean on his name and number.













* Check out these really cool shoes! They look like basketball shoes, sure, but they're also green and brown with the G.I. Joe star and stripes across them. That's a really neat detail that definitely is a welcome meld of Big Lob's sports theming and his role on a daring, highly trained, special mission force.







* To really gear him up for battle just throw this bandolier over his shoulder. I do wish it plugged into his back but it still stays in place fairly well on its own. There are a few pouches for extra gear and such, three grenades, and a radio. Big Lob would have been the perfect candidate for a JoePro (I hate we're not getting those anymore), but at least he still has some kind of communications device since he doesn't wear a helmet.





* The articulation is excellent. Whether you want Big Lob dunking on Cobra, getting into a fist fight, or utilizing his various firearms, he's more than up to the task. He's a sturdy figure with a great range of motion and he interacts with all of his accessories perfectly. He looks great holding his rifle two-handed, something that still thrills me that is possible in the Classified Series.







* Big Lob has four swappable hands, three of which are pretty standard: There is a pair of pistol grips and a left hand with an open palm.





* The fourth hand is the coolest because it has a basketball permanently attached to it. It's even textured like a basketball and the paintwork is pretty nice for something so small. I'm pretty sure this isn't reused from the Starting Lineup figures as it seems smaller than the basketballs those came with (or at least so far as I can tell from online images). This is a really fun accessory and while it isn't removable from Big Lob's hand, that actually makes it perfect for posing him with it without worrying about it coming loose and rolling away.





* I love Big Lob's rifle. It seems to be a Hasbro design inspired by something like an M4 but it's a bit chunkier looking. I like it, though. It looks very modern with lots of attachments like optics, a vertical grip, a flashlight, and a custom stock. It's very solid and sturdy with little give.





* Like usual, the magazine is removable. It stays in there rather securely, too. 










* Considering how tall Big Lob is, it's almost comical that he comes with such a small pistol. It looks like a little compact 1911, like a Colt Defender. It's not one of the best gun models we've received in the line but it's decent.










* It also stores securely in the removable holster on Big Lob's left thigh. 











* Big Lob comes with what might possibly be the largest knife in the line to date. Good night! What is this thing? Awesome it what it is. It's wicked looking. Crocodile Dundee would probably look at this knife and say "Mate, that is way way too much!" This thing is insane but the sculpt is really really good and Hasbro did a solid job with the paint for the blade. It's simple, just a little bit of silver, but it's clean and shiny.




* Big Lob's sheath for this massive knife is permanently attached to both belt and with a thigh strap around his leg. The knife stays in there nice and tight, so the sheath does it's job: Keeping the blade in place for when he needs it. And I think most cobra troops are gonna pray they're not gonna be around when he needs it.


* Big Lob's grenade launcher looks to be inspired by a number of airsoft grenade launchers. I don't know; if there is a real world inspiration for an actual grenade launcher for this, I didn't see it. This is a nice extra so he can both "lob" grenades at his enemies and use this handheld launcher to fire them, too. It's quite a neat accessory and not something we've seen in the Classified Series to date.







* There's a holster for the launcher on the back of his bandolier. It slides in nice and easy and stays in place well. 





* Last up, Big Lob also comes with a removable grenade! Yes, an actual loose accessory. That's quite cool.









* There's a little loop on the back of his belt which allows him to carry it back there.


The Negatives:

* Unfortunately, the safety lever isn't that long and it can easily fall off the loop. It'll stay in place on your shelf most likely but you'll probably have it fall off if you move the figure around. 




   I was excited for Big Lob since he was a new character for the Classified Series and a character who has never received a mainline release but, having him in hand, I'm impressed with how excellent he turned out. I'm not always the biggest fan of the sports themed Joes but Big Lob has an excellent design, a great portrait, and some incredible accessories. The weapons are solid, he can carry all of his combat gear, and the basketball is a fun, extra little touch that really makes this guy a joy to mess around with. Hasbro did a great job and Big Lob is an Epic release to begin 2026 with.



This is the first figure of Bradley "Big Lob" Sanders I've reviewed on the site. For more G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews check out the following:
Destro  
Flint  
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