Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Action Figure Review: Action Soldier (Special Forces) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Back in 2024 Hasbro released some action figures of "generic" soldiers in the Classified Series to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the original G.I. Joe. Since then they've released four soldiers (an Action Sailor, Action Marine, Action Pilot, and Action Soldier) along with a firefighter and a police officer. Today I'm checking out the newest figure in this subset, the Action Soldier (Special Forces), a new take on the Action Soldier who was previously released in a more desert themed camo pattern as the Action Soldier (Infantry). This definitely isn't just the same figure with a new paintjob, though; this guy has a lot of new parts, different portraits, and a very different feel. Some collectors are turned off by the higher price points on these figures (they're around $42 dollars each), though they do come with a nice assortment of accessories and two portraits, almost making them feel like a figure with an accessory kit. You could have a full figure to display and some leftovers to add some new parts to a couple of your named G.I. Joe characters. Is this guy worth it? Let's check out the Action Soldier (Special Forces) after the break...







The Facts:

Height: 6 1/4th inches

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

Accessories: 2 swappable heads, helmet, beret, 2 bandannas, dog tags, glasses, 2 side pouches, 2 piece Android tactical assault kit, back pouch, knife, pistol, 2 rifles, 2 magazines, bipod, rocket, and launcher.

Non-Scalper Price: $43 dollars




The Positives:

* If you're wanting a fairly standard modern soldier that seems like he'd be at home in Call of Duty or Ghost Recon, this guy isn't a bad choice at all. The Action Soldier (Special Forces) is basic enough to serve as a great base for a general soldier action figure while having plenty of cool and unique details to make him a rather interesting figure. He's wearing camo pants and a tactical sweater, similar to most of the Original 13 in the Classified Series, but his vest and belt add a lot of bulk. He's also wearing green paint to camouflage his skin, so the face, neck, and hands are green. If Hit & Run hadn't just come out this guy would feel far more unique. He makes a nice complement to a squad with Hit & Run, though, so that's pretty cool. 






* Two portraits are included, though you can't tell the skin color of each soldier due to the face paint. The Legacy Collection figures have been quite diverse. This guy definitely seems like someone with lighter skin though he's sporting short, dark hair. He has a bit of a smile on his face and is decked out with green and brown camo to keep him well hidden from the enemy.







* The second portrait is definitely a different sculpt with shorter, curlier hair. He's also sporting skull-like face paint. Google Peruvian special forces and you'll definitely see some soldiers with face paint similar to this. It's pretty nicely done and looks like face paint rather than something printed perfectly. 



* Besides two portraits you also get a few different pieces of headgear. First up are some tactical shooting glasses with amber lenses. They fit quite nicely on the figure, though I think they look better on this head.









* Want this guy to also have a skull face? Throw this bandanna on and he also looks like a skeleton with curved teeth of some sort. You do need to stretch the bandanna a bit but it fits on and looks cool, giving you another option. 






* A plain black bandanna is included, too. To really get it to lay right on right you'll want to remove the Android tactical assault kit.





* How about a beret? This special forces beret works with either portrait and stays on the head nicely. 










* I prefer this helmet, though. It's a snug fit but it has optics, headphones with a microphone, a chinstrap, and a black and white American flag facing the right way. 








* There's quite a bit of good detail on the front of the Action Soldier and on his right bicep. Besides getting painted cuffs and pockets for his sweater, he also has a neat patch of crossed sabers and stars. The pouch on his right side is removable if you want to swap things around (or have more arm movement) and the emergency scissors are a nicely sculpted and painted detail. 








* On the left side there is another removable pouch, a sculpted radio with cord/ antenna, and a patch that says "Elite Forces" with a black and yellow color scheme. 










* The fold down Android tactical battle platform device is present here and has a sticker of a green topographical map. If you turn it gently, you can detach it, too. 




* This backpack is a removable pouch piece that fits easily on the harness and stays in place well. It's much sleeker than your average backpack. 








* There's not much new here to say about the Action Soldier's articulation. He feels tight and sturdy with all the joints you'd expect. The arm holes on his vest aren't too restrictive, so he can  mostly take advantage of the "butterfly" joints more than you'd expect, allowing for some great two handed shooting poses. With a little finagling you should be able to get all of the weapons into his hands in solid poses. 








* The pistol included here is the same sculpt as Leatherneck's, though this time it has a greenish tint to the plastic. It's a cool sculpt with the extended magazine and a reflex sight on top. 











* The belt is also shared with Leatherneck and it has an attached holster that holds the pistol securely. 











* A small knife is also included. There's quite a bit of detail on the blade, though no paint.








* The blade fits nicely into the little sheath on the Action Soldier's right ankle. The ankle sheath is on tight, so no worries about it slipping off. 







* Leatherneck's rifle is also reused here. It's a take on an M16/ M-203 though it's not an exact replica or anything. I think it works, though, and the harder plastic here makes the detail stand out. The barrel and grenade launcher can hold a firing effect and the magazine is removable. 

* Dusty's rifle is also included in a darker green color. It's a mixture between a FAMAS F1 and a bullpup MSBS Grot B, so it's kind of its own thing. All the cool details are present like the optics on top, the forward vertical grip, the movable bipod, and the removable magazine. A lot of people seem to dislike this weapon but I actually really like it and don't have much trouble with getting figures to hold it.







* I don't believe any other figures have come with this PSRL-1, the American-made version of the classic RPG-7, so I'm trying to think about which named character might include one in the future. It's a nice looking weapon that offers some firepower for the Action Soldier when things get crazy and he needs to take out a small vehicle. The sculpt is excellent and looks spot on. 









* The 40mm rocket propelled grenade is removable and can be stored separately. These weapons are reloadable, so they're not just one shot chumps. 






The Negatives:


* Most of these Legacy Collection figures have included a set of dog tags, similar to the classic 12 inch figures (and G.I. Joe: Sigma 6!). Unfortunately, mine tore as soon as I tried to put them on the figure. It's not a huge loss but it's still a bit frustrating. 






   People seem to be really down on this figure but I really like him. You get a great soldier clad in tactical gear with quite a few options for headgear. You can easily outfit this guy and then add a few extra pieces to some other figures, too. Seriously, if you were a kid playing with this guy, there are a lot of options. I didn't have too many 12 inch G.I. Joe figures as a kid but even when I was older I loved being able to swap up the gear and such that came from the various lines like Hasbro's G.I. Joe, Ultimate Soldier, Soldiers of the World, and other lines that offered cool stuff. This guy gets a Great and a 1/2 from me. You'd be hard pressed to find another figure in this scale and at this quality with as much gear. Maybe something from Valaverse? That's about it, though. There's a lot of play value here and a lot of customization potential. 


Looking for more of the Action Soldier? I've also reviewed the G.I. Joe: Classified Series Action Soldier (Infantry).

For more G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews check out the following:
Destro  
Flint  



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