Monday, November 2, 2026

Action Figure Review: Alejandro Balam "Sundown" Lunda Mendoza from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 


   In November I often play catch-up and try to review groups of figures from the same lines in a row. I'm starting off with the G.I. Joe: Classified Series because it's both my favorite ongoing action figure line and I've got a ton of them sitting on my desk waiting to be reviewed. It's entirely possible I might be reviewing G.I. Joe figures all November, so maybe I should just go ahead and call this Joe-vember, huh? Yesterday I reviewed Airtight from this same series of figures that released this oast summer and today I'm checking out Sundown, full name "Alejandro Balam "Sundown" Lunda Mendoza. Sundown is a new character created for the Classified Series and he's an absolute masterpiece. Interestingly, he does reuse a codename (Sundown) from Hasbro's vintage C.O.P.S. & Crooks line, though that seems to be the only connection. I loved  Long Range in G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 as he had something of a Western/ cowboy aesthetic, too, but this guy is on a whole 'nother level of coolness. Sundown is a bounty hunter and tracker from Xalapa, Mexico who works with G.I. Joe and is currently tracking down his twin brother, Salvador Ramon, who has been taken by Headman and the Lords of the Underworld. Yes, Headman, the enemy of the vintage D.E.F. Drug Elimination Force faction of G.I. Joe. Incredible! This guy is just amazing and I could easily see him being the Joe of the year. Let's take a look at Sundown after the break...




The Facts:

Height: 6 1/2 inches

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

Accessories: Hair piece, hat, serape, 2 revolvers, wrist cuff, wrist guard, knife, and tomahawk. 

Non-Scalper Price: $28 dollars





The Positives:



* A Western themed bounty hunter with turquoise highlights? Sign me up! First off, the colors on Sundown really work for me: The rich brown leather looking holsters and a best with brown and turquoise paired with lighter brown pants and a grey shirt just feel like something worn by someone who is keeping a low profile but still doing so with style. Sundown travels light and seems to keep everything on him that he needs accessible and close at hand. No backpacks, here; just pouches, holsters, and weapons at the ready. 






* Sundown spent time in the Mexican Special Forces and is a highly trained specialist. Now, he's out on a mission that's personal and he looks like a hard guy with a driven personality. He's sporting a haircut that seems fashionable, though, so he's at least taking care of himself. He's also sporting a really nice beard. It's tough to tell here but there's also a scar running down his right eye. It's an excellent portrait and it really shows how well done the portraits can be in this line. 





* Check out the tattoo on Sundown's neck: It's the eagle with a snake that's on the Mexican flag, a reference to the Aztec legend about the founding of Tenochtitlan (modern day Mexico City). It's a nice print and is split across Sundown's neck and his torso. 









* Sundown's hair is a removable piece and you can swap it out with a cowboy hat. It's quite stylish and looks great with the rest of his outfit. 







* His vest and his belt are amazing and filled with detail. The turquoise spots on his vest bear the G.I. Joe stars and stripes logo along with some plates that look like they have calavera inspired skulls on them. The belts for his revolvers have multiple rounds of ammunition, a gold belt buckle that looks like it bears the image of an Aztec dog, and a blue logo that features a design with a skull in the center. The vest and belts are separate pieces, though they are not removable, and they're loaded with sculpted detail that feels very unique Sundown. 




* Sundown has another tattoo on his left bicep: It's a black panther and it looks really cool. He's also wearing a watch that's set for 12:00 (high noon, perhaps?) on 5/5/2026. Hey, that means it's Monkey D. Luffy's birthday! It's also Cinco de Mayo, of course.







* On his right forearm is a two piece removable armguard with some shells in there (they look to me more like shotgun shells, though he doesn't come with one) and a GPS or tracking device built in. 











* From the back you can see more detail on the belts and the plentiful straps of the MOLLE system pack. 















* Besides just sporting super cool cowboy boots with steel toes and spurs, Sundown also has some armored plates for his knees and shins. When he gets into a kicking contest with Headman and the Headhunters, this kind of protection ensures that he comes out on top. 






* A turquoise serape is also included. It's a molded plastic pieces and it fits pretty well over Sundown's head, resting on his shoulders. 






* Check out the print on the back! It's incredible with a gorgeous print that I've seen referred to as being inspired by Mayan art. Is this correct? If you look closely, you can see places where the serape looks to have been sewed back after receiving cuts and tears. 












* This is a G.I. Joe: Classified Series figure, so you know the articulation will be spectacular. He's sturdy, poseable, and looks great in so many poses. Sundown can easily use all of his included weapons and he's a ton of fun to pose. Someone wielding dual revolvers ought to look good holding them and that's definitely the case here. 









* What does Sundown come with? Let's start with two Colt Single Action Army revolvers. They're black with wooden handle grips and they look amazing. These are very eye-catching. 






* Each Colt SAA fits snugly into the holster on either hip, placing them within easy reach for a showdown. 








* For close quarters fights, a kukri inspired knife is included. It has a darker blade along with a wooden handle. I don't recognize it, so it seems like a new sculpt to me. 









* It slides right into this sheath on Sundown's vest, making it easy to pull out quickly when it's needed. 






* Last up is a tomahawk. It's an impressive melee weapon and probably the last thing that many of Headman's cartel enforcers see. 






* There's a loop on the back of Sundown's belt, allowing this to be easily carried. If you have his serape on, it's also somewhat hidden. 








   Alejandro Balam "Sundown" Lunda Mendoza is definitely one of my favorite Classified Series figures to date and he'd definitely in the running as one of my favorites of the year. He's a cool character who fits in well, has a pretty solid story attached to him, and who stands out as a character type we haven't really had before in the line. Long Range from Sigma 6 had elements of a cowboy bounty hunter, and Wild Bill has some cowboy elements, but none like Sundown. I think he's a flawless figure and a standout in 2026. He's Epic and a huge win in this line. 




This is the first figure of Alejandro Balam "Sundown" Lunda Mendoza. For more G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews check out the following:
Destro  
Flint  




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