Thursday, November 5, 2026

Action Figure Review: Snake Eyes (Dawn Moreno) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Today I'm checking out a newer take on an old classic: Snake Eyes, AKA Dawn Moreno. OK, so yes, this is definitely not the Snake Eyes who you probably remember most fondly. Instead, this is Dawn Moreno, a former student at Springfield High School (the town founded by Cobra) who caught the attention of Cobra Commander and the Baroness because of her athleticism. The brainwave scanner was used on her and Moreno was accidently implanted with the stored memories of the deceased Snake Eyes (he was dead in the comics at the time), causing her to end up with the memories, training, and experience of the ninja and commando and eventually leading to her having a part on the G.I. Joe team. Dawn Moreno was created by Larry Hama in the continuation of his Marvel comics G.I. Joe run during the IDW era and she is still part of the story in the current Skybound era. I'm not terribly familiar with most of the Larry Hama run post the #180s or so but I'm hoping that we start getting some more collected editions of the IDW and Skybound eras. I'm familiar with the character, though, as her introduction was a pretty big deal in comics and Joe lore, and I'm glad that Hasbro continues to both create new characters and draw on post vintage characters for the Classified Series rather than just sticking to the same roster from the 1980s and early 1990s. Ready to check out Snake Eyes/ Dawn Moreno? Then join me after the break...



The Facts:

Height: 6 inches

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

Accessories: 2 Swappable heads, 2 swords, sheath backpack, pistol, suppressor, Uzi, and holster.  

Non-Scalper Price: $28 dollars





The Positives:

* Dawn Moreno is decked out in a black and red bodysuit that definitely is reminiscent of something Snake Eyes might wear, though her arms are exposed and she's sporting more red than Snake Eyes typically wears. Still, I think there's something here that feels true to the spirt of the character and this outfit is a nice amalgamation of her costumes from the ARAH comic series. She definitely codes more as "ninja" than "commando" here, carrying a rather light load of extraneous gear except for her weapons and pouch laden belt. If you're collecting the Ninja Force figures, I think you're going to be rather pleased with how she fits in with that subset. We've seen Snake Eyes wear elements of armor a few times over the years and Dawn is sporting armor on her forearms, knees, and shins, giving her some added protection for close quarters combat.  







* Dawn Moreno has two swappable portraits, the first being a regular unmasked portrait. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun and she looks ready to rock. The printing on her eyes is really detailed and sharp. There's even a scar over her right eye. That's a cool detail that I didn't notice at first. 







* The second portrait definitely deliverers a take on the classic Snake Eyes v2 look: Dawn is wearing a black helmet/ hood with an armored visor. Her visor is red, though, and her mouth is visible. She does have a chinstrap, though, which keeps everything securely in place. This looks really cool, especially with her long hair flowing out of the back. In some circles she is called Snake Eyes III as Sean Collins (AKA Kamakura & Throwdown) also took on Snake Eyes' identity after the character's death. 







* Here's a closer look at Dawn's lower body, allowing for a better glimpse at the padding in the side of her uniform, her belt, and the cool knee pads and shin guards over tabi boots with lots of little nubs, maybe letting them sort of function like turf shoes. She is a lacrosse player, after all.












* The articulation is excellent here and Snake Eyes the 3rd is a lot of fun to pose and mess around with. She looks dynamic and her weapons all are really fun pieces of equipment to pose her with. Dawn's a sturdy figure and looks like a formidable opponent for whichever unlucky Cobra troops wind up pitted against her. 










* Dawn Moreno comes with a decent complement of weapons that absolutely feel like stuff Snake Eyes would carry. First up is a pair of Katanas. 










* Both katanas can be stored safely in their sheaths which are attached together as one single piece. It fits into the backpack peg and stays on quite well. There's even an Arashikage symbol on the connection point. 












* Dawn comes toting the same Uzi submachine gun that the original Snake Eyes #00 release came packaged with. It's still a rather nice mold and fits her style well. 










* She also has the same Beretta 92FS as that original Classified Series figure. 








* The suppressor is also included and it can be placed on either the Uzi or the Beretta. 











* The holster on Dawn's hit is able to hold her pistol and the suppressor, keeping both close at hand. It kind of makes sense for her to reuse so many accessories from Snake Eyes as it does convey that she's using tools that Snake Eyes would be familiar with and have an attachment to. 






   Dawn Moreno/ Snake Eyes III could have potentially been an unpopular figure: She's not based on a vintage figure, she's based on relatively newer media, and she's a woman carrying on the code name of Snake Eyes (again, this isn't just someone deciding to go by Snake Eyes or a rebooted Snake Eyes; it's something else). You can imagine that there would be a little backlash from some collectors, right? Fortunately, Hasbro created a really cool action figure that successfully conveys the character in toy form and captures another of Larry Hama's creations. She's fun, she looks great, she has articulation, and her "Snake Eyes" accessory complement definitely creates a connection between the two characters and the action figures. I really like this figure and I'm feeling like she's pretty Epic. I'm always excited to see Hasbro weave together characters and concepts from the many years and interpretations of G.I. Joe into the Classified Series universe. Whether you keep her comic backstory, make her another disciple of Snake Eyes, or just have her as another Arashikage ninja or member of Ninja Force, there's plenty to like here. 


This is the first figure of Dawn Moreno that I've reviewed. If you're looking for more of Snake Eyes check out the following:

If you're a fan of Snake Eyes (and those who have also used his code name) check out my reviews of the G.I. Joe Sigma 6 Ninja Paratrooper Snake Eyes, Snake Eyes from the G.I. Joe Retaliation Tactical Ninja Team, and the G.I. Joe: Classified Series Snake Eyes, Snake Eyes deluxe, Snake Eyes & Timber: Alpha Commandos, Snake Eyes (retro), Desert Commando Snake Eyes, and the G.I. Joe Origins Snake Eyes. 

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





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