Action Figure Barbecue: Wrapping Up 2023: General Clayton "Hawk" Abernathy from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

While I released my Top 10 Toylines of 2023 list yesterday, I'm still making my way through a few 2023 releases that arrived near the end of year or that I've acquired since then. Today I'm looking at General Clayton "Hawk" Abernathy, better known as just Hawk or General Hawk. This version of the character was released in 1986 and was actually the second version of Hawk in the line (the first was in 1982, when he was just a Colonel). I'm still pretty confident that the vintage Hawk v2 was the first action figure I ever owned. I've speculated before that it could have been Peter Venkman or He-Man, but I'm really pretty sure it was General Hawk. I've been looking forward to this guy and it shouldn't surprise you that he's one of my favorite G.I. Joe: Classified Series figures to date. The 1986 version of Hawk feels like a pretty timeless figure, so Hasbro's Joe team didn't do much here but enhance details, offer up a great portrait, and load him down with some nice accessories, but it all works. Ready to give your G.I. Joe team the leader it deserves? Then join me after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 6 3/8th 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 barbell jointed head.

Accessories: 2 pistols, shoulder holster, helmet, 2 pair of goggles, shotgun, and grenade launcher.

Non-Scalper Price: $25 dollars

The Positives:

* Hawk's look is pretty timeless: Camouflage pants, a bomber jacket, and combat boots. It's such a fitting style for Hawk's character, a man who leads from the front and doesn't mind getting into the thick of battle. His jacket looks excellent with lots of paint applications for the brass zippers and snaps. The camo pattern on his pants is also quite well done, and of course he's got knee pads and cargo pockets.

* Hawk's headsculpt is fantastic. It's another hit for me, as it captures the vintage figure, but also adds some extra detail. I love the bit of grey in his hair. I've been getting some myself over the past couple years, so I can appreciate it. I feel like I can see a bit of Dennis Quaid in the sculpt, which is fitting as he played Hawk in the 2009 G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra film.

* While Hawk's jacket is made for being in the field he's still wearing a few badges and ribbons, as well as a nameplate with Abernathy on it.

* When he needs some eye protection Hawk can throw on some very cool goggles. I really like the look of these!

* He also has his classic helmet with his Brigadier General's star. The helmet definitely has some dents and such, so it's clearly not just for show. Like with Dusty, when you put his goggles on and turn them backwards, they help keep the helmet snugly in place. Whether you have Hawk's goggles on his face or turned around and hidden, the helmet stays on nicely. It also ensures you don't lose the extra goggles.

* There's a larger pair of goggles for putting on top of his helmet, too. These fit very well on the helmet and look pretty cool. It's a nice nod to the vintage toy's helmet.

* The articulation on the Classified Series figures is always pretty solid and General Hawk follows that trend. He moves well, can take a great variety of poses, and interacts nicely with all of his weapons. These are some very sturdy, durable figures that have some of the best articulation out there. He's a blast to mess around with, posing him with different weapons.

* Hawk's weapons are simple, powerful, and largely no frills affairs. Just basic stuff that gets the job done. First up is an M4 shotgun with a pistol grip and a hollow barrel for holding a firing effect. Just a rugged, basic tool for dropping Cobras. It's the same weapon that Cover Girl came with, which works perfectly fine for such a standard weapon.

* Hawk also comes with his own copy of Gung-Ho's XM-76 grenade launcher. It's an old school weapon but still modern enough that I could see someone in an irregular Special Forces group like the Joe team using it. It looks great and the sling fits easily over one of Hawk's shoulders, allowing him to tote it around.

* Hawk also comes with a copy of Gung-Ho's sidearm, a simple small caliber pistol with a detailed slide, an extended magazine, and a hollow barrel for using a weapon effect or attaching a suppressor.

* It slides perfectly into the removable shoulder holster, so it's ready when Gen. Hawk needs to bust a cap in a Cobra.

* Last up, Hawk comes with the same pistol that Cover Girl came with, as well. This is a very stylish automatic pistol with a compensator, a red dot sight, and a detailed pistol grip. It even looks like there's a floorplate added to the bottom of the magazine.

* Hawk has a cool holster on his right hip that the pistol slides right into. He's got a cool belt buckle there, too.

General Hawk is one of my favorite figures of 2023 and probably at the very top of the 2023 G.I. Joe: Classified Series offerings. He's not flashy or loaded with crazy weapons and gadgets and gear; he's just a good, solid, military figure. While his weapons are reused from other figures, they're all excellent selections, and the details on his jacket, helmet, and portrait are perfectly executed. From this point on for me, ever figure we get in the Classified Series is just gravy. Then again, my second ever figure from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was Sci-Fi, so I'm looking forward to him showing up in the line, too...

If you're looking for more of General Clayton "Hawk" Abernathy, I've also reviewed the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Hawk.

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

Agent Helix

Alley Viper

Alvin "Breaker" Kibbey
Arctic B.A.T.

Arctic Mission Storm Shadow

Baroness with Cobra C.O.I.L.
Baroness (Retro)

Baroness (Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins)

B.A.T.
B.A.T. (Python Patrol)

Blue Ninjas
Buzzer
Chuckles

Cobra Commander

Cobra Commander (Regal Variant)
Cobra Eel

Cobra Infantry
Cobra Officer

Cobra Trooper (Special Missions: Cobra Island)
Cobra Valkyries