Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Wrapping Up 2024: Iron Grenadier from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 


   As you are likely aware, Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series was on the list of My Top Ten Toylines of 2024. In fact, it has been since the line began in 2020. Today I'm checking out the last of the 2024 release I have lined up to review: The Iron Grenadier. The Iron Grenadiers came into the line in 1988, so during the time I was the most heavily interested in G.I. Joe as a young child (for me it was 1986 to 1990). I had the Iron Grenadiers Destro (which was my first Destro figure), the Iron Grenadier trooper, and the Nullifer with the Anti-Gravity Pod, so the Iron Grenadiers were a small but formidable force in my collection. Over time, the look of the Iron Grenaders has morphed into a decidedly more "fascist" looking group with ties and fancy coats. They first sported this look in toy form in the 2012 G.I. Joe Convention set: The Oktober Guard: Operation Bear trap where the IG's reused the coat wearing body from the G.I. Joe: Resolute Destro figure. It's a great look and nicely separates them from Cobra's legions. Ready to take a look at the main troops of Destro's private army? Then join me after the break...






The Facts:

Height: 6 1/2ths inches

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

Accessories: Machine gun, ammo box, rifle, magazine, vertical grip, helmet, shoulder strap, sword, sheath, pistol, and small laser rifle. 

Non-Scalper Price: $25 dollars





The Positives:


* The Iron Grenadier borrows his legs and boots from the Crimson Guard but everything else seems new. He's a very sharply dressed trooper, looking like he'd be as equally suitable for ceremonial duties and manning a guard post as working to destabilize a small nation. Black, red, and gold are the Iron Grenadiers colors and this guy is decked out in a very sleek double-breasted jacket with crimson trim, gold buttons and buckles, a red tie tack that looks like the gem Destro often wears. The coat is mostly a charcoal color and seems to have some built in armor in a few sections with a shinier black finish. He's an impressive looking figure.







* The Iron Grenadier has a removable helmet, so here's what he looks like without it. He still looks fairly well protected with a black balaclava like headpiece covered by goggles and a fairly large respirator. It definitely dehumanizes these guys, making them more intimidating with an almost robotic-like appearance. The respirator has some cool details like a little wire running across it (maybe a voice changer is in there, too?) and gold snaps to keep the mask attached to the rest of the gear.





* And here's the IG with the helmet. The deign is reminiscent of the World War 2 era German M35 helmets, though it's been given a crest or ornamentation of sort. That has a gold touch, kind of like a hood ornament. It fits well and really completes the look, though the Iron Grenadier seems functional and moderately protected without it, too.   







* I really like the ornamentation on the Iron Grenadier's suit. Destro seems like he'd be big on that sort of thing, after all, so this guy has lots of little emblems like that gold skull belt buckle and the crossed sabers "Iron Grenadiers" logo on his left shoulder. There are even little gold buttons on his lapels and epaulets.   










* The legs (again, reused from the Crimson Guard) work well here. The boots are shiny and look ready for a parade dress inspection while the pants have built-in-kneepads, yet still look dressy. 








* I don't have too much new to say here in regards to the articulation of the Iron Grenadier; he's part of the Classified Series, so you know it's going to be excellent. He has a great design and a nice range of motion. The only issue might be the tails of his coat, though they are pliable and split fairly high up, really keeping them from being too restrictive He's fun to pose in a variety of menacing ways, armed with his complement of weaponry.


* I've commented in my other reviews that the figures from this series (Alpine, Storm Shadow v2, and the Iron Grenadier B.A.T.) have mostly all reused accessories. It's interesting, and the newest set of figures have almost all new gear, so I'm not sure if there's any real meaning to it. The Iron Grenadier does come with the futuristic looking revolver that the original Classified Series Destro came with. It looks like a Nerf Barricade with elements of the Maverick revolver added in. 








* There's a holster on the back of the IG's belt, giving him easy access to the pistol.












* The Iron Grenader also comes with some weapons reused from Big Ben. First up is the double barreled rifle based on the Gilboa DBR Snake. This is an excellent weapon and seems like a modern enough rifle for Destro's troops to use. It's all black except for the forward grip, which is red.




* The double magazine is removable and the forward grip rotates down, allowing it to become a vertical grip. 










* Also included is the larger laser pistol like weapon (it looks like a Stormtrooper's E-11 blaster rifle) that's kind of an upgrade of the vintage Destro's laser pistol. The first series Destro came with this and we get it equipped to the IG's, now with a gold highlight. 





* There's a removable shoulder strap that kind of finalizes the Iron Grenadier look. It also has a holster built onto it to hold the laser pistol. 






* The vintage Iron Grenadier came with a very fancy sword, so we get one here as well. It's gold, just like the vintage accessory, though it's not permanently sheathed. The sword is reused from the Crimson Guard and thus it has some snake details on the handle. That doesn't quite seem like something Destro would want for his private army, does it? Well, maybe he designed these and just likes how they turned out. 




* The sword fits in the sheath and the sheath plugs into the right side of the IG's belt. 













* Last up is another weapon reused from Big Ben: The FN Minimi light machine gun (known in the US as the M249 and the UK as the L108A1). It's a nice looking weapon with lots of detail on the body and stock, a carrying handle, and the visible ammo belt coming out of the box magazine. There's also a functioning bipod that folds up and down. We've seen this reused a few times in the line now, though though now it gets red highlights.





* The box magazine is removable and the bipod can fold up. Very impressive!











    The Iron Grenadier is another very solid troop builder for the Classified Series. I really like the design and upgrades for this guy and the helmet and respirator and such? Just excellent looking. This is a pretty fearsome figure. The weapons are reused, yes, but they're plentiful, well selected, and given some nice color changes to fit with the figure. I'm not wild about the reuse of the Crimson Guard sword, but it's a minor complaint overall. this is an Epic figure and you're really getting a lot of value here. Even a figure like this that relies on a good deal of reuse still manages to feel pretty fresh and exciting, which is one of the things that put the G.I. Joe Classified on the list of My Top 10 Favorite Toylines of 2024. 



This is the first Iron Grenadier I've reviewed. For more G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews check out the following:





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6 comments:

  1. 555February 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM

    This cropped up on Hasbro's UK site only a few days ago and it's the first one I've considered for an army builder. Really looking forward to receiving them, hopefully Laird Destro will be following along.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbecue17February 22, 2025 at 10:56 AM

      Yeah, he has to be a shoe in for later this year. I'd love to see him decked out, really ornate and ceremonial. I don't think Hasbro would actually make his Despoiler, but who knows. Size wise, it wouldn't be that large of a vehicle.

      Delete
  2. GIJigsawFebruary 15, 2025 at 5:31 PM

    This guy was not on my radar. Will have to add him to the collection.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbecue17February 22, 2025 at 10:57 AM

      He's a very impressive figure. But I probably stay that about most Classified Series releases. To me, it's one of the most consistent lines out there.

      Delete
  3. John HoodFebruary 16, 2025 at 9:22 AM

    I’d stop collecting Action Force (G.I. Joe in the UK) before the advent of the Iron Grenadiers! If Destro is added in the future, I’ll certainly collect these.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbecue17February 22, 2025 at 10:58 AM

      I'd bet dollar to doughnuts that he's coming soon. I'm surprised that we got Metalhead, the Iron Grenadier trooper, and an IG B.A.T before him, though.

      Delete

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