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.
* 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!
This is the first Iron Grenadier I've reviewed. For more G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews check out the following:
Blue Ninjas
Buzzer
Carl "Doc" Greer
Chip "Raptor" Talon & General Ledger
Chuckles
Clutch with VAMP (Multi-Purpose Attack Vehicle)
Buzzer
Carl "Doc" Greer
Chip "Raptor" Talon & General Ledger
Chuckles
Clutch with VAMP (Multi-Purpose Attack Vehicle)
Cobra Viper
Cobra Viper Officer & Vipers
Cobra Viper (Python Patrol)
Copperhead
Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger
Craig "Rock 'N Roll" McConnel
Crimson Guard
Crimson Strike Team
Crimson Viper
Croc Master & Fiona
David "Big Ben" Bennett (Night Force)
David "Crazylegs" Thomas (Night Force)
David L. "Bazooka" Katzenbogen
David L. "Bazooka" Katzenbogen (Tiger Force)
Desert Commando Snake Eyes
Cobra Viper Officer & Vipers
Cobra Viper (Python Patrol)
Copperhead
Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger
Craig "Rock 'N Roll" McConnel
Crimson Guard
Crimson Strike Team
Crimson Viper
Croc Master & Fiona
David "Big Ben" Bennett (Night Force)
David "Crazylegs" Thomas (Night Force)
David L. "Bazooka" Katzenbogen
David L. "Bazooka" Katzenbogen (Tiger Force)
Desert Commando Snake Eyes
Profit Director Destro
Python Crimson Guard
Python Patrol Officer
Quick Kick
Range Viper
Recondo (Tiger Force)
Python Crimson Guard
Python Patrol Officer
Quick Kick
Range Viper
Recondo (Tiger Force)
Storm Shadow
Storm Shadow (v2/ G.I. Joe)
Stuart "Outback" Selkirk
Stuart "Outback" Selkirk (Tiger Force)
Techno-Viper
Tele-Viper & Cobra Flight Pod (Trubble Bubble)
Tomax Paoli
Tripwire, Aspara, & M.A.C.L.E.O.D.
Tunnel Rat
Tunnel Rat (Night Force)
Vincent R. "Falcon" Falcone
Vincent R. "Falcon" Falcone & Quarrel (Night Force)
Vypra
Storm Shadow (v2/ G.I. Joe)
Stuart "Outback" Selkirk
Stuart "Outback" Selkirk (Tiger Force)
Techno-Viper
Tele-Viper & Cobra Flight Pod (Trubble Bubble)
Tomax Paoli
Tripwire, Aspara, & M.A.C.L.E.O.D.
Tunnel Rat
Tunnel Rat (Night Force)
Vincent R. "Falcon" Falcone
Vincent R. "Falcon" Falcone & Quarrel (Night Force)
Vypra
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.
ReplyDeleteYeah, 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.
DeleteThis guy was not on my radar. Will have to add him to the collection.
ReplyDeleteHe'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.
DeleteI’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.
ReplyDeleteI'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.
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