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Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Action Figure Review: Baroness (Rattler Pilot) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 


   I think I've mentioned in another post or two, but I did pick up the Haslab Cobra Rattler. I didn't actually fund it through Hasbro Pulse, though. Last year I decided to hold off on the Rattler, thinking that maybe I could get a good deal when folks started getting it in hand and realized how large it actually was. I just held onto the money in one of my savings accounts. On the morning of July 4th, shortly after the Rattler started shipping, I found someone on Facebook Marketplace an hour or two away from me who was selling their Rattler for just a bit over cost. I jumped on it, took a little bit of a road (my daughter had friends over from the night before so while my wife stayed home with them I went on a G.I. Joe road trip with my parents. A G.I. Joe road trip with Mom and Dad and a little Geocaching on the side? That was a pretty memorable time and I was home in the late afternoon/ early evening for festivities with my wife and daughter. I also ended up getting my Rattler well over a month before so many others who actually ordered them through Pulse, which was kind of wild. 
   So... what does that have to do with the Baroness? Not much, really. It's just a memorable story of how I acquired last year's Haslab set. The Rattler is massive but I found an excellent, wife-approved spot to display it in the living room on top of our game shelf (I had to move a few other items to my hobby room to make space). It's so big and I'm just not going to be reviewing it at this time. The figures, though? I'm definitely reviewing them as they're some really fine G.I. Joe: Classified Series releases. While Wild Weasel is definitely a popular Cobra operative who most folks will want to complete their Cobra rosters, the Baroness is the clear winner from the set, I think. One: It's the Baroness. Two: It's hard to say if she's ever looked better as an action figure than she does here. We've had four other Baroness figures in the Classified Series so far (the first release with the C.O.I.L., the Retro Series release, the Snake Eyes movie/ Ursula Corbero figure, and the Crimson Strike Team version) and this one tops them all, I think. She's wearing some very cool aviator gear and has multiple display options. Are you in for a version of the Baroness who flies high? Then join me after the break...






The Facts:

Height: 6 1/8ths inches (with stiletto heels)

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

Accessories: Glasses, 3 hairpieces, vest, pouch, breathing tube, helmet, oxygen mask, headset, 2 pistols, rifle, and a magazine.

Non-Scalper Price: Included with the Cobra Rattler, patches, and two other figures once 18,000 units were backed. The Rattler plus bonuses originally was presold for $325.



The Positives:

* Let's start by just checking out the basic Baroness figure here without her flight vest and helmet. Yes, the included flight vest does come off quite easily (there are two tabs on the sides and you just have to pop her head off), leaving you with a cool Baroness in just a flight suit. It's dark blue, a color we haven't seen the Classified Series Baroness sporting yet, and it's much more detailed than you might think at first. She's sporting patches on her shoulders, a non-removable belt with harness traps straps and holsters, and her midriff looks like it's covered by an interestingly textured material. It's also visible at her collar, so it seems like it's probably more designed for comfort; perhaps a suit to help maintain heat when flying at high altitudes. 









* Here's the Baroness with her flight vest on. She's a really sharp looking figure and the vest definitely completes her look (though I like her sleek jumpsuit/ flight suit look, too). The life vest around her neck (uninflated, of course) also adds a nice splash of crimson color. Her survival vest has multiple pouches and snaps, including one pouch that is removable. The middle pouch actually pops off, allowing you to swap it for a copy of the pouch with an air hose connected. The pouch is tiny, so don't lose it! It stays on very securely, though, so you should be safe when moving the figure around.








* Hasbro has once again given us a new Baroness portrait and I think I'm pretty safe in saying that this is the best one yet. The face is definitely a bit stern with somewhat severe features, but she's still gorgeous in that somewhat intimidating sort of way you'd expect from a Cobra operative. The paintwork on the eyes and lips are just top notch, too. The printing technique Hasbro uses just makes these figures look perfect almost every time. There are also red earrings sculpted on, though you can't see them here.




* Three hairpieces are included and the one I've shown above and to the left is the most traditional. It's quite long (all the way down the Baroness' back) and is parted in the middle around her face. 












* Baroness' second hairpiece is kind of unique for her, but I like it; it looks like her hair is completely slicked back, maybe even wet. Like she just got through swimming or or something. No, that doesn't made a lot of sense for a flight suit, but I'm not sure how else to explain it. I guess it could be her hair after she's just removed her flight helmet, so she's all sweaty. 






* I think the third hairpiece is my favorite. It's shorter hairdo with her hair worn in a messy bun. It's quite different from what we usually see the Baroness wearing, but I love it. She makes me think of a few different ladies like Bayonetta, Famke Janssen, or Mrs. Gideon from the Mighty Boosh. 




* Hasbro sometimes excels at making glasses that fit 1/12th scale action figures perfectly and sometimes they fail, making glasses that just won't stay on. The Baroness' glasses are a hit. They're sized well, the lenses are actually transparent, and they stay on securely, fitting underneath her hair. She looks fantastic; definitely a figure that the camera fails to catch how impressive she really is. 






* I love this headset for the Baroness. It's a neat piece that can fit over her two smaller hairpieces to give her a different look and feel. We haven't seen a headset in the Classified Series like this yet, have we? I know a couple Valaverse Action Force figures have included them, but it's cool to see one here.




* A helmet with polarized lenses is another way to display the Baroness. Maybe she's going to be the gunner for the Rattler, or maybe she's going to pilot the thing. Either way, she needs some extra protection. Just pop off her hairpiece and the helmet fits like a charm. 









* The face mask plugs into both sides of the helmet, allowing you to completely cover the Baroness' face. The breathing tube is a separate piece that clips from the front of the oxygen mask to the spot where the pouch can be removed on her vest. It's a nice setup that really keeps everything neat and clean without a lot of extraneous cords that get caught up when you're posing her.












* The Baroness always has to fly with some knee--high leather boots with stiletto heels. They're gold on the bottom, too. You know. For fashion. The texture is great and they just complete her look.









* How's the articulation? Just fine, exactly what I'd expect from the Classified Series. The Baroness has double hinged elbows with bicep swivels, something that not all of the earlier Baroness figures had, so I think she has a better range of movement. With the vest on she's a little restricted, but nothing too detrimental to putting her in cool poses. 






* This is the first Classified Series Baroness to include a weapon truly inspired buy her vintage weapon, which was then called a "High-Density Laser Rifle." This is a pretty nice take on the vintage weapon, making it clearly look like a more modern weapon, though not a laser weapon. It looks realistic enough without being a true copy of any real world rifle. Nice sculpt, a scope on top, and a grip with a paint application make this stand out. She looks great holding it.




* The Baroness is definitely packing heat as she also comes toting two Glock-inspired pistols, both with extended magazines. They're mostly black with bronze slides. Very cool! I freaking love these things. They're just the right mixture of practical and showy for the Baroness.







* They also fit very securely in the holsters on her hips. The magazines just out quite a bit, but that's to be expected when you bump up the amount of ammo you're packing at once. 





* In do want to mention that the magazine on her rifle is removable. 




The Negatives:

* Unfortunately, it's also rather loose and falls out too easily. Be careful with this one!




   The Baroness is incredible. Seriously, she's another of my favorite G.I. Joe: Classified Series figures this year. I think I say that quite frequently, but she's definitely a top 10, and maybe even a top 5. There are so many ways to display her and she looks fine in every one of them. It's really a shame that she's not a mainline release because I could see folks buying more than one of these to display a couple different versions. This is my preferred look for her: Messy bun, glasses, flight vest, and that cool headset. She looks ready for action. Definitely an Epic figure and possibly the best part of the Rattler overall. The Baroness was the Haslab; the Rattler was just an accessory thrown in. 


If you're a fan of the Baroness Anastasia DeCobray, I've also reviewed the G.I.Joe Classified Series Baroness with Cobra C.O.I.L., retro Baroness, the Crimson Strike Team Baroness, and the Snake Eyes: Origins Baroness. 

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




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2 comments:

  1. Joe PantsSeptember 4, 2025 at 11:55 AM

    This has become a sticking point for me as far as any of these crowd funds go - I never really want and certainly don't have room for these huge vehicles and playsets, but I usually want the figures to go with them. Moaty but not Eternia, The sweet two headed Chimera mount but not the Snake Lair , etc. Wild Bill is one of my favorite GI Joes, but I didn't want the Dragonfly, and now it's been 2 years and they have yet to release any other version of Bill. It's annoying.

    ReplyDelete
  2. John HoodSeptember 4, 2025 at 5:42 PM

    The Baroness is one of my all-time favourite action figures! This variant looks great!

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