Action Figure Review: Snow Serpent from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Today it's time to jump back into the cold with a look at the Snow Serpent, the backbone of Cobra's cold weather operations crew. These guts aren't just your average grunts, though; the Snow Serpents are actually a division of the Cobra E.E.L.S., so they're kind of the best of the best of Cobra's legions. I still remember picking up the vintage figure at a K-Mart with my dad, so it had to have been some older stock as the only two 1985 figures I had were Barbecue and the Snow Serpent. The Snow Serpent has long been a popular figure and Hasbro has revisited the troops on multiple occasions. The Classified Series version also seems to be draw inspiration from the 1991 v2 figure, the 2002 Joe vs. Cobra figure, and the 2008 Snow Serpent from the Extreme Conditions: Arctic Assault Squad. This Classified Series version takes the legendary vintage figure, adds some of the best additions from the variants of the past few decades, and ends up as one impressive toy. Let's check the Snow Serpent out after the break...

Action Figure Review: Steel Corps Troopers from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   I've been enjoying lots of time with family and friends over the past week or so as well as playing Nintendo Switch, watching Universal monster movies, and doing some shopping (lots of action figures purchased), so I've been a bit slow in putting out reviews. I've got plenty more coming, though, and today the G.I. Joe: Classified Series marathon returns with a look at the Steel Brigade.... wait; this isn't the Steel Brigade? Nope. While Hasbro originally released the Steel Brigade as a mail-away figure in 1987 (mine was named Shark!) and continued releasing the the troops in different ways through 2014, in 2019 Valaverse picked up the trademark to the name Steel Brigade. So, no, this isn't the Steel Brigade. It's the Steel Corps, now! The Steel Corps Troopers set came out a couple months ago and includes two Steel Corps Troopers; one male and one female. That's a neat idea. These figures are loaded with accessories including alternate heads, multiple weapons and firing effects, and even JUMP jetpacks. Ready to check out the first true army builders for the Joe team in the Classified Series? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Robert "Grunt" Graves" from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Today I'm checking out Grunt, one of the original 13 G.I. Joe team members from the 1982 vintage toy line. This Classified Series version of Grunt (officially names Robert "Grunt" Graves) definitely borrows from the very basic looking vintage figure but still adds some fantastic update to make Grunt fit in with the Classified Series aesthetic. I never had Grunt as a kid as he was a 1982 and 1983 release and it wasn't until reading the comics later and collecting the 1991 Impel trading card that I really came to be familiar with the character. Personally, until this release I'm not sure there's been a great Grunt figure. Yeah, the original figure is classic, but he's also kind of dull. V3 was OK, though quite different from what you'd expect. The comic pack version was also cool, but too issue specific. The Retro release from a year or two ago looks nice but I've long moved on from smaller scale Joes except for my old favorites. This Classified Series Grunt is just awesome, though, plus his alternate helmeted head lets him serve as an army builder, too. I managed to get my Grunts (three of them) when Target was offering for a really low sale price. It was off, but it worked for me. Let's check out Grunt after the break...

Action Figure Review: Tunnel Rat from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   

   Lately Hasbro has absolutely been releasing some of my favorite vintage Joes into the Classified Series: Low-Light, Shockwave, Chuckles, General Hawk, and now Tunnel Rat. 1986-1988 were my prime G.I. Joe buying years as a kid and when I first got into the lines, so my childhood favorites tend to come from those years. Tunnel Rat was another top tier favorite for me. I loved his outfit and just his general vibe. His flashlight holding backpack and oversized weapon were favorites, too. Based on the likeness of Larry Hama, the vintage Tunnel Rat was an impressive figure and Hasbro has translated him into the Classified Series nicely. I've always liked Tunnel Rat and even cosplayed the Sigma 6 version of Tunnel Rat at HeroesCon one time (maybe HeroesCon 2013 or 2014?). Ready for a look at the G.I. Joe team's E.O.D. and Combat Engineer? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Low-Light from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   I looked at a few repaints last week but for this Thanksgiving week there are plenty of new characters two check out. Today is a look at one of my childhood favorites, Low-Light. I had this guy as a kid and have always loved his cool uniform, his red goggles, and his sniper rifle. Low-Light had some great figures over the years in the traditional 1/18th scaled line and he's been a figure I've been looking forward to in the Classified Series. Hasbro did an excellent job with him, drawing inspiration from the vintage figure and the 2011 Pursuit of Cobra figure. Ready to take a look at Low-Light? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Firefly from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Firefly is the first figure of my second week of G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews during this marathon of reviews and, man, is he another excellent figure. I'm just throwing that out there right from the get go: This guy is an absolute banger. I'm still a fan of the first release of Firefly that was a Target Cobra Island exclusive, too, but this guy manages to be surprisingly different. Really, both figures complement each other nicely. Firefly is a popular character and while Hasbro doesn't go crazy in releasing variants of the saboteur, they definitely put a lot of effort into them. ready to check out Firefly? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Range Viper from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   The November G.I. Joe Classified review series isn't a mini-marathon, is it? It's a full blown marathon! Hasbro has been releasing these guys like crazy during the last third of the year and I'm honestly wondering if the Classified Series reviews will last through the rest of the month! Today's review subject is the Range Viper, another Walmart exclusive figure paired with the G.I. Joe: Night Force releases. The Range Viper is another figure I didn't own as a kid though I do remember him being out there. I had the DTC version from 2005 and the 25th Anniversary Range Viper from the Defense of Cobra Island set, but I was a married adult when those ones came out. I've always been curious about the intent behind the Range Viper's design. Older file cards describe the Range Vipers as troops who are survival experts and are simply dropped into the field by Cobra with minimal supplies, as they are expected to survive off of the land and steal or scavenge for everything else they need. What's the deal with the skull-like helmet and the extreme backpack, though. Personally, always wondered if they were intended to be troopers for highlands or more mountainous regions (but not mountain climbers). They seem oddly dressed for long term survival and concealment. Their helmets being so intimidating makes me wonder if they utilize fear to frighten villagers and indigenous peoples in more remote areas to make taking supplies from them easier. However you use them, the Range Vipers are pretty intimidating and armed to the teeth. Ready to check out the Classified Series Range Viper? Then join me after the break...