Release Date: December 2020
RRP: $19.99
I consider myself a casual G.I. Joe fan at best, so when Hasbro announced the G.I. Joe Classified Series line at the beginning it was always going to be a case of mainly picking up choice favourites (i.e. the core Cobra roster). But whatever happened, there was always going to be one figure that I picked up no matter what. Cobra Commander is one of the most iconic 80s cartoon villains out there, and with the high quality and impressive redesigns Hasbro showed off with the initial wave it was sure to be something special. But then Hasbro went the extra mile and didn't just announce a standard G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander, but also a Regal Variant with lighter blue colouring and gold highlights. There was a little confusion about how it was being released at first (initially being linked to online store NTWRK before they pulled it at the last minute), but it was eventually revealed to be a Hasbro Pulse exclusive.
Despite being an exclusive, the Cobra Commander Regal Variant comes in exactly the same packaging as the standard version of the figure. The strangest thing about this is that it's actually weirder for the standard version rather than this one, since all the artwork actually matches the Regal Variant's colour scheme. Either way it's a hell of a box though, with the G.I. Joe Classified Series really leading the way when it comes to Hasbro collector line packaging. The front of the box features a nice big window to gaze in at the figure inside, with the Classified Series logo across the bottom and some gorgeous Cobra Commander artwork. A closeup version of this art is then repeated on one of the spines, with the other spine featuring some little images that explain Cobra Commander's skillset. Images like the ammunition and brain power are obvious choices, but the puppeteer icon is a fantastic touch. This spine also designates Cobra Commander as the sixth release in the Classified Series. The back of the box is then an extensive art piece of the core G.I. Joe cast that's on all the mainline releases, but doesn't stop being any less impressive no matter how many times you see it. Inside the figure and accessories are stored on the usual moulded plastic tray.
As previously mentioned, the Regal Variant of Cobra Commander swaps out the dark blue and black colour scheme of the retail version and replaces it with a more classic-inspired lighter blues and gold trim. More importantly though it's the iconic silver mask version of Cobra Commander, rather than the hooded version (which will surely get its own figure somewhere down the line). It's the perfect update to Cobra Commander's classic look, and at the six inch scale Hasbro managed to get some really cool detail into the costume as well. All of the dark blue areas of the costume have a textured, snake-skin like feel to them, and the outfit is also covered in raised Cobra emblems - all of which are painted red. On the handful of Classified figures I own only a couple of these logos tend to be painted, but as far as I can see every single one on Cobra Commander is. Around Cobra Commander's waist and running up over his shoulder is a gorgeous snake sash, connected to soft plastic shoulder cape. It's a shame that my copy of the figure has a few paint blemishes on the shoulder that are hard to ignore, but I'm willing to let it slide just because everything else on this release is so damn sharp. Even though the mask doesn't have the mirror-like reflective finish that it should have, the silver paint they have used is a pretty good approximation. Cobra Commander is clearly a man of extravagance (just look at all the capes and sceptres he's had over the years), so even if you think the dark blue suits the figure better you can't deny that the gold is totally his style.
- Ball jointed head, lower neck and waist
- Hinged upper neck and ab crunch
- Swivel hinge shoulders, wrists and ankles
- Butterfly joint shoulders/pecs
- “Drop down” ball jointed hips
- Double hinge elbows and knees
- Bicep, thigh and boot swivels
That's pretty much the standard across the whole of the Classified Series, but just how much you can get out of it tends to depend on the character in question's costume. Since Cobra Commander has that winding snake sash running around his torso and waist, that immediately affects both the ab crunch and waist joint. You can still use them, but both joints are a little stiff right off the bat. You've also got those coattails and over-shoulder cape, which sadly makes sitting poses pretty difficult without attempting to remove some of the pieces. Not something I'd particularly want to do, but I totally understand the appeal of wanting Cobra Commander barking his orders from a throne. Ordinarily those coattails would probably get in the way of posing too, but thanks to Hasbro implementing those wonderful drop-down hips into these figures that pelvis is free to thrust in the way of plenty of action poses. Said poses tend to lean more toward Cobra Commander standing around looking menacing rather than shooting at things, but it totally works.
Cobra Commander comes packaged with four swappable hands, a gun and a sword. Usually the hands are just obligatory accessories that don't really get much mention in reviews, but the selection they've given Cobra Commander is absolutely superb. You have your standard weapon holding right hand (kinda wish there was a left hand too so he could dual-wield but non-matching hands are quite common on Hasbro releases these days), and then there's also a closed left fist, clenching left hand and pointing right hand. So this means that your Cobra Commander can point at his subordinates menacingly, clench his hand whilst he orders them to crush his enemies and then shake his fist in the air as he curses the Joes' existence. If I had to choose between a Cobra Commander that could actively join his troops on the battlefield or make dramatic poses in the way only 80 villains can, the latter will always come out on top. As for the weapons, the gun is a weird cross between a pirate's flintlock pistol and futuristic blaster - which is pretty much the perfect aesthetic for Cobra Commander. The snake decor moulding on here looks fantastic, and looks especially good here in gold as opposed to the standard figure's silver - very in-keeping with the regal theming. The Snake-hilt sword is similarly piratey in that it looks a lot like a cutlass, but the red blade gives it a nice futuristic feel. Interestingly not only is the blade silver on the standard release, but it's also a lot longer. On the original only the snake head is gold, but here the gold stretches halfway up the weapon. When not in use, the sword slots neatly into the holster on Cobra Commander's left-hand side to ensure he's always armed. It might seem like a basic pile of accessories, but it just goes to show how much personality alternate hands can have when in the wrists of the right figure.
The difficulty of acquiring Hasbro exclusives outside the USA aside (massive thank you to In Demand Toys for stocking him), G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander (Regal Variant) is the Cobra Commander figure I've always dreamed of. While the standard release arguably fits in with the overall aesthetic and colours of the line a little better, the more cartoon-inspired colour scheme and outright gaudiness of the Regal Variant just suits Cobra Commander so much better. The costume is the perfect update yet doesn't stray too far from the classic look, and the articulation remains fantastic even if the coattails and cape limit the body somewhat. The Classified Series is just the gift that keeps on giving, and I can't wait to see what Hasbro come up with for it in 2021.
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