Toybox REVIEW: G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander (Retro)

Release Date: September 2024

RRP: $24.99/£24.99

As the G.I. Joe Classified Series continues to go from strength to strength, much like many of Hasbro's other collector lines it looks to the past as well as the future with a range of retro-carded figures meant to evoke nostalgia in longtime collectors. In some cases it's simply the packaging that reflects those vintage releases, but in the Joes' case the figures themselves are also based on how these characters originally appeared. The line has been releasing these at a steady rate for a few years now but it just goes to show how extensive G.I. Joe's cast is that there are still plenty of key characters yet to come. However for now, fans have been treated to the particularly special release of the G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander (Retro) - bringing back Cobra's iconic leader in his classic and arguably most familiar form.

Toybox REVIEW: G.I. Joe Classified Series Storm Shadow

Release Date: June 2022

RRP: $22.99/£21.99

While I'm admittedly not the biggest G.I. Joe fan out there, the bits of media from the franchise I've consumed I've always had a good time with and there's just something I love about the designs of the various Cobra members. The Joes themselves are great, but I'm a villain guy first and foremost and the ruthless terrorist organisation has some brilliant characters that are right up there with the very best of 80s bad guys. As such the G.I. Joe Classified Series line has given me the chance to finally pick up some of my favourites in six-inch form, and near the top of my list has always been Storm Shadow. This white-clad ninja and rival to Snake Eyes might not always be on Cobra's payroll, but he's pretty synonymous with them nevertheless. Despite being the one that best represents his most iconic look G.I. Joe Classified Series Storm Shadow is actually the third version of the character to be released in the line – following on from the "Arctic Mission" and Snake Eyes movie versions.

Toybox REVIEW: G.I. Joe Classified Series Baroness (Retro)

Release Date: July 2022

RRP: $24.99/£23.99

When the Classified Series was launched not even Hasbro probably imagined it would revive G.I. Joe the way it has, but it's clear collectors can't get enough of the "Real American Hero" rebooted in six-inch form. Now that the Classified Series sits comfortably with Hasbro's other tentpole collector lines, re-releases in retro packaging were inevitable. Among the first of these figures is the G.I. Joe Classified Series Baroness (Retro), reimagining the Cobra terrorist operative with a throwback colour scheme and classic card back packaging. While it might not have been all that long since Baroness first made her appearance in the Classified Series, given that was a store exclusive "Cobra Island" release with a chunky Cobra C.O.I.L. motorcycle there are probably a lot of buyers out there keen to pick her up in a more basic version.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers x GI Joe Megatron H.I.S.S. Tank & Baroness

Release Date: July 2022

RRP: $89.99/£89.99

Hasbro have been doing a lot of interesting Transformers Collaborative releases over the past few years – from the X-Men franchise to movies like Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park and even Top Gun. However there's one collaborative effort that they had never delved into properly before, which is strange given that it's one that's right at home for them. Given the overwhelming popularity of both franchises as well as the number of crossovers they've had in comics and other expanded media, the combination of GI Joe and Transformers should be obvious. While there have been various event exclusives and odd releases that have crossed over the two, for some reason a fully functioning GI Joe or Cobra Transformers figure has never been a reality – until now. At long last, these two titans of Hasbro toys meet in the Transformers x GI Joe Megatron H.I.S.S. Tank and Baroness set – combining a new spin on the Deception leader with Cobra's first lady of terrorism.

Toybox REVIEW: G.I. Joe Classified Series Zartan

Release Date: February 2021

RRP: $19.99/£19.99

The G.I. Joe Classified Series is a line I've only showed a passing interest in so far (and even then I'm only really interested in the Cobra characters), but the quality Hasbro have shown on these figures so far has been exception. If only the same could be said of the distribution, with many collectors in the US (the place the franchise has always been most prominent) often struggling to get a hold of them. Nevertheless the line has continued on relatively stronger, with mercenary and Cobra affiliate Zartan among its latest releases. Leader of the militarised biker gang the Dreadnoks and a master of disguise, Zartan is often found working alongside Cobra and is arguably one of its most prominent and well-known agents.

Toybox REVIEW: G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander (Regal Variant)

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.

Toybox REVIEW: G.I. Joe Classified Series "Special Missions: Cobra Island" Cobra Trooper

Release Date: August 2020

RRP: $19.99/£19.99

We’re only two waves into the new G.I. Joe Classified Series line and already Hasbro have extended it with a store-exclusive sub-range, which in hindsight hasn’t gone down all that well with collectors given the ever-increasing popularity (and as a result, scarcity) of these figures. The Special Missions: Cobra Island range is already confirmed to run across multiple assortments and is being released exclusively at Target in the US, whilst in the UK the first assortment came as standard releases (it’s looking unlikely we’ll receive the second). Whilst this range also includes popular characters like Roadblock and the Baroness, it also inexplicably features army builder characters such as the Cobra Trooper. Naturally a lot of collectors are going to want to fill up the ranks of their ruthless terrorist organisation with these figures, so making it a hard to find is exclusive is a little strange. 

Toybox REVIEW: G.I. Joe Classified Series Destro

Release Date: April 2020

RRP: $19.99/£19.99

Hasbro’s continuing expansion of its six-inch figure lines continues with the return of one of its most iconic properties - G.I. Joe! Whilst as a British person who grew up in the 90s I may not have experienced the popularity of the franchise in the same way America or other parts of the world did, its reputation and legacy shouldn’t be understated. But then neither should the fact that G.I. Joe has definitely fallen on hard times in recent years, likely due to the middling response to the two live-action movies. Now in 2020 Hasbro are ready to try once more on both the classic 3.75 and 6” fronts - the latter debuting in the new G.I. Joe Classified Series line. Among its first wave are operatives from both the heroic Joes and the terrorist organisation Cobra, including the Scottish arms dealer James McCullen Destro XXIV, better known as simply Destro. Through M.A.R.S. (Military Armament Research Syndicate), Destro maintains a steady alliance with Cobra in order to reap the profits of war - however he’s also not adverse to turning against them if it’s better for business.