G.I. Joe is the codename for America’s daring, highly-trained special mission force…
Okay, maybe it isn’t now, but it was then. And yes, I remembered that without having to look it up. Because I’m sick in the head. And because YouTube.
GI Joe Classified: The Elephant in the Room
I’m a big fan of focusing on the positive, but I’d think of myself as a naive ignoramus if I didn’t bring up Classified’s launch.
GI Joe: Classified’s launch has been a mess. For example, I still don’t have any Target exclusive Cobra Troopers. And really, mine’s the only example that matters (heh heh). Truly, the main mess has been the miscommunication between Hasbro and Target about the Cobra Island exclusives. And it doesn’t help that the GI Joe social media pages aren’t addressing the Target exclusives. At all. But, I truly believe there’s hope!
Other lines, such as Marvel Legends, are making past exclusives more available through fan channels. For instance (as of this writing), you can get the Stepford Cuckoos, a former Walgreens exclusive, at Dorkside Toys.
So hey, here’s hoping Hasbro’s able to go that route with the Cobra Island exclusives and everyone gets their Roadblocks, Baronesses, Beach Heads, and insane Cobra Trooper armies they’ve been clamoring for.
And now on to cheerier stuff!
GI Joe: Classified – Character Updates
When rumors were flying about a new 6” GI Joe line, I had one criterion: I wanted to be able to recognize the characters from my childhood. They didn’t need to be faithful recreations because, as a designer, I’d be bored as hell if someone told me to simply upscale a nearly-40-year-old toy. Plus, GI Joe’s look has always evolved, even within the A Real American Hero line itself.
That said, I’ll buy the crap out of any ARAH looks they wanna throw our way.
But I digest. For my money, and using my own criterion, Hasbro nailed it! When I saw Snake Eyes, I knew it was Snake Eyes. When I saw Duke, I knew it was Duke. When I saw Destro…well, you get the idea.
As of this writing, every figure that’s been announced has looked like the character it represents, and I couldn’t be happier.
Unless maybe they came with live monkeys. But that’s a topic for another day.
GI Joe: Classified – Toy Photography
Now this is the fun part!
With all due respect to the teams that work on the Marvel Legends and Star Wars: The Black Series lines, GI Joe: Classified has become my favorite line to shoot. And I love Legends and Black Series, so this isn’t to besmirch those lines, but rather to express just how excellent I think Classified is.
I don’t think I’m typing this because the line’s new or because of nostalgia, but rather because the figures just move so darn well. Thanks to the ball-jointed waists, the drop-down hips, and the insanely-engineered necks, I can hit poses with every figure that I can’t hit with most of the other two lines’ figures. Plus, a lot of dio makers create realistic-looking sets, and all the current Classified figures fit perfectly in those.
The only part that’s tough, when it comes to photography, is the inconsistency with paint. I’d like to see all the weapons get the same love Duke’s weapons got, so there’s more of a consistent look when you put multiple characters in the same shot.
Other than that, when it comes to photos, this line blows me away.
YO JOE!!!
So hey, if you were wondering what I think of GI Joe: Classified, now you know. And knowing is half the battle!
C’mon, you know that had to be done.
Have fun, and happy snapping!
-Photo Dave
