Reviewing this year’s G.I. Joe release, 130th figure, (the G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander (Once A Man) SDCC 2024 Exclusive) I came across the same sort of lukewarm reception from adult fans as I saw when reviewing this year’s Holiday Barbie 2024. Adult collectors aren’t impressed with the quality (manufacturing precision) or the originality (uniqueness) of the Cobra Commander.
I’m
willing to bet that big-player toy makers like Mattel and G.I. Joe Hasbro probably know
something about little boys and little girls in 2024 that most parents and gift-givers
don’t!
As
for the age range, this year’s release is not recommended for boys/girls 3
years and under because the package contains small items that could be a
concern for safety reasons (choking hazard).
Here’s what’s in the box:
1
action figure and numerous accessories.
Click here if you’re in a hurry to get this action figure, just in case stocks run out.
What’s new in this year’s G.I Joe Exclusive release:
- A redefined iconic Cobra Commander that is a new take on the classic villain, inspired by his mutated appearance from G.I. Joe, the movie
- Features versatile display options: An alternate head, hands, and weapons, which will give players and collectors a customizable display and play experience.
- As a bonus, the manufacturer has included in the box a mutated form of the cobra commander, which is his snake form. This will add unique value to the collection for players and collectors alike.
- Many reviewers liked the quality of the packaging. The action figure is packaged in a deluxe box with “lenticular imagery” and a display window, perfect for showcasing the figure and its numerous accessories.
- The package offers a range of detailed weapons and interchangeable parts to enhance the figure's versatility and authenticity. Most reviewers agree on the premium deco and detailing of the action figure and the weapons. According to one, the painting and the detailing looked “really good for the price.”
Cobra Commander (Once A
Man) is the latest addition to the Classified Series line and he comes ready
for adventure – and to bring lots of joy to boys and girls in hours of unadulterated, fun pretend play.
These brave members of G.I.
Joe are trained and prepared to find Cobra in any environment, from hostile jungles,
to snow-covered mountains, to the Arctic or Antarctica!
The Cobra Commander comes
with multiple points of articulation, which makes him highly configurable for many
poses.
This action figure contains
9 character-inspired accessory pieces – 4 alternate hands, alternate helmeted
head, a gun (the gun can fit in the
hand), cracked faceplate, dagger, backpack, and weapon accessory. In
addition, as mentioned earlier, you have the degenerated and mutated primitive
snake form of the Cobra Commander.
What others have
said about this year’s G.I Joe action figure (Cobra Commander)
This dad got one for his son, who, amazingly is
three years (the manufacturer did seem not to recommend it for kids that young!):
“He really
likes that it comes with a gun, though he is not quite familiar with guns,” the
father wrote. “It's cool that the gun can fit in the hand.”
His
only complaint was that this G.I Joe seemed smaller than he remembers of the
traditional G.I Joes. Also, he was disappointed with the joints of the elbows
and knees not being articulate enough as he’d like (for bending them to create more
positions and poses).
Read
his full review here.
This
other reviewer has been a G.I Joe fan since 1980 – has even sold “a bunch of
Joes.” He’s, predictably, lukewarm in his review, saying the figures this year are
“generic.” He’s advice to super Joe fans is to pick a specific character
instead of the Cobra Commander; that is, characters like Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, and so on.
This
is a good tip if you’re buying G.I. Joe for the older kids who are already
super fans of the G.I Joe action figure.
A Good Word in for the Adult Collectors
According to Bobby
of Bee’s Battlegrounds, this G.I. Joe
Classified Series Cobra Commander (Once A Man) SDCC 2024 Exclusive, “It’s not a mainline offering that will hurt being missed, but fun
enough that anyone will want one for their collection.”
Bobby will skip the Cobra Commander though. But, for himself, he said he’d definitely grab the Nemesis Enforcer Immortal, one of the specific characters to add to the G.I Joe collection this year.
WARNING: These big
brand action figures tend to get sold out as we get close to Christmas.