If you pay attention to what I’ve reviewed here, it’s no surprise that G.I. Joe Classified is my favorite series right now. I guess I let myself get excited a little bit, with expectations a little high for the quantity shown, but was a little disappointed with the presentation, which is a bit weird because I loved everything they showed. Thinking back, they had almost as many shows as other brands, so maybe my issue was that Pulse Con was smaller overall.
While this isn’t really a reveal per se, I’m definitely excited about the action photos of the Pulse Con Exclusive Stardustuster. An idea for a photo/commercial shoot turned into a face-slapping fight over cereal, which was really fun. I’ve heard that a lot of people have had problems ordering this guy from the website, so I feel a little bad since I didn’t have any problems.
Leatherneck is one of the figures showcased on Joe’s side, he has a great, mostly classic feel to him and has a lot more to offer in the V1 figures. The removable cap and shooting glasses are a nice touch, and I really like having some detail padding on the dial. I find it interesting that his sleeves are rolled up to his biceps, whereas the original sleeves were 3/4. They’ve done the opposite a few times on this line, which usually makes my eyes twitch a little, but I prefer this Marine’s sleeve. I wonder what the technology is in the background of his box photo. Is this the Cobra Mothership from one of the opening episodes? My first thought was to go back to Joe’s night out The plot of the flying restaurant.
Does this guy look like Channing Tatum with a mustache to other people? Dial Tone has never been a standout character or character to me, so I’m surprised by how much I like this guy. I think they added some interesting details to his sci-fi package, which includes a foldable computer and a removable camera. I’m not sure if the military would use AR on a phone, but the fact that he has one that attaches to his belt and gun is a neat gaming feature. I also like adding a listening device as it increases his effectiveness within the team. I did find it a bit funny in one of the photos where they put a microphone over his eyes, but it also felt like something I would have done as a kid. imagination. Just use it every once in a while.
The SAW Viper won the award for most exciting reference in box art. In the comics, the SAW Viper actually killed Doc, so it’s pretty dark to see his helmet and glasses on the ground. In fact, my only real reference to the SAW Viper was a series of issues with ARAH, so I wanted to provide a less generic, more sinister portrait of this guy. I don’t think he’s really an army builder, but that might just be my thing, there seem to be a lot of options to change this guy if you will.
My favorite display on the show is Zandar, which may come as no surprise to anyone who’s read my Joe ramblings since I’m a member of the Dreadnoks. Zandar was a character of mine at the time, so while I miss the vibrancy of some of the colors, I do like the flashy designs like the ghost skull, tactical vest, and tattoos. The scar on his neck is evil and I love it because it hints at a story we never see. It also looks like they may have attached the shoulder pads to discs that slot into the shoulder sockets (think Black Series Stormtroopers), so he may be the first of his siblings to not have joints hampered by this design. They do mention that his tattoo is on his chest underneath the vest, so with a little customization you can remove it and use another shoulder holster for a more classic look. I can’t wait to pair him with Zarana, and I love that his card back, like other recent releases, features Dreadnok’s gas station lair. Hopefully when they get to Thrasher and Thunder Machine, it’ll explode out of the rolling garage door behind Zandar.
There is a message that only reveals the name, and that is “looking for large-scale equipment.” I’m not sure what this means, but I’ve seen a lot of speculation that this might have something to do with the paw tease we had at SDCC, since there was a polar bear chasing Snake Eyes in one of the episodes of the original series. I wish this was the name of a new sub-series, like Cobra Island, where they release some versions related to the MASS Device miniseries, like polar bears or Joes and Cobras in wetsuits.
Due to technical issues, they didn’t have the renders ready for the show to show, but later shared them. I have no affiliation with Heavy Duty, but I think what they’re doing here is appalling. His body looks like a nice update from the V1 figure, but they’ve taken the weapons to the next level, and the armored weapons have a futuristic sci-fi feel after 5 minutes. It’s almost like what Jack Rockwell did in “The Centurion.” This guy is already loaded with bears, I think the only thing I might want to add is some kind of web leg support so he can carry everything easier, although the shoulder mounts make it a little more ergonomic than the older version. I also really like how they incorporated the retro neon green in a pleasant way, and I like that they gave him ear protection since they placed the gatling gun next to his head.
I don’t think it’s a controversial point to say that the animal companions are a highlight of the series, and The Order seems to continue that tradition well. I do like the dog gestures and the good boy face, but I would be happy if we could also get a neutral portrait of the dog. I’m glad they added the baton loop to the waistband, the flashlight looks great in there. I want it to be removable, but I don’t want it to be removable because it’s not on the render. I’m not sure how I feel about dogs, so I’m looking forward to seeing them there.
One thing I do like about Pulse Con is the fun interactive activities they have with photographers, allowing fans to vote on lens settings. The final shot, pictured above, is impactful to say the least! It’s nice to see “Road Hog” get a feature since we don’t get the usual action shots with his presentation. I have to say, even as a Zandar Stein fan, I’m still a little sad that he brought L there and didn’t get more attention. Still, it’s a great shot. Overall, with the rendering and the post-addition of Dreadnoks, the display has improved a lot for me. I guess I was just really looking forward to seeing more content about Nemesis Enforcer, Retro Rock, and the rumored Legacy series characters, so I’m sad we didn’t get to see those. The benefit of this is that they will likely have a launch event at NYCC in October.
