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Hasbro- GI Joe Classified: Destro
This Classified line certainly has been the bane of some collectors lives and for the most part, I don’t blame anyone for being frustrated at the weak distribution, multiple key figures as exclusives and general hoarding/army building that comes with a modern action figure line. I mean, this could have been the worst roll out of any new toy line in recent history. Let review each figure through the numbering:
00- Hasbro Pulse Snake Eyes: Accurate weapons, storage and different paint job. *ONLINE EXCLUSIVE* I didn’t buy this as I thought the standard release was sufficient.
01- Roadblock: Standard release. Was able to pick up at retail and saw a few times on the shelf at multiple retailers and LCS.
02- Snake Eyes: Standard release with nerfed accessories, a knife sheath that doesn’t fit the knife and a different paint job. Was able to pick up at retail, however rarely seen on the shelves.
03- Destro: Standard release. I pre-ordered on Amazon but they cancelled. Later bought off aftermarket sellers at a premium. Saw it once or twice on Amazon and on shelves, but still not easily available.
04- Duke: Standard release. Was able to pick up at retail and saw a few times on the shelf at multiple retailers and LCS.
05- Scarlett: Standard release. Was able to pick up at retail and saw a few times on the shelf at multiple retailers and LCS.
06- Cobra Commander (Dark Blue): Standard release. Was able to pick up at retail and saw a few times on the shelf at multiple retailers and LCS. Cobra Commander (Regal Variant): Lighter color *ONLINE EXCLUSIVE* I didn’t buy this as I thought the standard release was sufficient.
07- Gung Ho: Standard release. Was able to pick up at retail and saw a few times on the shelf at multiple retailers and LCS.
08- Red Ninja: *ARMY BUILDER* Traded a Transformer RED figure for one and an Amazon pre-order actually came through on another. I have yet to see one at retail.
09- Snake Supreme Cobra Commander: New accessories, cloth cape, fancy packaging. *ONLINE EXCLUSIVE* I reverted to eBay for this one.
10- Beach Head: Only version of this figure so far. *Store Exclusive* Was VERY lucky and got one at TRU.
11- Roadblock: Repaint/Retool of 01. *Store Exclusive* Was lucky to get one, but saw him a number of times at TRU.
12- Cobra Trooper: Initial release of this figure. Follow up figure with less accessories has been announced and on pre-order. *Army Builder* *Store Exclusive* Was VERY lucky and got one at TRU.
13- Baroness: Only version of this figure so far. *Store Exclusive* Was VERY lucky and got one at TRU.
14- Storm Shadow Arctic: Only version of this figure so far. *Amazon Exclusive* I had this figure pre-ordered from hour one of the listing and it was cancelled. Reverted to eBay for this one.
15- Destro (Profit Director). *Store Exclusive*Able to get one from a 3rd party seller and from EB games when a pre-order came through. Still readily available.
21- Firefly: Only version of this figure so far. *Store Exclusive* Still not released in Canada, not wanting to take my chances I reverted to eBay.
22- Viper: Only version of this figure so far. *Army Builder* *Store Exclusive* Still not released in Canada, not wanting to take my chances I reverted to eBay.
23- Zartan: Standard release. Pre-Ordered
24- Cobra Infantry: *Army Builder* Updated with less accessories then 12. Pre-Ordered
25- Lady Jaye: Standard release.
26- Flint: Standard release.
So out of 23 individual releases: 10 are exclusives, 6 are exclusives for figures that have not received a regular release, 4 are army builders and only 4 have really hit saturation. Not exactly a great start to the line. Compare that to the new DC Multiverse line from McFarlane: A few easily accessible store exclusives that are now seeing wide release and one army builder. I recognize that these are two different toy lines and the demand might not be there in the same way, but that is entirely in Hasbro’s hands to meet that demand, which they are clearly not.
Pros: Was a bit interesting to see Destro so early on in the Classified run, but I’m not complaining. Overall, as with the other Classified figures, Destro is awesome and only slightly second to Snake Eyes as my favorite so far of the three. Great updated sculpt that still captures the original look, excellent articulation and some solid accessories including two hand guns, a thigh holster to hold one and a Cobra briefcase that can be opened to reveal a molded computer screen and bills.
Cons: Two minor issues: 1. The connection piece on the double jointed elbows is a bit gummy and 2. His chest skin tone is way too pink looking.