What a year it has been to be a G.I. Joe Fan. The amount of product via G.I. Joe Classified alone is nearly overwhelming. The year end 2023 all out assault by Hasbro on our wallets was felt by all. Roughly 57 Figures mostly released in Q3 and Q4 running up your credit card. It was hard for me to keep up with that pace when you threw in the Dragonfly and Xmas-Yule festivities.
We finally got our HasLab H.I.S.S. Tanks and it was well worth the wait. Something about watching my son open one on Xmas morning was extra special and unforgettable. It was a rough wait time but in the end the quality and presence of the HasLab H.I.S.S. Tanks inside the G.I. Joe Collection is a personal grail. I have been a main advocate of the 6″ G.I. Joe size class from before the start so getting this in my hands was a dream come true – manifest destiny moment.
The release of Buzzer and Ripper was also a highlight of the year for me. We can never have enough Dreadnoks and they were overdue. Looking into 2024 we can look forward to adding Torch, Zandar and Gnawgahyde with rumors of Road Pig and Heartwrencher. The Hasbro G.I. Joe team at some point last year said “Emily – The Dreadnok Thunder Machine was too small for a Haslab” so does this mean it’s set for retail at some point in the near future? How about a Cold Slither box set with Punk Rock Zartan? My personal wish is that they cut a mold for a similar Dreadnok Motorcycle to the Black Punisher bike from Marvel Legends. The Dreadnoks need a real Motorcycle of their own! And where is the Dreadnok Grape Soda Machine B.A.T. with Grape Soda can and Chocolate Donuts? Last but not least, where is Zartan’s Swamp Skier? Also noteworthy is Hasbro now has all the tools to release the Dreadnok Ground Assault pack.