G.I. Joe State of the Union Year in Review 2023 Past Present and Future

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.

On the G.I. Joe side Lowlight, Shipwreck and Rock N Roll are highlight figures for me. I am more of a Cobra Collector but the Grunt figure is an awesome G.I. Joe Green Shirt army builder especially with the extra Steel Brigade head. These are perfect background troops along with the 2-pack that was released and I’m excited to get Clutch for the same reason.

We all know that repaints are going to happen and there is no way to avoid them. I personally love the Tiger Force and Python Patrol exclusive sub line that Target has running. It’s not perfect but it’s much better than stupid neon comic colors and Tiger Force and Python Patrol have history within the brand. At some point in 2023 the Hasbro G.I. Joe Team said they wanted to add some command structure to the Cobra side. I really hope this is true because I loved what Super7 did with the Python Patrol Destro and Cobra Commander. I also hope we get a Baroness and Major Bludd to go with them. On the Joe side how about a Tiger Force Snake Eyes and Scarlett? If we are going to get repaints I hope they stick to this ongoing theme. With the announcement of the Cobra Ferret the Tiger Paw is all but to be expected at some point most likely the fall if the release pattern stays the same.

Is it time to talk about the 2024 G.I. Joe Classified HasLab hype train yet? I think so and the rumors are already thick with speculation that it will be a Cobra Rattler. By now the Hasbro G.I. Joe team has long figured out what the HasLab will be and its design is well underway. While the Rattler would be an amazing addition to the G.I. Joe Classified line up, I remember them saying it was too big for production at some point in late 2022-early 23. So if the Rattler does indeed turn out to be selected I hope it comes with an official wall mount. From past polls there is no doubt it is a fan favorite and I can easily see it hitting its funding goals. There are other options like the Snow Cat, Cobra Moray Hydrofoil and Mauler that I would also love to see get made as a HasLab but as of now the hot rumor is the Cobra Rattler and that’s spicy indeed.

Let’s talk about G.I. Joe Classified 2024! I am excited beyond belief for the Return of the Iron Grenadiers!!! It’s looking like the Cobra theme for 2024 will indeed be filled with Iron Grenadiers and another crazy rumor of Destro with his Despoiler as one of the main G.I. Joe Classified Exclusives for the year 2024. With a new main line troop builder Iron Grenadier that was recently announced, what version it will be? Are they going classic or POC? Either way this sub team is exciting and full of Cobra freaks. Bring on Darklon, Voltar, General Mayhem and the rest of the squad!

Hasbro told us it was coming and they crushed it. The return of Retro carded G.I. Joe Classified figures is on its way with thicker cards and what looks to be like a huge tooling budget (even if we cut the Scarlett mold partially by funding the Dragonfly and the peg warmer Glenda). Sorry I had to get that jab in there. The new launch of the Retro figures is NO LONGER exclusive to Walmart and looks to be much better in quality and paint.

Other rumors for 2024 include the Cobra Stinger and Driver, (Driver Spotted on Dio promo shoots for the VAMP in background) Flash, Retro Carded Cobra Commander and Python Patrol Cobra Commander, G.I. Joe MMS, New Storm Shadow and Muskrat. There are others but these seem to have teeth and are worth a mention.

If you think the G.I. Joe Classified pace in 2024 is going to slow down think again. I just got Charged for Mutt and Junkyard with delivery on Jan 3rd 2024. So stay on top of your pre orders and your budget. In a way I wish it would just be a little bit slower because at this pace it’s hard to Army Build and the figures are selling out sometimes at breakneck speed. We need a few more runs of select figures and sets. The H.I.S.S. Tank 788 Fire Team, the original Cobra Island Cobra Trooper (yes again) and Range Viper to name a few. One thing is clear, G.I. Joe fans are a dedicated bunch and we are supporting our brand at all price points. We have a new golden age of G.I. Joe currently and it’s been a fun ride. I hope we get to hold this level of excitement for a few more years. I am looking forward to G.I. Joe Classified March Madness 2024 to see how G.I. Joe fans rank what’s left and see who comes out on top. It’s going to be the most important G.I. Joe March Madness of all time. Anyway see below a list of everything that is Officially Confirmed for G.I. Joe Classified 2024 and I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year!

112 – Clutch with VAMP
113 – Mutt & Junkyard
114 – Big Boa
115 – Airborne
116 – Quick Kick
116 – Techno-Viper
118 – Metal Head Iron Grenadiers

Classified Retro Series
Duke – Retro
Scarlett – Retro
Recondo – Retro

Dragonfly (HasLab) Summer 2024
Wild Bill
Unlock #1 Night Force Ripcord
Unlock #2 Glenda
Unlock #3 Night Force Crazylegs

Classified Series Pipeline Reveals
Pipeline – Doc
Pipeline – Jinx
Pipeline – Dreadnok Torch
Pipeline – Night Creepers
Pipeline – Dreadnok Gnawgahyde with Boar
Pipeline – Retro Beachhead
Pipeline – Retro Snow Serpent
Pipeline – Retro Eel
Pipeline – Alpine
Pipeline – Iron Grenadiers
Pipeline – Raptor
Pipeline – Starduster
Pipeline – Nemesis Immortal
Pipeline – Dreadnok Zandar
Pipeline – Leatherneck

Vehicles
Pipeline – SMS and Techno Viper
Cobra Ferret – Driver

60th Anniversary of G.I. Joe
Deluxe Action Soldier
Deluxe Recon Diver