GIJoe Classified Retro Cardback Stalker - What should have been

[@lareh5501]

11:00 i would've liked for the retro sgt stalker to have a younger looking headsculpt, instead of having another *_Old Man Lonzo._* I like that you pointed out the difference in hairstyles (after 6:11), which I wasn't aware of.

[@Blitz0065]

Completely agree with you on this. The accessories you added made a perfect RETRO loadout. Everything is already tooled, just make the move and put them together. Laser rifle, smg, jump pack, dynamite. They just reissued the exact same figure that's on clearance with different colors. Wild. And dammit, can ALL retro Joes please come with "Yo Joe" fists!!!! Your version would have been way more representative of a retro release.

[@hussles]

More versions of stalker would be greatly appreciated someone tell hasbro there’s enough versions of snake eyes!

[@starwarsfan7740]

Well said 100%

[@MaximumWarp2099]

I really wish they had made a younger head sculpt for this one.

[@davidr8389]

Great review and great point about the accessories. Seeing him come with the jet pack, dynamite and pistol (or classic cartoon rifle) would have made me get the figure. I’m passing on this retro version until it goes on sale/clearance. I got 3 classified stalkers already (2 from Ollie’s). If I don’t get it on clearance, I wont feel like I’m missing out on anything.

[@beesbattlegrounds]

Yeah he was an easy figure to get. Definitely could have used an upgrade/change of accessories

[@franzturdinand6706]

I want the version with the kayak.

[@willieikerd]

I picked mines up. I do that the first classified one. Nothing beats the line green attire. Plus Stalker was always one of my favorite Joes.

[@kevinyoung9557]

Good review. Spot on with jetpack,dynamite, etc etc .

[@uniballoutlaw]

yeah someone saw the SilencerCo Osprey and RAN with it

[@williamstone1536]

Awesome review as always! Totally agree too. Retro Scarlett and Duke left the impression that this line was evolving to a really cool place with new sculpts and true retro kit and gear, but these last two waves have shown that it's mainly a repaint line with the odd bit of new tooling here and there. I wish the greens on this figure were a bit darker, but there it is; still looking forward to getting it and tweaking it a bit.

[@richardburns1698]

"He's over your shit face" is the perfect description of the head sculpt. 😂

[@Taikuken]

You made a great point about the extra items that they could have added. I think that would have made him a deluxe set for sure.

[@Nekro_216]

Awesome review Brotha. Unfortunately with this line, there’s a lot of people working on it that have no knowledge of GIJoe. If they’d do a little research the line would/could definitely go far/further. Nowadays figures seem rushed and you said it best, “piss poor planning”. If only the line could get some folks that know the source material & the nostalgia within GIJoe.

[@Ultramentsh]

I have a few of the original version. (They're usually on sale)I used them to kit-bash. I actually prefer it's darker more realistic tone to the retro. Way more realistic. Much easier to incorporate with my action force figures as well

[@jonathanhampshire6856]

Wow they swung from washed out colour pallete to neon green for this one. He looks as if he's going clubbing. The accessories you suggested would be great with this.

[@Shark_Eyes]

Stop making so much sense dammit, Bobby. 😂 Those three accessories you added gave him a look fans of the cartoon would have eaten up, but alas, here we are.

[@beesbattlegrounds]

😂😂😂

[@cmoney7363]

I passed on this one, but I'll try to find him at a discount. I think you're right on for the retro look..

[@TheHairyGorilla]

I see retro as their way to fix characters lol. Expecting a proper color and NightForce Falcon head on "retro" falcon.

[@PaulGallianoChannel]

Nice retro accessory suggestions 👍

[@lavoncrump7705]

I love your idea of the jet pack and the dynamite!

[@HFord-zx8bq]

Great loadout (Bee's Battlegrounds version). I personally would have accepted the loss of the the legs holster accessories for the Jet pack, TNT, and the officer pistol.

[@prophet924]

You are right it’s a budgeting issue. We see mix and match from existing catalog. They see four to five tooling sets that are used in production. I’m not sure if in production the entire tooled metal has to be injected or used for the mold to work. So that would be doubling or more the cost to sample an item here or there for the making of the one figure. The jet packs have only come with two figures. I have a feeling the reason we get that dumb ole double barreled rifle from Big Ben each time they use Big Ben’s mold is they come together. Why not the Joe laser or M-16? Those exist on another mold or two. It is about cost. May have something to do with how toys are made too.

[@falcon048]

They got us by the jewels with nostalgia. Retros are a way for them to cash in with mold reuse. But, in a way, I don't mind. I like having two versions of the same character. It gives me the opportunity to kitbash the version I want or the one I want to display. In the beginning, I was altering them heavily with GridIron stuff or Valaverse stuff...and then I decided I wanted pure retro as possible. I bought two Stalkers originally. The 2nd one is my gold-helmet Steel Core officer. When I get this retro version, I will swap berets and retire the OG classified version.

[@patrickedwards166]

Great review, like your suggestion for the accessories. I skip this one because accessories were the same as original release. I also skipped the snow serpent because of the accessories packed with it.

[@jigsawnora3207]

Good one Bees! Now I might have to get the jetpack from ebay for the sake of making this guy super retro because I was on the fence about this one. I do like the classified stalker olive green color better! Nice point and nice review on this one🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@johnlogan9427]

They nailed the first version of Stalker. I like this version since it is the same colors of the vintage figure, except the beret. However, I'm not paying $25 for this new retro version, when I could get the first one for half that on Amazon. I agree, it should have come with the Sunbow style accessories. I'm sure the completionists will want these, as well as the guys that like the cardbacks, but it seems like a boneheaded move to me. Especially when there are other figures, like Flint, that desperately need the retro treatment.

[@Blitz0065]

Meant to add, the beret he comes with here is the one that is on the original 1982 card art (and this one), although the figure itself wore a plain green beret. (I only know because I learned it on KZbin lol)

[@George-de6hd]

I bought an extra classified stalker for $10 off Amazon and put that extra blast suit that comes with trip wire on him and it looks great and now I got a little bomb disposal team……I did have to remove his web gear for it to Fit

[@comicbookbin]

Even for non- cartoon fans, the jetpack would have made sense as Stalker used one way back in the GI Joe #1 comic by Larry Hama.

[@aaronscott5882]

A first-rate review of R Cb Stalker and his cool accessories!

[@decadentdave]

That headsculpt looks like Fresh Prince Stalker played by Will Smith. Love the OG colors. Glad I held off on the first release.

[@robohobo7106]

Skipped for pretty much all the reasons you stated. I really like the version of Stalker with the more subdued colors and details, and this seemed like just a brighter version with nothing new to offer. If he would've been kitted up like you suggested, would've ordered day one.

[@Taikuken]

Mostly all of my Stalker grabs have had that hip joint issue. Hopefully this new one doesn’t have that QC error.

[@eddyspurlock1299]

I wanted the classic colors and the glove less hands. And the solid green beret to match the darker green on the camo. Maybe the infantry stripe on the flash. Regular .45 without the extended mag and that stupid suppressor. They just went the cheap way. Should have gotten a new headsculpt as Duke, Scarlett, Snake Eyes got to make him look younger

[@SoulBrother_01]

Cool review. Eye passed on retro cardback Stalker because the classified version looks close enough to the ARAH version for me.

[@Darthburkie]

Every retro figure should come with the sunbow laser rifle. Great call on the jetpack, pistol and dynamite. I’m going to get it bc I love classified. I agree with you that the first figure is really nice, I cleaned out my Ollie’s when they had him for $5. I parted some stuff out and paid for the figures. I’m torn on the retros, I’ll like some of the modernization with the exception of the nerf guns but also like the bigger version of what I had as a kid. Hasbro needs to get away from the constant repaint and reuse of parts or at least maybe mix up the parts they have like what could have been w/Stalker. And stop with the floppy guns!

[@beesbattlegrounds]

Yeah, I wish they'd either commit to one side or the other when it comes to design, either give me modern (which I want) or give me the old outdated designs

[@JCC1004]

They shook my confidence with this main line retro run with the snow serpent. Not giving him the original accessories just showed this is a budget subline. Yeah you got some real great ones in there but I think it was more a case of the new sculpting debuted in the retro line. Not was made for the retro line. Unless they change things the retro figures are going to be more of a take it or leave it note for classified

[@drewkremer2609]

The complaints that you have for Stalker are all based on the fact you enjoyed the cartoon appearance. This figure is based on the vintage action figure. If you put the two side-by-side (vintage figure and this retro Classified figure) Hasbro did a pretty good job. The only difference being that the beret on the vintage figure is entirely the darker green color. I wish Hasbro would have done that. As for the cartoon appearance of Stalker, that you have the 25th anniversary figure for, I think it would be cool if Hasbro made a two pack of Stalker and Snake Eyes based on their cartoon appearances and gave Stalker the Jetpack as you suggested. One other small note: the pistol that you put with Stalker when you did the cartoon build out is actually a real-life mauser pistol, that was used to make Han Solo’s blaster in Star Wars.

[@beesbattlegrounds]

The officer pistol is the closest I could find to the one from the opening of the show

[@TheWickedOne5150]

Where are you picking these up from? I’m still showing Oct. 1st for my coco and Stalker.

[@diggdirkler9445]

Which do you like less the AF maxim or the handgun with Stalker?

[@beesbattlegrounds]

Oh definitely the maxim 😂

[@allenwhiteside7838]

Thats the load out I got on mine since they all been used already so many times on other figures

[@eddyspurlock1299]

Where'd you get him already? He doesn't release until October?

[@beesbattlegrounds]

Canada!

[@GRAYMATTER_235]

I almost collect no Joe character’s. All I’m getting is a list I made of must have joes and everything else is Cobra figures only. Focusing my collection on Cobra vipers, troopers and named main characters.

[@MikeH7186]

What's the dynamite from?

[@beesbattlegrounds]

Cobra Island Firefly

[@MikeH7186]

@@beesbattlegrounds Thanks! Of all the things that never got re-used, wish they'd include that one again.

[@tblade5678]

I agree 💯 Bobby so I passed on this entire wave.

[@Apunkwithtoys]

How dare you criticize what Hasbro did or gave you, I was told you are 1 of the 2 top Hasbro ball gobblers on KZbin.

[@beesbattlegrounds]

@Apunkwithtoys yeah apparently I have been a gobbler for years? This is news to me. Where is my free stuff? Do I need to push other companies items off shelves first???

[@dmaa88]

The lmg is a KAC LAMG.

[@The_Rage_Kage]

I assume the kit Stalker comes with is all part of the same mold so they have to make everything together, which is really annoying because your suggestions would have been waaaaaay better for this figure. Personally I don't care too much for the Retro stuff outside a of a few characters, mostly because they are just upgrades to past figures, but I do think the Retro Line should be more of a secondary or alternate line so that they can modernize the characters in the standard Classified line. Give us a more modern take on the characters while still maintaining their overall design and look, and then make the retro line 100% classic version of the characters. It's not like this line isn't making enough money to warrant the cost on tooling to reuse the same half dozen bodies they would need in order to do that.

[@beesbattlegrounds]

Yeah I think the stuff all being part of the same "mold" is why we get certain things together, which make sense from a cost stand point but ends up being "meh" when I'm paying for old boring stuff

[@LandofMert76]

I think they need to push the modernization of the normal release, so a retro makes sense. Don't make the standard release the retro version. Looking at you quick kick

[@therealunclassified]

2 25ths were yellow. But ine was csrtoon. The other was a mess up and was worth lots of money.

[@beesbattlegrounds]

Interesting! Thanks for the info!

[@TheWickedOne5150]

Hate to say it GI Joe team is getting lazy. They didn’t even do a proper presentation for the Has Lab. Just used what KZbinrs filmed at the comic con and called it good.

[@Lazy......]

How can you get this figure so early? It’s not released yet, is it sponsored by Hasbro? 😅

[@cookingwitherik101]

I agree, they should've given him what you said. The Retro line doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I don't agree with what Bobby Vala said about you though.

[@beesbattlegrounds]

Yeah, l apparently I hurt his feelings

[@RR_1138]

Painted his OG accessories Dark Grey, put it in a Cobra Infantry. Instant Upgraded Cobra Retro trooper 😂 in my POL 😛 meh

[@willchew4040]

Idk why they never ask actual fans what they would want included in the retro line? They should sell weapons packs , like back in the day. With extra jetpacks, guns, knives, helmets ...etc. Will they do it? ...no lol.

[@diggdirkler9445]

"E-4 Mafia" "'tactically'acquires" lmao thought I was watching a fat electrician video

[@beesbattlegrounds]

What about a fat electrician?

[@jasontodd9]

Stalker's LMG is based on the fictional FiNN LMG from Call of Duty Modern Warfare. The closest real-life weapon is probably the Knights Armament LAMG

[@beesbattlegrounds]

Thanks for the info!

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

I thought the M32 9mm SMG was a version of the HK MP5. MP5s were popular in 1980s 1990s mainly.

[@jasontodd9]

@@DavidLLambertmobile I was talking about the LMG, not the SMG

[@jeebus2313]

This guy definitely feels like the odd one out of this wave.