Incoming! Adam aka @shark eyes_pix has secured his copy of the G.I. Joe Classified Series Retro B.A.T. (Battle Android Trooper) figure and has posted a review on his #youtube channel, @sharkeyestoyview.

Does the latest version of this fan-favorite troop builder hit the mark? Check out Adam’s review below to find out and read on for official product photography, images and final thoughts. –

G’day g’day your mate Sharky is back with another G.I. Joe Classified review and this time around it’s everyone’s favourite Battle Android Trooper with a retro twist. So get comfortable as I pour over how this B.A.T differs to the original Classified version.

G.I. Joe Classified Series Retro Cardback
B.A.T. (Battle Android Trooper)

SKU. G09625X00

G.I. Joe is a highly skilled, on-demand, special operations force of men and women from around the globe tasked with defending the world from Cobra, a ruthless criminal organization bent on total domination. Wherever there’s trouble, G.I. Joe is there.

New to the G.I. Joe Classified Series line, B.A.T. (Battle Android Trooper) comes ready for adventure, with multiple points of articulation for high poseability. This B.A.T. (Battle Android Trooper) figure contains 11 character-inspired accessory pieces including alternate battle-damaged head; removable battle-damaged and regular chest plate; backpack with storage for laser, torch and gripper arm attachments; flame jet and laser effects; weapon accessory; and figure stand. Battle Android Troopers (B.A.T.s) are the perfect soldiers: they never question orders, shirk duty, or surrender, and they are cheap and easy to replace. They also have an unfortunate tendency to burst into flame when hit from behind…

YO JOE! G.I. JOE EXPLODES INTO A LARGER-THAN-LIFE ERA WITH 6 INCH ACTION FIGURES: The G.I. Joe Classified Series evolves the retro toy figures fans know and love into a highly articulated 6-inch (150 mm) scale with premium deco and detailing
CLASSIC B.A.T. (BATTLE ANDROID TROOPER)-INSPIRED DESIGN: Features a classic deco and design of the Cobra cannon fodder that fans of the original 1980s G.I. Joe characters will love and 11 accessory pieces inspired by the character’s rich history
HIGHLY POSEABLE WITH PREMIUM DETAILING: G.I. Joe Classified Series B.A.T. (Battle Android Trooper) action figure set features exceptional detailing and articulation for cool poseability to create dazzling dioramas (some poses may require additional support)
CLASSIC-CARDBACK INSPIRED PACKAGING: This B.A.T. (Battle Android Trooper) comes on a blister pack card with design and character art inspired by the classic A Real American Hero figure line that is perfect for display
EXPAND YOUR COLLECTION: Look for other G.I. Joe figures and toys to build your roster of heroes and Cobra villains (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.)
TROOP-BUILD YOUR COBRA FORCES: Adding multiple B.A.T. figures to your collection and posing them with their accessories allows you to send hordes of Cobra villains up against your heroic G.I. Joe figures
A PERFECT PRESENT: This B.A.T. (Battle Android Trooper) figure makes a great gift for lifelong fans of G.I. Joe toys or for boys and girls who love action and adventure

That red face mask just pops, doesn’t it? I’m with Adam though, the original card art would have really set the bar high on this release, instead of it being just “another B.A.T.” That said, I’ve always been impressed with the B.A.T. — it’s a strong addition to any Cobra army.

It comes with a generous number of accessories (11 pieces): an alternate battle-damaged head, both a regular and a damaged chest plate, a backpack, gripper arm, laser, torch, flame-jet/laser effect pieces, a weapon, and a stand. These really let you customize your display or battle-diorama, making the figure versatile. The sculpt is really clean, with premium detailing that pays homage to the retro B.A.T. while making it feel more realistic and up-to-date. The updated deco is well done, capturing the mechanical menace vibe perfectly.

Since B.A.T.s are “cheap and easy to replace” (in the lore), this is a solid figure to pick up multiples of. You can build a small force without breaking the bank, and the extras (like the damaged chest plate) help to vary them.

Now, some things to consider (aka potential downsides):

Retro cardback figures (in general) can arrive with bent or warped cards, depending on how they are shipped. If you’re looking to keep it mint-in-package, this is something to watch out for.

As with other retro cardback Classified figures, the file cards are multilingual, which some collectors feel dilutes the nostalgic “single-language” feel of the original ARAH file cards.

As noted in Adam’s review, as well as others, while very poseable, some more extreme or creative poses may need extra support or a figure stand. (This is pretty common for articulated 6” figures.) The chest and accessory design are solid but not invincible.

With that, enough of my rambling. Will you be adding this retro release to your collection?

Many thanks as always go to Adam for the review!