G.I. Joe Classified Retro Cardback G.I. Joe Trooper Review

The Retro Cardback G.I. Joe Trooper—better known to longtime fans as the classic “Green Shirt”—has easily been one of my most anticipated troop builders of the year. Classified continues to breathe new life into vintage concepts, and this figure feels like a perfect celebration of that legacy while still offering plenty for modern collectors.

Accessories

The Trooper comes with a solid and familiar assortment of weapons and gear: a G.I. Joe Classified stand, a submachine gun, the classic XMLR laser rifle, a Retro Duke-style pistol, a knife, and a helmet with a clear visor. While much of this is reuse from earlier figures, the loadout works well and gives you flexibility whether you’re army-building or mixing accessories across your display.

Head Sculpts & Hands

The set includes two different head sculpts and matching neck pieces, and both look good—but the African American head sculpt is easily the standout. It has a unique look and is honestly one of my favorite Classified portraits of the entire year.

To support troop building, the figure also includes two sets of hands in matching light and dark skin tones. This kind of modularity adds a lot of value to a troop builder and makes it easier to create variety across a squad.

Figure Build, Reuse & Articulation

There is significant reuse here—including Stalker’s web gear, upper arms, and legs—but the updated torso and new head sculpts give it that fresh feel the line is so good at.

Articulation is excellent, with smooth movement at the neck, shoulders, butterfly joints, bicep swivel, and double-jointed pinless elbows. It poses naturally and feels sturdy, whether equipped with the classic laser rifle or the more modern submachine gun.

Customization & Comparisons

Troop builders thrive on customization potential, and this figure delivers. It fits visually with other classic Joes, and pairs well with the recently released Short-Fuze and Steeler. Mixing and matching the figures gives you all sorts of diverse squad possibilities.

However, head swaps across different Classified figures is frequently inconsistent due to varying neck peg sizes. Heating the heads and using stick tac helps, but this is an area I hope Hasbro tightens up, especially for collectors who enjoy kitbashing.

Final Thoughts

This is exactly the type of troop builder that keeps the Classified Series so exciting. Great sculpt, fun loadout, and  strong articulation.

I’d love to see Hasbro revisit this idea with a broader approach. A modern three-pack inspired by the old Toys R Us Infantry Division set would be incredible—updated weapons, more contemporary aesthetics, or maybe even a version that utilizes the Devil’s Due designs. The potential is huge.

All in all, this Retro Cardback G.I. Joe Trooper is a fantastic addition to the line and one I’ll absolutely be buying multiples of.