GI Joe Classified Series Snake Eyes and Timber review

As much as I’m ver. 2 ninja look, Snake Eyes’ original commando look is my 1B favorite look for the GI Joe clad in black. Hasbro hasn’t been shy about cranking out the Joes’ most popular character in the Classified Series, but this is the first that also includes his faithful grey wolf companion, Timber.

The Alpha Commandos set marked an exciting one for Classified Series collectors as it opened up a new sku for this line. This was one of those sets that got lost in the wind as I recovered from my liver transplant. With some time to get back to some of the older sets to review I was stoked to finally open this one.

Let’s see if I’ll be howling mad or gleefully pointing out the full moon with this duo.

Package:  As we’ve seen with the bike packs, the standard Classified Series is just extended. Snake Eyes and Timber get the Joe blue accent color. Timber doesn’t make the front of the package artwork but gets featured prominently on the side. I think it’d be cool for Hasbro to include mini-posters featuring the package artwork.

And bios. Gotta have the bios. This is the first package to have a wider mini-poster size of the standard collage. It’s the most recent one that has Flint, Lady Jaye and Zartan included. It’s nice to see it in a widescreen presentation although it would have been cooler to also see Commando Snake Eyes and Timber inserted.

Snake Eyes’ specialties remain the same from his first figure as he gets all top marks of 4s in covert ops, bladed weapons, stealth and ninjitsu. His bio, which you can read on gijoe.hasbro.com states:

Snake Eyes is a total mystery, but when it comes to GI Joe operations, he’s the best there is. Snake Eyes is a natural fighter with abilities that border on the supernatural. His unique blend of skill, stealth and Arashikage ninja training, and strength of character makes him an unparalleled combination: a hybrid-ninja commando who still hasn’t reached the limits of his potential or his true destiny as a warrior. 

Likeness: It’s fun seeing the line evolve to modernizing the old Real American Hero 3 3/4 look to the six-inch scale. Hasbro pivoted to a more classic visual after fan/collector feedback suggested that was the look they wanted.

We’re seeing that reflected with Commando Snake Eyes, which sticks very close within the lines of the original design. Snake Eyes’ head sculpt is outstanding. It keeps the goggles with the 80s style goalie mask marks on either side of the mouth area. There’s a bit more detailing in the mask itself to reflect a more up to date take on the mask without going too modern. It’s a terrific 2021/2022 take on that old school design.

He mostly uses the Beach Head sculpt, which was a great choice since it has the collar like the OG 13 Joes and the lined sleeves reflect that vintage, streamlined costume. On the original figure, it was just the cuffs that had the lining, but this is fine.

He’s rocking a new flak vest that has some elements of the original costume with the small grenade on the right strap. The flak vests hinder articulation so I’d prefer even more of a throwback look with a simple basic harness like the Retro Stalker figure.

Snake Eyes’ original figure featured pocket pouches on the sleeves and legs, which is replicated here as well. He does get some extra belts and holsters for his weapons in addition to the kneepads and shin guards.

They include the heavy textured look of the line to convey a fabric appearance, a clean flat rounded style for the kneepads and some cracks and scratches in the shin guards.

As great as Snake Eyes is, Timber might be even more impressive. The clear care and attention on the fur shows the Hasbro sculptors wanted to do Timber justice. Not that I have a massive collection of wolves in my display, but Timber is immediately the best version in a six-inch scale.

Everything is just so well done from his size and width, the amazing work on his legs and paws right down to the fantastic head sculpts.

The default one is a calm, serene one. For the second portrait, we get a fierce angry sculpt.

The jaw isn’t articulated, but the sculpt is so intense that it’s not really needed. I’m thrilled Hasbro didn’t go with one or the other. I loved the extra detail with the scarring along his left side above his eye and his nose. It’s fitting that Snake Eyes’ pet wolf would also have some facial damage.

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Paint:  Snake Eyes is a pretty consistent flat black. I like this as it feels like a straight up homage to the original RAH figure. The various elements and textures of his outfit still help him from looking too boring.

There’s one area with some paint applications — the grenade with the Joe star and 0.0 on it.

Timber has far more color. There’s excellent gradient with the dark grey and the lighter grey, but it’s the flecks of brown throughout that add another level to this magnificent paintjob.

The tiny details like the gold eyes and the brown in the scars are very precise. There’s just a little overrun of the gumline into the teeth for the attack head sculpt.

Scale:  Snake Eyes typically is portrayed as one of the shorter Joes. He’s dangerous and doesn’t need to be 6’5″.  I like that he’s looking up at Duke, Gung-Ho and Roadblock.

Timber is a good size. He’s not tiny and seems scaled about right to a regular size human at least according to all my ‘real-life’ wolf knowledge coming from The Grey. He looks like he could knock down a Cobra Trooper or Viper without looking silly.

Articulation: Snake Eyes is your now standard G.I. Joe. This is the commando version, so he doesn’t need to be doing a ton of ninja poses. I always liked the idea that Snake Eyes kept his Arashikage skills largely hidden until he settled things with Storm Shadow in G.I. Joe #27.

So for this one, I’m keeping him in strictly soldier poses unless he’s got to rescue Scarlett from a castle Destro has fortified with ninjas.

Commando Snake Eyes has:

• head
• neck
• shoulders (butterfly)
• elbow (double-jointed)
• wrist
• wrist hinge
• mid-torso
• torso
• waist
• hips (ball-jointed)
• drop down hips
• knees (double-jointed)
• ankles

Timber is amazingly articulated. He can hit a number of useful wolf attack poses and is more limited to your imagination and creativity than mold restrictions.

Timber has:

• head
• neck
• upper torso
• mid torso
• upper leg
• knee
• shoulders (butterfly)
• elbow (double-jointed)
• wrist
• wrist hinge
• mid-torso
• torso
• waist
• hips (ball-jointed)
• drop down hips
• knees (double-jointed)
• ankles

Accessories: With his swords sitting tucked away in his locker, Snake Eyes sticks to guns and a knife. He’s got a mid-size submachine gun with a stock and excellent detailing.

I’m hardly a gun enthusiast besides what I’ve learned over the years from GI Joe so I can’t place the larger gun. It also has a removable ammo clip.

The smaller pistol fits in his side holster and can get an upgrade with the silencer. That feels very much like a weapon a commando would use.

There’s a spot on the side holster for the silencer as well in a nice touch. He’s got a nice sized knife that would make Recondo envious as well. This fits on the left sheath.

But the most important accessory is Snake Eyes’ trademark UZI.

I was bummed when the ver. 2 didn’t come with it so I’m ecstatic he has it with this figure. It’s a good size and fits snugly in his hands.

I’ve mentioned Timber’s accessory — the additional portrait — but it’s worth stating again that this was a very welcome inclusion and wasn’t held back for a future Snake Eyes/Timber pack.

Worth It?  I got the set for the base $41.99 price although it’s dropped as low as $33.99 from some retailers. Timber is just about worth the price of one Classified Series figure and Snake Eyes is excellent, so I don’t feel ripped off. Pay anything less than $40 and you got a killer deal.

Rating: 10 out of 10

The Alpha Commandos set is one of the best one-two punch we’ve gotten from the Classified Series line with an excellent Timber and a better-than-expected Snake Eyes. 

Where to Get It? I got the Alpha Commandos set from Hasbro Pulse, but it’s also available through Gamestop, Amazon and Entertainment Earth.