GI Joe Classified Series Cobra Rattler Gunner review No. 185 (2025)

The Cobra Rattler Gunner seemed like the tacked on extra figure for the HasLab Rattler, but he’s actually a pretty cool addition to the set. He actually would still make for a pretty decent army builder with a few changes.

Let’s break the third figure with the HasLab to see if he deserves high praise or if he’s lost in the afterburners.

Packaging: Although none of the figures included with the HasLab are remotely visible in the box, they still get the full standard packaging treatment with a little bonus — shared mural images on the side and rear. As the third figure in this set, the Cobra Rattler Gunner has the lead image on the side and rear.

The action drawing of the Cobra Rattler Gunner does a very nice job of showing him ready for battle. There’s no needless QR Code on the side, but it’s a bit cramped with his Cobra Flyswatters badge along with his skill stats.

His skill set rankings are a consistent 1 star in environmental specialist: air, heavy weapons, mechanical engineering and aerial combat.

Likeness: The Cobra Rattler Gunner is largely a repaint of the Wild Weasel figure with a few alterations.

First up is the distinct head sculpt. The Gunner has two portraits — a black and a white one. Both look great with really nice texturing on the black portrait’s hair and a cool combed to the side hairstyle for the white gunner. Each portrait is wearing a mask, so all of their personality is conveyed through their eyes.

The changes from the Wild Weasel mold are swapping out the ascot for a standard T-shirt and the lack of a draping secondary belt and left leg holster. These are little things, but they help to make the Cobra Rattler Gunner stand apart from Wild Weasel and seem like his own character especially with the various display options.

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Scale: Even without the helmet on, the Cobra Rattler Gunner is a little taller than the average figure although not in the Roadblock, Road Pig, Sgt. Slaughter scale. I appreciate mixing up the heights, so everyone isn’t the same size.

Paint: It’s rare when I find a Joe CS figure with a paint job error. The Cobra Rattler Gunner features the usual strong quality paint job even down to the patches on either arm.

The Flyswatters one on the right arm is a little harder to make out, but due to the size it shouldn’t be easily read without a magnifying glass. The Cobra Airborne on the left arm is very clear.

I like the darker midnight blue and black used for his outfit as he immediately seems like a special division within Cobra’s ranks along with that stark red mask. There are some minor smaller details like the silver buckles on his harness and belt, which also came out clean.

The white T-shirt also helps to break up the darker color scheme. When you throw on the helmet, the Cobra Rattler Gunner gets another nice pop of color with the bright yellow green visor.

Articulation: I fully plan to keep my Cobra Rattler Gunner close to The Rattler even if he’s not in the gunner station — maybe in a guard spot? That said, I probably won’t be able to take advantage of all of the standard excellent articulation found in the average Classified Series figure, but it’s all intact.

The Cobra Rattler Gunner has good range of movement with his arms, elbows, waist and hips. Thanks to the flight vest, he doesn’t have much torso back and forth movement, which means less since he’d be in a stationary position in the gunner station anyway.

Cobra Rattler Gunner 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

Accessories: Even though he’s part of a HasLab, the Cobra Rattler Gunner has a surprising number of accessories.

I’ve already mentioned the fun alternate display options with the two head sculpts, but you can further mix up the look with the helmet and oxygen mask. The helmet adds another level of possibilities as it rests almost flush against the red mask. I really dig the two cobras meeting at the middle of the helmet.

He’s got two pistols, which fit in the holsters. Each pistol fits snugly in his hands.

The CS team also gave him removable thigh pockets. That’s to allow for swapping with Wild Weasel with his thigh maps if you wanted.

Additionally, he’s got a larger submachine gun. This has a nice design and makes for a formidable weapon in the event the Rattler crashed and he needs to protect Wild Weasel or Baroness on the battlefield.

Worth It?  Figure price on a HasLab is part of the cost of the deal, but he certainly feels like a solid $24.99 figure.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

The Cobra Rattler Gunner is a really good supplemental army builder that would be cool for Hasbro to revisit to add more to the ranks on Cobra’s airfields. If for no other reason than to make use of both portraits.

Where to Get It?  As part of the HasLab, the only way to get the Cobra Rattler Gunner is via The Rattler or paying an exorbitant amount on eBay.

Missed out on the HasLab? You can get this Rattler construction set for LEGO-style figures now on Amazon.

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