Throughout its years, G.I. Joe went through some big leaps and bounds that changed the face of the G.I. Joe world. Arguably, Swivel Arm Battle Grip was the first, pretty much tied with the "Mail In Offer". Next came ball joint necks, and so on. In 1988, yet another landmark was reached, in my opinion. The advent of the Iron Grenadiers. In G.I. Joe history, there were obviously two separate groups conflicted with each other, G.I. Joe and Cobra: The Enemy. Then came the Dreadnoks, and among a glut of other half-thought subgroups, a gem was born. Originally designed to combat Battleforce: 2000, the Iron Grenadiers became so much more. Destro’s own personal army, hand picked from the best of European Special Forces like Britain’s S.A.S., and from the worst terrorists he could get his hands on. All combined together to form a distinctive third group, which was actually strong enough to combat the others. Quite simply the greatest subgroup in the G.I. Joe line, and distinctive right down to their “grunts”.
The Iron Grenadier figures are some of the best troopers in the Joe line. Fully equipped in black leather uniforms and helmets, with red face gear/gas masks, and adorned with body armor and all the trimmings, they are both imposing and practical. They maintain the look of their Commander, all the while their uniforms are equipped with the latest technological advances and the best armament in the world.
The figure’s mold is very, very nice. The simplest design, but with such an array of subtle touches, it is quite obvious Hasbro’s designing skill was near it’s peak here. The round black helmet and red facemask come together into a great facial design. Perfect for urban environments or general combat. Next, their torsos are covered with a slick, form fitting body armor, allowing for flexibility of movement without sacrificing protection. Besides these essentials, their gold trimmings and little touches just bring the whole package together wonderfully. They combine the regal elegance of the Destro clan with the deadly necessity of being Special Forces Troopers.
As for their arsenal, the goodness just keeps coming. While their bright red sidearm leaves a little to be desired, the black Uzi is a staple of the I.G. Forces. It’s a nice, large submachine gun, nicely detailed, but realistic. An excellent weapon! Add onto that, their own ceremonial sword, nicely adorned, but not quite as nice as Destro’s, and you’ve got a great bunch of elite troops that can be in formal marching attire or cold blooded killing machines. Complimenting their lord perfectly, these soldiers are some of the best the world has to offer, and have on more than one occasion bested both G.I. Joe AND Cobra themselves.
