G.I. Joe Classified Series Destro and Iron Grenadier Despoiler Review

Destro and his Iron Grenadier Despoiler make a memorable pairing in the G.I. Joe: Classified Series. The figure brings a sharp black, red and bronze take on Destro’s Iron Grenadier uniform, while the vehicle grows well beyond the compact 1988 toy. Both pieces have plenty of display appeal. The main question is whether the Despoiler’s size and weaponry justify the set’s $110 price, especially when flight effects and a stand aren’t included.

The release also revisits a curious corner of the vintage line’s history: some Despoiler boxes carried the Battle Force 2000 logo, reflecting the Iron Grenadiers’ original role as adversaries for that team. Since then, the Iron Grenadiers have developed a strong following of their own. For collectors who remember the 1988 figure and vehicle, this set offers a substantial update, with the original’s recognizable ideas expanded for the Classified scale.

Destro’s Iron Grenadier look

At 6 5/8 inches tall, Destro arrives in a newly designed sculpt, dressed in the faction’s familiar black and red with gold or bronze details in place of the silver accents collectors may expect. The warm metallic color carries through his mask and accessories, tying the whole presentation together. Small skull emblems on his belt buckle, shoulder aiguillettes and boot cuffs give the uniform a clear visual theme without making it feel cluttered.

The eyes are vivid green and prominent behind the mask. That gives this portrait a focused, almost severe look. A second head offers a very different expression: Destro’s mouth is open, with visible teeth. It recalls the expressive mask seen in the animated series and Marvel comics, including the cover of issue #116 of Larry Hama’s run. The red jewel motif on his scarf is another welcome detail, adding an element absent from the vintage figure.

A soft goods red half cape hangs behind Destro’s left shoulder and gives the figure a suitably commanding silhouette. His elaborate boots and the studs along the thigh armor reward a closer look, while the cape helps distinguish him from a standard Iron Grenadier. There is one fit issue: the small pin on the back of the aiguillettes, which secures the cape, falls out easily on the reviewer’s copy. The cape itself fits behind Destro in the cockpit, so there’s little reason to remove it during display.

Articulation is a real strength. Destro has swivel and hinge ankles, boot swivels, double-hinged knees, swivel thighs, drop-down ball-jointed hips, a ball-jointed waist, a hinged mid-torso and butterfly joints at the chest. The shoulders swivel and hinge; the arms also have bicep swivels, double-hinged elbows and swivel-hinge wrists. At the head, a ball-jointed neck base and barbell joint allow a broad range of posing. He can sit in the Despoiler, draw his revolver, wield either sword or hold the shield without the sculpt limiting those options.

A substantial accessory selection

Destro’s accessories combine familiar ideas with new designs: two portraits, the cape, a revolver and holster, a saber and scabbard, a large claymore, and a shield. The claymore is an especially fitting addition. Its size and ceremonial look suit this imposing version of James McCullen XXIV, but it also reads as a weapon Destro might put to use.

The bronze-colored saber is a more ornate update to the sword carried by earlier Iron Grenadier Destro figures. The vintage version’s sword and scabbard were molded together; the 25th Anniversary figure made the sword removable, and the Classified release gives Destro a separate saber with a decorative grip and guard. A small red jewel at the base of the blade echoes the jewel on his neck. The scabbard has matching ornamentation, including a decorated mouthpiece, a chain that plugs into his belt and a detailed tip.

The revolver is molded in the same gold-bronze plastic and resembles a Colt Army Model 1860. It fits snugly into the removable thigh holster, keeping the smaller weapon close at hand. The shield may be the most striking accessory of the group. Its ornate face includes a decorative sword that is part of the sculpt rather than a removable piece, and the overall design resembles a more elaborate Iron Grenadiers emblem. Two machine guns are mounted on the reverse. Their barrels accept firing effects, although none are supplied. The shield feels solid in hand and gives Destro a distinctive defensive option alongside the swords.

The Despoiler grows up

The Despoiler is a personal VTOL craft, built for Destro to move quickly, survey the action from above and strike with an imposing spread of weapons. Its approximate wingspan is 18 inches, and the larger Classified version occupies roughly the display space of an AWE Striker. That extra size gives the vehicle more presence than the vintage release, which was notably compact. Destro also looks more comfortably protected in the cockpit than he did perched in the older vehicle.

The craft rests on two landing gear pieces, with two jets underneath for vertical lift. Four thrusters at the rear—two more than the vintage Despoiler—add to the vehicle’s bulk and have painted details. Both the underside jets and rear thrusters include attachment points for exhaust effects, but the set supplies no effects. That omission stands out on a vehicle whose design invites a display in flight.

Bat-wing stabilizers carry several printed markings, including the Iron Grenadiers logo, the vehicle designation and a Scottish-style lion on each wingtip. The front weapon system rotates and features four barrels, each with a point for an energy or firing effect. The vintage toy described these weapons as dual laser cannons; the new sculpt gives the system four barrels and adds molded ammunition belts plus a camera-like detail between them. The set doesn’t include firing effects.

Each wing carries four missiles: three smaller ones and one larger one. Two additional missiles mount at the front of the vehicle and can be removed. They’re a familiar feature from the vintage design, and the snug fit keeps them in place until it’s time to pose a launch. In total, the Despoiler has a formidable loadout for a craft dedicated to Destro.

The open cockpit has a printed control panel with a yoke, an upgrade over relying on stickers for the instrument details. The stabilizer fins offer some side protection, though the pilot remains exposed from above. The reviewer’s read is that the Despoiler suits quick strikes and observation more than extended aerial combat. Its role and broad weapon spread give it a strong personality, even if the open seating arrangement keeps the design firmly in toy adventure territory.

Price and display value

At $110, this is an expensive set. Destro’s sculpt, articulation and accessories make him feel like a strong figure release on his own, and the Despoiler’s larger dimensions give it genuine shelf presence. Yet the price makes the missing extras harder to overlook. A flight stand and engine exhaust effects would have supported the vehicle’s VTOL identity, while features such as storage for the claymore and shield or concealed compartments could have made handling and display more interactive.

The reviewer’s verdict is “Good and a 1/2,” with the price—not the quality—holding the set back. A lower price for the Despoiler on its own, around the $60 or $70 range suggested in the review, would feel more comfortable. As it stands, this is an appealing package for fans of Destro and the Iron Grenadiers, particularly those with a soft spot for the 1988 vehicle. Its strongest selling points are the finely detailed figure, the extensive weapon selection and the Despoiler’s expanded scale. The clearest improvement for a future vehicle release would be more included display effects or interactive features to make that larger footprint feel even more rewarding.