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G.I. Joe Clasified Heavy Artillery Roadblock

By Hervé St-Louis
January 12, 2022 - 23:37

Roadblock is a popular G.I. Joe character, often represented as one of the core members of the team when the line up is limited. He was the heavy machinery gunner of the Joe team but is now its heavy artillery soldier. This is the fourth attempt at a Roadblock action figure in the Classified line, as previous ones were not well received by collectors.

The first was a head scratcher as he looked like the 1986 Roadblock action figure but with bright colours and a weird weapon. Months later, Hasbro introduced another exclusive Roadblock action figure which was exclusive to Target stores in the United States, and Toys R Us in Canada. And then again, a few months later, Hasbro released a redeco of the first Roadblock with muted and darker colours. Each of these toys has been peg warmers and continue to be available in many stores, unlike the other characters released at the same time.

Collectors complained that this was not the figure that they wanted. That he did not look like the Roadblock of old. Thus, Hasbro released the Heavy Artillery Roadblock, the fourth in the line as an Amazon exclusive that was supposed ton address criticism from the collecting community. Finally, it seems that Hasbro’s G.I. Joe team got the message and delivered the character that collectors wanted. The action figure is not a completely new design and new sculpt but it takes the best from the old Roadblock moulds and in a much-improved design. Let’s find out how they did it.  



I’m not sure why Hasbro decided to go with the other head sculpt for the first Roadblock. Had it had the new head, it might have been a winner with fans, despite the odd uniform and unrealistic machine gun. An important aspect of this figure is that the goatee and moustache are the right ones, much like the old cartoon. The full bearded look is not the right one.



Much of the sculpt from the original Roadblock is reused. The arms and legs are the same, except for a missing kneepad on the left knee. What has changed, is the head and the torso. The head as mentioned above, is quite good with a mild grimace. The torso is much longer and muscular than the previous one used for Roadblock. The fabric pattern is moulded in. I wonder with who Hasbro can reuse this new torso. Because of the length of the torso, Roadblock towers over the previous releases and Gung Ho who was always meant to be significantly shorter than him.









Unlike other G.I. Joe Classified action figures, Roadblock does not wiggle much and has a tight diaphragm articulation. I don’t like the gap in the drop-down hips. It feels like they are always extended even if they are not. While he can pivot at the waist, it is limited by his harness and straps that are attached at the waist. He can still rock from his waist though.

Something that makes Roadblock’s handling of his Gatling gun more complicated are his two in and out palm articulations. He would need a up or down to help him carry his Gatling gun which is huge and can only be grabbed at specific spots. Still, the wrists have swivels.

Roadblock has the typical joint articulations with double elbows that have a good range and double knees that are too tight to move easily. He has bicep curls, swivels at the shoulders that can also extend to about 90 degrees. His butterfly joints are not very useful, being so limited. His neck is a separate piece that is slightly more mobile than that of the previous Roadblocks. But the head, on a ball joint, can look up and down easily while rocking on all sides.




The main props Roadblock that came with are a Gatling gun and a helmet. It’s a nice helmet but it will not fit the heads of other figures such as Duke, being a bit too large. The helmet does not protect his ears enough, which is necessary with the Gatling gun he uses. The Gatling gun, by the way, is the same one used with Breaker and his RAM cycle. They can be exchanged, if you prefer having Roadblock’s khaki green Gatling gun with the motorcycle and giving the grey one to gunner. The one difference with Breaker’s Gatling gun is the stock that loads the Gatling gun. The RAM cycle does not have one. The Gatling gun’s turret spins.

The problem with the Gatling gun is that much like the original Roadblock, his hands are too stiff and too tight to properly hold the Gatling gun. I am afraid of breaking his fingers while trying to have him properly carry the Gatling gun. That’s not good at all. The other props are a handgun and a holster pre-attached on his right thigh. Even the pistol is too tight for Roadblock’s hands. Roadblock does not wear a vest unlike most Joes, but he has a harness that turns into a belt that contain a huge pouch in the back and some grenades on the torso.

Roadblock came in the usual G.I. Joe Classified box with a composite image of various characters in the back and a wide-open window in the front.




Unfortunately, the first issue of the Heavy Artillery Roadblock was an Amazon exclusive. Collectors in the United States got their orders a month earlier in late July while Canadians who ordered through Amazon Canada had to wait for late September, early October. When the initial orders for Roadblock were advertised on various Amazon sites, collectors had to order their figures and wait. Since fulfilling the orders Amazon has not re-released other stock. Hasbro Pulse had a limited amount but anything popular with G.I. Joe always runs out in less than an hour there.

The only way to get a Heavy Artillery Roadblock action figure is through the secondary market and that may cost you a lot. I’m hoping that Hasbro releases this figure in the future, perhaps as a Tiger Force variant and later, the original again as a Retro-carded figure. This is the Roadblock collectors wanted. The irony is that for once, he is not peg-warming store aisles or online stores.

Rating: 9 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12