Review III Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 12-inch Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock Collectible Figure

continued from previous post...

Here's my third and final review cum toy blog post of this recently released Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6th scale Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock 12-inch tall Collectible Figure. The first part review covered the box packaging, contents and instructions sheet plus 1/6 scale Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's 12-inch tattoo body (posted HERE) and the second review showed off the unique custom weapons movie version Roadblock carries on his body (pictures HERE). This final review shows off Hot Toys 12-inch Dwayne Johnson Roadblock figure armed with the 1/6 scale M249E2 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) fitted with an Aimpoint CompM4s red dot sight. Scroll down to see the pictures :)

Before Hot Toys ventured into their 1/6 scale Movie Masterpiece Series (MMS) with official licensed movie-related products, they were already producing and releasing highly detailed 12-inch military figures (as far back as 1999) and I was one of those who got hooked because back in the day, military figures were the nom and movie-related figures were not that common an item. Check out my earlier post HERE of the Hot Toys US Navy SEAL VBSS Commander. How times have changed. Movie-related figures are more in demand now because many people can identify with them, having seen the figures in the films that they have watched. So for Hot Toys to produce movie-related military figures is the least of problems to them. 

The problem is with some of the new generation collectors who did not come into this hobby learning how to assemble and put together a military figure. 12-inch Military figures are like model kits. You have to put on the 1/6 scale gear and accessories just like you would do it to yourself, kitting up for battle. But a lot of new generation collectors expect everything to come assembled so that they can just take the figure out and display, foregoing the joy and satisfaction of putting everything together. Hence Hot Toys is very mindful to put in very accurate and careful instructions on how to assemble the figure. You won't find instructions for military styled figures. You are expected to figure it out by yourself. That's the difference in the two types of collecting ;p

The 1/6 scale M249E2 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) fitted with an Aimpoint CompM4s red dot sight seems tiny in Roadblock's hands. That's probably because Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock is a big fellow. Too bulky to be stealthy, me thinks. The new body with the double-jointed elbows works well and allows Roadblock to hold his weapon properly

Check out the close-up views of Hot Toys 1/6 scale M249E2 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) fitted with an Aimpoint CompM4s red dot sight. It has great details and is very well made.

"G.I. Joe Retaliation" Roadblock has some very interesting custom weapons. He has two brass knuckles carried on his hip which also double up as handles for his knife, dagger and baton as well as pistol grips for his Glock 21 pistols which are holstered separately in drop-down holsters. The pistol parts are exposed to the elements which is a no-no in the military world.

Close-up view of Hot Toys Roadblock's 1/6 scale boots which are "boot-feet", something Hot Toys invented because before this innovation, all figures have feet that slipped into boots and shoes.

Here's a look at Roadblock's baton stored in its holder and attached to the back of his tactical armor vest. The baton is attachable to the brass knuckles carried on his hips.

Hot Toys Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock wears a wrist watch and electronic device on his left hand. The close-up picture and details were shown in the previous post.

Too bad Hot Toys didn't include a 1/6 scale Browning M2 Aircraft machine gun fitted with a custom "chainsaw" grip that was first seen being fired handheld by Roadblock while on a firing range with Duke. The custom M2 is then seen in General Colton's home armory and then mounted on the roof of a "Ripsaw" tracked vehicle made by Howe and Howe Technologies that is driven by Roadblock at the film's climax battle. Roadblock handholding and firing the M2 is a tribute to the original comic book, where the character regularly carried an M2 by hand.

Related posts:
July 17, 2013 – Review of Hot Toys G.I. Joe Retaliation: 1/6th scale Snake Eyes 12-inch Collectible Figure posted HERE and HERE
July 25, 2013 – "Fetch that Cobra!" Hot Toys 1/6 scale G.I. Joe Retaliation Snake Eyes figure & pet wolf Timber (pictures HERE)
July 27, 2013 – Every dog has its day and G.I. Joe's Snake Eyes pet wolf 1/6 scale Timber has its own post HERE

Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6 Dwayne Johnson Roadblock Collectible Figure Review II

continued from previous post...

"G.I. Joe: Retaliation" is the 2013 sequel to 2009's "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra". Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film finds the GI Joe team on the run after being declared enemies of the state by the US government. The sequel's cast includes returning cast members Ray Park and Channing Tatum in addition to Dwayne Johnson, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Stevenson and Bruce Willis.

This is Hot Toys recently released "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6th scale Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock 12-inch tall Collectible Figure, which was part of my February 2014 haul (posted HERE) and reviewed earlier (part 1) HERE. Having already covered the box packaging and close-up details of the Hot Toys Dwayne Johnson head sculpt and body tattoos, now let's see the 1/6 scale accessories and weapons that are also included with this collectible figure boxed set.

Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6th scale Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock 12-inch tall Collectible Figure comes with: Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock in his military uniform and armor as seen in the G.I. Joe Retaliation movie. He stands approximately 30 cm tall and his Muscular body has over 30 points of articulations. Scroll down to see the accessories that come with this figure.

1/6 scale weapons included (from top): One (1) machine gun with belt of ammunition and box magazine, One (1) pair of brass knuckles, Two (2) pistols attachable to the brass knuckles, One (1) pair of daggers that can be attached to the brass knuckles, One (1) knife attachable to the brass knuckles, One (1) baton attachable to the brass knuckles (comes with baton holder), One (1) pistol with silencer, Two (2) holsters.

The G.I. Joe unit carries the Glock 21 as the standard sidearm in the film. Duke (Channing Tatum), Lady Jaye (Adrianne Palicki), Flint (D.J. Cotrona), and Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson) all use Glock 21s as their sidearms in the film. Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson) carries two custom Glock 21 pistols in the film, fitted with suppressors, threaded barrels and detachable magazine housings, built from parts of the TDI Vector. The brass knuckles cum handles can be used to attach a multiple of weapons, from knife to baton to dagger.

Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson) uses a M249E2 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) fitted with an Aimpoint CompM4s red dot sight, several times in the film. Hot Toys 1/6 scale M249E2 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) also comes with belt feed of bullet rounds and a box magazine.

Other 1/6 scale accessories: One (1) wrist watch, One (1) electronic device which looks a lot like a military GPS device / tracker

Also included: One (1) black t-shirt, Figure stand with Roadblock nameplate and the movie logo, interchangeable gloved palms including: One (1) pair of fists, One (1) pair of palms for holding gun

Here's Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6 Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock Collectible Figure brandishing his custom Glock 21 pistol fitted with suppressor and knife attached to the knuckle duster.

"G.I. Joe Retaliation" Roadblock's military uniform seems to be based on the MultiCam pattern. There's an interesting story here by Thor Jensen: "One of the biggest failures of the military-industrial complex is their need to always keep the gears turning, to spend money because it’s there to spend. What else could explain the Army’s 2004 decision to abandon two traditional and effective camouflage patterns to develop a new “universal” camo pattern with a more digitized look. At a cost of $5 billion, the new Universal Camouflage Pattern was reviled by soldiers and useless in the field – troops deployed in Afghanistan opted to wear the older MultiCam pattern instead. In October of 2013, the Army declared the pattern a failure and announced their intention to phase out the UCP." Roadblock seems to agree that MultiCam is best ;p

Roadblock with his dual custom Glock 21 pistols.

The pose below shows off the new arms with double-jointed elbows that allow for better articulation. The joints are very obvious when the arm is extended (see above picture) but it allows for much better articulation than the previous muscle bodies which could only afford up to 90 degrees of articulation.

Close-up picture of the custom Glock 21 pistol fitted with suppressor

Close-up picture of "G.I. Joe Retaliation" Roadblock's tactical armor vest with bayonet blade and dagger stored in the sheaths on his vest

Roadblock has two drop-down holsters for storing his dual pistols and two holders for his knuckle dusters on his belt

Roadblock wearing the electronic device (which looks a lot like a military GPS device / tracker) and wrist watch on his left hand / forearm while holding the custom Glock 21 pistol

NEXT: Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6th scale Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock 12-inch tall Collectible Figure with his 1/6 M249E2 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) fitted with an Aimpoint CompM4s red dot sight.

Related posts:
July 17, 2013 – Review of Hot Toys G.I. Joe Retaliation: 1/6th scale Snake Eyes 12-inch Collectible Figure posted HERE and HERE
July 25, 2013 – "Fetch that Cobra!" Hot Toys 1/6 scale G.I. Joe Retaliation Snake Eyes figure & pet wolf Timber (pictures HERE)
July 27, 2013 – Every dog has its day and G.I. Joe's Snake Eyes pet wolf 1/6 scale Timber has its own post HERE

Review 1: Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6 Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock Collectible Figure

Roadblock is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's Heavy Machine Gunner and debuted in 1984. Roadblock is one of the most prominent African-Americans in the series. Roadblock's real name is Marvin F. Hinton and he was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. His primary function in G.I. Joe is as a heavy machine gunner and his secondary function is as a cook. He is portrayed by Dwayne Johnson in the 2013 film "G.I. Joe: Retaliation".

In the film, Roadblock is second-in-command to Duke, and is among the survivors of the military air-strike on G.I. Joe orchestrated by Zartan, who was at the time posing as the President of the United States. Leading Flint, Lady Jaye, Snake Eyes and Jinx, Roadblock successfully stops Cobra by beating Firefly in combat, and using his briefcase to stop the Cobra Zeus satellites. Roadblock later vows to avenge Duke by capturing the Cobra Commander.

This is my first part review of the recently released Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6th scale Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock 12-inch tall Collectible Figure, which was part of my February 2014 haul (posted HERE). One of the nice things of this figure (for me) is the amazing details of his tattoos which were not covered in the preview pictures (posted HERE). Scroll down to see the pictures :)

Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6th scale Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock 12-inch tall Collectible Figure comes with: Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock in his military uniform and armor in the G.I. Joe Retaliation movie. He stands approximately 30 cm tall and his Muscular body has over over 30 points of articulations. Three (3) pairs of interchangeable gloved palms including: One (1) pair of fists, One (1) pair of palms for holding gun, One (1) pair of relaxed palms. His Costume consists of: One (1) military camouflage uniform with tactical armor vest, One (1) black t-shirt, Two (2) holsters. Weapons: One (1) machine gun, One (1) pair of brass knuckles, One (1) pair of daggers attachable to the brass knuckles, One (1) knife attachable to the brass knuckles, One (1) baton attachable to the brass knuckles, Two (2) pistols attachable to the brass knuckles. One (1) pistol with silencer. Accessories: One (1) wrist watch, One (1) electronic device, Figure stand with Roadblock nameplate and the movie logo

Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6th scale Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock 12-inch tall Collectible Figure straight out of the box. Scroll down to see the turnaround views / images. Hot Toys improved on the uniform by making it tighter to show off his ripped and bulging muscles.

Close-up pictures / shots of Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6th scale Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock head sculpt. It doesn't get any better than this in terms of likeness and resemblance to the actor Dwayne Johnson who plays Roadblock. I noticed that both ROCK and Roadblock begins with "R" which is stenciled onto his tactical armor vest.

Roadblock's tactical armor vest is very well designed and I really like the details on it. At the back of the armor vest there's a stencil of a skull and bones as well.

Hot Toys figures almost always comes with the all important Instruction Sheet and Roadblock is no different. There are instructions to tell you how to put the accessories on the figure, how to remove the tactical armor vest and uniform top in order to switch to the black T-shirt and also how to assemble the weapon parts as well as what not to do with the head and body. Click on the picture below for a bigger and better view.

There's even an additional instruction to caution you on the zipper. Just take note that the 1/6 scale zipper works the same way as the 1/1 scale (actual size) zipper. You have to align the two ends before you can zip it up.

When you remove both the tactical armor vest and uniform top, you will discover that there's a plastic sheet wrapped around 12-inch Roadblock's body. No, this is not part of his slimming regime but I think a means to protect the tattoo from being rubbed off the body.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has two tattoos and so does Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6th scale Roadblock 12-inch tall Collectible Figure. It's cool that Hot Toys reproduced / replicated Dwayne Johnson's tattoos in 1/6 scale. One is a modern single design of a bull on his right upper arm. However, his second tattoo was a departure from modern tattoo design, being a traditional Samoan style of tattoo all over his left shoulder. (source: Special Tattoos) Scroll down to see the tattoo body of 1/6 scale Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock :)

The bull head tattoo on Johnson’s right arm corresponds to his Western zodiac birth sign of Taurus, the Brahma Bull. The tattoo is a long-horn type of steer and is a fairly straightforward outline style of design. The eyes of the bull are also colored in red.

The tattooing on his left arm and shoulder is traditional Samoan style tattooing, done by Po’oino Yrondi – a famous Tahitian tattooist in Hawai’i. It incorporates traditional tribal patterns and symbols representing Johnson himself, his wife and daughter, his family and spirit guides. This extensive half sleeve wraps all the way around the upper arm, over the shoulder and onto the chest. A later session extended the section on his chest, adding a large symbolic warrior face over his heart.

What Does Dwayne’s Polynesian Tattoo Mean? In early 2003, Dwayne traveled to Hawaii to have his family history tattooed on him — a Samoan tradition. He reveals the meanings of his tattoo on the Special Tattoos site HERE.

Related posts i.e. other 1/6 scale bodies with tattoos:
May 3, 2008 – Chow Yun-Fat as Sao Feng, "Howling Wind" in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" by Hot Toys reviewed HERE
March 3, 2010 – Hot Toys MMS113 "Blade II" 1/6 scale Wesley Snipes as Blade Collectible Figure (pictures HERE)
June 29, 2010 – Brother Production presents Revenge of the Replicant posted HERE
July 9, 2010 – Triad Toys EBS Tyrus 12-Inch Figure also came with tattoos (pictures HERE)
December 24, 2010 – Brother Production "Dirty Johnny" (Bruce Willis as John McClane) figure (reviewed HERE)
October 2, 2013 – Hot Toys The Expendables 2 1/6 scale Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross 12-inch Figure posted HERE

NEXT: Hot Toys "G.I. Joe Retaliation" 1/6th scale Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock Collectible Figure brandishing his firearms (a look at the accessories that come with this figure).