My #1 Most-Wanted G.I. Joe Classified Figure Is Coming: Ambush!

By Destro Designs – Viper Den Studios

New York Comic Con 2026 delivered plenty of exciting announcements for G.I. Joe Classified Series collectors. Between the new character reveals, upcoming releases, and the continuing expansion of the line, there was certainly no shortage of news to celebrate. However, one announcement seems to have gotten somewhat lost in the shuffle, and for me, it might have been the most exciting of them all.

Ambush is officially coming to the G.I. Joe Classified Series!

That’s right. I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth at NYCC, and I couldn’t be more excited. For collectors who have followed my personal most-wanted list, this is a particularly satisfying announcement.

For years, Hit & Run occupied the top spot on my G.I. Joe Classified wish list. Once his arrival was announced, Ambush immediately took over as my number-one most-wanted figure. Now, it appears that another one of my childhood favorites is finally getting the attention he deserves.

The 1990 Figure That Kept Me Collecting

To fully appreciate why Ambush means so much to me, you have to understand where I was in life when the original 3¾-inch figure arrived in 1990.

Like many kids who grew up during the golden age of G.I. Joe, I eventually reached that point when childhood interests began competing with the distractions of adolescence. By 1990, I already had one foot out the action figure collecting door and the other headed toward the wonderful world of kissing girls.

Then Hasbro released Ambush.

And just like that, my attention was right back on G.I. Joe.

There was something about this figure that immediately captured my imagination. His design, his military appearance, his weapons, and especially his innovative accessories made him stand out from almost everything else on the toy shelves.

Ambush wasn’t simply another soldier with a rifle and backpack. He was an entire military concealment specialist experience packed onto a single blister card.

One of the Greatest Accessory Loadouts in G.I. Joe History

Let’s talk about what made Ambush so exceptional, beginning with his weapons.

The original figure didn’t settle for a single firearm. He included two distinctive weapons that gave collectors different options for displaying the character and imagining his missions. Both looked fantastic, and together they created what I still consider one of the ten best weapons combinations offered with a vintage G.I. Joe figure.

But as impressive as the weapons were, the real magic was in his additional equipment.

Ambush came with not one, but two separate pieces of camouflage fabric. He also included a collapsible assembly of tent poles that could be stored on his backpack and then connected to construct a concealed ground blind.

Think about how impressive that was for a 3¾-inch action figure released in 1990.

You could actually build a concealed position for your figure, allowing Ambush to disappear into the surrounding terrain while preparing his next move against Cobra. The second piece of fabric provided additional concealment for the figure himself, allowing him to blend into the environment while moving through the brush or occupying his position.

That kind of creativity made the toy feel like something far beyond an ordinary action figure. Hasbro had provided the tools to create an entire mission around one character.

Even today, I struggle to think of many vintage figures with a better assortment of equipment. Alley Viper and Blizzard certainly deserve consideration, and Salvo belongs in that conversation as well. But Ambush absolutely holds his own among those heavy hitters.

A Sculpt and Design That Still Hold Up

Of course, accessories alone don’t make a legendary action figure. Ambush also had an outstanding sculpt that brought his military specialty to life.

From his distinctive helmet and camouflage uniform to his equipment harness and overall appearance, everything about the figure seemed carefully considered. He looked like someone who genuinely belonged in the field, conducting reconnaissance missions and waiting patiently for the perfect opportunity to strike.

That sense of realism was an enormous part of his appeal.

For me, the original Ambush easily ranks among the ten greatest vintage G.I. Joe figures ever produced. That’s not simply nostalgia speaking. Even when compared with the remarkable figures released throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, his combination of design, functionality, and imaginative accessories remains exceptional.

The G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club Revisited Ambush

Ambush would eventually receive another significant release through the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club Figure Subscription Service 5.0, which brought the character into the modern 4-inch collecting era.

The Collectors’ Club version paid tribute to his familiar camouflage appearance and included updated weapons and fabric concealment accessories. Although that release did not reproduce the original figure’s complete collapsible ground-blind system, it demonstrated that Ambush continued to have a place in the hearts of dedicated G.I. Joe collectors.

Now, with Hasbro preparing to bring the character into the six-inch Classified Series, there is an opportunity to take everything that made the original special and elevate it to an entirely new level.

What Can We Expect From Classified Ambush?

This brings me back to New York Comic Con and perhaps the most exciting part of the entire experience.

During the Hasbro panel, I had the opportunity to ask BMac directly about the upcoming Classified Series Ambush and whether collectors could expect the kind of impressive accessory loadout that made the original 1990 figure so memorable.

Specifically, I wanted to know whether Hasbro intended to honor those incredible soft goods and concealment accessories that distinguished Ambush from so many other G.I. Joe releases.

Based on the response, it certainly sounds like the team understands how important that equipment is to the character, and that soft goods and impressive accessories are part of the direction being considered for his Classified release.

Until Hasbro provides a complete product reveal and final accessory list, I don’t want to make any definitive promises about exactly what will be included. But what I heard was certainly encouraging.

Personally, I would love to see the original collapsible ground blind recreated at the larger Classified scale, complete with the camouflage fabric, backpack storage, and weapons that made the vintage release such an unforgettable experience.

Imagine what Hasbro’s current design team could accomplish with that concept.

My Number-One Most-Wanted Figure Is Finally On the Way

For me, collecting G.I. Joe has always been about more than simply acquiring another action figure. These characters represent specific moments in our lives, and sometimes a single toy can bring back an entire chapter of childhood.

Ambush represents one of those moments.

At an age when I was beginning to move away from toys, this remarkable little action figure reminded me why I had fallen in love with G.I. Joe in the first place. His weapons, his accessories, and his incredible design kept my imagination invested in the adventures of America’s daring, highly trained special mission force a little longer.

More than three decades later, the announcement of his Classified Series debut has brought that excitement rushing back.

Now comes the anticipation of seeing just how faithfully Hasbro can recreate one of the greatest figures from the original line.

My number-one most-wanted G.I. Joe Classified figure is officially on the way.

Hell yeah!

What about you, fellow collectors? Where does the original 1990 Ambush rank on your all-time G.I. Joe list? And what accessories absolutely MUST be included with the upcoming Classified release? Let us know in the comments!

By Destro Designs – Viper Den Studios