David L. 'Bazooka' Katzenbogen — G.I. Joe Classified Series #62

Overview

David L. ‘Bazooka’ Katzenbogen is figure #62 in the G.I. Joe Classified Series, Wave 9, 2023 at $24.99. The standard retail Bazooka in classic military colours — tan and olive rather than Tiger Force yellow and black. Released the same year as the Tiger Force exclusive (#54), this is the version for collectors building a standard Joe team display rather than a Tiger Force sub-line.

The football jersey with the number 10 is the design signature — present here in its classic colours rather than the sub-line treatment. In standard military olive and tan, the football jersey detail reads even more distinctively against the surrounding gear because the contrast between sports apparel and tactical equipment is sharper.

The Anti-Armour Role

The Joe team needs vehicle-killing capability, and Bazooka provides it. His anti-armour specialisation makes him the go-to figure whenever the display includes Cobra vehicles — the figure who makes the tactical answer to Cobra’s HISS tanks and other vehicle platforms visually present in the Joe team formation.

Standard vs. Tiger Force

Collectors who acquire both #54 (Tiger Force) and #62 (standard) have the character in both operational contexts. The standard retail version is the recommended first purchase — it’s the correct colour scheme for a comprehensive Joe team display, while the Tiger Force version is specifically for the Tiger Force sub-line display. If you can only have one, #62 is the essential version.

Verdict

Bazooka #62 is the definitive standard retail Classified Bazooka — the football jersey in classic military colours, the anti-armour specialist in the right configuration for a comprehensive Joe team display. Essential.

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Part of G.I. Joe Classified Series | Wave 9 | 2023. Related: Bazooka (Tiger Force) #54 | Duke #04 | Roadblock #01.

The Football Jersey at Standard Military Colours

In Tiger Force colours (#54), the football jersey is part of the bold visual programme. In standard military tan and olive (#62), the jersey detail is more visually striking by contrast precisely because it’s so unexpected against subdued tactical gear. The sports apparel against military equipment reads as a specific personality statement rather than part of a visual system.

This contrast effect means the standard retail Bazooka communicates the character detail more effectively than the Tiger Force version. The standard version’s jersey is the detail that makes you look twice; the Tiger Force version’s jersey is one element among many bold design choices.

Heavy Weapons Cohort

Wave 9’s character selection gave the Joe team significant heavy weapons coverage: Bazooka’s anti-armor, Rock N Roll’s machine gun (#71 in Wave 10), and Roadblock’s heavy machine gun from Wave 1 giving the team three distinct heavy weapons operators. A comprehensive Joe team display by 2023 could position all three together as a heavy fire support element — each with a different weapon system, covering sustained fire, anti-armor, and heavy machine gun capability simultaneously.

Secondary Market

Retail Bazooka #62 has traded near retail — accessible standard retail figure with no exclusivity complications. Secondary prices typically run $27–35.

Anti-Armor in the Display

Having Bazooka alongside the HasLab H.I.S.S. Tank is the display context that makes the most sense for the character’s function: the tank represents the threat, the figure represents the response. For collectors who own the H.I.S.S. HasLab, displaying it with Cobra infantry around it and Bazooka facing it from the Joe side creates exactly the tactical confrontation that makes the franchise’s conflict legible in three dimensions. The football jersey visible as Bazooka lines up his shot against a Cobra tank is, unexpectedly, one of the more narratively specific displays the Classified line allows.

Bazooka in the Classified Catalogue

The Bazooka figure at position #062 in the Classified catalogue represents the 2023 programme’s commitment to building out the GI Joe roster comprehensively. At $24.99, the figure delivered the anti-armor identity that collectors needed for a complete display, and the design execution reflects the line’s mature approach to character translation from the vintage ARAH format to the premium 6” scale.

The Classified line’s consistent pricing progression — from $19.99 at launch to $24.99 for most 2023 releases — reflected both inflation and the increased accessory investment the programme was making. At $24.99 for a figure with this design quality, the value equation remained competitive with comparable collector figure lines.

The 2023 Programme’s Breadth

The 2023 Classified programme was the most diverse single year in the line’s history: Wave 8 through Wave 10 at standard retail, Tiger Force and Python Patrol via Target, Night Force via Walmart, Fan Channel multi-packs, Pulse exclusives, Amazon exclusives, and SDCC. The Bazooka figure was one piece of a programme that delivered more distinct character representations in a single year than many comparable collector lines achieve in their entire runs. For collectors engaged with the full programme, 2023 was both the most rewarding and the most demanding year the Classified line produced.

The Classified line’s 2023 heavy weapons programme created the most complete weapons tier in the Joe team display history: Bazooka’s anti-armor at #62, Rock N Roll’s M60 at #71, and Roadblock’s heavy machine gun from Wave 1 covering the full spectrum of heavy direct fire and anti-armor capability. Having all three on the shelf simultaneously gives the display a heavy weapons section that no earlier year of the programme could match.

Bazooka at Retail

At $24.99 standard retail with no exclusivity complications, Bazooka #62 is one of the most straightforward acquisitions in the 2023 Classified programme. Buy at retail, display alongside the Joe team, and appreciate the football jersey detail every time you look at the shelf.