Red Dog & Taurus — G.I. Joe Classified Series #193

Overview

David ‘Red Dog’ Taputapu & Varujan ‘Taurus’ Ayvazyan is figure #193 in the G.I. Joe Classified Series, retail, 2026 at $59.99. The second Renegades two-pack following Sgt. Slaughter & Mercer (#173), delivering the two remaining core Renegades team members at Classified premium scale. With four Renegades figures in the collection, the sub-team’s display is functionally complete.

The Renegades Sub-Team Complete

Sgt. Slaughter’s Renegades were three operatives — Red Dog, Mercer, and Taurus — who served under Slaughter’s direct command in the 1987 animated feature film. With Mercer delivered in the first two-pack and Red Dog and Taurus in this second, all four Renegades members (Slaughter, Mercer, Red Dog, Taurus) are now at Classified scale.

The four-figure sub-team display: Slaughter at the front, commanding — the licensed character whose physical presence anchors the group. Red Dog flanking — the largest and most physically imposing member, the team’s blunt-force option. Taurus as the technical specialist. Mercer as the former Cobra Viper whose defection gives the team its most specific narrative identity. Four distinct characters, four distinct display identities, one coherent sub-team.

Red Dog’s Character

David Taputapu’s Samoan-American heritage and his position as the Renegades’ physical enforcer create a specific character identity within the sub-team. His large physique — notable even by GI Joe standards, which already skew toward physically imposing figures — makes him immediately identifiable in any formation. The Classified figure’s scale and design communicate that physical presence in a way the vintage figure’s smaller format couldn’t fully achieve.

Taurus’s Character

Varujan Ayvazyan’s Armenian-American background gives the Renegades one of the franchise’s more unusual character heritage combinations. His technical approach to situations — the thinker alongside Red Dog’s blunt force — creates the personality contrast that makes the sub-team’s internal dynamic interesting as a display narrative.

The Renegades in the 1987 Film Context

The Renegades debuted in the 1987 animated feature film alongside Cobra-La, the Joes’ new recruit class, and various animated-original characters. The film remains the franchise’s most ambitious single animated project and, whatever one thinks of its specific narrative choices, delivered a range of new characters that the Classified programme has been returning to across 2025 and 2026.

The Cobra-La Royal Guard (#191), Ninja Force Zartan (#192), Red Dog & Taurus (#193) — the 2026 programme has significant 1987 film content, reflecting both the anniversary timing and the programme’s commitment to representing the franchise’s animated history at Classified scale.

$59.99 Two-Pack Value

At $59.99 for two first-Classified-appearance figures, the Red Dog & Taurus set delivers strong per-figure value relative to the single-figure releases at comparable price points. The two-figure retail format requires one purchase decision rather than two acquisition routes — a practical advantage for retail collectors.

Secondary Market

Standard retail $59.99 two-pack. Secondary prices sustain modestly above retail for first-appearance Renegades figures. Secondary prices typically run $65–90 for sealed sets.

Verdict

Red Dog & Taurus #193 closes the Renegades chapter of the Classified programme with the two remaining sub-team members. If you bought Sgt. Slaughter & Mercer (#173), this set is the natural follow-through. The four-figure Renegades display is one of the Classified programme’s most satisfying small sub-team completions.

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Part of G.I. Joe Classified Series | Retail 2026. Related: Sgt. Slaughter & Mercer #173 | Sgt. Slaughter #53 | Mad Marauders Sgt. Slaughter #129.

The 1987 Film’s Characters at Classified Scale

Red Dog and Taurus join Crazylegs (#145), Big Lob (#189), and Lifeline (#186) as 1987 animated film-era characters at Classified scale in the 2025-2026 programme. The film introduced the Renegades, new Joe recruits, and the Cobra-La faction in a single ambitious production, and the Classified line is systematically working through its character contributions.

The concentration of 1987 film characters across 2025-2026 — combined with the Cobra-La faction introduction through Pythona (#172) and the Royal Guard (#191) — suggests a sustained programme intention around the film’s 40th anniversary. Red Dog and Taurus arriving in 2026 is part of that broader engagement with a film that has always had more collector affection than its critical reputation might suggest.

Display: Four Renegades in Formation

Position the Renegades with Sgt. Slaughter slightly in front of the formation — the licensed character as the natural focal point — with Red Dog on one flank, Taurus on the other, and Mercer behind. The arrangement communicates chain of command (Slaughter leads), physical capability (Red Dog and Taurus as flanking muscle), and operational capability (Mercer as the former Cobra operative who adds specific intelligence value). Four figures, one coherent unit display.

Quick Reference

Number: #193 | Line: G.I. Joe Classified Series | Year: 2026 | Price: $59.99 | Channel: Standard retail | Figure type: Two-pack, Red Dog and Taurus | First appearance: Yes — first Classified Red Dog and Taurus | Related: Sgt. Slaughter & Mercer #173 The Renegades display is now complete with four figures across two two-packs. Sgt. Slaughter at the front, Red Dog and Taurus flanking, Mercer behind — the formation communicates the sub-team’s personality through figure positioning alone.

The four-figure Renegades display across two retail sets is one of the Classified programme’s most satisfying sub-team completions — a small, coherent unit with clear internal hierarchy and strong individual characters making up each position in the formation. Two two-packs, four figures, one complete Renegades sub-team. The display reward is proportional to the investment across both sets. The Renegades display with all four members in formation is one of the Classified programme’s most satisfying small sub-team achievements — four distinct personalities, four distinct character identities, one coherent team that the 1987 film established and the 2025-2026 Classified programme finally delivers at premium scale.