Scarlett — G.I. Joe Classified Series #05

Overview

Scarlett is figure #05 in the G.I. Joe Classified Series, Wave 1, 2020 at $19.99. She’s the most divisive figure of the wave — a dramatic redesign from the vintage 1982 look that earned both strong praise and pointed criticism. The GeneralsJoes review called her “fantastic” with “great sculpting, quality paint applications, and fun articulation.” The HissTank community felt more conflicted, with one noted collector describing her as “Fortnite Scarlett” due to the head sculpt and colour palette’s departure from previous incarnations.

Both assessments are accurate from their respective standpoints. The figure itself is technically excellent. Whether it reads as Scarlett is a matter of how strongly you’re anchored to the vintage look.

File Card

Code Name: Scarlett
Real Name: O’Hara, Shana M.
Primary Specialty: Counterintelligence
Secondary Specialty: Covert Operations, Martial Arts
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia
Grade: E-5, Corporal

Scarlett was one of the original 13 G.I. Joe team members in 1982 and the first female Joe in the line — a meaningful distinction that the franchise has traded on ever since. Her original design combined a tan uniform with extensive ranged weapons and a crossbow that set her apart from the military-realist Joes around her. She’s the team’s counterintelligence specialist and martial artist, and the Larry Hama comics established her as one of the most capable field operatives on the team, with a long-running relationship with Snake Eyes.

Original Figure Comparison

The 1982 Scarlett wore a tan uniform with green accents — a relatively straightforward military-adjacent design. The Classified version replaces this entirely with a blue and dark armoured bodysuit, layered tactical padding, armoured boots and forearm guards, and a more explicitly sci-fi aesthetic. The colour scheme — blue, green, and tan according to reviewers — draws on several different Scarlett iterations across her history rather than the original vintage design specifically.

The redesign was intentional. Hasbro’s design philosophy for early Classified was to modernise with sci-fi elements and bright colours including gold accents. For Roadblock and Duke, this produced mixed reactions. For Scarlett specifically, the head sculpt drew the most criticism — too soft, too different, the wrong hair shade. Action Figure Barbecue, which gave her a strong review overall, agreed: “Their design is likely to make her a divisive figure.”

The gold accents on Scarlett were generally considered better integrated than on Roadblock — they work with her design rather than overwhelming it.

The Figure

Scarlett has most of the standard Wave 1 articulation with one notable exception: no double-jointed elbows. The male figures in Wave 1 have double-jointed elbows; Scarlett’s slimmer arm design meant single-hinged elbows instead. The ActionFigureBarbecue review called this out: “She doesn’t get double-jointed elbows like her male counterparts. It’s not a huge take away, but I feel like it needs to be mentioned.”

What she does have is different: rather than the standard hinged torso her male Wave 1 counterparts use, Scarlett has a ball-jointed mid-torso that works better for her proportions and “just looks better overall,” as ActionFigureBarbecue noted. The practical pose range is excellent despite the elbow limitation.

Drop-down hips (same as other Wave 1 figures), swivel boot cut, rocker ankles, butterfly shoulders, ball-jointed neck — all present.

The face printing is a genuine highlight. The ReviewMephitsu review noted she uses face printing technology; the GeneralsJoes and ActionFigureBarbecue reviews both called out the freckles specifically. Fine, natural freckles on an action figure at retail price was unusual in 2020 and remains a standout detail. The eyes are precise and the overall portrait is excellent.

Accessories

Quiver — worn on the torso strap, holds the three throwing knives.

2-piece crossbow — assembles from two components. The crossbow is a key vintage Scarlett signature piece and its inclusion maintains that connection. The assembly mechanic means no single large weapon to store or lose.

3 throwing knives — stored in the quiver/sheath on her torso, accessible for posing. Three knives that can actually be retrieved and held is a specific design execution that rewards the character detail; the original 1982 Scarlett was similarly loaded with personal weapons stored on her body.

The sheath and quiver strap system across her torso is one of the most appreciated design elements — it’s exactly how you’d carry this gear, and the storage works.

The Sci-Fi Design Debate in Context

Wave 1 Classified established a design approach that Hasbro subsequently walked back as the line matured. The bright gold accents, the more futuristic weapon designs, and the heavier armour elements were features of 2020’s design ethos. By 2022 and beyond, Classified figures moved toward more muted colours and more realistic military aesthetics closer to the ARAH vintage look.

Scarlett Wave 1 is therefore a historical document as much as a collector figure: this is what Hasbro thought GI Joe Classified should look like at launch. The subsequent design evolution shows how much collector feedback shaped the direction. For some collectors, Wave 1 Scarlett is the wrong version of the character; for others, the technical quality and the freckles win out.

Field Variant

A field variant paint variation exists, consistent with other Wave 1 figures. Brighter paint application distinguishes it from the original production run.

Verdict

Scarlett #05 is technically an excellent figure — strong articulation, brilliant face printing with freckles, well-designed accessory storage, smart torso joint choice. The redesign is a legitimate point of contention. At retail $19.99 she was excellent value; the secondary market has been soft (below retail at times), which makes her one of the more accessible Wave 1 figures to acquire. For Scarlett fans who can accept the redesign, this is a great figure. For vintage purists, wait for a later Classified Scarlett closer to the ARAH look.

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Part of G.I. Joe Classified Series | Wave 1 | 2020. Related: Duke #04 | Snake Eyes #02 | Lady Jaye #25.