Operation Recall Wave 2 Retelo & Homer In Hand Review

Yo Joe! Well, not exactly, but if you know, you know. Operation: Recall is carrying the torch lit by the original G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line, and every new wave feels like opening a time capsule that somehow contains something brand new. Retelo here is a Communications Specialist, and he doesn’t come alone. He’s got Homer, his carrier pigeon, riding along with him. I absolutely love when a figure set tells a little story right out of the package, and a soldier paired with his trusty bird does exactly that. For those who might not know the history behind Operation: Recall, this line was born from the minds of the people who actually created the original G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero figures. We’re talking Kirk Bozigian, Ron Rudat, and file cards written by the legendary Larry Hama himself. The concept for Retelo actually dates back to 1989, making this one of those ideas that spent decades waiting for its moment. That kind of lineage gives every figure in this line a level of authenticity you can feel the second you hold the card in your hands. At 3.75 inches with the classic o-ring construction, Retelo fits right in with the vintage style that so many of us grew up loving. He comes packed with a helmet, SMG, backpack, drone, a figure base, and of course Homer. That’s a generous spread of accessories for a figure at this price point, and the sculpt work by Bill Merklein with 3D work by Carter looks great in person. So let’s take a look at the Retelo & Homer in hand review! The blister card packaging with Doug Hart’s illustration is gorgeous, and honestly, I had a hard time deciding whether to keep this one carded or crack it open. I went ahead and opened it because we all deserve to see what this set looks like free and in hand. We want to give a huge thanks to Big Bad Toy Store for sending us this Operation Recall Wave 2 Retelo & Homer for review, and if they have been on your must have list, you can still grab them now at Big Bad Toy Store.

Where to Buy

You can preorder the figures at the following retailers below

Packaging

The card art by Doug Hart is fantastic, showing Retelo in full tactical gear with an explosion of color behind him, a carrier pigeon perched on his shoulder and a drone buzzing overhead. You can see how the illustration leans into that classic 1980s military card art style, with bold yellows and reds in the background giving the whole composition a real sense of energy and nostalgia.

Here’s a closer look at the back of Retelo & Homer’s card, and it’s packed with detail. The cross-sell grid showcases the full Operation: Recall roster with individual character illustrations for each release, from Breacher & Hellhound to General Mortífero, giving you a great sense of just how deep this lineup goes. The file card at the bottom is written by Larry Hama, and it reads like the real deal, covering Retelo’s background as a third-generation military communications specialist with training at the Army Signal School and a specialty in anti-cyber warfare. I like how they worked in a personality quirk about his teammates overlooking that he’s “totally absorbed in online gaming,” which is exactly the kind of wry character detail that made those classic file cards so fun to read.

Figure Details

It’s cool to see the presentation art by Ron Rudat displayed alongside the finished figure, and you can really appreciate how faithfully the sculpt translates the original design, from the light blue short-sleeve shirt and orange scarf down to the camouflage pants and brown knee pads. Homer the carrier pigeon perches on a pole on his backpack, with his striped wings, a little green helmet on his head, while the olive-green backpack sits loaded with the CP-44 FPV Recon Drone mounted on top.

Here’s a look at everything laid out, and you get a nice sense of the full accessory spread that comes with Retelo. The olive-green backpack, black SMG, dark helmet, and Homer with his four-wheeled cart all feel like a generous haul for a 3.75-inch figure.

Here’s a closer look at the included figure base, molded in glossy black plastic with two foot pegs for secure display. The sculpted emblem features a winged globe design with a bold red chevron at its center, giving the base a nice bit of identity beyond a plain flat stand.

Here’s a look at the full design process spread laid out, and it’s a real treat for anyone who appreciates the journey from concept to finished product. The upper section features Ron Rudat’s original pencil sketches exploring Retelo’s gear loadout and Homer’s anatomy from multiple angles, while the lower half presents the numbered color iterations showing how the costume palette evolved through at least six rounds before landing on that final blue shirt and camo combination.

Here’s a closer look at the included fold-out poster, and it’s a gorgeous piece of art by Doug Hart. The illustration captures Retelo in full action surrounded by a radiating explosion, with Homer the carrier pigeon taking flight off his shoulder and the CP-44 FPV Recon Drone hovering just above, all rendered in rich, saturated colors that feel like they were pulled straight from a vintage 1980s toy insert.

Outfitted with a light blue short-sleeve shirt and an orange scarf draped loosely around his neck, Retelo pairs that casual upper half with olive and black tiger-stripe camouflage pants and glossy black boots laced up to mid-shin. The brown leather belt features a small silver buckle, and a matching brown holster and ammo pouch sit on his right hip alongside sculpted brown knee pads and black communicator device strapped to his right wrist.

You can see how the side profile really shows off the layered gear sculpting, from the orange scarf tucked against his collar down to the brown gloved fists and the holster riding snug on his hip. The tiger-stripe camo pattern wraps convincingly around the legs with no awkward seam breaks, and those glossy black boots have some nice lace detailing sculpted into them. You can also see how the wrist-mounted device on Retelo’s forearm has a nice chunky sculpt with silver and black detailing that reads as a miniature communications unit, fitting perfectly with his specialist role. The brown utility pouch on his belt has a tiny sculpted buckle closure, and the boots show well-defined tread and lacing that wraps tight against the camo pant cuffs.

Here’s a closer look at the rear view, and the olive-green bandolier strap running diagonally across Retelo’s back features a textured woven pattern sculpted into it, with a small peg hole centered between the shoulder blades for mounting the backpack. You can see how the tiger-stripe camo continues cleanly across the back of the legs, and the brown ammo pouch and holster hang at just the right angle on his hip without looking oversized or clunky for the 3.75-inch scale.

From this side profile, you can see how the silver-painted pistol grip peeks out from the sculpted holster on Retelo’s right thigh, a small but satisfying detail at this scale. The bare arms have a clean transition where the short sleeves end, and the fingerless brown gloves have individually sculpted fingers curled in a natural resting grip.

Retelo comes loaded up with his full gear complement, and the figure really shines when you’ve got everything on him at once, the olive-green backpack with its translucent satellite dishes towering behind his head while Homer perches right on a pole on the backpack with wings spread wide. The black SMG sits naturally in his grip, and between the bandolier of grenades across his chest, the wrist communicator, and the hip holster, there’s an impressive density of tactical detail packed onto a 3.75-inch frame.

A close-up reveals the sculpted detail on Retelo’s helmet, which features a raised triangular insignia on the front, integrated goggles that sit flush against the brow, and molded ear cups with a thin boom microphone extending down past his chin. The orange scarf has a nice knotted sculpt right at the collar, and across his chest you can see the olive-green bandolier loaded with individually sculpted grenade pouches and small black magazine holders, all layered over that light blue shirt.

A close-up reveals the brown leather holster strapped to Retelo’s left thigh, with the silver revolver grip sculpted right into it and a tiny textured crosshatch on the grip’s surface. The holster is secured by a sculpted brown leather strap that wraps around the leg, sitting flush against the tiger-stripe camo without any bulky overhang.

You can see how the wrist-mounted communicator on Retelo’s right forearm has a sculpted black housing with a tiny silver screen detail, sitting snug against the bare skin just above his fingerless brown glove. The orange scarf’s crossed knot and the olive bandolier loaded with individually sculpted grenade pouches and magazine holders create a satisfying amount of layered gear over the light blue shirt.

Here’s a closer look at the backpack and its payload from the rear, and the carrier pigeon Homer sits mounted at the top with its grey wings spread wide, each tipped with black striped markings that mimic real feather banding. The CP-44 FPV Recon Drone with it’s four grey satellite dishes fan out with sculpted radial spoke patterns on each disc, and a bird shaped unit holding it all together all mounted onto the olive-green backpack .

Here’s a closer look at Homer from the front, and the sculpt on this little carrier pigeon is surprisingly detailed for the scale, with a soft gray body, a bright sky-blue vest strapped across his chest, and an olive-green helmet fitted snugly over his head. The wings feature layered feather sculpting that transitions from mottled gray near the body out to bold black-and-white banding at the tips, and those tiny black eyes peer out from beneath the helmet with a surprising amount of personality. You will also notice a small silver container strapped snugly to his left leg, presumably for carrying messages!

Sporting a tiny olive-green backpack with sculpted pouches flanking each side, Homer’s gear loadout is remarkably detailed for a figure this small, each pocket featuring individual flap closures molded into the surface. The black-and-white feather banding on his tail fans out with crisp layered sculpting. I just love this little guy, what an amazing animal companion!

I’m really digging how Retelo looks with all his gear loaded up in an action pose, the figure base keeping him stable while the SMG tucks in tight against his chest and Homer perches right on the barrel with those banded wings flared. The CP-44 FPV Recon Drone and satellite dishes create a massive silhouette off the backpack that makes this 3.75-inch figure feel like it carries way more presence than its scale would suggest.

Retelo looks great from this three-quarter rear angle with everything loaded up, and you can really appreciate how the satellite dishes and CP-44 FPV Recon Drone stack vertically off the backpack to create an impressively tall gear silhouette behind his helmet. Homer perches right at the peak of the whole assembly, his sky-blue vest popping against the olive-green housing beneath him, tying his color palette back to Retelo’s light blue shirt in a way that feels very cohesive.

Something I appreciate here is how Homer perches right on the helmet’s crown with his tiny talons gripping the edge, his sky-blue vest catching your eye immediately against the dark black helmet beneath him. The SMG has a compact, well-proportioned sculpt with a textured grip and a short barrel that fits the figure’s hands without looking oversized or toyish for the scale.

I like how this shot captures Retelo mid-patrol with the foliage selling the scene, his tiger-stripe camo blending right into the greenery while Homer perches on the SMG barrel with those banded wings catching your attention immediately. The wrist communicator, holstered sidearm, and that massive backpack loaded with satellite dishes all move naturally with the figure, nothing looking loose or awkward even with this much gear stacked on a 3.75-inch frame.

Retelo nestled into the foliage here really sells the surveillance specialist vibe, with that bright sky-blue shirt providing just enough contrast against the greenery to keep him from disappearing entirely. Homer sits perched atop the helmet like a living antenna, his spread wings and blue vest creating a fun visual echo of the satellite dishes fanned out on the backpack behind him.