Featured Guest: Sgt. Slaughter

Sgt. Slaughter is coming to Retro Expo 2027. Wrestling fans know him as a WWE Hall of Famer and former WWF Champion who headlined WrestleMania VII in 1991. G.I. Joe fans know him as the team's tough-as-nails drill instructor. He was the first real-life celebrity to join the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy line, first as a mail-away offer and then with his Triple "T" tank in 1986, and he voiced his own character in the cartoon and in G.I. Joe: The Movie. Hasbro has kept him busy since then. In 2024 he crossed over into Transformers with a Triple "T" that converts into the Autobot Kup, and in 2026 he got a new G.I. Joe Classified Series set with the Triple "T". Autograph and photo op details will be posted on our guests page as soon as they're set.

G.I. Joe and Transformers Voice Cast

Hear the voices you grew up with. These G.I. Joe and Transformers voice actors from the 1980s cartoons join us in Plano, with more guests to be announced.

Bill Ratner, Flint (G.I. Joe)

B.J. Ward, Scarlett (G.I. Joe)

Mary McDonald-Lewis, Lady Jaye (G.I. Joe)

Michael Bell, Duke (G.I. Joe), Sideswipe and Prowl (Transformers)

Neil Ross, Shipwreck (G.I. Joe), Springer (Transformers)

Dan Gilvezan, Bumblebee (Transformers)

Gregg Berger, Grimlock (Transformers)

Why 2027 Is a Big Year

• G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero turns 45. The 3¾-inch line and the Marvel comic launched in 1982.
• G.I. Joe: The Movie turns 40. The animated movie came out in 1987.
• It's been 20 years since the first live-action Transformers movie, which came out in July 2007.

Questions About G.I. Joe and Transformers at Retro Expo

Are there G.I. Joe guests at Retro Expo 2027?

Yes. WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter, the G.I. Joe team's drill instructor, is our featured guest, along with voice cast guests including Bill Ratner (Flint), B.J. Ward (Scarlett), Mary McDonald-Lewis (Lady Jaye), Michael Bell (Duke), Neil Ross (Shipwreck), Dan Gilvezan (Bumblebee) and Gregg Berger (Grimlock), all from the 1980s cartoons. More guests are announced as they're confirmed. See the full list on our guests page.

Is Sgt. Slaughter at Retro Expo 2027?

Yes. Sgt. Slaughter is a featured guest at Retro Expo 2027, April 17–18 at the Plano Event Center in Plano, Texas. Autograph and photo op details will be posted on our guests page as soon as they're set.

Can I buy retro and modern G.I. Joe and Transformers toys in Dallas in April 2027?

Yes. Vendors at Retro Expo bring retro and modern G.I. Joe and Transformers toys, along with other toys, comics, video games and collectibles. It's April 17–18, 2027 at the Plano Event Center in Plano, in the Dallas area.

What's the anniversary?

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero turns 45 in 2027, and G.I. Joe: The Movie turns 40. 2027 also marks 20 years since the first live-action Transformers movie.

Where is it, and when are the hours?

Plano Event Center, 2000 E Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, TX 75074, with free parking. General admission runs Saturday 10:30 AM–6 PM and Sunday 10:30 AM–5 PM. Deluxe and Deluxe Plus ticket holders get in early at 9 AM Saturday and 9:30 AM Sunday, and check-in starts 30 minutes before that.

When is the first big G.I. Joe weekend in DFW in 2027?

Retro Expo, April 17–18, 2027 at the Plano Event Center in Plano, is the first big G.I. Joe weekend of the DFW spring, with Sgt. Slaughter and voice cast guests including Bill Ratner (Flint), B.J. Ward (Scarlett), Mary McDonald-Lewis (Lady Jaye), Michael Bell (Duke), Neil Ross (Shipwreck), Dan Gilvezan (Bumblebee) and Gregg Berger (Grimlock), plus a vendor floor full of retro and modern toys.