History of GI Joe Collectibles

G.I. Joe has a decades-long history as a powerhouse in the collectibles industry. This popular action figure and American hero has always held a special place in the hearts of men, boys and military buffs.

Beginnings

G.I. Joe, a creation of Hasbro toys, had his beginning in the 1960s and was the beginning of the action-figure phase of toy making. It was decided that no boys would want play with dolls; as such, G.I. Joe was never marketed as a doll, but was instead labelled an action figure. In 1964, Hasbro introduced their line of military action figures with a hero for the each branch of the military: Skip the sailor, Ace the pilot and Rocky the soldier or marine. It was not until later that all of the 'joes' gained their collective title of G.I. Joes. The G.I. Joes of this era were exclusively the 12-inch-tall variety.

From fighting to adventuring

In the 1970s, Hasbro sought to downplay the war and combat aspect of their action figure to make him more marketable. It was then that they moved to calling the line "The Adventures of G.I. Joe" and began introducing a team theme to the figures. Throughout the 1970s, the 12-inch action figure remained the only size available; some figures were equipped with kung-fu grip and eagle eye eye movement.

Smaller Joes

It was not until 1982 that Hasbro introduced the smaller G.I. Joes that stand 3.75 inches tall. These action figures made it easier for children and collectors to transport their G.I. Joes. This relaunch of the action figures brought with it a mini-series for TV, as well as the introduction of other G.I. Joe merchandise, including posters, t-shirts and kites.

G.I. Joe is a real American hero who has held the hearts and imaginations of generations of boys and men. Today he continues as a popular collectible that retains and even gains value annually.