The History of GI Joe: A Real American Hero (1984 Edition)

[@is21rocks]

This man has created a fountain of youth, I feel like a kid again, entertained by GI Joe and its awesomeness.

[@jmgmarcus808]

I was 9 when these came out, what a great time to be alive. 84 was a great year for Joes.

[@jasmhen]

I used to spend hours on rainy weekends in Washington state setting up indoor battlefields with all these toys. Sometimes setting up the scene was more fun than actually playing it out. But in my battles, characters were not as fortunate as those in the show. These toys were so much fun. Kids from the last couple generations missed out and have not learned to use their imagination. It's all provided for them on the screens.

[@majrebelrat9019]

I remember getting Storm Shadow at Sears.... I was so excited... I will never forget the feeling I had walking out of the store with a Ninja warrior in my hands! Amazing! Thanks for remembering me of how awesome 1984 was!

[@SgtRoxx72]

In 1984 I was 12. Yes, I'm that old. LOL What a perfect age for this awesome series of vehicles and figures to be released! I was in heaven back then. A cartoon 5 days a week, and when that wasn't on I had the real things to play with. Such great memories! Thank you again Michael for this amazing trip down memory lane. You sure bring out the kid in me! I hope you and your wife have a great weekend. Thanks for all you do to keep the kid in me alive and well! Nerdmasté brother!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Scott! Yeah I miss the days of '5 days a week' show. It was like a soap opera for kids! :D Hope you and your wife have a wonderful weekend! Nerdmasté good brother! :D

[@SgtRoxx72]

It sure was! Especially the two-parter where Dusty was supposedly a traitor. I remember the first part showed 'To Be Continued...' and I thought the world was going to end! I had to wait until the next day to see what happens?? Are you kidding me?? 24 hours?? That's like...24,000 hours in kid hours! LOL It sure was the talk at the lunch table that next day though. We were like a bunch of cackling chickens talking about if Dusty was a traitor or not. Everything turned out okay though. Whew!

[@MichaelMercy]

Great episode! That was written by Christy Marx who I chatted with on the channel a while back. Haha, so true, and was Duke ever going to wake up from his coma? Like I said, soap opera for kids! :D

[@JoeSelf1982]

I'm old too and I'm damn proud of it! I turned 12 late that year and it was the best of times. :-)

[@Spaceprince72]

I turned 12 that year and still remember my brother took me to see Police Academy for my birthday and when I got home we had a Carvel ice cream cake and my mother gave me a bunch of these figures. I spent the night carefully drawing the card art for Blowtorch and Mutt was and Junkyard. I was obsessed with JOE.

[@The_Gorn]

Your love for Duke warms my heart. He’s been my favorite Joe since the premiere episode of the Sunbow series.

[@EDHBlvd]

I remember shopping for joes at Toys R Us and Longs as a kid in the 1980’s. Good memories.

[@JoeSelf1982]

To me, the 1984 line is the 'goldilocks' of GIJOE: Not too big, not too small but juuuust right! The Rattler and WHALE are 2 of the greatest vehicles ever made, in GIJOE or any other line. I know Duke gets a lot of hate for some reason but he's always been one of my favorite JOEs. Up there with Snake-Eyes and Beachhead. Another awesome video, Michael! I can't wait to participate in the next Patreon poll and see what the selections are! YO JOE!

[@LegendoftheDragonSword]

'84 was the bomb!

[@corvus1970]

The arrival of Blowtorch means PORK CHOP SANDWICHES for everybody! As for Duke, he's the only one of my original GI Joe toys that I have kept. He's beat up pretty bad, with scuffed-paint, some loose-joints, and he even lost a hand. But I glued on a black hand from some random Cobra soldier, and Duke just kept on fighting, Luke Skywalker-style!

[@ScarecrOmega]

I had a few of these but bought them 2nd hand at garage/yard sales, I do remember getting hooded Cobra Commander in the mail too, I was so happy to get him.

[@KidsToysPlayChannel]

I still have all my original Joes, including some of the ones here. '84 was important because Hasbro first decided to stretch the imagination of children with Zartan, the first "Jump the shark" character of the line. Storm Shadow was obviously the favorite this year, but I remember searching and searching for Firefly. Every kid wanted that guy, but nobody seemed to be able to bag him. Great video.

[@MrX-qf4ro]

Zartan....a jump the shark character?! Are you serious? For me, he is far and away the most interesting Cobra in the entire line.

[@mikemcconville2495]

I had Firefly. My white whale was Duke. Never got him

[@christhornton8219]

Thanks for these videos. Takes me back to my childhood.

[@MichaelMercy]

Glad to hear it, Chris. YO JOE! :D

[@TheJohn93226]

Likewise bro! :)

[@AppleKid]

There was some sweet comics with this stuff back in the day.

[@HectorMartinez-si2xy]

Well my 1984 Christmas was the Gi joe one ! Under the Christmas tree was the Killer Whale, the Rattler and the Stinger !

[@tedg3721]

My childhood in a nutshell. amazing to see the whole collection in one spot in museam condition like this. I would have died and gone to heaven as a kid if I saw this back then. lol :)

[@erik.reinert]

You've hit all of the emotional touchstones with this video. Especially the part about giving them all away to younger kids. I had almost the entire 1984 collection. The only toy I loved more than the star was snowspeeder during my childhood was the hovercraft. When I gave it away, it was intact and fully functional with the only damage being a broken tab on each of the missile launcher mount points.

[@tylerwhitney3443]

This channnel is nostalgia gold. Love the cartoon clips!

[@wesbelt]

Best Joe video on KZbin right now. This is the year of my Joe introduction. Christmas day opening my hovercraft (I never called it the WHALE)

[@tomservo5007]

10:46 , I had the same problem with Storm Shadow V1 -- I remember clearly when I did find him -- on a road trip, moving out of state, in small store in NJ -- and my parents refused to buy it. All that searching , all those months , sooo close.

[@MichaelMercy]

Aw, so close but yet so far. :D

[@user-xf2tl8ee3c]

Treat yourself and get one now. And you’re right storm shadow was always the hardest one for me to find because he was so popular. And I remember the time so vividly that I got one as a surprise gift for my dad

[@jasonharvey2026]

Was a great year for Joes. The only reason I got the Zartan set, was just for the Zartan figure. The swamp skier was kinda weak.

[@jamespero6803]

Just ordered the sky hawk , when that gets here I'll have the complete 82 through 84 collection. My wallets not looking forward to 85, I have a big chunk of it but there's a Flagg size hole in my collection

[@TheJohn93226]

Blowtorch just shows genius toy-design skills amidst all the more normal looking Joes, which was a nice fresh color scheme to make him, and some other ones like him as well, stand out and make them and the whole toy-line more special ... I love it when toy companies do just that!

[@stevenbrickafol3928]

Man , i love Your Videos so much . The style , the way You Feel the 80ies , the way You talk about each and every one of Our mutual Heroes and their respective toylines ... Im not the most vocal person in the world , but You manage to capture and put to narrative allmost exactly how i feel about the 80ies and the Toys we love . You deserve all the support You can get to keep this channel going for years to come ! Greetings and best wishes from Belgium , from a fan , and a fellow 80ies toy collector.

[@coollectionFun]

Had almost everything in the day and sold it all in the 90’s for a few hundred regrettably. 3x that in Star Wars that I sold for thousands. Wish I had it all back :( . Your collection is absolutely AMAZING!!! Don’t ever sell

[@origintrackz5235]

I know the feeling, i sold off all my WWF Figures in the early 2000s for next to nothing, just because i felt like i was getting "too old" to have them around still lol. but the one thing that i regret the most is my game collection, not the largest collection in the world, but it was MINE and i traded it in at game stop for pennies on the dollar just to get a few new games that more than likely sucked! and the cherry on top im sure i had to come out of pocket in the end as well lol...

[@clutch5011]

I still cant believe they gave the A-10 to COBRA, my favourite aircraft

[@chadkinsler9865]

This video brought back so many memories! I still have a ton gi joe figures

[@jamesstaggs4160]

Love these. I hate that you'll eventually run out of years, but I'll enjoy the ride while it's still going.

[@bud9450]

Duke for President!!

[@corvus1970]

Hell yeah!

[@scottlogan3877]

Aaahh man...this takes me back. Good times. I loved the cgi you did for the weapons and guns. Looked great.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Scott! Yo Joe! :D

[@_SLK91_]

I was born in 2008 and by watching these videos I learned about G.l. Joe my dad found an aircraft carrier for 30 bucks and now I play with it every day I watch the cartoons and I even have some of my own figures thank you for showing meet G.I.JOE

[@astrofist]

Yes, nearly a year later and I am finally getting to see these...and yes...these are great. Love your videos, Michael! BTW I had Clutch and the VAMP vehicle. Fun stuff and great memories

[@aydenalexander571]

Awesome! These are never too long. Sometimes too short I can't get all the memories out. Can't wait for the next one.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thank you Ayden! Nerdmasté! 🙏

[@joepg1608]

Your videos bring back so many childhood memories.i turn 44 in 2019 . Thanks

[@danfrancisco49]

Another fantastic Joe video! So artfully done! I feel like the 84 series was the last line where Hasbro maintained that real world military reference. It was still there in subsequent years, but I feel like the 85 Snake-Eyes changed things and the line went much more cartoony. Just take a look at how awesome does Battle Stations looked along with the box art! True vintage military toys! Even though I felt the line peaked in 84 (I prefer more real-world, military referenced toys over cartoonist sci-fi designs), I still have my post-84 faves in 85 Snake-Eyes, Diall-Tone and Tunnel Rat to look forward to!

[@bud9450]

Killer Whale top ten toys EVER

[@IMP3TIGO]

Oh man, 1984 was the height of GI Joe. I still remember the Christmas morning I opened up the characters I wanted most: Storm Shadow, Snake Eyes, Blowtorch and Mutt... oh the memories. And how I wanted the Killer Whale so bad, especially with that sea sled. So awesome. Great video man!

[@langdonboom]

Intoxicating nostalgia. Wow! Just seeing these pieces of colorful plastic sends me instantly back to the near-ecstatic joy I felt when I got each and every one I had as a 7-11 year old

[@MrAvenger1975]

From the time i collected Joes (1983-87), this was the greatest line to come out for me. It was the only year that I'd nearly amassed the entire collection for that year.

[@mateussantos8344]

Dude i have 14 years and oh boy I wish I were born at the 80s cuz these figures are amazing (sorry for my english im brazilian

[@lonewulf44]

Love these Michael ... I'm always struck with two things watching your videos and humor ... 1. I love your Gi Joe collection and they always bring me back to some great days. 2. You and I would almost assuredly be friends. Your comments, appreciate, and jokes are something after my own heart. Keep up the good work!

[@elcowabungahe-man6156]

Do you would believe me that in the 80s I found a Duke in a baseball field some kid must of lost it and found him I was a good day I want to continue collecting Joe's but I have to wait until I move to Massachusetts in next year great video bro YO JOE

[@derekbell5333]

I had the MANTA windsurfer! I saved up all my points and sent off for that. The 8-12 week wait felt like an eternity.

[@Mojo7444]

Thank you Michael, I recently found your videos and they have brought me back in time. I now remember I definitely started collecting G.I. Joe in 84. Thank you again for your videos!

[@robertjackson4311]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.. my first Joe was Rock & Roll , first edition , got him at Mac Dill Airforce Base when I first moved to Florida when I was 10 .

[@sammydelco9050]

This was great to watch, my first Joe was Blowtorch in ‘84 followed by Duke and Mutt/Junkyard in my stocking at Christmas that year, along with the Dragonfly copter under the tree! When I first saw images of the WHALE Hovercraft I knew that was the ultimate one to get. So I started saving coins and dollars in a metal coffee can I labelled “hovercraft fund” on the lid until I had enough to pick it up - $18.96 at the local catalog store.

[@wheeljack0]

Great memories. In the U.K. they were still called Action Force. We did not get the nice painted artwork on the backing cards for this year.

[@alexshadowfax1119]

I just missed GI Joe being born in 86, it was all ninja turtles when I got old enough to want toys but these videos sure make me wish I was a bit older, I enjoy these so much, so glad you did them. You've given lots of people happy memories for years to come. Have a great day everyone.

[@samuelfawley646]

I just bought a loose vintage Cobra Rattler Jet with Wild Weasel and a loose Ripcord figure from a local independently owned toy store! I also own loose vintage figures of Roadblock, Recondo, Mutt and Junkyard, and Hooded Cobra Commander all from 1984! Just 3 years before I was born!

[@F13fan]

Always love hearing people’s childhood toy hunt stories/memories like yours about Duke

[@Gothiczartan]

Look at all the neat characters with all the fantastic designs ever created not only because they are toys, it's those characters no matter if they are in toy form, in comics and cartoons. G.I. Joe character is a character that everyone should loved and enjoy seeing even they don't collect G.I. Joe the original A Real American Hero since 1982. Whoever is going to support G.I. Joe or not, whoever likes G.I. Joe the nostalgic way the 80s nostalgia or not, it still doesn't matter. G.I. Joe is a must for a public view to all audience. G.I. Joe needs a live action series online like Netflix whenever there will be more new Joe toys or not as long as we the Joe fans live, I mean it. If you Americans and the parents don't support G.I. Joe that's fine, G.I. Joe must go on no matter how many people support them.

[@jasonrhome710]

I sold off almost all of my Joe stuff a few years back. I remember as I was cataloging what I had being a bit amazed with the detailing and how they looked like they would be fun to paint.

[@elcowabungahe-man6156]

Yo JOE now I got the intro stuck in my head for the rest of the day 😂

[@juliusdream2683]

Zartan also changes color in cold 🥶 as well. In the snow ❄️ at school lunch break we were playing with them and noticed try it yourself you’ll see.

[@slycooze150]

Another great video! I’m surprised at how many of these figures and vehicles I had as a kid. Thanks mom and dad!

[@samuelfawley646]

Other than how I have Mutt & Junkyard, Ripcord, and Hooded Cobra Commander, I have quite a bit of G.I.Joe Toys from 1984! I also have a Cobra Rattler with Wild Weasel, Sky Hawk that I have Flint piloting and Lady Jaye and Snake Eyes on the side skids, I also have Roadblock, Recondo, Blow Torch, I have the Baroness, Spirit and Freedom, Firefly who I have piloting my Cobra Claw, I also have the Slugger with Thunder, I also have a Cobra Stinger pulling an ASP and my Cobra Stinger has a Stinger Driver driving and a Crimson Guard riding shotgun a Televiper operating the back missile turret on the Stinger and a Cobra Infantry Soldier operating the ASP! I've acquired quite a collection of loose vintage G.I.Joe toys and now I ran out of room to put more on display but I'm not done yet! I also recently got a Sky Striker from 1983 and put my Ripcord figure behind Ace in the Sky Striker!

[@wrp4955]

Duke and BlowTorch were great. Recondo was my favorite. Still have the Stinger, which took a lot of abuse. And the Rattler was so awesome. Great video

[@SixtyDashOne]

Duke, I remember getting him and feeling like I won the lottery, like I was the luckiest kid in the nation. He was a great looking figure and also jived well with the cartoon.

[@gileshyland2573]

Thanks so much for producing these fantastic videos. Me and my brothers had loads of the figures and vehicles and had many hours of fun with them. In the UK GI Joe was branded ‘Action Force’ when they came out over here, but apart from that were identical. The first figure I ever got (of the fully articulated versions) was Snow Job. I thought they were brilliant and a vehicle or new figure was on every Christmas or birthday list for years. Thanks again.

[@willrodgers2436]

Thanks for these great videos of the G.I.JOE toyline and how you blend in videos of the classic animated Marvel/Sunbow series. I definitely remember watching the Revenge of Cobra in 1984. I especially how you covered Duke in more detail. As I said on your 1983 video, Duke is my all time favorite G.I.JOE, thanks to the animated series and Michael Bell, who voiced over Duke giving him a sense of being like Clint Eastwood. The only downside is that while the MASS Device introduced Duke before the comics and toyline, the Revenge of Cobra introduced Flint, Lady Jaye, and Shipwreck along with Snake Eyes in his newest outfit along with Timber. And of course, the Dreadnoks. Oddly enough, there were quite a few episodes in the first season that had these characters and none of the 1985 characters, so it looks like the weekday afternoon series could have started following the Revenge of Cobra.

[@tomservo5347]

I agree with you on what Duke represented to us kids during the Reagan Era. The 80's saw a revamping of the military with huge defense spending and putting the military in a good light for the first time in the aftermath of Vietnam and 70's defense cuts. We boys looked up to any soldiers we saw because they represented the freedoms we had against the 'evil empire' of the USSR. Along with GI Joe we also wore camouflage to school to feel like soldiers that 'never give up, we'll stay til the fight's won'.

[@kafan439]

I remember the moments I realized there might be more new Joe figures on the way. When at the end of one of the issues in the 20's where the Joes were saved at the end by someone taking out a Cobra vehicle, and they panned to Duke and Roadblock. This really perked my curiosity if there were more on the way. I then found Firefly and Roadblock on a drug store peg and quickly looked at the back of the card to see who else was in the selection. The next weekend we went to Toys r' Us and found the rest, including the white ninja from the Silent Interlude issue of the comic, now with an equally cool name. One other thing that was great was how Larry Hama incorporated all these new characters and vehicles into the comic without it seeming too forced or harming the story. I knew then that for the most part , if a new character appeared in the comic, we were in good hands and there would be a figure in the next wave. (still waiting for Ripcord's girlfriend in the bear costume though).

[@richtorres5115]

I remember saving the boxes and the blue prints from each vehicle and setting up battles with my friend Anthony. It was so much fun! My favorite figures were B.A.T.S and Barbecue!!! Also Bazooka was amazing!! What a time to be a kid!!

[@sonyvaio82]

I love the way you have made this video with the original show clips and complete sets. The set up is great!

[@chrisrezende]

It's amazing how your videos are able to throw me straight back to the 80's. The Deep Six was my favorite Joe from 1984. I remember creating so many stories for him, from deep sea adventures to space travels (the SHARC being his space ship). Thanks for putting this great channel together! I subscribed already, and I will definitely become a patreon!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thank you. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the videos.

[@richardbranham4003]

I just recently discovered these videos and I truly do enjoy watching them. It's like reliving my childhood. I had most of these toys at the time and enjoyed playing with them. The one I truly wish I still had is the Hovercraft. Thank you for these videos. They are really well done and entertaining.

[@johnjordan745]

I actually bought the swamp skier with Zartan when it first came out.

[@wilfredofigueroa2452]

Wow! I miss my Joe's! 😥 I used to have everything you showing on your video. Thank you so much for making and sharing this video. Bring back joyful and happy times. God bless you my friend 🙏💯 Real American hero 🇺🇸 😉👍

[@shoked99]

What an epic year for GI Joe. I never read the comics as a kid. I enjoyed the cartoon but spent most of the time with the toys.

[@RetroRoamers]

Another great year. My favorite vehicle was definitely the WHALE. Favorite figures is tough to pick, but I'd say Spirit, Firefly, and Storm Shadow were probably top 3 then.

[@robdrabkowski2708]

Great video, Sir! I love how you use those blasting and firing effects on the toys you review. It's really cool seeing the weapons actually working! I like the sound effects too, like when hatches are opening and closing and turrets are rotating.

[@theviking6052]

Storm shadow was the figure I bought every time I seen him, along with snake eyes. Then the twins became my favorite

[@CosmicTimesTV]

Blowtorch was one my favorites as well!

[@zovex]

Thanks for making these! Exactly what I was looking for!

[@user-dw7vw3ds7k]

Your videos are extremely well done. I am Greek living in Athens and we got our first joes if I remember correctly in 1985 or 1986. But I remember distinctly that I was one of the fortunate getting storm shadow v1 (still have him). Couldn't find snake though. Keep up the good work.

[@Jaster_Xocab]

Blowtorch is absolutely one of my favorite figures as well!

[@waxeddentalfloss]

That was thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you for all the care you put into the music, narration, clips, photography, etc. Fantastic!

[@ferkowalski6703]

When i was a kid here in Brazil, my family didn't have much money, but whenever was possible, dad bought some cool toys, like the Joes (for that and much more, dad always will be my true Real Hero). Your channel is awesome, keep the good work. Cheers from Brazil (sorry for any grammar mistake)!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thank you Fernando! :D

[@brucestro18]

My 1st ever Joe toys of 1984 was “Blowtorch, Cobra Jet Glider,and Cobra exosuit looking thing.

[@michaelwigingtonstudios1320]

There's just something special about looking through all the racks of new figures when they come in whether it be Joe's, bots, or hot wheels.

[@BlastedBilly]

My best memory of GI Joe was finding that Storm Shadow in an Osco Drug store. I couldn't believe it!

[@jasetraber]

That's exactly where I found Storm Shadow too! Osco Drug was the only time I had ever seen him. Good times 👍

[@trtledave3079]

LOVED this, such a good job with integrating portions of the cartoon to fit...awesome!

[@dictatormoehailstone806]

Wow it is so cool you have all of those water vehicles! I have the cobra water mocasain but it is missing a few parts.

[@MrCIAD]

Yet another brilliant submission, my friend! These keep getting better and better. At this rate, I'm pretty sure my head is going to explode by the time you get to the late 80's.

[@chucktanner3826]

I remember Christmas of 84. My parents used several coupons to get me the Skystriker. Best Christmas ever I had the chicken pox so we stayed home instead of visiting family.... like you we didn't have much but what I got I loved every single one of my toys.

[@wwbbguy]

Really liked the vid. The 84 Stinger actually had different roof and door panels than the VAMP II. The hinge was on the A-Pillar part of the roll cage.

[@willieleefrancis8091]

Michael, you definitely know your G.I. Joe's history!!! I also collect the 25th Anniversary Joes, since I did not have very many original Joes from the 1980's.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Willie! Yo Joe!

[@slycooze150]

I had the hovercraft! I kept it on my top bunk bed...until my little sister and her friend snuck up there and accidentally pushed the WHALE off! Funny enough, it didn’t get damaged too badly from that epic fall, it received way more broken parts from simply playing with it. Most of the missile launchers and the back fans broke from play wear rather quickly. Still an awesome vehicle, behaps the coolest in the entire line.

[@MichaelAllred]

Brings back so many memories, especially of the one playset I always wanted but never got namely USS Flagg

[@timbaker8928]

Lost my whole collection lost in a fire but can't wait to my frustrating rebuild is started!!

[@supremeasiaticallah2303]

watching these videos, I realize that I could've had most of the G.I. Joe's back then, if I just did my school work

[@gregmcdonald3361]

I still have my Gijoes. Almost completely collection, in excellent shape. Including USS flag

[@theaaronritter9513]

The water moccasin was my favorite vehicle i had when i was a kid, got it for christmas

[@Brianthehistorynerd]

My goodness the memories coming back after seeing all this. I can remember to this very day getting Zartan. I got it in a store called Kiddymart in NJ. Great job on this thanks for the memories.

[@eddiecruz2948]

Wow watching ur videos gives me chills, I remember playing for hours with my gi Joe's , I never got the vehicles to expensive for my mom but every week she would take me to get a new one, thanks for bringing my childhood back, I remember my mom yelling at me you already have that 1 talking about snakeyes I'm like yeah but it's a different version great times

[@robdcollector2808]

I was too young to afford any of the vehicles or accessories. I would have loved to buy them today in stores. There were tons of stuff in 84 that i never saw or played with...none of my friends had those items either. That zartan box brought me back. I had him as a kid and didnt know just much nostalgia this video brought me back to!

[@GHite-vf8wr]

You are so lucky to find Duke at the store. I didnt get my duke until late 86. I was able to find Storm Shadow though at K-Mart which was a small miracle.

[@412foto]

1984 was probably my fav year for GI Joe. So many great new action figures and vehicles. My SHARK got some of the biggest use. the Rattler was amazing with the pivoting wings and amount of fire power! Ripcord was awesome with his accessories and just looked awesome! BTW your videos are so incredibly well done!!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Scott! Yo Joe!

[@Joe-rx7ht]

Damn. You’re videos are making me nostalgic. I had all those toys in the 80’s. G.I.Joe is the main reason I joined the Army back in the 90’s. I’m still in the Army to this day. Yo!Joe!!! 🇺🇸

[@bryansteele832]

The amount of imagination these toys generated for me when I was kid was infinite. Hasbro really hit lightening in a bottle with G.I. Joe & Transformers. Successful toylines, Tv shows and comic books. They did the hat trick. Hasbro's stock in 1985 must have been through the roof.

[@Mikeymuch1]

Loved this year. My childhood for real. I was so hyped when I got my hooded coco in the mail back then. Thank you for this series.