G.I. Joe: The Original 14? - Hasbro 25th Anniversary

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Michael takes at look at the Original Joes in their 25th Anniversary versions from the 2007 relaunch of the line. Wait... why are there 14 Joes now?

[@redsoxfansfs]

Great video Michael! I didn’t know they made a “Shooter” figure. Funny thing about that one panel in G.I. Joe #1. The “Shooter” file was an homage to the editor of Marvel Comics at the time, Jim Shooter. I remember talking to him about it at a local Comic Con when he signed my copy of G.I. Joe #1. He joked the “Shooter” was the missing member of G.I. Joe who slipped on a banana peel, threw his back out, and had to quit G.I. Joe, lol 😂

[@davidq.5488]

🤣

[@Transfixed]

Yes a cheeky nod to Jim Shooter, you beat me to it :) For a little more trivia, there was also an unofficial O-ring Shooter figure produced by a fan (I have one), and her story was retconned into Operation Lady Doomsday in the Declassified #1 comic.

[@shanehai2699]

​@Transfixed Yes, on both of these things, lol... I think DDP (Devil's Due) did that Declassified series/issue. I picked up the TPB version back then. Knowing about the Jim Shooter nod, from his time as the Editor in Chief of Marvel Comics, and DDP making Shooter a female character and Hispanic, I believe (?), I attributed her codename as an extension of that homage into the then newly retconned and more fleshed out character and then later on, figure. Anyway, I too have Shooter in with my original 14 Joes line-up, along with an additional Arctic Snake Eyes, as seen in GI Joe #2 with Kwinn. (Although I also did a custom Kwinn based on that issue too, since Hasbro only ever gave us the khaki shorts version of Kwinn...)

[@scottstalcup6980]

Happy to hear Clutch getting championed. Always liked him because he reminded me of the Adventure Team and Super Joe lines.

[@jacobzumbrennen3205]

Another possible inspiration for Shooter, in the 1980s "G.I. Joe Special Missions" comic line, one issue was about a Joe green shirt sniper, who happened to be a black woman, that was sent on a special mission to take out some bad guy in Latin America. She accomplished her mission but died saving some people. Her parents had a hard time wondering how their daughter, officially a Chaplain's assistant, could 'die in the line of duty'. Duke lamented that due to the secret nature of G.I. Joe's various missions, her parents wouldn't know what a heroic person their daughter was. Yes, the name in the OG comic was to honor Jim Shooter, but I think the character backstory was from the "Special Missions" comic.

[@JFvE]

As one of those parents you mentioned, I'm thankful for this line as it accomplished the mission for our sons. Your assessment is spot on, and couldn't be more accurate about them overall. Great looking, mostly true to the OG13(14) but lots of problematic articulation and accessories. Excellent video, and I loved your original effects making their return.

[@stevedrinkard8898]

I had heard "Shooter" in the first issue panel was a wink and a nod reference to Jim Shooter, Marvel's editor at the time.

[@soultrip7]

I love this channel been following over a decade

[@RA10H56]

I remember that Christmas like it was yesterday. Me and my brother got doubles of everything. So we wouldn't fight over the toys. What a great time to be a kid. The sandbox and your joes. Only a few things in life are better.

[@lo1bo2]

I've heard from a bunch of Joe fans that Stalker (1982) was their first figure. I can see why. That camo pattern stands out and makes him look really cool.

[@cavemanbum]

As a 9-year old kid in 1982, I wanted G.I. Joe action figures so badly; I was horribly disappointed that the only ones I could find in stores were Breaker and Short Fuze, neither of whom had a rifle-type weapon (WTF was a mortar?). None of the stores had the cooler models like Snake Eyes, Stalker, or Rock N Roll. 😭

[@rexremedy1733]

But now you got them? Or still waiting?

[@KJ-tz7vc]

Gazing back with 2022 eyes, the 25th Anniversary-style figures look rather gawky, but I certainly appreciated collecting them and that the line was so deep.

[@OnslaughtSix]

The figures got better as the line went on but not without their problems. Shooter was one of the last ones released and like he says, fiddly accessories that didn't hold together were a major recurring theme.

[@KJ-tz7vc]

@@OnslaughtSix That is true. I liked the proportions of the Zap figure, for example.

[@mrgreatbigmoose]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I played with my cousin's G.I. Joes (the original 13) but I was way too young to remember any names other than Stalker, Breaker, Scarlett and Chuckles.

[@wilfred8326]

Shooter's Weapon Case.... 21 year Army Veteran here, we had all kinds of boxes like that over the years for radios, computers etc.... and sometimes the hinges got warped so it took 3 soldiers to close.... lol

[@KensToys74]

Another great one. The memories it brought back.. Thank you.

[@a_world_made_of_cardboard]

I seriously thought about completing the same figure set. I remember the original 13 being released. I had most of the figures and vehicles from first line. I only lacked the MMS and the Command Center. Flash was my first too. ( I built my own out of cardboard.) And yes, the 80's were a great time to be a kid.

[@danielcarlson7002]

This SURE brings back memories!!!!!!!!!

[@davidhooper259]

THIS IS HOW COOL HASBRO IS. I was 9 and I wanted SnowJob and SnakeEyes but the two stores in town never carried them. I wrote HASBRO asking where I could buy them. It turns out both figures were discontinued for its new crop of figures BUT they sent me both at no charge!

[@mechamanblade8465]

It was your video on the original 13 G.I. Joes that prompted me to collect the original 14 from the Anniversary line. I have the same posing pains, but I love this line of G.I. Joe so much that I don't collect Classified. Highly detailed, easily customizable, and mostly compatible with vintage Joe vehicles. Just icing on the Anniversary cake!

[@frankgatesjr.4815]

Truth be told, the comics have an enlistment of 15 OG characters. The one that was left out was a Joe that went by the code name: Kwinn

[@MrMADGUS]

Thank you soooooo much for this VERY Kool fact about Shooter.

[@stephens4175]

I love evrything about the original 13 Joes, had most of them, my first being Clutch and the Vamp, so everytime you talk about them it's a pleasant trip back in my mind...I was also a big reader of the original Marvel comic, but I dropped off of that when Serpentor came around and the Movie from the 80's. awesome vid..Yo Joe!! to you my good sir.

[@sidearmsalpha]

Yeah, my interest in the comic started to wane with the introduction of Serpentor too. I just felt GI Joe was straying away from the military vs terrorist plots that made it so appealing to me in the first place.

[@EnigmaticPenguin]

I'm having retro Retroblasting flashbacks!

[@The_Jawnski]

With Stalker's involvement in Vietnam, it is likely he picked up the MP40 from a dead Viet Cong guerilla, as there are multiple recorded instances of VC using those kinds of sub machine guns against US and AUS forces.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

1st, Stalker was in the MAC V SOG. The 1st figure has a MP5 9mm SMG called The Pulverizer. The comic book version of Stalker; SE Asia used a CAR15 5.56mm with a long surpressor, ART/IR scope. LRRPs & MAC V SOG teams rarely used SMGs.

[@irish3335]

Fantastic video! You brought back some great memories and I did exactly what you did (mix and match) - thanks for always saying it how it is, we take the good with the bad (great display figures; not so much for play)

[@leftylion816]

I recently acquired a complete Shooter figure with her profile card. She is awesome and I have her set up on my office desk with Stalker and Roadblock. I love the fact that she's a sniper as well. Thank you for sharing her origin story in the comics and her reintroduction to the original GIJOE team. Would be nice to see her in the Classified Series at some point as well.

[@shogunfox7141]

And where was she released from? Was this a FSS figure?

[@leftylion816]

@@shogunfox7141 I believe that she was part of a 2016 50th Anniversary Special Forces 3 pack with Outback and Falcon

[@shanehai2699]

​@@leftylion816 You are correct.

[@schmidtBoise]

Man I had all the originals from back in early 80s. Played with them till they fell apart. Loved that line. Favorite toys of all time.

[@batzytoys]

just discovered this channel! love it!

[@TheMightyCookieShow]

My GO JOE collection was actually vastly bigger than my star wars collection. My prized possessions where, the hovercraft and the skystriker.

[@jeenkzk5919]

I’m wondering if the name Shooter was in reference to Jim Shooter who was the editor in chief at the time. Sort of an Easter egg

[@FoolKiller5150]

Shooter was a nod to Jim Shooter who was the editor at the time at Marvel comics

[@Mvargo97]

Great video Michael, brings back lots of fond memories of the original video (my first RB video). Despite my feelings about Gi Joe with the 25th anniversary and beyond these 14 really do display well together.

[@JEDITOYMASTERS]

Man I love G.I. JOE.......if I could I'd trade all my Star Wars stuff for Joe's

[@DougPalumbo]

“Jeremiah Johnson”. Excellent!

[@RancidDragonProductions]

They need this group in the Classified line!

[@zevermoon]

I had the same issue with the undercover Flint cobra action figure. After losing the helmet 3 times I gave in, and tacked it with a small dab of superglue.

[@OnslaughtSix]

The extremely short lived Walmart exclusive Retro line from last year had really great new versions of Stalker, Scarlett and Grunt that fit seamlessly into these toys. A shame that line didn't last, and seems to have been replaced with O-Ring reissues (an era I have absolutely no desire to return to or collect). There was also a version of Clutch and maybe Breaker released with the "fixed" arms that don't have the articulation cut on the skin but instead at the cuff. I was able to find 2 of these and swap them around to create the best possible versions of those guys.

[@haroldellis9721]

OK, your priorities are very different from mine, but your work is a public service, so thank you.

[@jackofallclaws6672]

Anyone else wonder if the concept of The 13 Primes from Transformers might have been inspired by the Original 13 Joes?

[@adamshafeeq8685]

The 13 Joes are far from the 13 Primes 💀

[@impossiblepie]

Awesome video Michael, your joe videos are second to no one! I thought Hasbro did a fantastic job on the card backs for this line, so good I've kept all of mine on card.

[@Cincinnatis5StarBarber]

Phenomenal video Michael!! I’m an OG ‘82 myself. I was 8 years old and my first figure was Rock N’ Roll. U hit it right on the money with the 25th Anniversary. I still gotta get that Zap tho cuz he’s 🔥 and i had no idea about Shooter, but i sure do remember her name in the comic on that page. Kudos bro🤙🏻

[@ginoames]

These are my Joes for sure. I just loved how they actually looked like real soldiers for the most part.

[@stevegt2682]

My first GI Joe was Shortfuze the mortar soldier, yeah he was the only one they had ( maybe at KayBee?)but I was still thrilled

[@bb5242]

I got Shortie, Zap, and Grunt all at once as a reward for going to some doctor visit, probably a physical where they check for hernia. 😂

[@redcomet_622]

Personally i prefer these over O Rings as they're less troublesome and there isn't any repair risk. Im still mad that Hasbro stoppsd the retro collection repackages of these in favor for O Rings.

[@hemnair75]

Rock&Roll uses an MG42? I thought he had an M-60? Great video and now I know who Shooter is and we all know what knowing gets us, half a battle won.

[@hankbrown8436]

I was about to comment on that! He was one of my first.

[@jdo8560]

as a group, as a complete unit, the Original 13 are my favorites too. This is a fantastic spotlight on them.

[@arcturionblade1077]

I love the OG 13/14! I dig Shooter and wholly accept her backstory and role as the Joe's sniper. Her position as sniper also easily explains her absence since snipers often either work alone or (more commonly) with a spotter as a dedicated pair on special missions.

[@brycevo]

They all look pretty good

[@bigdougdog]

Great video!

[@dirus3142]

Stalker having an MP 40 is very odd indeed. He should have had an M3 "grease gun" SMG. They were still in service through Vietnam. Used by special forces in that conflict. Stalker being a LRP/LRRP/Ranger in the war would fit that weapon.

[@sammylane21]

I'd the 'JOE's current IP owners give us figures with notable height differences in a future line....but I wonder which JOE is the tallest v whom is the shortest.... Lady Jay, maybe?

[@RealRoknRollr3108]

These look extremley poorly made

[@GalactoDave]

Respect. Great video

[@masterpainter72]

I heard that Shooter was named for then Marvel Comics editor Jim Shooter...!

[@Rezikai]

This is correct

[@TimHayes]

Excellent video Michael French!

[@regalt1987]

I look at these new Joe's and every time i touch one, I just think they are garbage.

[@bladestar2322]

The guys with laser guns became obsolete the minute the cartoon decided that everyone should have Laser Guns!

[@ChadTownsend]

It’s Jim Shooter, editor and Chief of Marvel comics. If no one’s pointed this out already 😂

[@jasonmaiden5026]

I wish they would rerelease these figures the same as the originals, except with updated sculpting and paint details. Make them affordable and available. I'd also like to see a gijoe version of COD. Maybe that would get the younger crowd interested in gijoe again so they aren't only catering to the nostalgia angle.

[@AL-ws5yi]

Because I’m a girl (and my parents were cheap) I never got GI Joe figures. I always wanted GI Joe figures but probably not these. Thanks for the review.

[@michaelshelton6025]

Great video I think I skipped the 25th anniversary line out of skepticism but I think getting the original 14 will be a fun hint now!

[@joshlock4627]

We had limited figures growing up in Australia- 1980s no ebay Could never buy Flint / Lady Jane

[@melvinbagby4221]

I don't have Shooter yet, but I have all the others. I too did some modifications. I ended up using Short Fuse (Eric lol)'s body for Grunt and Short Fuse got - I forget. However, the Dollar General Duke came with the proper shoulder harness for Short Fuze in black, so he got that.

[@josephpizzuti7997]

Definitely needed the "snap on stay on" accessories

[@sammylane21]

Was Gen. Hawk in the first season? I don't recall noticing him until the next season and bad ass movie.

[@exosphereworkshop]

"Fumbles...it was always fumbles."

[@williamlydon2554]

Will a video on the original COBRA figures who opposed them ever happen?

[@leebush4053]

The Stalker figure with the MP40 shows how aesthetic the MP40 is.

[@claytonsedler9014]

Great video!!! Yo Joe!!!

[@FingersOnAFretboard]

whoa, thumb-nubbins. lotta potato peeling incidents back at the barracks?

[@SentinelGiga]

Nice video but it reminds me I still need to get hold of a Grand Slam for my collection, he's the only one I don't (indeed, have never) have. Something I did apprecite about the 'modern era' (25th - 50th) were the retooled vehicles. A Vamp/Vamp II with actual plastic headlights instead of just stickers plus a removable shovel instead of the moulded on one, Serpentor's more detailed Air Chariot, the FANG with a proper control stick and added detailing, and - probably best of the lot - the new Skyhawk mold with nice details and a proper canopy. Some of the later figures really improved too, like the Ultimate Storm Shadow, PoC commando Snake Eyes, the later Vipers and some of the Club figures like Frostbite or Bombstrike but most of the best ones were a pain to get hold of.

[@HankyPanky44]

Never knew about Shooter before. Now I know!

[@joeblaster8770]

Actually it was the original 15, Shooter was shown in GI Joe Declassified where the also had sparks as a teal member.

[@fletchbg]

1:49 "How Grunt got his codename"

[@mrbluesteen]

The Original is the Best lineup of Gijoes! Well done michael

[@mstrider80]

I basically despise the 25th anniversary figures, but they were a good way to get a few sought-after characters that never made it to production in the old days. Half of the few ones I actually bought were defective with joints out of place, permanently bent limbs, immovable joints, or other borderline comical factory errors. My most optimistic take is that the 25th line allowed me to pick up some classic vehicles my family couldn't afford during my childhood. In some cases I actually sold the accompanying figures or just plain threw a few away as looking at them simply aggravated the hell out of me. They didn't even fit in the vehicles they came with. I do like and still use my expensive as hell 3 pack of female Cobra troopers. They go well with any play scenario. That Scarlett is so bad I threw mine out. I could never look at it and see Scarlett. It just looked like a female with a half melted uneven face no matter how many times I tried to accept it.

[@flyingonblades]

I love videos that explore vintage figures from 15 years ago 😋

[@Scott.Hughes]

I barely remember these figures being available. But now I regret not getting them. And, as usual, comedy gold. I would never be able to look at that Rock N Roll figure again without seeing the Jeremiah Johnson gif.

[@O.G.Trashboat]

By far the OG 13 are far superior IMHO, as far as looks go. I think the OG-13 look way better than later waves. My 1st Joe was the OG Breaker. I picked him because he had more gear than the rest. I would have preferred to have these figures with the OG articulation points. I hate the new necks and mid chest joints.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

My 1st GI Joe was Rock & Roll. I liked his M60 like heavy machine gun. Snakes Eyes was cool too. I'm 52, 2023 & have 2 GI Joe Snake Eyes T shirts 👕.

[@CoffeePhilosophy]

Great video!!!

[@summonersumnerus4364]

I get the feeling it took you most of a day just setting up the display and then did the filming after you've calmed down a little..

[@Lantern72]

Loved the original crew. These are the characters we need in the classified line, 1st and foremost

[@joverbey123456789]

I don’t think that is the original intent of “Shooter” I believe is was a tribute or Easter egg referring to JIM SHOOTER editor in chief of Marvel Comics at the time of GI Joe’s release.

[@pkeel7576]

I’m a die hard joe fan. This video is actually a kinder way to describe these figures. Personally I would have been harsher in the design The 25th figures are absolutely everything you said and then some. Well done video and I will say I do like/love the classified figures but they are lacking in some minor things . This to me is the best video/review that you have done in years. Thank you for doing this not for us seasoned collectors but for the new guys/gals getting into collecting

[@tafmanime]

Wow. I never knew about Shooter. 👍🏽

[@everettst.claire870]

I'm really glad that I ran across your channel. At first it just seemed like another toy review\showcase channel that I often lose interest in quickly. After watching several of your videos that date back years, you cover some of the toxic collecting environments and toy company's self induced pitfalls of artistically bankrupt higher-ups. I'm 52, and saw Star Wars in the theater in '77. At that age I was ripe for the original Kenner line, and owned a complete set through Empire. Including the proof of purchase Boba Fett. I was also a huge fan of the G.I. Joe and had a large collection. Puberty and a BB gun unfortunately took care of those. Anyway, I dig your videos and look forward to the next. Be well

[@somarriba333]

Man. The only ones I can name are Scarlet and Snake Eyes. Pretty sure I don't have the rest of these but if I could get one more for my collection, I would like Shooter. It would be nice to have another female figure.

[@solarpanel9085]

These figures looked super cheap

[@cerethpainting6606]

The original “original 13 video” is still one of my favorites….right below Han Solo swing dancing

[@SkyStarNova]

Long Live the Image/Devils Due GIJoe comics run! I regularly read that fist appearance of Shooter, GIJOE Declassified. Basically a companion mini series for the original GIJoe #1.

[@kennybacchus1488]

Gl. Joe. The. Original. 14. Hasbro. 25. Anniversary.

[@retroblasting]

Still not sure why you're just repeating back the title as a comment.

[@PopularZoneGaming]

5:30 Grunt has a neck like a giraffe

[@BeefyRider]

I never really had issues with the helmets staying on so that's interesting to me. Maybe they had different runs? Or maybe I just got lucky.

[@FullersFigures]

Great run down of the 25th Anniversary set and enjoyed learning about the 14th figure. Of the bunch I really think Stalker's is the stand out sculpt but as a grouping they look fantastic lined up together.

[@6thElementOfHipHop]

I never cared for that first line, it’s probably bcuz I was born in 79 and was too young until about the time the second wave came, in fact, my favorite Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow are the V2 Oh and btw, Shooter should be displayed prone…

[@robertwright5647]

So I have the 25th Anniversary line. Unfortunately the only original 13 I don’t have is Zap. He came with the Cobra Island pack that is going for way too much on the secondary market.

[@ryantorney5581]

I 100% agree on the OG want

[@reload54]

As an 80s kid I gravitated more toward the He-man and Star Wars figures because I didn't like the sculpt of the GI Joes. They had more articulation, but I didn't like how the extra joints game them so many visible screws and broke up the sculpt. My neighbor had all of them, so I eventually got on board with them, but they always looked like they had their underwear pulled up over their pants.

[@J-T-A]

With cameo appearance by Code Name: Bicycle Seat!

[@MarkVersion1]

Kind to think of it, The GI Joe live action movie should've concentrated on the original 13

[@AmericanDischord]

Shooter was a nod to Jim Shooter. I imagined his outfit to be similar to Beachhead if Marvel decided to flesh it out back in the day. Pretty cool figure they came up with though.

[@fleetwarrior75]

Steeler and the Mobat was my first!