The History of G I Joe

The history fo G.I.Joe from the toys line to movies

[@historicprops]

In response to JackWProductions' question about GI Joe being named for General Joseph Colton, and always being part of the GI Joe team: The term "GI Joe" was a generic term used in the 40s and 50s to describe any American soldier. "G.I." stood for "Government Issue", and "Joe" was simply a common name for men, at the time. The first figures, in 1964, had no names, no backstories, no filecards, or codenames, or specialities beyond Soldier, Sailor, Pilot, Marine, or Astronaut. There wasn't any "Team" at all, until 1970, when Hasbro introduced the Adventure Team line. This included the introduction of "Life-Like Hair", and, later, "Kung-Fu Grip" (both mentioned by Damon Wayans in the movie) The figures still had no names, etc. and only had different specialities: Adventurer, Land Adventurer, Sea Adventurer, Air Adventurer, Man of Action, Astronaut, and two Commanders. They weren't an anti-terrorist team, either. They tended to retrieve stolen artifacts or crashed satellite reactors, or capture dangerous creatures. It wasn't until 1983, and the introduction of the 3-3/4" figures that the term "GI Joe" was used as a name for the entire team, and it was only at this time that figures began to represent specific individual characters, like Duke, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, etc. As for General Joseph Colton, that name wasn't even devised until the 30th anniversary of GI Joe, in the early 90s, as a name for a special mail-in, limited edition 12" figure. The backstory Hasbro created for this NEW character, was that he was the key figure who formed the best of the best military personnel into the team which became known as "GI Joe". Because he's a latecomer to the storyline, many fans completely ignore the existence of the character, while others embrace his official status as founder of the Team. For my part, as a customizer who does photocomics with my 12" Joes, I take the elements I like, and leave the ones I don't. There IS a Destro in our Joe World, (mine and my boys') but no Joseph Colton, and no team called "GI Joe". Now, if I ever manage to pick up the Bruce Willis movie figure and put his head on a decently articulated body, I might change my mind..

[@patrickfleury9946]

RIP Donald Levine you,ll a real american hero. YO,JOE!!!

[@Dragonrider1227]

The Adventure Team OWNS!! GI Joe became too tough for the military :P

[@vincentfranklin17]

I had a Black GI Joe with kung-fu grip when I was eight years old. I had a Bulletman, The Human Bullet action figure, too.

[@christweed1353]

the 12inch gi joes are better than those little ones

[@-Speedy-]

Chris Tweed I know right

[@icecreamsstudio]

the best line out of all the gi joe lines was the gi joe vs cobra line,it was cannceled 6 years ago,but in 2009 a greatest battles pack was realesed,and in the movie line hasbro remoulded the air assult glider,and realesed a new character called air raid simmilar to barrel roll,longo live gi joe a real american hero vs cobra and im happy with such joe vs cobra toy remakes in 2009'-'

[@JeffTheFutureJaros]

LMAO at the DEA GI Joe line.. LOL

[@SystemSyko]

They skipped GI Joe Extreme from the mid to late 90's. Maybe they just want to pretend it never happened

[@jameslawson2447]

NEVER call a gi joe a "doll"

[@jameslawson2447]

nice!

[@JeffTheFutureJaros]

Awesome.

[@dwaynecedillos5139]

I like G.J. Joe small Action Figures from 1980's, 1990's, 2000's and early 2010's. Also G.J. Action Figures and some Generic G.J. Joe Action Figures only they are well made.

[@krisbingham2583]

Hi Nords, Do you have a link to where I could download some of your G.I. Joe videos?

[@GrandPrixDecals]

Or in other words... the decline in toys and the creative toy industry. Pretty sad.

[@MeepMeep88]

And he never mentions what GI stands for in GI joe. BUT it was still a nice video thanks

[@jestebanable]

Great video or history compilation of the G. I. Joe action figure. I collect it since the 1960's. The new movie is colossal too, with the introduction of some famous actors like The Rock and Bruce Willies. Visit my Puerto Rico 1964 Gi Joe Collector page for some interesting pics of my collector friends. We are celebrating the 50 Anniversary of Gi Joe... Goooo Joe!

[@livebyexampletoday]

I guess everyone has their favorite GI Joe time frame, for me I love the 60's toys and the early to mid 80's (my childhood). The late 70's and 90's through most of today is inferior in my opinion. Though Joe has had very steep competition these days with the popularity of video games, wrestlers, Super Heroes and of course the never ending Star Wars franchise. I just found out about recarding figures, looks like a fun project for my old Joes. =-)

[@joeardolino1824]

once the 1980's cobra futuristic crap came out it was ruined gi joe is about government issue soldiers not damn ninja's.

[@ModernBarbarian187]

It is an action figure!

[@icecreamsstudio]

i pridict sometime gi joe robot revolootion or a gi joe vs cobra anniversary line will comeout.

[@CRaZyPE143]

Man i miss the old gi joe. Every time i would make money i would go to the toy store and buy a classic gii joe now because of the damn movie all there is is rize of cobra shit!!!!

[@Andrewrpgfun]

Hi,The Mother That Made Universe owns gi Joe company. Yay. Thanks.

[@TheOas1977]

gijoe power yes

[@icecreamsstudio]

i mean there are 12 gi joe figures now days but there under the real american hero brand

[@ReMeDy_TV]

Speaking of ninja's, I used to like Power Rangers at the age of 11 until they started releasing all the Power Rangers Ninja crap. Argh, the Power Rangers aren't ninjas! They're... something else!

[@coldice33]

@44excalibur honestly i never heard of ripcord till the movie.

[@coldice33]

@44excalibur oh. i like duke his scar. barones, shes hot. zartan, for some reason when i see him in any cartoon(even in the movie) he just seems like a complete badass

[@coldice33]

@44excalibur Really? i honestly couldnt tell based on your background lol. mine has to be Zartan, and Baroness, and Duke

[@hioeo123]

if i watched the whole thing my question will be answered lol where the hell does cobra come in?

[@mj0820]

hate the new "joes", made of plastic, 3'', and don't represent America. LONG LIVE THE 60's AND 70's JOES!

[@michaelanderson8514]

well i agree but hate is too strong the kids that grew up in the 3" joe time that's what they know and love and its great for all of us keeps joe going strong '

[@coldice33]

@44excalibur one thing i hated about the movie is how snake eyes had lips. who is your favorite gi joe?

[@hioeo123]

they didnt include GI JOE RESOLUTE.

[@dm6testa777]

this dude is a millionaire

[@MannerlyGem]

I know I FUCKING KNOW all I want is a god damn 12 inch G.I. joe that's not completely plastic and has real clothes and shit BUT NO all I can fucking find are the little 3 inch guys that have a gaint fucking stamp on em that says RISE OF COBRA

[@hioeo123]

i wonder does the show tie in with the old toy line, if so wheres cobera in the past? also it has nothing to do with the toy lines.

[@coldice33]

@44excalibur yeah cause i remember when i heard of the movie, i was like who is ripcord? sgt stalker was my 6th or 7th gi joe that i had. my fav. ripcord was white when i looked him up, i woulda loved them hav stalker instead

[@ShaqsBigToe69]

@legominifig8 no way 3-4 in figures are in scale with star wars

[@ShaqsBigToe69]

@gohanguy22 yo joe!

[@happybuddyperson]

So this is why GI Joe on the 12 inch scale is gone for now. They jumped the shark wholeheartedly, and with complete lack of foresight into why GI Joe would fail after the movies and their toy lines. Also terrible advertising after 2005.

[@lkdchjqioaWUEGQCOgyf]

1982 hasbro made a pathetic attempt at the one and only ever 12" that lacked in detail and there sorry attempt to compete with the star wars figures or as they say the "oil embargo".What was the thinking of this idea? Hmm..Let's make them smaller and cheaper with very little play value and hell let's keep the same brand and call it GIJOE, they will never notice the difference? Ok...I'm starting to show my age but funny how Mattel and the famous Barbie, was not stunned by the "oil embargo".

[@dwaynecedillos5139]

What about G.I. Joe Extreme and second movie G.J. Joe. You forgot those Cartoon, Toy and Movie.

[@ModernBarbarian187]

2009.....Live action film was horrible had to force myself to sit down and watch the whole thing and I'm a life long fan. Politically correct crap. It wasn't even a good action film. Still after a lot of years of enjoyment there can be some mistakes.

[@Diabolik771]

The Joes from the early 80's were great. They started to suck later on. Eco Joes, wtf LAME! The movie looks stupid. I'll never watch that. Why do they all where black? Why does every Marvel movie have everyone wearing black? That's not how they were. Lame.

[@dwaynecedillos5139]

What about G.I. Joe Extreme and second movie G.J. Joe. You forgot those Cartoon, Toy and Movie.