7-Year Stretch of Collecting G.I. Joe That Is Still Defining My Life
Destro Designs – Viper Den Studios
With many years of producing banger after banger, it’s hard to nail down all the milestones in the original run of the G.I. Joe toy line.
We know where it started, and we know where it ended—but what happened in between is always subjective to individual likes and dislikes.
To me, it was a constant ascension from day one. Sometimes there were large leaps forward, and other times a steadier climb.
I’m going to get into every year of my collecting individually—what figures I got and what I wanted. But first, I want to broad-stroke my time collecting and give you an overview that’ll help set up those individual years.
I grabbed my first Joes in late ’84 and was given my last Joe in ’91.
1991 had a handful of really cool figures, but most of the line was going in a direction that didn’t keep my attention. Playing multiple sports, getting a girlfriend, and just growing up took me away for a while.
But also… dumpster fire figures that were straight heresy—like Low-Light V2, the blue and yellow Major Bludd, and of course, the “super stealthy” Ninja Firefly dressed in neon green.
Nothing screams Firefly like the word “ninja,” and nothing screams ninja and stealthy like a neon green outfit.
The whole figure was counterintuitive—and it sunk my G.I. Joe battleship. That was a wrap.
But I feel like those core years were so packed with incredible figures, it’s insane.
1983 and 1984 introduced an iconic core of figures that pushed military realism into slightly fantastical territory—and created the coolest thing ever.
Destro and Snake Eyes V1 were the trap door I fell through and never looked back.
Those two years laid the foundation—core leaders and the basis that shaped the entire conflict. Cobra Commander, Destro, and their army of troopers and officers were going to bring it to these cool-ass Joes—and this awesome girl, Scarlett. I remember thinking it was all just so badass.
This was the stage where the good vs. evil battle would play out. And it was amplified even more with the release of the M.A.S.S. Device—I now had voices and personalities to assign to these already incredible figures.
By my birthday in 1985, I was knee-deep—with damn near every G.I. Joe, Cobra, and enemy figure there was to be had.
With that sturdy foundation from the first two years, 1985 was able to explore new territory with some amazing, never-before-seen action figures.
First of all—the GOAT—Snake Eyes V2 was released, and nothing was ever the same again.
But both sides of the battle had figures that ranged across the spectrum—from leaders, to soldiers, to specialists, to anarchists. 1985 meant business, and it bullied out every other toy line in my mind—and many others.
Iconic troops like the Snow Serpent, Eel, and Tele-Vipers. Iconic Joes like Flint and Lady Jaye—and so much more.
I believe 1985 paved the way for 1986 the same way ’83 and ’84 did for ’85.
The daring of Ron Rudat and his Da Vinci-like genius rose to new heights. We saw military-style figures get some of their best releases yet—guys like Beach Head and Low-Light. More iconic Cobra troopers like the B.A.T. and the newest evolution of the Trooper—the Viper—an all-timer for me.
But also some wild choices like Sci-Fi and Dr. Mindbender.
I’ve always gone back and forth between ’85 and ’86 as my favorite year…
But it’s 1986.
It’s always been 1986.
With that said, I feel like the years 1988, 1989, and 1990 don’t get their due—because all three years had some of the best figures ever made. They were still dropping 95% fire.
So we’ll get into those years. I’ll talk about what I liked, what I got, and what I tried my heart out to get—but didn’t—in each year.
I’ll also mention what other toy lines I turned my nose up at because G.I. Joe was the best.
So stay tuned.
I’ll be dropping these yearly breakdowns every other article—until I get to the point where I was assaulted with fishnet-wearing Low-Light and the full-on abomination that was the 1991 lineup.
