The POP-EXPOSE: What Drew Me to G.I.Joe!
From Serpentorslair Contributor ‘Train‘!
In 1964 GI Joe was born. A 12 inch action figure aimed at boys. Many missions could be carried out and many boys fell in love with their GI Joe. In 1982 GI Joe was reinvented with the 3 & 3/4 in figure. Over the next Ten years various figures and vehicles filled birthday and Christmas wishes around the world. After a brief break Joe was born again, and in 2007 the 25th line brought nostalgia to every Joe fan and as it grows today we find many highly articulated figures ready to relive a childhood adventure or create a collectors diorama.
In the early 80’s I fell in love with the 12 inch GI Joe. Many hours I spent at my grandparents house suiting up my Joes for battle. There was always an adventure to be found. I could dive to the bottom of the ocean, drive to the top of a mountain, and even launch into space. Then Christmas of 1982 ( I was 7 at the time), Me and my brothers got a nice cash of 3-3/4 inch Joes. I got the M.M.S, my one brother got the JUMP pad, and the other a VAMP, we each got an extra figure to boot, Short Fuze, Breaker, and Flash. What a wonderful Christmas. The next year would prove shortening for me, no Joes for Christmas. In 1984 my Grandmother got me a Recondo for my Birthday, Then later that year I went to a Christmas party at the local fire station, they were handing out Joes. As I eagerly waited in line the kid ahead of me got a Spirit, he was so cool and I prayed for a Spirit as well, but when I got up to Santa, he gave me a Cobra Trooper, my head dropped in disappointment because I wanted that Spirit, not a trooper. (I wished I had just left him in his package now, but I didn’t and the only part I have left of him today is his head.) In early spring of 1985 my cousin decided he no longer wanted his Joes and I ended up with a few figures, a Dragonfly and a WHALE(wish I would have protected this one a little better.) That summer I got $10.00 for my birthday and I went to AMES department store and bought Footloose and Shipwreck (probably had to borough about 33 cents from my Mom for the tax.) Again Christmas was light on Joes a couple of the smaller vehicles was all I got.
1986 would prove to be my worst and my best year for GI Joe. At the start of the year I knew that with my parent’s income and 5 kids to support, the Flagg was going to be out of the question. At the end of my forth grade year I helped my father the entire summer building a 3 story double sided fireplace. Many hours mixing cement and carrying bricks up a ladder to the second story. My entire summer consumed working, and in return the only pay I wished to receive was the Night Raven. In mid July this seemed to be a fair agreement by my parents and me. Come September I was back in school and I still did not have a Raven in hand. In late fall at a friends birthday party I met a person who would later become Steve Hutchinson’s (formerly of Seattle and the Vikings) wife, but that is a whole other story back to topic. So I figured for Christmas I would end up with my Night Raven and all would be cool on the home front. Christmas day me and my brothers (now having a younger brother to share with as well) got nearly every figure from 1986 plus a HAVOC, Tomahawk, Conquest, Thunder Machine, and a bunch of the other smaller vehicles, although it was a grand Christmas it also was one of the most disappointing years because I really wanted that Night Raven.
The next 2 years we got many figures and vehicles including the Defiant and Mobile Command Center and many, many figures. Each and every one was so cool and unique. It was a grand time and as my older brothers grew out of Joes and my younger brother wanted to be so much older, I gained ownership of all the Joes. I took special care of the later ones I had and then they slowly faded away. On into the 90’s I put my beloved Joes away and form 9th grade through college and a good # of years struggling to pay the bills on my own I forgot all about them. Around 2003 I found some clearance Joes at the discount store Big Lots. I bought a couple and fell right back in love with them as I had back in 1982. Over the next ten years I would spend countless hours building a collection of Joes of both vintage and modern, and most definitely have filled my void for Spirit and nearly 20 years later of my unfulfilled passion, I finally got my night Raven.
I know everyone here has their own story of how they started and maybe departed and were drawn back into a world where your imagination is the only thing you need and you can create stories, dioramas, poses, and interaction with friends and family for hours on end. I was entranced in 1982 and I was captivated in 2007. Keep on collecting and may GI Joe live forever.
What year did you get into Joe?
When did you start collecting again?
What is your favorite year for the Joe line?
