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“G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier (U.S. Army), Action Sailor (U.S. Navy), Action Pilot (USAF), Action Marine (USMC) and later on, the Action Nurse. The term G.I. stands, in popular usage, for Government Issued and after the First World War became a generic term for U.S. soldiers. The origin of the term dates to World War I, when much of the equipment issued to U.S. soldiers was stamped “G.I.”, meaning that it was made from galvanized iron. The development of G.I. Joe led to the coining of the term “action figure”. G.I. Joe's appeal to children has made it an American icon among toys.

The G.I. Joe trademark has been used by Hasbro to title two different toy lines. The original 12-inch line that began in 1964 centered on realistic action figures. In the United Kingdom, this line was licensed to Palitoy and known as Action Man. In 1982, the line was relaunched in a 3¾-inch scale complete with vehicles, playsets, and a complex background story involving an ongoing struggle between the G.I. Joe Team and the evil Cobra Command which seeks to take over the Free World through terrorism. As the American line evolved into the Real American Hero series, Action Man also changed, by using the same molds and being renamed as Action Force. Although the members of the G.I. Joe team are not superheroes, they all had expertise in areas such as martial arts, weapons and explosives. G.I. Joe was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York, in 2003”. – Wikipedia


Vintage G.I. Joe figurers are on display at the 2003 Hasbro International G.I. Joe Collectors' Convention June 27, 2003 in Burlingame, California. Hundreds of G.I. Joe fans from around the country are attending the convention to buy, sell and trade G.I. Joe and military action figures. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Vintage G.I. Joe figurers are on display at the 2003 Hasbro International G.I. Joe Collectors' Convention June 27, 2003 in Burlingame, California. Hundreds of G.I. Joe fans from around the country are attending the convention to buy, sell and trade G.I. Joe and military action figures. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)




This January 31, 2014 photo shows Tuskegee Airmen G.I. Joe action figures in a display at the New York State Military Museum  in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Photo by Mike Groll/AP Photo)

This January 31, 2014 photo shows Tuskegee Airmen G.I. Joe action figures in a display at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Photo by Mike Groll/AP Photo)




Old G.I. Joe dolls wait for collectors at the International G.I. Joe Collector's Convention in Washington DC July 30, 1999. (Photo by Mike Holmes/Getty Images)

Old G.I. Joe dolls wait for collectors at the International G.I. Joe Collector's Convention in Washington DC July 30, 1999. (Photo by Mike Holmes/Getty Images)




G.I. Joe action figure creator Don Levine signs autographs at the 2003 Hasbro International G.I. Joe Collectors' Convention June 27, 2003 in Burlingame, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

G.I. Joe action figure creator Don Levine signs autographs at the 2003 Hasbro International G.I. Joe Collectors' Convention June 27, 2003 in Burlingame, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)




One of over 300 G.I. Joe action figures thrown off the roof of the Loews Hotel, including this vintage reproduction, is pictured in New Orleans on Friday, June 30, 2006. (Photo by Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

One of over 300 G.I. Joe action figures thrown off the roof of the Loews Hotel, including this vintage reproduction, is pictured in New Orleans on Friday, June 30, 2006. (Photo by Alex Brandon/AP Photo)




This January 31, 2014 photo shows one of Tearle Ashby's G.I. Joe action figures in Niskayuna, N.Y. (Photo by Mike Groll/AP Photo)

This January 31, 2014 photo shows one of Tearle Ashby's G.I. Joe action figures in Niskayuna, N.Y. (Photo by Mike Groll/AP Photo)




Part of the G.I. Joe action figure collection belonging to Paul Arnold is shown Wednesday, June 26, 2002, at his home in Virginia Beach, Va. Arnold has a collection of more than 160 G.I. Joe figures, including the one  nurse figure, right, and hundreds of accessories from clothing and vehicles to a space capsule and suits. (Photo by Gary C. Knapp/AP Photo)

Part of the G.I. Joe action figure collection belonging to Paul Arnold is shown Wednesday, June 26, 2002, at his home in Virginia Beach, Va. Arnold has a collection of more than 160 G.I. Joe figures, including the one nurse figure, right, and hundreds of accessories from clothing and vehicles to a space capsule and suits. (Photo by Gary C. Knapp/AP Photo)




G.I. Joe action figures are seen at the 2003 Hasbro International G.I. Joe Collectors' Convention June 27, 2003 in Burlingame, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

G.I. Joe action figures are seen at the 2003 Hasbro International G.I. Joe Collectors' Convention June 27, 2003 in Burlingame, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)




The prototype for the G.I. Joe action figure, “Rocky the Paratrooper”, is on display at the 2003 Hasbro International G.I. Joe Collectors' Convention June 27, 2003 in Burlingame, California. The prototype is expected to fetch $600,000 when it goes up for auction. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The prototype for the G.I. Joe action figure, “Rocky the Paratrooper”, is on display at the 2003 Hasbro International G.I. Joe Collectors' Convention June 27, 2003 in Burlingame, California. The prototype is expected to fetch $600,000 when it goes up for auction. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)




This January 31, 2014 photo shows a Gen. George Patton G.I. Joe action figure, right, and other G.I. Joes in a display at the New York State Military Museum  in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. A half-century after the 12-inch doll was introduced at a New York City toy fair, the iconic action figure is being celebrated by collectors with a display at the military museum, while the toy's maker plans other anniversary events to be announced later this month. (Photo by Mike Groll/AP Photo)

This January 31, 2014 photo shows a Gen. George Patton G.I. Joe action figure, right, and other G.I. Joes in a display at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. A half-century after the 12-inch doll was introduced at a New York City toy fair, the iconic action figure is being celebrated by collectors with a display at the military museum, while the toy's maker plans other anniversary events to be announced later this month. (Photo by Mike Groll/AP Photo)




In this January 31, 2014 photo Tearle Ashby poses with some of his G.I. Joe action figures in Niskayuna, N.Y. (Photo by Mike Groll/AP Photo)

In this January 31, 2014 photo Tearle Ashby poses with some of his G.I. Joe action figures in Niskayuna, N.Y. (Photo by Mike Groll/AP Photo)




A G.I. Joe Action Figure Of The Late U.S. President John F. Kennedy Was Unveiled August 30, 2000 At The Kennedy Library In Boston, Ma. (Courtesy Of Hasbro/Newsmakers) (Photo By Getty Images)

A G.I. Joe Action Figure Of The Late U.S. President John F. Kennedy Was Unveiled August 30, 2000 At The Kennedy Library In Boston, Ma. (Courtesy Of Hasbro/Newsmakers) (Photo By Getty Images)




In this January 31, 2014 photo shows G.I. Joe action figures are arranged in a mobile army surgical hospital in a display at the New York State Military Museum  in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Photo by Mike Groll/AP Photo)

In this January 31, 2014 photo shows G.I. Joe action figures are arranged in a mobile army surgical hospital in a display at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Photo by Mike Groll/AP Photo)




In this January 31, 2014 photo, G.I. Joe action figures portray Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima in a display at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Photo by Mike Groll/AP Photo)

In this January 31, 2014 photo, G.I. Joe action figures portray Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima in a display at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Photo by Mike Groll/AP Photo)
27 Mar 2014 07:46:00