G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
Hasbro
1984
By 1984 G.I. Joe had become a household name among kids. The action figure wars were on between several popular kids shows, but to date, G.I. Joe would outlast all of them in terms of merchandising and marketing.
There were a total of 20 new figures for 1984 (11 grunts, 8 vehicle drivers, and one mail-away) which included some of the most popular characters from the cartoon series. Among the grunts were; The Baroness, Blowtorch, the recently only available mail-away Duke, Firefly, Mutt and Junkyard, Recondo, Rip Cord, Roadblock, Scrap Iron, Spirit, and the ever popular Storm Shadow.
One of the greatest figures from the series was available this year as a mail away, and sadly never made its way to a card. The Hooded Cobra Commander figure was available by mail from 1984 all the way up to 1990. As an added bonus, he was available one last time as the "Secret Bonus" figure in the 1992 and 1993 collector kits.
The eight vehicle drivers which hit shelves this year were; Clutch (now sporting a tan uniform), Copperhead, Cutter, Deep Six, Stinger Driver, Thunder, and Zartan. Each figure came packaged with its respective vehicle from the show. The most popular one seemed to be Zartan who came with a sheet of heat sensitive stickers which were placed on the chest piece and each thigh pad and a disguise.
More vehicles and accessories than you could shake a stick at hit the shelves in 1984. That was one thing G.I. Joe had going for it. Not only were there plenty of action figures to choose from, but all the rich kids could also get all the vehicles they could dream of to go along with them. The vehicles and accessories this year included; A.S.P., Chameleon Swamp Skier, C.L.A.W., Killer W.H.A.L.E., Rattler, S.H.A.R.C., Skyhawk, Slugger, Stinger Night Attack Jeep, V.A.M.P. Mk II, Water Moccasin, Accessory Pack 2, Bivouac, Machine Gun Defense Unit, Missile Defense Unit, Mortar Defense Unit, Mountain Howitzer and Watch Tower. There was also a mail away M.A.N.T.A., and a Sear's exclusive V.A.M.P. and H.A.L.
G.I. Joe was definitly here to stay. With each year that passed, kids got more and more ravenous for the series. But no mater how excited kids were in 1984, it was just the begining. 1985 would mark the biggest year in G.I. Joe history.
Stay tuned for next time when we take a look at just that; Part 6, G.I. Joe 1985.
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From these I have The Baroness, Duke, Firefly, Rip Cord, Roadblock, Scrap Iron, Storm Shadow and Mortar Defense Unit (which I received as a mail away)
ReplyDeleteAll the "Cobra" figures in this wave brought their "A" game. All are among my favorites.
DeleteMutt, Recondo and Firefly are still my favorites. I only purchased Storm Shadow and Firefly at this point. Was transitioning out of toys. I liked Firefly's grey camo.
ReplyDeleteTook me 35 years to purchase a WHALE. What a fantastic toy.