G.I. Joe Duke 1991 Pre-owned Figure

G.I. Joe: the ultimate real American hero

First launched in 1964 by Hasbro, G.I. Joe began as the world’s first “action figure,” offering boys the same kind of roleplay possibilities Barbie had for girls. But the franchise exploded in the 1980s with G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1982).

The story: an elite team, the G.I. Joe squad, fights against the evil terrorist organization Cobra, led by the sinister Cobra Commander and his memorable allies like Destro, Baroness, and Storm Shadow.

Highlights included:

• 3.75-inch figures with great articulation and unique bios printed on cardbacks.

• Massive vehicles and playsets (tanks, jets, headquarters).

• A cult animated series by Sunbow (1983-1986), complete with one of the most iconic theme songs in cartoon history.

• A long-running Marvel Comics series by Larry Hama that gave the toys real depth and character-driven storylines.

With endless characters, ninjas, commandos, and specialists, kids could create sprawling battles in their bedrooms.

Today, G.I. Joe lives on with new toy lines like the Classified Series and various films. But for many fans, nothing tops the vintage 80s era, when those small figures felt larger than life.