Chloe Zhang
GI Joe is a line of action figures first created by Hasbro in 1964. Over the years, the toys have been released in various sizes, including 12-inch, 8.5-inch, and smaller figures in the range of 3.75 to 4 inches. These smaller GI Joes were introduced in the 1980s and gained immense popularity, with fans appreciating the increased playability and affordability they offered. The smaller size allowed for the creation of larger armies and more diverse characters, vehicles, and playsets. The success of the smaller figures was also influenced by the emergence of media tie-ins, such as comic books and animated series, which expanded the GI Joe universe and captivated fans. Today, collectors still seek out both vintage and modern GI Joe figures, with the smaller scales remaining a favourite among enthusiasts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | G.I. Joe |
| Type | Action Figure |
| Size | 8.5 inches (Super Joe Adventure Team), 3.75 inches, 4 inches, 12 inches |
| Manufacturer | Hasbro |
| Year Introduced | 1964 |
| Accessories | Jeep, helicopter, space capsule |
| Features | Kung-Fu Grip style plastic in the joints and hands, movable eye mechanism, "File Card" with backstory |
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What You'll Learn
The Super Joe Adventure Team
The search results for "what were small plastic G.I. Joes called" provide the context for understanding the topic of this paragraph: "The Super Joe Adventure Team." During the 1960s and 1970s, Hasbro, an American toy company, introduced a line of small, plastic, moveable soldier toys called "G.I. Joe." These toys were initially created as a male counterpart to the company's popular "Barbie" doll and were approximately 12 inches in height. However, building on the success of the original G.I. Joe, Hasbro released a smaller version, known as "The Super Joe Adventure Team."
"The Super Joe Adventure Team" featured figures that were roughly 6 to 8 inches in height, still with a fully poseable body and detailed, painted features. Each figure had a unique code name and specialized in a particular area of adventure, such as jungle exploration, underwater missions, or arctic operations. They were packaged with individual weapons and accessories, such as helmets, backpacks, and small, detailed vehicles. The team included diverse characters with different ethnicities and military specialties, reflecting the global nature of their adventures.
The appeal of "The Super Joe Adventure Team" lay in their portability and the endless possibilities for imaginative play. Children could create their own missions and stories, acting out dangerous exploits and daring rescues. The small size of the figures made them easy to carry, allowing kids to continue their adventures anywhere, from backyards to playgrounds. The detailed accessories and vehicles added to the realism and immersive experience of each adventure. Hasbro also released playsets, such as a mobile command center and a secret enemy lair, providing further environments for imaginative play.
Beyond the toys themselves, "The Super Joe Adventure Team" had a significant impact on popular culture. They inspired comic books, animated series, and even live-action public service announcements, where the characters taught important lessons about safety, teamwork, and courage. The brand also extended to clothing, with children donning "Super Joe" T-shirts and pretending to be members of the elite squad. The success of the smaller-sized figures also influenced other toy companies to create similar-sized action figures, leading to a boom in the action figure industry and providing children with a diverse array of characters to play with.
Today, "The Super Joe Adventure Team" remains a beloved piece of nostalgia for many adults who grew up with these toys. They are collected and traded by enthusiasts, with certain rare figures and accessories commanding high prices. The impact of these small plastic heroes can be seen in the continued popularity of action figures and the enduring appeal of imaginative play, where children and adults alike can create their own adventures and relive the excitement of "The Super Joe Adventure Team."
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Kung-Fu Grip style plastic
The G.I. Joe toy line introduced the "Kung-Fu Grip" style plastic in 1974. This innovation was first developed in the UK for the Action Man toy line. The hands of the G.I. Joe figures were moulded with a softer plastic that allowed the fingers to grip objects in a more lifelike way. The polymer used, however, degraded quickly, causing the ends of the thumbs and fingertips to break off after a few weeks. The Kung-Fu Grip style plastic was also used in the joints and hands of the Super Joe Adventure Team figures released in 1977. These figures were smaller, at 8.5 inches tall, and featured new elements such as battery-powered backpack lights and motorized accessories.
The Kung-Fu Grip was a significant feature of the G.I. Joe Adventure Team line of action figures produced by Hasbro. The figures were released in the US between 1970 and 1976 and featured an adventure theme, exploring exotic locations and accomplishing dangerous missions. The Kung-Fu Grip hands were made of a rubber that was prone to deterioration, often resulting in discolouration and broken fingers. Despite this, the Kung-Fu Grip, along with features like "Life-Like Hair" and "Eagle Eyes," made the G.I. Joe Adventure Team a well-remembered and innovative toy line.
The introduction of the Kung-Fu Grip to the G.I. Joe line coincided with a shift in the toy's identity. Initially introduced as a soldier in the 1960s, G.I. Joe evolved into the Adventure Team concept in the 1970s. This shift was influenced by changing sensibilities among parents in the US due to the unpopular Vietnam War. G.I. Joe's adversaries also changed from human enemies to ecological disasters and wild animals.
The Kung-Fu Grip style plastic added a new level of interactivity and play value to the G.I. Joe figures. With their improved gripping ability, the toys could hold various accessories and objects, enhancing the imaginative play possibilities for children. This feature, along with the detailed accessories and adventurous themes, contributed to the enduring popularity of the G.I. Joe toy line.
Over time, the Kung-Fu Grip style plastic in the G.I. Joe figures has degraded, leading to discolouration and broken fingers. Despite this, vintage G.I. Joe figures with Kung-Fu Grip remain collectible items, cherished by enthusiasts who fondly remember their playful adventures from childhood. The impact of the Kung-Fu Grip feature extended beyond the toy's functionality, evoking emotions and memories of family bonds, as reflected in personal narratives shared by some G.I. Joe owners.
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GI Joe's plastic hair
The plastic hair of GI Joe action figures has been an iconic feature since their introduction in 1964. The figures' hair was made from a flexible plastic material that allowed for a range of styles and colours, adding to the overall realism and appeal of the toys.
Over the years, the hair on GI Joe figures has taken on several different forms. The early figures, produced by Hasbro in the 1960s, often had a short, moulded crew cut style. This style was simple and practical, reflecting the military theme of the toys and allowing for easy mass production. The hair was usually moulded in a single colour, most commonly black, brown, or blonde, to match the painted facial features.
In the 1970s, GI Joe underwent a transformation with the introduction of the "Adventure Team" series. This new line of figures featured more diverse and dynamic hair styles, including side parts, swept-back looks, and even mustaches and beards. The hair became longer and more flowing, giving the figures a more adventurous and heroic appearance. This era also saw the introduction of rooted hair, where individual strands of fibre were rooted into the figure's head, allowing for more natural-looking styles and the ability to style the hair using water or heat.
The 1980s brought even more variety to GI Joe's plastic hair. With the launch of the "A Real American Hero" series, Hasbro introduced an extensive range of characters, each with unique hair styles and colours. This era saw the return of shorter, military-style crew cuts, but also featured more extreme looks, such as mohawks, mullets, and even afro hairstyles. The use of different plastic materials and production techniques allowed for greater detail and more intricate hair sculpts.
The modern era of GI Joe collectibles has seen a continued focus on hair detail and accuracy. Today, collectors and fans expect a high level of realism and faithfulness to the source material when it comes to the hair styles of their favourite characters. Hasbro and other manufacturers have responded by employing advanced sculpting techniques and using higher-quality plastics that can capture fine details and subtle nuances in hair styles.
Throughout its history, GI Joe's plastic hair has played a significant role in the overall appeal and play value of the toys. The ability to style and pose the hair adds to the immersive experience for children and collectors alike, allowing for creative storytelling and display options. Whether it's the classic crew cut or a more modern and exotic style, GI Joe's plastic hair continues to be an iconic and defining feature of these beloved action figures.
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GI Joe's accessories
GI Joe is a popular action figure and has had numerous accessories over the years. The original GI Joe was a generic soldier/adventurer, with military-themed accessories, including a rifle, and vehicles such as a jeep, helicopter, and even a space capsule.
In the late 1960s, Hasbro released a line of inexpensive rotationally moulded mannequins in the GI Joe style called The Defenders. The company also published comic book advertisements starring the original GI Joe, along with new characters Atomic Man and Bulletman.
In 1974, Hasbro introduced the "Kung-Fu Grip" GI Joe, with hands moulded in softer plastic to allow the figure to grip objects more realistically. In 1976, the toy was given an eagle-eye vision mechanism, which allowed the eyes to move when a lever at the back of the head was moved.
In 1977, Hasbro scaled down the figures to 8.5 inches and released the Super Joe Adventure Team, which included battery-powered backpack lights and motorized accessories. The Super Joe line also included alien comrades and villains, marking a shift from the military theme to a Good vs Evil play pattern.
The smaller GI Joe figures allowed for more vehicles and play sets, which increased the variety of accessories available. Today, GI Joe continues to be collected and enjoyed, with various accessory/costume packs still being sold.
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GI Joe's smaller figures
In 1977, Hasbro released a new line of smaller GI Joe figures called the Super Joe Adventure Team. The figures were scaled down to 81⁄2 inches, similar in size to Mego's Superheroes line of action figures. The line was short-lived, lasting only two years, as fans weren't excited about the smaller replacements.
In 1982, GI Joe made a comeback with a new 3 3/4" scale, reimagined as an elite military unit battling the evil Cobra organization. This smaller size proved to be a hit, selling extremely well and barely keeping up with consumer demand. The smaller figures allowed for the creation of a broader array of vehicles and playsets, enhancing the play experience.
The smaller GI Joe figures featured intricate details and cool accessories, such as the MOBAT tank with Steeler. Each figure included a "File Card" that detailed the character's backstory, adding depth and personalization to the play experience.
Today, smaller GI Joe figures continue to be produced by various companies, including Hasbro, Joy Toys, and Maurauder's Gun Runners. These figures range in size from 3.75" to 4", with some even offering 1/18 scale military figures. While Walmart's distribution of the Retro line fell short, smaller GI Joe figures can still be found at stores like Ollie's, Ross's, and Dollar Tree.
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Frequently asked questions
Smaller G.I. Joes have been released under a variety of names, including Super Joe Adventure Team, Action Man, Action Force, and A Real American Hero.
Smaller G.I. Joes were first released in 1977, and again in 1982.
The 1977 size change was due to an increase in the price of petroleum, the main raw material for plastics. The 1982 size change was an attempt to capture the success of Star Wars' smaller action figures.
The 1977 figures were 8.5 inches tall, while the 1982 figures were 3.75 inches tall.
Smaller G.I. Joes are still being produced by smaller companies like Joy Toys, Maurauder's Gun Runners, and Black Major. Hasbro also released 4-inch G.I. Joes as recently as 2021.
