Action Hero G.I. Joe is There: Yo! Joe

A Real American Hero, and motion determine, G.I. Joe is there! Many sons idolize their fathers. My dad is actually a hero to me. So, whereas my eighty-three, almost 84-year-old dad, struggles with some well being points proper earlier than Christmas, I wish to mirror on the nostalgia of G.I. Joe at Christmas time. And if this text comes out after Christmas, that’s okay too. After all, Dad appreciated to take us to the Tractor Supply retailer to purchase half-off toys on the day after Christmas. And I nonetheless keep in mind bringing dwelling Joe on a kind of events.

G.I. Joe is There in Comics

I’ve to confess, my first G.I. Joe was an 11 1/2-inch astronaut. So, when a line of motion figures got here out that was lower than 4 inches tall with barely any movable elements, I used to be aggravated! But on reflection, that change powered the animated sequence, after which the Marvel comedian. G.I. Joe was now not only one motion hero, he (and he or she) had been many.

The 1982 sequence G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero launched characters like Cobra Commander, Snake-Eyes, and Scarlett into comics. However, I ponder if G.I. Joe’s comedian origin and first look ought to hint again to the 1967 comedian giveaway referred to as America’s Moveable Fighting Man.

That 36-page comedian featured illustrations by famed Superman artist Kurt Schaffenberger. I discovered a replica of America’s Moveable Fighting Man on eBay for ten bucks. The Marvel sequence premiere is broadly obtainable with a CGC 9.8 FMV of $1,100.

Yo! Joe on the Arcade Video

About the time I finished asking for motion figures for Christmas, the Atari 2600 swept the nation. We performed Space Invaders and Asteroids. Somewhat later, 1983, Parker Brothers put out the primary Joe sport, Cobra Strike. Sales in 2021 for WATA 9.8 A++ sealed video games ran round $700. Those modest public sale costs might mirror the online game implosion that occurred round that point as talked about in my article on gathering sport artwork.

By distinction, the 1991 Nintendo sport from Taxon rallied bidders. A sealed 9.6 A+ copy of G.I. Joe offered for just below $20,000 final 12 months. I suppose the improved graphics of the Nintendo allowed avid gamers to differentiate Duke from Snake Eyes. Come on, 8-bit sprites are ok for REAL avid gamers!

By the way in which, the newest Joe online game is Operation Blackout–clearly, the graphics blow away the Twentieth-century video games.

Action Hero G.I. Joe Art

When it involves “Yo! Joe” collectibles, let’s be certain G. I. Joe artwork will get just a little motion, too. Amanda Connor, additionally identified for her Harley Quinn work, penciled the duvet for G. I. Joe A Real American Hero 154. That artwork will promote within the HA January Signature Auction. It ought to be just a little extra inexpensive than a current sale.

Fans of Ed Hannigan and Klaus Janson’s Real American Hero #21 cowl artwork will need to have been shocked. The Snake Eyes cowl offered for an unseemly $312,000 firstly of 2022. Whooaaah! I believed these forms of costs had been reserved for Ditko Spider-Man or Kirby Captain America. Typical Hannigan covers fetch fifteen to twenty thousand.

First G.I. Joe Action Hero Figure

For my private nostalgia, I nonetheless choose the massive Joes with actual garments. I learn the Story Behind the Legend by creator Don Levine final 12 months. It informed G.I. Joe’s actual origin and confirmed the prototype determine. The G I Joe Original Prototype (Hasbro 1964) from the non-public assortment of Don Levine–it offered in 2003 for $200,001. That could be an superior value right this moment. I ponder what it’s at present price?

Mission Accomplished

Thanks for letting me mirror on previous Christmases as I take into consideration my dad recuperating within the hospital. The holidays are a good time to recollect our heroes, actual and imaginary. Check out my different Joe weblog, speculating on Snake Eyes artwork. I’ll go away you with some timeless tune lyrics.