A Real American Hero (toyline)

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The A Real American Hero (RAH) toy series produced well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. It is one of the longest running toy franchises.

Contents 1 The Toys 2 Line History 2.1 1982 2.2 1983 to 1985 2.3 1986 2.4 1987 2.5 1988 2.6 1989 2.7 1990 2.8 1991 to 1992 2.9 1993 to 1994 3 External links

[edit] The Toys

The RAH figures were 9.5cm (3 3/4 inches) tall, at roughly 1:18th scale. Throughout the original toy line production from 1982 through 1994, figure construction remained relatively the same. The most notable changes were the second series' addition of "swivel-arm" articulation in 1983 (initial figures had "straight arms"), and the fourth series' ball joints replacing the former swivel necks, both drastically increasing a figures poseability.

Likely inspired by the success of Kenner's Star Wars line of action figures, Hasbro designed vehicles and playsets to be used with the figures. They were often influenced by theoretical or real military technologies that were being developed during the 1980s, or actually existed at some point in time. Some examples are the G.I. Joe Skystriker XP-14 fighter plane based on the F-14 Tomcat, the Cobra Rattler, similar to the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and the Dragonfly, modeled on the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. Examples of similar army equipment include the MOBAT tank, which resembled the M-48/M-60 series of US battle tanks and the Mobile Missile System (MMS), which was a carbon copy of the MIM-23 HAWK surface-to-air (SAM) missile system.

It should also be noted that there was also a distinct science-fiction element to the line, which seemed to increase as the line went on, with toys like the Battleforce 2000 and the Star Brigade series. Fans have debated the impact of this trend on the line's declining popularity and eventual cancellation in 1994, but other contributing factors, such as the lack of a television series and competition from popular new toylines likely had a more drastic effect.

Hasbro.com officially announced a new line of "25th Anniversary" 9.5cm G.I. Joe figures on January 18th, 2007. Hasbro has stated that the figures will be "all new sculpts and the most detailed and articulated G.I. Joe figures ever!"

[edit] Line History

[edit] 1982

The first thirteen characters were introduced in carded packs while a few others were bundled with vehicles. The launch of the toy line was supported by a comic series from Marvel Comics and a series of animated commercials, several of which advertised the comic itself. As mentioned above, the first series of action figures had straight arms with elbow joints. While it is common for many characters to share the same mold for producing a body part, it is much more noticeable here as there are only few characters thus far, many of whom shared head sculpts. Despite these limitations, the new toy line was a success.

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Breaker Flash Grunt Rock 'n Roll Scarlett Short-Fuze Snake-Eyes Stalker Zap		Cobra Officer Cobra Trooper	Mail in: Cobra Commander Major Bludd
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
H.A.L. M.M.S. M.O.B.A.T. V.A.M.P. F.L.A.K. J.U.M.P. R.A.M.	Grand Slam Hawk Steeler Clutch

[edit] 1983 to 1985

With the success of the first line of toys, Hasbro followed the next year with more new characters and filled them up with more original body part designs. In 1983, "swivel-arm battle grip" articulation and some extra tweaking were added to the new characters as well as the originals, in order to make them more poseable. In 1985, the bottom of the action figures' heads were given a ball joint which made the figures' heads the ability to look up and down.

The years from 1983 to 1985 are considered by many to be the golden years of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. There were two five-part miniseries followed by a popular animated series, and the comic was one of Marvel's most successful series at the time. Many of the most popular characters were introduced around this time. Vehicles and playsets became bigger and seemed to top the design of the previous year, culminating in 1985's impressive USS Flagg playset, an aircraft carrier that measured 2.3 metres (7½ feet) long.

Italics indicate a character or toy that has been released in a previous version.

1983

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Airborne Doc Gung-Ho Snow Job Torpedo Tripwire	Mail in: Duke	Destro Major Bludd
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
Dragonfly XH-1 Falcon J.U.M.P. Skystriker XP-14F Wolverine A.P.C. G.I. Joe Headquarters P.A.C./R.A.T.s Polar Battle Bear Whirlwind	Wild Bill Grunt Grand Slam Ace Cover Girl	H.I.S.S. Viper F.A.N.G. S.N.A.K.E.	H.I.S.S. Driver Viper Pilot

1984

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Blowtorch Duke Mutt and Junkyard Recondo Ripcord Roadblock Spirit		Baroness Firefly Scrap-Iron Storm Shadow	Mail in: Cobra Commander (Hooded)
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
W.H.A.L.E. S.H.A.R.C. Slugger V.A.M.P. Mark II Bivouac Machine Gun Defense Unit M.A.N.T.A. Missile Defense Unit Mortar Defense Unit Mountain Howitzer Skyhawk Watch Tower	Cutter Deep Six Thunder Clutch	Chameleon Rattler Stinger Water Moccasin A.S.P. C.L.A.W.	Zartan Wild Weasel Stinger Driver Copperhead

1985

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Airtight Alpine Barbecue Bazooka Dusty Flint Footloose Lady Jaye Quick Kick Shipwreck Snake-Eyes	Mail in: Sgt. Slaughter	Crimson Guard Eel Snow Serpent Tele-Viper Tomax Xamot	Dreadnoks: Buzzer Ripper Torch
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
A.W.E. Striker Bridgelayer Mauler M.B.T. Snow Cat U.S.S. Flagg Air Defense Ammo Dump Armadillo Bomb Disposal Check Point Alpha Forward Observer Silver Mirage Transportable Tactical Battle Platform Weapon Transport	Crankcase Tollbooth Heavy Metal Frostbite Keel Haul	Moray Cobra Bunker Ferret Flight Pod Night Landing Rifle Range	Lamprey

[edit] 1986

Like Hasbro's other main franchise at the time, Transformers, G.I. Joe saw its popularity peak around this time but at the same time, it would be the last year that it would receive most of its multimedia support. This was to be the final year of the Sunbow cartoon series, which was a prime component of G.I. Joe's marketing. This year is also notable for the overhauling of toy packaging. The most noticeable is the change in the background for the artwork that accompanies them, as the familiar explosion background in the card artwork was replaced with a pixilated pattern of red, yellow and white.

Both the Joe and Cobra factions received new commanders to lead their teams, and many of the new characters were created to replace previously phased out figures. Specifically, a new United States Marine, U.S. Navy SEAL, U.S. Army Ranger, medic, laser trooper, snow trooper and Cobra infantryman characters were featured.

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Beach Head Dial-Tone Hawk Iceberg Leatherneck Lifeline Low-Light Mainframe Roadblock Sci-Fi Wet-Suit	Mail in: The Fridge Brazil Mission: Claymore Dial-Tone Leatherneck Mainframe Wet-Suit	B.A.T. Dr. Mindbender Viper	Dreadnoks: Monkeywrench Zandar Zarana
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
Conquest X-30 H.A.V.O.C. Tomahawk Triple T Devilfish L.A.W. L.C.V. Outpost Defender Surveillance Port	Slip-Stream Cross-Country Lift-Ticket Sgt. Slaughter	Air Chariot Night Raven Stun Terror Drome with Firebat Thunder Machine Hydro Sled Swampfire	Serpentor Strato-Viper Motor-Viper A.V.A.C. Thrasher

[edit] 1987

The long awaited G.I. Joe: The Movie was intended to be released theatrically but the box office failures of two movies tied to Hasbro franchises led it to become a direct-to-video feature. It met with mixed reviews. Introducing a heavy science-fiction/fantasy element to Cobra, known as Cobra-La, it was intended to set up the status quo for Sunbow's intended third season of the animated series. Two of the largest playsets of the line were introduced: the G.I. Joe Defiant space shuttle and the Mobile Command Center. Before the end of the year, the G.I. Joe special team Battle Force 2000 was introduced in time for Christmas.

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Chuckles Crazylegs Lt. Falcon Fast Draw Gung-Ho Jinx Law and Order Outback Psyche-Out Sneak Peek Tunnel Rat	Mail in: Starduster Steel Brigade Battle Force 2000: Avalanche Blaster Blocker Dodger Knockdown Maverick Sgt. Slaughter's Renegades: Mercer Red Dog Taurus	Big Boa Cobra Commander Croc Master Crystal Ball Raptor Techno-Viper	Cobra-La Team: Golobulus Nemesis Enforcer Royal Guard
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
Defiant Mobile Command Center Persuader RC Crossfire Coastal Defender Anti-Aircraft Gun Helicopter Pack Radar Station Road Toad Rope Walker S.L.A.M. Battle Force 2000: Dominator Eliminator Marauder Sky Sweeper Vector Vindicator	Hardtop and Payload Steam-Roller Back-Stop Rumbler	Air Skiff Maggot Mamba Sea Ray W.O.L.F. Buzz Boar Dreadnok Cycle Earth Borer Jet Pack Mountain Climber Pogo Pom-Pom Gun Rope Crosser	Zanzibar W.O.R.M.S. Gyro-Viper Sea Slug Ice-Viper

[edit] 1988

Even without an animated series, G.I. Joe continued to sell well. A new enemy, Destro's Iron Grenadiers was introduced. The new Cobra line-up is composed mainly of Viper-type henchmen. Issue # of the comics series celebrated the 25th anniversary of the G.I. Joe toy line in general. Another G.I. Joe sub-group is introduced before the year's end: Tiger Force, a line of classic characters and vehicles re-colored with Tiger-stripe camoflage patterns.

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Blizzard Budo Charbroil Hardball Hit & Run Lightfoot Muskrat Repeater Shockwave Spearhead and Max Storm Shadow	Mail in: Super Trooper Tiger Force: Bazooka Duke Dusty Flint Lifeline Roadblock Tripwire	Astro-Viper Hydro-Viper Toxo-Viper	Dreadnok: Road Pig Iron Grenadiers: Iron Grenadier Voltar
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
Desert Fox Mean Dog Phantom X-19 Rolling Thunder Skystorm X-Wing Warthog A.I.F.V. A.T.V. Double Machine Gun Mine Sweeper Mortar Launcher R.P.V. Scuba Pack Swampmasher Tank Car	Skidmark Wildcard Ghostrider Armadillo Windmill Sgt. Slaughter	B.U.G.G. Stellar Stiletto Adder Battle Axe Battle Barge Gyrocopter Imp Machine Gun Nest Rocket Sled Twin Missile Radar	Secto-Viper Star-Viper
Tiger Force: Tiger Cat Tiger Fly Tiger Rat Tiger Fish Tiger Paw Tiger Shark Tiger Sting	Tiger Force driver/pilot Frostbite Recondo Skystriker	Iron Grenadiers: A.G.P. Despoiler D.E.M.O.N.	Iron Grenadier driver/pilot: Nullifier Destro Ferret

[edit] 1989

Classic character nostalgia seemed to play a factor in 1989. The relative success of Tiger Force the year before inspired them to come up with two teams with similar themes, Slaughter's Marauders and Python Patrol. By this time however, the lack of an animated series was taking its toll on the toy line's performance. In response, DiC Entertainment picked up the rights to produce a new G.I. Joe television series beginning with a five-part miniseries.

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Backblast Countdown Dee Jay Deep Six Downtown Recoil Rock 'n Roll Scoop Snake Eyes Stalker	Slaughter's Marauders: Barbecue Footloose Low-Light Mutt and Junkyard Sgt. Slaughter Spirit	Alley Viper Frag-Viper H.E.A.T. Viper Night-Viper Dreadnok: Gnawgahyde	Iron Grenadier: Annihilator T.A.R.G.A.T. Python Patrol: Python Copperhead Python Crimson Guard Python Officer Python Tele-Viper Python Trooper Python Viper
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
Arctic Blast Crusader Mudfighter Raider Thunderclap Pulverizer Radar Rat Tri-Blaster	Windchill Payload Dogfight Hot Seat Long Range	Condor Z-25 H.I.S.S. II Devastator F.A.N.G. II Hovercraft	Aero-Viper Track-Viper
Slaughter’s Marauders vehicles: Armadillo Equalizer Lynx		Iron Grenadier vehicles: Evader Razorback Python Patrol vehicles: Python A.S.P. Python Conquest Python Stun	Iron Grenadier drivers: Darklon Wild Boar

[edit] 1990

The lackluster performance of 1989 convinced Hasbro to scale back on production. They concentrated on the action figure line-up and reduced the number of new vehicles for that year. The timely premiere of the new animated series would prove instrumental in giving the toy line another lease on life. In time for this renewed success is a slightly redesigned G.I. Joe logo.

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Ambush Bullhorn Capt. Grid-Iron Free Fall Pathfinder Rampart Rapid Fire Sub-Zero Topside	Sky Patrol: Airborne Airwave Altitude Drop Zone Skydive Static Line Sonic Fighters: Dial-Tone Dodger Law Tunnel Rat	Laser-Viper Night-Creeper Range-Viper Rock-Viper S.A.W.-Viper Iron Grenadiers: Metal-Head Undertow	Sonic Fighters: Lamprey Viper
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
Avalanche General Retaliator Hammer Locust Mobile Battle Bunker Sky Havoc Sky Hawk Sky Raven Sky Sharc	Cold Front Major Storm Updraft	Dictator Hammerhead Hurricane Dominator Piranha Rage	Overlord Decimator Vapor

[edit] 1991 to 1992

Once more, Hasbro concentrated on action figures rather than vehicles, and coming up with new gimmicks for them. Special teams such as Ninja Force, Eco-Warriors and Star Brigade were introduced. The second animated series lasted for only one more season before being cancelled.

1991

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Big Ben Dusty and Sandstorm General Hawk Grunt Heavy Duty Low-Light Mercer Red Star Sci-Fi Snake Eyes Tracker	Eco-Warriors: Clean Sweep Flint Ozone Super Sonic Fighters: Lt. Falcon Psyche-Out Rock 'n Roll Zap Talking Battle Commanders: General Hawk Stalker	B.A.T. Cobra Commander Crimson Guard Immortal Desert Scorpion Incinerator Snow Serpent	Eco-Warriors: Cesspool Sludge-Viper Toxo-Viper Super Sonic Fighters: Major Bludd Road Pig Talking Battle Commanders: Cobra Commander Overkill
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
Air Commando Glider Air Commando Glider Battle Copter Attack Cruiser Badger Battle Wagon Brawler	Cloudburst Skymate Major Altitude	Air Commando Glider Air Commando Glider Battle Copter Ice Sabre Paralyzer Septic Tank	Night Vulture Sky Creeper Interrogator

1992

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Barricade Big Bear Duke General Flagg Gung-Ho Roadblock Wet-Suit Wild Bill	Drug Elimination Force: Bullet-Proof Cutter Mutt and Junkyard Shockwave Eco-Warriors: Barbecue Deep Six Ninja Force: Dojo Nunchuk Storm Shadow T'Jbang	Destro Eel Firefly Flak-Viper Eco-Warriors: Toxo-Zombie	Headhunters: Headhunter Headman Ninja Force: Dice Slice
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
Air Commando Glider Battle Copter Barracuda Desert Apache AH-74 Eco-Striker Fort America G.I. Joe Headquarters Patriot Storm Eagle	Spirit Ace	Air Commando Glider Battle Copter Earthquake Liquidator Parasite Rat Toxo-Lab	Air Devil Heli-Viper

[edit] 1993 to 1994

In the final two years of the A Real American Hero line, characters who were not part of any sub-group were branded as part of the all-encompassing Battle Corps. The background for the card art was replaced by lines of laser design. The Star Brigade sub-series was revamped with a more science-fiction type storyline involving an extra terrestrial enemy, the Lunartix Empire. The popular videogame Street Fighter II managed to become part of the G.I. Joe line up as Hasbro bought the toy rights to the popular video game characters.

1993

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Battle Corps: Backblast Barricade Bazooka Beach Head Bullet-Proof Colonel Courage Cross-Country Duke Frostbite General Flagg Gung-Ho Iceberg Keel Haul Law Leatherneck Long Arm Mace Mutt and Junkyard Outback Roadblock Snow Storm Wet-Suit Wild Bill	Mega Marines: Blast-Off Clutch Gung-Ho Mirage Ninja Force: Banzai Bushido Scarlett Snake Eyes Star Brigade: Duke Countdown Heavy Duty Ozone Payload Roadblock Robo-J.O.E. Rock 'n Roll	Alley Viper Cobra Commander Crimson Guard Commander Destro Dr. Mindbender Eel Firefly Flak-Viper Gristle Headhunter Headhunter Stormtrooper H.E.A.T. Viper Night-Creeper Leader	Mega Marines: Bio-Viper Cyber-Viper Mega-Viper Monstro-Viper Ninja Force: Night-Creeper Zartan Star Brigade: Astro-Viper B.A.A.T. Destro T.A.R.G.A.T.
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
Armor Bot Ghoststriker X-16 Pile Driver Shark 9000 Starfighter Monster Blaster Mudbuster Ninja Lightning	General Hawk Ace T'Gin-zu Cutter Sci-Fi	Battle Axe Cobra Invader Detonator Ice Snake	Red Ninja

1994

G.I. Joe carded characters		Cobra carded characters
Beach Head Flint Dial-Tone Lifeline Shipwreck Snow Storm Stalker Windchill Mail in: G.I. Joe	Shadow Ninjas: Bushido Nunchuk Snake Eyes Storm Shadow Star Brigade: Duke Countdown Effects Ozone Payload Roadblock Sci-Fi Space Shot	Alley Viper Major Bludd Metal-Head Night-Creeper Leader Viper	Shadow Ninjas: Night-Creeper Slice Star Brigade: Cobra Blackstar Cobra Commander Lunartix Empire: Carcass Lobotomaxx Predacon
Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot	Vehicles/playsets	Included driver/pilot
Power Fighter Blockbuster Manta Ray Razor-Blade	Gears	Power Fighter Scorpion	Techno-Viper

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Yo Joe! The 9.5cm (3 3/4") G.I. Joe Collector's Site
• The Complete Guide to G.I. Joe - detailed reference site
• JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page
• Joe*Battlelines - Daily News, G.I. Joe figure & comic reviews, and forums
• Official Trading Card Game (TCG) site
• G.I. Joe at TV.com
• G.I. Joe at the Internet Movie Database
• G.I. Joe TCG fan-authored expansion sets and community
• The Ultimate Snake-Eyes Tribute Site
• JoeGuide.com - G.I. Joe cartoon guide
• Collectors helping collectors find the newest Joes
• Canadian fan community and forum

This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Joepedia, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.