G.I. Joe – Don’t Call Him a Doll
In 1959 the Barbie doll became known to American girls along with their doting parents, and the expression “fashion doll” was generated. Fashion dolls became a member of the ever-increasing subcategories of dolls from rag dolls to china dolls that shared one universal trait – they were meant for girls.
In 1964, Hasbro released a collection of military-styled figures meant to be a boy-friendly variation of the Barbie doll. The toys were never known as dolls, even in the very first marketing, simply because they were so obviously intended for boys. The term “action figure” was created, and forever afterward a humanoid figure which was obviously created for fighting was known as an action figure. Be sure to check out the multiple types of Gamo Air Rifles.
The very first G.I. Joe action figures were actually four unique figures attired as personnel of the four branches of the department of defense. The phrase G.I. is short for Government Issue, which evolved into a universal nickname for U.S. Soldiers throughout WWII. Another good type to see are the Gamo Air Rifles.
Each G.I. Joe was sold with a uniform and headgear for the suitable branch of service. Each figure moreover featured a entire line of equipment required in their branch of service; for instance, the infantryman would come with an optional rifle and web gear which were sold separately or sometimes as one piece of a bigger set. Each G.I. Joe figure had a World War II theme, yet their uniforms and gear were closer in style to the recently fought Korean War. Also, be sure not to miss the various types of Gamo Air Rifles.
The very first G.I. Joes were exactly as tall as the Barbie dolls in those days; 11 1/2 inches.In the1970s, the G.I. Joes had came with a new hand style that allowed them to hold their own gear such as rifles and rocket launchers. The G.I. Joes had then shrunk to 8″ tall to be better aligned with the rest of the action figure market which was at that time heavily populated by the Marvel Comics superhero toys. In one more shot aimed at their latest rivals, the toys were now renamed “Super G.I. Joe”. During the 80s, Joe shrank yet again, to 3 3/4 inches, and then shot up to 12 inches once more in 1991.
A happy result of all this growing, minimizing, re-branding and the occasional re-introductions of vintage product lines is that you are now able to get hold of a G.I. Joe action figure in practically any size imaginable. The usual action figure is today a 6” figure and most characters cost under $10, while some 12” collector G.I. Joes are on the market, and there is even a 16” Duke figure in an accelerator suit that is priced at $30.
Naturally, the variety of accessories and vehicles has expanded exponentially, since the figures at this point have close to 50 years of guns, cannons and bombs to draw from not to mention any space age weapons that the creative designers at Hasbro may imagine. A lot of younger boys – and some fully grown ones, also – love fighting and winning battles with their G.I. Joe action figures. Just don’t call them dolls.
