G.I Joe - Figures

As the original action figure, G.I. Joe remains one of the most iconic figure lines today. In addition to the traditional line of toys, the franchise includes a new statue style and soft vinyl figures. Here are three G.I. Joe figures that represent new forms for the classic toy line: "G.I. Joe Bishoujo Statue Lady Jaye: Canary Ann Color (Limited Edition)," "POP! Animation No. 45: G.I. Joe - Roadblock," and "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Bishoujo Statue Baroness."

G.I. Joe Bishoujo Statue Lady Jaye: Canary Ann Color (Limited Edition) Figure

This scale figure from Kotobukiya shows covert ops specialist Allison R. Hart-Burnett aka Lady Jaye in a bright new color scheme. The new-look takes inspiration from the Funskool toy line's Canary Ann figure made from the Lady Jaye mold. Lady Jaye's traditionally olive green coveralls now take on a bold mustard hue. Her hat, now an over-saturated bright red, complements the yellow coveralls. Attention to realistic detail in the sculpting process shows in each pocket and fold in the fabric. She holds her diamond-tipped javelin gun out to the side as she cocks her hips. Her camera rests on her hip, complete with an intricately detailed zoom lens.

Product Name: G.I. Joe Bishoujo Statue Lady Jaye: Canary Ann Color (Limited Edition)
Series: G.I. Joe
Product Line: Bishoujo
Manufacturer: Kotobukiya
Sculptor: Takamasa Dokushima (Busujimax)
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, 1/7 scale non-phthalate PVC & ABS figure with stand
Height (Approx.): 235mm | 9.3" (Including stand)

POP! Animation No. 45: G.I. Joe - Roadblock Figure

Heavy machine gun expert, Roadblock, looks powerful yet adorable in this stylized chibi figure from Funko. His moustache and goatee complete his minimalist face mold with a masculine personality. He wields his M2 Browning .50 caliber machine gun with both hands. His physical strength stands out in the arm and chest muscles peeking out from under his green tank top.

Product Name: POP! Animation No. 45: G.I. Joe - Roadblock
Series: G.I. Joe
Product Line: POP! Animation
Manufacturer: Funko, LLC.
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, non-scale vinyl figure

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Bishoujo Statue Baroness Figure

Cobra's counterintelligence villainess, Baroness, gets a gorgeously sculpted bishoujo figure from the sculptors at Kotobukiya. The figure takes its design from a stylized illustration by Shunya Yamashita. She stands in a playfully alluring pose with her hip cocked and hand reaching back to tossel her flowing raven hair. Details in her intricate spy suit reveal mesh, matte, and patent leather variations from all angles. She peers up through her thick, black frame glasses with a taunting smile, emphasizing her deadly spy intelligence.

Product Name: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Bishoujo Statue Baroness
Series: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
Manufacturer: Kotobukiya
Sculptor: Takamasa Dokushima (Busujimax)
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, 1/7 scale figure with stand
Materials: PVC (phthalate-free), ABS
Height (Approx.): 230mm | 9.1" (including stand)

The G.I. Joe Series Story

G.I. Joe is a figure and media franchise line developed by the toy company, Hasbro. In addition to action figures, the line includes tie-in comic books, cartoons, live-action movies, and video games.

Series Overview

The first tv series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, involves an American military unit, known as G.I. Joe, working against an ambiguous terrorist group, Cobra. G.I. Joe and their commander General Flagg attempt to launch a military satellite into space. Cobra intercepts the satellite launch and sets out to deploy their weapon, the M.A.S.S. Device, without interference. The format of Cobra developing a weapon of mass destruction with the G.I. Joe unit responding in opposition continues throughout the franchise.

Series Characters

With each iteration of the franchise, new figures gain popularity and larger story roles. Each figure has a G.I. Joe unit codename, civilian identity, and military position. Notable figures throughout the franchise include Snake Eyes, a commando, Roadblock, a heavy machine gunner, and Baroness, a Cobra spy. The classic American soldier from the Real American Hero era, Duke, gained immense popularity among nostalgia collectors.

The G.I. Joe Series Development

The first line of G.I. Joe figures came out in 1964 under the name G.I. Joe: America's Movable Fighting Man. Hasbro intended to release figures depicting the four branches of the U.S. Military. To market the line toward boys, Hasbro coined the term "action figure" instead of marketing them as dolls. The original concept came from a prototype for an articulated doll figure, expanding on the "razor blade" model used in Barbie dolls. Hasbro licensed the design for $100,000. The name "G.I. Joe" came from an acronym for "government-issued" and the popular generic male name of the 1960s, Joe.

Series Production

The first wave of G.I. Joe figures included four main models: an army soldier, marine, pilot, and sailor. Each figure came with a cloth uniform and dog tags with hair color options in black, brown, blond, and auburn. Some sets included African American variants using a brown vinyl casting in the standard mold. The Real American Hero line in the 1980s introduced the concept of specific characters to the franchise, as well as the smaller 9.5cm size. Subsequent figure releases involved either a tie-in to a cartoon, movie, or video game release or a collector's edition relaunch.

Series Reception

The initial G.I. Joe in 1964 was a massive success. Particularly, the use of 19 points of articulation stuck out with consumers and set the toys above their competitors. However, the toys faced a drop in popularity with the shifting political climate regarding the Vietnam War. Hasbro rebranded the military image as an "adventure team" in an attempt to maintain sales. The subsequent shift to a pro-military climate in the 1980s along with the boom in collaborative media marketing in children's toys led to a resurgence in the brand's popularity. Today, original G.I. Joe action figures remain highly valued collector's items. The "land adventurer" from the 1970-1974 lineup is featured in the Smithsonian collection.

Links

G.I. Joe Bishoujo Statue Lady Jaye: Canary Ann Color (Limited Edition)
POP! Animation No. 45: G.I. Joe - Roadblock
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Bishoujo Statue Baroness
G.I. Joe Label