GI Joe Timeless CollectionLearn about GI Joe Action Figures & ToysInspired partly by a popular TV series of the 1960's called "The Lieutenant," Hasbro Toys began designing a poseable doll that boys would want to play with for years to come. The term 'action figure' was coined at the same time the idea for GI Joe toys came along, since there was no way any self respecting young man would play with a doll, no matter how great it was. So, along with the new toy especially created for boys came a whole new way of thinking about toy soldiers, and a revolution in the toy industry was begun. The original GI Joe action figures were a full 12 inches tall and fully articulated so they could be taken on countless adventures by their playmates. However, their large size did make them a little more expensive than the average toy so it was often not possible for children to own more than one of them. The problem was easily solved, however, by creating and promoting many different outfits and accessories for your GI Joe figures to wear, from snow suits to underwater 'frogman' gear and breathing tanks. With these first playsets, Joe could take his campaign to a whole new level while still staying reasonably priced. However, in the late 1970's, the GI Joe action figures faced a major obstacle. The newly introduced Star Wars action figures were reaching a level of popularity never before dreamed of by the boys' toy market, due in large part to their small size and inexpensive nature. Soon the 12 inch dolls were being relegated to the back of the closet, so it was time for the GI Joe toys to undergo a makeover of their own. It wasn't long before 3 3/4 inch GI Joe figures were introduced onto the market, with a price tag and playsets to rival the new kids on the block. Now, instead of being a one-man army, GI Joe had a whole force of specialists and team members to help him out along the path. Once again, GI Joe action figures were a hot item, and their popularity has remained steady even into the new millenium with the reintroduction of some of the vintage characters through the GI Joe Timeless Collection. Today there are hundreds of GI Joe action figures, redesigned over and over to appeal to each new generation of boys and their changing interests. While there were several attempts to make the GI Joe toys more "extreme," they seem to have found their greatest success in the GI Joe Timeless Collection, which goes back to the look and feel of the first models with slight alterations made for today's kids. If you're looking for some of the classic GI Joe figures, however, you're going to have to do a little digging. There are plenty of playsets and figures available on the Internet, on sites from auctions to toy shops, and if you're planning on scouring these sites in an attempt to rebuild an old collection or find some vintage Joes, it's a good idea to get a hold of a recent price guide and get an idea of what you're going to be spending before you start bidding or placing your order. While some older GI Joe figures can fetch a nice sum, there aren't many that truly fit the vintage, mint in package description, and then of course there are the overseas bootlegs to contend with! It's enough to make a Real American Hero head for the mess hall. However, the beauty of the GI Joe Timeless Collection is that it is exactly what it promises to be - timeless. For those who want to relive the fun of their youth without taking out another mortgage on the house, the GI Joe Timeless Collection is a perfect fit. No matter how many years and incarnations they undergo, the Joes seem to survive and come through unscathed, reaching new heights of popularity on a regular basis. It's not hard to see why, though...after all, GI Joe is the original American icon and role model, and it looks like he's going to keep renewing his enlistment for a long time to come. more than GI Joe Timeless Collection on our Action Figures page
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