The History of GI Joe: A Real American Hero (1982 Edition) 

Get your G.I. Joe items at BIGBADTOYSTORE: bit.ly/BBTStoys

I still remember seeing Gi-Joe for the first time walking through the toy isle of Kmart. Me and my cousin just stopped and starred with our jaws open. Was a toy euphoria moment.

Your closing statement about why Hasbro has not used the blueprint/ formula that has worked is right on the money. They're missing every aspect of what made the 1980s GI Joe comic version so unique and special. Even the cartoon storyline and plot aged better than the two movies just made.

Larry Hama was the Stan Lee of GI Joe!

Quite possibly the greatest line of toys, ever. That's coming from a rabid collector of the original star wars guys, too. I still loved the star wars toys, but nothing can beat the christmas I got my Rattler, and the massive large scale battles we had that spanned almost the length of our street!

G.I. Joe was my first comic. Thank you for these videos they have been absolute GEMS! I've been reliving my childhood with each addition!

I recently bought a loose complete vintage MOBAT Tank with Steeler at my local independently owned toy store and after all these years it still works!

My first Joe was Short Fuse with RAM. I went to my cousins house sometime in the 80s and saw him playing with it. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen plus he had bought the RAM as well. The cool visor and the bike with a big gun at the side just did it for me. I went on to buy Snake Eyes, Stalker, Clutch/Vamp, Baroness, Major Bludd, Scrap Iron, Firefly, Zap, Gung Ho and Snowjob. I have travelled through airports with my bag of toys and still have my original figures. I recently started collecting again after years of owning just those figures from the 80s which survived many potentially life threatening incidents and now have over 70 figures all pre 1990 as a rule and about 10 vehicles. Out of the recently bought figures I have been most impressed by Cobra Commander (both version 1 and 2 , General Flagg, Hit n Run, Tunnel Rat, Spirit and Snow Serpent. On the hunt for Mutt/Junkyard, Doc and Chuckles to be completely content. Joes Rule! YoJoe!

Ahh, this brings back memories of simpler times. I collected dang near everything from 82 til about 85 or so. My first figures were Grunt and Rock n Roll and I was hooked. This was such a huge part of my childhood.

I remember when I was a kid I'd have battles with my Star Wars figures and my GI Joe's, G I JOE would always blow them away!!! 👍💪🤠🔫🇺🇸

I wanna say. Just found this channel yesterday and I’m binging it so hard right now. I think mercy is really knowledgeable and talented and thank you for doing this.

G.I.Joe and transformers made me a lifetime collector .YO JOE

This is just magical! I feel like a kid again! Thanks for posting these GI Joe toys! And I love how you insert the Animated cartoons with it! You are awesome!

I still remember the smell of the cardboard.

My favorite toys of all time I had a great collection going over a 100 figures good times playing while watching GI Joe episodes 👍👍

Picked up a majority of the 82 to 86 toys in the early 2000’s on e bay as all of my gold hood ones were gone. They sat in storage when I re enlisted in the army in late 2002, and by 2008 or so, I started to pull them out, and my three daughters played with me over the years with the joes. I have purchased each of them the new versions of their favorite female characters as the original scarlet lady Jay and cover girl were very “rough” compared to today’s entries. My 7 year old still asks me to get them out play with, and we recently cleaned up the mobat and got it working, along with three hiss tanks which needed some tlc. Those toys and the movie apocalypse now (which I saw at my parents’ friends place when I was six) led me to three duty stations, combat in the desert, parachuting, rappelling from helicopters, and all kinds of other crazy experiences (18 months in Korea for one) that I might never have tried otherwise. I think for many of us the toys represent a time warp that can transport you back to your youth, which everyone tells you goes by fast. Of course you don’t realize it till you are looking at this and realizing you were 7 or 8 when these were coming out, and the actors, sports figures and musicians of the day are now old and grey. Btw, nice video. 7 year old sat down with me to watch

Here's another trivia: Larry Hama also created Bucky O'Hare. It also became a comic book and it too got turned into action figures.

Ah, 1982...what a magical year for my 10 year old self. My birthday is in December, so I hit the Joe jackpot that year! I totally remember getting the MOBAT for my birthday, and then I’m pretty sure I got Grunt, Short Fuse, Breaker and Flash (my personal favorite) along with a Cobra Officer and Cobra Trooper for Christmas three weeks later. I may have gotten the VAMP that year too. My dad being in the Army Reserve always loved buying me military toys and he always knew just what to get. He was awesome like that! Man, I sure miss him.

First figure was Flash. I still remember packing all my joes in the Vamp to get Cobra. It was so awesome.

I just now found these videos and LOVE them! Like you, my entire life in 82-85 was about GI Joe! My first was Clutch and the VAMP, given to me for my birthday by my brother who was 11 years older and remembered the bigger ones. I was not as enthused until I learned my buddy down the street also had a GI Joe and we both fell down the rabbit hole! Christmas 1982-3 & 4 were GI Joe Christmases for sure. Watching these vids, I'm surprised at how many of the figures and vehicles I did have, but I'm probably also confusing my friends' toys with what we're mine. I never had the very large vehicles, but I did get the MOBAT that year. I was in hog heaven! Sadly, I moved away from my friend in 1984 and never found another again who was SO into Joe as we were. I bought a few figures and vehicles somewhere around 87-88 when I found another guy who liked them, but I was by then close to my mid-teens and my interests were being replaced by other, softer and curvier things. I remember a couple Joes' rubber bands were dry rotting by the late 80's (I really played with them on land and in water!). I wonder if any of them are still whole. I need to go into the box which I hadn't even opened in over 20 years to see what I had - or still have. That will be great fun!

Christmas of "82 and I just knew I was getting a G.I. Joe figure based on the shape of one of the packages under the tree. My neighbor Erik and I determined that whoever we received would be our alter ego. Stalker became my very first figure, so I always had a special affinity for that particular character.

I keep re-watching and re-watching this series, please keep 'em coming - wonderful stuff!

Thanks for the memories. Being a kid from the 80s

Michael, I really enjoyed this video. Brought me back to the early 80's. I also enjoyed your production of this video and how you used the show music as a bed for your narrative. I loved the show's music. It made for great drama. Great job. Creative!

Thank you so much for emphasizing Larry Hama’s contribution. I watched the cartoon but the comic book was the Bible!

I liked the video. I have all of the 1982 G.I.*JOE toys. I have met Larry Hama myself and have had several comics autographed by him.

Yeah, and why wasn't the comic book the basis for the TV shows also? Unfortunately the amazing company that brought us the swivel arm action grip got pretty derpy not to long after. Those were some of the best comics ever. Totally underappreciated by everyone that never read them.

Great video Michael. Thanks for all the details...and humor!

Aloha, Michael! Congratulations on this GREAT video! I, too, am a HUGE fan of Larry Hama's G.I.Joe Marvel run. As a fellow fan, I appreciate that you paid respect to Larry's work toward building the lore! I too wish that Hollywood had used his Joe comics as a much closer inspiration for their live-action movies. Who knows. Maybe they will reboot for the much better! As a child of the 1970s & 1980s, I'd be totally fine with them setting Snake-Eyes & Storm Shadow's origin in Vietnam. Nothing wrong with doing a period piece and exposing today's young fans to some history!

Using Larry's comics to reboot live action Joe movie would be great. Thanks for this great video.

I was three years old in 1982. I have no idea when or under what circumstances I acquired them but, somehow, straight-arm Breaker, Rock 'n Roll and Snake-Eyes were among the earliest toys I owned. Guess my parents thought ahead! This really was a special line, thanks in no small part - as you say - to Mr Hama.

Many thanks for keeping your excellent videos clean and appropriate for young ones. Every finely crafted video you make brings smiles to this father and son.

Another great video! I remember walking past the Eagle Force collection to pick up these Joes. The only '82 I have is Scarlett, complete with her Canadian file card (born in Grande Prairie Alberta).

Thank you for this video Michael, I am a transformers, tmnt, motu and ghostbusters fan, I only have a few of gi joe but it looks so interesting

I collected Gi joes from 1982 to 84 !! in 84 I collected Transformers !! My first was clutch and the vamp !! I also had the first few issues of the comic book. I collected and read the comics in high school !! In 1987 we moved and my parents made me give my gi joe collection away. I gave it to a friend who like me before never had a whole lot. And no I don't really regret it !! As an adult I collected the IDW graphic novels of the Marvel comic books as they came out for sale !! GI Joe A Real American Hero is a great story !! Larry Hama continued the comic book starting with issue 155.5 with IDW publishers !!! I still read it today !!

Loved the Netflix doc series, the toys that made us... but I feel like it left out a lot... these videos are great supplementary material! I’m not even a toy collector but i love looking at them! Miss the 80s just like you.

Michael, I wanted to say I’ve been watching your videos for about a year now, and I apologize for not hitting like button or commenting before now. I love watching your videos. GI joe videos are my favorites, but being born in 75’, I loved it all. MASK, transformers, TMNT, Star Wars, LJN WWF toys, everything. It was because of your videos I got back into collecting. Only GI Joe stuff, as i don’t have room for it all, and can’t afford everything. I wanted to say personally, thank you for what you do. I can see the passion, love, and sincerity in your videos. I am going to go back and watch these videos again, leave likes and comments. Keep up the fantastic work.

Back when i was in high school, my friend and i wrote a parody of the G.I. Joe Theme song that we called G.I. Shmoo, here's the opening verse "HE'LL FIGHT FOR TROUBLE, WHERE EVER THERE'S FREEDOM, G.I. SHMOO AIN'T THERE, G.I. SHMOOOOOOO, A REAL AMERICAN ZERO, G.I. SHMOO AIN'T THERE!!!!!"

I am 47. I still have all my Joes 82 and on. Over 88 in all. Have had them stored for years, haven't seen the light of day in a decade... But I remember buying my first one, Rock and Roll, for $1.87. I have him original, swivel arm, the Tiger Force, and last remake of him. All the Cobra Commanders. Mask, Hood, Combat Armor. Thanks for the videos

You've reignited my love for G.I. Joe again I'm affraid! :D

My first joe was Duke, i was only about 5 years old ( my bought it for me). Still remember that special day 😃

I’ll never forget playing with the swivel arm joes, one of my fav things was to take them apart and reassemble with different parts. 😀

My first GI Joe was Zap. Later on I got Flash, the RAM Cycle and the MOBAT tank. Such a great toy line. Great memories.

gi Joe was so big in the 80s i remember seeing them for sale at Safeway grocery store when I would go shopping with my grandma when I was a kid...miss those days

The 82 line is right up there with my favorite years of the line. I loved the characters so much just due to their awesome appearances in GI Joe issue 1, though I wish Grand Slam would have been given some time in the issue. As always, thanks for the great video Michael!

G. I. Joe and Stompers, for their tanks, were my favorite toys as a child. Had this big put together bridge for my Stompers that helped to make the perfect sandbox battlefield. I switch on the tanks and let it roll through and over the battlefield. Granted the Stompers were smaller than the G. I. Joe vehicles, but it still worked.

That toy art/graphics on the boxes and package was incredible. This is the my #1 toy line of all time.

Excellent video. I was 4 when I got the Jeep with Clutch and my brother got the Laser with Grand Slam for Christmas 1982. Loved those first 82 and 83 Joes the best. I finally sold 95% of my collection to an antique dealer and other collectors last year. Funny thing is that a few weeks later while on vacation in NYC, I found and bought a #2 GI Joe Comic from an old lady at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market for $3. I had to have it. Today I found a very nice Mobat, Snow Cat, Snow Job, Frost Bite, Field Outpost, and 1 other vehicle for $30 at the local Antique mall. I bought them as it was a bargain. Last, I also found a Clutch figure....Merry Christmas to me!

The humor you do with the clips from the shows is hilarious. Gets me every time. "You wouldn't bet....that....I wouldn't bet....w/....nevermind" LOL.

I fell in love with G.I. Joe after I saw the commercial. I hadn't even seen them on the shelf yet. You do a great job, I really enjoyed this video.

Your thoughts on Larry Hama are spot on, i read G.I. Joe along with all the other X titles back in the day, and still love those old Hama comics. They would make perfect movies.

The rotating arms were innovative and helped the action figures hold weapons and accessories more accurately.

I'm the same as you. I didn't read the comic book, I saw the commercials and I saw the toys for the first time in Murphy's Mart. I was six years old in first grade when these came out in 1982. I can still remember my first figure, Breaker. I then got the Rapid Fire Motor Cycle. After that, I saved up my money and got the Jeep that came with Clutch. Thanks for the memories!

When I got Snake-Eyes I had to explain to my friends that despite having Snake in his name, he WASN’T a bad guy. And don’t forget that issue #1 also came in a special BIG issue! Damn, I wish I still had it. But I do have every issue from #3 through well, I’m not sure, but it’s a lot! I think I may still have the original metal lunchbox with artwork from year 1 too. 😎

Christmas and birthday of 82, ended up with the entire first line. Nice time to be a kid. Trying to keep up with Star Wars and GI Joe, was tricky! Nice video!

I recently discovered your channel!! This is so awesome!! Thank you!!

And this year 2022 is the 40th Anniversary of G.I. Joe! YO JOE!!!! When the COBRA Rattler came out, I got one for my birthday, and it was epic. Though I had forgotten "your parents put it together" was a thing!

My 8th birthday, (1982) the greatest birthday EVER. I got the whole 82 line, mailed in for CC, and collected until 88(high school)! We made the cobra soldiers/officer hv diff ranks, by adding colored dots to their helmet symbols. Greatest toys/memories.

Simply amazing!!!!Love all of your videos,thanks for keeping Gi.Joe history & culture alive the proper way!!!!

Awesome 😎 Great job with the descriptions and details👍👍

Any factory footage of GI joes being made? molded, picked, riveted, painted, packaged?

Absolutely perfect!!! I plan on watching all of your History Of videos! I learn so much and you do an amazing job! Keep up the good work.👍😁 Bill

With the introduction of the swivel arms, I could now give my Joes slings when they were “injured”….loved these toys and would have week long battles in the wilds of my den and living room!

Wow!!! This video is AWESOME!!! Brings back all the feelings I had as a kid. You did an excellent job covering this. Thank you.

I don't remember the store, but I remember the excitement of seeing Joes in 82 on the shelves, I was 6 and mom got me Flash, still a favorite.

Thanks! I can’t begin to thank you for your awesome videos. Enjoy them wholeheartedly. My favorite RU-vidr . Love your positivity and outlook on life. Merry Christmas & wishing you the very best.

This was a really good video, especially with all other GI Joe videos already out there. I really like how you spliced in scenes from the cartoon and commercials. I remember my first two Joes, Snake Eyes and Stalker. Luckily I still have all my figures. I couldn't agree more on how the first issue of the comic could be a blueprint for a GI Joe movie. I've though that for years.

zap was my first g.i.joe he didn't survive but his head had switched like 12 bodys and still the smash of random joes character is here today. rebuilding joes was a huge thing when i was kid. once we figure out how to take them apart things got crazy

Thanks for these videos. Brings back all the memories of my childhood. I wonder how many I still have?

One was amazing, the other came from DIC...hilarious

Your initial comments on Larry Hama were real eye openers. I had no idea he created the bios for the original 1982 characters. And then his own background. Pretty amazing. Your closing comments on the movies; hell yah all they needed to do was go back to Hama's comics. Those were great stories. Even as an eight-year-old kid I wondered why the cartoon had all those machine guns shooting lasers, no one ever got hit, and the vehicles exited for somethings to explode with the drivers bailing out.

I love watching these as they bring back so many memories of using my imagination and a few figures to create epic battles. It also makes me remember how many things my grandmother bought for me and I miss her.

The tank was the first G.I. Joe item that I got - I hadn't even asked for it but I got it for Christmas that year. It started me collecting quite a few.

Hey, I just found this set of videos. Thank you very much. My first Joe was Breaker (along with Snake Eyes) too! And I ordered Cobra Comander in the mail. My version was without the swivel arm battle grip. Apparently, that version is a big time collector's item but, alas, he was well played with and well damaged. And now long gone. Thanks again!!!

You do an amazing job on these vids. I just got turned on to it last nite. But dude you have takin me back to some good times. I was born in 76 so i was right on time for all of the good and legendary toys of the 80's and 90's. Thanks.

Major nostalgia feels. I came to GI Joe at about this time, in its golden age. I'd just moved to the states from New Zealand and was introduced to GI Joe by a school friend. I loved it. Every bit of it. I loved the comics and started collecting even though I wasn't into comics, I loved the tv show and I especially loved the toys. I was too old to play with them really, in fact my friend and I were the only kids in our group that were into them, but we didn't care. Coming to the states from comatose New Zealand with its two tv channels and where all the stores were closed on weekends was an awakening for me. If it wasn't for school it was the best time of my life. Thanks for the video.

WOW! My jaw dropped when I saw the picture of HiWay Market in Kitchener. The upper level of toys in that place was a kids dream. I too was there staring at all the new G.I. Joe toys. I remember Bi-Way having G.I. Joe things as well. Thanks for the video. Enjoyed watching it as it brought back memories.

I remember, back in the 1980s, me and my friends swore we would never stop playing G.I.Joe's and collecting. We lost track of one another, and at least for me, I recall vividly realizing when I finally grew up. It was around Junior HIgh school. I went to the local Walmart where I use to go and check out the latest G.I. Joe's in the toy section. I remember going in there, and just when I was about to leave, I realized I hadn't even thought of going to the toy section, much less even think about G..I. Joe!

good work! I really like your style.

Wow!! Great Job! I'm so excited about this being a on going series.Larry's the man. This was at least the third time I watched this video. Thanks!

Great video. Had pretty much almost all the 1st year Joes and several "vehicles." My favorite was Steeler, because at the time, he was the only one with the swivel upper arm. The one drawback was that the mobat didn't go very fast and the batteries didn't last long (and were not replaced too often).

This really took me back. Thank you for the video.

Brilliant work as always, mi amico!

Remember receiving stardust with parachute pack in the mail very rare I was 10 so excited also the wind surfer thing

This is awesome! Love it!

Grunt was my first Joe too. Got him for St. Nicks. MOBAT was my favorite vehicle that year. Yo Joe. Thanks for the great video.

Breaker was my first figure, too. Mostly because he was from Gatlinburg,TN, just down the road from where I lived. I got the RAM motorcycle at the same time. Good times.

Stalker! bless you! 80's FOREVER!!!

Hi-Way Market!!! I loved that place. Got some Joes from there myself way back when.

This takes me right back to 1982. Thanks fort the memories!!!

Awesome video!! The greatest line of toys ever!! Nuff said. Thank You.

Love this video! I wasn't able to hold on to my collection and i regret it every day.

Great video! Breaker was my first Joe too!

Flash & Rock & Roll were my 1st (Straight Arm). Later the next year I got Grunt, & he was a swivel arm revise. Plus a friend of my from school had all the Joe's & vehicles. (Except the USS Flagg) the basement at his house was huge. Since this was the 1st line production of the Joe's, I always assumed that Grunt was the leader. But Thank You for this Video, it was Awesome.

Awesome video thank you.🤘

My first Joe figure was Snake Eyes in 83. I later saved up to buy the Vamp with Clutch. My brother got the tank and Steeler for Christmas!!

Great video! Brought me back to my youth. Best vintage GI Joe review video!

Relive your childhood in 12 minutes. Awesome video.

I was not born in the 80s nor did I live in it but I have a lot of nostalgia for this series. Discovery family played reruns of the transformers and Gi Joe so whenever I got home from school my Mom would put it on and I would watch it while playing with my transformers toys (GI Joes weren’t being sold at the time) and I absolutely loved it.

Me and my cousins would unscrew the backpack screw and change their arms pants and heads...I had Ito head with Snake Eyes chest and pants with Gung Ho's arms...My favorite one!!