Happy G.I. Joe Day! – Ballistic Magazine

Ballistic Celebrates Our Favorite Action Figure

As far as we’re concerned, there’s only one holiday in February worth going ape for, and it’s not Valentine’s Day. No sir, it’s February 1 – a.k.a G.I. Joe Day. I think many of our readers can all admit that they once played with our pal Joe and his brothers-in-arms, imagining scenarios of taking a sibling’s My Little Pony collection hostage or interrogating a few of their Barbie dolls. Whatever your playtime looked like, know that G.I. Joe Day gives you an excuse to dust off Cobra Commander and Snake Eyes for an afternoon of nostalgia.

How G.I. Joe Got His Start

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G.I. Joe came on the scene in February 1964 when toy designers aimed to create a doll that catered to boys in response to the popularity of Barbie with girls. But hold it, they couldn’t call it a doll because no self-respecting boy would actually play with a doll! Instead, G.I. Joe was dubbed an action figure and this branding took off faster than the Mobile Mission System. The G.I. Joe toy measured 11.5 inches tall and came with realistic, interchangeable uniforms and accessories, making it a versatile toy for boys to play with. Special attention to accuracy was paid to the dog tags, weapons, and equipment to help authentically represent the different military branches. G.I. Joe also had a strong marketing campaign, with advertisements appearing in comic books and magazines featuring thrilling stories of adventure and daring missions, capturing the imagination of young boys everywhere.

G.I. Joe on the Big & Small Screens

In the 1980s, G.I. Joe entered the television space with the half-hour G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero animated series. Each episode ended with a special “safety lesson” that gave us the famous catchphrase, “Now we know. And knowing is half the battle.” Fast forward to the ’00s, Hollywood introduced a series of live-action G.I. Joe movies to bring the commandos to life, one of which is set to debut in 2024.

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Over the years, G.I. Joe has evolved with the times, changing with advances in technology and the evolving societal attitudes towards military service. Despite these changes, G.I. Joe remains a beloved toy line and media franchise, with a dedicated fanbase that spans generations. Like many classic American toys, vintage G.I. Joe action figures and playsets can fetch a hefty sum on the collectibles market. Don’t believe me? The Series I Snake Eyes in its original packaging is worth a whopping $26,400.

Ways to Celebrate G.I. Joe Day

1. Dig up your action figures and introduce your kids to your old playmates.
2. Take a trip down memory lane and watch the original G.I. Joe cartoon on YouTube.
3. Anonymously pick up the lunch tab for a servicemember (support those troops!).

However you choose to honor our favorite fictional commando, know that it’s all in the spirit of upholding a classic American icon.

Now you know February 1 is G.I. Joe Day, and knowing is half the battle!

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