Talk:G.I. Joe

Reorganization needed
This article is good, but needs some major reorganization since it leads off with G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero which is only a later permutation of the action figure. It should lead off with the 12-inch war figures, then move on to the Adventure Team, then the 3 1/2 inch toys/comic book/cartoon, and end with the revival of both and War-themed G.I. Joes in recent years. I plan to do the revision myself when time permits, but I thought I'd give those more closely involved with the creation of the article a chance to tackle it first. Cheers! 23skidoo 17:19, 7 August 2005 (UTC)

Check the header again; this article is only to do with the initial 12" release & 40th repros; The header says "GI Joe; Americas movable man of action", not "Real American Hero", which was introduced much later in the hasbro toy line. It should not be merged with the main G I Joe page, as if you check the index there, there are separate categories for each variation/permutation of the GI Joe line.Hholland 12:17, 14 May 2007 (UTC)

I think the whole article needs more work. The article starts talking about G.I. Joe then trails off about Hasbro for quite some time. It also would be beneficial if the paragragh that taks about the latest movie (rise of the Cobra 2009) was more then a sentence or two since that brought in a new crowd and generation of fans.Mrsbehr (talk) 16:28, 29 March 2010 (UTC)

The "Characters" section
There was a VFD debate about one of the characters, Fred VII (Votes for deletion/Fred VII). I have tried adhering to the consensus there by merging an abbreviated version of that article with this article, but that has left a slightly awkward "Characters" section in the article. Hope somebody can do a better job of this than I can. Sjakkalle (Check!)  08:39, 9 August 2005 (UTC)

Action Force merger
The Action Force article is in effect a subset of the Action Man line more than GI Joe.GraemeLeggett 09:45, 30 August 2005 (UTC)

Suggestion
Essentially these articles (Action Force and G.I. Joe) should be merged just to show the evolution of G.I.Joe outside the United States, but a G.I is an american soldier, so it wouldnt go out of the US. Lol american hero dont think so Maya Levy —Preceding undated comment added 20:05, :06, & :15, 5 September 2005

Fixed some
Well, I took the time to organize the Overview section. Renamed it Incarnations, just tell me if it's a bad idea or not. Did some editing, fixed some spellings and grammars. I have to say the first part looks better now but, yes, still needs lots of work.

Yes, I think this article needs to cover the G.I. Joe line as a whole from the 12" series to ARAH to Sigma 6. We can always add an article for each line of Joe that gives more information - , just like Transformers. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Destron Commander (talk • contribs) 08:58 &9:02, 5 October 2005 (UTC)


 * It's a good idea, that quickly went astray: "Incarnations" is about wrapping meat around a soul. (Yes, in order to let that soul manifest as/like part of the living world, but metaphors in general have little suitability in encyclopedic contexts.) "Versions" or "Editions" is more appropriate, especially as Joe has neither soul nor meat. (But congrats on your double play: I can't remember when i last managed to offend both people who think there are souls, and those who deny there are is any such thing! I'll have to remember it on a suitable occasion.) --Jerzy•t 04:27, 21 May 2017 (UTC)

Fenslerfilm
Shouldn't there be some mention of the infamous fenslerfilm PSA's? You know, Porkchop sandwiches and all that? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.181.90.202 (talk) 23:34, 2 December 2005‎
 * Fensler? Oh, you did say Fenslerfilm. (But PSA? Porkchop Sandwiches And? Oh, no; clearly per PSA (disambiguation): Power Station of Art. And someone should add when the sandwiches and such were exhibited there!) --Jerzy•t 04:51, 21 May 2017 (UTC)

Skip it
Looking at the history of the fig, shouldn't his "almost" incarnations be mentioned? As I heard it, he nearly came out as Skip the Frogman & Rocky the Marine Paratrooper. Also, give due cred to Gene Roddenberry (he rules!), writer on "The Lieutenant"... Trekphiler 23:59, 24 December 2005 (UTC)

The problem here is that whatever site they were hosted on would quickly fall.

colin powel
when was colin powel in gi joe?

see Classic Collection: Historical Generals

Can someone help me?
I'm not sure, but recently i saw my first G I Joe Cartoon/movie, i think it was called spy troops. Can someone correct me?

It had a new Gi Joe Character named "Faces", who was a master of disguise, and the plot featured around this technological helmet when inserted, the robots acted like the one who wore it, do you understand?

Pece Kocovski 03:32, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

Added a link to the comics section and added a character list page
July 18th 2006 is when I'm writing this. Network television stations in America were required to show so many hours of educational things per week. So, GiJoe added a brief message at the end of each episode, so they could count the entire half hour as educational.

I edited "barded" to "bearded" because someone had a typo, but didn't bother the artical otherwise.

The first GiJoe cartoons were just a few specials they did, it later becoming a regular series. Years after the first series ended, they had a new one with fewer characters and the theme song "Got to get tough". It was nothing like the original series.

Someone really should create a link to all the characters, the episodes, and other things. There is a lot of interesting information which isn't presented. In fact, I'll go start that now. edit... found they have a comics page already, and added a link to it from this artical. Also added a new page for character list.

Since they weren't allowed to have beer in their shows, the gang member bad guys such as the Dreadnots, were obsessed with drinking grape soda in the comic book. Dream Focus

Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen article says there are Tuskegee Airmen GI Joes. Details? --Gbleem 12:18, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

Classic Collection
I added images of Classic Collection boxes in my possession, but this was deleted? I'm new at this so the format of the page may not have met someone's standards, but a notice or suggestions would have been polite...

EDIT: My apologies. I didn't realize I had created just an image page, which is not allowed. I have rectified this.

Masterpiece Edition
I've added this to "incarnations", and created a page that illustrates this line.

also added Timeless Collection kaybee, target exclusives links to images, until a separate page just for TC is created.

Hholland 01:20, 5 November 2006 (UTC) Removed store exclusive links, created separate TC page. Please add any details I've missed.

G.I. stands for what?
I can't ever get a solid answer and the page doesn't mention. So far G can ether stand for General or Government and I can be ether Issue or Infantry. Anyone? Toxic Ninja 00:15, 30 January 2007 (UTC)


 * According to Wiktionary, this is what it stands for. Joe Webster 06:08, 30 January 2007 (UTC)


 * At the risk of giving a straight answer to a reasonable question, G.I. in this context stands for "General Infantryman" (a US army soldier). Mrstonky (talk) 16:03, 20 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Could GI stand for Ground Infantry? He does happen to be one. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.161.23.169 (talk) 01:24, 25 December 2008 (UTC)


 * G.I. has, and always will, stand for Government Issue.--Flash176 (talk) 03:44, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

Improved links
First of all, great article. Could links be improved within the text to the Action Man and Action Man:1993-2006 pages? --Timetrial 14:18, 16 February 2007 (UTC)

Definition of "G.I." and "G.I. Joe"
The origin of the term "G.I." is defined differently at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GI_%28military%29

...as compared with its origin shown in the article for "G.I. Joe" at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Joe

Sparky SunDevil 17:34, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

Sheppard Lusk
Who is this Sheppard Lusk? Jeffrywith1e 23:16, 24 April 2007 (UTC)
 * FWIW, there's a notice about speedying such a stub. --Jerzy•t 03:23, 21 May 2017 (UTC)

The 60s
"Reinforced perhaps by the television series 'The Lieutenant'" -- sounds like a subjective opinion unless we have a reference to back it up. The popular WW2 action oriented "Combat!" series premiered a full year before "The Lieutenant", which only ran one season, was set in the modern era, and dealt more with personal issues of the main character than action. If a television series was an influence on the GI Joe dolls, "Combat!" would seem more likely. I was 12 when both shows were on and I never watched "The Lieutenant". MDonfield 16:26, 25 April 2007 (UTC)

Article should not be flagged as "advertisement"
It is inherently difficult to write about a toy line (and particularly new product releases, such as the 25th Anniversary line) in a manner that can't be construed as promotional, unless one goes out of one's way to emphasize criticism, which would itself be incorrect. If no one can identify what exactly about the article makes it read like an advertisement, it should be unflagged. Davismaximus 19:53, 25 August 2007 (UTC)

Live Action Movie, Mitchell Paige
The live action movie section is becoming a mess. It's coming off a little too POV. And what's this contract between Hasbro and Mitchell Paige? Any citation besides the opinion editorial that doesn't cite it either? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.213.220.62 (talk) 21:51, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Well, I ended up taking the Mitchell Paige part out since there seems to be no reliable source on the claim. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.213.220.62 (talk) 19:20, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

The misleading source could be the video "Guns of Valor" (A&E Home Video, American Rifleman Video Collection, 2001.) This has an interview where Mitchell Paige (then 80) makes this claim. Mitchell_Paige leads to [] stating that Hasbro honored Mr. Paige with a GI Joe likeness in a 1998 depiction of Medal of Honor winners. The video also depicts Mr. Paige single-handedly counterattacking a large force of enemy soldiers. That heroic act took place after reinforcements arrived. Nothing honors Mr. Paige more than the facts. Jimgettman (talk) 08:10, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Kung Fu "Package...?"
In the '70s section of this article, there is a photo of a Joe's molded blue briefs that is labeled "Kung Fu package...?!" What is up with that? --Joe Webster (talk) 07:59, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

Deleted Pop Culture
GI Joe, the figure and the show, are obviously extremely well-known and imbedded in American culture. To list everytime it was mentioned in a show or film is downright ridiculous. If a one-liner on Cheers meets the standard for inclusion then this list could be 5 times the size of the rest of the article. 68.166.64.134 (talk) 08:50, 30 March 2008 (UTC)

Disambig and credit where it's due
I think there should be a disambig page or at least a link at the top of the page to the cartoon. I'd imagine most people who search for GI Joe aren't looking up the generic action figure from my great grandaddy's youth, they're looking up the profoundly culturally relevant and popular cartoon. Honestly, I find a "GI Joe" search coming directly to this page is laughable. At this point in time, the phrase "Cobra Commander" is alot more recognizable than "Kung-Fu Grip". A google search confirms that (420,000 to 520,000). This article is one spot ahead of the cartoon's article on a GI Joe google search. Considering a search of "GI Joe" links directly to this page and the highly unlikely possiblilty of users initially searching "GI JOE: A Real American Hero", I think it's obvious the vast majority of GI Joe searchers start here and end up on the cartoon's page, where they were trying to get to all along. 68.166.64.134 (talk) 09:35, 30 March 2008 (UTC)


 * The G.I. Joe series of toys is a continuum with fans at almost every point. Minimally, an article would have to elaborate on "his" origins and present form.  A GOOD article includes a timeline.  --Joe Webster (talk) 16:24, 1 April 2008 (UTC)

I think a search for "G.I. Joe" should go to an article on that particular phrase; i.e., it was a nickname for the American soldier during the World War II era. That was the origin of the phrase itself. Odd that this page does not link to this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_G.I._Joe —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.37.251.163 (talk) 12:47, 5 November 2009 (UTC)

Gestapo Girls
It seems highly unlikely that Germany produced a GI Joe figure called "Gestapo Girls" post-World War 2. I have removed this because I could not find any non-Wikipedia reference to it, and it is likely to just be an old act of vandalism. Mrstonky (talk) 16:13, 20 April 2008 (UTC)

More real people honored...
*** The list of people who have been horored with the creation of a G.I. Joe figure, should also include American Civil War General Ulyses S. Grant, and WW II era, American General Omar Bradley. (moved from article)

If you know this to be true, feel free to add it, but I think most likenesses of real people took place in the 1990s/Classic Collection era. It is probably more appropriate in that article. --Joe Webster (talk) 22:41, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

G.I. Joe Jeep
In the section "America' Fighting Man" it is stated that the Jeep accessory is of Korean War-Era make. As far as I can tell from pictures (http://www.mysite4u.com/toys/gijoe/images/GI_Joe_Jeep_7000_with_Trailer&gun_jpg.jpg), it seems to resemble the Willy's MB used during WWII. Is there anyone who knows for sure which it is? 24.160.242.185 (talk) 01:11, 16 January 2009 (UTC)


 * It's Korean. WWII Jeeps didn't have recoilless rifles.--Flash176 (talk) 14:02, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

Comics section
Someone's hit it with a neutrality tag, which says not to remove the tag until the dispute is resolved, and to discuss it here. Yet there is no dispute or discussion of the neutrality of that section here. Whoever added that tag needs to step up and discuss their issues with the section, or remove it.76.226.103.166 (talk) 04:35, 26 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Tag was unnecessary. Removed it.--Flash176 (soon to be rechristened as Ridge Runner) (talk) 05:13, 26 July 2009 (UTC)

Glaring Typo
"Hasbro, who had never made a doll before had the figure made in the Orient who made large quantities of the figure and accessories in record time." what is this supposed to be? I didn't delete it because it seems somehow relevant and informational, but at the same time it appears indecipherable. Is the Orient a company? a geographical region? Did they make this particular doll in this particular instance in a "record time" (definition?) or manufactured items in general? Any ideas? 76.250.131.1 (talk) 01:51, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Dan


 * I saw this added as well. I haven't had a chance to dig out my Joe Encyclopedia and I can't remember where the figures were made, but I do recall the '60s uniforms being made somewhere in Asia because the women there were very good seamstresses.--Ridge Runner (formerly known as Flash176) (talk) 08:40, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

G.I. Joe Collectible Card Game
Might be good to have some information on the short lived 2004ish card game. G.I. Joe TCG —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.156.67.13 (talk) 21:52, 22 October 2009 (UTC)

50s GI Joe comic
I know it's just a coincidence in name and not actually related but the 50s GI Joe comic should be mentioned. Here's a link to MileHighComics' page on it just to show I'm not making it up: http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=list&title=35553837072&publisher=ZIFF&snumber=21 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.54.162.208 (talk) 00:01, 2 December 2009 (UTC)

Kung Fu Grip
After reading this article, I'm left with one question: whats exactly is kung fu grip, how does it work and what does it look like? 192.155.57.33 (talk) 15:36, 9 February 2010 (UTC)
 * see

http://gijoe.wikia.com/wiki/Kung_Fu_Grip 66.81.245.62 (talk) 03:50, 9 May 2016 (UTC)
 * One of Bill Cosby's childhood-autobiographical comedy monologues alleges he had been obsessed with obtaining "the GI Joe with the Kung Fu Grip", and it might bear mention. --Jerzy•t 03:32, 21 May 2017 (UTC)

The phrase "the kung fu grip" was used by several comedians often in a sexual inuendo or context. It also entered a broader use in pop culture as representing an unbreakable grip similar to Star Trek's "Spock's death grip". "He was holding on (or to it) with a death grip or kung fu grip", and was paraphrased by the character "O Niel" in the movie "Platoon" where the character says "I got him in the O Niel death grip. He doesn't know whether to **** or go blind.". 98.164.73.58 (talk) 16:58, 11 July 2020 (UTC)

Photo of the toy
Shouldn't someone add an actual photo of GI Joe? Or is it too hard because of copyright? Cliko (talk) 12:41, 17 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Exactly it would be nice if a picture were included in the article. Not doing so makes the article somewhat irrelevant in my case.CFyre (talk) 16:33, 28 November 2012 (UTC)
 * I added a couple images to G.I. Joe: America's movable fighting man, and provided a rationale for using one of them here. Fortdj33 (talk) 19:55, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

I may be grasping at straws, but... criticism?
I'm noticing that fashion dolls (that is, aimed at young girls) are often criticized for promoting an unhealthy body image among other things, and I'm wondering if there needs to be equal weight given to action figures geared toward young boys. This doesn't necessarily reflect my personal thoughts on the subject, but I'm pretty sure I could find suitable sources that criticize G.I. Joe for potentially indoctrinating young boys with militaristic views. Whether or not such criticism is as vocal as that of Barbie, I cannot say.

I wanted to get other editors' thoughts before I consider adding any such content to the article. I don't want to shift the article's tone toward something more opinionated, but that may be the only thing I would accomplish by adding criticisms in the first place. 98.86.116.147 (talk) 06:08, 6 July 2013 (UTC)


 * Yes, acting as devil's advocate, where are the criticisms of this 'definitely not-P.C.' toy? Like the SO many wiki articles that have a section for this, and the SO many targets here: anti-mititary in general, anti-women-in-military (though that is changing a bit), anti-girls, anti-gun, anti-war, improper role model for children ... on and on. Come on folks, step up! 66.81.245.62 (talk) 03:44, 9 May 2016 (UTC)

What about the pigeon?
Does the "G.I. Joe" name comes from the famous pigeon? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Joe_(pigeon) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.20.133.8 (talk) 15:19, 12 March 2015 (UTC)
 * No, the term predates the pigeon. Fortdj33 (talk) 15:31, 12 March 2015 (UTC)

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No mention of Power Records?
What about the 4 Power Records comic/record combinations from the early '70s? Meve Stills (talk) 14:20, 16 July 2017 (UTC)
 * I added what little I could find. Thanks for the heads up! Fortdj33 (talk) 15:52, 16 July 2017 (UTC)

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Jack Kirby's Challengers of the Unknown?
Check this out :: Challengers of the Unknown So this is 4 adventure seekers "living on borrowed time" that get involved with all kinds of action ... their names and background? Rocky (Davis) - Olympic Wrestling Champion, Ace (Morgan) - War Hero and fearless jet pilot, Red (Ryan) Circus Daredevil (who has Red hair, of course), and Prof (Haley) Master Skin Diver. First appeared Feb 1957.

Now from this article on GI Joe "The Hasbro prototypes were originally named "Rocky" (marine/soldier) "Skip" (sailor) and "Ace" (pilot)". In the picture next to this captioned "Original G.I. Joe lineup." - which is 4 figures; a black-haired soldier (Rocky?), a red-head solider, a blonde sailor (Skip?), and a blonde pilot (Ace?).

The parallel would be closer if the GI Joe were an "Adventure Team" instead of soldiers ... oh, wait ... with the downturn of the "war theme" suddenly are an "Action Team". Almost like they went back to the "Challengers of Unknown" roots.

The timing just seems to be a little close there at the start, and the names... yeah ... looks like there may be something to it.WereTech (talk) 12:12, 28 April 2018 (UTC)

Notability of articles
The majority of G.I. Joe related articles are WP:FANCRUFT-y messes. There is simply no way that every one of them is notable, per WP:PTEST. 2605:B40:1303:900:E05A:8E15:CE08:DF15 (talk) 01:34, 27 December 2023 (UTC)