Intro 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

1994 1995-96 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

COMPLETE GUIDE TO G. I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO

1982 (Series 1)

Overview:

This incarnation of G. I. Joe was conceived as a small "mobile strike force" or "special missions force" assembled by U.S. Army General Flagg in the late 1970s, mostly from Vietnam veterans and young up-and-comers, with the mission of protecting America from threats to freedom which needed to be kept from the public, or which the regular military forces were ill-equipped to handle. Their duties quickly narrowed to defending America and its interests from the forces of an evil used car salesman-turned-terrorist known as the Cobra Commander. This villain had masterminded terrorist activities in the Middle East and, by the time of Issue # 1, had come to command legions of troops in a militarized society called Cobra. The Commander's ultimate goal eventually became world domination.

Hasbro's first assortment of figures included nine G. I. Joe and two Cobra figures, each packaged individually on cards similar to those used in the Star Wars line. Each came with accessories (e.g., helmets, backpacks, weapons). The back of the card featured art of all available figures along with a filecard providing personal information about the figure. The filecards were written by Larry Hama, who also designed the comic. Several vehicles and other equipment were also produced, and the larger ones included exclusive figures. Cobra Commander was available through a mail-in offer later in 1982. In all, sixteen figures and eight pieces of equipment were released this year. The official art for the year featured the MOBAT with several Joes running in front or jumping from it. Flash is prominent in the foreground.

Note: The grey accessories released this year were a very dark grey (almost black). Take care not to confuse them with the moderately dark grey items of Battle Gear Accessory Pack #1 or with the pitch-black accessories included with later figures. These accessories are also harder/more brittle than the softer plastics used in the late 1990s and 2000s.

FLAK	Item # 6075	Boxed Battlefield Accessory ($2.99)
Field Light Attack Cannon		Accommodates: 1 figure
Appearance: large dark green cannon with seat and controls positioned behind the barrel; swivel-mounted on stand with three folding legs
Catalog Description(s): "Defend the G. I. Joe Mobile Strike Force from tank or plane attack. Howitzer swivels and elevates. (Does not shoot) Folding support legs adjust to rough terrain." (1982) "The Howitzer elevates and swivels; support legs adjust to rough terrain. Figure sold separately." (1983)
Associated Figures: Rock 'n Roll on box art, Breaker in the commercial, Stalker in the 1982 catalog, 82 Grunt in the 1983 catalog; Grid-Iron in the "G. I. Joe Bugle" brochure
Toy notes: Also available through several mail-in offers in 1985 and 1986, as well as the "G. I. Joe Bugle" offer in 1990 and 1991. The Bugle lists the cannon as the "F.L.A.C."
Cartoon notes: Appeared in 6 episodes: ARAH Parts 1 and 5, Cobra Soundwaves, Battle for the Train of Gold, The Synthoid Conspiracy I, and The Viper Is Coming. A Cobra version of the vehicle appeared in ARAH Part 4. Joes seen manning the FLAK were Rock 'n Roll, Barbecue, and Quick Kick.

JUMP	Item # 6071	Boxed Battlefield Accessory ($2.99)
Jet Pack (Jet Unit, Mobile Propulsion)		Accommodates: 2 figures
Appearance: dark green, square launch pad with white broken circle on top; attached control panel; jet pack with rifle
Catalog Description(s): "You pretend G. I. Joe can fly high over danger. Twin-rocket jet pack attaches to all G. I. Joe figures. Includes: Rapid-Fire Laser Blaster and Launch Pad with Adjustable Legs for Rough Terrain." (1982) "Pretend G. I. Joe can fly high over danger. Includes G. I. Joe figure GRAND SLAM." (1983)
Associated Figures: Flash on box art and in the 1982 catalog, 83 Grand Slam in the 1983 catalog.
Toy notes: Released with the second version of Grand Slam ("silver pads") in 1983 (Item # 6065; $4.20); otherwise unchanged. Jet pack portion included with 1987 Starduster.
Cartoon notes: The JUMP's landing platform never appeared on the cartoon, but the jet packs appeared in 7 episodes: ARAH Parts 1, 4, and 5, TROC Part 1, TPOD Parts 1 and 4, and Cobra's Creatures. JUMPs were included in the opening sequences for ARAH and the Movie. Cobra jet packs were seen in TPOD Part 2. Joes seen with jet packs were Breaker, Flash, Rock 'n Roll, Scarlett, Short-Fuze, Snake Eyes, Stalker, Zap, Steeler, Airborne, Gung-Ho, Wild Bill, Duke, Rip Cord, Roadblock, Cutter, Airtight, Alpine, Bazooka, Flint, Footloose, Quick Kick, Beach Head, Hawk, Iceberg, Lifeline, and Low-Light.

RAM	Item # 6073	Boxed Vehicle ($2.99)
Rapid-fire Motorcycle		Accommodates: 2 figures
Appearance: green motorcyle with black tires and panel on front; headlight; green cannon attached to right side
Catalog Description(s): "Race into action! Detachable 20 MM Vulcan Gatling Cannon Side Car. Free-rolling wheels, front fork turns. Super-Realistic detail and aerodynamic styling." (1982) "Race into action on the RAM! Includes detachable 20mm Vulcan Gatling Cannon. Other figures sold separately." (1983)
Associated Figures: Breaker on box art and in the commercial and the 1982 catalog, Rock 'n Roll in the 1984 catalog.
Toy notes: Similar in design to the 1985/1997 Silver Mirage. Repainted in 1986 as part of the Sears-exclusive Dreadnok Ground Assault.
Cartoon notes: RAMs appeared in 11 episodes: ARAH Part 1, TROC Part 1, Cobra's Creatures, Cobra Stops the World, Cobra's Candidate, Red Rocket's Glare, Where the Reptiles Roam, Excalibur, and Cobra CLAWs Are Coming to Town; and briefly in TROC Part 5 and The Traitor I. Joes seen operating the RAM were Flash, Scarlett, Stalker, Cover Girl, Duke, Roadblock, and Lady Jaye. Buzzer, Ripper, Storm Shadow, and Torch also drove RAMs.

MMS	Item # 6054	Boxed Battlefield Accessory ($5.99), w/ Hawk
Mobile Missile System		Accommodates: 1 figure
Appearance: dark green rocket launcher with three large rockets; has both 2 wheels and legs, plus hitch for connecting to vehicles
Catalog Description(s): "For defense against air or tank attacks. Missiles rotate and elevate and are removable for pretend launches. Free-rolling wheels, detachable control panel, folding legs. Includes: G. I. Joe Figure: 'HAWK.'" (1982) "Missiles rotate and elevate and are removable for launches. Includes G. I. Joe figure HAWK." (1983)
Associated Figures: Hawk on box art and in the commercial and the 1982 and 1983 catalogs.
Toy notes: Originally to be called the Hawk Missile System (since they are Hawk missiles), but the name was changed to avoid the suggestion that G. I. Joe was using nuclear weapons. The included figure was given the name Hawk instead. Also available through several mail-in offers from 1984 to 1986. Repainted as part of the Sears-exclusive SMS in 1985.
Cartoon notes: The MMS (probably) appeared briefly in Haul Down the Heavens. Other green missile launchers are used by G. I. Joe in ARAH Part 1 and ASA Part 3.

HAL	Item # 6052	Boxed Battlefield Accessory ($5.99), w/ Grand Slam
Heavy Artillery Laser		Accommodates: 1 figure
Appearance: large dark-green double-barrelled cannon with brown seat and viewscreen on right side; mounted on wheeled platform with two long hitch arms
Catalog Description(s): "The Army's top secret weapons system! Twin-barrelled lasers rotate and elevate. Folding support leg and movable tow arms can be hooked onto VAMP for quick transport. Includes: G. I. Joe Figure: 'GRAND SLAM.'" (1982) "Rotate and elevate the lasers on this top secret weapon. Includes G. I. Joe figure GRAND SLAM." (1983)
Associated Figures: Grand Slam on box art and in the commercial and the 1982 and 1983 catalogs; 1991 Dusty in the "G. I. Joe Bugle" brochure. Mutt and Recondo on Sears HAL/VAMP set box art.
Toy notes: Re-released in 1983 with a swivel-arm version of the red-padded Grand Slam, making the only time during the line's original run in which the same character was available in stores with two entirely different vehicles. Later available (without Grand Slam) with the VAMP as a 1984 Sears exclusive. Also available through several mail-in offers in 1984 and 1985, as well as the "G.I. Joe Bugle" offer in 1990 and 1991.
Cartoon notes: The HAL appeared briefly in ARAH Part 5. The absence of Grand Slam and the lack of use of the HAL may be related.

VAMP	Item # 6050	Boxed Vehicle ($5.99) w/ Clutch
Multi-Purpose Attack Vehicle		Accommodates: 2 figures
Appearance: open green jeep with roll cage and rear-mounted, double-barrelled black cannon; hitch on back for towing
Catalog Description(s): "Based on the U.S. Army's most advanced and sophisticated designs. Free-rolling wheels. Twin machine gun swivels and elevates. Pull the trigger and watch the guns "fire and recoil": (Does not Shoot!). Includes: G. I. Joe Figure: 'CLUTCH.'" (1982) "It's the latest in rapid 4-wheel drive vehicles. Includes G. I. Joe figure CLUTCH." (1983)
Associated Figures: Clutch on box art and in the 1982 and 1983 catalogs. Clutch and Grand Slam in the commercial. Mutt and Recondo on Sears HAL/VAMP set box art.
Toy notes: The first vehicle to be redone; the remolded but similar VAMP Mark II was released in 1984. A third VAMP, based on the Desert Striker, was released in 2004 as a Toys 'R Us exclusive with a repaint of the Whirlwind, and was repainted for the 2007 Convention VAMP. Another VAMP has been announced for 2008. When the Mark II was introduced, Hasbro cleared out its remaining stock of VAMPs in 1984 through a Sears-exclusive pack containing the VAMP and HAL together.
Cartoon notes: The VAMP appeared in 16 episodes: ARAH Parts 3-5, TROC Parts 1, 2, and 5, Countdown for Zartan, Cobra Soundwaves, Battle for the Train of Gold, The Synthoid Conspiracy I, Spell of the Siren, Where the Reptiles Roam, The Traitor I-II, and Cobra CLAWs Are Coming to Town. The VAMP is included in the opening sequence of ARAH. Joes seen operating the VAMP were Scarlett, Stalker, Clutch, Gung-Ho, Cover Girl, Roadblock, and Lady Jaye.

MOBAT	Item # 6000	Boxed Vehicle ($14.99) w/ Steeler
Multi-Ordnance Battle Tank		Accommodates: 1 figure
Appearance: dark green tank with black treads; above primary cannon mount is a turret with smaller cannon. Large cannon extends.
Catalog Description(s): "You control the action—forward, reverse, turn left and right . . . just like a real tank. Powerful motor and super-traction tank treads to climb over obstacles. You can turn and elevate the battle cannon (manually). INCLUDES: G. I. Joe Figure: 'STEELER.'" (1982) "MOBAT has super climbing ability and moves at your command! Includes G. I. Joe figure STEELER. Batteries required." (1983) "Use the MOBAT to knock out the H.I.S.S.! It has super climbing ability and moves at your command. Includes G. I. Joe figure STEELER. Batteries required (not included)." (1984)
Associated Figures: Steeler on box art and in the commerical and 1982, 1983, and 1984 catalogs; Destro in his own commercial.
Toy notes: The first motorized G. I. Joe vehicle, and the premiere vehicle of 1982. Issued with new perforated treads in 1983. Repainted in 1985 as the CAT and again as the MOBAT in 1998 and the CAT II in 2003.
Cartoon notes: MOBATs appeared in 12 episodes: ARAH Parts 4-5, TROC Parts 1, 2, and 5, Cobra Soundwaves, Battle for the Train of Gold, The Synthoid Conspiracy I, The Funhouse, and Bazooka Saw a Sea Serpent; and briefly in Haul Down the Heavens and part 3 of the Movie. The MOBAT was included in the opening sequences of ARAH, TROC, and season 1. The only Joe (besides greenshirts) definitely seen operating the MOBAT was Flint. (A silhouetted figure in TROC 5 may be either a greenshirt or Steeler; this is unclear on my copy.)

Missile Command Headquarters	Item # 6200	Sears-exclusive Boxed Headquarters ($34.99)
w/ Cobra, Cobra Officer, and Cobra Commander		Accommodates: 12+ figures
Appearance: cardboard structures of cavern-base with jet, raised platform, and computer bank; red Cobra insignia on right wall and plane tail
Catalog Description(s): Not listed in Hasbro's catalog.
Associated Figures: Cobra, Cobra Officer, and Cobra Commander on box art.
Toy notes: The only cardboard playset released for G. I. Joe. (The practice was common for Star Wars and other lines.) The first G. I. Joe item to include more than one figure.
Cartoon notes: Though Cobra had nearly forty bases, hideouts, and labs prior to the Terror Drome, none quite resembled this one.

Free COBRA Commander	Expiration Date: January 31, 1983
Description: The first mail-exclusive figure was offered through Hasbro Direct for 5 Flag Points plus 50 cents for shipping. The order form included information which placed the buyer on Hasbro Direct's mailing list, and they occasionally received mail-outs not included with store-bought figures or equipment.
Figures Available: Cobra Commander.
Equipment Available: None.

Free Mercenary	Expiration Date: September 1, 1983
Description: This brochure was included with some (but not all) Cobra Commanders purchased by mail in 1982. Major Bludd could be ordered free with a dated receipt and UPC symbols of three of the original nine Joe Team members, but they had to be purchased between January 2 and February 28, 1983. (Thus, Major Bludd is properly considered a "1983" figure.) Hasbro has explained that the offer was intended to encourage new fans to continue buying figures, and for older ones to replace figures they had lost or broken. Also, according to Hasbro, a "Cobra spy" deleted any mention of Flag Points from the offer, thus the need for UPC symbols.
Figures Available: Major Bludd.
Equipment Available: None.

#1: Operation: Lady Doomsday / Hot Potato!	Released July 1982
Summary: The Joes raid Cobra's island fortress to rescue captured nuclear physicist Dr. Adele Burkhart; Scarlett's injury jeopardizes efforts to deliver a tape implicating Cobra in Sharif's Middle East uprising.
Characters: Breaker, Flash, Grunt, Rock 'n Roll, Scarlett, Short-Fuze, Snake Eyes, Stalker, Zap, Clutch, Grand Slam, Hawk, Steeler; Cobra Commander, Baroness
Credits: Written by Larry Hama; art by Herb Trimpe and Don Perlin.

#2: Panic at the North Pole	Released August 1982
Summary: Joes investigate an apparent Russian attack on American researchers and encounter an Eskimo mercenary named Kwinn.
Characters: Breaker, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Stalker, Steeler, Kwinn.
Credits: Written by Larry Hama; art by Don Perlin.

#3: The Trojan Gambit	Released September 1982
Summary: A captured Cobra robot reactivates in order to reveal the location of the Joes' underground headquarters.
Characters: Breaker, Flash, Rock 'n Roll, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Stalker, Zap, Clutch, Grand Slam, Hawk, Steeler.
Credits: Written by Larry Hama; art by Herb Trimpe.

#4: Operation: Wingfield!	Released October 1982
Summary: The Joes battle rogue officer Wingfield when Cobra supplies him with nuclear devices.
Characters: Breaker, Flash, Grunt, Rock 'n Roll, Scarlett, Short-Fuze, Snake Eyes, Stalker, Zap, Clutch, Grand Slam, Hawk, Steeler.
Credits: Written by Larry Hama; art by Herb Trimpe.

#5: Tanks for the Memories	Released November 1982
Summary: Cobra attacks a parade in Manhattan only to learn that the Joes' MOBAT tank is part of the procession.
Characters: Breaker, Scarlett, Clutch, Steeler; Cobra Commander, Baroness.
Credits: Written by Larry Hama; art by Don Perlin.

#6: To Fail Is to Conquer...to Succeed Is to Die!	Released December 1982
Summary: G. I. Joe and Russia's Oktober Guard race to retrieve a prototype Russian spyplane that has crashed in Afghanistan, only to be captured by Cobra.
Characters: Breaker, Flash, Grunt, Rock 'n Roll, Scarlett, Short-Fuze, Snake Eyes, Stalker, Zap, Clutch, Grand Slam, Hawk, Steeler. Oktober Guard members introduced are Col. Brekhov, Daina, Horrorshow, Stromavik, and Shrage.
Credits: Written by Larry Hama, co-plotted by Herb Trimpe; art by Herb Trimpe.