Some people have taken exception to my wording here. When I say "This set... takes an idea I suggested several years ago" it quite clearly does. I did suggest it in an open letter to Hasbro that used to be on my web site, and that I sent them directly. Does it mean they stole the idea? Hell, no. Does it imply I was the only one who sent in similar ideas? Hell, no.

I'm simply suggesting they were influenced by the idea, and the suggestions of others as well. We don't live in a vaccuum people. Now lighten up.

And no, I'm not trying to sue anyone, nor claim the rights to the idea in any way. I'm just glad they liked this idea, and went with it. I'm just grateful to have this stuff.

So here, in its entirety, is that letter, published sometime in 1999, I believe. (Heck, just for fun, I'll bold those ideas that have since come to fruition.)

Dear GI Joe Team;

I have to say that I've enjoyed the reprise of the Adventure line of Joe sets I've been seeing in the past year.

For the upcoming year, there are at least four things I think you could do to attract a huge customer base, both old and new.

1) Reproduce the vintage Adventure Team - flocked hair on that familiar face, brightly colored costumes, adventure themes. Reproduce the backpack Turbo Copter, as well as the other backpack gear of the 70s; Reproduce the vehicles and clothing line. Bring back the Eagle Eyed Joes. Your hold on the nostalgia market will be completely solidified. To this end, I appreciate the repro "Deep Sea Diver" (even though it isn't technically in the Adventure Team line) but am afraid its price puts it on my lower priority list for now...

2) Continue producing the new "Adventures of GI Joe" line, along the lines of "Challenge at Hawk River", "Save the White Tiger", and "Perils of the Raging Inferno." Add to this a modern take on "Secret of the Mummy's Tomb", "Search for the Lost Idol", and "Capture of the Pygmy Gorilla" in modern styles. (Also, SOME variation on the faces would be nice.)

3) Now that your three female Joes (Janes) have been fairly successful, "U.S. Army Helicopter Pilot", "82nd Airborne" and the "Viet Nam Nurse", you now have a perfect female figure that rivals Joe himself in rugged articulation, and knocks Barbie out of the water for play value! So it is only natural to extend the Adventures of GI Joe line to include females. Produce "Challenge at Hawk River" with a female in the raft, and a female in the firefighter's uniform in "Perils of the Raging Inferno." For decades, Barbie has cornered the female market, and GI Joe has never been ready to take a large piece of that market share. However, with the addition of females in your Adventure Line, you will fulfill the dreams of many young girls who would like to participate in the adventure, but until now have only had Barbie's fashion show to look forward to. As well as fill the hole that's always existed in the GI Joe line for boys who don't mind the women sharing in Joe's adventures.

4) Put out more equipment sets. The only one I have been interested in lately has been the Underwater Demolition, and even that had a military aspect. (Again, nothing against the Military sets, just not for me.) More clothing and gear sets, more shoes and hats. I'm not advocating making Joe into Ken, by any stretch, but the old "Smoke Jumper" set rocked! And I have seen an image of a NEW "Smoke Jumper" set, but have NEVER seen one in stores.

Some further comments:

1) I know the military line is popular, as is clear if you walk down the action figure aisle of ANY Toys R Us store. Your line shares the shelves with a larger line of military figures and equipment from 21st Century. And they are selling! Their vehicles (what a helicopter!) are popular, and mostly it's in the military line. So please continue creating the military Joes, but please don't forget the Adventure market. I grew up with the Adventure Team. I'm going to continue to be loyal to that line. I will NOT buy military Joes, because I have no interest in the military. (Although I did buy the Then and Now two-set, mostly, however, to get a reproduction of an old Joe!)

2) The new Joe "2000" line is interesting. I'm waiting to see where it's going. I like the variations on hair and face, as well as the brightly contrasting costumes. However, I don't much like the color-molded equipment, even if it IS functional. Bright red guns are still guns to me. I'd prefer accurately painted guns if I'm to buy weapons. I know this counters my comments about the Adventure Team... as I said, I'm still waiting to see where this line is going.

3) Please take a day and look through eBay. These people would ALL buy reproductions of the items they are searching for. While I'm sure the die-hard collectors would continue to shop for the vintage merchandise, the truth is that many of them would settle for cheaper reproductions, provided they come from Hasbro. I know I would. I'd stop searching eBay for vintage Adventure Team equipment, if I could walk down to Toys R Us or Kay Bee and buy it new off the shelves at a reasonable price.


In me you have a fan forever. I can't think of one toy that enthralled me as much as GI Joe Adventure Team, and my favorite toy of all was the Turbo Copter. I recently bought an Action Man version on eBay in dark green, but I want to be able to buy the yellow one. Even if it had "reproduction" scrawled on all the parts, it would be dear to me.
I've been following your web site, and approve of the Bomb Disposal set, and Urban Camo, as well as some of the others you have lined up. But I was disappointed not to be seeing ANYTHING listed on that page from the Adventure line for the coming year. I'm hoping to see something there soon.

Keep up the good work.

Sean Huxter