James DeSimone
Encyclopedia
During the fourteen years that G.I. Joe
had not existed as a 12 inch (30 cm) action figure, James DeSimone had been touring different toy shows all over the United States buying and selling G.I. Joe action figures. In the mid-1980s, DeSimone created the G.I. Joe Collectors Club, which was a throw-back to the original G.I. Joe Collectors Clubs that had existed during the original era of the 12" figures (1964–1978). The DeSimone version of the club existed as a newsletter to which less than 500 people were once members.
As a result of DeSimone's efforts to organize the G.I. Joe collectors, Hasbro
awarded DeSimone a trophy as "G.I. Joe's #1 Fan". Hasbro also honored DeSimone by putting different photos from his G.I. Joe collection on the back of the boxes of each of the G.I. Joe: Hall of Fame
figures. These boxes included a file card for each figure (just as the 3.75" line did) and a photo of the new figure and a similar figure from the vintage era of G.I. Joe (1964–1978).
figures in full color along with their file cards. Later, DeSimone issued the "The New Official Identification Guide to G.I. JOE, 1964-1978" which was the first full color photo guide to the action figures, vehicles, gear, outfits, and play-sets which were produced during the original era of the 12" G.I. Joe
.
(unlicensed) that was featured on the ABC Batman
television series.
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
had not existed as a 12 inch (30 cm) action figure, James DeSimone had been touring different toy shows all over the United States buying and selling G.I. Joe action figures. In the mid-1980s, DeSimone created the G.I. Joe Collectors Club, which was a throw-back to the original G.I. Joe Collectors Clubs that had existed during the original era of the 12" figures (1964–1978). The DeSimone version of the club existed as a newsletter to which less than 500 people were once members.
As a result of DeSimone's efforts to organize the G.I. Joe collectors, Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
awarded DeSimone a trophy as "G.I. Joe's #1 Fan". Hasbro also honored DeSimone by putting different photos from his G.I. Joe collection on the back of the boxes of each of the G.I. Joe: Hall of Fame
G.I. Joe: Hall of Fame
The Hasbro G.I. Joe Hall of Fame era of 12" action figures began in 1991, when Hasbro released the Target Exclusive Duke in response to the high demand from nostalgic collectors of the vintage era G.I. Joe action figures. Duke was the first 12" action figure produced in the Hasbro G.I. Joe line...
figures. These boxes included a file card for each figure (just as the 3.75" line did) and a photo of the new figure and a similar figure from the vintage era of G.I. Joe (1964–1978).
Guides to G.I. Joe
During this era that DeSimone was running the unlicensed G.I. Joe Collectors Club, he issued two collecting and identifiction guides which had hundreds of photos of the 3.75 inch (9.5 cm)G.I. Joe: A Real American HeroG.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
figures in full color along with their file cards. Later, DeSimone issued the "The New Official Identification Guide to G.I. JOE, 1964-1978" which was the first full color photo guide to the action figures, vehicles, gear, outfits, and play-sets which were produced during the original era of the 12" G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
.
After Hasbro
During 1994, Hasbro parted company with Mr. DeSimone, and he also turned over control of the G.I. Joe Collectors Club. Since that time, DeSimone has continued promoting collectible toy shows, and he has also created over a dozen made-to-order 1:6 scale vehicles for the 12" action figures. These vehicles range from several replicas of vintage Irwin Toys vehicles that were created for G.I. Joe back in the 1960s, to completely new designs such as the Vietnam PBR patrol boat and the replica of the 1960s BatmobileBatmobile
The Batmobile is the automobile of DC Comics superhero Batman. The car has evolved along with the character from comic books to television and films. Kept in the Batcave, which it accesses through a hidden entrance, the Batmobile is a gadget-laden vehicle used by Batman in his crime-fighting...
(unlicensed) that was featured on the ABC Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
television series.