My second post here was about Super Joe < click here to read > That was some time ago and since I'm one of the only people to have read it (not even indexed at the time) I'm gonna resurrect that post again!

Way back in 1977, GI Joe was in a state of flux. The 12" Adventure Team line was cancelled and the 3 3/4 Real American Hero line has yet to hit the drawing board. There was however, a line of GI Joes produced by the name of Super Joe! Eight inches tall with two buttons on his back to swing a One / Two punch at his nemesis! Super Joe has the trademark beard, scar and Kung Fu grip, but was also equipped with a backpack that can power tools and equipment with a "AA" battery!

This line was short lived though. Only produced for 2 years and having hands and joints that were made of a plastic that deteriorated quickly, these guys literally crumbled into the past. 8 figures, a bunch of accessory packs and a few playsets comprise the entire line. Collecting this line today is a near impossibility. Finding the figures loose is extremely difficult as the bodies are usually in pieces and are never kept together. Even carded examples are loose limbed and hand less.

I have also found that this line is not thought of as GI Joe in some circles even though its obvious that the line was made in the GI Joe fashion. The Kung Fu Grip and the trademark scar aren't enough for some collectors. But with the line being such a short run and difficult to collect, there just isn't any interest in these guys.

Here are mine:

The Super Joe Commander. He came with the backpack that could power the accessories.

The Super Joe Adventurer. No accessories and no backpack. Just the standard figure of the line. Cool sideburns though. He looks like he's auditioning for a role in "A New Hope".

As you can tell from the pictures, mine are afflicted by the "Super Joe" disease that destroys the joints and hands. I have all the body parts, but they are basically just assembled in their jumpsuits. Actually, their suits being so tight is what holds them together. I have alot of fond memories of this line though. I had some 12" figures and Super Joe was the "new" guy I could get off the shelves. I liked them, I played them, but it was short lived. They broke easy. There were few accessories to get because the line was so short lived. Soon Star Wars would take over the universe and the GI Joe with the taped up limbs would get thrown out.

It wouldn't be until 1982 until I would know the mania that is GI Joe fever once again!