G.I. JOE... The Ultimate Collectible!

Action! That's what G.I. Joe has promised each new generation of boys for over 30 years. From the time he enlisted in 1964, there's never been a toy quite like him. Now this Masterpiece Edition brings back the original G.I. Joe together with a deluxe history of America's favorite fighting man.

With 21 moving parts, the original G.I. Joe could stand at attention, charge enemy positions, and lie flat to crawl as he prepared to pull a grenade pin. Representing each of our nation's military services, he could be outfitted with a full line of uniforms, amazing equipment, and detailed weapons. In backyards and on floors across the nation, friends and rivals made for battles of the season, joining ranks in a new hobby and glorying in scenes of military might.

Every red-blooded American boy had his own favorite G.I. Joe. But G.I. Joe was always more than just a toy soldier. To American boys he became a friend, a protector... maybe a brother, a father figure, or Joe's best "buddy" who let a new kid on the block feel a part of the neighborhood right away. He was a winner of battles and a comrade-in-arms!

Among G.I. Joe collectors, there is a saying, "Old soldiers never die..." Your mom just threw them away. Now, with this history of G.I. Joe told by his famed creator, Don Levine... and this perfect reproduction of the original 1964 action figure—authentic in manufacture and detailing—you can bring your G.I. Joe memories back to life.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Only Don Levine, the creator of G.I. Joe, could have told this remarkable story—and only a true G.I. Joe collector would have listened. Author John Michlig was part of the army of boys who grew up with the 1960s plastic hero with a personal, vivid history of G.I. Joe. The Story Behind the Legend is full of the voices of the men and women who created this world famous toy, and filled with over 100 full-color photographs of early prototypes, sketches, blueprints, equipment, action figures, and more.

The central characters are G.I. Joe, Don Levine, and the Hasbro Corporation. You will read about Don Levine and Hasbro's whip-it overall time schedule to launch this amazing toy and create a whole new category of toys, the 12-inch action figure. You will read of the struggles, the personalities, and the secrets of this icon—top secrets never before revealed. This book is a must for every G.I. Joe collector.

ABOUT THE G.I. JOE

This G.I. Joe is an accurate and authentic reproduction of the 1964 original—now available for the first time in 30 years—as officially authorized by Hasbro. The head and face of this G.I. Joe collectible were casted from original molds from a prized example of G.I. Joe head in this masterpiece collection originates from this long-lost, never used mold. His head is attached by the same version of "dog tag" to the entire figure's faithfully copied from an engineering sample from the private collection of Don Levine. It was carefully researched and reproduced to the exacting standards of both Don Levine and a team of G.I. Joe collectors.

This unique combination of book and G.I. Joe is truly the ultimate G.I. Joe collectible and deserves a special place of honor in the collection of every old or new fan!