3.75" Joe:
Creating G.I. Joe
Book series featuring the history of creating G.I.Joe ®: A Real American Hero™
In 1982, G.I. Joe was introduced to a new generation of kids. According to New York Toys and Hobby World, the 1985 series of G.I. Joe was ranked the best selling toy in America!
When I started collecting G.I. Joe in 1995, never did I think I'd amass the collection I have today. What started out as picking up a few loose figures and vehicles that I didn't have as a kid has now turned into an entire run of figures, vehicles, and play sets still sealed on card or in the box.
After nearly 15 years of collecting and reading an interview with Ron Rudat, I became interested in knowing more around the history of the G.I. Joe brand and those who worked on it.
This book series is a reflection of the men and women who worked on a brand and gave it their all! The passion they had then and still have today has allowed me to collect not only conceptual artwork for the brand, but their stories of working on G.I. Joe.
I hope you enjoy this series as much as I have in putting it together.
Author and Historian, Dan Klingensmith
-Dan Klingensmith
"As a child in the 1980s, action figures were a huge part of my childhood. One particular action figure series I spent countless hours playing with was G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. As an adult, I have now taken on the role of historian and preservationist of the G.I. Joe brand. This book series is a way to not only recognize the men and women who worked on the brand, but give them an opportunity to share their inspiration and influences in creating one of the largest brands ever!"
“Dan's book series is great for everyone who has loved G.I.Joe, whether they have been an avid collector since 1982 or are just getting back into it. The presentation of figures and vehicles is a constant blend of nostalgia and new information. Documenting the concept art that resulted in some of the most iconic pop culture heroes as well as designs that never made it to production, these books are a must have for every G.I.Joe fan.”
Patrick "Notpicard" Stewart
Reviews
"The book series 3.75" Joe is a great collection of artwork, color tests, and previous ideas of figures and vehicles. The books are split up great, and you get a little of everything in each book. Everything from the 80s, 90s, cancelled, and unreleased. The book is a treasure! All the volumes are great!! Dan put a lot of G.I. Joe love, time, and effort into the research to create these books! Yo Joe!!!
Adam Peery