Gi Joe Aircraft Carrier 1985 - The Tomahawk is a rare find for G.I. Joe collectors. Part of Hasbro's series five releases, it was available from 1986 to 1988. If in mint condition, it fetches $350. Even out-of-the-box Tomahawk models cost between $100 to $250 due to their rarity.
G.I. Joe is one of the greatest toy lines in history, with a legacy going back to the 1960s. The 12" dolls of that decade are as equally iconic as the smaller Star Wars-sized figures of the 1980s and beyond. Many of them are incredibly valuable. Some of them are among the most expensive toys ever.
Gi Joe Aircraft Carrier 1985
Updated on August 26th, 2021 by Rich Keller: G.I. Joe is synonymous with 1980s culture. The series, G.I. Joe: The Movie, the action figures, and their vehicles all bring back memories of childhood. Those who saved their Joe-related toys might have a fortune under their noses.
Particularly if what they own is a rarity. Despite some of his ineptitude, Cobra Commander is one of the best leaders of the organization. Thus, it makes sense that his action figure is the most prized in any form.
Several variants of the original action figure exist, including with and without the swivel Battle Arm Grip. There are some silly G.I. Joe vehicles out there, but the Defiant isn't one of them. The Defiant Space Vehicle Launch Complex is a massive and unique toy that retailed for about $100 when it debuted in 1987. A boxed set of this toy—if it can be found—goes for serious money.
Actually, a complete version sold on eBay for close to $1,800. Destro is one of the best Cobra villains in G.I. Joe's mythology. Additionally, he's one of the coolest figures in the original line. He debuted in the 1983 Series Two of action figures and became an instant hit with his distinctive metal mask.
Perry was a cultural phenomenon after the Bears won the Super Bowl in 1985. This probably led to his G.I. Joe-related figure being released as a giveaway in early 1987. A complete set costs nearly $300.
Scarlett is one of the original G.I. Joe action figures released in 1982. That means she was originally released with the original straight arms, not unlike the best vintage Star Wars action figures. In Series Two, she was re-released with the Swivel-Arm Battle Grip.
A graded carded sample goes for about $1300. The rarest by far is the so-called "Mickey Mouse" variant. This early edition of the mail-away iteration features a misprint on the iconic Cobra symbol on his chest.
As a result, it created a shape that looked like Mickey Mouse's ears. One of the rarest figures in the line, a graded complete set of the mail-away figure costs nearly $5,000. The character would go on to have dozens of other figures over the decades.
Nevertheless, this one remains the goal for many collectors. The main reason is he's one of the greatest G.I. Joe characters of all time. The solider and ninja is a silent, deadly powerhouse that rivals even comic book superheroes.
Hasbro made a habit of odd cross-promotional tie-ins with G.I. Joe. For instance, they did one with their other popular line, the Transformers, for years. One of the oddest is the manufacturer's mail-away promotion for The Fridge, an action figure based on the iconic Chicago Bears defensive player William "Refrigerator" Perry.
The U.S.S. Flagg is the end-all be-all of G.I. Joe toys. It's one of the largest toys of the 1980s with an original retail cost of $90. Once assembled, the aircraft carrier is over seven feet long.
A boxed complete can cost $4,000. Although the first version from 1982 is also sought after and expensive, the second version from 1985 is the iconic Snake Eyes. A carded sample sets people back $2,100. Introduced at the height of the line's popularity, this Snake Eyes is paired with his wolf sidekick Timber.
The reason for the high asking price of $15,000 is the figure's true rarity. It's hard to find one out-of-the-box in mint condition, let alone one in its packaging. The one for sale was awarded a 95 AFA grade.
Unlike a lot of other Joe figures from the 1980s, Baroness didn't see any re-releases. She was available in 1984 and 1985 and did not return until 1997. However, she was dressed in different colors by that time.
A MOC sample of Destro costs upwards of $600. The cost comes down a lot due to variations on the file card. There are two different models: The one from 1983 has the G.I. Joe logo, whereas the more rare 1985 version has the Cobra logo.
It comes with removable seats, spinning blades, and missiles. From 1987-88, the Tomahawk was packaged with a pilot, Lift-Ticket. This was the only place the action figure was sold. Thus, complete boxes from this time period are a solid catch.
There's a reason Hasbro's Series Two release of Joe figures is so popular and features rare complete sets. It introduced the Swivel-Arm Battle Grip. This allowed the toys to bend their arms inward and outward. Thus, the action figures could actually hold the weapons that came in their packaging.
The G.I. Joe VAMP & HAL set combines two regularly sold vehicles into one. The uniqueness of the item— along with its brief window of availability— makes it one of the rarest and most sought-after packaged G.I.
Joe toys from the 1980s. This very rare MIB set costs upwards of $7,500. Although introduced in the comics and the G.I. Joe cartoon in 1984, it took Hasbro another year to adapt Shipwreck into an action figure.
That's okay, as it gave the manufacturer a chance to provide another construction breakthrough for their Series Four toys: The neck ball. This gives Shipwreck the power to move his head up and down as well as back and forth.
Franklin Tailtree, known by the Joe codename Airborne, was not popular when he appeared in the second series of action figures. Although his file card is impressive, the toy itself, which comes with a rifle and parachute, did not enthrall consumers.
Released in 1984, Airborne was discontinued one year later. The Flagg has never been re-released, unlike many other classic G.I. Joe vehicles. The ship came with many accessories and parts that are easily lost, and complete kits are hard to find.
Hence, this makes loose and boxed versions the Holy Grail for many Joe collectors. Much of the vintage G.I. Joe line, particularly the A Real American Hero era, commands a premium on the secondary market. If collectors want to complete a set, it costs them a small fortune.
Prices on some especially rare and iconic pieces continue to skyrocket. Many of the images below are courtesy of the fantastic archive at Yojoe.com! With complete packaging, this figure has been sold for over $700. He's less expensive if part of the Original Adventure Team package Hasbro Direct offered in 1986. Here, the Airborne came via mail with nine other figures in a carrying case.
However, even the figures included with the set, Hardtop & Payload, go for astronomical sums themselves. The main reason is that they came with a lot of small accessories, like a microphone and umbilical cord, that easily became lost.
Loose sets of these figures cost upwards of $800. First released in 1967, the nurse did not perform very well. Boys didn't want a girl doll among their action figures. The lack of heavy production on the figure, combined with a major variation in the color of her medic bag— the white version is the first and most rare— makes G.I.
Nurse Action Doll one of the most prized figures. Baroness played a huge role in the Marvel Comics version of G.I. Joe. Today, she would have been considered one of Marvel's best spies. An instant icon from her Series Three introduction in 1984, Baroness is one of the key figures in Cobra and one of the most sought-after action figures from the 80s.
A graded, carded figure costs about $1,700.
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