Creator of GI Joe, Don Levine, has died at age 86

Transformers
Don with his hand carved and painted wooden prototype of the first GI Joe figure

Don with his hand carved and painted wooden prototype of the first GI Joe figure

He died of cancer under Hospice care Thursday morning. Don was one of the executives who worked at Hasbro and along with his team came up with the idea of a figure to go along with fellow creator.

From the AP:

Levine shepherded the toy through design and development as Hasbro’s head of research and development. He and his team came up with an 11½-inch articulated figure with 21 moving parts, and since the company’s employees included many military veterans, it was decided to outfit the toy in the uniforms of the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force, with such accessories as guns, helmets and vehicles.

Levine, who served in the Army in Korea, said he got the idea for the moveable figure as a way to honor veterans.

G.I. Joe hit the shelves in time for the 1964 Christmas shopping season and soon became a big seller at $4 apiece.

It remained popular until the late 1960s, as opposition to Vietnam intensified and parents shied away from military-related toys. Hasbro countered in 1970 by introducing “Adventure Team” G.I. Joes that played down the military connection. Into the ’70s, G.I. Joes featured “lifelike hair” and “kung-fu grip” and were outfitted with scuba gear to save the oceans and explorer’s clothing for discovering mummies.

 

 

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Greg

Greg

Greg is the owner and operator of The Allspark website and social media. Since 1999, The Allspark has provided up to date news, information and discussion about Transformers, Comics, Video Games and everything in between.
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