I've Got My Eye On You

In the final days of the 12" GI Joe (the first time around) they did some pretty odd things to keep the toy line alive.

These inspired ideas include:

Bulletman - A cheesy superhero knockoff, complete with chrome bullet helmet!

The Intruders - Cavemen from outer space! An "enemy" of GI Joe.

But the most unusual idea may have been Eagle Eye GI Joe.

GI Joe now had a lever in the back of his head. When you moved it, the eyes went back and forth. I suppose this sounded like a good idea, but in practice it is pretty ridiculous.

When you look at his eyes, GI Joe has two looks. If the eyes are straight on, he looks frightened, if they are off to the side, he looks suspicious. I'm not sure this is what they were looking for.

Eagle Eye GI Joes aren't terribly common nowadays as they were made with the muscle body style, which was held together with rubber bands. Since the rubber bands deteriorate and the figures fall apart, most of those GI Joes ended up in the trash.

Thanks to Daryl Williams for the animated Eagle Eye GI Joe. Now everyone can experience those odd moving eyes.

'til Joe finally spots those caveman from outer space with his Eagle Eyes

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT

Comments

[Hussein Holland]

The Hasbro images you have were marketing only- the actual heads were a different mold. There are a variety of skin tones, most had a reddish tint that made them look flushed or embarrassed...

[Tom Calhoun]

Yep. Eagle Eyes have a hard plastic head versus the flexible "rubber" of the former heads. Though the U.S. heads are not as flushed like those from other countries. The tradeoff is the foreign KFG was much better.

I kind of like the eerie pics from the Hasbro literature though. The real thing is (slightly) less creepy.

Daryl's image is just a regular AT Commander manipulated via digital magic.

Tom

[sandman]

Yes I still have mine:)...I just found this site, and it's COOL! I've got a couple Joes with the eyes that turn, by way of the little knob at the rear of the head at the bottom.

I didn't remember the ones with the moving eyes, until years later in my collecting. What a rush to find them!

Yes the rubberbands have long since turned to dust; with a little manipulation, it's easy to reconnect the arms, legs & head, by using regular rubberbands. Better still, the hairbands found next to the brushes and combs in any corner grocerystore. Used by people with long hair, they last for years:)

Thank you...

[Matt Heavener]

Does anybody have a picture of the box that eagle eye gi joe came in?