This list attemps to include all known variations in United States GI Joe products. International variants are not included here. For more information on these, check out the International section of Yojoe.com. Please email us should you know of any variations not listed here. Be sure to send a photo if possible. Also let us know if you have any pics of items we don't have images for.
Note that many figures have odd paint mistakes to them. Typically a highlight on the figure is not painted - ie - a holster, eyebrows, kneepad, etc. Most collectors don't consider these to be true variations unless a significant number of figures were released that way. See the bottom of the list for some examples and let us know if you've seen them before too. Maybe those listed truly are variations just coming to light.
Thanks to James Casper, Chris Jarvis, Joebros (T.J. & Jared), Joe Kovacs, Albert Palmieri, Patrick Stewart, Corey Stinson, Michael Taber, Rob Thurston, and everyone else who has helped us compile this list over the years. If you've sent in a submission and haven't been credited, email ForceFull1, and he'll add you to the list!
Updated 10/21/01 - Added an Avalance variation, a 2001 Tripwire variation, a 2001 Destro filecard variation, and a Fridge variation
For all years, note that nearly all figures released as mail-ins have red-backed filecards, store versions typically don't.
Figures often have different production markings (ie - Hong Kong, China). Unless a significant variation exists (such as the mail-in Quick Kick, which was made in Brazil) these have been omitted from the following list
1982
Stalker - light or dark camoflage
Short Fuze - mortar launcher has closed handle or open handle, and mortar launcher has thin or thick handle
Zap - two handled bazooka (original version) or one handled (later version), and one handled bazooka has either a thick or thin handle
Cobra Commander - prototype Cobra emblem on chest or regular emblem
Cobra - black eyebrows or reddish-brown eyebrows
Cobra Officer - black eyebrows or brown eyebrows
Steeler - visor binoculars (store version) or with Duke's binoculars (mail-in version)
all 1982 straight arm figures were reissued in 1983 with swivel arms and other minor retoolings
1983
Duke - helmet without holes (mail-in) or with (store version), filecard has bust shot (mail-in) or head & torso (store version), mail-in included a small American flag sticker
Major Bludd - file card with GI Joe logo or Cobra logo, early cards have "When you're feeling low and woozy...", later ones have "A mercenary's job is a heartless one..."
Destro - file card with GI Joe logo (1983 & 1984 versions) or Cobra logo (1985 version)
Destro - with or without date stamp on leg
1984
Baroness - two versions of her file card ????? (unconfirmed)
Mutt - helmet without holes or with
Blowtorch - with holes in helmet or without, flamethrower made of hard, rigid plastic or of softer plastic (also is slightly larger), eyes and eyebrows same shade as hair, others are darker
Recondo - brown camouflage stripes or green stripes
Ripcord - with holes in helmet or without
Roadblock - helmet with holes or without ????? (unconfirmed)
Spirit - filecard reads "Charlie is a Shaman......" or "Charlie is a Spirit......"
Thunder - some came with a green helmet and headset that matched the green on his chest and some had a lighter coloured green helmet and headset. ????? (unconfirmed)
Copperhead - light green or dark green gloves
Zartan - earlier filecards call him schizophrenic and multiple personality, later versions don't; heat stickers are either color changing on both sides or just one side
1985
Buzzer - filecard refers to "repressed psychotic anger" (early versions) or "intense indignation" (later versions), transition card also exists with a correcting sticker
Ripper - two versions of his filecard (info coming soon)
Torch - filecard either states he "Later rode with the Melbourne Maulers MC" or has that text removed
Bazooka - missile launcher the same as Footloose's or as Tiger Force Bazooka's
Quick Kick - mail-in is slightly different in color shades and has flimsier plastic on the figure and accessories
Xamot - has short pink scar or long red scar, long scar also may be pink
Keel Haul - emblem on arm (store version and later mail-ins) or no emblem (early mail-ins), later mail-ins often had no pistol
Crimson Guard - backpack hollowed only in the center, or completely hollowed; filecard has the black border around the picture that is common on most figures, but some don't have the black border
Heavy Metal - some did not come with the mouthpiece. Also the 1991 mail order version, which identifies him as Rampage did not come with the mouthpiece or 5 o'clock shadow
all 1985 (and Storm Shadow from 1984) filecards have either tan (released in 1985) or grey (1986) backgrounds
1986
Lifeline - store version has details on legs, 1991 mail-in version has no gun or pocket on legs (recolored Frostbite legs) and included only the backpack and medical case
Hawk - 1991 mail-in version includes ‘91 Cobra Commander gun as its only accessory and a rectangular filecard
Iceberg - mail-in version includes Rock Viper's gun as its only accessory and a rectangular filecard
Zarana - with earrings (original head sculpt) or without
B.A.T. - yellow paint or orange paint, filecard either titled B.A.T. or B.A.T.S.
Claymore - included either the Snake Eyes Uzi or Low-Light Uzi
Serpentor - gold colored snake, green colored, brown snake, or black snake, some mail-ins included several daggers but no capes
Sgt Slaughter - two different versions of the camo pattern on his pants
Slipstream - individual teeth were visible in some and on the others, it was just smooth white plastic with the indentations showing individual teeth
Viper - Filecard titled either Viper or Vipers
The Fridge - belt buckle either silver or brown with different logos; wrist bands painted either white, red, blue; or white, blue, red
1987
all Battle Force 2000 were originally single carded, later were released in 2-pack form
Techno Viper - unpainted or green belt buckle
Avalanche - nunchuks colored either grey or silver
Blocker - with visor or without
Dodger - gun with thick or thin handle
Knockdown - gun with thick handle or thin handle
Steel Brigade - oh boy! Don't even get me started!
Starduster - 3 versions - Version A has Recondo's torso, Version B has Duke's torso and Recondo's waist, Version C has Duke's torso and Iceberg's waist
Hard Top - some were packaged with a pistol and some weren't
1988
Charbroil - with red eyes or black eyes
Hit & Run - Target stores exclusive includes parachute with pack and orange file card
1989
Downtown - yellow or flesh-colored hands
Recoil - filecard has no circle R above the G.I.Joe under the picture, with the grade on the left, or it has a different "G.I.Joe" and a circle R above it, with the grade on the right, also, the card either gives him a rank of E-5, or no rank
Annihilator - filecard had either "The Enemy" under picture (later versions?) or "Cobra" with a sigil (earlier versions?)
Dee Jay - filecard has no circle R above GI Joe under the picture and SN ends with RT56, or filecard has a circle R and SN ends with GA56
Deep Six - 2 versions of filecard (info coming soon)
1990
Metal-Head - thick leg tabs with thin holes in launchers or thin leg tabs with thick holes in launchers
1991
Cobra Commander - four versions:
1) w/o eyebrows, red face plate
2) w/eyebrows, red face plate
3) w/o eyebrows, orange face plate that matches accessories - UNCONFIRMED
4)w/eyebrows, orange face plate - UNCONFIRMED
Desert Scorpion - rubber antenna or plastic antenna (they look identical, distinguishable only by touch)
Red Star - some cards identify him as a Cobra (first version), some are corrected with a Joe sticker, or are correctly printed as a Joe
Psyche-Out - backpack has either a hole or a peg for the hose
Zap - grey or silver accessories
Major Bludd - grey or silver cannon
1992
Deep Six - few (some reports say only 24) had a black dolphin, these are only production sample prototypes
Nunchuk -first version has no torso tabs and no holes in waist to keep figure from swiveling
Dojo - first version has no torso tabs and no holes in waist to keep figure from swiveling
Slice -first version has no torso tabs and no holes in waist to keep figure from swiveling
Ninja Viper - First version had no swords and a dark Cobra emblem. Later versions had either light or dark grey swords and typically had a lighter emblem
1993
Iceberg - GI Joe logo on bottom of board faces either left or right
Roadblock - in same colors as '92 or in brighter (neon) colors
Snow Storm - first version came in ECO-Warriors color scheme, orange with yellow trim. Second version was blue with orange trim
Outback - first version came in ECO-Warriors color scheme which had camo pants, blue shirt and a yellow helmet. Second version had a black helmet, without camo pants and had a green shirt.
Gung Ho - same colors as ‘92 or recolored
Barricade - same colors as ‘92 or recolored
Firefly - same colors as ‘92 or recolored with black replacing grey
Keel-Haul - small emblem or large emblem on the jacket back
Backblast - small emblem or large emblem on chest
All series 3 Battle Corps (#19-#27) - 2 different backs of cards. Some list "Armor Tech" and "D.E.F." while those produced later list "Star Brigade Armor Tech" and "Battle Corps"
Gristle - launcher has loop for string or does not
Headhunter Stormtrooper - missile launcher has spot for string to attach or doesn't
Mutt (Battle Corps) - Front of card has either an empty black rectangle behind Junkyard with the warning statement to the bottom left of Junkyard, others (later versions?) have the warning in the black box
Armor Tech Rock 'N Roll - some had yellow weapons (early versions) and others had purple weapons (later versions)
Payload - earlier versions had old style figure (1987 version repainted) picture on file card and the newer ones had new style figure (the one in the package) picture on file card. There were also two versions of the figure. The first was black with green highlights and green helmet. The second version was black with blue highlights with a black helmet
Countdown - some had a brown launcher and others had a black launcher
Ozone - tan torso (first 15,000 produced) or grey torso
Astro Viper - launcher has loop for string or does not
M. Bison (carded) - some came with a silver shoulder guard and others didn't
M. Bison (w/vehicle) - some came with a silver shoulder guard and others didn't. Note that the shoulder guard on this version was actually glued onto the figure and is not removable.
Scarlett - neck has either a ball joint (first version?) or side to side movement (later?)
Banzai - 2 versions of packaging - one lists him with the incorrect ninja move and includes correct instructions on a special insert, later versions were corrected
Bushido - 2 versions of packaging - one lists him with the incorrect ninja move and includes correct instructions on a special insert
Armor Tech General Hawk - has either a pink or black gun
Jinx (Convention) - has either a blue or black logo
1994
All 1994 Battle Corps figures can be found with early Battle Corps style package, or with newer packaging featuring a vertical GI Joe logo and a baseball card sized filecard
Flint - some had leg bands that were painted black and others had leg bands that were not painted
Dial-Tone - green highlights on torso or no green highlights
Shipwreck - some had arm bands that were painted black and others had unpainted armbands
Alley Viper - no stripes on legs (first version) or stripes on legs
Lifeline - mouthpiece either glued on or loose
Stalker - yellow highlights or no yellow highlights on chest
Payload - version 1) black with blue highlights (same as version 2 from 1993) or version 2) white with red highlights
Gears - some came in blue & silver with a green & silver helmet. Others came in blue & green with a blue & green helmet
GI Joe (Colton) - various eye/eyebrow/hair paint schemes - UNCONFIRMED
Action Soldier - brown accessories (single pack figure) or black accessories (5 pack figure)
Fighter Pilot (convention premium) - white & blue backpack (Officer's Club), or silver & black
1997
Destro - with pink or black launcher, early versions (only 3000?) were released with leopard print collar and thighs
Rock N Roll - light colored skin or dark colored skin
Short Fuze - Green with OD green shells or Green with black shells
Zap - backpack black with green shells or dark green with green shells
1998
No known figure variations
2000
Dial-Tone - belt with or without silver paint on details
Undertow - peg on chest for hose, or hole for hose
2001
Tripwire - goggles painted black or unpainted
Destro - filecard lists name as "Unknown" (first version) or as "James McCullen Destro XXIV" (later versions)
Vehicles:
Many mail-in vehicles had glossy blueprints instead of the plain paper blueprints included with store-bought vehicles
1982
Rapid Fire Motorcycle - small package or large package
MOBAT - two different molds, 82 and 83 series, the first version has solid rubber treads and the machine gun does not have a dimple to keep it on. The second version has perforated treads (you can see the drive bogey teeth through the tread), the gun and copula have been modified to keep the .50 cal on, and the battery cover was modified to make it more secure. Also, the latter is the version the CAT tank was made from.
Cobra Missile Headquarters - some came with straight-arm figures, others with swivel-arm figures (UNCOMFIRMED)
1983
APC - tan camoflage top (store version) or green top (mail-in version)
Skystriker - there are two versions of the nose gun. One version has a grid behind the gun (like on a real F14 Tomcat except the gun is on the top half of the fuselage instead of the bottom) Other version does not have the grid.
Dragonfly - first version had a nose gun that pivots and swivels as shown on the box. This version might also have a slightly different coloured Wild Bill. There's still speculation as to whether this was due to fading from the sun. If anyone has this version that has a slightly different coloured Wild Bill, let us know so we can verify this. Second version has nose gun that only swivels.
Wolverine - some had a tow hook and others didn't (UNCONFIRMED)
HISS - clear "788" stickers (early store versions), red "788" stickers (later store versions), or white "788" stickers (mail in versions)
Pocket Patrol Pack - sticker has old "flat" Joe logo or newer "3-D" Joe logo
1984
Vamp Mark II - mail-in was called the Desert Vamp (UNCONFIRMED)
Vamp Mark II - mail-in was a recolored Vamp done in tan, with Canadian stickers (UNCONFIRMED)
Stinger jeep - with grey roof and doors (store version) or all black body (mail-in)
Missile Defense - lighter green parts (store version) or darker green parts (mail-in), also, the brick wall either had bullet marks, or no bullet marks
Mortar Defense - lighter green parts (store version) or darker green parts (mail-in)
Machine Gun Defense - grey parts (store version) or black parts (mail-in)
1985
Silver Mirage Motorcycle - two box sizes
Cobra Moray - top section attaches to bow with exposed snaps by the missile launcher, or with a post that fits into a slot
Cobra Bunker - light grey base (store version) or dark grey base (mail-in)
Check Point Alpha - GI Joe stickers (store version) and light grey posts or Action Force stickers and dark grey posts (mail-in)
Rifle Range - dark brown base and dark blue parts (store version) or light brown base and blue- purple parts (mail-in)
Forward Observer - lighter green parts (store version) or darker green parts (mail-in)
Ammo Dump - lighter green parts (store version) or darker green parts (mail-in)
Ferret - dark blue body (store version) or light blue body (mail-in)
1986
Night Raven - some had no landing gear notch and others did.
Triple-T - mail-in version has some Night Force colored parts
Dreadnok Ground Assault - motorcycle cannon is light green or dark green
1987
Crossfire - Some say Alpha 27 and others say Delta 49
1988
Stellar Stiletto - some had a 1-pc body and others had a 2-pc body.
Destro's Despoiler - tan or gold parts
1993
Barracuda - some versions had a blue top half and black bottom half and others had a black top half and a blue bottom half.
Scorpion - tan top/black bottom or black top/tan bottom
Armor Bot - bronze missiles and gun pods, or blue missiles and gun pods
1994
Techno-Viper's power fighter vehicle - with a white streak or with silvery- blue streaks
1997
No known vehicle variations
1998
No known vehicle variations
2000
Man-O-War - came in either Black/Silver/Black or Silver/Black/Silver plastic scheme
HISS III - Box had a warning sticker on the front of the box or no warning sticker
UNVERIFIED VARIATIONS - these variations have been seen, but only one example of each is known to exist. Unless more are out there, these are most likely oddball paint mixups.
Copperhead '84 - thin stripes or thick stripes in the Cobra logo
Firefly '84 - light or dark eyes and eyebrows
Junkyard - heavy coat of brown paint on underbelly
Order - different paint on face
Eel ‘85 - no paint on knife
Sneak Peek - brown or black eyebrows
Gung Ho '87 - black hair or blonde hair
Storm Shadow ‘88 - upside down tattoo
Frostbite Tiger Force - with orange eyes
Beach Head '92 - with black leg stripes
Battle Corps Keel Haul - no emblem on figure's back
