G.I. Joe was one of my earliest loves. My grandmother gave me some of the comics, and that was it—I was hooked. I started asking for the action figures as presents, as well as the vehicles and playsets. And of course I started watching the cartoon! I remained a loyal fan for years, until 1987, when I decided that I had gotten too old for the Joes, and switched to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Most childhood pleasures, when revisited, disappoint. But not G.I. Joe—well, not all of it.