Hundreds of Fans Prove Action Toy No Average Joe

Millions of movie fans may have been transfixed on a little man named Oscar, but about 500 collectors of action figures only had eyes for G.I. Joe on Sunday afternoon.

Collectors and fans of the military-themed toy--some even clad in camouflage--gathered at the ninth Action Figure Show and Sale at the Ramada Inn, buying everything from books and clothes to expensive plastic vehicles and figurines of the boys’ answer to Barbie.

The show was originated by James DeSimone, an avid G.I. Joe collector since childhood and owner of some 1,200 of the action figures. He established the “G.I. Joe Collector’s Club” 14 years ago with 10 other enthusiasts. The club has since boomed to 8,000 members worldwide, he said.

The 43-year-old Burbank resident makes his living by staging G.I. Joe shows and sales across the country. DeSimone said he plans to organize an international convention June 27 at the Air and Space Museum in New York.

“G.I. Joe is a great toy, because you can really use your imagination,” he said. “You can have fun with him and a bunch of other guys or by yourself.”

Although the military figurine has been a popular children’s toy since its debut in 1964, Sunday’s show drew mostly adults hoping to reclaim their youth.

“All my stuff was given away when I was a kid, so I’m here trying to buy my stuff back,” said Stephen Manley, 34, of Los Angeles. “It’s like a habit. You need to have a G.I. Joe fix.”

And plenty of people were satisfied, as adult men rummaged through all the goodies like children in a toy store. Some could hardly hold all the merchandise they harvested at various tables.

A new G.I. Joe costs $15 to $30 at most toy stores, but Sunday’s collectors spent a minimum of $60 for a naked Joe from the early years. The most expensive items at the show included black and Japanese models from the 1960s, going for about $400 apiece. A nurse from the 1960s--the only female character ever created in the G.I. Joe series--was worth $1,000, DeSimone said.

“It’s part of the little boy in me that never grew up,” said Vista resident Ben Moore, 31, a G.I. Joe collector for nearly 20 years.

Other collectors seemed attracted to the doll in military fatigues for reasons of vanity.

“It’s like having a little version of me around,” said Tim Tellez, a 25-year-old Marine from West Covina. “Besides, he’s a fun guy to have around and kind of an inspiration to all of us military types.”