The G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero 3.75-inch action-figure line debuted in 1982.
This launch was a major reinvention of the G.I. Joe brand. Hasbro moved away from the original 12-inch figures and adopted a compact scale comparable to Kenner’s successful Star Wars figures. The smaller size made it practical to produce a large range of vehicles, playsets, and supporting characters.
The 1982 relaunch also introduced the “Real American Hero” identity and a more continuous fictional universe centered on the G.I. Joe Team and Cobra. Hasbro supported the toys with Marvel Comics stories and animated television programming, creating a coordinated story-and-merchandising strategy.
The date is sometimes confused with 1983, when the animated television miniseries helped broaden the line’s audience, or 1985, when the regular animated series began. The toyline itself arrived first, in 1982.