2007

The year 2007 (MMVII) was the 25th anniversary of the A Real American Hero brand, and the final year for Sigma 6.

Overview

The smaller Joe line's 25th anniversary began quietly. Amid rumors of special releases, the "Sigma 6" name was dropped from the 8" figures, establishing that this would be the G.I. Joe identity from now on.

In January, Hasbro announced they would be celebrating with the Real American Hero 25th Anniversary Collection: an assortment of 25 figures, to be released throughout the summer, updating classic characters. Anticipation was high, and as summer was ending, the toys finally came.

Released widely in stores and available at HasbroToyShop and countless other places online, single packs and fancily-packaged five-figure sets were difficult to find. Stores had underestimated demand, based on the dwindling sales of Valor vs. Venom and the DTC figures. However, the 25th Anniversary toys proved wildly popular, and many stores had trouble keeping them in stock.

The fan reaction was not lost on Hasbro, who wasted no time in announcing the line's expansion. Instead of just the original 25 figures, the Anniversary Collection would be expanded into an ongoing line, with series planned at least into 2008.

One thing was missing this year: vehicles. For the first time, Joe would have a figures-only year aside from a few convention exclusives.

Figures released with the Anniversary theme had the old-style yellow filecards and assignment-first arrangement of information. The packages had a silver-foil border, in honor of 25 years of ARAH. The figures would have a new construction this year, slightly larger (more accurately characterized as 4" figures) and therefore unable to fit in some of the older vehicles. Yet they were also heavily articulated, intricately detailed, and made entirely from new molds.

Sigma 6 drew to an end this year, after broadening its scope to include several "Adventure Team" sets, featuring the familiar characters doing things like capturing animals in the jungle or exploring ancient tombs. Several sets were shown off at Toy Fair, but were ultimately unreleased.

A big announcement came this year: following the success of this summer's Transformers, Hasbro announced they would also be producing a live-action G.I. Joe film, scheduled for release in 2009.

In October, the CBS television program NCIS paid homage to G.I. Joe in the episode "Identity Crisis," naming many of the guest stars and incidental characters after Joes. The characters referenced include Doc, Scarlett, Cover Girl, Roadblock, Grunt, Grand Slam and Mainframe.

Toys - A Real American Hero

25th Anniversary figures Series 1 Flint Snake-Eyes Storm Shadow Cobra Commander Cobra Officer Series 2 Beachhead Lady Jaye Buzzer Serpentor Viper Pilot Series 3 Sgt. Stalker Shipwreck Firefly Red Ninja Zartan Series 4 Note: All are re-releases from the box sets. Duke Gung-Ho Roadblock Scarlett Cobra Air Trooper Cobra Commander Storm Shadow

25th Anniversary sets G.I. Joe Battle Pack Agent Scarlett Duke Gung-Ho Roadblock Snake-Eyes Cobra Battle Pack Baroness Cobra Commander Cobra Trooper Destro Storm Shadow Cobra Legions Cobra Air Trooper Cobra Commander Cobra Trooper Storm Shadow Vehicle Driver

Collector's Club Exclusives

• Copperhead
• Operation Flaming M.O.T.H.
  • Chuckles
  • Shipwreck
  • Ice-Viper
  • Snow Serpent Commander

Convention Exclusives

• "Pimp Daddy" Destro (silver mask)
• "Pimp Daddy" Destro (gold mask)
• Edward "Starduster" Skylar
• Ralph "Steeler" Pulaski
• Rip It
• Rowdy Roddy Piper
• Tanks for the Memories
  • G.I. Joe Doc
  • Lance "Clutch" Steinberg
  • Craig "Rock 'n Roll" McConnel
  • Grand Slam
  • Rafael "Zap" Melendez
  • Robert "Grunt" Graves
  • Sgt. Flash
  • Alex "Sparks" Verdi
  • Lt. Clay Moore
  • Night Stalkers Commander
  • Night Stalkers Shock Troops (blonde) (x2)
  • Night Stalkers Shock Troops (brunette) (x2)
  • Night Stalkers Shock Troops (redhead) (x2)
• Vehicles
  • Mauler M.B.T.
  • Shredder
  • V.A.M.P.

Toys - Sigma 6 scale

Sigma 6

Commando Series 6 Frontal Assault Duke Grand Slam Windblade Snake-Eyes Storm Shadow (Razor Ninja) Soldier Series 5 Hi-Tech Shipwreck Wet Suit Firefly Commando Series 7 Camo Long Range Ninja Flame Kamakura Soldier Series 6 Gung Ho Inferno Iron Grenadier Commando Series 8 Flint Snake-Eyes (Commando) Red Banshee Storm Shadow (Ninja)

Soldier Series 7 Lockdown Samurai Storm Shadow Toxic Zartan Commando Series 9 Dojo Snake-Eyes Samurai Snake-Eyes Crime Boss Destro Dark Ninja Master Windfire Cobra Commander Box sets Metal Mayhem Mech w/ Snake-Eyes Ninja Paratrooper Snake-Eyes Ninja Tracker ATV w/ Snake-Eyes Convention Exclusive Red Ninja

Combat Squad Series 1 Army Ranger Black Ops Marine Series 2 Jungle Expert Mountain Scout Navy SEAL Land, Sea & Air Backblast Barrel Roll Deep Six

Adventure Team Pyramid of Peril w/ Snake-Eyes Terror in the Swamp w/ Recondo Danger in the Jungle w/ Storm Shadow

Comicbooks

Issues 19-30 of America's Elite wer released, as well as issues 1-7 (the entire series) of G.I. Joe: Storm Shadow, Special Missions Brazil and The Enemy, issues 2 and 3 of Dreadnoks: Declassified, and G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers: Black Horizon.

Animation

The second part of season two of G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 is released.