Welcome once more to Consigned, Cool, & Collected, where we look at items from our consignors with a particular “cool factor.” We once more turn our eyes to what we call the “Florida Collection”, a G.I. Joe immortalizing one of DC’s classic war comic heroes.
Four Color Star Spangled War Stories
Though mostly out of favor today, “War Comics” were a HUGE genre in the Silver & Bronze Ages (1960s-1970s) and DC Comics was undoubtedly the king of publishing them. One of the longest running was Star-Spangled War Stories, which ran continuously from 1952 to 1982. Beginning with 1970’s #151, the title was headlined by The Unknown Soldier – a heavily bandaged World War II commando who was a master of disguise.
With 1977’s #205, the series actually changed it’s title to “The Unknown Soldier” and bore its star’s name until it ended with #268 (where the eponymous commando actually killed Hitler). For those keeping score, that’s 12 years and 117 issues starring The Unknown Soldier.
Previews Catalog circa 2003
Dreams & Visions in Plastic
In the early 2000s, Hasbro’s long-running G.I. Joe brand teamed up with DC Comics to launch the Dreams & Visions line, wherein DC’s longest running War Comic heroes of yore were turned into 12″ Joes. This included Sgt. Rock’s iconic Easy Company, the two-fisted airman Blackhawk (for whom additional outfits of his post war adventurer/superhero uniforms could be bought), World War I pilot Enemy Ace, and (of course) The Unknown Soldier. Owing to his status as a covert agent (and his name borrowing from a very real & somber military tradition), Unknown Soldier’s packaging was emblazoned only with his name and a CONFIDENTIAL stamp.
We’ve got the Unknown Soldier up on eBay now and we’re crossing our fingers hoping that some of the others will pop up as we keep sorting through the astounding Florida Collection!
See you next time for another nifty find that’s Consigned, Cool, & Collected.
