...if you found yourself in a conversation with an adult who was unfamiliar with GI Joe but was interested in the property and the action figures what literature would you suggest they purchase and what action figure / toy product would you recommend as their first joe product? The suggestions would be for the adult and/or the adults 8 yr old male child.

Also a slightly different scenario...if you came across an adult who was familiar with the property but had been away from it for some time due to burn out or disinterest in the property what would you suggest they purchase to reinvigorate their interest (print media and / or toys)?

Go with what you know, did they have a favorite Joe when they were a kid? The new Eaglehawk would totally rekindle interest to someone who hasn't touched a joe in 20 years

If totally new maybe start them out with one of the cool Roadblock figures from the Ret. Line (Either Ultimate RB or the battle kata one) Maybe movie Lady Jaye, Ultimate SE and SS from wave 3.5, and Movie Cobra Commander to start a figure Collection. As for other media, TPB of the WWIII run (as I felt it was actually a pretty cool story), Special Missions comics, and maybe watch the Ret. Movie (as it has a few big name actors who do justice to their part and decent enough action sequences, story pace aside)

_________________

I'd suggest a membership to http://www.joecustoms.com

It's what worked on me.

_________________

Also suggest reading the Marvel run starting in 1982, that's what hooked me. I still read "Operation: Lady Doomsday" 5 or 6 times a year, I love that story, there's no better way to get into GI Joe.

_________________

I'm really partial to the first 20-30 issues of the Marvel run myself. Hama built up a nice arc with Quinn/Dr Venom and you just don't get that kind of pacing these days. I think the internet has ruined long and drawn out story arcs. Then the smaller arc of Silent Interlude/SE origins pretty lays a solid foundation for the series running forward.

I also have a softspot for the Cobra Civil War arc and the entire Special Missions run. I like how most issues of Special Missions are self-contained and the Hama/Trimpe combo is classic. Issue #8 stands out for me, since it's a straight-forward mission that doesn't involve Cobra. The Joe squad is perfectly manned and everyone gets a chance to shine.

On the cartoon side of things, the first 2 Sunbow mini-series are the perfect launching pad for getting into the series. I still watch them regularly, along with any of the 2-parters. I enjoy most of the first season when Cobra creates a world changing scheme. It's fun seeing Cobra making a crazy ransom demand when they control all the oil or money or some other commodity

_________________

I'd also recommend the Marvel run, going up to around issue 50 or so. After that it starts to lose steam. Maybe Hama last steam or we outgrew the comic, but it really lost something slowly until the book stopped in '94.

I also agree with watching the first two Sunbow cartoons. Lots of fun in their own right, and perhaps a little more suited for an eight year old. By nine or ten, though, the comic books are good- which isn't to say that they were written for that age bracket. They weren't. There will be things that a nine or ten year old won't understand, and a dictionary might need to get used now and then. Good stories are just good stories.

As far as toys? If it's for a kid, I'd buy a lot off of eBay and see which era takes hold.

For the second part of the question:

One of the new shows like renegades or retaliation, so that they know how the property has changed over the years, so that they can see what the ideas play out in a modern way.

And get them one of the 3 packs that come with a lot of fiddly equipment so that they can play around with them.

- R

_________________

I'd suggest avoiding action figures; it's one big headache. Older toys aren't holding up well and look at availability of new stuff.

I really want to suggest Master and Apprentice I and Costa's Cobra book, but it would depend on if they were comic fans used to mutiple universe's/continuities and Kavanaugh's and Bellemo's books before they even thought about the figures, that way they could get a good look at most of them.

_________________

Get some of the Dollar General figures first. They are inexpensive and fun.

I'd give them a few of the extra figures I have that I thought they might enjoy. Maybe let them borrow a my copy of Retaliation or one of the DVDs of the cartoon. If they still like it after that I'd point them in the right direction to buy more stuff or get the comics, full run of the cartoon, etc.

Just like a drug pusher, the first time is always free.

_________________

Give them a tomahawk, a snake eyes and some joes, a cobra trooper or two, and then send them to the backyard.

_________________