Sears Wish Books
Every year Sears put out a massive catalog, known as the Sears Wish Book. They showed off the years' latest and greatest G.I. Joes.
They were interesting for a few reasons: they usually set up the figures and vehicles on some cool dioramas, they featured many pre-production vehicles, and they usually featured exclusive Joe products, sold only at Sears.
They were interesting for a few reasons: they usually set up the figures and vehicles on some cool dioramas, they featured many pre-production vehicles, and they usually featured exclusive Joe products, sold only at Sears.
1982
The 1982 catalog showed off all of the Joe vehicles but the HAL, and introduced the 1982 exclusive,
the "Cobra Command Headquarters." For some reason they left the Missile out of the Cobra Missile Command Headquarters name.
the "Cobra Command Headquarters." For some reason they left the Missile out of the Cobra Missile Command Headquarters name.
The "exclusive" multi-figure packs (items 4-6 above) featured some of the years carded figures repackaged on red back file cards.
1983
The 1983 catalog showed the Joe vehicles in a two page spread, and still included the exclusive "Cobra Command Headquarters" (still no Missile in the name in this ad). They also mixed in some non-Joe product and some licensed merchandise like the G.I. Joe train set.
1983 image gallery. Click the images below to enlarge them.
1984
The 1984 catalog showed the G.I. Joe and Cobra vehicles on an awesome volcano and island set.
The exclusive "Cobra Command Headquarters" was no longer available. They also mixed in some G.I. Joe licensed merchandise.
The exclusive "Cobra Command Headquarters" was no longer available. They also mixed in some G.I. Joe licensed merchandise.
1984 image gallery. Click the images below to enlarge them.
1985
The 1985 catalog showed off the U.S.S. Flagg on a two page spread and introduced the 1985 exclusives:
the "Crimson Guard H.I.S.S." (AKA Cobra S.M.S.) and "Crimson Guard Tank" (AKA Cobra C.A.T.). Maybe the product names for these vehicles were finalized after the Wish Book went to print. They also mixed in some non-Joe product.
the "Crimson Guard H.I.S.S." (AKA Cobra S.M.S.) and "Crimson Guard Tank" (AKA Cobra C.A.T.). Maybe the product names for these vehicles were finalized after the Wish Book went to print. They also mixed in some non-Joe product.
1985 image gallery. Click the images below to enlarge them.
1986
The 1986 catalog showed off the Terror Drome and Tomahawk in the main photo, and introduced the 1986 exclusives: the "Dreadnok Fang and Skyhawk" (AKA Dreadnok Air Assault) and "Dreadnok Stinger" and "Cycle" (AKA Dreadnok Ground Assault). Again, the product names for these vehicle sets were probably finalized after the Wish Book went to print.
1987
1987 Sears Wish Book scans needed. Please contact us through Facebook or Twitter if you'd like to contribute!
1988
The 1988 catalog gave much less space to G.I. Joe, it mixed in some non-Joe product, and there was a noticeable lack of exclusives.
