1982 GI Joe Playset from the JC Penney Catalog

1982 GI Joe Playset from the JC Penney Catalog

 

1982 GI Joe Playset from the JC Penney Catalog

1982 GI Joe Playset from the JC Penney Catalog

One of my favourite things about Department store wishbooks is when they snuck in an exclusive item. Sometimes this was whole figures like the Mego Secret Identity figures; other times, carry cases or even playsets meant to be used with the toys unofficially. That’s the case with the Mobile Command HQ playset from the 1982 JC Penny wishbook. 

Despite having GI Joe’s logo on the photo and nothing but Joe Toys, this is not, to my knowledge, officially licensed.  It is merely a generic concept playset meant for all Military figures like SGT. Rock by REMCO is specifically mentioned. 

It’s construction makes it look a lot like the Mego Pocket Superheroes Bat Cave, but they aren’t the same. Perhaps they used the same factory because this is also quite thin plastic.

1982 GI Joe Playset from JC Penney

1982 GI Joe Playset from JC Penney

1982 GI Joe Playset from JC Penney

1982 GI Joe Playset from JC Penney

I have to tell you as a kid, I would have BEEN ALL OVER THIS. I was heavy into that first wave of RAH Joes and I’ve always been a playset nerd. Sadly, there are no JC Penneys in Canada, and by the time RAH added playsets, I was in the 8th grade. 

Here is the rest of the glorious page, I bet many of the exclusive catalog packs cost more than my kid’s tuition this year. Click to enlarge.

1982 GI Joe Playset from JC Penney

1982 GI Joe Playset from JC Penney

 

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2 Comments

  • Floyd Armstrong on August 2, 2023

    Really has strong vibes to that Pocket Superhero Batcave. Love things like this.

  • TRA on August 9, 2023

    I like the J C Penney (sp?) playset.

    There was a rumor, + actually some news reports…maybe from Time Magazine [?], in the 1st year that the about – 4 inch tall, GI Joe action figures came out.
    I think that year was 1982.

    The rumor said that: for $200, Hasbro would sell you [a complete set] of ALL of the: 4 inch GI Joe action figures, GIJ…4 in. figures’ sized vehicles, and/or each one of the toys in the- 1982, GI Joe figures’ toy-line.

    I really like GI Joes.
    If I knew how to 1) buy this set from Hasbro, in 1982, + 2) if I HAD the $200 in 1982, I would have bought it! That would’ve been quite the find, for me- a dedicated, toy collector. 😀

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