CGC Comics Registry Featured Set: G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero

We salute this month's featured set with a nod to the bold, battle-ready legacy of G.I. Joe. As a tribute to real American heroes, Silent Master’s CGC 9.8 collection, G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero, delivers a top-ranked lineup of high-grade issues that capture the spirit and action of the iconic Marvel series.

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First launched in 1964 as a groundbreaking military action figure, G.I. Joe quickly became a cultural icon. Originally marketed as a "real American hero," the brand evolved through decades of toys, cartoons and films. In the early 1980s, Hasbro reintroduced the line with a fresh cast of characters and a more serialized story, capturing the imagination of a new generation and laying the groundwork for its comic book legacy.

Marvel Comics picked up the mission in 1982 with G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero, written by Larry Hama. What could have been a simple toy tie-in became one of the most respected licensed series in comic book history. Hama infused the series with rich character development, military authenticity and long-form storytelling that gave the series unexpected depth. It ran for 155 issues and left a lasting impact on both fans and the broader comic book landscape.

This month’s featured collection highlights many of those classic issues, with a number signed by creators such as Larry Hama, Herb Trimpe, Todd McFarlane, Steven Grant, Amanda Conner, George Perez, Michael Zeck, John Beatty, Bob McLeod, Randy Emberlin, Geof Isherwood, Lee Weeks and Michael Golden through CGC Signature Series.

"I came across my first G.I. Joe comic with issue 24 and I was captivated," wrote CGC Registry Member Silent Master. "I spent the summer mowing and working … to afford the first couple of dozen I had missed. Of course I read other comics; X-Men, Spiderman, New Mutants, Transformers, Secret Wars II (I think I was one of the few who enjoyed that one), etc. But when money was tight at times though my early teens it was G.I. Joe I made sure I purchased."

Some of the comics in this month’s featured collection include:

• a G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #1 graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 signed by Larry Hama and Herb Trimpe
• a G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #11 graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 signed by Larry Hama
• a G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #14 graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 signed by Larry Hama and Herb Trimpe
• a G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #21 graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 signed by Larry Hama
• a G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #22 graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 signed by Larry Hama
• a G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #25 graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 signed by Mike Zeck
• a G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #26 graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 signed by Larry Hama
• a G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #32 graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 signed by Larry Hama
• a G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #40 graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 signed by Larry Hama
• a G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #48 graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 signed by Larry Hama
• a G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #53 graded CGC Signature Series 9.8 signed and sketched by Mike Zeck

These comics, and more, helped earn this collection win the Best in Set Type Award in 2006-2024, the Best Presentation Set Award in 2011 and the Best Copper Age Set Award in 2013.

In addition, Silent Master has 30 additional Registry sets with other G.I. Joe titles from Marvel, Image, Devils Due, Blackthorn, Dreamwave and IDW. This includes a complete CGC 9.8 run of the Marvel G.I. Joe: Special Missions spin-off series.

Silent Master’s goal is to upgrade his collection to CGC Signature Series 9.8.

About the CGC Comics Registry

The CGC Comics Registry is a place where comic book collectors come together to share their collections and knowledge with one another. It's a valuable resource for new collectors and experienced fans alike, with a wide range of collections on display. To participate, all you need is a free CGC Collectors account. The resource is an online community developed to increase the choices, convenience and education available to collectors.

The CGC Comics Registry has grown to more than 100,000 registered sets in the last year! There are now more than 625,000 books registered, and it is thrilling to see the steady, continued growth of the CGC Comics Registry. To learn more about how to navigate the CGC Comics Registry, click here.

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.