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Super Joe Adventure Team 1977-1978
Sales for the Adventure Team was slowing down at the end of 1976, so Hasbro took GI Joe to space with a new Sci-Fi makeover, and the Super Joe Team was introduced in 1977. The new team still maintained their GI Joe look, but with more futuristic looking gadgets. The Super Joe’s ditched the flocked hair and “Kung-Fu Grip”, along with changing the size to a more cost friendly 9″ size. Eight figures were released for the Super Joe line, along with several accessories, vehicles and playset.
For more information about Hasbro’s GI Joe – Super Joe line from 1977- 1978, see bottom of the page for a complete summary.
Super Joe Adventure Team (1977-1978): Basic Figures
There were eight figures released for the Super Joe Adventure Team line from 1977-1978. Six of them were good guys, along with two villains to fight.
Darkon: Half Man – Half Monster
Market Value:
Carded $450 – $600
Loose $125 – $175
Darkon: Half Man – Half Monster
Accessories: Power Vest, Lightning Lance, Helmet
Years Released: 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Darkon is basically a green, more evil looking version of the Super Joe Commander, but is still a very cool villain look. Darkon was only available in 1978.
Gor: King of the Terrons
Market Value:
Carded $350 – $450
Loose $90 – $120
Gor: King of the Terrons
Accessories: Destructo Light, Knock-Back Head
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Instead of the usual power pack that shines a light, Gor has a red light built into his chest and is apparently, the king of the dinosaur looking Terron creatures.
Luminos
Market Value:
Carded $500 – $650
Loose $100 – $150
Luminos
Accessories: Battery Powered Light
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Luminos is a clear see through version of the Shield, which is actually a very cool effect. His head lights up with batteries, which makes his clear body light-up and look even better.
Super Joe
Market Value:
Carded $500 – $650
Loose $125 – $175
Super Joe
Accessories: Uniform, Boots
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Hasbro does like to re-use head sculpts, as the Super Joe figure is essentially the Super Joe Commander minus the beard. He came with no light feature.
Super Joe (African-American)
Market Value:
Carded $750 – $900
Loose $200 – $275
Super Joe (African-American)
Accessories: Uniform, Boots
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: This Super Joe was simply a darker version of the original Super Joe, except he is wearing a light green jumpsuit instead of the red. He had no light feature.
Super Joe Commander
Market Value:
Carded $450 – $600
Loose $100 – $150
Super Joe Commander
Accessories: Power Vest, Uniform, Boots
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: The Super Joe Commander was the poster boy of the Super Joe line. This is the figure that most people remember from this series. His power vest would light up, as other figures on the Super Joe team.
Super Joe Commander (African-American)
Market Value:
Carded $750 – $900
Loose $200 – $275
Super Joe Commander (African-American)
Accessories: Power Vest, Uniform, Boots
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: The black version of the Super Joe Commander is basically a darker version of the original Super Joe. This is also the same exact figure as the regular Black Super Joe figure, except the Commander wears either a green or yellow jumpsuit.
The Shield
Market Value:
Carded $500 – $650
Loose $100 – $150
The Shield
Accessories: Shield, Shield Light
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Like other figures in the Super Joe series, The Shield lights up with batteries through a small light in his shield. The shield itself does not detach from his arm and only moves up and down in conjunction with the arm.
Super Joe Adventure Team (1977-1978): Action Packs
The Action Packs were reminiscent of the old Adventure Sets that were issued for every other GI Joe line. Hasbro only gave us three different action packs for the Super Joe series.
Aqua Laser
Market Value:
Boxed $85 – $110
Loose $25 – $45
Aqua Laser
Accessories: Vest, Water Tank, Shoulder Harness, Pump Wheel, Tubes, Aqua Laser
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: The Aqua Laser shoots real water when you fill up the tank. There were no major variations to the Aqua Laser during its run.
Fusion Bazooka
Market Value:
Boxed $85 – $110
Loose $25 – $45
Fusion Bazooka
Accessories: Bazooka with Binocular Sight, Shell Belt, Walkie Talkie, Protective Vest, Map, Map Case
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: The bazooka doesn’t actually shoot, but it does send out a spark. There were no major variations to the Fusion Bazooka during its run.
Treacherous Dive
Market Value:
Boxed $90 – $120
Loose $35 – $60
Treacherous Dive
Accessories: Helmet, Air Tanks, Flippers, Weighted Belt, Spring-Loaded Gun, Missiles, 2 Hoses, Bellows, Tubing
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: The Dive set is made to actually go underwater. There were no major variations to the Treacherous Dive set during its run.
Super Joe Adventure Team (1977-1978): Power Packs
The Power Packs were smaller action pack sets that acted as additional accessories for the Super Joe line. All three Power Packs had small action features.
Helipak
Market Value:
Boxed $90 – $120
Loose $20 – $35
Helipak
Accessories: Helipak Unit, Steering Arms, Uniform
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: A battery powers the Helipak blades to spin them. There were no major variations to the Helipak during its run.
Magna Tools
Market Value:
Boxed $90 – $120
Loose $20 – $35
Magna Tools
Accessories: Drill, Saw, Power Unit, Uniform
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: The tools in this set actually spin when attached to the unit. There were no major variations to the Magna Tools during its run.
Sonic Scanner
Market Value:
Boxed $125 – $175
Loose $30 – $50
Sonic Scanner
Accessories: Scanner Communicator, Mount, Tripod, Headset, Uniform
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: The Sonic Scanner makes actual sounds when assembled. There were no major variations to the Sonic Scanner during its run.
Super Joe Adventure Team (1977-1978): Uniform Sets
Instead of the multiple uniform and accessory sets that Hasbro gave us in the past, we only saw four new uniform sets for the Super Joe series.
Edge of Adventure
Market Value:
Carded $30 – $45
Loose $10 – $15
Edge of Adventure
Accessories: Hooded Shirt, Pants, , Pick Axe with Rope
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Fairly easy to find
Notes: The Edge of Adventure set was a re-pack of previously released accessories and saw no major variations during its run.
Emergency Rescue
Market Value:
Carded $30 – $45
Loose $10 – $15
Emergency Rescue
Accessories: Protective Apron, Gripper Arm, Radioactive Rock
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Fairly easy to find
Notes: The Emergency Rescue set was a re-pack of previously released accessories and saw no major variations during its run.
Invisible Danger
Market Value:
Carded $30 – $45
Loose $10 – $15
Invisible Danger
Accessories: Chest Apron, Gloves, Protective Hood, Face Shield, Tool Belt, Crow Bar, Pliers, Danger Sign
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Fairly easy to find
Notes: The Invisible Danger set was a re-pack of previously released accessories and saw no major variations during its run.
Paths of Danger
Market Value:
Carded $30 – $45
Loose $10 – $15
Path of Danger
Accessories: Jumpsuit, Binoculars
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Fairly easy to find
Notes: The Path of Danger set was a re-pack of previously released accessories and saw no major variations during its run.
Super Joe Adventure Team (1977-1978): Mail-Order Exclusives
Both of the Mail-Order exclusives were only available through the Super Joe Club when you redeemed the H’s (proof of purchase seals) and $1.00.
Raft Adventure
Market Value:
With Mailer $550 – $700
Loose $200 – $250
Raft Adventure
Accessories: Inflatable Raft, Paddle, Machine Gun
Years Released: 1977
Scarcity Factor: This item is rare, and does not come up for sale very often
Notes: The Raft Adventure could have been yours for only 2 proofs of purchases and $1.00. The set came sealed in a plastic bag.
Shark Adventure
Market Value:
With Mailer $550 – $700
Loose $200 – $250
Shark Adventure
Accessories: White Shark, Scuba Tank, Mask, Fins, and Spear Gun
Years Released: 1977
Scarcity Factor: This item is rare, and does not come up for sale very often
Notes: The Shark Adventure was a bit more expensive than the its counterpart, as it cost 6 proofs of purchases and $1.00. The set came sealed in a plastic bag.
Super Joe Adventure Team (1977-1978): Vehicles and Playsets
Hasbro really gave us some fun playsets and vehicles for the Super Joe Adventure Team line. Though some, like the Avenger, had been seen before, the rest made for lots of great Super Joe adventures.
Avenger Pursuit Craft
Market Value:
Boxed $325 – $450
Loose $100 – $150
Avenger Pursuit Craft
Accessories: Jet Engines, 2 Floatation Pontoons, Landing Gear, Cockpit, Cargo Bay, Labels
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: The Avenger Pursuit Craft is identical to the Adventure Team issue, except this version is painted with the Super Joe colors with the new logo.
Rocket Command Center
Market Value:
Boxed $200 – $300
Loose $50 – $85
Rocket Command Center
Accessories: 5 Skids, 2 Jet Nozzles, Viewport Handle, Radar Antenna, Tracking Panel, Hand Communicator, Laser Gun, Long Range Space Module, XR11 Patrol Rocket, All-Terrain Hugger, Computer Center
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Hasbro gave us a brand new vehicle with the Rocket Command Center. It was was essentially 4 vehicles rolled into one with a ton of fun playability. The labels even glow in the dark. Another really great accessory for the Super Joe line.
Strategic Command Center
(Sears Exclusive)
Market Value:
Boxed $500 – $600
Loose $200 – $275
Strategic Command Center (Sears Exclusive)
Accessories: Movable Radar Screen, Sliding Racks, Communications Center, Earphone, Cardboard Mat Play Area, Code Activation Terminal
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: The Strategic Command Center was a Sears Exclusive and featured a fold-up mobile command center for the Super Joe team. It was basically made out of the Super Joe Equipment Case with some creative cardboard added to it.
Terron: The Beast from Beyond
Market Value:
Boxed $250 – $350
Loose $50 – $75
Terron: The Beast from Beyond
Accessories: Command Light Laser
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Terron was my personal favorite Super Joe piece created for the series. It was basically a crawling giant dinosaur like creature that moved on batteries. When you shined the Command Laser at the opening on its neck, the creature would stop in its tracks. This was another quality Super Joe product.
White Shark Hunt (Sears Exclusive)
Market Value:
Carded $750 – $900
Loose $200 – $300
White Shark Hunt (Sears Exclusive)
Accessories: Helmet, Air Tanks, Flippers, Weighted Belt, Spring-Loaded Gun, Missiles, Hoses, Bellows, Tubing, Raft, Outboard Motor with Mounting Bracket, White Shark,
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: This item is rare and does not come up for sale very often
Notes: The White Shark was a new set for the Super Joe team but was put together with pieces from previously issued sets. There were no major variations to this set during its run.
Equipment Case
Market Value:
With Packaging $200 – $250
Loose $30 – $50
Equipment Case
Accessories: Plastic Tray, Cardboard Insert
Years Released: 1977, 1978
Scarcity Factor: Loose Versions can still be found, but cases With Original Packaging are tough to find
Notes: The equipment case didn’t actually come with any equipment like past GI Joe footlockers, instead it featured cardboard drawings of some Super Joe accessories.
By the end of 1976, sales for the GI Joe Adventure Team line was beginning to slow down and the public’s attention was beginning to shift towards Sci Fi related movies and television shows. With the Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman dominating the small screen, and Star Wars sitting atop the box office throne, Hasbro decided to take GI Joe to space and give them a new Science Fiction makeover. So without delay, the Super Joe Adventure Team line was introduced in 1977. The Super Joe’s still maintained that GI Joe feel with their look and head sculpts but had more futuristic looking gadgets. The Super Joe bodies used the same life-like muscle tone bodies as the 1975-1976 Adventure Team series, but the head sculpts ditched the flocked hair for a plastic molded hair version. Also gone was the “Kung-Fu Grip”. The size for the new Super Joe’s changed as well, shrinking them down to a more cost friendly 9″ size, instead of the standard 12″ from years past.
The basic premise of the Super Joe line was that all the fighting was done through actual light, so many of the characters had some type of light feature. We still had the Joe Commander and basic Joe trooper, but we now got some variety with new non-human characters, such as Luminos, The Shield, Darkon and Gor. We also got some great new playsets, such as the Rocket Command Center and Strategic Command Center. That being said, my personal favorite piece to ever come from the Super Joe line has to be Terron, the beast from beyond. This was an actual walking dinosaur type creature that would stop in place when you flashed a light into a small slot on its neck. This was pretty high-speed stuff for the GI Joe line in the 1970’s.
The packaging for the Super Joe line was simple but still attractive, with the classic Adventure Team logo being replaced with the new red, white and blue Super Joe logo. The character pictures were beautifully drawn and I peronally loved the action poses each of them were in. It seemed like every character was taking turns at beating the heck out of Gor. Despite the slightly smaller size, Hasbro still managed to put in a lot of detail to this line, with some great looking accessories and vehicles. Overall, this was a very creative effort from Hasbro. Super Joe sold very well at retail, but in the end, there was just too much competition in the toy aisles and the GI Joe line finally came to an end in 1978.
Super Joe Certificate of Membership Insert
Super Joe Art
Super Joe Catalog Page
thetoycollectorsguide.com 
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