1986 Hasbro GI Joe Action Cards is arguably the best and most valuable set of trading cards for the franchise. Releasing around the peak of popularity for both the 3 3/4-inch toy line and the cartoon that went with it, the checklist seamlessly combines both realms. The set is big, has lots of iconic art and covers a lot of iconic ground.
1986 Hasbro GI Joe Action Cards Checklist Details
Arriving with 192 cards, the 1986 Hasbro GI Joe Action Cards checklist is a big one. Within it are three types of cards: characters, vehicles and cartoon episode recaps.
Character and vehicle cards use the art style most connected to GI Joe — packaging art. Whenever you bought a figure or were lucky enough to get a vehicle for Christmas or a special occasion, the detailed illustrations and exploding background were what grabbed you. They captured the essence of the imaginary world the toys would create. It’s a style that still resonates with the franchise today.
Backs offer up bios, including background information, military details and a write-up highly special skills and an overall evaluation. These are similar in content to the file cards found on the back of the toy packaging.
Episode cards are straightforward. The fronts have a still from the cartoon while backs highlight what’s going on.
Like Hasbro’s similar set of Transformers trading cards, 1986 GI Joe Action cards are cut like playing cards. That means corners that are intended to be round.
Beyond the Cards
Every pack also comes with one of 12 different smaller stickers. Although the art for these was new at the time, it was later used for Body Transfers (a fancy way of saying temporary tattoos) in specially marked action figures.
Instead of traditional wax packs, Hasbro took a different approach to packaging. Eight-card packs came with blister packaging, likely so that they could be sold on hangers alongside the toys. It makes for a lot more packaging that’s also bulkier. However, it also helped prevent damage from wax, gum or even generally handling that would come with a more traditional format. Come across packs today and the blister might have some creases or damage but the cards themselves should be fine. And if they’re not, it should be easy to spot.
Original boxes came with 96 packs.
Today, 1986 Hasbro GI Joe Action cards move well on the secondary market. They’re out there, but there’s not a massive supply. Traditionally, sets and large lots were how many were sold. However, similar to sports cards, key character cards like Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow are now commanding premiums.
1986 Hasbro GI Joe Action Cards Checklist
Set size: 192 cards
Cards per pack: 8 + 1 sticker
Packs per box: 96
Shop for 1986 Hasbro GI Joe Action Cards packs on eBay.
Base Set
192 cards.
Buy on eBay:
1 Scarlett
2 Rock ‘n Roll
3 Flash
4 Short-Fuze
5 Zap
6 Breaker
7 Ripcord
8 Snake-Eyes
9 Snow Job
10 Gung-Ho
11 Airborne
12 Blowtorch
13 Roadblock
14 Spirit
15 Duke
16 Recondo
17 Mutt
18 Footloose
19 Quick Kick
20 Airtight
21 Barbecue
22 Bazooka
23 Shipwreck
24 Flint
25 Alpine
26 Dusty
27 Torpedo
28 Tripwire
29 Lady Jaye
30 Doc
31 Mauler M.B.T. Tank
32 Jet Pack (JUMP)
33 Rapid-Fire Motorcycle (RAM)
34 Attack Cannon (FLAK)
35 Attack Vehicle (VAMP)
36 Heavy Artilllery Laser (HAL)
37 Motorized Battle Tank (MOBAT)
38 Amphibious Personnel Carrier (APC)
39 PAC/RAT Flame Thrower
40 PAC/RAT Machine Gun
41 Twin Battle Gun (Whirlwind)
42 Armored Missile Vehicle (Wolverine)
43 Polar Battle Bear (Skimobile)
44 Skystriker XP-14F
45 Assault Copter (Dragonfly XH-1)
46 Falcon Glider
47 Machine Gun Defense Unit
48 Mortar Defense Unit
49 Bivouac
50 Watch Tower
51 Mountain Howitzer
52 Check Point
53 Air Defense
54 Vamp Mark II
55 Self-Propelled Cannon (Slugger)
56 Hovercraft
57 Sky Hawk V.T.O.L.
58 Weapons Transport
59 Bomb Disposal
60 Armadillo Mini-Tank
61 Silver Mirage Motorcycle
62 A.W.E. (All Weather and Environment)
63 Snow Cat
64 Bridgelayer
65 Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Flagg
66 Captive Colonel
67 On Target
68 Zartan in Pursuit
69 Zartan Rules
70 Swamp Battle
71 Convoy vs. Cobra
72 Scarlett Defender
73 Fall From Power
74 Sharp Attack
75 Firefly Moves Up
76 Dreadnok Duty
77 Sky Hawk Action
78 Blackwater Prison
79 Can Opener Fires
80 Cobra Escape
81 An Evil Rescue
82 Basket Trick
83 Cobra Sleep Attack
84 Cobra Temple
85 Sky Pilots
86 Weather Dominator
87 Hurricane Alert
88 Snake-Eyes Fires
89 Fleeing Tyranny
90 Breakout!
91 Three to One
92 Fools for Gold
93 Unleashed Fury
94 Cobra Globe
95 Lightning Strike
96 Checklist
97 Cobra Officer
98 Cobra Commander
99 Major Bludd
100 Baroness
101 Scrap-Iron
102 Firefly
103 Storm Shadow
104 Torch Dreadnok
105 Buzzer Dreadnok
106 Ripper Dreadnok
107 Crimson Guard
108 Snow Serpent
109 Destro
110 Tomax and Xamot
111 Cobra Eel
112 Tele-Vipers
113 Zartan
114 S.N.A.K.E.
115 HISS Tank
116 F.A.N.G.
117 Cobra Bunker
118 Stinger
119 COBRA A.S.P. (Assault System Pod)
120 Water Moccasin
121 C.L.A.W. (Covert Light Aerial Weapon)
122 Swamp Skier Chameleon
123 Night Landing Cobra
124 Ferret Cobra
125 Rattler Cobra
126 Cobra Hydrofoil (Moray)
127 In on Flint
128 The Last Tangle
129 Climate Changer
130 Phony Fight
131 Friend vs. Friend
132 D.C. Evacuation
133 Sharp Salute
134 Blowtorch
135 Test by Fire
136 On to Washington
137 Hail Storm
138 Save the Capital
139 Cobra!!!
140 Friendly Sun
141 Sun Sensitive
142 Destro’s Plans
143 Tug of War
144 Flint in Disguise
145 Direct Hit
146 D.C. Defense
147 Monumental Hit
148 Energy Mirrors
149 White House Miss
150 The Big Bang
151 Sand Sailing
152 Sand Blaster
153 Cobra in Range
154 Aerial Assault
155 Palace of Doom
156 Home Again
157 Three’s a Team
158 Cobra Cats
159 The Coral Reef
160 Pin Down
161 Hot Rocks
162 Whirlpool of War
163 Jungle Trouble
164 Major Mercenary
165 Cobra Wrecker
166 Round She Goes
167 S.H.A.R.C. Attack
168 That’s the Spirit
169 Sea Sled Surfer
170 Jungle Burnout
171 Good vs. Evil
172 Battle for Doom
173 Cobra Victory!
174 Lady Jaye Helps
175 Safety Net
176 Climb to Safety
177 Killer W.H.A.L.E.
178 Cutter’s Crew
179 Cavern of Death
180 Cobra Convoy
181 Cobra War Room
182 Who’s in Charge?
183 Chilling Plans
184 Evil is Saved
185 Target is Cobra
186 Hot Feet
187 Withdraw!
188 Glacier Landing
189 Snow Storm
190 A Glacier Ride
191 Cruel and Cool
192 Checklist
Stickers
12 stickers.
1 per pack.
Bazooka
Cobra Emperor
Crimson Guard
Crimson Twins
Hawk
Leatherneck
Monkey Wrench
Quick Kick
Shipwreck
Snake-Eyes
Torch
Zartan
