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DEFINITIONS & ABBREVIATIONS USED IN ARTICLES WRITTEN BY ROB SORRELS
HOF - Hall of Fame. First of the new 12" Joes. Made from 1991 to present (currently used in some Star Wars, Planet of the Apes, etc figures). The body has internal articulation at the elbows and knees which limit the range of motion at these joints. Many different heads were sculpted for the HOF line, each head sculpt having a separate name (i.e. Duke, Snake Eyes, etc).
HOFA - Hall of Fame, Anniversary. Improved version of the original HOF body. First made in 1994 for the 30th Anniversary of GI Joe. Added wrist, waist, ankle, and improved articulation in the neck joints. Elbows and knees still have internal articulation. One head sculpt - an attempt to replicate the vintage head. Used for all store exclusives thru 1996.
CC - Classic Collection. Initially issued in 1996, the best articulated GI Joe yet (IMHO). Beefy chest and thin arms and legs. All articulation now external.
ICC - Improved Classic Collection. Issued at the end of 1998, these figures have some improvement in the neck joint allowing a small amount of side-to-side movement.
AM - Action Man. The United Kingdom equivalent of GI Joe. Current AM has several different body types. The cheaper figures have HOF-type bodies while the more expensive figures have a well articulated body style. Vintage AM figures are the same as vintage GI Joe figures.
IAM - Improved Action Man. The more expensive modern AM figures have this body style. It retains the beefy body style of the HOF/AM figures, but has external articulation which improved the posibility of the figure.
SSAM (Sam) - The new 21st Century Toys Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine figure. Since 21st Century didn't name their figure anything but "The Ultimate Soldier" until a couple years after its introduction, the alt.toys.gi-joe group settled on the name "Sam" for him. The reasoning was Ultimate Soldier initials were US, and Uncle Sam's initials were US, so the figure must be a Sam. I think this usage may have influenced 21st Century as they now refer to their figures as "SSAM."
SLU - Starting Line Up. 12" sports stars that use multiple variations of the Hasbro bodies..
USSM - U. S. Serviceman Memorial Collection figures and outfits made by Formative International Co, Ltd. Initially issued in 1996 under this name. Previous 12" figures and accessories by this company were issued under the "RDF" (Rapid Deployment Force) label. The bodies are oddly proportioned - tiny heads, huge chests/arms/legs, and the hands were solidly molded in very painful-looking positions! USSM labels are found on WW2, American Civil War, and Vietnam War figures and outfits.
SotW - Soldiers of the World. The newest title of the 12" figures and outfits made by Formative International Co, Ltd. So far, WW1, WW2, Korean War, Vietnam War, American Civil War, and American Revolution figures and outfits have been issued under this title. Starting in 1998 they improved the articulation somewhat, and made the hands in a pliable plastic.
Vintage - Original 12" Joe. Painted or flocked hair. Yes, ADVENTURE TEAM IS VINTAGE!
Elite - Replica of vintage GI Joe made by Cotswold Collectibles Inc. Elite figures have a bunch of different head sculpts but the head sculpting and eye painting makes them look "wide-eyed." The Elite line now includes "fuzz head" Adventure Team-type heads.
ME - Masterpiece Edition. A Hasbro licenced replica of vintage GI Joe using the GI Joe name, these came with a book and awesome box. Originally sold by Target for $50, found at end of 1997 for as little as $10 at Sam's Clubs.
TC - Timeless Collection. Yet another replica of the vintage GI Joe. Hasbro is using the ME bodies . Expensive "collectibles" aimed at the nostalgia market like the MEs were. So far they haven't been found marked down at Sams (too bad...).
