Year 1997 of G.I.Joe

In 1997, the GI Joe franchise was in a period of transition. The popular "A Real American Hero" line, which had dominated toy shelves throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, had officially ended a few years prior. However, Hasbro wasn't ready to abandon the brand entirely. Instead, they experimented with different formats and approaches. This year saw the introduction of the "GI Joe Extreme" line, a departure from the more realistic military focus of its predecessor.