With the recent GI Joe movie still on people's minds, I'm sure this year's streets will be full of little Dukes and Snake Eyes running around looking for their next sugar high. While I can always appreciate my beloved toys getting that kind of exposure, I can't help but sob a little that some of the more classic GI Joe designs will be left in closets or never even thought up as costumes this year. I'm here to fix that, with part 3 of:
You're probably thinking: "didn't I just read about the best GI Joe costumes at some other toy blog?" And you probably did. Even worse, I'm more or less copying half that list. You see though, in reality, pretty much any classic GI Joe design is going to make an awesome Halloween costume, whether you go back to the more realistic military designs of old, and especially if you take hold of the crazy 80's magic. My recommendation, is of course, 80's magic. Just look at all the colors.
But of course, we're going to have to narrow down your costume choice, because going as a group of 200 people might be difficult, and costly. So I thought about which GI Joe costume could be put together rather reasonably, from stuff around the house at a low expense, and one guy came to mind. Bazooka! All he wears is a red jersey (finding one numbered 14 might be tough) with green accessories. Green bicycle helmet, check. Girlfriend's green bangles, check. Dad's green cargo pants, check. Shoulder and elbow articulation, check. Awesome stache, might take some work.
And then if you happen to have a twin brother (or evil doppelganger?), there's really only one costume choice for you, ever: Tomax and Xamot. This might seem like an easy pair of costumes to get right; just buy the same costume twice and you're done, right? No! Halloween is all about details, and to get these two handsome fellows right, you absolutely have to make them mirror images of one another. I just hope neither of you is missing a body part, because making yourselves match up is going to be a real pain. It's all about the dedication to your costume though.
And once more, we'll go back to the costume for the heftier folks. Most Joes are about the same size (given parts reuse and all) and physically fit, but old Deep Six here has a distinction in that category, he looks a bit chunky. And since most of us are shaped like his diving suit anyway, it should save a lot of cash on all that extra padding you'd need. And the non Joe fans at the party will just think you're a robot who has commandeered a human head. It's really a win-win situation.
The following costumes (Gung Ho, Shipwreck, and Wild Bill) should only be attempted for Village People fans, and any attempts at wearing them ironically is probably just doomed from the start. If you do choose any of the three following outfits, be prepared for YMCA requests all evening long. It should also be known, these costumes may or may not require possession of a parrot. Don't say you weren't warned.
Finally, for the really lazy folks, there is a GI Joe character who is a dream come true for you, Zartan. He's the master of disguise, so all you have to do is go to a party dressed exactly as you are right now (okay, you should probably put pants on first), and then tell people you're really Zartan, in disguise as yourself. Clever, huh? The guy pictured below is always dressed up as Zartan. You could so very easily do the same, and maybe even look better.
And I'll end this edition just like the last one. "Turn away, lest your eyes burst into flames from the beauty!"
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