From 1964 to 1969 , Hasbro's vintage G.I jOEs came with hard hands and painted heads that had the characteristic right cheek scar and was/is used by Hasbro as a trademarkable feature.

The term "Painted Head" or PH is often used by collectors for these vintage G.I . jOEs. The painted hair colours were black with blue eyes, auburn with blue eyes, brown with brown eyes, and blonde with brown eyes.

The original 1964 vintage PH is often soft and gummy and the original first issues had eye liner around the eyes and holes bored through the shoulders (slotted shoulders).

Sometimes those original 1964 vintage PH head sculpts shrink around the neck post and are often termed by collectors as a "Pin head".

In 1965 until 1969 , the Caucasian painted head G.I. Joes were made of a harder plastic that did not feel soft or gummy and did not shrink over time.

Also in 1965, Hasbro introduced an African American G.I. Joe Action Soldier which was the same as the Caucasian's head sculpt but moulded in brown with black painted hair with brown eyes and also had the characteristic right cheek scar.

In 1966, Hasbro introduced some international G.I. jOEs with a new Caucasian head sculpt that collectors call the "Nordic". These do not have the characteristic cheek scar.

The painted hair colours were black with blue eyes, auburn with blue eyes, brown with brown eyes, and blonde with brown eyes.

Also in 1966, Hasbro introduced the Japanese Imperial Soldier with a distinct asian head sculpt with black painted hair and again, no characteristic cheek scar.

From 1970 until 1976 for the African American G.I. jOE, was given a new head sculpt and was simply the "Adventurer". The Adventurer was a beardless black fuzzhead with brown eyes.

In 1975 Hasbro created "Mike Power, the Atomic Man" in competition to the Kenner produced toy of the "Six Million Dollar Man", which was appearing on millions of TV sets. A new head sculpt was created and instead of flocking, Hasbro went with a brown painted head and clean shaven face.

Hasbro's Atomic Man has a clear plastic right arm and clear plastic left leg with mechanical pieces visible within them. He also has an "atomic flashing eye". The painted head has a plastic filled hole in it to allow light to enter the top of the head and shine out through the eye.

In 1976, Hasbro created a G.I. jOE Superhero: BULLETMAN THE HUMAN BULLET code # 8026.

Underneath the chrome bullet-shaped head gear of this Superhero was a new head sculpt with brown painted hair that would also later be used with cheaper blow-moulded figures called "The Defenders". Hasbro created it's own competition to other toy companies that were making blow-moulded 12 inch action figures as competition to Hasbro's G.I. jOE.

In 1976, Hasbro borrowed an innovation from their British affiliate, "Palitoy" and their "Action Man" figure, to introduce an "Eagle Eye" variation to the North American Adventure Team figures.

A small lever on the back of the head moved from side to side can be used to change the direction the eyes are looking.

The animated image shown here is actually of an Action Man figure, but Hasbro used the same head sculpt.

Neither Palitoy or Hasbro created an "Eagle Eye" African American or Asian Adventure Team figure.

After 1976 Hasbro ceased making the 12 inch G.I. jOE action figures . In the 1980's with Kenner's success with 3 and 3/4 inch licenced Star Wars figures, Hasbro reintroduced G.I. jOE also in the same 3 and 3/4 inch scale called GI JOE A Real American Hero (RAH or ARAH).

In 1991, after a 15 year absence the 12" G.I. jOE line returned in response to the high demand from nostalgic collectors of the vintage era G.I. Joe action figures.

To help tie in the new line with the existing RAH market, a line of figures patterned after their smaller counterparts was planned.

The first to appear was Hall of Fame Duke. He was initially a TARGET store exclusive, and sold out as quickly as they could be stocked.

Target Duke image from source

CC BY-SA 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5810542

Kenner and Tonka toy companies were purchased by Hasbro in mid-1991. At this time Hasbro briefly transferred the Hall of Fame G.I. Joe franchise to their Kenner sub-division. The Kenner logo appears on many Hall of Fame packaging.

For all other 12 inch 1992 to 1997 Hall of Fame head sculpts I recommend: https://www.yojoe.com/12inch/

In 1994, Hasbro had a mail-in exclusive 12 inch Gi jOE Green Beret for the 30th Anniversary of G.I. jOE (1964-1994) revealing G.I. jOE's real name as "Joseph Colton" in an homage to the original vintage PH head sculpture.

When the Green Beret uniforms ran out, Hasbro filled the remaining mail orders with a white Artic Assault uniform.

Also in 1994 Hasbro used the "Colton" head sculpt for their 1964-1994 COMMEMORATIVE COLLECTION 30TH ANNIVERSARY, Action Soldier, Action Sailor, Action Pilot, Action Marine which had the figure, vintage artwork coffin boxes and assorted equipment.

Through 1995 to 1997 , the "Colton"sculpt was used for various Limited Edition sets such as: Dress Marine (Toys"R"Us), Battle of the Bulge (Target), Home for the Holidays Soldier and Military Police (Kaybee Toys), with three ethnic variations of the MP.

The "Colton"sculpt was again used for the Target exclusives marking the 50th Anniversary of World War II. These Limited Edition Commemorative Figure included Action Soldier, Action Sailor, Action Pilot, Action Marine with new designed boxes and fewer equipment pieces. There were African Amercan versions of these WW2 figures as well. These were bought up very quickly. Mostly by scalpers, as you can still find these for sale on ebay in very good condition unopened boxes in 2020.

FAO Schwartz offered the premium Navy Seal (a Caucasian blonde "Colton" head sculpt) with a working raft.

The "Colton" Hall of Fame body was more articulated then the basic Hall of Fame body. The neck post was also able to swivel rather than just rotate left/right, also the wrists could bend forward and back.

In 1996 for the Classic Collection (CC) series, Hasbro eliminated the Hall of Fame style body with limited articulation. Perhaps in response to what other toy companies such as 21st Century Toys had been successfully selling .

The first CC series features a head sculpt that is termed by collectors as a "Blockhead". The squared away hair cut is the obvious identifier. The Caucasian painted hair Blockheads were black hair with brown eyes, brown hair with brown eyes, auburn with blue eyes, blonde with blue eyes.

The first issue "blockheads" were larger in size than the second issue "blockheads",

The CC, African American Blockhead had black hair with brown eyes.