(ComicBook) Stanley Weston, the licensing and merchandising legend who invented G.I. Joe, has passed away. He was 84 years old.
Weston passed away on May 1 in Los Angeles, his family has confirmed. He was born in Brooklyn in 1933 and at 30 years old, sold the idea for what would become G.I. Joe to Hasbro. He had been developing the toy on his own for three years.
The Los Angeles Times describes Weston’s revelation being that young boys were an untapped market for the doll industry following the success of Barbie in 1960. Weston reportedly came up with the idea after seeing young boys playing with Ken dolls.
