Larry Hama, writer of the 1980s GI Joe comic book and creator of most of the famed Joe cast such as Duke, Snake Eyes and Shipwreck, poses with fans. Photo provided to Atlanta Loop

By Gabriel Owens, contributor

Fans of the long-running toy line and cartoon series “GI Joe” can gear up in their fatigues and head to the Marriott Century Center this weekend for the Great Atlanta Toy Convention, also known as Joelanta.

Running March 11-12, this convention celebrates the Hasbro toy property GI Joe. The convention covers the toy’s 1960s’ roots with the first 12-inch “action figure” with “Kung Fu Grip,” through the 1980s’ smaller 3 1/3 inch figures and their enemy “Cobra” (along with the famous accompanying daily cartoon), through today’s incarnations and movies.

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The convention will feature toy dealers, displays, and panels about various topics relating to GI Joe, including a panel and autograph session by Larry Hama, the writer of the 1980s Joe comic and creator of most of the famed 1980s Joe cast. Additionally, a smaller “Botlanta,” dedicated to another Hasbro toy property, Transformers, will have various panels and displays throughout the weekend inside the Joelanta convention.

General admission is $10 dollars per day and the event will last from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Marriott Century Center on 2000 Century Center Blvd. NE in downtown Atlanta.  For further details, visit https://www.joelanta.org/

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