GI Joe is a popular American media franchise created by Hasbro in 1964. It is centered around an action figure of the same name, which is a highly-detailed and articulated military-themed toy. The term GI Joe is a reference to the term 'Government Issue Joe' which was used to refer to U.S. soldiers during World War II. The crossword solution for GI Joe is 'SOLDIER', which accurately reflects the character's military background.