G.I. Joe fans bivouac in Atlanta

Imagine unsuspecting guests simply hanging in the lobby of the Marriott Century Center as a swarm of 12-inch paratroopers fall from the sky.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall.

It’s not just the descending toys that may shock some, but the grown men playing with them. Yet the folks behind JoeLanta, an annual G.I. Joe toy convention, don’t mind the potential gawking. In fact they have their articulated arms open wide encouraging anyone with an interest in action figures to join this troop of collectors for some geeky indulgence. Activities like the lobby parachute drop, well, drop over three days.

Now in its 12th year, JoeLanta draws about 1,000 guests from all over the country to buy, swap, sell and celebrate action figures, most related to G.I. Joe. This Hasbro toy, born in 1964 as a macho military answer to Barbie, popularized the term action figure, and he’s been going on backyard adventures in one form or another ever since.

The centerpiece of JoeLanta is the Sunday toy show when toy dealers set up shop in the Marriott ballrooms, spreading their wares across more than 140 tables. Joe figures from the ’60s to today and military toys inspired by the line mingle with others. Darth Vader will likely cross swords with King Arthur. Expect Optimus Prime to share shelf space with the likes of Barbie, Batman and more.

Although the big emphasis of the event focuses on stuff, organizers say the purpose of JoeLanta isn’t to help cast the next episode of “Hoarders.”

“Anybody can get online and start buying a mass of artifacts,” said JoeLanta co-founder Buddy Finethy, “but who do you share that with? Which collectors do you bond with over it? Really what we’re trying to recapture is that spirit of fun of sharing your toys with others and bonding through the mutual experience of collecting.”

Die-hard JoeLanta fans stretch this experience across the weekend. Those who sign up for the event’s Commander’s Package score access to other events including G.I. Joe trivia; a Q&A with “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” comic book creator Larry Hama; a G.I. Joe film festival featuring fan-made flicks; and a performance by fellow toy fiends, rock band Radio Cult. The holy grail of the Commander’s Package is an exclusive 12-inch G.I. Joe figure found only at JoeLanta.

The convention is brought to life by the Atlanta G.I. Joe Collector’s Club, mostly made up of jolly dudes between 30- and 60-years-old. They meet weekly to talk toys and swap collectibles. And each member typically plays a part in the yearly blowout that’s JoeLanta.

Members Steve Bugg and Mike Gardner create massive, highly detailed dioramas for display at the conventions. The pair takes 12-inch action figures and places them in handcrafted environments. Past dioramas have depicted a scene out of the book “War of the Worlds,” the burning windmill fracas from the 1931 film “Frankenstein” and the “Star Wars” spaceport of Mos Eisley.

These dioramas inspired the local Joe club to create the Cody Lane Foundation. The purpose of this non-profit entity, named after a fallen soldier and fellow Atlanta collector, is to use JoeLanta profits to create a toy museum that houses these dioramas and other toys for the public to view.

“Part of the goal is to save the art form of the diorama,” said JoeLanta co-organizer and Cody’s father, David Lane. “After each show we take them apart and recycle the pieces for the next year. They’re so spectacular that it’s just a shame not to have anything but photographs at the end of show.”