G.I. Joe - Profile

Fluctuating in popularity ever since they were firs release in the1960s, G.I Joe really took hold of the market in the 1980s with the development of the real American Hero line. Hey welcome to watchmojo.com, I'm your host Derek Allen, and today we’re going to take a look at the G.I Joe universe. In the early days of the original 12-inch G.I Joe action figures, the franchise was quite light on story, possibly because there were no television shows or comic books to complement the toy line itself. In fact, G. I Joe’s first run between 1964 and 1976 had no mention of the enemy organization COBRA or of G.I Joe being an anti-terrorist organization. These plot points would form the basis for the more recognized G.I Joe or real American hero franchise that began in 1982, that year’s defining comic book series portrayed Cobra as an efficient and deadly real world political and military machine. The idea to include biographies with each action figure sold in stores, allowed the franchise to develop characters and tie in animated television series and eventually, a G.I Joe animated film. Premiering in 1983, the animated series took it's root in a five-part mini-series titled G.I Joe: A Real American Hero. This original mini-series introduced the story of the terrorist organization COBRA in order to stop Cobra’s immediate threat, an elite anti-terrorism organization, codename G.I Joe was formed, composed of several franchised defining characters. Another five-part mini-series followed in 1984 and it was only after that in 1985, when the series began airing regularly on Saturdays mornings. Now Cobra would be portrayed to its young audience as ineffective and somewhat idiotic group. The Cobra organization, also now had its route in a fantasy and colt-like group called Cobrala, even after the series was cancelled in 1986, that was by no means the end of G.I Joe’s on screen appearances. In 1987, direct a video-movie was syndicated and in 1989, another production company aired a second real American hero series. However, that one was also unable to extend past two seasons. As for specific characters, Cobra commander, leader of the Cobra organization, is arguably the most famous. Known for his ridiculous all be it creative poise for world domination, throughout the original animated series, Cobra commander’s face was always hidden. It is hinted in the series and later confirmed in the 1987 G.I Joe film that his face in fact was disfigured earlier in his life. Cobra commander had a distinct rusty voice provided by actor Chris Lada, who used the similar vocal style in the original Transformers animated series to bring to life the popular villain, Star Scream. One of the most popular characters on the G.I Joe team is 1st Sgt. Conrad as Houser, better known under his codename Duke. Fluent in several different languages, Duke is best known as G.I Joe’s filed commander during the original shows for a season. Other popular characters include Cobra’s intelligent officer, the Baroness, as well as Sgt. Slaughter, who was based on a professional wrestler of the same name, who is popular with the young male audience at the time. Several attempts were made to reboot the franchise through the 90s and in the 21st century. 2009 live action feature film G.I Joe Rise of Cobra, also used the original 1985 series as its basis. This time taking a step back to explain not only how the cobra organization came to be, but also how characters like Duke came to be a part of G.I Joe. The story touches on the familiar 1980s real American hero story, well at the same time attempting to modernize the franchise by making the G.I Joe’s, the globally integrated joint operated entity, rather than keeping them an exclusively American unit.