G.I. Joe was the codename for America ’s dare , extremely trained special missions force . Its purpose was to defend human freedom against Cobra , a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rein the world . From 1982 until 1994 , Hasbro ’s G.I. Joe : A Real American Hero was one of the driving forces in minor ’s amusement , inhibit the worlds of laughable books , animated tv , and tiny toy dog action figures . With so many aspect to the fandom , we recollect it was time to make full you in on the story of this influential metier behemoth .
THE ORIGINS OF A HERO
G.I. Joe began life as a nearly 12 - inch military toy in 1964 , create a whole new category of “ action figure ” for son that rivaled Mattel ’s Barbie bird in popularity . Sales start to slip over metre , so , in 1970 , Hasbro changed Joe from a soldier to an “ legal action submarine , ” swap his armored combat vehicle and jeeps for inflatable mountain and a patented “ kung fu travelling bag . ” By the clip the blood line was cancelled in 1976 , Joe had become something of a superhero , incorporating fantastic elements like the chrome - plated Bulletman and the bionic limb of Atomic Man , who combat The Intruders , a group of cavemen from outer space .
An Uphill Battle
By 1979 , Hasbro ’s Head of Boy ’s plaything , Bob Prupis , was ready to bring Joe back . Prupis ’ underground plan for the G.I. Joe reboot , computer code distinguish “ process : Blast Off ” on internal memos , was aMission : Impossible - manner toy crinkle that had one understructure in the futurity , with the other grounded in present-day military technology . It would have scientific discipline fiction - revolutionize weapons like optical maser heavy weapon and jet gang , next to naturalistic depictions of tanks , rocket catapult , and submachine guns . However , his idea was met with ohmic resistance from Hasbro executives .
One of the first hurdles Prupis had to clean was the price of rock oil . Middle East oil suppliers had disregard production , causing the cost of petroleum to stick out from $ 15 to nearly $ 40 per barrelful . The increased expense of this raw fabric for charge plate would have to be pass on to the consumer , meaning the retail damage of newfangled 12 - inch G.I. Joe figure and vehicles would be too gamy for the fair home .
So Prupis took inspiration from the “ little gullible United States Army men ” he used to play with as a child , as well as from the popularStar Warsline of action mechanism figures bring about by rival toy dog company , Kenner , and sized Joe down to 3 3/4 - inches high to deliver on plastic . But even the smaller Joe construct was release down by direction , simply because it “ was n’t exciting enough . ” For the next two age , Prupis kept going back to the drawing board to adjudicate to find some novel come-on that would make Hasbro bite , but he was snub every time .
Two-Week Notice
Then , in 1981 , after yet another break attempt to get Blast Off off the land , Prupis was told that he had one more shot with Joe , or else he involve to move on to other ideas . Prupis would be given two weeks with Griffin - Bacal , the merchandising firm that managed Hasbro ’s advertising , to see if he could make out up with something to get kids excited about G.I. Joe again . Prupis pulled together a team , including Kirk Bozigian from marketing and miniature designers Ron Rudat and Greg Bernstein , to brainwave intersection and promotional mind .
Although they came up with a plenty of fun concepts , they faced a big marketing trip pulley — there was no G.I. Joe movie to marry into like Kenner had withStar Wars . Instead , it was suggested that a risible record book might ferment just as well .
Marvel-ous Assist
Just how Marvel Comics and Hasbro came together is a mix of legend , reality , and fuzzy retention from most 40 years ago . One rendering of the storystates that the CEO of Hasbro and the president of Marvel met in the man ’s room at a Polymonium caeruleum van-bruntiae single-valued function , where the two got to peach store . However , Hasbro’sBozigian saysthat it was Griffin - Bacal that get hold of Marvel to talk about put to work on G.I. Joe . Whatever the case , Marvel was willing to help , and the family relationship between the two society was have .
Fury Force
Enter Cobra
Because foeman toys had never sell well in the past tense , Hasbro had n’t even considered a foil for G.I. Joe . But Hamainsistedthat “ these guys ca n’t just march around and go on manoeuvre or knickknack , they have to be battling some thing , some menace … ” It was Marvel author Archie Goodwin that suggested a terrorist organization named Cobra . Inspired by the name , Ron Rudat developed the design for the enemy ’s now - iconic logo .
Birth of the File Cards
Hama kept a series of handwritten index finger cards to keep all of the fictitious character and vehicle for the comic book directly . On each card he would write a few details , including biographic notes and military distinctiveness . Hasbro had already think including trading cards with the toys , but they like Hama ’s index cards so much they ask him to write more so they could be included on the back of the figure packaging for kids to cut down out and collect . These “ file lineup ” became a key vista of the Joe toyline and nearly all of them were compose by Hama .
Blast Off Blasts Off
With exciting new physique and vehicle design , interesting characters , and groundbreaking advertising idea , Bob Prupis set about Hasbro executive director once again to reboot G.I. Joe . It ’s been enunciate that CEO Stephen Hassenfeld was so excited by the presentation , that when it was over he had tears in his eyes .
The initial line of reasoning of 3 3/4 - inch G.I. Joe : A Real American Hero action figures debut in the summer of 1982 . Nine Joes — Breaker , Flash , Grunt , Rock ‘ n Roll , Scarlett , Short - Fuze , Snake Eyes , Stalker , and Zap — were release on carded packaging standardised to those used by Kenner forStar Warsfigures . An additional four Joes — Clutch , Grand Slam , Hawk , and Steeler — were include with some of the seven vehicles that made up the original toy dog descent . Two Cobra figure of speech — a Cobra soldier and a Cobra officer — were also liberate on card packages .
The first class cut-rate sale projection for the new line of G.I. Joe toys was $ 12 to $ 15 million . The line spite up selling over $ 50 million Charles Frederick Worth of intersection , and was the blistering new miniature to have that Christmas .
Evolution of the Toys
After its phenomenal first twelvemonth , Bozigiansaysthe G.I. Joe bank line was give carte blanche to do whatever they want with the second serial of toy . Vehicle designer Greg Bernstein rage up the detail and the aspiration on the second line of vehicles . likewise , Ron Rudat , who design every activeness figure from 1982 to 1985 — somewhere in the neighborhood of 125 figures — added more point and color to the handful of character sketches he turned in every Clarence Day . But the biggest change for the business line was in poseability .
From the beginning , G.I. Joe figures boast more articulatio than the competingStar Warsfigures . WhereasStar Warsfigures had five points of movement ( arms , leg , and head ) , G.I. Joes had 10 point : arms , ramification , elbows , knee , torso , and read/write head . However , so as to make the second undulation of Joes even better , two swivel joint were added at the character ’s bicep , allow the arms to turn in towards the body to allow the figures hold their rifle more realistically . This “ Swivel - Arm Battle Grip ” was empty the hereafter of the franchise , so the original figures were re - release , create a classical line between the original figure — now lie with as “ straightforward - limb figures”—and the repose of the toys going ahead .
Flag Points
Because Cobra was more of an afterthought for Hasbro , they did n’t have the design for the Cobra Leader , better know as Cobra Commander , done in time for the line ’s launching . So instead , they implemented another idea from that early brainstorming group meeting : ring armor - away exclusives . Kids needed to collect proofs of leverage , do it as “ Flag Points , ” found on every package , and send them , along with a check for 50 cents to cover shipping , to get their free Cobra Commander digit . On theWhat ’s On Joe Mind podcast , Bozigian said that Hasbro expected about 5000 orders for the new figure , but between January 2 and March 31 , 1982 , they receive over 125,000 order of magnitude signifier . The popularity of the mail - in offer spawned a new program for the company phone Hasbro Direct , which gave shaver the chance to buy overstocked , gruelling - to - find , and exclusive figures and vehicles .
Foreign Duty
G.I. Joe might have been a real American poor boy , but he was democratic all over the world , with figures and vehicles useable in country as diverse asJapan , India , Brazil , Canada , Italy , China , and many more .
There was n’t a batch of continuity between the American and alien lines , as many toy had different codenames , data file cards , paint schemes , and could even be on a unlike side in the battle between G.I. Joe and Cobra . For instance , in Britain , where the figures were bid Action Force : International Heroes , Cobra ’s contraband H.I.S.S. Tank , was the crimson red “ Hyena , ” and was drive by a repainted Destro know as “ Red Jackal . ” In Spain , the laser infantryman , Sci - Fi , was known as “ Sargento Láser , ” and Quick Kick was called “ Kung - Fu . ” Spain also had the most unique filing cabinet cards , with translation error that left the cards riddled with nonsensical idiom . It ’s an inside joke with the Joe collector community of interests that the file cards were compose aright , but then a mischievous cleansing madam at the Hasbro Iberia office would edit out them overnight , so they would be a mess before they were institutionalise to the printer the next morning .
Some of the most try - after foreign Joes were those manufacture in Argentina by toy ship’s company Plastirama . The digit were made from cheap plastic , with even flimsier cardboard packaging , to the point that very few example still be today . The initial seven figures , now known as the “ Argen 7 , ” are virtually unsufferable to come by . uncalled-for to say , they bring in a gamey price on the accumulator ’s securities industry . This Cobra deadly flesh , a heavily repainted Snake Eyes , recently sold on eBayfor $ 599 . The packaging is even more rare , with arecent vendue on eBayasking $ 5200 for the pure set of Argen 7 file card .
A Slow Defeat
The G.I. Joe toyline ’s popularity top out in 1986 , before sales started to slither a year later . But it was n’t all the Joes ' fault . There were new bomber in a half - casing in townsfolk that were radically convert the landscape of legal action figure .
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys from Playmates were brightly biased and featured off - the - wall designs that shaver loved . In an effort to keep up with the trends , Hasbro made the Joes more colorful , added more outlandish particular , and included declamatory , spring - loaded weapons .
Much like the 12 - inch Joes of the seventies , by the end of the Real American Hero argument in 1994 , G.I. Joe had moved away from its military tooth root . Now , the Joes and Cobra were come apart into sub - chemical group likeStar Brigade , who battled alien creatures calledThe LunartixEmpire ; the neon costumedNinjaForce ; adrug enforcementteam ; a grouping that fought againsteco - terrorism ; and somedinosaur hunters . Hasbro also tried link the Joes in with the pop video gameStreet Fighter 2by integrating fictitious character like Chun Li , Blanka , and E. Honda into the mix . It matte like Hasbro was grasping at straws , so when they announced the cancellation of the toyline in 1994 , fans were disappointed , but not necessarily surprised .
Collector’s Holy Grails
The G.I. Joe accumulator ’s food market is well one of the most active communities for eighties toys , with fans combing through eBay and on-line forums looking for those last few Holy Grails to complete their ingathering . Of naturally , professionally grade , democratic figures that are still in their original promotional material requirement top one dollar bill . For example , a Snake Eyes figure that meet these requirementsrecently appeared on eBayfor $ 1350 , and aStorm Shadowappeared for $ 1200 . But there are a few underrated figures that only a serious collector would have sex to face for .
One example isHeavy Metal , unloose with the Mauler tank in 1985 . Oddly enough , it ’s not the armored combat vehicle that ’s unusual , but Heavy Metal ’s microphone headset . The headset was a small , swooning brown piece of flexible charge plate that sequester to the side of his helmet , and was easy lost by kids . A Heavy Metal figure on its own , usually with a breeding morose brown or contraband microphone , will sell forabout $ 40.With the original microphone , a collector should expect topay over $ 150 .
In 1988 , Target sport an exclusive version of the Joe characterHit & Runthat came with a parachute camp . The chute had been sell by Hasbro Direct before , but the instructions for using the chute that were packaged with the Target bod were much small , and therefore easier for a kid to miss . About the only means to get a complete Hit & Run Airborne Assault Parachute Pack is to buy one in the original promotion , which willset you backaround$500 .
Stardusterwas a mail - away figure that was initially only available by transport in a voucher from a corner of G.I. Joe Action Stars cereal . The figure was cobbled together from different parts of different Joes over his lifespan , but an original “ Version A ” Starduster , using Flash ’s head , Flint ’s arms , Roadblock ’s leg , and Recondo ’s torso and hips , is a curiosity , lately deal on eBayfor $ 245.Another auctionwith this Version A Starduster still in the traveling bag he was shipped in , sell for $ 560 .
Starting in 1987 , Hasbro pop the question nipper the chance to get their own customized Joe trope , calledSteel Brigade , from Hasbro Direct . minor would fill out a form with check boxes , noting what kinds of special skills and weapons proficiencies they need the figure to have , as well as a codename and position of birth , and send it in with a few Flag Points . The helmeted human body would arrive in the mail a few weeks later , along with a print filing cabinet calling card with the stats chosen by the receiver . There were a few dissimilar version of the Steel Brigade figure available , but the one with a shiny , gilded helmet was the rarest of the lot . A “ amber - Headed Steel Brigade ” still in the original seal plastic bag , recently sell on eBayfor $ 666 . An unbagged Gold Head willsell for $ 320or more . Even a non - Gold Head with all of his accessories can bring $ 100 if it ’s in salutary condition .
There are , of course , fomite and playset Holy Grails , too , include theCobra Terror Drome , a rotary command Emily Price Post for Cobra that included a small Firebat jet that bob in the substance . This jolly orotund playset carry many pieces that could be lost or broken , so to find one today , complete with the box , expect to paya little over $ 550 .
The earliest Grail is theCobra Missile Command Headquarters , an cheap playset release in 1982 exclusively at Sears . The readiness includes pieces of printed , perforated composition board that could be punched out , folded , and put together to form a missile base for the included Cobra Infantry , Cobra Officer , and Cobra Commander figures . Because the set was only sell at Sears , and was made of cardboard , it ’s a rarified breakthrough on the collector ’s mart today , fetching $ 200 to $ 300 for one in near precondition , and $ 1000 or more with the box seat . A recent eBay auction sale saw a brand new , never tack together playset , go for $ 2000 .
In 1987 , Hasbro released theDefiant , featuring a rolling launch platform for a Space Shuttle inspired orbital space post with a disjoined vehicle attach to the back . The playset was monumental , including dozens of easily lost or broken parts , which make it hard to find in good condition . So a collector paying nearly $ 1000for a complete setis not unusual . If they demand the box be include , they can attend tospendaround $ 2200 . Even the two figures that came with the set — PayloadandHard Top — regularly sell for over $ 100 each .
Finally , we have theUSS Flaggaircraft carrier . base on inquiry gathered by Hasbro interior decorator during a especial visit to the Quonset Naval Base in Rhode Island , theFlaggis over 7.5 feet tenacious , outfitted with a microphone for calling out fiat , lifts to bring aircraft up to the flight of steps deck of cards , and more parts than any 8 - year onetime could ever keep racetrack of , it is often found on inclination of the expectant toy ever made . Originally retail for $ 109 , a completeFlaggwithout the boxsells for about $ 1300 ; with the corner , wait to payupwards of $ 2200 .
The Comic Book
The Marvel comic book of account debut in June 1982 , accompanied by the animated tv ad cause , the Word was a smashing success at launch . nipper who did n’t usually buy cartoon strip swarm to the title , selling out the first few outcome , and requiring additional mark runs to meet need . After this initial burst of action , the comic settle into fairly low-down sales , averaging just under 160,000 issues per calendar month by 1983 .
But thanks to Hama — who had had serve in the armed services during Vietnam , and so was able to leave a naturalistic foundation for the risible book of account storyline — the record book continued to build an audience . According to Jim Shooter , by 1985 , the comedian was leadingMarvel ’s subscriptions , beating out intimate title likeThe Amazing Spider - ManandX - humankind . Then , with an additional boost from the cartoon series debut , Comichron.comshowsthat in 1986 , the comic fared much substantially , average out nearly 331,500 issues sold every calendar month .
The Marvel G.I. Joe comic book lasted for 155 even issues , as well as four yearbooks that recapped the year ’s events in the regular serial . The comedian was also spun - off intoG.I. Joe : Special Missions , a 28 - issue series that boast stand - alone storey told outside the regular series ’ canon , as well as 18 upshot ofG.I. Joe : European Missions , which were reprints of the BritishAction Forcecomics . There were a few special serial as well , including the four - issueOrder of Battle , a comic Christian Bible variation of the file carte witness on the back of the natural action figure publicity , as well as a crossover voter with Hasbro ’s other big property inG.I. Joe and the Transformers . To help novel readers catch up , many of the early issue were republished asTales of G.I. Joeand inG.I. Joe Comics Magazine . lastly , in 1995,G.I. Joe Specialwas a one - blastoff reprint of issue # 61 , have the original nontextual matter by Todd McFarlane . The artistry had been deem unaccepted when he first drew it , but after McFarlane helped to revitalise Spider - Man and ground Image Comics , it was short deemed satisfactory for publication .
Elevating the Art Form
Fans would lovingly commend the G.I. Joe comedian , but one particular takings — G.I. Joe # 21 , published in March 1984 — has become something of a legend in the modern era of comic book .
The story , title “ Silent Interlude , ” featured the G.I. Joe commando , Snake Eyes , pass through a mountaintop castle to rescue fellow Joe , Scarlett . The secret , masked Snake Eyes was injure in Vietnam , leaving him mute , so Hama thought it would be interesting to have a story where the silent persona could have a mum adventure . The full story was severalise purely through visuals with no dialogue or even profound effects , yet it was a absolutely encapsulated narrative with action , machination , emotion , and an amazing stinger at the end that hinted at a connexion between Snake Eyes and a novel enemy , the Cobra ninja , Storm Shadow .
Hama had always wanted to do a completely tacit story , and his chance came when the Bible ’s production was run behind schedule . By writing a tacit story , and treat the cover and interior artwork himself ( with ink by Steve Leialoha ) , Hama cut at least a week off product and was capable to get the record out on sentence .
The number wound up becoming what Scott McCloud , author ofUnderstanding Comics , called“a kind of watershed moment for cartoonist of [ our ] generation . Everyone remembers it . ” The comic was recently reprinted in anew hardback edition , featuring an consultation with Hama , as well as his original pencil breakdown , and more information about the creation of this iconic emergence .
The Final Mission
Larry Hama wrote the intact comic Word of God series without a earnings — there were no outlines , and no passkey plan . He scripted nearly every yield on the tent-fly , say that if he did n’t have a go at it what was going to bump next , then neither would the reader . But it was this off - the - cuff style that helped keep the Good Book ’s verve through an remarkably prospicient run for a plaything tie - in comic . The concluding military issue of the risible , # 155 , sport the deactivation of G.I. Joe and the shuttering of their headquarters .
The Cartoon
When Hasbro relaunched the G.I. Joe franchise in 1982 , cartoons were heavily regulated by the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) to ensure that companies were not market products to kids . It was o.k. for cartoons to be based on comic ledger and laughable strip reference , likeSmurfsandSuperfriends , whose likenesses were plastered all over merchandise from different companies . But if a single party seek to make a cartoon that was based on a toyline they alone give rise , it was seen as little more than a half - 60 minutes commercial for their product , which was not allowed by the FCC .
However , one of the major goals of President Ronald Reagan ’s administration was to deregulate American manufacture . So under imperativeness from toy companionship as well as TV networks , who wanted the excess money half hour advert would bring in , the FCC make up one’s mind in 1984 that program - length commercials were an forward-looking means of financing show and , therefore , satisfactory . This opened the floodgates for toy companies to produce their own half - hour cartoons based on toylines , and within a year , the 10 easily - selling toy in Americaall had accompanying youngster ’s television shows . And one of the drawing card in this brand new industriousness was Hasbro with G.I. Joe .
The G.I. Joe cartoon was co - give rise by Sunbow Productions , a subsidiary of Griffin - Bacal publicizing , and Marvel Productions , of Marvel Comics . The show was syndicated , so it could lead at any meter of day ; however , most channels ran it during an after - school mental block that typically spanned from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
To kick off the series , Sunbow / Marvel produced the first ever reanimate miniseries for kids , titled simplyG.I. Joe : A actual American Hero , though most fans know it asG.I. Joe : The M.A.S.S. machine . send from September 12 to 16 , 1983 , on 122 stations across the country , the five - part seriesproved to be a winner , beating out the Saturday morning cartoon ratings of all three major connection . This was followed by another five - part miniseries , G.I. Joe : The Revenge of Cobra , vent September 10 to 14 , 1984 , leading into the regular series , which begin on September 16 , 1985 .
The show run for two seasons , ending in 1986 , with a total of 95 episode , and is deliberate by many youngster of the ' 80s to be their definitive G.I. Joe experience .
Ho, Joe!?
According to Wally Burr , the voice director for the show , the Joes ’ celebrated struggle cry , “ Yo , Joe ! ” was in the beginning written as “ Ho , Joe ! ” by Ron Friedman , screenwriter for the two miniseries and the first storey arc of the steady series . But when the actors state it , it just did n’t have the free weight that Burr was looking for , so he take that they add a “ y ” phone in the midsection to make it “ Hyo , Joe ! ” instead . Once the writer catch on , they changed it to simply “ Yo , Joe ” in future scripts . Though the fight cry was never used in the Marvel comic book , as the catch phrase permeated the fandom , Hama did give a nod to it by naming the Joe ’s favorite soft drink , YoJoe Cola .
Knowing is Half the Pork Chop Sandwiches
In rescript to show that the cartoon was not just a half - hour commercial for the toy dog , but was actually educational , Sunbow added a humble public table service announcement at the destruction of every episode to learn kid some sorting of deterrent example . Overseen by Dr. Robert Selman , a professor at Harvard ’s School of Education and Human Development , each PSA typically have a member of the Joe team fulfill a couple of kids and lending a helping hand or words of encouragement . Once the kids saw the light of twenty-four hours , they would always end by saying , “ Now I know ! ” and the Joe would reply with the now - ill-famed phrase , “ And knowing is half the conflict … ”
As if that noted idiomatic expression did n’t have enough of a cultural impact on an integral generation , the G.I. Joe PSAs also have the distinction of becoming the matter of some early viral video . In 2003 , Eric Fensler used the video recording from the Joe PSAs , but replace the audio with bizarre , sometimes offensive phrase that were at time disturbing and nonsensical , but always oddly uproarious . They were presently being lapse around via email and are now scattered all over YouTube .
G.I. Joe: The Movie
The cartoon serial culminate with 1987’sG.I. Joe : The Movie . earlier meant to be a theatrical film , Hasbro ’s 1986 theatrical releasesMy Little Pony : The MovieandTransformers : The Movie , both perform badly at the box office , so the company decided to just release the movie direct - to - telecasting , and then later as a five - part miniseries in syndication . The movie precede a new Joe — Falcon , voiced by Don Johnson at the height of hisMiami Vicefame — as well as Golobulus , a new baddie who was vocalize by Burgess Meredith , perhaps best remember as theBatmanTV series ’ Penguin .
Duke’s Dead, Baby; Duke’s Dead.
After five year — much longer than the toyline was ask to survive — Hasbro was looking to interchange some of the main type to keep the origin overbold . Duke was on the chopping block , so the cartoon ’s story editor , Buzz Dixon , suggestedthey send him out with a zep ’s end . In the pic , Duke gets hit by a snake spear thrown by Serpentor , and purely going by the visuals in the conniption , he clear dies . But a dub - in line report that he has only fallen into a comatoseness . Finally , just moment before the film end , we see that Duke is miraculously going to make a full recuperation .
When the determination was made to kill off Duke , Hasbro suggested that the people write theTransformersmovie also have a spectacular decease to up the ante from the afternoon cartoon . However , when theTransformersmovie was release and yard of small kid discover Autobot leader Optimus Prime die at the hands of the Decepticons ' Megatron , Hasbro received a caboodle of angry alphabetic character from parents saying their children had been traumatized by the death of their fighter . To dispense with themselves more repercussion , Duke was granted a stop of execution .
Cobra-Lame
For many lover , the film marks the decimal point where G.I. Joe “ jump the shark , ” motivate from a fairly naturalistic military toyline to a more scientific discipline - fiction / fancy aesthetic with the introduction of the Cobra - la storyline .
According to Product Manager Kirk Bozigian , as Hasbro was gearing up to bring forth the G.I. Joe movie , Joe Bacall , of Griffin - Bacall and Sunbow , expressed concerns about produce a 90 - min war movie aimed at kid . Bacall , a big science - fable sports fan , suggested using a more fantastic enemy than Cobra in an effort to soften the Joe ’s border . Hasbro was growing tired of Cobra Commander anyway and wanted to replace him with a new , more dynamical leader , the Cobra Emperor , Serpentor .
Coincidentally , Buzz Dixon , had told Hasbro that he wanted to work up a miniseries that would tell the origin of Cobra and the lift of Cobra Commander . So Hasbro told him to go for it and to work in the new Cobra Emperor while he was at it .
One of the approximation Dixon produce was that Serpentor would be the Frankenstein - ian world of Dr. Mindbender and Destro , using the combined deoxyribonucleic acid from some of the greatest military leaders in account . His other report idea would take the origin of Cobra back to an ancient race that live on in a land called Cobra - la , a play on the fabled city of Shangri - la . However , Cobra - la was always meant to be a proxy name until they could come up with something unspoiled . When he pitch his ideas to Hasbro , instead of take one , they chose both and insist he keep the name Cobra - la . Dixon was n’t thrilled with the idea of combining the two concepts , but he had to make it do work . Bozigian has also made no bones about the fact that the Joe squad at Hasbro was not a fan of the Cobra - la angle , but they also had to make it work .
Larry Hama , on the other hand , stood his ground . In issue # 100 of the comic , Hama responded to a buff letter by saying he had already been stuck with “ a master of ceremonies of sappy characters , ” like Serpentor , and the twins , Tomax and Xamot , so he “ take in the blood line at Cobra - atomic number 57 . ” The close Hama ever derive to Cobra - la was write a one - shot comic eject with a twin - face pack of figure boast a battle between Nemesis Immortal , Cobra - la ’s heavy , and the Joes ' Lt . Falcon . If there was any uncertainty as to how Hama felt about Cobra - la , Falcon quiver up on Nemesis , who barely lays a finger on the hero , before the rest of the Joes take out the enemy with couple of missiles .
Series 2 Cartoon
Hasbro had been funding the G.I. Joe animated cartoon out of their own pocket since the beginning . So when output company DIC offered to shoulder most of the disbursement of a new toon series , Hasbro jumped at the chance . The show ’s production values were much low than the Sunbow cartoon , with less - detailed animation , a smaller cast , and even sappy storyline that were clearly aimed at a vernal audience . The show ran from 1989 to 1992 for a total of 44 episodes and is by and large not popular with Joe lover .
Still Fighting Strong
A toyline is deliberate a success if it stays on the market for two or three years . The existent American Hero toyline ended in 1994 , after 12 years on the grocery . Other Joe - related toylines , like Sgt . barbarian and the Screaming Eagles ( 1995 ) , G.I. Joe Extreme ( 1995 ) , Sigma 6 ( 2005 - 2007 ) , and association - in toys for the two live action films , 2009’sG.I. Joe : The Rise of Cobraand 2013’sG.I. Joe : Retaliation , have been released , but none have found the measure of success that was seen in the 1980s . There are still Modern 3.75 - column inch G.I. Joe build released nearly every year , but they ’re exclusively usable at G.I. Joe conventions or through the G.I. Joe Collector ’s Club .
Although Marvel stopped publishing the G.I. Joe comic when the toyline was cancel in 1994 , other companies , like Dark Horse , Fun Publications , Dreamwave , Image / Devil ’s Due , and most latterly , IDW , stepped in to acquaint their own interpretation of the Joes . While most follow - up series have used many of the same character , they have not been in the same persistence as the original run at Marvel — until IDW convey Larry Hama on board in 2010 to foot up where he leave off with a special Free Comic Book Day issue , # 155 1/2 . The on-going IDW series is still being printed today with Hama at the wheel , and shows no signs of stopping .
So now you experience the history ofG.I Joe : A Real American Hero . And knowing is half the battle …
extra Sources : The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982 - 1994 : Identification and Price Guide;Tim Finn ’s website .
