G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
& The Revenge Of Cobra Review

If you are a child of the 80's, chances are good you can list off many of the heroes and villains that fought epic battles throughout the G.I. Joe animated series. Although one of the major factors behind the creation of the G.I. Joe cartoons was the promotion of the action figure line, the storylines were impressively detailed and well-written in comparison to other cartoons of the time (and particularly cartoons of today).

Those familiar with names such as Cobra Commander, Duke, Destro, Snake-Eyes, Storm Shadow, Spirit, Scarlett, Flint and Zartan will find this two DVD collection an enjoyable trip down memory lane.

The origins of the G.I. Joe series began with A Real American Hero, a five-episode mini-series where the backbones of the heroic G.I. Joe and villainous Cobra teams were first introduced. Cobra Commander gets his hand on a super weapon capable of transporting entire cities anywhere in the world. A demand is laid out to the world leaders: surrender or the weapon will be unleashed on the world.

So begins the five-episode adventure that finds the Joes and Cobras racing to locations such as the Antarctic and a live volcano in an effort to accumulate the last quantities of the rare substances needed to power the super weapon.

Each 30-minute episode ends with a tantalizing cliffhanger that ensured fans of the show would race home after school every afternoon to find out what would happen next. The mini-series contained detailed subplots within the plotline mentioned above, such as the capture of the Joe leader, Duke, and his budding romance with a slave girl who attempts to help him escape. Not a minute is wasted in this mini-series; each episode is packed with action from start to finish, yet somehow the writers managed to lend some personality and depth (relatively speaking – it is a cartoon after all) to the characters so that they stood out.

The second DVD contains the next five-episode mini-series, The Revenge of Cobra, where Cobra plans to create a weather-controlling machine to exact his revenge. The plotline of the second mini-series is similar in nature to the first, but this is entirely excusable due to the nature of the entertainment (a cartoon movie) as well as the newly introduced characters and locations.

Both of these mini-series were such a success that G.I. Joe was converted into a regular series, and while the subsequent cartoon series wasn't quite as potent as these two original mini-series the writers still did an admirable job in creating thoroughly enjoyable television show.

So does G.I. Joe hold up well 20+ years later? Absolutely! Good cartoons are timeless, and these were action-packed affairs that should still easily please children of today (particularly boys). In fact while these cartoons are filled to the brim with action, none of it is violent or offensive when compared to many of today's cartoons. The heroes were true paragons of justice while Cobra were villains you loved to jeer, but in this series no one ever dies or speaks offensively.

Rhino is responsible for re-releasing these mini-series on DVD and they must be commended on a job well done. Rather than cut and splice the mini-series together into one large movie (as was done on a previous VHS release), they opted to retain the integrity of the originals by including their introductions and closing credits. Sure, some viewers may fast-forward through these parts after the first time or two, but it's nice to know you're watching the real original series rather than a re-edited hack job.

If you grew up in the 80's and still fondly recall this series then you're almost certain to appreciate this nostalgic trip down memory lane. Rhino did a wonderful job with this release and it comes recommended for those who grew up with the series or those who have children that enjoy cartoons.

DVD Rating: 7 stars

If you enjoyed G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero you may also find the following films to be of interest: