G.I. Joe: The Universe

fluctuating in popularity ever since

fluctuating in popularity ever since they were first released in the 1960s GI

they were first released in the 1960s GI

they were first released in the 1960s GI Joe really took hold of the market in

Joe really took hold of the market in

Joe really took hold of the market in the 1980s with the development of the

the 1980s with the development of the

the 1980s with the development of the Real American Hero line hey welcome to

Real American Hero line hey welcome to

Real American Hero line hey welcome to watchmojo.com

watchmojo.com

watchmojo.com I’m your host Derek Allen and today

I’m your host Derek Allen and today

I’m your host Derek Allen and today we’re going to take a look at the GI Joe

we’re going to take a look at the GI Joe

we’re going to take a look at the GI Joe universe in the early days of the

universe in the early days of the

universe in the early days of the original 12-inch GI Joe action figures

original 12-inch GI Joe action figures

original 12-inch GI Joe action figures the franchise is quite light on story

the franchise is quite light on story

the franchise is quite light on story possibly because there were no

possibly because there were no

possibly because there were no television shows or comic books to

television shows or comic books to

television shows or comic books to compliment the toy line itself in fat GI

compliment the toy line itself in fat GI

compliment the toy line itself in fat GI Joe’s first run between 1964 and 1976

Joe’s first run between 1964 and 1976

Joe’s first run between 1964 and 1976 had no mention of the enemy organization

had no mention of the enemy organization

had no mention of the enemy organization Cobra or of GI Joe being an

Cobra or of GI Joe being an

Cobra or of GI Joe being an anti-terrorist organization these plot

anti-terrorist organization these plot

anti-terrorist organization these plot points would form the basis for the more

points would form the basis for the more

points would form the basis for the more recognized GI Joe a Real American Hero

recognized GI Joe a Real American Hero

recognized GI Joe a Real American Hero franchise that began in 1982 that year’s

franchise that began in 1982 that year’s

franchise that began in 1982 that year’s defining comic book series portrayed

defining comic book series portrayed

defining comic book series portrayed Cobra as an efficient and deadly

Cobra as an efficient and deadly

Cobra as an efficient and deadly real-world political and military

real-world political and military

real-world political and military machine the idea to include biographies

machine the idea to include biographies

machine the idea to include biographies with each action figure sold in stores

with each action figure sold in stores

with each action figure sold in stores allowed the franchise to develop

allowed the franchise to develop

allowed the franchise to develop characters and tie in an animated

characters and tie in an animated

characters and tie in an animated television series and eventually a GI

television series and eventually a GI

television series and eventually a GI Joe animated film premiering in 1983 the

Joe animated film premiering in 1983 the

Joe animated film premiering in 1983 the animated series took its roots in a

animated series took its roots in a

animated series took its roots in a five-part miniseries titled GI Joe a

five-part miniseries titled GI Joe a

five-part miniseries titled GI Joe a Real American Hero

Real American Hero

Real American Hero this original miniseries introduced the

this original miniseries introduced the

this original miniseries introduced the story of the terrorist organization

story of the terrorist organization

story of the terrorist organization Cobra in order to stop Cobras immediate

Cobra in order to stop Cobras immediate

Cobra in order to stop Cobras immediate threat and elite anti-terrorism

threat and elite anti-terrorism

threat and elite anti-terrorism organization codename GI Joe was formed

organization codename GI Joe was formed

organization codename GI Joe was formed composed of several franchise defining

composed of several franchise defining

composed of several franchise defining characters another five-part miniseries

characters another five-part miniseries

characters another five-part miniseries followed in 1984 and it was only after

followed in 1984 and it was only after

followed in 1984 and it was only after that in 1985 when the series began

that in 1985 when the series began

that in 1985 when the series began airing regularly on Saturday mornings

airing regularly on Saturday mornings

airing regularly on Saturday mornings now Cobra would be portrayed to its

now Cobra would be portrayed to its

now Cobra would be portrayed to its younger audience as an ineffective and

younger audience as an ineffective and

younger audience as an ineffective and somewhat idiotic group

somewhat idiotic group

somewhat idiotic group rate range the Cobra organization also

rate range the Cobra organization also

rate range the Cobra organization also now had its roots in a fantasy and cult

now had its roots in a fantasy and cult

now had its roots in a fantasy and cult light group called Cobra LA even after

light group called Cobra LA even after

light group called Cobra LA even after the series was cancelled in 1986 that

the series was cancelled in 1986 that

the series was cancelled in 1986 that was by no means the end of GI Joes on

was by no means the end of GI Joes on

was by no means the end of GI Joes on screen appearances and 1987

screen appearances and 1987

screen appearances and 1987 direct-to-video movie was syndicated and

direct-to-video movie was syndicated and

direct-to-video movie was syndicated and in 1989 another production company aired

in 1989 another production company aired

in 1989 another production company aired a second Real American Hero series

a second Real American Hero series

a second Real American Hero series however that one was also unable to

however that one was also unable to

however that one was also unable to extend past two seasons as for specific

extend past two seasons as for specific

extend past two seasons as for specific characters Cobra Commander leader of the

characters Cobra Commander leader of the

characters Cobra Commander leader of the Cobra organization is arguably the most

Cobra organization is arguably the most

Cobra organization is arguably the most famous watch how well box returned to

famous watch how well box returned to

famous watch how well box returned to the river and attend can GI Joe known

the river and attend can GI Joe known

the river and attend can GI Joe known for his ridiculous albeit creative ploys

for his ridiculous albeit creative ploys

for his ridiculous albeit creative ploys for world domination

for world domination

for world domination throughout the original animated series

throughout the original animated series

throughout the original animated series Cobra Commander’s face was always hidden

Cobra Commander’s face was always hidden

Cobra Commander’s face was always hidden it has hinted at in the series and later

it has hinted at in the series and later

it has hinted at in the series and later confirmed in the 1987 GI Joe film that

confirmed in the 1987 GI Joe film that

confirmed in the 1987 GI Joe film that his face in fact was disfigured earlier

his face in fact was disfigured earlier

his face in fact was disfigured earlier in his life Cobra Commander had a

in his life Cobra Commander had a

in his life Cobra Commander had a distinct raspy voice provided by actor

distinct raspy voice provided by actor

distinct raspy voice provided by actor Chris Lata who used the similar vocal

Chris Lata who used the similar vocal

Chris Lata who used the similar vocal style in the original transformers

style in the original transformers

style in the original transformers animated series to bring to life the

animated series to bring to life the

animated series to bring to life the popular villain Starscream one of the

popular villain Starscream one of the

popular villain Starscream one of the most popular characters on the GI Joe

most popular characters on the GI Joe

most popular characters on the GI Joe team is first sergeant Conrad s Hauser

team is first sergeant Conrad s Hauser

team is first sergeant Conrad s Hauser better known under his codename Duke

better known under his codename Duke

better known under his codename Duke fluent in several different languages

fluent in several different languages

fluent in several different languages duped his best known as GI Joe’s field

duped his best known as GI Joe’s field

duped his best known as GI Joe’s field commander during the original show’s

commander during the original show’s

commander during the original show’s first season other popular characters

first season other popular characters

first season other popular characters include Cobras intelligence officer the

include Cobras intelligence officer the

include Cobras intelligence officer the Baroness as well as sergeant slaughter

Baroness as well as sergeant slaughter

Baroness as well as sergeant slaughter who was based on a professional wrestler

who was based on a professional wrestler

who was based on a professional wrestler of the same name who was popular with

of the same name who was popular with

of the same name who was popular with the young male audience at the time with

several attempts were made to reboot the

several attempts were made to reboot the franchise through the 90s and into the

franchise through the 90s and into the

franchise through the 90s and into the 21st century 2009 s live-action feature

21st century 2009 s live-action feature

21st century 2009 s live-action feature film GI Joe Rise of Cobra also use the

film GI Joe Rise of Cobra also use the

film GI Joe Rise of Cobra also use the original 1985 series as its basis this

original 1985 series as its basis this

original 1985 series as its basis this time taking a step back to explain not

time taking a step back to explain not

time taking a step back to explain not only how the Cobra organization came to

only how the Cobra organization came to

only how the Cobra organization came to be but also how characters like Duke

be but also how characters like Duke

be but also how characters like Duke came to be a part of GI Joe the story

came to be a part of GI Joe the story

came to be a part of GI Joe the story touches on the

touches on the

touches on the familiar 1980s real American hero story

familiar 1980s real American hero story

familiar 1980s real American hero story while at the same time attempting to

while at the same time attempting to

while at the same time attempting to modernize the franchise by making the GI

modernize the franchise by making the GI

modernize the franchise by making the GI Joes the globally integrated joint

Joes the globally integrated joint

Joes the globally integrated joint operated entity rather than keeping them

operated entity rather than keeping them

operated entity rather than keeping them an exclusively American unit