"G.I. Joe" (1985) TV series 1985-1986

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Writers:

Larry Hama (character development)
Denny O'Neil (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

16 September 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Animation

Plot:

An elite special missions force fights against the terrorist forces of Cobra.

Plot Keywords:

Military | Based On Toy

Cast

Chris Latta	...	Cobra Commander / ... (77 episodes, 1985-1986)
Michael Bell	...	Duke / ... (67 episodes, 1985-1986)
Neil Ross	...	Shipwreck / ... (62 episodes, 1985-1986)
Arthur Burghardt	...	Destro / ... (56 episodes, 1985-1986)
Frank Welker	...	Torch / ... (55 episodes, 1985-1986)
Mary McDonald-Lewis	...	Lady Jaye / ... (49 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bill Ratner	...	Flint / ... (45 episodes, 1985-1986)
Zack Hoffman	...	Zartan / ... (36 episodes, 1985-1986)
Kene Holliday	...	Roadblock (36 episodes, 1985-1986)
Morgan Lofting	...	Baroness / ... (35 episodes, 1985-1986)
Corey Burton	...	Tomax / ... (32 episodes, 1985-1986)
Pat Fraley	...	Ace / ... (31 episodes, 1985)

Also Known As:

"Action Force" (UK)
"Chijô saikyô no Expert Team G.I. Joe" (Japan)

Runtime:

30 min | 30 min (85 episodes)

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-Y7 | UK:PG

Company:

Sunbow Productions

Trivia:

Plans were made to have the character Rocky Balboa join the G.I. Joe team in 1987. In fact, Marvel Comics "G.I. Joe: Order of Battle" issue #2 contained a dossier for Balboa and Hasbro designed a prototype figure with Sylvester Stallone's likeness. Additionally, a new character, Big Boa, was added to the Cobra roster, complete with boxing gloves, to act as Rocky's Cobra counterpart and foil. A deal could not be reached to use Stallone's likeness, however, and Marvel wound up retracting the Balboa dossier, instead deciding on Sgt. Slaughter to be G.I. Joe's trainer and "celebrity spokesman".

Goofs:

Continuity: Midway through "Cobra's Candidate", Storm Shadow tells Buzzer that Cobra Commander has sent him a communique about the pep rally, to which Buzzer replies "Come on mate; Cobra Commander knows I can't read." Per his file-card, however, Buzzer was a college professor prior to becoming a Dreadnok, and as such would most certainly know how to read.

Quotes:

Lifeline: Hey, Low-Light. Does it ever occur to you there might be an easier way of settling disputes?
Low-Light: Yeah, Lifeline. It's called a gun!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "South Park: Imaginationland: Episode III (#11.12)" (2007)

Yo Joe!

I love this series. I developed an interest in it a couple of years ago and I've loved it ever since. THe battle between Joe and Cobra is very entertaining with colourful characters on both sides. I first saw the show when I was a kid. That was when the show was named ACTION FORCE in the UK. I now have the movie on video and the first half of Season One on DVD. The show has not disappointed me so far.

There's great voice work from 80s voice maestros like Chris Latta and Neil Ross. The humour in the show is very appealing as well as there are constantly petty power struggles in the Cobra ranks. Perhaps the introduction of Serpentor wasn't such a good idea, but the show still had good moments. I heard a rumour that there may be a real life GI JOE movie. I hope there will be. If it's based on the Devil'a Due comic that would be good because what I've seen of that comic is great. Here's hoping.