G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero!/The Revenge of Cobra

Both mini-series, "A Real American Hero" and "The Revenge of Cobra", have very similar stories. Each involves the good guys & bad guys racing around the world in an effort to be the first to grab three vital components to a super-weapon that will give its wielder unbelievable power. The only big difference of note between these two five-parters are the various characters that are introduced, and the settings. Other than that, the viewers is treated to the usual staples of laser-rifle gun play, close calls, amazing escapes from certain doom, planes & tanks blowing up, and brief knock-down drag-outs, all resulting in a nigh-nonexistent list of casualties. Oh yes, and Snake Eyes' look undergoes a considerable change between the two series. But in spite of the glaring similarities between these shows, I had a pretty good time goin' back to the womb and reliving those weekday afternoons of military adventure after somehow enduring yet another #ellish day of middle school. Sometimes (*SNIFF*) it felt like the Joes were the (*SOB*) only friends I had in this whole wide world (*GETTIN' MISTY*)-- a world filled with (*HEAVY SIGH*) spiteful classmates and unsympathetic yard duty attendants (the heartless fiends!). And people wonder why I'm such a social misfit...

But, enough of the pity-party; on with the special features--which aren't all that much, really. The only added bonus to each platter is a twenty-minute interview with one of the show's writers (Marv Wolfman and Ron Friedman, respectively). Both guys give their backgrounds in the field of comic and TV writing, and then get into their experiences puttin' the show together. As one might expect, both eventually veer off into the characters being 'archetypes' and 'symbols' of the never-ending battle between good & evil, and other such pretentious pontifications. Ya know, the kinds of statements that make the work they did on the show seem far more important and earth-shattering than it actually was. But at least I gotta hand one thing to 'em: both Friedman and Wolfman admitted that, yes, part of the reason why the TV mini-series and subsequent ongoing series were created was to promote the new toy line. I also enjoyed Friedman's recollection of disclosing his writing credentials to his students at the USC film school class, and their reactions when he mentioned The TransFormers and G.I. Joe. Friedman also brought up his creepy encounter with a man in the military who wanted to show the guy his extensive collection of 80s G.I. Joe toys. The latter story is the main reason why I steer the #ell clear of comic-book-&-collectible-toy conventions. I might be a big geekin' get-a-lifer fanboy loser, but I'm not THAT far gone!

Also thrown in is a booklet that gives a brief yet informative recap of G.I. Joe's history from the creation of the original toy line in 1964 on through to its apparent demise and resurrection as a 4-inch figure line and the creation of the cartoon show in the 80s. Also written down in the back of this booklet are synopses of each episode. Finally, there's the topper of all bonuses: an action figure of some classic character or another. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell ya which figure comes with this set, seein' as how I bought my set used, and missing the toy and all...

'Late