TV Show Info:
Creator: Larry Hama
Writers: Ron Friedman, Steve Mitchell, Barbara Petty, Christy Marx, Paul Dini, Kimmer Ringwald, Ted Pederson, Mary Skrenes
Directors: Various
Cast: Michael Bell, Arthur Burghardt, Chris Latta, B.J. Ward, Morgan Lofting, Marla Frumkin Scott, John Stephenson, Frank Welker, Neil Ross, Zack Hoffman, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Morgan Lofting,
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Info:
Original Air Dates: September 12, 1983-October 1, 1985
DVD Box Set Release Date: July 14, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99
The 80s was the best time to grow up. That’s because the 80s had the best cartoons. I would have loved to watch G.I. Joe. I was the perfect age for this kind of show, yet I never watched it. That was because one of my parents decided G.I. Joe was bad. They believed that the show glorified and promoted war, without even having seem an episode. While I could watch shows like Transformers (weren’t they always at war? Decepticons vs. Autobots?) and He-Man (who was always fighting the forces of evil, too), since G.I. Joe featured ‘real men’ in cartoon form, who just happened to be a part of a special sector of the military, my brother and I were banned from watching this show.
That doesn’t mean we never saw it. We had neighbors and friends who were allowed to watch the show. Actually, we didn’t know any other kids in our neighborhood who were banned from watching G.I. Joe. Some of the other kids would even laugh when we told them why we couldn’t watch the show. We’d sometimes watch it at their houses anyway. I saw brief glimpses of the show and because I was banned from it, it made me want to watch the series even more.
Regardless, I’m now grown. I can watch G.I. Joe if I want to. I can let my kids watch G.I. Joe if they want to watch it, as well. Seriously, with as much about Iraq as this generation has seen on TV, the Joes are actually pretty good role models. When something bad happens in the world, sometimes the good guys have to fix the problem. I’d rather have my kids (yes, even the ones between 2-6, which is how old I was when the first G.I. Joe miniseries premiered until the end of the television show) watching a show about the All-American Hero then have them watching the news. It’s a cartoon and it’s not even really about war, per se. It’s more about military men stopping evil forces taking over the world. Now how many television series came out of the 80s with that message? Yep, more than I can count, too.
I was actually really excited to watch the 22 episodes compiled in the G.I. Joe A Real American Hero: Season 1.1 box set. Call me a guy just trying to re-live his childhood in a much cooler way, because really, that’s what I am! I even had Ash watch the episodes with me. She’d never seen G.I. Joe because she was too busy watching The Smurfs, Strawberry Shortcake and other shows that were big in the 80s. G.I Joe really wasn’t her forte back then.
You know what I’ve discovered? G.I. Joe is really interesting. It’s entertaining. The show doesn’t talk down to kids like so many other cartoons do, but it has elements of 80s humor and pop culture that would appeal and speak to kids. I credit this to Ron Friedman. It was his goal to write G.I. Joe with the vision that it spoke to children in a way they’d understand. As a child of the 80s, I get the message loud and clear.
What’s interesting about this set is that this isn’t just the first 12 episodes from the G.I. Joe series. There are five episodes from the G.I. Joe A Real American Hero miniseries (it only had five episodes), which aired in 1983 and the follow up, five episode miniseries, The Revenge of Cobra, which aired in 1984. The television show subsequently aired throughout 1985 and 1986. In all honesty, this Season 1.1 box set contains a whole lot more fans of the Joes can enjoy. This set is also a great way to introduce new audiences (the new generation) to the real American hero!
The G.I. Joe A Real American Hero: Season 1.1 Episode Guide
The G.I. Joe A Real American Hero: Season 1.1 box set is comprised of four discs. Disc One is made up of the five part miniseries, “A Real American Hero: The M.A.S.S. Device.” Disc Two contains a five part miniseries called, The Revenge of Cobra. Disc Three is the five part episode opener for the G.I. Joe television series, which debuted in 1985. Finally, Disc Four offers seven episodes from season one of the 1985 series.
Note: In Disc Two, the phrase ‘Yo Joe’ gets a bit repetitive (to the point of overkill), but this is about the only complaint I have. Disc One I don’t remember it being used at all!
While the show has the occasional cheesy line/moment (Duke likes to call people meathead, for example – Remember the 80s, when calling people Pizza breath (and other food related names) was cool?), those lines are actually rather endearing! There aren’t enough of them to make the show a total cheesefest and I get that 80s nostalgia feeling when I watch this because the dialogue is so 80s!
With those little tidbits discussed, let’s get into the meat and potatoes of the DVD, the episodes! Here is a list and synopsis of each of the 22 episodes as they are spread out across four discs.
DISC ONE
“The Cobra Strikes”
Original Air Date: September 12, 1983
The show starts with a brief introduction to the G.I. Joes, a group of men (and women) who fight for America’s freedom. It isn’t long before Cobra is attacking the G.I. Joe base, and Duke is certain Cobra is up to something. In the meantime, the military must answer to the Pentagon, who want to know how capable the Joes are. Cobra Commander and Destro work together in a plan to take over the world. Destro develops a weapon for Cobra, the M.A.S.S. device. This weapon is capable of transporting whatever Cobra needs to win against the Joes (troops, weapons, etc.) to anywhere in the world. When Cobra steals one of the U.S. military satellites, it’s up to the Joes to get it back, but when Duke is captured with the intent to make him one of Cobra’s mindless slaves, the stakes in this mission rise.
“Slave of the Cobra Master”
Original Air Date: September 13, 1983
Duke is forced with the headband device to fight in the Cobra arena at Cobra Mountain. Being under Destro’s control leaves Duke vulnerable to the attack of the arena gladiator. When Destro turns the headband off, Duke is able to defend himself, but he cannot go far. Dr. Vandermere, who was working on the original M.A.S.S. device, helps the Joes to construct a new one. Unfortunately, they must go to the ends of the Earth to find the three elements that power the M.A.S.S. device. In the meantime, Duke gets assistance from another slave named Selena, who shows him how to deactivate the power the headband has over him (and in turn escape), though it will cause him excessive amounts of pain.
“The Worms of Death”
Original Air Date: September 14, 1983
Snake Eyes has managed to escape with the crystal element, despite being trapped in a radioactive trap set by Cobra. Poisoned by the radiation, he can barely move let alone survive in the harsh Arctic conditions. Luckily, he’s found by a strange man who seeks to help him, and manages to get him out of the cold. Duke keeps trying to remember where Cobra’s headquarters is, but all he can remember is the face of the girl who helped him. The Joes head into the depths of the ocean, to retrieve the heavy-water element. Within the depths of the ocean they find the element and Cobra, but when these massive, underwater worms attack them, the only way to escape is for the Joes and Cobra to team up.
“Duel in the Devil’s Cauldron”
Original Air Date: September 15, 1983
Stalker tells the Joes that he’s been ordered to assemble the team and have the Joes surrender to Cobra (who has threatened to destroy New York City if they don’t). Cobra Commander and Destro are listening in and Cobra Commander is certain that they’ve won, but Destro won’t be satisfied until they have more of the third element. Breaker had discovered Cobra was listening in, so the Joes actually planned the ‘fake surrender’ in order to get the third element without Cobra’s interruption. Cobra has used up all of the third element, so Destro and his crew must fight the Joes in a head to head, all out battle. Of course, when Scarlett is kidnapped the Joes must do whatever it takes to get her back.
“A Stake in the Serpent’s Heart”
Original Air Date: September 16, 1983
After Scarlett helps to save Destro and herself, she is taken by Cobra and it isn’t long before she’s wearing a headband, making her a slave in the process. Scarlett recognizes Duke’s ring on Selena. The two team up to lead a slave revolt. The doctor gets the M.A.S.S. Device in working order, so the Joes set out in a final showdown between them and the Cobra team. Destro has a second plan, having made the leaders of the world his slaves, who he plans to execute in the event his plans are foiled. When the action is brought to Cobra Mountain, it’s an all out battle of good vs. evil!
DISC TWO
“In the Cobra’s Pit”
Original Air Date: September 10, 1984
When the G.I. Joes are transporting the laser core, Cobra attacks their convoy. The Cobra team captures the laser core along with Duke and Snake Eyes. The Joes capture Cobra Commander, taking him to Blackwater Prison. Before Col. Sharpp can meet them at the prison, he is kidnapped by Zartan and the Dreadnoks. Zartan is able to transform himself into the Colonel. At the prison, Zartan and Baroness break Cobra Commander out. When the Joes who captured him realize they are escaping, they chase them into the swamps where they disappear. In the Meantime, Flint and Scarlett lead their sky squadrons on a mission to go after the laser and try to save Duke and Snake Eyes. The only problem is that Destro has developed a Weather Dominator, which becomes unstoppable (controlling the forces of nature) when hooked up to the laser core. Of course, Cobra Commander lets the world know he’s ready to take over the world, again.
“The Vines of Evil”
Original Air Date: September 11, 1984
When the Weather Dominator make Flint, Roadblock, Mutt and Junkyard crash in “In the Cobra’s Pit,” they are sent into the Pit of Chaos. There, they are attacked by killer creeper vines. At the start of this episode, they use the Sky Striker’s jets to fend off the vines, all while trying to work out a plan of escape. Duke and Snake Eyes fight in Cobra Arena. They also manage to get a message to the Joes HQ warning of an impending weather attack on Washington D.C. As the city is evacuated, Doc’s energy mirrors deflect the power of the Weather Dominator, causing it to backfire and break the weapon into fragments. Back in the Pit, Roadblock is captured by the vines. The rest manage to escape, crash in a Cobra controlled area, and steal uniforms. However, when a sandstorm interrupts their escape, Mutt is thrown overboard, leaving two men down.
“The Palace of Doom”
Original Air Date: September 12, 1984
The Joes must hide under the skiff until the sandstorm ends and then they return to HQ. Roadblock, having escaped the vines, steals a ride on a truck. In it, he finds a tied up woman named Honda Lou West. The Joes and Cobra set out for the Island of No Return, where they are trying to get the ion corrilator. At the island, the two groups are sucked into a whirlpool, but the Joes manage to escape. Spirit heads to the island, duking it out for the fragment with Storm Shadow. Major Bludd and the Cobra team head through the jungle to get the hydromaster, in the Palace of Doom. When the Joes parachute into the palace, a ginormous robot snake sets out to stop them, but the surprise is that the palace is booby trapped!
Note: The best line ever from this series is in this episode.
Doc: “Don’t worry; I’m wearing my asbestos underwear!”
“Battle on the Roof of the World”
Original Air Date: September 13, 1984
The Weather Dominator leads to unstable weather patterns near the palace. The weather causes an Earthquake, and some of the Joes are caught in the thick of it. When the Joes lose the fragment, Major Bludd is sure to take it for himself. Storm Shadow gets trapped with Spirit in a cavern with limited air supply, on the island. When Spirit saves Storm Shadow, he lets Spirit have the fragment. The truck with Roadblock in it ends up at the Cobra temple. The Joes must find the laser core,which is on the Roof of the World. Cobra, Zartan (and his gang) and the Joes fight for it. The laser core is involved in a hockey style game between Cobra and the Joes, but when the Drednoks interrupt to steal it, the Joes’ biggest challenge turns out to be an avalanche.
“Amusement Park of Terror”
Original Air Date: September 14, 1984
Roadblock and Honda Lou try to remain inconspicuous as they break into Cobra Commander’s control room. When they are captured they are taken to where Duke and Snake Eyes are battling against electric snakes (in the Arena). With the power of four on their side, they find a way to escape. Zartan has the laser core at his hideout, an amusement park in the thick of the bayou. When he contacts both Cobra and the Joes, to negotiate, they both intercept the signal and track down his location. Storm Shadow steals the ion corrilator while at the Joe HQ. While the Cobra’s are being attacked, Ripcord and Breaker parachute into the park, destroying the power generator. As the Joes arrive, Destro captures Zartan, who gives him the laser core. With Duke sending out a tracking signal to bring the Joes to the Cobra Temple, an all out assault between good and evil breaks out with the fate of the world and it’s weather at stake.
DISC THREE
“The Pyramid of Darkness Part 1″
Original Air Date: September 16, 1985
The Joes are accompanying a space shuttle to a launch pad. The shuttle is heading to Space Station Delta. Cobra attacks, but the Joes are prepared. Cobra retreats, but not before slipping some cargo onto the shuttle. The Crimson Twins and Cobra Commander escape underwater, with the help of water robots. The Joes head underwater led by Shipwreck and Snake Eyes. Roadblock manages to distract the robots, when Snake Eyes and Shipwreck are hit, so they can head into the underwater Cobra Headquarters, disguise themselves as Cobra forces, and get themselves in trouble. In the air, Lady Jaye and Flint chase Destro in his Rattler. When he disappears into thin air, they have no choice but to return to Joe HQ. The extra weight is weighing the shuttle down. The addition includes something called Fatal Fluffies, who are controlled by Zartan (disguised as a Joe) and the Dreadnoks. Worried about the space shuttle and Delta, the Joe HQ is relieved when they hear from the station, but this has disastrous results. It’s just another part of Cobra’s plan to create a Pyramid of Darkness.
“The Pyramid of Darkness Part 2″
Original Air Date: September 17, 1985
Shipwreck’s canary, Polly, is able to input the password, letting them into the control cube factory. Shipwreck puts a tracker on a control cube. He and Snake Eyes steal a laser disc with the plans for the cubes, as well, though they must soon plan their escape. The Joes make their temporary HQ on a aircraft carrier, run by an old school officer not fond of women in the force. The tracker leads them to The Devil’s Playground, a volcano where Destro is taking the cube. In space on Delta, the Joes are forced to work for the Fluffies and Dreadnoks. Dusty creates a diversion, playing with the gravity controls and attempting to get to the communications room where Zartan has been making big plans. Dusty is captured again, but not before seeing Cobra’s plans. At the volcano, the Joes attack. Flint and Lady Jaye are shot down. As Destro attempts to align the cube, these two are forced into the lava.
“The Pyramid of Darkness Part 3″
Original Air Date: September 18, 1985
Lady Jaye manages to save herself and Flint from the lava with a bubble javelin. Their freedom is short lived, when they attempt to take the cube, but are captured by its tentacles. Shipwreck and Snake Eyes are in the ghetto, where they are being pursued. To evade capture, they duck into a nightclub and meet the singer, Satin. She hides them and they are able to escape. Oh, but not before Snake Eyes breakdances! The Crimson Twins head to the City of the Dead, where they align the second cube. Roadblock, Airtight, and Footloose head in after them, but are stopped by awakening the Ancient Guardians, giant statues that guard the temple. The twins think this will give them time to align the cube, but they can’t anticipate what the temple holds in store for them. On the mountain of Glass, Major Bludd is aligning the third cube when the Joes (Bazooka and Apline) show up. They are lost in an avalanche attempting to stop Cobra. Finally, on Delta, Zartan attempts to activate the cubes, as the Joes try to stop him.
To continue reading this review, go to Page Two…
Written by Dominick Evans – Visit Website
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Dominick is in his late 20s. He lives in Michigan with his life partner, Ashtyn, their 14 year old son Robert, and their Shih-Tzu, Oliver. Dominick is a writer and the head editor for both LI Kids and Literary Illusions. He enjoys composing music and is an aspiring director/screenwriter. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, playing and watching sports, playing video games, watching movies, and singing.
