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G.I. Joe - Season 1 Part 1

Reviewed by Philip Masters

One of the best things about coming home from grade school (aside from coming home, of course), was watching the adventures of G.I. Joe on TV. I looked forward to seeing which members of the Joe team would be called for duty (Snake Eyes and Quick Kick were my faves) against the diabolical machinations of terrorist organization Cobra (hopefully aided by Zartan and the Dreadnoughts).

Now twenty years since the series was honorably discharged, Rhino, a fanboy company if there ever was one, has released a first season salvo in a four disc box set. You get 27 episodes including the five part-er story arc "Pyramid of Darkness." More so than its contemporary, The Transformers, G.I. Joe has held up extremely well. Hell, its even timely - just replace Al Queida for Cobra.

G.I. Joe originally sprung forward as a comic book/toy line from the fertile mind of comics genius Larry Hama, and as a series always had the right ingredients: vast character and vehicle list to choose from, smarter than average writing, and one hell of a catchy theme song. Hell, I even learned a thing or two from the "Knowing Is Half the Battle" public service messages that followed every episode. And the show had the kind of action every young boy (and now young boy at heart) can't get enough of even if no one ever seemed to get shot and managed to parachute or jump out of danger in the nick of time.

Whoever who compiled the bonus material though should have their nuts bitten off by Junkyard, Joe team member Mutt's canine sidekick. They're lackluster at best. The interviews with writer Christy Marx and voice director Wally Burr are pointless as they barely remember their time working on the show. Clearly, G.I. Joe means a lot more to us than the creators themselves. Another major reduction in rank is due to Rhino for compiling all the "Knowing Is Half the Battle" spots into one segment playing one after the other. Its WAY too much knowledge to take in at one time. The other dishonorable discharges are a booklet that inexplicably details each episode and one of those completely worthless "classic collectible" animation cells.

But these points aside, G.I. Joe - Season 1 Part 1 is a fine package and a worthy addition to any fanboy's collection. Here's looking forward to Season 1 Part 2. Yo Joe!

Note: The G.I. Joe mini-series A Real American Hero and The Revenge of Cobra were released on one dvd last year.

Rating: (3.5 out of 4 stars)

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