Also an excellent comic book by Larry Hama that went to over 150 issues. There were no parachutes for every fighter in the comic, and main characters often died. The stories were usually mature, and often continued through plot arcs of a dozen or more issues.

The final issue of the comic book gave the mute Snake-Eyes a rare chance to express himself to a young man considering joining the military, talking about his experiences in Vietnam and why one might or might not wish to join up. It was a heartfelt and touching story, and an issue I'm not afraid to show to friends or relatives to justify why I read certain comic books.

There are at least three different theme songs to G.I. Joe, not counting the "Joes Get Tough" theme of the later episodes when the show was picked up by a different animation company. The three best known are the original theme (which is the one you find on most websites), the series theme (which is the same save two words), and the theme song from G.I.: The Movie (which is much cooler).

Original Lyrics

He'll fight for freedom!
Wherever there's trouble,
G.I. Joe is there!

G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
G.I. Joe is there!

It's G.I. Joe against Cobra and Destro,
Fighting to save the day!
He never gives up!
He's always there!
Fighting for freedom over land and air!

G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
G.I. Joe is there!

"G.I. Joe is the code name for America's daring highly
trained special mission force. It's purpose: to defend
human freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist
organization determined to rule the world!"

He never gives up!
He'll stay 'til the fight's won!
G.I. Joe will dare!

G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
G.I. Joe!

---

Series Lyrics

He'll fight for freedom!
Wherever there's trouble,
G.I. Joe is there!

G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
G.I. Joe is there!

It's G.I. Joe against Cobra the enemy,
Fighting to save the day!
He never gives up!
He's always there!
Fighting for freedom over land and air!

G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
G.I. Joe is there!

"G.I. Joe is the code name for America's daring highly
trained special mission force. It's purpose: to defend
human freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist
organization determined to rule the world!"

He never gives up!
He'll stay til the fight's won!
G.I. Joe will dare!

G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
G.I. Joe!

---

Movie Lyrics

Crashing through the sky, comes a fearful cry!
Cobra! Cobraaaaa!
Cobra! Cobraaaaa!

Armies of the night! Evil taking flight!
Cobra! Cobraaaaa!
Cobra! Cobraaaaa!

Nowhere to run!
Nowhere to hide!
Panic spreading far and wide!
Who can turn the tide?

G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
Duke: "Yo, Joe!"
G.I. Joe is there!
G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
G.I. Joe is there!

Fighting for freedom wherever there's trouble,
Over land and sea and air!
G.I. Joe is there!

Can the world oppose, deadliest of foes?
Cobra! Cobraaaaa!
Cobra! Cobraaaaa!

Joes will risk it all to end the evil call,
of Cobra! Cobraaaaa!
Cobra! Cobraaaaa!

They never give up!
They never say die!
Walking tall with banners high!
They sound the battle cry!

Yo Joe! Yo Joe!

G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
G.I. Joe is there!
G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
G.I. Joe is there!

Fighting for freedom wherever there's trouble,
Over land and sea and air!
G.I. Joe is there!

"G.I. Joe is the code name for America's daring highly
trained special mission force. It's purpose: to defend
human freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist
organization determined to rule the world!"

G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
G.I. Joe is there!
G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
G.I. Joe is there!

Fighting for freedom wherever there's trouble,
Over land and sea and air!
Cobra Commander: "Cobra! Retreat! Retreat!"
G.I. Joe is there!

G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero)
G.I. Joe is there!
G.I. Joe!

There is a frighteningly detailed fan website, "The Ultimate GI Joe Cartoon Website," at http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Set/1577/. It includes interviews with creative personnel, screenshots, yadda yadda yadda ...

... and a selection of some of the uplifting hints for successful living the Joes dispensed after every episode:

• Quick Kick- Don't be in a hurry to build your tree house
  Remember, anything worth doing is worth planning.
  Lessons for the Daikatana project, anyone?

• Spirit- What to do if you catch on fire
  Remember, if your clothes catch on fire, wrap yourself in a rug or blanket (and roll on the ground to smother the flames).
  That's just a parenthetical note; nothing to be too concerned about ...

• Ripcord- Maybe you stink at baseball because you need glasses
  Having your eyes tested may clear things up. Don't avoid a problem. Meet it ( and beat it).
  Or perhaps you've been playing too much Dungeons & Dragons and eating too many Cheetos ...

Dark Horse Comics bought the right to publish G.I. Joe comics, and the first of four issues was released in December 1995.
The series was written by Mike W. Barr and Mike Richardson, with pencils by Tatsuya Ishida and Jerry Bingham. A second series of four issues was published a few months after the first, written by Mike W. Barr, and pencilled by Tatsuya Ishida, except for issue four, which was pencilled by Joel Naprstek and Frank Teran.

The new storyline is set in the year 2010, with none of the original characters involved.
The new G.I. Joe team, which consists of Ballistic, Black Dragon, Freight, Harpoon, Mayday, Metalhead, Quick Stryke, Sgt. Savage, and Lt. Stone, fight the evil S.K.A.R. (Soldiers of Kaos, Anarchy, and Ruin).

Unfortunately for Dark Horse, the series wasn't a success. This was probably because the stories were not about the Joes everybody knew, like Duke, Hawk and Lady Jaye, battling the evil forces of Cobra.

Updated in August 2001:
Good news for all that loved G.I. Joe in the 1980s, because a new comic book will be published by Image Comics. The first issue should be released in September 2001, and will be written by Joshua Blaylock, with art by Steven Kurth and John Larter. Covers are drawn by J. Scott Campbell (of Danger Girl and Gen13 fame), who admitted in several interviews that he was a big fan in the 1980s.