G.I. Joe vs. Cobra
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G.I. Joe vs. Cobra is the G.I. Joe toy line series that ran from 2002 to 2005. The toy line is produced by Hasbro.
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[edit] Overview
The series represents the first major relaunch of the G.I. Joe franchise since 1996’s G.I. Joe Extreme. Story and theme-wise, it is a continuation of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series. G.I. Joe vs. Cobra was preceded by two limited run Toys R Us exclusives that made use of previous molds for production of G.I. Joe action figures in the years of 1997 to 1998 and 2000 to 2001.
Despite having no major G.I. Joe toy releases, Devil’s Due Publishing managed to acquire the license to produce new G.I. Joe comic books. The new comics’ success and the media attention it spawned fueled renewed interest in G.I. Joe and led to the production of a new line of toys featuring both old and new characters. New sculptures and body architecture were utilized for the line. It should be noted that the collector community does not usually refer to new-sculpt figures as "Real American Hero" or "RAH" figures in order to differentiate them from the older method of construction used during the 1980s.
The G.I. Joe vs. Cobra line ran for four years before being phased out and replaced with the successor line G.I. Joe: Sigma 6. In that time, it was continued to be supported by the new comic series and two direct-to-video CGI animated movies. It is also supplemented by several Toys R Us and convention exclusives. Each year of the line’s release centers on a different theme on the G.I. Joe/Cobra conflict. The themes are:
- G.I. Joe vs. Cobra
- G.I. Joe vs. Cobra: Spy Troops
- G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom
While Hasbro is able to reclaim the copyright to many of the classic characters, many had to be renamed because of failure to renew copyright claim or the name had become too common for many characters. As a result, Hawk became General Tomahawk/Abernathy, Clutch is renamed as Double Clutch, and Scarlett modified to Agent Scarlett as just among the many examples.
[edit] G.I. Joe vs. Cobra
Released in 2002, G.I. Joe vs. Cobra was borne out of the success of Devil’s Due’s G.I. Joe comics. The series brings back classic characters as well as introduce new ones. For the first time, there is a theme to the toy line, this one focusing on the rivalries between members of the G.I. Joe Team and Cobra. The action figures were sold in two-packs carrying a G.I. Joe and a Cobra character. The file cards that came with them explain as to how their rivalry with each other began.
[edit] G.I. Joe vs. Cobra: Spy Troops
The second year of the new series, the toy line is re-titled as G.I. Joe vs. Cobra: Spy Troops. The second series has a theme focusing on espionage and is supported with a direct-to-video computer-animated movie, G.I. Joe: Spy Troops. The line has begun to incorporate some of the characters from the comics.
[edit] G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom
Valor vs. Venom is the third and final series in the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra line. It is the only one with a storyline attached to it. The storyline involves Cobra creating a new line of troops which they have called V-Troops. Again, like Spy Troops, it is supported by a direct-to-video film.
[edit] Comics
The G.I. Joe vs. Cobra line did not have a comic book series that directly supports it. The series as published by Devil’s Due is meant to be a continuation of the story published by Marvel Comics. The comics’ creative team did not have the same pressure from Hasbro in tying up the comics with the toy line. However, several characters and designs did manage to be incorporated into the comics.
