I read a great deal of it, but finally stopped after about 12 issues of America's Elite. Too many factors (pre-eminently all the wanton deaths for death's sake) had killed my enjoyment by then. And yes, I did appreciate that they tried to work the TV show personalities into their characterizations. You could tell that cartoon Shipwreck, in particular, was one of Blaylock's favorites. I just wish the actual stories featuring those characters had been better!

I think maybe I'm going soft in my old age. The cartoon has just really grown on me over the past couple of years, to the point that I think I may almost prefer it over the comics. Of course, I haven't read the full run in years, so if I did that, I bet my opinion would shift again.

Also, I don't think I've mentioned that though I love the cartoon's characterizations of all the Joes more, I actually far prefer the depth and complexity the comics gave to all the Cobras. I just wish that complexity hadn't led to Destro, the Baroness, and Zartan all reforming late in the Marvel run!

Great post! I think you found the some of the words/thoughts I was struggling to get out (thanks for doing my work for me ;) )

Personally for me I liked it, but I wish they would have introduced more characters from the 87 line & down played Cobra-La a little bit. :)

Would you believe I never saw the Movie until tonight. In 1987 I was a Senior in H.S. The last thing on my mind then was a GI Joe cartoon movie. I got the entire cartoon run on DVD including the movie back in January, this discusion prompted me to watch it tonight. My Joeverse is pretty much based upon the Toys & thier File Cards. I own about 2 dozen of the original comics which I have read & never watched the cartoons until this year. I voted positive in this poll because I did enjoy the movie. I was entertaining and I love seeing some of my favorite figures & vehicles "come to life". Some things that I did not like about this flick - Falcon, I did not like how he was made out to be a slacker in the begining of the movie. I can't believe that Don Johnson did his voice, this was right in the middle of Miami Vice (I don't think he needed the money). Cobra-La is not part of my Joeverse because of the craptstic figures, after seeing this now it for sure will never be part of my Joes! The best Cobra-La character was Pythona & she never got a figure! I did not like Cobra Commander or what happened to him. My Cobra Commander is a ruthless, disguntled American citizen (much like one of todays modern Militia leaders) hellbent on overthrowing the government through terrorism. He is not a experiment gone bad freak put here by Golobulus. The whole Cobra-La idea was just plain stupid. The biologial weapons idea was cool though, very Yuuzhan Vong from Star Wars. Sgt Slaughter & the Renegades do not get used by me much, this movie did not change my mind on that. This was a great marketing movie that showcased alot of the '86 & '87 figures & vehicles. There was some great GI Joe action, though I would have prefered to see Joes fighting Cobra & not Cobra-La, but this is done in every 30 minute Joe cartoon, so I can see how something different was needed for the movie to stand out. At 40 years old, seeing this for the first time, I was entertained, it was fun to watch. If I was under 12 I would have been entranced! Oh, & BTW Duke almost dies...TOO KOOL!!!