This is a very hard question for me. The comics are my preferred universe, because of the ongoing continuity, the convoluted soap opera antics, and the realistic depictions of war. However, a lot of characters were under-characterized in the comics, or seemed very similar (I find Flint, Duke and Stalker to be virtually interchangeable in the comics. Hawk too, to a lesser extent). I think the TV show's characterization of the Joe characters was a lot better than the comics', but I feel the comics captured the Cobra characters far, far more effectively. In my world, it tends to be TV show Joes vs. comic book Cobras.

On the other hand, I love the cartoon because everyone looked consistent (ie, they had character models that the animators followed in every episode), and while the comic tended to do a better job of fleshing out the characters, the TV show let me know what they sounded like, and that was worth quite a bit. Even when I read the comics, I hear Chris Latta, Arthur Burghardt, Morgan Lofting, Michael Bell, Bill Ratner, and all the others speaking the words Larry Hama wrote for their characters. Also, I can't read a Joe comic without hearing Johnny Douglas's and Robert Walsh's background music in my head. Plus, Duke had a way bigger part on the show, so that counts for a lot in my mind.

Really, I think both the comics and show did a lot to shape G.I. Joe in my mind and I really can't see either of them existing without the other. However, I will say this-- When I was younger, I loved the comics (not to say I don't still), but in my old age (so to speak), for whatever reasons, I find myself appreciating the cartoon a lot more than I ever did before.

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is on indefinite hiatus...