Snake Eyes: 10 Great Introductions To The G.I. Joe Verse
The G.I. Joe verse has continued to be one of Hasbro's most successful franchises. Originally a toy line, it has morphed into an international phenomenon, evolving greatly from its purely military roots into something that combines action, science fiction, and even some superhero elements. For new fans, there's plenty of great ways of exploring this series.
Whether it's through the products themselves, or perhaps some of the classic materials, there are lots of intriguing ways to get involved with the franchise. In recent years there have been live-action films, new comic lines, and of course, now Hasbro has aimed its sights at a new era for the blockbuster series.
10 G.I. Joe Toys (1964-Present)
It all stems back to those original creations. They've gone by various names and even morphed in various regions, including into the famous Action Man line, but at the core of the G.I. Joe brand are the toys. They are certainly creative in their design and continue to morph over time.
They combine military elements with components that are likely to be found in a sci-fi series, rather than a traditional soldier line. It also has a number of creative vehicles and great set pieces. In recent years Hasbro has started a classic line, honoring the legacy of the original toys. The modern creations are just as compelling as collectibles as well though.
9 G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
It's far from the best of the franchise, but when understanding the history of great movies based on real-life toys, the original Rise Of Cobra is a vital film to watch. It's also the perfect introduction to Snake Eyes, which is a highlight of the film itself.
Although it features great production values, it does mishandle some other major characters from the franchise. Regardless, it's a perfect overview of the various elements involved with the series and the narrative beats do mirror the original animated series.
8 G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)
The sequel that perhaps should have never happened, Retaliation definitely went a long way in fixing some of the things that went wrong in the original G.I. Joe live-action attempt. For starters, Cobra Commander was given the proper respect he deserves and some of the misfiring protagonists were removed from the story.
With Snake Eyes still a major focus, a new team was brought in which better reflected what fans loved about the franchise. It's still far from perfect, but once again it's an important piece of cinematic history that demonstrates the franchise's big-screen journey and helps new fans get familiar with classic characters.
7 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1983-1986)
This was the animated series that really captured the minds of kids, especially across the United States. Launched alongside the toy line, this show was really an extended toy commercial, aimed at trying to sell as many of G.I. Joe's products as possible.
However, the series managed to give many of these one-dimensional figures some genuine personality, preparing them for their live-action future by morphing them into characters fans want to see. They went from lumps of plastic to real people, who had motivations, special skills and friendships, and rivalries with one another. The lore of this series was partially based on the classic animated run.
6 G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987)
The first of the movies in this universe, the original animated film was a spin-off of the first series, showing that G.I. Joe might have legs in the feature-length world. It's certainly a classic, which Hasbro continues to hold dearly in its archives.
It demonstrates that there's a lot more to this series than extended commercials and there's some genuinely good storytelling amongst the intense action and over-the-top set pieces. For those trying to get a better understanding of the legacy of this brand, the 1987 movie is a good place to begin.
5 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero - Marvel Comics (1982-1994)
Alongside the original toy line, there was also a deal made to create a comic book series which would hopefully help to promote the products themselves and flesh out some of the characters involved. This original Marvel run went a long way in defining the franchise moving forward.
Indeed, the animated show took its cues from the comics in many aspects and the run went for an extremely long time. It's really one of the best starting places as there are countless issues available online, with smaller narrative arcs based on individual characters; creating plenty of fan favorites along the way.
4 G.I. Joe - IDW Comics (2019-2021)
Hasbro has commissioned plenty of comic book runs in recent years, but a notable piece of modern work has to be the IDW series which came to an end not that long ago. It's the perfect 21st Century take on the characters and this world, treading new ground and honoring material from the classic series.
The artwork is gorgeous and the writing is spectacular. It may be that this kind of work is the blueprint going forward. It also leaned into sci-fi elements but didn't go over-the-top and corny in the way Marvel sometimes did, with their choices of a strange array of vehicles, weapons, or villains.
3 G.I. Joe: Renegades (2010-2011)
Renegades was an attempt to bring the franchise to a new audience, modernize some of the concepts and utilizing newer animation techniques, trying to tell stories that hadn't previously been attempted. It succeeded in this mission and is a well-regarded entry into the library.
This is a great place for kids and adults alike to fall in love with the world and although it's not as wide-spanning as the original animated series, the focus throughout means that there's some greater character development as the episodes have genuinely deep emotional threads.
2 G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout - Video Game (2020)
There aren't many video games in the G.I. Joe line but Operation Blackout is a great starting point. The retro installments leave a lot to be desired from a modern perspective but Operation Blackout is well-regarded and boasts some quality storytelling.
The visual style seems to cross between the comics and the animated shows, meaning that it feels very much in the same world. The characterizations are spot on though and the gameplay mechanics allow for all-out chaos to ensue.
1 Snake Eyes (2021)
Snake Eyes is Hasbro's latest attempt at creating a cinematic universe and is focused around the MVP of the franchises, the titular character who never speaks. This origin story is by definition a good introduction for new fans, as it leans into the lore but also acts as a slow starting point.
While the reviews for the project have been mixed, what cannot be denied is that it focuses on a great character and features brilliant action and intense set-pieces. Fans should definitely check this film out as it should provide clues as to where the movies will go in the future and brings back some memorable characters that audiences hoped to see.