The G.I. Joe franchise goes back several decades, but it really hit it big in the 1980s with the A Real American Hero reboot. This version had a popular toy line, a corresponding cartoon and comic book, with the latter making Larry Hama an iconic name in the comic industry. Unfortunately, since then, the series has failed to attain the same level of consistency and generational popularity as Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
One of the first radical reinterpretations of the '80s version of the franchise was G.I. Joe Extreme. Featuring an all-new cast of Joes and foes, G.I. Joe Extreme was a hilariously '90s rebranding of the series full of garishly over-the-top elements. It's since become lost to time, with many of its concepts forgotten. Here's a look back at a chapter of the Joes' history that many don't remember -- and for good reason.
What Was G.I. Joe Extreme?
The ill-fated and arguably just as ill-conceived G.I. Joe Extreme ran from 1995 to 1997, with its toy line, cartoon and comic book all failing to achieve even half of the popularity of their predecessors. The cartoon's story and all other accompanying fiction were set in a future removed from the conflict of the former G.I. Joe team and the terrorist organization Cobra. Instead, the threat this time was S.K.A.R., or Soldiers of Khaos, Anarchy and Ruin. Led by the evil Iron Klaw (who, like his organization, eschewed proper literacy and spelling), this group's plans involved taking over the former Soviet bloc, and eventually, the world at large.
Opposing them and the several mercenaries that added to the societal fracas is a new incarnation of G.I. Joe, led by Lt. Stone and working with presidential liaison Mr. Clancy. Stone heavily resembled Duke from the '80s series, with many of his compatriots also being stand-ins for older characters. The sole female, Mayday, was a dead ringer for fellow redhead Scarlett, Freight recalls Roadblock and Heavy Duty while the ninja Black Dragon is a much more vocal replacement for Snake Eyes. The team was also joined by Sgt. Savage, who was a returning character from a spin-off series titled Sgt. Savage and His Screaming Eagles. Gruff, tough and rough around the edges, the former WW2 soldier was essentially a cross between Captain America and Sgt. Rock.
Meanwhile, Iron Klaw took Cobra Commander's spot. His allies, Rampage and the Duchess of Mklavia, were ex-spies of Destro and the Baroness, with the Duchess being exclusive to the comic book. Cobra Commander made a few cameos in the series, loosely tying things together with the old show and making the villain the only old Joe character around. The show lasted for two seasons, attaining 26 episodes in total during its two-year run. It's now most known for its equally as extreme intro, which combined screaming, a '90s hip hop beat and an attempt to seem dark and topical. Its art style is also rather moody, recalling later shows such as Spider-Man Unlimited and Spawn.
The Legacy of G.I. Joe Extreme
Currently, G.I. Joe Extreme has been long forgotten both in the annals of '90s cartoons and the G.I. Joe franchise. Many who've taken a look back at the series decry its obvious attempts to ride the "extreme" wave of products such as the books of Image Comics at the time, as well as it being almost completely divorced from the previous iteration of the series. It didn't help that the show, even with all of its '90s bluster, seemed too close to the '80s in terms of actual writing quality.
Since then, none of Extreme's characters have appeared much, with the exceptions of faction leaders Lt. Stone and Iron Klaw. The former was first brought back in the G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 animated series, reimagined as a British MI6 agent who had his damaged arm replaced with a bionic one. He was also an old ally of Duke, likely homaging him essentially replacing him in Extreme. This incarnation somewhat influenced the new version in the Devil's Due G.I. Joe comics. Another version, this time called Sgt. Stone, was played by Brendan Fraser in a brief scene in G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra, though he strangely bore more resemblance to Flint.
Iron Klaw has also had a few cameos over the years before finally getting a new toy in the style of the A Real American Hero line in 2013. With the franchise still failing to come back in a big way, it's unknown if G.I. Joe Extreme will ever be touched upon again, though the chances are extremely low.