If you grew up in the ’80s, then you probably had at least a mild obsession with G.I. Joe. The toy franchise may have debuted in the 1960s, but it definitely reached its peak two decades later thanks to the invention of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. The revitalization of the toy line and concurrent animated series and comic books introduced colorful characters and the villainous Cobra, and hooked an entire generation on the military-themed franchise. And if you’re feeling nostalgic for those carefree G.I. Joe-filled days of your youth, then dust off your old toys and prepare to enlist in some prime retro entertainment.
15 episodes of the original ’80s animated series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero are now streaming for free on YouTube, courtesy of the series’ parent company Hasbro. The episodes comprise three five-part story arcs from the classic series: “The M.A.S.S. Device,” “The Revenge of Cobra,” and “The Pyramid of Darkness.” The release of the episodes couldn’t have come at a better time considering that everyone is currently locked in their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic, giving fans of the series a much-needed break from reality. You can get started right away on the first episode below.
As for the rest of the G.I. Joe franchise, the series is set to return to the big screen in live-action form with a solo Snake Eyes movie featuring Henry Golding as the titular silent ninja. The movie is scheduled for release on Oct. 23, but that could change depending on how long theaters remain closed due to the coronavirus. Regardless, between the upcoming film and these free cartoons, it’s a pretty good time to be a G.I. Joe fan.
