Nostalgic G

- "Reinstated" (G.I.JOE Volume 2 # 1-4, Devil's Due / September 2001-March 2002) The first storyline from the folks at Devils Due picks up years after the Marvel run as the G.I. Joe team is called back into action to confront the threat of Cobra who has been in hiding for years now planning his return. Snake Eyes has a new apprentice , Kamakura . Flint and Lady Jay are now married and after having left Scarlett at the altar Snake Eyes reunites with his beloved. A great start to the second volume of G.I.Joe tales. - "The Return of Serpentor " (G.I.JOE Volume 2 # 16, 22-25 Devil's Due / April 2003, October 2003- January 2004) Dr. Mindbender's clone is up to his predecessor's old tricks discovering a way to bring back the Cobra Emperor. A new revelation about the process of creating the original Serpentor adds a great new spin to the tale. The return of Serpentor also introduces us the The Coil, a secret organization of followers who want Serpentor ...

If The Rise of Cobra left you thinking there's nothing more to G.I.Joe than mindless action and one dimensional characters think again. The G.I.Joe vs Cobra mythology is a very complex and rich story filled with compelling characters and tons of intriguing tales. Lets take a look back at some of the greatest stories from the 25 year struggle between America's Elite and the ruthless forces of Cobra. - " Worlds Without End" (G.I.Joe, Sunbow Animated Series - Season One / Original Air date November 4-5, 1985) A surprisingly effective and intense tale for an 80s animated series. This two part episode features a team of JOES arriving on a parallel universe where the forces of Cobra have eradicated G. IJOE and conquered the planet. The episodes give us a great glimpse at the emotional and mental state of these characters. For the first time in the cartoon series these characters come across as fully fleshed individuals with internal lives. We also get a glimpse at wha...

In the early 1980's an editor at Marvel Comics by the name of Larry Hama took on the task of turning a line of 3 3/4 inch action figures and vehicles into a complex mythology with intriguing story lines and rich characters. To this day no one has achieved anything near what Hama accomplished in bringing compelling and exciting story lines to what would have otherwise been just another toy based comic book originally intended to help sell action figures. Hamma went on to script 155 issues of G.I.JOE at Marvel, creating a world and a mythology that is still celebrated by fans all over the world after more than 25 years. With such a rich background and such an amazing collection of tales you'd think the folks at Paramount would've been able to come up with a film that could at least work on some levels. Unfortunately what we got this weekend with the release of G.I.JOE: The Rise of Cobra is nothing more than a mess filled with terribly written dialogue from characters that ha...

"I've said to my wife repeatedly, I just want on my gravestone, 'He loved dogs' and 'Bueller, Bueller.” — Ben Stein on the impact of Ferris Bueller's Day Off on his life.

Every year the National Association of Theater Owners puts together Showest and Showeast. The two major events for theater owners across the nation. At this event they hand out a series of awards to the top people in the film industry as determined by theater owners. In 1991 the award for producer of the year went to John Hughes, who's films -- released at a rate of 2 to 3 a year since the mid 80's, were filling theaters across the nation with rambunctious kids and families. Here's a look at a very special tribute put together for the awards ceremony 18 years ago.

In just a few hours I'll be heading over to the Cinerama dome for the midnight screening of G.I.JOE: The Rise of Cobra. This weekend I'll chime in with my review as a long time fan of the toys and Larry Hama's amazing comic book mythology. Lets get things started with a look at the history of G.I.JOE. "Now you know..." - Great moments in G.I.JOE history: 1964: After the huge success of the Barbie doll for girls, toy creator Stan Weston comes up with an idea for a military-themed doll for boys and sells the idea to Hasbro. The toy company gives the 12-inch-tall figure in green army fatigues the generic name of G.I. Joe, inspired by the 1945 film "The Story of G.I. Joe." Later in the decade an African American G.I. Joe figure is introduced in some markets and soldiers from other countries join the toy lineup. The first female G.I. Joe doll, Action Nurse, is produced in 1967 but is a commercial flop. Amid anti-military sentiment created by the Vietnam War, ...

Today is a sad day for all of us children of the 80's. The greatest comedy writer-director that ever lived has passed away at the young age of 59. Fortunately his stories of teen angst, alienation, family chaos, and first loves will live forever through his films. I'll be back later this weekend with a retrospective on his amazing generation-defining career.