Plot
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
This five-part pilot mini-series was alternately aired under the title "The MASS Device" during the series' syndication. Cobra develops an experimental teleportation unit, known as the MASS device, which has the ability to transport matter to any global location, using a satellite to relay the teleportation beam. G.I. Joe must stop Cobra by creating a MASS system of their own, but first must gather the three rare elements that power the device, which consist of radioactive crystals, heavy water found in the depths of the ocean, and fragments from a giant meteorite.
G.I. Joe: The Revenge of Cobra
Cobra has returned in force, armed with a new weapon created by Destro—the Weather Dominator, which is able to manipulate storm systems. In the beginning of the miniseries, Cobra steals the power core for a new laser cannon the Joes were transporting to their headquarters, and adds it to the Weather Dominator, giving it unlimited power. Damaged in a preliminary battle, the device breaks into its three component pieces, which scatter across the world. The G.I. Joe team must recover the pieces, before Cobra can reclaim them to rebuild their weather weapon.
G.I. Joe: The Pyramid of Darkness
The third miniseries installment of the G.I. Joe series originally debuted in its complete form during prime time and was later adapted to the more familiar five-part daily miniseries format for rebroadcast on syndicated television. The story centers on Cobra's attempts to build and maintain a new weapon (of the title) that will neutralize all electrical power in the Earth's Northern hemisphere. Four giant "control" cubes are to be placed at key locations around the globe. Once the Joes orbiting space station is seized, the cubes are activated and the pyramid is complete. The Joe force must battle Cobra to destroy the pyramid and find the terrorist organization's secret headquarters.
G.I. Joe: Arise, Serpentor, Arise!
The fourth miniseries dealt with Cobra's attempts to genetically engineer a new leader, Serpentor. In light of Cobra Commander's persistent failings to lead Cobra to world domination, Doctor Mindbender, influenced by a vivid dream, sends Cobra's forces to locations around the world to gather DNA from history's most famous and ruthless leaders. DNA samples are collected from the graves of such historical figures as Genghis Khan, Vlad the Impaler (aka Dracula), Sun Tzu, Alexander the Great, and Ivan the Terrible, among several others.
The final phase of the process is partially disrupted by Sgt. Slaughter, having been freed by Cobra Commander, who was resistant to the project from the start. The Joes fight Cobra around the globe, in an attempt to stop them from collecting the DNA samples. However, Mindbender completes the process, creating the ingenious but petulant and impatient Serpentor, who is installed as the ultimate leader of Cobra.
G.I. Joe Season 3
