Star Brigade
Encyclopedia
The Star Brigade is a fictional sub-team from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
toyline, comic books and cartoon series. With specialized space suits and accessories, these high-tech astronauts were designed to protect the universe from Cobra and the Lunartix Empire.
s created as opponents for the Star Brigade. They were first released as action figures in 1994 as part of the Star Brigade line. Recolored variants of all three characters were also released in Mexico
.
G.I. Joe series, the Star Brigade first appeared in issue #145. Star Brigade members Payload, Roadblock, Sci-Fi and Space Shot take the space shuttle USS Defiant
to deal with an asteroid threatening Earth. With the assistance of the latest version of the Oktober Guard, the Joes fight androids in the asteroid's interior. They learn the androids are Soviet worker drones, and an insane architect had pointed the asteroid at Earth. The Defiant and the Guard's craft are damaged, so the Joes cannibalize their craft to repair the other, and everyone makes it off safely in the other ship. The asteroid is safely destroyed, along with the remains of the Defiant.
The Lunartix Empire appeared in G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers: Black Horizon #1, published by Dreamwave Productions
. They are aboard a Lunartix space ship heading towards Earth until it is swallowed up by Unicron
, a Transformers
character who can transform himself into a mechanical planet.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
toyline, comic books and cartoon series. With specialized space suits and accessories, these high-tech astronauts were designed to protect the universe from Cobra and the Lunartix Empire.
Toys
All of the Star Brigade figures came with spring-loaded weapons, which actually fired the ammo that came with the figure. In some of the Armor-Tech figures, the spring-loaded weapon was part of the figure.1993
In 1993, Hasbro released new versions of the following figures, as part of the Star Brigade line:- Countdown - Countdown is the Star Brigade's combat astronaut.
- Ozone - Ozone is the Star Brigade's astro-infantry trooper. There were two different versions of Ozone released in 1993 with the same packaging.
- PayloadPayload (G.I. Joe)Payload is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's Defiant pilot and his figure debuted in 1987.-Profile:...
- Payload is the Star Brigade's astro-pilot. There were two different versions of Payload released in 1993 with different packaging. Publicity photos and the filecard art originally depicted Payload as being made of the same mold as the original Payload figure. However, Hasbro had apparently lost the mold, and used the mold for the Eco-Warriors BarbecueBarbecue (G.I. Joe)Barbecue is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's fire fighter and debuted in 1985.-Profile:His real name is Gabriel A. Kelly, and his rank is that of corporal E-4...
figure instead. This was reflected in the second versions' packaging and filecard art. - RoadblockRoadblock (G.I. Joe)Roadblock is a character from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toys, comics and cartoons. He is one of the most prominent African-Americans in the series. His primary function in G.I. Joe is as a heavy machine gunner and a secondary function as a cook.-Fictional character...
- Roadblock is the Star Brigade's space gunner. - Sci-FiSci-Fi (G.I. Joe)Sci-Fi is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's laser trooper and debuted in 1986.-Profile:His real name is Seymour P. Fine, and his rank is that of corporal E-4...
- Sci-Fi is the Star Brigade's Starfighter pilot. He was released with the "G.I. Joe Starfighter" space jet.
Armor-Tech
Due to their robotic spacesuits, the Armor-Tech figures had very limited articulation, and many of them shared the same torso, arms and legs.- DukeDuke (G.I. Joe)Duke is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 lines of military-themed toys. The character is featured in both the animated series and comic books. Duke is portrayed by actor Channing Tatum in the 2009 live-action film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of...
- Duke is the Star Brigade commander. Duke's arm is a spring-loaded missile launcher, which actually fired the two red missiles that came with the figure. - General HawkHawk (G.I. Joe)Hawk is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys. He appears in the animated series, comic books, toyline, and movie.-Profile:...
- General Hawk is the Armor-Tech commander. He was released as the pilot of the "G.I. Joe Armor Bot". - Heavy DutyHeavy Duty (G.I. Joe)Heavy Duty is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toy lines, comics and cartoons. Heavy Duty is the G.I. Joe Team's heavy ordnance specialist. He is described as being unafraid of any situation despite heavy enemy fire...
- Heavy Duty is the Star Brigade's heavy ordinance specialist. Heavy Duty's arm is a spring-loaded missile launcher, which actually fired the two black missiles that came with the figure. - Robo-J.O.E. - Robo-J.O.E. is the Star Brigade's jet-tech operations expert.
- Rock 'n RollRock 'n Roll (G.I. Joe)Rock 'n Roll is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy line, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's original machine gunner and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
- Rock 'n Roll is the Star Brigade's robo-gunner.
1994
In 1994, Hasbro released new versions of Duke and Sci-Fi as part of the Star Brigade line, along with repainted versions of Countdown, Ozone, Payload and Roadblock. In addition, the following characters were added to the Star Brigade team:- Effects - Effects is the Star Brigade's explosives expert.
- Gears - Gears is the Star Brigade's invention technician. He was released as the pilot of the "G.I. Joe Power Fighter".
- Space Shot - Space Shot is the Star Brigade's combat freighter pilot.
Enemies
- DestroDestroLaird James McCullen Destro XXIV, usually referred to simply as Destro, is a fictional villain from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys from Hasbro. He is portrayed by Christopher Eccleston in the 2009 live-action film, G.I...
- A new version of Destro was released in 1993 as part of the Star Brigade line, labeled as the Cobra-Tech commander. Like the Armor-Tech figures, Destro's robotic spacesuit had very limited articulation. Destro's arm is a spring-loaded missile launcher, which actually fired the two silver missiles that came with the figure. - Cobra B.A.A.T. - The B.A.A.T. is the Cobra Battle Armored Android Trooper. Like the Armor-Tech figures, the B.A.A.T.'s robotic spacesuit had very limited articulation.
- Astro Viper - A repainted version of the original Astro Viper, labeled as a "Cobranaut".
- T.A.R.G.A.T. - A repainted version of the original Iron Grenadiers T.A.R.G.A.T. (Trans Atmospheric Rapid Global Assault Trooper).
- Cobra CommanderCobra CommanderCobra Commander is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe franchise. He appears in the toyline, animated series , comic books, video games, and movie as the usual principal antagonist. He is the supreme leader of the terrorist organization Cobra, and archnemesis of the Joes...
- A new version of Cobra Commander was released in 1994 as part of the Star Brigade line, labeled as the "Cobra Supreme Leader". - Cobra Blackstar - Cobra Blackstars are Cobra's elite space pilots.
- Techno-Viper - A repainted version of the original Techno-Viper, packaged with the "Cobra Power Fighter".
Vehicles
- G.I. Joe Armor Bot - First released in 1993, packaged with the General HawkHawk (G.I. Joe)Hawk is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys. He appears in the animated series, comic books, toyline, and movie.-Profile:...
Armor-Tech figure. - G.I. Joe Starfighter - First released in 1993, packaged with the pilot Sci-FiSci-Fi (G.I. Joe)Sci-Fi is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's laser trooper and debuted in 1986.-Profile:His real name is Seymour P. Fine, and his rank is that of corporal E-4...
. A repaint of the Cobra Stellar Stiletto. - Cobra Invader - First released in 1993. A repaint of the Cobra Pogo (Ballistic Battle Ball).
- Power Fighters - Released in 1994, the "G.I. Joe Power Fighter" came packaged with the pilot Gears, while the "Cobra Power Fighter" came packaged with the Star Brigade Techno-Viper.
Lunartix Empire
The Lunartix Empire are fictional alienExtraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
s created as opponents for the Star Brigade. They were first released as action figures in 1994 as part of the Star Brigade line. Recolored variants of all three characters were also released in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Carcass
He is the Lunartix alien destroyer. His primary military specialty is mercenary hunter. His secondary military specialty is planetary/alien destruction. His birthplace is Quadrant 4, planet Mirtonia. He tends to destroy everything in sight. He is considered ugly by the other aliens.Lobotomaxx
He is the Lunartix stellar explorer. His primary military specialty is bounty hunter. His secondary military specialty is alien annihilator. His birthplace is Morus Sector 5, planet Zog.Predacon
Predacon is a four-armed alien who is the Lunartix alien bounty hunter. His primary military specialty is alien tracking. His secondary military specialty is arm wrestler. His birthplace is The Badlands, planet Trilenium.Comics
In the Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
G.I. Joe series, the Star Brigade first appeared in issue #145. Star Brigade members Payload, Roadblock, Sci-Fi and Space Shot take the space shuttle USS Defiant
Defiant (G.I. Joe)
The Defiant is a fictional space shuttle complex vehicle and station from the G.I. Joe series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, line of toys, comics and cartoons.-Toys:...
to deal with an asteroid threatening Earth. With the assistance of the latest version of the Oktober Guard, the Joes fight androids in the asteroid's interior. They learn the androids are Soviet worker drones, and an insane architect had pointed the asteroid at Earth. The Defiant and the Guard's craft are damaged, so the Joes cannibalize their craft to repair the other, and everyone makes it off safely in the other ship. The asteroid is safely destroyed, along with the remains of the Defiant.
The Lunartix Empire appeared in G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers: Black Horizon #1, published by Dreamwave Productions
Dreamwave Productions
Dreamwave Productions was a Canadian art design studio and comic book publisher founded in 1996 and is best known for their multiple Transformers comic book series...
. They are aboard a Lunartix space ship heading towards Earth until it is swallowed up by Unicron
Unicron
Unicron is a fictional character from the Transformers universe and toyline. Created by Floro Dery, he was introduced in the 1986 animated film The Transformers: The Movie as the film's main antagonist. Unicron is a prodigiously large robot whose scale reaches planetary proportions, and he is also...
, a Transformers
Transformers
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another by magnetic coupling.Transformer may also refer to:* ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, an Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet computer manufacturer by Asus...
character who can transform himself into a mechanical planet.
External links
- Character Guide at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page
- Star Brigade on Joepedia, an external wiki