Paramount Needs to Take Notes from Skybound’s G.I. Joe and Transformers Success

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The most prominent franchise from Hasbro has been thriving since 1984, with its influence spreading far and wide. During this time, a fresh adaptation of a beloved title was introduced – Hasbro’s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero embarked on numerous missions to safeguard freedom across lands, seas, and skies. Regrettably, both brands have experienced a decline in their screen presence, particularly G.I. Joe, but an alternative platform offers a fertile ground for these stories.

G.I. Joe and Transformers have enjoyed significant popularity in comic book publications, whether during the classic Marvel Comics period or the current Energon Universe under Skybound. The success is evident in their successful Kickstarter campaigns for their classic comic book collections, with Transformers experiencing this level of success more recently. Given that the movies have struggled to convey the essence of G.I. Joe and the Autobots, it’s highly recommended to explore what has proven effective rather than continuing attempts to re-invent the wheel.

Marvel and Skybound’s Hasbro Comic Books are Classic and Modern Hits

In the 1980s, Marvel Comics released popular titles for Transformers and G.I. Joe. This move was strategic because Marvel Entertainment was already associated with both properties, although they each had their unique storylines. Marvel’s skilled writers, such as Denny O’Neil, significantly shaped the identity of these franchises. Notably, Denny O’Neil is known for naming Optimus Prime, the Autobot leader.

Despite being potential “children’s books,” these monthly comics soared to unprecedented heights for licensed comic titles. For instance, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero boasted a larger subscriber base than many other comics at the time, showcasing its immense popularity. It’s worth noting that during this period, Marvel Cinematic Universe heavyweights like the Avengers were relatively unknown, while X-Men and Spider-Man ruled as Marvel’s top characters. These comic books date back several decades, but the fame of both properties remains relevant today.

The universe created by Skybound has ingeniously blended the worlds of G.I. Joe and Transformers in an unforeseen manner. Instead of launching Transformers, as one might expect, they utilized it to spawn four miniseries inspired by G.I. Joe characters. These eventually merged into the current series, “Codename: G.I. Joe,” which can be found on shelves alongside Larry Hama’s separate work, “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero,” which carries on the story from the Marvel continuity.

Moreover, the Kickstarter initiatives to publish new anthologies for iconic Marvel comics have shattered records. The latest one, just launched, surpassed its $40,000 target funding tenfold within mere half an hour. It’s evident that there’s something special about these versions that captivates fans, yet this charm seems to have eluded the live-action films from Paramount.

Previous Transformers and G.I. Joe Movies Failed to Adapt Their Best Stories

It appears that the Transformers and G.I. Joe film adaptations, particularly the latter, did not win over many viewers. However, the Transformers series managed to be financially successful until its repetitive formula started feeling stale. A major criticism was that the original characters were drastically altered, with the filmmakers and studios primarily interested in exploiting a well-known brand. This was particularly evident in Michael Bay’s Transformers films, where many of the robots in disguise bore little to no resemblance to their previous versions.

Many followers found it disappointing that, despite being part of the “A Real American Hero” franchise, the G.I. Joe team was transformed into an international group in the movies. Instead of focusing on character development and plot, the films prioritized spectacle, which left little about the original mythos that was endearing or intriguing. This is particularly noticeable when compared to how even casual moviegoers were captivated by the mythos in (up until more recent Marvel movies came out). As a result, the big-screen adaptations of G.I. Joe and Transformers fell short in comparison.

In essence, the big-screen portrayal of G.I. Joe has not fared well, with the 2021 prequel Snake Eyes receiving poor reviews and underperforming financially. The primary problems with these films lie in their dual roles as standalone movies and adaptations from the original source material. The alterations made to the source material are not substantial enough to warrant them or enable the films to thrive independently on their own merits. From the viewpoint of fans, the wealth of source material suitable for adaptation merely exacerbates these attempts, as the blueprint is essentially already in place.

It’s not shocking that the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises have often been overlooked by studios and filmmakers, given their perceived lack of importance. However, the thriving Energon Universe and successful Kickstarter campaigns demonstrate a strong narrative value in these franchises. Fans aren’t just reading these stories because they’re corporate-backed; instead, they genuinely appreciate the narratives and characters, which is why focusing on storylines similar to those found in these comic books seems like the most effective way to ensure long-term success for both Transformers and G.I. Joe.

How the Energon Universe Can Be Paramount’s Next Big Hit

At present, it appears that the future for Transformers and G.I. Joe on large screens isn’t particularly promising, especially for the latter. The once-popular robots in disguise have suffered significant damage to their reputation, as even a well-received movie was a financial failure. This complete audience rejection occurred with minimal competition, suggesting that the brand might have been overlooked by viewers. While part of this could be due to its animated form, it’s also important to note that interest has waned since 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight, which was Michael Bay’s final directorial entry in the series.

Previously, things didn’t go as planned, with the latest Transformers series, EarthSpark, stirring up some debate. On the brighter side, G.I. Joe is currently facing a tougher situation, mainly existing as toys and comic books. A G.I. Joe animated series hasn’t been seen for over a decade, and its relevance was minimal until the Energon Universe sparked renewed interest. Nevertheless, Hollywood has a reputation for not sitting idle on established properties, so new movie adaptations of both are bound to happen eventually. To make these successful, Paramount should capitalize on what’s been effective in the comics and translate those elements into other formats.

In simpler terms, the Energon Universe has a winning recipe for the success of Transformers and G.I. Joe, even surpassing the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s achievements. This is achieved by blending movie and TV show elements. For example, adapting a series like “Void Rivals” for television could be a significant triumph for Paramount+, given its intriguing space-based sci-fi narrative that expands beyond the Star Trek franchise. Following this, a new Transformers movie series might commence several years later, drawing inspiration from the comics but only loosely connecting to the events of “Void Rivals.

In simpler terms, this storyline will be easy to understand even if you haven’t watched “Void Rivals”. This is a challenge often faced by shared universes, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). While the MCU has been quite popular, some recent shows didn’t live up to expectations and are perceived as contributing to its decline. The problem is that these shows were sometimes essential for the movies, making the overall storyline complex and somewhat hard to follow.

Moving forward, it’s possible that the Paramount+ miniseries could reimagine the Energon Universe minis for the G.I. Joe characters, including the Dreadnoks. These adaptations should be able to function independently while still fitting within the same universe. This approach is also likely to be used in future projects. If the shows prove popular and Transformers regains its status as a successful movie franchise, a Codename: G.I. Joe movie could further develop and unite the characters introduced on Paramount+.

In this approach, it resembles the initial triumph of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as it would establish a clear narrative arc that unfolds over time, similar to how the Avengers were formed in the MCU. The streaming era provides an excellent platform to generate momentum and audience engagement like the Marvel Universe did. Each separate movie or TV series could stand alone yet be interconnected, allowing fans to follow whichever they are most interested in. To draw inspiration, a Paramount reboot for Transformers and G.I. Joe should delve into the Marvel comics for ideas.

The Marvel Transformers comics delved deeper into less prominent characters from the classic G1 cartoon, such as the strategic Decepticon Shockwave and even Starscream, who was portrayed as more than just a fawning traitor; in one storyline, he gained cosmic powers. Characters like Headmasters, Targetmasters, and Powermasters (which were either briefly mentioned or skipped over in the cartoon) played a significant role in the comics. Similarly, Optimus Prime, the central figure of the franchise, was further developed, as well as his brother Primus, who is depicted as a god and whose alternate mode is Cybertron itself, both of which were introduced in the comic series.

These comics play a significant role in shaping the characters of G.I. Joe, particularly for minor characters like Chuckles, Tunnel Rat, and Snake Eyes. They offer deeper, layered depictions beyond the typical action hero stereotype, as compared to the animated series. Unfortunately, these aspects may continue to be overlooked if we don’t consider the comics’ impact more carefully, especially for Hasbro’s other major brands.

In this new portrayal, Cobra Commander transitioned from a stereotypical, maniacal would-be ruler to a complex character with a tragic backstory, yet he remained undeniably wicked. The introduction of character deaths, including those of significant antagonists, significantly escalated the tension compared to the animated series. Additionally, by reducing the number of far-fetched sci-fi elements and either dismissing or reimagining concepts like Cobra-La, the story became more grounded and engaging.

The enduring popularity of Skybound Entertainment’s G.I. Joe series today is no accident, and any new movie adaptation must show great respect for the source material compared to previous versions. Given the strong sales of the comic books, it’s evident that fans are dedicated to well-executed entries in these franchises. The question now is whether Paramount will recognize this and strive to bring this material to life in a way that appeals to a broader audience.

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2025-04-19 06:12