G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 is a line of military-themed action figures and toys that appeared in the fall of 2005. The toyline is produced by Hasbro and continues the theme and characters established by A Real American Hero. It is also an animated series produced by the Japanese animation studio GONZO, currently airing on 4Kids TV and G4, and will start airing on YTV in the fall of 2006. It also has a 6-issue comic series published by Devil's Due Productions.
The Sigma 6 toyline served Hasbro several purposes. First, it allowed them to depart from the classic 3 ¾-inch format of the A Real American Hero series. All Sigma 6 action figures stand at approximately 8 inches and have more articulation. Second, the new series offered them the chance to streamline the storyline and characters for a new audience. It is hoped that Sigma 6 would follow in the success Hasbro had with Armada and their hope is a multimedia revival of G.I. Joe.
After a major attack by Cobra on the G.I. Joe Team's headquarters, the Joes are forced to retaliate. This time, they are equipped with Sigma suits. Designed by Hi-Tech, these special body suits protect the Joes from Cobra's laser blasts and, in addition, enhance their abilities. The Joes are now code named Sigma 6.
Just as he was in the first season of the Sunbow G.I. Joe series, Duke is clearly designated as the G.I. Joe commander. He is also recast as a much younger man, someone who appears to have just come to his 30s than a man going to his 40s. Scarlett, always been a major character, had her position in the team upgraded to second command after Duke. Like Duke, she has been aged younger for the series though their youth may be attributed to the fact that the artwork is done in an anime style. She is however still the team's counterintelligence specialist. Tunnel Rat’s appearance and personality varied greatly from his appearance in A Real American Hero series. Here, he is a bug-eating, unorthodox infiltration and demolitions expert. Heavy Duty seems to have retained his personality from Spy Troops and Valor vs. Venom, serving as the team's weapons expert. Added to the team is tracker, Spirit Iron-Knife, and his falcon Billy, who retains his strong mystic and shamanist personality, as well as the team sniper and transportation specialist Long Range. Hi-Tech serves as the team's technician, mechanic, etc. Jinx, Kamakura and Snake-Eyes function as the team's ninja team. Snake-Eyes has remained the silent deadly ninja commando with Jinx and Kamakura as his students. Hawk was last seen in a healthy state at the end of Valor vs. Venom but his appearance in Sigma 6 indicates otherwise. He is seen in a hospital where Duke visited him.
The changes are not limited to the Joe Team. Cobra Commander had his appearance greatly overhauled and, likewise, his personality. No longer comical, he is now a more deadly adversary, closer to his standard portrayal in the comics, however he has retained his cartoon counterpart's love of grandiose schemes. Destro is now more clearly aligned with Cobra and together with the Commander and the Baroness, they truly form the Cobra Triumvirate. Meanwhile, Overkill is upgraded from a lowly lab assistant to a scheming cybernetic chief scientist who is stuck inside a giant glass tube. Zartan remains Cobra's master of disguise, however his shapeshifting and stealth abilities are due to his suit rather then skill and genetic enhancements as in A Real American Hero. The Dreadnoks are now Torch, Buzzer and Machete, a new character. Storm Shadow serves as Cobra's ninja, however seems more inclined to work with Cobra B.A.T.s leading the Ninja B.A.T.s into battle. This differs from his original portayal in Real American Hero as he's always had more faith in a well trained human as opposed to machines.
Sigma 6 also has recurring man vs. machine theme. Cobra’s forces are often seen to be primarily composed of the Battle Android Troopers or BATs while the members of the Cobra Triumvirate all possess some form of cybernetic enhancement or enhanced armored suits, with normal troopers wearing full armored uniforms.
Animated television series | G.I. Joe | Anime series | Hasbro products | 2000s TV shows in the United States | Fox network shows
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"G.I. Joe: Sigma 6".
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