Battleforce 2000

Battleforce 2000
Type	Action Figures
Company	Hasbro
Country	United States
Availability	1987–1989

Battleforce 2000 is a fictional sub-team from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline and comic books. First released in late 1987 (with a final vehicle and member released in 1989), they represent a hi-tech unit of the Joes using experimental weaponry under battlefield conditions.

Toys

The toy line was made up of 7 action figures, with the 6 from 1987 being packaged in both single and 2-packs. All but one of the characters was assigned as the primary driver of a hi-tech vehicle, which was sold separately.^[1] Dodger was repainted and released as part of the Sonic Fighters line in 1990.^[2]

A part of 6 of the vehicles can combine together to form into a small hi-tech fortress called the Future Fortress,^[3] which consisted of secondary parts that merely rested next ot one another, with no interlocking pieces.^[4] Most of the vehicles have a white, silver, grey and dark blue color scheme. An exception to this is the Pulverizer, the 1989 addition to the series, which does not have a piece that can combine with the fortress.^[5]

Characters

• Avalanche - Sgt. Ian M. Costello is the G.I. Joe team's cold weather specialist who drives the "Dominator" vehicle. It's said that he was a poacher when young. He is KIA in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #113 while maneuvering through an oil field, when it is bombed by Cobra Commander.
• Blaster - Sgt. Brian R. Davis is the G.I. Joe team's ground effect vehicle operator who operates the "Vindicator" hovercraft. He loves to design hovercrafts, and is a fan of loud rock and roll music. He is KIA in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #113 while maneuvering through an oil field, when it is bombed by Cobra Commander.
• Blocker - Sgt. David B. McCarthy is the G.I. Joe team's driver of the "Eliminator" vehicle. He grew tired of being a cab driver, and so joined the army, saying it was "safer". He is KIA in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #113 while maneuvering through an oil field, when it is bombed by Cobra Commander.
• Dodger - Sgt. 1st. class Richard Renwick is the G.I. Joe team's maintenance expert, and operator of the "Marauder" vehicle. Known to cook for the team, and for having a knack for holographic systems, Dodger is the only survivor of the incident that killed the other members of Battleforce 2000. He is now a transportation specialist and member of the Sonic Fighters.
• Knockdown - Sgt. Blain M. Gonsalves is the G.I. Joe team's electronic detection systems expert. He is the operator of the "Sky-Sweeper" vehicle, and radar-tracking systems master repairman. He is KIA in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #113 while maneuvering through an oil field, when it is bombed by Cobra Commander.
• Maverick - U.S.A.F. Capt. Thomas P. Kiley is the G.I. Joe team's pilot of the "Vector" aircraft. He graduated top of his class, just because he volunteered himself in every experimental aircraft project he could. He is KIA in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #113 while maneuvering through an oil field, when it is bombed by Cobra Commander.
• Dee-Jay - Spc. Thomas R. Rossi III is the G.I. Joe team's communications expert. He is a former Disk Jockey (hence his code name), and the only member without an assigned vehicle. Dee-Jay is a late addition to the team when KIA in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #113, he dies while maneuvering through an oil field, when it is bombed by Cobra Commander.

Vehicles

First released in 1987, each of these highly-advanced attack units was meant to be driven/piloted by a member of Battleforce 2000 (sold separately), and the first six vehicles combined to form "the most indestructible stronghold in the entire G.I. Joe arsenal...the BF 2000 Future Fortress!"^[6]

• Dominator - A tank that was specially designed for use in freezing weather conditions. Driven by Avalanche.
• Eliminator - A 4WD jeep-like assault vehicle. Driven by Blocker.
• Marauder - A hi-tech battle cycle and tank. Driven by Dodger.
• Sky-Sweeper - A mobile anti-aircraft platform. Driven by Knockdown.
• Vector - A VTOL jet fighter. The Vector was once stolen by Cobra forces, but retrieved with civilian help. Piloted by Maverick.
• Vindicator - An advanced hovercraft. Piloted by Blaster.
• Pulverizer - A mobile laser cannon platform, first released in 1989.^[7] It is the only vehicle with no primary designated operator, though it is implied Dee-Jay is the operator.

Comics

Battleforce 2000 first appeared in G.I. Joe #68, as a testing and research unit assigned in the fictional country of Frusenland. A team of Joes, which included Duke, Iceberg, Cover Girl and Back-Stop are dropped in to provide security for the team. However, Battleforce 2000 is the one that saves the other Joes from certain death. This comes after the team discovers the local Terrordromes are emitting anger inducing rays; all were destroyed by the Battleforce team.^[8] The group would continue to operate together and separately.

Maverick gets some time away from the team one issue later. He is teamed with Wild Bill and Crazylegs during a mission in Rio Vista, the capital of war-torn Sierra Gordo, yet another fictional country. Several Dreadnoks appear, and Monkeywrench, Zarana and Thrasher take many civilians hostage, in order to ensure the help of Maverick and the other joes in escaping. In the end, though, the two groups teamed up, rescuing each other and helping the civilians reach safety.^[9]

Maverick also appears in G.I. Joe Special Missions #16. After playing ping pong with Wild Bill, they and the other Joe pilots scramble for a recon mission over Cobra Island. The pilots engage several Cobra aircraft in a dogfight and win handily.^[10] Avalanche is featured four issues later, he works with Frostbite, Snow Job and the Oktober Guard to destroy Cobra influence in the Bering Strait.^[11]

Later, Battleforce 2000 is a minor part of the invading force assisting Serpentor during the Cobra Civil War.^[12] They team up with Mutt to spy on the town of Broca Beach, suspected of being a Cobra stronghold. The group comes into conflict with the Dreadnoks.^[13]

When Hasbro gave permission to writer Larry Hama to kill off Joes no longer circulated in the toylines, Battleforce 2000 was chosen, along with other Joes. It finally happened in G.I. Joe #113, during a major battle in the war of liberating another fictional country, Benzheen, which was occupied by Cobra. The country's emir was more concerned of his oil stocks, he negotiated with Cobra Commander not to shell artillery on Battleforce 2000, who were reinforcing Joes trapped in another battle. Cobra Commander immediately reneges on the agreement and orders shelling on Battleforce 2000. As explained later, the Emir simply had not offered Cobra Commander enough money.

Dee-Jay first appeared here and dies; artistically, his body is shown untouched from the chest up. Dodger is the only survivor of the incident. He shows up to continue the Battleforce's mission, to rescue other Joes that had been pinned by Cobra fire. Dodger works with other teams and successfully kills the Cobra soldiers that had been threatening the initial team.^[14]

The rest of the team is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, along with other Joe members who perished in Benzheen and all other Joes who have perished over the years, such as Mangler and General Flagg.

References

1. ^ Santelmo, Vincent (1994). The Official 30th Anniversary Salute To G.I. Joe 1964-1994. Krause Publications. p. 116. ISBN 0-87341-301-6. 
2. ^ Santelmo, Vincent (1994). The Official 30th Anniversary Salute To G.I. Joe 1964-1994. Krause Publications. p. 133. ISBN 0-87341-301-6. 
3. ^ Santelmo, Vincent (1994). The Official 30th Anniversary Salute To G.I. Joe 1964-1994. Krause Publications. p. 121. ISBN 0-87341-301-6. 
4. ^ Bellomo, Mark (2005). The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994. Krause Publications. p. 104. ISBN 9780896899223. 
5. ^ Santelmo, Vincent (1994). The Official 30th Anniversary Salute To G.I. Joe 1964-1994. Krause Publications. p. 125. ISBN 0-87341-301-6. 
6. ^ Bellomo, Mark (2005). The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994. Krause Publications. p. 101. ISBN 9780896899223. 
7. ^ Bellomo, Mark (2005). The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994. Krause Publications. p. 149. ISBN 9780896899223. 
8. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #68
9. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #69
10. ^ G.I. Joe Special Missions #16
11. ^ G.I. Joe Special Missions #20
12. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #75
13. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #81
14. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #113

External links

• Battle Force 2000 on Joepedia, an external wiki
• Battle Force 2000 at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page
• Battleforce 2000 at YOJOE.com