Overkill (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
Overkill is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
toyline from Hasbro
, which has spawned comics and cartoon series. He first appeared in the 1989 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
incarnation of the series. He also appears in G.I. Joe: Sigma 6
.
The first Overkill was an experimental prototype of the B.A.T. with an advanced computer system and tactical logic programs but was considered by Cobra as too expensive to move to mass production. Despite being a soulless automaton, this Overkill is frequently referred to as a "he".
The second version appeared in 2003 as part of the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra
series. This is the version that more recent fans are familiar with. This Overkill is a cyborg, which is half-man and half-machine. The file card spells his name as "Over Kill" rather than one word although news releases and the credits in Valor vs. Venom
spelled it as "Overkill".
G.I. Joe comics and was revealed to be Robert Skelton, the infamous SAW Viper from the Marvel Comics, who had killed a number of Joes, including the Joes' medical officer Doc
, the tank driver Heavy Metal
, and the A.W.E. Striker driver Crankcase
. Skelton is recruited by Serpentor
and his new organization, the Coil
. This is after ten men are sent to bring him in, he kills four.
He chooses the name Overkill, in reference to his impressive body count. He participates in the battle against the Joes and Cobra on Cobra Island
and fights with General Hawk
, and would have killed him had Kamakura
not intervened and saved Hawk. Wounded, Overkill made his way onto a submarine with an escaping Cobra Commander and collapses, expressing the desire for power.
He was experimented on by Cobra scientists and given his own mobile targeting system and robotic implants (including cutting off his hand for an implant). He did battle with the Joes in Badhikstan and proved to be a formidable opponent before being defeated by Snake-Eyes, he begged Snake-Eyes to kill him, as he did not want to live like this, but Snake-Eyes refused to and Overkill was last seen lying in the desert.
He was later a patient at a Cobra facility raided by Torpedo, Wet-Suit, and a group of Navy SEALs.
He was killed in the America's Elite series, during Tomax's raid on The Coffin, a prison run by G.I. Joe.
version of Overkill also has a comic appearance, in GI Joe: Sigma 6 #3 also from Devil's Due
. In the Sigma 6 comics, each issue featured one or two Joes paired up against a Cobra character. Overkill's Joe opponent was Tunnel Rat. The storyline has Tunnel Rat alone in the Arctic without his Sigma suit having to try and stop Overkill and his army of B.A.T.s. A preview of the comic is available at the Devil's Due minisite for the Sigma 6 comics.
-produced G.I. Joe
animated series. Here he appeared to be fully robotic, and his appearance was that of his first action figure. His key episode in this series is "The Eliminator", in which he receives an upgrade via the Eliminator chip, which makes him stronger, faster and smarter. This puts him in Cobra Commander's good graces.
Other DiC appearances include:
by Reel FX, now clearly a half-human and half-machine cyborg version, with a variety of robotic appendages and a tendency to repeat the end of his sentences in a manic tone of voice. He serves Cobra as Doctor Mindbender
's lab assistant and BAT commander. Overkill looks down upon "organics", and believes he and his BATs are better candidates to rule the world. In a series of fortuitous circumstances, he makes an alliance with "Venomous Maximus", a mutated and brainwashed General Hawk
. Together, they attempted to remove Cobra Commander
from power, and control Cobra themselves. The Joes are able to turn Maximus back into Hawk, and the Cobra base begins to explode around Overkill, who IS seemingly crushed in the ensuing explosion. However, following the credits, Overkill's robotic hand rises up on the screen. This has been theorized as a preview of the abandoned Robot Revolution line rumored to be following Valor vs. Venom.
, he is now inside a rejuvenation tank and wearing new armor, appearing far more robotic than when he last appeared. He is also revamped from a monotonous automaton lab assistant to Cobra's chief scientist. He is smarter and more devious, with a free will of his own.
Overkill is still attempting to overthrow Cobra Commander with his new B.A.T.s, this time in secret, and has a new more powerful BAT called Overlord Vector, which he uses to kidnap General Hawk's son, Scott. Overkill believed Scott had hacked into Cobra's computers, and possessed a formula which would allow his B.A.T.s to evolve as they fought. His kidnapping of Scott ultimately led the Joes to Cobra's underwater headquarters. However, when Overkill scanned Scott's mind, he found that his discovery was just pure dumb luck. Overkill fled as Snake-Eyes battled his creation, Overlord Vector. Overkill managed to escape, and still resides in his tank inside his lab in the underground Cobra base, now planning to get hold of the power stones sought by the Joes and Cobra, to launch his Robot Revolution. With the foiling of Cobra's power stones plot, Overkill has apparently given up that quest.
During the second season of the cartoon, Overkill is finally able to create himself a body, and is removed from his healing tank.
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 from Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
, which has spawned comics and cartoon series. He first appeared in the 1989 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1989 TV series)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a half-hour American animated television series based on the successful toyline from Hasbro and the comic book series from Marvel Comics. The series was produced by DIC Entertainment and ran from 1989 to 1991....
incarnation of the series. He also appears in G.I. Joe: Sigma 6
G.I. Joe: Sigma 6
G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 is a line of military-themed action figures and toys produced by Hasbro, re-imagining the characters of the 1980s toyline, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.The Sigma 6 toy line served several purposes for Hasbro...
.
History
If the file cards that came with the Overkill action figures are to be believed, there are actually two different characters that owned the name Overkill. Both versions of the character are the leader of the B.A.T.s (short for Battle Android Troopers) that are controlled by the ruthless Cobra Organization.The first Overkill was an experimental prototype of the B.A.T. with an advanced computer system and tactical logic programs but was considered by Cobra as too expensive to move to mass production. Despite being a soulless automaton, this Overkill is frequently referred to as a "he".
The second version appeared in 2003 as part of the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra
G.I. Joe vs. Cobra
G.I. Joe vs. Cobra is the G.I. Joe toy line series that ran from 2002 to 2005. The toy line was produced by Hasbro.-Overview:The series represented the first major relaunch of the G.I. Joe franchise since 1996’s G.I. Joe Extreme. Story and theme-wise, it was a continuation of the G.I. Joe: A Real...
series. This is the version that more recent fans are familiar with. This Overkill is a cyborg, which is half-man and half-machine. The file card spells his name as "Over Kill" rather than one word although news releases and the credits in Valor vs. Venom
G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom
G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom is a direct-to-video CGI animated movie and sequel to G.I. Joe: Spy Troops. It was released in 2004 by Reel FX Creative Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Like Spy Troops, the film was written around the theme of the toys released that year. In this case, it...
spelled it as "Overkill".
Real American Hero - Devil's Due
Overkill made his first comic appearance in the Devil's DueDevil's Due Publishing
Devil's Due Publishing is an independent comic book publishers in the United States. Based in Chicago, Illinois, DDP is best known for its wide selection of genres, including licensed and original creator-owned properties that populate its monthly comic book series and graphic novels.Though...
G.I. Joe comics and was revealed to be Robert Skelton, the infamous SAW Viper from the Marvel Comics, who had killed a number of Joes, including the Joes' medical officer Doc
Doc (G.I. Joe)
Doc is the code name of two fictional characters from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic book and cartoon series....
, the tank driver Heavy Metal
Heavy Metal (G.I. Joe)
Heavy Metal 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 Mauler M.B.T. tank driver and debuted in 1985.-Profile:...
, and the A.W.E. Striker driver Crankcase
Crankcase (G.I. Joe)
Crankcase 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 A.W.E. Striker driver and debuted in 1985.-Profile:...
. Skelton is recruited by Serpentor
Serpentor
Serpentor is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. The character was introduced in 1986 as a toy with an air chariot and included in the animated series that same year.-Toys:...
and his new organization, the Coil
The Coil
The Coil is an offshoot of the terrorist faction Cobra, formed either by Cobra Commander or Serpentor, in the fictional G.I. Joe universe.-Origins:...
. This is after ten men are sent to bring him in, he kills four.
He chooses the name Overkill, in reference to his impressive body count. He participates in the battle against the Joes and Cobra on Cobra Island
Cobra Island
Cobra Island is a fictional country located in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the main base of operations for the fictional Cobra Organization featured in the G.I. Joe toyline from the 1980s. It is featured in the G.I. Joe cartoon and the comic book series created by Marvel Comics and Devil's Due...
and fights with General Hawk
Hawk (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:...
, and would have killed him had Kamakura
Kamakura (G.I. Joe)
Kamakura is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. He is the first character created by Devil's Due Publishing to be made into a G.I. Joe figure and later brought into the new animated series.-Fictional Character...
not intervened and saved Hawk. Wounded, Overkill made his way onto a submarine with an escaping Cobra Commander and collapses, expressing the desire for power.
He was experimented on by Cobra scientists and given his own mobile targeting system and robotic implants (including cutting off his hand for an implant). He did battle with the Joes in Badhikstan and proved to be a formidable opponent before being defeated by Snake-Eyes, he begged Snake-Eyes to kill him, as he did not want to live like this, but Snake-Eyes refused to and Overkill was last seen lying in the desert.
He was later a patient at a Cobra facility raided by Torpedo, Wet-Suit, and a group of Navy SEALs.
He was killed in the America's Elite series, during Tomax's raid on The Coffin, a prison run by G.I. Joe.
Sigma Six - Devils Due
The G.I. Joe: Sigma 6G.I. Joe: Sigma 6
G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 is a line of military-themed action figures and toys produced by Hasbro, re-imagining the characters of the 1980s toyline, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.The Sigma 6 toy line served several purposes for Hasbro...
version of Overkill also has a comic appearance, in GI Joe: Sigma 6 #3 also from Devil's Due
Devil's Due Publishing
Devil's Due Publishing is an independent comic book publishers in the United States. Based in Chicago, Illinois, DDP is best known for its wide selection of genres, including licensed and original creator-owned properties that populate its monthly comic book series and graphic novels.Though...
. In the Sigma 6 comics, each issue featured one or two Joes paired up against a Cobra character. Overkill's Joe opponent was Tunnel Rat. The storyline has Tunnel Rat alone in the Arctic without his Sigma suit having to try and stop Overkill and his army of B.A.T.s. A preview of the comic is available at the Devil's Due minisite for the Sigma 6 comics.
Toys
Overkill was first released as an action figure in 1991, as part of the Talking Battle Commanders line.DiC Cartoon
Overkill made his first animated appearance in the DiCDiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
-produced G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1989 TV series)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a half-hour American animated television series based on the successful toyline from Hasbro and the comic book series from Marvel Comics. The series was produced by DIC Entertainment and ran from 1989 to 1991....
animated series. Here he appeared to be fully robotic, and his appearance was that of his first action figure. His key episode in this series is "The Eliminator", in which he receives an upgrade via the Eliminator chip, which makes him stronger, faster and smarter. This puts him in Cobra Commander's good graces.
Other DiC appearances include:
- "The Sword" -- where he's sent by Cobra Commander to retrieve the Sword of Destiny from Night Creeper LeaderNight CreepersThe Night Creepers are a syndicate of hi-tech ninjas/corporate mercenaries hired by Cobra as spies and assassins.-Profile:The Night Creepers are Swiss bankers who have been highly trained in martial arts, and equipped with cutting-edge technology. These "corporate ninja" mercenaries handles Cobra's...
(who, naturally enough, wants it for himself). - "El Dorado: The Lost City of Gold" -- where he's possessed by the spirit of Commander Fernando Luiz Jorge Pizarro, cousin to the explorer Francisco PizarroFrancisco PizarroFrancisco Pizarro González, Marquess was a Spanish conquistador, conqueror of the Incan Empire, and founder of Lima, the modern-day capital of the Republic of Peru.-Early life:...
. - "Kindergarten Commandos" -- Overkill shows up to help Cobra Commander fight off the forces of six small children and the G.I. Joe MercerMercer (G.I. Joe)Mercer is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is a member of the G.I. Joe team as one of Sgt. Slaughter's Renegades and debuted in 1987.-Profile:...
. His appearance in this episode is relatively minor. - "Keyboard Warriors" -- Another minor appearance.
Valor vs. Venom
Overkill returned in the CGI movie G.I. Joe: Valor vs. VenomG.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom
G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom is a direct-to-video CGI animated movie and sequel to G.I. Joe: Spy Troops. It was released in 2004 by Reel FX Creative Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Like Spy Troops, the film was written around the theme of the toys released that year. In this case, it...
by Reel FX, now clearly a half-human and half-machine cyborg version, with a variety of robotic appendages and a tendency to repeat the end of his sentences in a manic tone of voice. He serves Cobra as Doctor Mindbender
Doctor Mindbender
Dr. Mindbender is a fictional character from the 1980s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comics, and animated series. He is a scientist who works for the fictional terrorist organization Cobra.-Profile:...
's lab assistant and BAT commander. Overkill looks down upon "organics", and believes he and his BATs are better candidates to rule the world. In a series of fortuitous circumstances, he makes an alliance with "Venomous Maximus", a mutated and brainwashed General Hawk
Hawk (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:...
. Together, they attempted to remove Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander
Cobra 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...
from power, and control Cobra themselves. The Joes are able to turn Maximus back into Hawk, and the Cobra base begins to explode around Overkill, who IS seemingly crushed in the ensuing explosion. However, following the credits, Overkill's robotic hand rises up on the screen. This has been theorized as a preview of the abandoned Robot Revolution line rumored to be following Valor vs. Venom.
Sigma 6
Overkill returns in G.I. Joe: Sigma 6G.I. Joe: Sigma 6
G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 is a line of military-themed action figures and toys produced by Hasbro, re-imagining the characters of the 1980s toyline, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.The Sigma 6 toy line served several purposes for Hasbro...
, he is now inside a rejuvenation tank and wearing new armor, appearing far more robotic than when he last appeared. He is also revamped from a monotonous automaton lab assistant to Cobra's chief scientist. He is smarter and more devious, with a free will of his own.
Overkill is still attempting to overthrow Cobra Commander with his new B.A.T.s, this time in secret, and has a new more powerful BAT called Overlord Vector, which he uses to kidnap General Hawk's son, Scott. Overkill believed Scott had hacked into Cobra's computers, and possessed a formula which would allow his B.A.T.s to evolve as they fought. His kidnapping of Scott ultimately led the Joes to Cobra's underwater headquarters. However, when Overkill scanned Scott's mind, he found that his discovery was just pure dumb luck. Overkill fled as Snake-Eyes battled his creation, Overlord Vector. Overkill managed to escape, and still resides in his tank inside his lab in the underground Cobra base, now planning to get hold of the power stones sought by the Joes and Cobra, to launch his Robot Revolution. With the foiling of Cobra's power stones plot, Overkill has apparently given up that quest.
During the second season of the cartoon, Overkill is finally able to create himself a body, and is removed from his healing tank.
Video game
Overkill appeared as a boss in 1992's G.I. Joe: The Atlantis Factor for the Nintendo Entertainment System.External links
- Overkill at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page