I've been watching my new DVDs of the old G.I. Joe animated series. Boy, this brings back memories. The animation wasn't great, but it was pretty good for its time, despite the occasional shoddy bits. It had some fairly intelligent plots, and characters that grabbed one's attention.

I particularly liked the way they portrayed strong female characters--Scarlett, Lady Jaye and Cover Girl. Each and everyone one of them was competent, and capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the men. Each one of them frequently took command in the field, without any guff from the menfolk. They all had feminine wiles, but without being reduced to dainty flowers.

I liked Cover Girl the most, possibly because she got the least amount of air time. Or maybe it's because I was captivated by the concept of a high-status fashion model turning to diesel mechanics and firearms. I even liked her costume, which was stylish yet utilitarian, and decidedly more realistic than the one which Scarlett sported. Too bad she didn't get more exposure in the comic books or the cartoons.

I wish they had gone that way with the A-Team's Amy Allen. The actress who played her, Melinda Culea, was also a former model--and clearly, the producers weren't beyond capitalizing on her leggy appeal. Still, they ultimately failed to depict her as a strong female who could stand alongside the men. What a shame.