“It’s the final countdown… do do-do doooo… do do-do-do doooo…” No, I’m not going to apologize for spending my childhood in the 1980s! In this case, however, it is Countdown for Zartan that’s under the rodoscope.

This is the first episode of the season to be written by Christy Marx, a talented and popular animation writer of the 80s and early 90s, most notably famous for script-editing Jem and the Holograms. Zartan is one of my favorite characters, and Christy Marx is probably my favorite animated series writer, so this is an uncanny combination for an episode. It is technically the first regular season episode after the pilot mini-series, Pyramid of Darkness… of which, the less said the better. Oops… too late, go read my review.

Like many of the first 20 or so stories in the season, Countdown for Zartan focuses on the 1984 Joe team members and almost feels like it could have been set prior to the sanity warping Pyramid of Darkness season opener. Impressively, the large cast all get something to do in the plot, which is nice. Take Doc, for example, getting knocked out by Zartan might not seem glorious, but try and find any other episode that gives him more than one minute on screen AFTER the 1984 mini-series, the Revenge of Cobra. I’m guessing you are going to fail. Honestly, Doc is one of my favorite Joes so even though he doesn’t have a LOT to do in this one, it’s another plus in the episode’s favor. It also feels like just about the last time we see Stalker do anything in the series. Too bad he wasn’t any good with computers like Breaker (a 1983 Joe who got to stick around for the whole season).

The episode’s chief job is to show off Zartan and the Dreadnoks, but it’s really a story where Spirit takes the lead role. His honor-based rivalry with Storm Shadow was firmly established in Revenge of Cobra, and although Quick Kick tries to steal the ninja as his own arch nemesis, I think most of us know which rivalry has the better storyline.

The special relationship / fondness that Cobra Commander seems to have toward Zartan is nicely evident in an early scene. Zartan plays Destro for a fool while disguised at the head Cobra himself, all for the real Commander’s amusement. This reinforces the villain dynamics established in the brilliant Revenge of Cobra mini-series from 1984. Zartan also receives the Commander’s endorsement which only fans Destro’s flames of jealousy. In a moment of ninja worship, Storm Shadow destroys a tank with his bare hands to upstage the Dreadnoks. How much do you want to bet that Storm Shadow spent all night unscrewing the armor plates in preparation for this little stunt? Don’t tell me his sense of honor wouldn’t allow it. Storm Shadow only plays the honor card when it suits him — usually to show off, or when he knows he can’t actually win.

Zartan is fooled by Gung Ho’s clever deception, setting the prisoner’s watch several minutes forward and hanging it in view of Zartan’s cell. Seeing Zartan literally sweat behind bars over the imminent explosion is a lot of fun and well animated. I expect this was a fresh story telling trick for a young audience and I still enjoy it. However, the animation has a few shaky moments, notably with Lady Jaye, as well as a common animation mistake in the series where Zartan’s cowl animated as if it was hair (see above). But then, it also has moments of beauty (see below).

Countdown for Zartan is by no means a classic, but it is a great middle-tier adventure that juggles a lot of characters and gimmicks very well. Oh, and it does have a pretty nifty title!

Countdown for Zartan ***
Starring: Zartan, Spirit & Freedom, Storm Shadow
Also Featuring: Lady Jaye, Stalker, Recondo, Gung Ho, Doc, Cobra Commander, Destro, Dreadnoks, Cobra Troopers
Vehicles: Dragonfly, Skyhawk, Fang Copter, Cobra CLAW, Rattler
Joe Commander on duty: Lady Jaye