G.I. Joe: Retaliation
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Screenplay by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, Ray Park, Bruce Willis
Paramount Pictures
Rated PG-13 | 110 Minutes
Release Date: March 28, 2013

Directed by Jon M. Chu (Step Up 3D), G.I. Joe: Retaliation is the sequel to Stephen Sommers’ instantly forgettable 2009 film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

At the conclusion of that film, Zartan (Arnold Vosloo), having had his physical appearance altered by nanomites, infiltrates the White House and assumes the identity of the President of the United States of America (Jonathan Pryce).

Chu’s sequel begins with Zartan in control of the United States government. The master of make-up and disguise frames the G.I. Joes as traitors and launches an all-out attack on the Joes, wiping out their ranks (including Channing Tatum‘s Sgt. Duke) in one fell swoop.

Meanwhile, Storm Shadow (Lee Byung-hun) and Firefly (Ray Stevenson) infiltrate a top-secret subterranean prison to free Cobra Commander. Previously portrayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the supreme leader of COBRA is played by Australian actor Luke Bracey this time around and voiced by Robert Baker.

Cobra Commander’s plan is simple: eliminate the world’s stockpile of nuclear weapons so COBRA can rule the world unopposed by using Zeus, a sub-orbital weapon of mass destruction that’s twice as powerful as a nuclear bomb.

We’ve covered our fair share of interesting Kickstarter campaigns, as filmmakers and comic book creators and video game designers have sought donations from regular folks to help make their dream projects become a reality.

But never have you seen a Kickstarter campaign such as this one.

Cobra Commander, the leader of the infamous COBRA organization and arch enemy to G.I. Joe, has taken to the crowdfunding website after the Joes defeated him and his organization (yet again). He’s seeking funds to rebuild Cobra Island, and is looking for the starting goal amount of $21,474,836. But that’s just to start. Cobra’s ultimate goal is around $94 billion to do what they want to do.

Be sure to continue below to see a video of Cobra Commander’s pitch, including some of the great rewards potential donators can obtain!

The t-shirt deal of the day over at RIPT Apparel is the Star Wars – GI JOE mash-up “Dark Ssside.”

The tee, by artist Brinkerhoff, went on sale at RIPT today, Thursday, December 30, 2010, at midnight CST, and will continue for 24 hours from then, and once it’s over, it will not be sold on the site anymore.

The t-shirt is available in men’s and women’s sizes in black for $10 each. Kids sizes are $15 (Boys, Girls, and Toddler, all black); Onesies are $18 (in black). You can also get the design on a Hoodie for $38 (in black in Men/Unisex sizes).

The design is a mash-up of popular villains Darth Vader of Star Wars and Cobra Commander of GI JOE. They’ve been spotted together before, but now they’ve become one!