The Germ 30th of 55 episodes in Sunbow season 1. Written by Roger Slifer. First aired October 23, 1985. Previous episode: Lasers in the Night Next episode: Captives of Cobra, Part 1

A Crimson Guard steals experimental bacteria. Conflict between Destro and the Crimson Twins leads to a fight in which the bacteria and some growth serum are dropped, resulting in a giant blob-like organism that consumes Cobra's lab and begins rampaging through the countryside. Alerted by Col. Sharp, a team of Skystrikers finds the germ, which spews back the missiles and insecticide they drop onto it, and Ace is temporarily incapacitated by the insecticide. The Joes reconnoiter on the U.S.S. Flagg, where Airtight introduces a needle-nosed jet to fly into the germ and deliver explosive antibodies.

Inside the germ, Airtight encounters explosive debris from the Cobra lab and corrosive enzymes that threaten the ship. Meanwhile, the doctor who created the bacteria finds the Joes. At the nucleus, Airtight comes under fire by two Cobras who were sucked inside at the lab. He fights them off, plants his explosives, and returns to the ship, which he and the Crimson Guard agent use to escape the germ. The delivered antibiotics only cause the germ to split into, with half of it heading toward New York City. Recognizing that apple seeds contain a small amount of poison, Skystrikers drop missiles to lead one germ into an orchard, where it is destroyed. A Joe armor unit assembles in New York, ready to fire apples there. The armor unit is overrun by the remaining germ, but the Skystrikers arrive to drop orchards full of apples. It explodes, sending the two Cobras inside flying into Joe custody.

Appearing Cast and Equipment

Misc. Notes

• First appearance: Crankcase.
• On the DVDs from Shout! Factory, this episode is included in the Season 1.2 set (Disc 7, Episode 2)