G.I. Joe - Introducing the Original Thirteen Joes!

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Think you know Joe because you watched the cartoon ? Think again. RetroBlasting looks back at the original 13 members of G.I. Joe you may have never heard of before!
#RetroBlasting #GIJoe #Original13

[@dammbleth2]

Thanks for this! As a member of Cobra, I found it very helpful in figuring out how to attack them better.

[@customizeyourgundam1135]

And knowing is half the battle.

[@soulrebel6309]

Yea, but your Cobra soldiers are still going to miss when they shoot🤪

[@O.G.Trashboat]

@@soulrebel6309 The Joe's were not very accurate marksmen TBH.

[@timdennis8640]

Yes, all Hail Cobra Commander!!!

[@sdp9675]

Actually, in the comic books, Colonel Hawk was field leader, NOT the CO. Head honcho of the Joes was General Flagg (namesake of the Joe aircraft carrier, the USS Flagg). After Flagg's assassination, General Austin took over. After Austin suffered a heart attack, Hawk was promoted to brigadier general & became leader of GI Joe.

[@ronmercer1515]

Ha! You nailed it!

[@keithsmith8543]

WORD!!!!!👊

[@bb5242]

The comic series was the whole reason I got into it. I was never into any other comics.

[@jeffmcpeek2526]

General "Iron Butt" Austin.😃

[@kevinredbearaddison4811]

I love the Original 13 characters, but my favorites were Spirit,Snake Eyes(one of the Original 13 characters),and Storm Shadow ..I had that G.I comic book edition with snake Eyes on the cover. He saved Scarlets life by catching Storm Shadows sword..awesome writing and art. 80s rock!!

[@MiKeMiDNiTe-77]

In 1988 I was in a toy shop and they had this plastic bin full of Stalkers and Breakers sold singularly in small plastic bags with their accessories for $1 each, if my 10 year old self new how things were gonna turn out I would of brought heaps of them and made a small fortune today ...dang

[@williamsherman6245]

Even more insightful than the fact that the 1982 GI Joe Reboot was also a spin on Marvel's SHIELD vs. Hydra (Cobra obviously being Hydra)

[@ROCKETJEFFMatejek]

HYDROFOIL! Remember that boat?

[@docsavage8640]

Phrased badly: the new GI Joe concept evolved put of Larry Hama's rejected pitch to Marvel for a SHIELD team called Fury Force, then Hasbro was talking to Marvel about GI Joe and Marvel proposed using and altering Hama's pitch and so the Fury Force was reworked into GI Joe.

[@AC-gb7do]

The leader of Fury Force was supposed to to be OG Fury’s son, IIRC.

[@woltersworld]

Flash was my favorite when they first came out.

[@axehammer3850]

These were the 13 my generation grew up on along with the first comics. We loved it before the first cartoon came out, and changed everything.

[@jamaljenkins153]

Stalker has always been one of my favorite characters. I never liked how the cartoon just sidelined him for Duke. For years I disliked Duke and would never buy(ask Mom) to buy his action figure. In the comics he was promoted like Hawk. So he always got his due there. I loved the original 13. Growing up back then was so amazing.

[@parlowderick]

I always thought Stalker looked pretty cool for an action figure back then. Of the original line-up I had Snake Eyes, Flash, Clutch, Rock and Roll , Cobra Soldier and Grunt .I still wonder how I wound up getting Grunt ,since I wasn't as interested as a figure than some of the others and got those figures before reading the comic or watching the cartoons. The top 3 Joe figures I wanted back then were Snake Eyes, Flash and Stalker. Like yourself, I was never really that interested in Duke as a character.

[@thegreymonk4993]

Of the originals, Stalker had my favorite weapon.

[@craighillsr5857]

not what you think.

[@DaVeO52]

Snake Eyes and Short-Fuze were my first. I'm well acquainted with the original 13, loved the comic, by fave being the 2 -parter featuring the Oktober Guard.

[@ironboley]

You gotta understand that afterwards, making each character look so unique and each one have a very different look was vital for the line and in character recognition. Not just for kids but also adults. It's easy to identify them and learn them and get to know the characters when each one looks so unique. I like the old guys to but they do all look the same with exception to Snake-Eyes, Rock and roll, and Scarlet.

[@wiseguy3675]

The same. I appreciate the OG 13, but most of them looked pretty generic. I mean, Grunt and Zap had the same face. I favor the more creative ones, though I think it did get out of hand toward the end of the toy line.

[@disposable_income_andy]

That's completely true. I was a kid who grew up with Thomas & Friends, and I can say that any set of twins are why unique designs are important. The Scottish twins Donald and Douglas, or quarry twins Bill and Ben are the exact same design-wise, the only differentiating parts being nameplates and numbers. Even then, it was hard to remember which twin was which number.

[@ACGreyhound04]

I was one year old in 1982 when the original Joes came out, but I got a complete set of the original figures and some cool vehicles from an older cousin in 1988. My favorites were the two motorized tanks that he gave me, although I only got one Steeler figure. I guess he lost the other one when he was a kid.

[@HCC788]

This is the G. I. Joe I remember.

[@iluvmym4]

HoodedCobraCommander788 I always wanted the original's as a kid Even then I knew they held value ☺️ Can't believe they used to be on store shelves way back

[@AdvocateNYC]

Me too. Had all of these characters.

[@briancross7835]

09:17 "Codename: ROCK & ROLL. Surfer, weight-lifter, guitarist, machine-gunner"... That would make for the most badass business card of all time! Great video, BTW.

[@ROCKETJEFFMatejek]

Who do you think should play him in a movie?

[@Uriseph]

ROCKETJEFF Matejek Charlie Hunnam

[@stevesteve4350]

@@ROCKETJEFFMatejek Tommy Lee ✌️😎

[@shooterfan1974]

Fantastic video! Thank you! I was a big fan of the comics and less so of the cartoon even though I watched it. I remember the issue of the comic where grunt had returned to college at Georgia Tech and was called grunt by a female student who had also recently left the military as he was doing his morning PT. When my mom moved out of the house where I grew up after living there nearly 30 years, they found GI Joe issue number two under the stove where it had Lain for years, it was covered in grease dust and debris of all types. I'm surprised it never caught fire.

[@tictuck]

I remember Duke being a mail in exclusive when he was 1st introduced toy wise. Great video man, remember these toys well & Flash was my 1st

[@thegreymonk4993]

Yeah, I got him in the mail. Lost his pistol almost immediately.

[@richbrownmedia]

Hasbro's history with GI Joe basically repeated itself. The 12" line of the 1960s and 70s devolved from very realistic uniformed military men to goofy concepts like "Atomic Man," "Bullet Man" and "Super Joe." In the same way, the 3 3/4" guys started off cool, with realistic smaller Joes--and devolved into out-of-this-world sci-fi nonsense.

[@primusvsunicron1]

The change of the original G.I. Joe dolls happened because of Vietnam

[@soterioncoil2163]

+Rich Brown I was too young for the 60s figures but you got me curious.

[@infamouscomments6885]

Yeah Cobra La was the end of G.I. Joe for me.

[@odinlindeberg4624]

Judging from stuff like the pursuit of cobra line, joes sometimes go for more realistic designs. But it's not a very high grossing line, so there's not a lot of figures sold. IIRC I saw that the only figures released this year were from special events.

[@the9-2-5outlawdoestech9]

Rich Brown and that jive ass Kung Fu grip which was a stupid gimmick but kids love the toy anyway especially when they got their sisters Barbie doll.

[@damienmooneyham5761]

I loved the silent mission issues of the comic! The art and writing of the comic was amazing!

[@grayalex73]

Grunt was my first GiJoe. Flash was my second figure and also my favorite. The red pads, laser rifle that has the cord that connects to the backpack. Don't move Flash too much if you wanted it to stay connected. One of the few with a visor. Very cool. Always wished he had a more prominent role in the series.

[@JPCorwyn]

Was a great Elseworlds style story in a GI JOE ep where Steeler and Grunt ended up on another world. Most Joes died at/in the Proving Grounds. Was a Cobra civil war, etc. A great ep where the dog tags of both characters were red aloud.

[@themercer4972]

Hell yea, I remember those early comics, and the action figures. The slow introduction of new characters made sense, until at some point there were so many you could not keep track of them all.

[@72meng]

Such a great video! I grew up with this line of G.I. Joe, and am glad to see the originals covered, especially the original Snake Eyes. That will always be my favorite Snake Eyes. I was so glad when the comic pack sets came out much later and I could pick up the #2 pack with Kwinn, Snake Eyes, and martial arts Scarlett! Even better when the single carded Snake Eyes from that same mission was produced.

[@mathieu4204]

The original 13 are indeed awesome characters. I also like the various specialists they introduced in '83.

[@vladimirharkonnen458]

I was 9, nearly 10 when GI Joe ARAH was released. I collected the toys avidly. The third wave waned on me however. The first wave will always be my first love.

[@BiteThemBack75]

I still remember seeing the commercials for these figures when I started first grade in September of 1982. Breaker was my first G.I. Joe guy.

[@melindamccain4091]

I remember when these first came out. My first Joe was Hawk along with Snake eyes. Out of the original 13, my brother and I had 11. Never did get Ranger or Scarlet. The guy in this vid was right about being lucky to have Steeler. My brother had him and the motorized tank. Nobody else we knew at the time had it. It was quite a rare toy indeed. Not mentioned in this video were the cobra enemy bad guys. There were only two at first: the cobra soldier and cobra officer. The original light blue uniform cobra commander figure was a special mail order figure only at first. You had to send in a certain amount of "flag points" collected off the boxes and figure cards to get him. Same thing later with Duke and the hooded dark blue version of cobra commander. Also the first original figures did not have the "swivel arm battle grip" that allowed the weapons to be held more realistically with both hands; which looked cooler. That feature pretty much made the originals instantly obsolete..

[@the9-2-5outlawdoestech9]

But when I used to collect the GI Joe action figures, one of the characters looked like Vincent Price, the one that was the Cobra hypnotist with the holographic sheild. Scared the crap out of me. He had those beady eyes.

[@jimhaverlock9784]

I remember that dude!

[@doomed2063]

Larry Hama's GI Joe comic was incredible. I was a huge fan of Marvel's GI Joe continuity. I wish Hollywood would of borrowed more from Hama's GI Joe. Those films had a ton of potential but, as I think we all expected, fell way short.

[@kristamorisen2669]

I agree! I miss the Marvel versions. Once they got sold to IDW and the other company, they really lost my interest. The original Marvel versions were much better and I, too wish, the films had used the Marvel versions.

[@mikesurlygentlemanwalton]

Loved the toys but the comic will always have special place in my ❤️

[@TheWarriorsFromHell]

finally found someone who doesn't think duke is the founding member.

[@dex7721]

Duke's just Acting First Sergeant! Even Larry Hama never supported the nonsense that Duke's the 'leader'.

[@danae5578]

I never thought that..but I also don't know who is.. Well until now.

[@craigh2234]

@Anzu Wyliei *yes*

[@willrodgers2436]

I read some of the Marvel Comics. I think Duke made his debut in the MASS Device before he arrived in the comics. I think it was General Flagg's funeral when Duke first appeared with Roadblock.

[@willrodgers2436]

Duke is my favorite G.I.JOE thanks largely to the MASS Device mini series. What I always thought was odd was that the original comic book blonde haired Col. Hawk and Duke could have been mistaken for twins, except that Hawk had a flat top and Duke looked a little like Lee Majors as Steve Austin from the Six Million Dollar Man. In the cartoon, General Hawk looked more like a young Ronald Reagan.

[@somni6756]

Short fuze was always my favorite of the original 13 because I love Maths!

[@jhunt5440]

I go back and watch this video all the time. I loved the original release of the Joes. Thanks so much for this video.

[@jennas4907]

My Dad grew up with Transformers and G.I. Joe. When I was young, he introduced me to his childhood through the videos of both cartoons-something that made me admire these fandoms and their history to this day. I may not have grown up with the original or got to see Sigma 6, I got to see G.I. Joe Renegades and Transformers: Prime. It was like seeing my dad’s childhood combined with my own into something new yet faithful, improved, and totally awesome. Awesome cartoons/comic books/fandoms like this were and still are a real treasure to me. When I have children of my own, I wish to show them my Dad’s childhood as well as my own; because everyone deserves to enjoy these

[@howardgriffen7187]

Greatest Larry Hama "G.I. Joe" Issue: *Silent Interlude* !!!

[@ROCKETJEFFMatejek]

Yes, I remember that!

[@charaznable2009]

They repacked it with 3 figures a few years ago.

[@DARK24-7]

Absolutely!!!!

[@docsavage8640]

I actually found it rather dull. All it is is Snake Eyes rescuing Scarlett and ending up needing to be rescued by her. Might have worked better in fewer pages.

[@jisungchoi7511]

@@charaznable2009 Yeah, I have both and the art on the new one is garbage. LOL

[@puckerings]

It's a bit odd to do a video about the original Joes, and then when coming to Grand Slam focus on the second version of that figure. If we're talking originals, surely he red pad version with the HAL is more relevant than the silver pad version with the JUMP?

[@chrisreick4325]

Flash has always been my favorite character too! And I totally remember that original commercial like it was yesterday! Man, sometimes I miss being a kid.

[@goldenage3492]

I had them all. I love them all. I got snake eyes for Christmas aww man.

[@metalrocks1]

This was a very good video, I am impressed.

[@retroblasting]

+metalrocks1 thanks!

[@gijoespanol]

I got late to G.I. Joe and always thought the laser trooper was Sci-Fi, I love that neon outfit but later I discovered the original laser trooper Flash and for me Flash always will be the head of all laser troopers. Yo Joe!

[@davee602]

Zap was my favorite after reading the filecard when I started collecting the old Joes. The fact he was named Rafael like my uncle and that he was from New York, automatically was Puertorican in my head.

[@stradlemonkey444]

I need to go through my collection and get the remaining comics- then I'm going to spend as long as needed to read them back-to-back! It's my dream. :)

[@BrothaJ2K]

"Silent Interlude" was my favorite issue, ever!

[@patrickdearing4083]

One of my favs. Still got 3 issues in mint condition

[@jonathanduplantis1403]

Most valuable too

[@pilgrimMj]

I remember half of these. I'm more familiar with later characters, but there was an older kid on my street who had these older, more-realistic figures.

[@ToyzNWheelz]

It doesn't get much better than these guys and girls!

[@soterioncoil2163]

+ToyzNWheelz guys and girl! Scarlet was the first and my favorite Joe gal!

[@cursedmonkey1033]

Hi. I just stumbled onto this video and wow what a nostalgia trip! Instant subscribe. I was thirteen when I left New Zealand and moved to California and was introduced to GI Joe. I loved it! All of it! I loved the comics, and began collecting them even though I wasn't a comic enthusiast. I loved the tv show and especially loved the toys. We had nothing like it back home. Well there were the Star Wars toys but they were rare and hard to find, and I could only get the figures, not the larger toys. Coming to America was an awakening for me. New Zealand in the '80s was a bit naf. Only two tv channels and the stores were closed on weekends. I was introduced to GI Joe by classmate and new best mate, Mario. We were a bit too old for the toys, we were the only kids in our group that collected or played with them but we didn't care. I remember the first toy I bought was the HAL laser cannon, but my favorite... the unbelievably coolest thing was the battle bear. I can still remember a couple of stories from the comics. I remember two early stories from a book I had; a Trojan Horse scenario where the Joes take the pieces of a Cobra robot they found back to their base and it comes to life, and a story where they have to infiltrate a mysterious Cobra bunker out in the swamps with the help of the October Guard. Anyway, thanks and bye.

[@MrLkg721]

Grunt and Stalker, and Grand Slam were my favorites growing up. (Back when there were only 13)

[@megamus9744]

The reason snake eyes was in all black without any paint apps was not because they thought they were making a cool character. The line was too costly for the price point. They had to make another figure cheap so all black no paint equals cheap. The writers were given the figures and made up the rest. Snake eyes is a result of direct cost effectiveness.....

[@Dragonrider1227]

yeah, I read he was supposed to have green pants but it was dropped for cost reasons

[@anthonykarklus7683]

JUST LIKE GOKU'S SUPER SAIYAN HAIR!!!!

[@MeanMrMustard1]

It doesn't make sense that they dropped green pants for cost reasons when there were 9 other guys with green pants similar to Snake-Eye's. Any of them would do. Now that I think about it, A SE with Stalker's legs would look cool.

[@daholiday3991]

I see someone else has been watching 'The Toys That Made Us' on Netflix as well. Haha!

[@shooterfan1974]

@@MeanMrMustard1 Haven't watched "The Toys..." yet, I'm assuming the cost savings was not having two different base colors for a figure from the torso to legs.

[@thegreymonk4993]

Flash was my first Joe (then Snake Eyes). I remember the night I brought him home from K-Mart like it was yesterday. I'm not crying.

[@SARprotectors]

Every time I watch one of your G I Joe videos.... I end up purchasing on ebay.. lol

[@BrotherApexx]

Awesome video. You know your history and it takes me back. Subscribed!

[@mgvillanmp478]

I remember my first joes Scarlett and snake eyes stalker rock n roll and the camp was my first Joe vehicle got them all in the same week .very cool man

[@stradlemonkey444]

I love that you got them all in a weak! My brother and I got every Masters of the Universe figure, vehicle (Attack Trak!, Point Dread & Talon Fighter w/bonus storybook/record (amazing if you can find the book and record). I can flashback to opening my first- Beast Man, but as a 4 year old Zodac was my favorite).

[@mgvillanmp478]

Cardboard Box cool manionly had zodac got faker later but I was a huge gijoe fan

[@thegreymonk4993]

All in the same week?! It took me years because my parents hated me. Well, that's how it felt.

[@frostysmoke37]

Grunt my 1st figure I ever got) and Rock & Roll always had special places in my collection because they were infantry and when I joined the army I was a M-60 heavy machine gunner ( which the military phased out years ago ). Flash was cool because of his visor and red pads and Snake eyes was just radically different which made him bad ass. I played with my Joe's so much it was crazy!

[@anotherDnightmare]

I was 10 in ‘84 and can vividly remember playing with most of those. And the jeep. The motorcycle. Although I have to say, I never read the comics. And I don’t remember really dividing them into “eras”. I just played. And when I figured out I could have Cobra overtake Ewok Village and align themselves with the Empire... WELL, playtime just got THAT much more exciting! If I remember correctly, Flint got frozen in carbonite and Princess Leia, Lady Jaye, Lowlight, Airtight and Chewbacca mounted a rescue. Fun times! 😆

[@MBayas1]

My favorite was Gung Ho. Semper Fi!

[@melindamccain4091]

+Bayas M Mine too. Mostly because my dad was a Marine.

[@docsavage8640]

Loved that Cajun.

[@thegreymonk4993]

Of the second wave, yeah, he was awesome. Didn't he carry a sawed off shotgun?

[@gishmoe3088]

@@thegreymonk4993 it was a grenade launcher

[@roguelead72]

@@thegreymonk4993 M-79 grenade launcher

[@toymasterfultoymasterful7499]

Now this is Greatttt to watch! This is the stuff I grew up with!!!

[@samfrito]

Love what you expressed here. As the 80's GI Joe made its mark with the toy and the comic, I felt the cartoon was a half step that didn't live up to the vision I saw. I am okay with the cartoon, it just never brought the world of a counter-terrorist, military super-team to life the way the toys and comics could, and did. Out of the original 13, I loved the comics depiction of Stalker. All of them were amazing, but Stalker reminded me of my next door neighbor, Mr Pope, a US Navy man. He was subtle, focused and had many sterling qualities. Larry Hama made the original 13 special. Glad you posted this!

[@KingCrazealmighty360]

Zap was the first Joe I ever owned.. boricua NYC.. I also had the mobat , and the Jeep

[@Wis_Dom]

A black guy being second-in-command and an important character for once, is pretty awesome!

[@ROCKETJEFFMatejek]

MICHAEL JAI WHITE should play STALKER in the next G.I.JOE MOVIE. Also JASON STATHAM as GRUNT. SGT.SLAUGHTER should be himself! MORGAN FREEMAN as DOC,like he was going to be in the 2nd G.I.JOE MOVIE.

[@ronn-ammon8975]

@@ROCKETJEFFMatejek I agree with most of your ideas, but don't want to see sgt. slaughter (except as a villian). He was never a favorite of mine, seeming to me, part of the trend towards overly exaggerated characters; be he really earned my eternal dislike in one of the first post Cobra-La cartoon episodes with the words "shut up Stalker". Something he wouldn't have gotten away with in the comix.

[@ROCKETJEFFMatejek]

Ronn A.,the problem is SGT.SLAUGHTER is a good guy. He gave SEPENTOR A real ass wipping. He was a Villian the WWF or WCW, I can't remember. Anyway I agree with you. Hey,SHIPWRECK is cool! Sure he was cocky,drove COVERGIRL crazy when he got into fights at a bar, where The DREDKNOCKS were at. Do you remember that? So can you see JASON SATHAM as GRUNT & MICHAEL JAI WHITE as STALKER. If you look at the CARD ART of 25yrs of G.I.JOE that is him! Yo,Joe!

[@ronn-ammon8975]

@@ROCKETJEFFMatejek Some people found SHIPWRECK's... uhm, enthusiasm...uhm, grating, but in that and maybe other encounters with characters like the DREADNOCKS it really worked for him; and if I ran into them in a bar (or anywhere else!) I'd be grateful to have the abrasive SHIPWRECK with me. When the first PREDATOR movie came out I and a few others I know thought CARL WEATHERS was a total ringer for STALKER in that movie, and were stunned and annoyed that they did'nt tap him for the JOE movie; but as this video points out, most of the originals have been pushed aside or ignored. WESLEY SNIPES might've been a contender once too, but now I can't think of a better choice than MICHEAL JAI WHITE. Stalker may not have a closet full of black belts like some, but he's s still one of the toughest Joes, even if M.J.W's martial arts expertise aren't fully exploited. Hope the producers don't let biases blow it again. Speaking of tough- JASON STRATHAM would thrive (belongs?) in a JOE movie. Playing GRUNT might not let him use all his martial arts expertise either, but I can't think of a better role for him. He's got that tougher than nails vibe I think of for GRUNT when I look at and/or read his file card.

[@mola55e5]

Wis Dom still a little weird that they said he was an ex gang member, but not bad considering the year... lol

[@hiRMediaService]

Wow, so many memories. The first 13... I remember having them all. Snake Eyes, Stalker and Flash were my favorites. I even remember getting upset at how different the comics were from the Cartoon. IMO... the live action movies were straight trash. Still never understood why they didn't just use Stalker instead of Ripcord. Oh well... great channel!!

[@griffoneye1]

I had most of these figures. I got the tank for christmas along with a few other figures that introduced me to the toy line.

[@bripowered]

Clutch was also my first G.I.Joe figure.Thanks for uploading this.

[@ElEternoPoetaLuis]

That's a beautiful collection.

[@starcoloneldunadansonoft501]

The triple missile launcher that Hawk came with actually exists in real life. Those are surface to air missiles known as, you guessed it, the Hawk. That can't be a coincidence.

[@art-n-filmsam3844]

Seeing as Larry Hama served in Vietnam where they might've been first used. It makes perfect sense

[@Straun30]

I too loved Flash the most, got him as my first Joe back when I was like 6 and they just came out. Side note: I met Hamma at a comic con in Calgary and got to ask him some questions and go to a panel about GI Joe and he said all the characters he wrote, even the later ones were based on guys he served with in the Korean war, not Nam, or 80s American army. Look at Docs uniform for a serious Kerean war era look as a medic, and the uniformity went all to hell in Nam for a lot of good reasons, but Korea to me explains the first waves uniforms. Arguably, Gung Ho was the first real Vietnam era guy. Torpedo is definitely a vintage diver, not 80s or even late 70s, Wild Bill is also definitely Vietnam era Air Cav.

[@EDFCentral]

Rock n Roll was the first GIJoe I ever received. I can still remember the day my mother gave him to me. It was so rare to ever get a "just because" toy in my household that I've never forgotten it. I've also never forgotten the turd terrors that lived next door who ripped his legs off. Those two kids were awful individuals.

[@Knightstruth]

Lol of course Stalker would be an ex-gang member... I miss the old Joes. I was born in 85 so by the time I was old enough to appreciate the Oldschool Joes, they were gone and replaced with all these colorful goofy gimmicks....

[@stradlemonkey444]

Well, his name IS "Stalker" which is creepy enough... And then the racial profiling (a Detroit gang leader).

[@Knightstruth]

Yeah...not the most racially sensitive backstory there.

[@fragwagon]

Knightstruth I don't understand, he knows 5 languages! Seems like a pretty interesting character.

[@ronn-ammon8975]

In the more detailed comix stories, Stalker's gang background wasn't a cliche line, but a factor of the character's history. Where some "got tough" after enlisting Stalker "walked the walk" already. He was already an experienced, steady leader under stressful conditions, partly why Hawk selected him as his right hand in putting the original team together. The name "Stalker" isn't "creepy" in any criminally related sense, he's a covert opps ranger, capable of silently tracking quarry through harsh terrain. OK, maybe creepy in a different way.

[@docsavage8640]

Stalker has to do with being a Ranger.

[@sidearmsalpha]

The comic was amazing! It blew away the cartoon, which was so watered down and pathetic. I was collecting the comic book when I was 10 so watching the cartoon paled in comparison. I looked forward to every month waiting for the next issue to arrive. It's sad that the cartoon had to be toned down for small children when we had shows like ROBOTECH that were killing off main characters regularly.

[@MrJon76]

@sidearmsalpha - I loved the cartoon! It had more of a heroic, adventurous tone mixed with a military aesthetic! The artwork, animation and music were phenomenal!

[@baoh69]

Loved Robotech.....it came on at 6:00am in the morning. I would watch it before I went to school.

[@thegreymonk4993]

I vividly remember a run of the comics with a character called Quinn the Eskimo. He grabbed up with Snake-Eyes on some kind of revenge journey. They had to break out of a jail cell at one point which transpired in a rather funny way. And another issue where they soft-revealed Destro hiding in some shadows.

[@ginoames]

Great video, these are my Joes. Loved the figures and the early issues of the comic are some of my favorite comics of all time.

[@yoikes]

Great video! I remember how great both the comic and the show were, early on in both of their runs.

[@kidpax]

Was Airborne the first Joe figure to come with swivel-arm? I remember me and my friend being in awe when I first got the figure in the 80's. It really put the Star Wars figures of the time to shame.

[@melindamccain4091]

+kidpax I agree. Excellent feature for those figures. Instantly made the original older versions obsolete. My first with that feature was Grand Slam.

[@stevenweller9413]

He was one of the second series figures, with Guns Ho, Doc, Wild Bill and others. When they came out the original 13 got version 1.5, adding the swivel arm.

[@jayjones8501]

Good vid. Thnx for the info. I never read the comics, but I did grow up on the 80's cartoon. It kind of inspired me to join the military (and the fact that most of my family were military)--which I did, but then after my enlistment ended I got out. Arguably the most distinctive original characters would be: Stalker, Scarlet, or Snake Eyes. Zap being Hispanic is cool and all, but he's not as visually distinctive as the aforementioned trio. But I like the diversity of the show. However I'd argue that Stalker was a caricature. Everything from his real name, to his place of origin, to his being a former gang leader are all racial stereotypes. The only saving grace would be that I'm assuming these characters are based off of real life ppl the creator knew. To me, Snake Eyes is probably my fav Joe. He's far more interesting as a ninja & is arguably the most popular & well know Joe because of it. But I always found the villains of Cobra far more interesting than the Joes.

[@ronmercer1515]

G.I.Joe definitely (helped) inspire me to join the Army (Airborne all the Way!). And, strangely cool, my training platoon in Basic were the Charlie Cobras (C-2/13). Our battle cry was actually 'Coooobbbrraa!'

[@TheMattwolf]

That, to me, is as it should be. After all, the villain is the most important part of any story!

[@docsavage8640]

Stalker's codename is related to his being a Ranger. You're either ignorant or your mind goes strange places when you think of black people. Being a former gang leader ties in directly to being leader of his new gang in the field. It's no different than the Southern redhead being called O'Hara and using the codename Scarlett. These things were thought out by a Japanese-American military vet who presented a diverse fighting team of equals. I'm afraid your mind is so warped you seek and find racism everywhere even when it's not there.

[@gillster3744]

Watching this again these videos are so entertaining & educational. Great job Micheal.

[@zachmcmillan4060]

Flash and Rock n Roll were my first Joes,I probably lost them when we moved...

[@kwandomando]

Short-Fuze's file name is Eric W. Friestadt. Can't figure out where you got Mark Brenstan from, thought you might have mixed him up with Downtown but his file name was Thomas Riley. Great video otherwise.

[@stevenweller9413]

There were a few different file cards for Short Fuse with different names.

[@thegreymonk4993]

@@stevenweller9413 yeah, I think I remember running into a Short Fuze card with a different name once and thought I was crazy.

[@standepain]

Am I the only one who's favorite was Flash because he looked "futuristic"? ...yet that same futuristic look they implemented as the toys continued is was made me eventually dislike the toy run. I guess it stretched too far from reality for my tatse.

[@stradlemonkey444]

I read a candid interview with Larry Hama- basically he was the toy makers slave. When the toys got ridiculous (toxic sludge, space mutants, Sgt. Slaughter, Serpentor) Larry HAD to write them into the comic. When it became "(small print) GI Joe featuring Snake Eyes and Ninja Force" it was a necessary by contract evil. Hasbro made him do it. Aside from ninja-everything, Hama did an amazing job with knowledge of the weaponry down to C-rations.

[@Biorythym]

I kind of wish they had showed some kind of "changing of the guard" when new charcaters came out for the same role like Zap/Bazooka, Flash/Sci-Fi, Breaker/Dial-Tone, Grunt/Footloose

[@blondknight99]

I remember that scene in the comic with Flash burning the insulation off the cable so they could take into it. Man I feel old!

[@ReneRendonJr]

Flash was my first figure and yes with the visor and laser gun, I thought he was "futuristic".

[@andrebitondo7757]

How bout when the Joe’s were in space and Flash used his jet pack to deflect an on coming rocket coming at them!

[@themadlion7634]

Frankly, I do appreciate the look of the original 13 Joes. The characters and stories seemed more real to those who have a background with the Military. Throughout the years, GI Joe had more of a science fiction element, than what could happen in real life.

[@marvin2983]

This video made me feel old. I still have these figures stowed in a footlocker somewhere...

[@Demondscott]

I just wanted to say I love your video!! And thank you for informing me on things I didn't know about some joes.I didn't really have a lot of joes growing up....but I love snake eyes,roadblock and stalker!I understand you liking the joes you liked.I like "jazz" from Trans Formers because he was the first one my mother bought for me...I absolutely love her for it!Well anyway I loved the way you went about the video,iwill also sub so keep up the great work!!(side note:why don't you like shipwreck?)OH! I forgot...Hawk is one of my faves too,so thank you for telling me about him before the promotion.

[@retroblasting]

+Demond Scott Sure thing Demond! Thanks for watching this particular video! It's a personal favorite of mine! - Michael

[@salt27dogg]

+RetroBlasting great video RETRO. I'm 37 and huge GI JOE FAN as a kid. I have a question. I find it interesting that you felt the cartoon was a caricature . Is that why they sent Grunt , Clutch and Steeler to another world? Because they were part of the original 13 and needed to start new or was it an ode to the comics how their roles were very limited? I would like to know your input....

[@retroblasting]

Sent them to another world? In the comics, Grunt went to college and was shown in his civilian life many times. Clutch was a strong character in the comics throughout the run of the series. I don't know when they were sent to another world in the series, but all of the original 13 except for Scarlett were fatally underused in the cartoon and that's not even up for argument. Yes, the cartoon is a caricature of an army division. The outlandish costumes instead of uniforms, Cobra La, etc.

[@Demondscott]

Yeah...i'm gping to sound like my grandfather..but they just don't make cartoons like they used to..but I love what you did in the video!!

[@retroblasting]

You're right about that! Cartoons had more going on back then. They made mistakes to be sure, but they didn't play it safe either. They took risks.

[@44excalibur]

Just so you know, I was one of those kids back in the 80's that Hasbro assumed would be the "target audience" for the Sunbow cartoon......and I hated it! I despised Sunbow for creating a rift between the comic book medium and the TV/film medium which continues to this day, especially where Snake Eyes and Scarlett are concerned, whose storyline is the heart, depth, and substance of G.I. JOE. It's because of Sunbow that we get crap G.I. Joe films instead of Hama-inspired greatness.

[@sfighter0085]

🎆Happy 4th of July Alex!🎆

[@44excalibur]

@@sfighter0085 Happy 4th of July, Matt! 🎇🎆🇺🇲🇺🇸

[@RaptorRed79]

Funny little fact about Grunt. He eventually went on in the comic series to graduate from college and become a civil engineer.

[@greglemieux9809]

That was awsome, ' was born in 77. I was lucky enough that my parents bought my brother and I all the original 1982 and 83 , G I Joe's for Christmas one year. I got the tank with steeler for a big gift and my brother got the head quarters . Man those were the days:-)

[@necron99.aka-sammyboy92]

I thought Grunt was generic? Although he was Graves in the cartoon: the alter universe where Cobra wins, it was a 2 video episode, and one of the best Gi Joe cartoon episodes ever! Steeler and clutch were in those too!

[@jameswatson5304]

One of my favorite episodes too.

[@Cavillier1970]

Nice look back Mike. But this has me wondering, do you remember a 2 part episode from S2, WorldsWithout End? In it Flint, Lady Jaye, Barbecue, Footloose, Airtight, Clutch, Steeler, & Grunt get sent into a parellel world where Cobra won and with the exception of 3 active Joes, everyGI Joe was killed. At the end the Baroness who was in the resistance, and the other world's Steeler's (who died) gf, helped start a Cobra civil war, forged a new GI Joe withClutch, Grunt, & Steeler who stayed. Now since you like the Original 13 so much I'm wondering what did you think of this episode, and how the trio was written out. Plus who do think the 3 survivors were? This is a questions fans have discussed for years, I'm thinking Scarlett, Snake-Eyes, & hmmm not sure.What about you bubba?

[@Cavillier1970]

Was wrong it was 6 Joes who surivived. Cant wait for your views. Might make a nice follow up video. I've debated w/ Joe fans about the GI Joes/resistence team of who'd join after the rebuilding, I figure Beachhead, Low-Light (one of the coolest Joes behind Snake & Scarlet) Jinx, Mercer, Storm Shadow of course, & Spirit.

[@turn5990]

Great episode!!! One of my favorites.

[@melindamccain4091]

+Cavillier1970 Probably the only episode I remember.

[@Cavillier1970]

M McCain There were a few good ones, but once Serpentor was 'born' the storylines seemed to be phoned in. The one thats a 2 sided sword for me featured Low Light and how he got to his level which was amazing to see how he fights nightmares nightly, but the nightmare machine Mindbender cooked up was my problem with it.

[@darren2514fv]

Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Breaker (who had a major role in Flint's Vacation which was the best Breaker episode I actually have the UK Action Force version on video) maybe Zap and Short-Fuze who were more likely the generic troops, Rock and Roll and Stalker actually was in all of the Sunbow series from the Mass Device Real American Hero Mini series to the Movie

[@kranzorz3908]

Great video! It's so true that there was a certain purity and clearness of vision with this first line-up. Nice to see it so well presented here.

[@SkyFireDrone2022]

My friends all thought Snake-Eyes was a Cobra figure because of his name and he wasn’t green, and I always got asked which one was G.I. Joe. My friend and I also had the “Big Issue” of #1! Damn I wish I still had that!

[@stradlemonkey444]

You are on the exact same page as me when it comes to GI JOE. My favorite comic (Cobra Commander wasn't a wussy). I'm about 10 issues from the complete Marvel run (aka Real GI Joe). To me, Snake Eyes is amazing- he can only be judged by his actions. That bests most characters I know of in any form of book/media. I bought the Snake Eyes with a visor you can lift- but I've never done it. It would defile his character. If you have Twitter I'll send you the best picture I've seen of Cobra's head leaders with legions of troops in the background- it is VERY NAZI. Bad guys have to be evil.

[@TheACcam]

Have you checked out the IDW continuation of Marvel's comic? Written by Hama and picks up where it left off, even the numbering system.

[@stradlemonkey444]

+iamtfc even the numbering system? Wow! Are they collected in trade paperbacks yet or should I scour eBay? Now I really have to have them! Thanks for the tip!

[@TheACcam]

Yes, they are collected in trades. "GI Joe: A Real American Hero" is what it's called. Even though the numbering system on the singles is kept from the Marvel comic, the collected volumes are started over. So, when doing searches for the trades, look for ARAH Volume 1 to start with. Right now there are 15 collected volumes (it's been quietly going on for years, you see). I think they are up to issue 225 in the collected volumes. Easy to order online through Amazon. However, if you don't mind digital books, Comixology has most stuff from IDW half off a month after release, and IDW doesn't use DRM, so you can download them and use whatever app you want to read them. I run Win 10, and use an app called "Comix". It's fantastic. Never have to worry about anything getting damaged. Avoid reading vie Comixology's own site reader. It's pretty bad, imo.

[@stradlemonkey444]

+iamtfc this is a ton of great info! Thank you! So the TPBs from IDW *start* with Marvel's #1, then pickup again with Hama in the title above? I'm gonna go broke, it'd be worth it. Thanks a ton!

[@letsgonow5641]

Shipwreck is my homie...Hector Delgado...come on now..

[@toymasterfultoymasterful7499]

Luis X Hahhh....thats what me and brother used to say as kids instead of calling his codename...we said Hector Delgado as if he were a real guy!

[@chrisstory563]

come on, shipwreck is a chucklehead that would reminds you of Bruce Campbell

[@marcadiadd5681]

That’s Hector “X” Delgado!

[@SSobotkaJr]

Shipwreck started out as a parody of your "typical US Sailor" (lackadaisical, always looking for a "score" with the women, etc.), even down to the Jack Nicholson voice, but the character did get some proper development in later episodes (the one with Mara, the female "Cobra frogman" who was experimented on to give her gills for water-breathing). In the latest incarnation of G I Joe -- Renegades -- Shipwreck was made into a somewhat bitter, but hard as nails captain of a cargo ship, who helps the Joes in their effort to expose Cobra to the world. They even alluded to his affection to another former Joe Courtney Krieger, aka Cover Girl (he named his ship after her). I have a strong affection for his character, as I am former Navy myself. I just wish he'd been developed more in the series, rather than mostly written for comic relief for the initial start of their run.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Shipwreck was the Man!

[@COLLECTIONCONNECTION]

The first are always the best. Love the dedication and skill level of production.

[@CS-wc2uz]

Watching these videos brings back a lot of memories and puts a lot of things in perspective

[@Alistarwormwood]

I thought you were going to talk about the one from the 1960's

[@docsavage8640]

That one has no personality

[@vladimirharkonnen458]

We don't talk about those.

[@truongquoc8566]

where is calvin/ultimate sniper

[@astormofwrenches5555]

It was always Fumbles...

[@billpagan3070]

Great video!! One of my favorites👍

[@jeremytandrews9577]

Takes me back, my favorites were Clutch and Snake-Eyes. My 1st Joe was grunt. ( as it should be)

[@charlieacklen8190]

Snake Eyes was injured in vietnam and could not speak

[@charlesn898]

Charlie Acklen No he wasn't. He was injured in the Middle East while rescuing Scarlett when the helicopter they were on collided with another one. Despite his severe injury he helped complete the mission rescuing a man who turned out to be the fiancé of his dead twin sister.

[@hankbrown8436]

charlesn898 Sorry, but Snake Eyes was injured in Vietnam while on a mission with Stalker and "Tommy".

[@kristamorisen2669]

Most of the original joes went back to VietNam. Remember, these were originally produced--the original G.I.Joes in the 60s then they were 'reinvented' in the early 1980s. We hadn't been in the Middle East at that point.

[@AP-zw6ql]

Charles898 is correct. He was disfigured on a mission in the Middle East with Scarlet. They were in two helicopters. The rotor from the helicopter Snake Eyes was in hit the other helicopter which resulted in a jet of hot gas hitting him in the face. The mission was probably modeled at least in part on the failed attempt to rescue of hostages in Iran back in 1980. Snake Eyes was injured in Vietnam, but that was not the cause of his disfigurement or inability to speak.

[@haroldbooth9292]

Nevermind. Already assessed...

[@tribalismsucks7784]

My mom got me Breaker for Easter 1982. She picked him as my first GI Joe because she didn't think an armed soldier was appropriate for Easter. I was all in on the comic books but didn't even know the toys existed. That one figure changed my whole childhood.

[@dogma9609]

this was cool. i like Grunt. he's the man. wish there were more videos of Grunt. we all need more Grunt in our lives.

[@ACaptainsLog]

A very thorough and spot on video assessment of the 1982 G.i.Joe originals. Clutch was also my first Joe with the jeep! So glad you produced this video!

[@ratbatnufftime2861]

Remembering the originals.....love it.

[@mattray4876]

This is the G.I. Joe I grew up with, with Breaker being the first figure I got for Christmas back in 1982, along with the Whirlwind. My brother got the VAMP, which meant he could tow the Whirlwind around on adventures. The following year I worked for days raking leaves around the neighborhood to earn money to get my first Joe with my own money. That figure was Doc, who is still one of my all-time favorites.

[@chocodog991]

i love GI JOE. im from the Philippines and my grandma from the US use to send me these toys back when I was a kid. These is a very informative video. well done sir.

[@Erik-nu2vn]

they evolved but there's no high as high as being 2 or 3 years old being able to play with the originals . l can remember the first time. looking back now I know it changed my life more than anything and it is who I truly am at my core. Ron Rudat who designed them up until about 1987 said Larry Hama gave them life well those toys gave me life. I could never repay them. Thank you Ron and Larry.