Larry Hama: Fighting Writers to Get His Comics Made

[@charlessantino1200]

Larry was my first editor. My first sale. Gave me great advice.

[@ericleavitt6615]

This was the best interview with Larry Hama I’ve ever seen. Too often, the interviewer focused on GI Joe as a toy and property. GI Joe is what hooked me into comics and I get it’s importance for people, but I loved hearing about Wally Wood and Neal Adams. While I do have a ton of GI Joe questions about the file cards and the like but you did an awesome job Chris.

[@ComicTropes]

I’m also curious about the GI Joe stuff but there were so many aspects about comics I wanted to know Mr. Hana’s thoughts on and only so much time.

[@Pantherblack]

The beauty and genius of Chris's interviews is that he's not just a fan of a particular brand, he's a fan and student of the medium. He seeks the insights we all should when in the presence of masters.

[@KTF0]

He has a long prodigious comics career and life that is often overlooked.

[@SirMrHowell]

My heart sank faster than the Hindenburg when Mr Hama mentioned the fate of those original Marvel artworks. I felt my jaw dropped for 10 minutes when he said they used the original Prince Valiants for carpeting. I didn't expect this interview to take such a shocking twist. But those were great lessons from Mr Hama about passing on the techniques to the next generation. Fantastic interview, sir!

[@JarmoLaakso]

I had to pause for a while at that point. :D Some things are just a bit much to take in.

[@trevormcneil2991]

The Hindenburg didn’t sink. It was an airship that exploded and crashed.

[@SirMrHowell]

@@trevormcneil2991 Yes, I know the Hindenburg was an airship. I was simply expressing how I felt but I neglected using the correct terminology.

[@schweitzer-man6227]

Mine too. I was listening at the gym and nearly dropped a dumbbell on my head. Just shocking and saddening

[@alexchrist1020]

Don't hang on paper hang on the skills^^

[@KMM-kx2yn]

Larry Hama on Comictropes?? This is pure bliss!

[@oddcreatureX]

Hama took a licensed book and made it a top title during some of the greatest years for comics ever. Absolutely amazing.

[@scottbarrie1279]

"Hey, nobody's watching what we're doing with these kid stories! Let's do something awesome until we're told to stop!"

[@edthestraightedge8783]

The first time I met Larry was back in 1999, at his office in NYC. He was selling one of his many sets of GIJoe comics to make space in the office. It is a singular experience that I will never forget. I did geek out at the end, gushing at how big a fan I was/am. So Chris, you’re not alone in being overwhelmed when talking to an absolute legend like him. His casual good nature is a delight and I encourage anyone who has the chance to meet him at one of the many Cons he attends each year. Do it! If for no other reason than to shake the man’s hand and thank him for his often unsung legacy in the world of comics! Thanks, Chris, and thank you Larry!

[@Screamersmetal]

As an unpublished writer and artist hitting his mid-30s, it's always a bit depressing hearing how the older generation of creators even admit that it's harder to get into the industry now than ever before. I wish some kind of apprenticeship or training/protege programs existed now. I can't afford formal training or art school and while I do my best to train and teach myself through KZbin and ArtStation, missing out on one-on-one instruction and the structure of a classroom setting for someone with my learning style feels like a great hindrance.

[@fabioturbay6346]

So, you are not even self-published?

[@firejaw6459]

Man, I feel this. I gotta ask the same as Fabio, though, have you thought about self publishing, even zine style, from your own printer and staple em together by hand? Some of my favorite books are zine style jobs I bought on Etsy, bigcartel, through Instagram DMs, etc. The days of getting the “send him in on Monday” just for being somebody’s nephew who “thinks he can draw” may be long past, but we’ve got more ways to get our work into the world on our own than ever before. Not an even trade, maybe, but it’s something.

[@valcirpaiva7531]

Eu entendo cara também estou na mesma situação

[@noneofyourbusiness4616]

The moment where you briefly shared the story of selling cars to members of the military and seeing their relationship with their commanding officers to add to Hama's account of his own experience was pretty special. No other interviewer could have done that.

[@stevena488]

You know... I hope Larry Hama sees the comment section to know just how appreciated he is. Because I absolutely owe my art career to him and Michael golden. Seeing Bucky O'Hare as a kid made me want to seek out the comics and toys. I read that. I loved the art work and I think Larry Hama is one of the dudes who constructed a comic in terms of writing and pacing to a masterful level. You turn a page in a Larry Hama comic, you've got something on the next page to hook you and keep you in. Same goes for Michael Golden too. Thanks for all the years of sheer joy you gave me and countless others.

[@MaximumWarp2099]

Seems like for a lot of people GI Joe was their intro to comics. GI Joe #22 was not the first comic I ever bought, but I became a collector with GI Joe #23.

[@michaellombardi1620]

I loved his wolverine comics. I never read a lot of gi joe, but I know it laid the groundwork for the transformers series that I also loved

[@openitandplay4844]

Hey Comic Tropes! Big fan and first time comment...I think. Thanks for posting so regularly. My wife, son, and I love your "Oh hi!" and use it all the time. Keep up the great work...Mike and Pa

[@DomVonDoom]

I learned the obscure phrase "they're giving us the hairy eyeball!" from Hama-san reading G.I. Joe as a kid. I still use it today, in fact when I asked Larry about the origins of it he said "I don't know?" It made us both laugh! He was gracious enough to sign a vintage Joe comic for me at DragonCon one year with the "they're giving us hairy eyeball" which made my heart fill with joy.

[@trinidadmetroid]

I met Larry Hama at a convention in Trinidad 🇹🇹 some years ago... a lot of wisdom and guidance....thank you for being part of my childhood.

[@lkatwaroo7099]

I met him in Trinidad also and was so surprised he was there. What a pleasure it was meeting him and having some comics signed by him. I even got the opportunity to get a pic taken with him.

[@scottbarrie1279]

Oh shit, it's an interview, not just a Larry Hama retrospective! Awesome!

[@RichardFong]

Chris, what a wonderful interview/conversation with Larry Hama. I love all the tidbits and stories especially about Wally Wood and Neal Adams. Thanks for sharing.

[@ManufacturedMythLegerdemain]

What a great episode. I'm really loving the interviews but this one, in particular, was really something -- I could listen to Larry Hama talk all day long. He's an amazing creator that doesn't get nearly enough credit for his storytelling ability (writing and penciling) and influence in the industry. Of course, his work on GI Joe defined the Joes, but his work on Wolverine (following Chris Claremont, no less) was criminally underrated and his guidance on The 'Nam (such as choosing Michael Golden to illustrate) was a big part of why the book was so successful. I missed out on meeting him a few years ago, when he was a guest at a comic shop around here in Boston, but this interview kind of makes up for that. Despite his modesty, Larry is a talented ARTIST and STORYTELLER that deftly combines words and pictures into something that elevates the comics medium. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to hear him speak.

[@lucianoemmanuelramirez1304]

Larry Hama´s Wolverine its why I loved the character.. Man the 90's were so good back then.. Great interview.. we got the chance to meet the man behind the work, his mind, his story.. Really amazing interview..

[@blacjack]

I loved how you got emotional over how Larry Hama's work hooked you on comics. I also love that you had the opportunity to tell him how it effected you. For me it was George Tuska's Iron Man that hooked me on comics. I was lucky enough to be able to meet him at San Diego Comic Con and tell him what his work had meant to me.

[@ueno1]

Larry has also been an actor in the past! Go look for the episode of MASH where he played a Korean jeep driver!

[@ArticulatedDoom]

I'm not sure if it's because I've been watching since the "Skunk Ape" days, but whenever I see you interview some of these legendary figures in comics I forget that you aren't a tiny KZbin channel any more

[@AABB-bm9kk]

Great to hear about the real history of Comicbook art from Mr Hama 👍Thank you, Chris

[@Shinmsl]

What an honour Chris, such a master and a class act, Mr. Larry Hama!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@noneofyourbusiness4616]

After you remarked on Cobra Commander's vocabulary, Larry had a run of some good words, when describing his writing process: invariably, homunculi, crux, denouement, choreography, hexagrams, percolate.

[@ComicTropes]

He’s a renaissance man.

[@joshua3732]

I'm a huge fan of Larry's work. He is way underrated.

[@treetheoak8313]

That comment on passing your skills to someone else to pass down your knowledge is heartwarming to hear. I to this day in my industry am grateful for my mentors.

[@allluckyseven]

AWESOME interview, Chris! And what an opportunity! Holy cow, that's amazing that you could get an interview with Larry Hama! Really happy for you, man, congrats! And thanks for Larry for being here and letting himself be interviewed! That bit about writing and drawing as you go without knowing how many issues that one story would cover was mindblowing. I'm pretty sure that would be unthinkable these days, unless you're doing your own comics, of course. EDIT: Chris, I also need to say thank you for the art inserts. At some points we really needed to see what Larry was talking about, like the explosion from Milton Caniff, and that one in particular I was ready to go google but it was great that you got it and edited it in.

[@smyers9052]

"You're not a poet until the people call you a poet...the word artist is not a job description." Damn, Larry. Savage truth!

[@Johurph86]

Fantastic interview, Chris. Your interviewees always tell stories I’ve never heard them tell before. You seem draw out sides of their personality that they hold back from more traditional industry interviews. Thanks for doing these.

[@kerwinjohnson1349]

Great interview. Mr. Hama's a legend. A treasure.

[@Wild4Hockey]

Brilliant interview. Chris, the research and genuine respect for Mr. Hama showed. Learned a lot about a legend and you kept him smiling throughout. Well done!

[@davidbooks.and.comics]

It has been an excellent education for me which has garnered for me, a deeper appreciation for Larry Hama.

[@manofaction1807]

I met Larry in 2019. He is an Officer and a Gentleman in every sense of the term. The most genuine article I have ever met, and the truest representation of "The Quiet Professional".

[@eabcool]

thank you for this. G.I. Joe was the book that got me into comics. I feel sorry for the people that think of the cartoon before the comic book.

[@Pegwarmers]

It's great to hear this interview. I've had the opportunity to meet and talk with Larry several times over the years at conventions. I really enjoyed this in-depth conversation.

[@enik2006]

I'm (not) shocked: another great Comic Tropes video!

[@brettjensen2198]

This is awesome Chris. Like with many 70s/80s kids GI Joe was my intro to comics. Such an honor to hear stories from Mr Hama.

[@Taqi616b]

Wow… you could have done a whole episode on just GI Joe… thank you Mr. Hama! Great job Chris!!

[@andrewflashchannelgibbs5384]

Great interview. So much information and interesting anecdotes. My friend Patrick Goddard (2000ad artist) still draws traditionally, he is worth checking out.

[@rikuruohomaki3230]

I loved Larry Hama's run on Wolverine.

[@roningham]

Larry really had the ability to pull you in. Joe comics in the mid 80s really were soap operas for boys, I just didn't realize it among the guns, costumes and kicking butt, esp. Snake & Scarlett. I always loved Rod Whigham's art on those mid 20's - mid 50's range. Truly great stuff.

[@nikiharris9147]

Great video, I always love hearing Larry talk and clearly you enjoyed interviewing him as much as we did watching. 👍🏻

[@jbotkin47]

Great interview! I didn’t realize how extensive Hana’s career was over the years. I mainly knew him through his epic run in G.I. Joe.

[@RDBlade]

I met Larry Hama at a con here in New Jersey. After signing my books, he made sure to direct me to Michael Golden and Mike Zeck who had drawn some of the covers and were also in attendance. He elevates his fellow creators, like a true legend.

[@danroberts007]

Loving this interview (halfway through)… I just saw Michael Golden last weekend @ Star Wars Celebration. His booth seemed pretty busy each time I went by, so I think he had a good show. Thank you both for taking the time to put this conversation together; I’ve really enjoyed it.

[@MaximumWarp2099]

The cover to GI Joe #47 is one of my all time favorite comics covers. Loved Mike Zeck’s covers. I think there was a toy commercial that features that cover as well. Just loved it.

[@SomeOrangeCat]

Larry Hama, a real American Hero!

[@Jackfromshack]

Thank you so much for this interview. It's always nice to listen to the old school. A bottomless storehouse of knowledge, experience and history. Now I have to get acquainted with his works!

[@ComicTropes]

The top 3 I’d recommend are GI Joe, Wolverine, and Bucky O’Hare.

[@miffedakko9312]

Been waiting for this episode for years. An episode about a real American hero.

[@keithcurtis]

Amazing interview. Great stories, great insight. Thanks for giving Larry Hama a voice on your channel.

[@zzeeooeezz]

Larry is my goto writer! Ever since the bio cards from gijoe! Followed him ever since!

[@michaelemond7315]

Wow. Just "wow". I got chills from watching this interview on how you were able to get Larry to talk about diverse topics and give insight into some of his writing/art philosophies. Larry has always been a creative talent I admired and this interview made me love and appreciate him that much more. Thank you for doing this.

[@TheCowboylucas]

Fantastic interview! I could listen to Larry Hama talk forever, just jumping from one matter to the other. I specially enjoyed him talking about Wally Wood, Bernard Kriegstein and EC. A second interview would be great, I’d love to hear more about his early years, Iron Fist and those pesky backstabbing writers.

[@davidfausel9029]

WOW - total legend of my childhood right there. Excellent interview Chris!

[@sca8217]

I know Hama through the John Buscema - Ernie Chan run of Conan. Just deft writing, the plot constantly moving with minimal exposition.

[@scottbarrie1279]

That was phenomenal. Thank you for this interview, Hama has been a favourite for so long. Think you could get Sergio Aragones or Mark Evanier? My childhood would love that.

[@ComicTropes]

Either would be amazing but probably a long shot.

[@crazedzealots]

@@ComicTropes What about Wendy Pini for her incredible Elf Quest series?

[@richardcoleman3425]

Funny how we all seem to have that one or two artists that really just hook us into comics... For me, it was Don Lawrence, George Perez and Bob Layton. Mr Hama though, is a gent with whose work I became very familiar with, latterly - just like Windsor-Smith, John Buscema, Kirby, etc.... I just discovered these towering giants a little later on... What a great interview this is - both men come across as very humble; Chris in his respect and gratitude for Mr Hama, and Mr Hama's own generosity and self-deprecation. Wonderful fellows - Both of them!

[@erickent4248]

Amazing interview, Larry is an awesome and very down to earth guy. Like you, G.I. Joe was the first comic I ever read where I felt 'Wow, this is awesome!' I always had a crush on the Baroness. I've got a pick up some of his stuff next time I am back in a comic shop.

[@treetheoak8313]

Very hyped to watch this!

[@antoniobifulco623]

Absolutely fantastic episode!

[@gazz_N7]

Great interview!! An absolute gentlemen!! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@dcHAUSdesign]

Chris, thanks posting this one. Liking this art history lesson.

[@crazedzealots]

That would have been me with Neal Adams, Jim Lee. The Silent Gi:Joe comic where Snake Eyes invades Stormshadows castle is one of the greatest comics ever. To me at age 8 or 9 it was literally the coolest thing I had ever seen in a comic.

[@RabbiJoeInJerusalem]

Thanks for this, Chris! Larry is a legend, and with the still-fresh losses of Neal Adams and George Perez, it's great to hear from a huge talent still going strong.

[@mikemaclean1344]

What a great interview. Thank you for this.

[@Lemon_Chicken_Yo]

Great interview! Really good questions, and really good answers. Larry is a legend that shaped my childhood. Such a smart and intelligent guy, a true artist.

[@g.r.a.h.a.m.]

Larry Hama is amazing!!

[@edwardmemwah1610]

This was great! It seemed like Larry was really warming up as the interview went on. Please have him back!

[@joedent3323]

Good work Chris! Im impressed that you you managed to turn it out very rapidly! Cheers, "LiL'JpD."

[@ComicTropes]

It was a fast turnaround but worth it.

[@joedent3323]

@@ComicTropes it was! I was glad you got to interview one of your important creators. It must have been very satisfying :)

[@shirleydowning9383]

Such an interesting man. Incredible history.

[@rlpittsjr]

What a wonderful interview!

[@falcoproudneck]

This was a fantastic interview. What a trip in history.

[@christianbrix4311]

Wow Chris, what a coup for you! Expertly interviewed too, well done!

[@spacemanspiralcatzero]

Larry Hama is a legend!

[@mr.knightdraculasbootycall2997]

These interviews would make for a great podcast

[@Tonydash23]

Awesome video!! Keep interviewing the greats !!! 👍👍👍

[@ars_moriendi.official]

His wolverine run has always been my favorite til this day.. I'm 40 years old now and fell in love with his stories and writing on Wolverine at age 9..the moment he left the series you could instantly tell it was no longer the same book... The quality of writing dropped...even The dialog and tropes that I was so used to hearing Wolverine speak in the books changed and it no longer felt like a Wolverine book for a long while.. which is why I have a huge gap in my collection from 97-2008.. I tried collecting New Xmen, and Astonishing Xmen, and Ultimate Xmen and they started out good but dropped in quality as usual my opinion...I only have a few runs within x-men and Wolverine during that time period. I started up again with House of M, Messiah Complex, X-force, uncanny X-force, and Wolverine Origins up until the Death of Wolverine and the Old Man Logan series.. I also gave Hickmans House of X soft reboot a chance.... I liked some of it... But I'm currently no longer collecting much of the current comics... just a hardcover or Omnibus.. I'm looking forward to Vol. 3 of Wolverine omnibus with Larry Hama

[@RealRoknRollr3108]

Yeah Wizard magazine criticised the book saying the use of ninjas and other tropes such as bears were getting tired, next thing you know Hama's off the book. Maybe sales were down, Kubert had moved on, but they brought in Warren Ellis who did the 2nd most common story of Wolverine, the old foe who's returned. Many plot lines were left unresolved such as Logan's feralness and this supernatural cube that Daimon Hellstrom was investigating.

[@ars_moriendi.official]

@@RealRoknRollr3108 I stopped reading after onslaught right before zero tolerance and wolverine was being rehabilitated by Elektra and Stick .. the story to me was still good ..but the art suffered once Kubert left.. when I picked up issue 145 when Wolverine finally got his adamantium back.. the writing, and dialogue was so different .. I was disappointed to learn Hama was off the book because the art was good again ... but the story with the whole wolverine being a horseman of Apolcaypse was lame.. I was intrigued with how Hama was handling wolverine being adamantium-less and vulnerable.. it made him a relatable character and more human having to face many adversaries and dangers in a different way ..a fight for survival. Being all bandaged up and having his claws broken, and leaving the x-men for a bit made his story very deep to me. I was looking forward to Hama writing his approach to finally having wolverine come full circle and restore his adamantium..but the way the other writer handled it was anti-climatic in my opinion..the only good part was Wolverine fighting the hulk..

[@smyers9052]

Absolute legend.

[@jackiechan6500jr]

Thanks!

[@torpedo8384]

That was insightful. Larry, always a teacher. Mahalo Hama Sensei.

[@coolitnow0013]

My man Hama this was such a treasure of an interview.Such insights tnis guy is dropping got hit big time with the nostolgia bug.

[@Rak-Nay]

Broke my hearth that those guys dont have the recognition they deserve and the spoiled people who doent do any effort are getting the fruits of their labor.

[@josephsawyer9109]

Great interview technique and content as always. Thank you, Chris!

[@chet_inator_gator]

Amazing interview! It’s a gift to be in the company of giants, thank you!

[@victorcabanelas]

Amazing interview, Chris! You've mentioned a few times how much you like his stuff, so I'm guessing it might've been hard for you, so major PROPS to you!

[@johnm.withersiv4352]

Happy Birthday Larry Hama!

[@OmarCordy]

My first marvel comics were the gijoes. I've followed him ever since! He helped shaped my childhood. Wish we talked about Deathstroke and his memoirs though.

[@jessepearson557]

Awesome interview - thank you! 😎👍

[@whyloechoedome8122]

He's so awe struck i love it

[@agmart86]

Wonderful interview👍🏻

[@HydraulicDesign]

I looked at a few of my old comics, and it is neat that this ad for toys was in definitely among the better written. "An F-14 dogfighting an A-10 is kind of absurd and I don't think that was a feature of the radar" is a lot better than the sheer idiocy of any random Transformers comics while the big books like the X-Men are largely soap operas where everyone is loudly needlessly explaining their feelings all the time.

[@memorydrain7806]

Love Larry Hama!

[@Lifesizemortal]

wow this was a great interview. no other words.

[@TheOnlyRagsMorales]

You need more interviews.

[@ComicTropes]

I love learning and sharing from pros but interviews don’t get watched as much so I have to do a mix of topics and shows.

[@TheOnlyRagsMorales]

@@ComicTropes you do it well. Try and get Jim Shooter and Larry together. I’ve had many drinks and meals with them. Always a great time.

[@TheOnlyRagsMorales]

@@ComicTropes also, Larry has a fun story about “weird ol Andy.” I’ll leave it there.

[@Mistermiracle999]

lovely video my favorite so far and i love them all soooooo

[@whyimsmarterthanyou]

I always liked exposition boxes.

[@Auckdarren]

Great show!

[@Drizzt_Do_Entreri]

Larry Hama is legendary. That being said I do have to disagree with him when he was joking about the GI Joe toy line being "crappy". I understand where he is coming from. Afterall he didn't grow up in the 80's and maybe to a degree doesn't understand the impact the toys had on the kids during that time. GI Joe A Real American Hero is among the greatest toy lines, if not the greatest, to ever exist.

[@josemontano7767]

Nice Mr. Larry is from Queens New York.

[@stardust_memories2260]

Awesome show!!!