Is there a specific story that means the most to you?Ī: #21, Silent Interlude, and #26 the origin of Snake-Eyes, are my top two faves, followed by #34 “Shakedown” and the Battle of Cobra Island arc. On the flip side, there must be some that stand out above the others. Q: With a body of work as vast as yours it must be difficult to remember every G.I. When I write Cobra Commander dialog, I hear Orson Welles in my head. Wild Bill is based on an army buddy who actually was from Brady, TX, but he was in JAG instead of being a rotary wing pilot.

We are talking about personality traits here, and not what they actually did. That’s how I keep track of the personalities. Q: When it came to developing the various personalities of the brand’s heroes and villains, where did your inspiration come from?Ī: Most of the characters are based on people I know, or on actors or personalities with extensive media coverage.

But, personally, I feel that one of the factors contributing to the popularity has been the consistence of the characterizations. Yes, they are important to keep the brand relevant visually. Can you talk to us about these changes from your perspective?Ī: Most of the changes have been cosmetic. Joe is a brand that has constantly evolved over time to stay current and relevant with its audience. What was your first impression upon seeing the new Classified Series figures?Ī: I thought the figures themselves were very nicely done. Joe brand than anyone actively working in the world. Q: Larry, you have more experience with the G.I.

Joe: Classified Series, a line that pays homage to the characters Larry helped shape, we wanted to check in with this master storyteller to see what he thinks now that his 3 ¾-inch children are all grown up. Joe, with so many characters to direct, and so many storylines to keep track of? I don’t think so. Has another person ever been able to weave a history as long and detailed as that of G.I.

It’s his voice we read on the pages of the Marvel and IDW comics, and on so many of the file cards that came on the back of toy packages. While those early cartoons came to an end a long time ago, Larry has continued to shape the drama of G.I. Joe figures, and through the years he was responsible for telling the stories that fell outside what we saw on television. He created the backgrounds for the first waves of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero action figure line, Larry Hama was there at the beginning. Our guest today encompasses all three of those definitions, both through his work, and as a person. The word legend can be defined in a few ways:

Larry hama gi joe