You can see why GI Joe is so successful. Larry didn’t look at it like a toy. He put the entirety of his creative mind into it. The action figure file cards and talking about how it’s looked at from a GI Joe teammate’s perspective. Genius!!
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hama @ a local comic book store where he was signing & sketching. I was able to get his signature on some issues of GI Joe while hearing his great stories. Larry Hama did a sketch (the last of the day) of Snake Eyes back-to-back with the Baroness & watching him work was amazing!
Thank you Larry Hama for giving the world your passion and displaying excellence The heads gave you the bottom work, but you turned the bottom into legendary status
Hama is being really humble & self-deprecating here. His plots were memorable, as were the characters. And for several years in the mid-80s, ARAH was the biggest selling Marvel title, outpacing even Uncanny X-Men.
Larry Hama definitely correct. It is the characters. They are so well defined.. that as a kid we /I attached to the character and knew what they are about. I knew their role. File cards, the back story... it all matched up throughout the entire saga... the entire storyline. But yes I know Bazooka from Alpine. Torpedo from Wetsuit.. every single character background story is easily understood. Also what I like about the File cards... the areas in America are real where the Joe's are from, so it thought me alot about geography as a kid.
There is a scene in one issue where Trip Wire is carrying a stack of documents in the Pit while everyone else is looking for Zartan. Trip Wire slips and throws paper everywhere. The scene is hilarious-- keeping with the character's paradoxical clumsiness. It may have been Trip Wire's only scene in a while.
Regarding "moral center," Destro once stopped Zartan from shooting Junkyard - "I knew an eskimo who said 'a man who shoots his dog will pull his own sled one day.'"
GI: Joe has so much potential. It goes way beyond ninjas. And the fact that in the latest movie Snake Eyes is a speaking character with a face means the filmmakers don’t get what makes the character so special. GI: Joe involves a wide range of characters from diverse backgrounds fighting terrorism. DIVERSITY. FIGHTING. TERRORISTS. Among others, these characters include a swash buckling Hispanic sailor and his smart-ass parrot, an African American, wise-cracking mountaineer and his oafish bestie who’s weapon of choice is a bazooka, an Asian American ex Hollywood stuntman who likes to do impressions (yes, you read that correctly) and a badass Native American whose best friend is a Bald frick’in Eagle. Plus, GI: Joe is not just action. Their adventures have had heavy sci-fi and fantasy. Joes have traveled to parallel worlds where Cobra wins, they’ve fought giant see creatures, joined forces with ancient warrior spirits from Sparta and World War I, and have been tested by Egyptian God’s. Storm Shadow once discovered and wielded Excalibur, and it was as badass as it sounds. Aliens, time travel, ghosts, mind control you name it. The movies need to lean into these elements the way Marvel Studios leaned into their more outrageous concepts. The following is fact. At some point Kevin Feige convinced the Disney execs to sign off on a movie with a talking raccoon and an anthropomorphic tree that utters one phrase over and over. Some one at Paramount needs to do the same and convince the ones who sign the checks that a GI: Joe movie can include identical twins who feel each other’s pain, or a super villain created from the combined DNA of the world’s worst tyrants, or a leader who is secretly a member of an ancient reptilian race living in the Himalayas. YOU. DON’T. NEED. NINJAS. Captain America, The Winter Soldier, Falcon, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, if you look at these characters, they are essentially Joes. This franchise has so much potential, and it has been frustrating seeing it going to waste for all these years. They are sitting on a goldmine! Someone at Paramount must realize this.
Perfectly said sir, I have been saying this for years & always point back to GI Joe (whether comics or cartoon) as a prime example of non forced diversity. I wish more of the modern properties would follow suite (even w/in some other Joe stories). Early on they even treated pacifists respectfully- in a military book! And remember how the impetus of GI Joe started as a possible Nick Fury/ SHIELD type unit. Larry Hama is so awesome!
My only bug with Larry's story about issue 21 is that in issue 10 Snake-Eyes on the branwave scanner revealed he studied Ninjitsu in Japan. But okay, whatever. His analysis of loyalty, though. I totally bought into that as a kid. Into adulthood.
..and comic book wise. The number #1 thing I personally don't like is 5 different covers for the same story. 2 max. There are so many Batman title's (example) currently... that I quit buying Batman...although the artist drawing Batman is top notch. The second annoyance in purchasing comics... great art for the comic book cover, but the interior artist is not as good as the artist on the cover. Currently the latest G.I.Joe comics the interior art has been downgraded... but the Cover B artist and Larry's writing keeps me buying the current issues.
Larry the living legend. Thank you Larry for all the characters.
Having a Tunnel Rat figure close to Larry Hama's likeness would be such an awesome tribute to this living legend ❤
I second!
You can see why GI Joe is so successful. Larry didn’t look at it like a toy. He put the entirety of his creative mind into it. The action figure file cards and talking about how it’s looked at from a GI Joe teammate’s perspective. Genius!!
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hama @ a local comic book store where he was signing & sketching. I was able to get his signature on some issues of GI Joe while hearing his great stories. Larry Hama did a sketch (the last of the day) of Snake Eyes back-to-back with the Baroness & watching him work was amazing!
Great interview thanks for posting.
Mr. Hama thank for all that you have done for GI Joe.
A legend. He breathed life to an entire toy franchise and made those characters real. Too bad he doesn't get a cut of the 💵
Thank you Larry Hama for giving the world your passion and displaying excellence
The heads gave you the bottom work, but you turned the bottom into legendary status
Good to see you, Sir, Thank you for the conversation, and the work that you've done.
Larry continuing the story makes me so happy!
What a fun interview. I always love hearing about people working on their craft and the stories and interactions they had with other creators.
My first 3 joes were Tunnel Rat, Falcon, and B.A.T. First wave in Australia..thanks for the awesome writing Larry, those comics are still killer
I want a Larry Hama figure. To go with the classified series. Like the G.Lucas stormtrooper.
Tunnel Rat
Hama is being really humble & self-deprecating here. His plots were memorable, as were the characters. And for several years in the mid-80s, ARAH was the biggest selling Marvel title, outpacing even Uncanny X-Men.
Larry Hama definitely correct. It is the characters. They are so well defined.. that as a kid we /I attached to the character and knew what they are about. I knew their role. File cards, the back story... it all matched up throughout the entire saga... the entire storyline. But yes I know Bazooka from Alpine. Torpedo from Wetsuit.. every single character background story is easily understood. Also what I like about the File cards... the areas in America are real where the Joe's are from, so it thought me alot about geography as a kid.
I'd definitely would love a chance to sit down with Larry Hama & just talk G.I.Joe with him.
There is a scene in one issue where Trip Wire is carrying a stack of documents in the Pit while everyone else is looking for Zartan. Trip Wire slips and throws paper everywhere. The scene is hilarious-- keeping with the character's paradoxical clumsiness. It may have been Trip Wire's only scene in a while.
This was the only part of the Hasbro promo I enjoyed
Legend, the man's a legend!!
Regarding "moral center," Destro once stopped Zartan from shooting Junkyard - "I knew an eskimo who said 'a man who shoots his dog will pull his own sled one day.'"
GI: Joe has so much potential. It goes way beyond ninjas. And the fact that in the latest movie Snake Eyes is a speaking character with a face means the filmmakers don’t get what makes the character so special. GI: Joe involves a wide range of characters from diverse backgrounds fighting terrorism. DIVERSITY. FIGHTING. TERRORISTS. Among others, these characters include a swash buckling Hispanic sailor and his smart-ass parrot, an African American, wise-cracking mountaineer and his oafish bestie who’s weapon of choice is a bazooka, an Asian American ex Hollywood stuntman who likes to do impressions (yes, you read that correctly) and a badass Native American whose best friend is a Bald frick’in Eagle.
Plus, GI: Joe is not just action. Their adventures have had heavy sci-fi and fantasy. Joes have traveled to parallel worlds where Cobra wins, they’ve fought giant see creatures, joined forces with ancient warrior spirits from Sparta and World War I, and have been tested by Egyptian God’s. Storm Shadow once discovered and wielded Excalibur, and it was as badass as it sounds. Aliens, time travel, ghosts, mind control you name it.
The movies need to lean into these elements the way Marvel Studios leaned into their more outrageous concepts. The following is fact. At some point Kevin Feige convinced the Disney execs to sign off on a movie with a talking raccoon and an anthropomorphic tree that utters one phrase over and over. Some one at Paramount needs to do the same and convince the ones who sign the checks that a GI: Joe movie can include identical twins who feel each other’s pain, or a super villain created from the combined DNA of the world’s worst tyrants, or a leader who is secretly a member of an ancient reptilian race living in the Himalayas. YOU. DON’T. NEED. NINJAS.
Captain America, The Winter Soldier, Falcon, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, if you look at these characters, they are essentially Joes. This franchise has so much potential, and it has been frustrating seeing it going to waste for all these years. They are sitting on a goldmine! Someone at Paramount must realize this.
Perfectly said sir, I have been saying this for years & always point back to GI Joe (whether comics or cartoon) as a prime example of non forced diversity. I wish more of the modern properties would follow suite (even w/in some other Joe stories). Early on they even treated pacifists respectfully- in a military book! And remember how the impetus of GI Joe started as a possible Nick Fury/ SHIELD type unit. Larry Hama is so awesome!
100 percent!!
I met him two times and he’s a great guy
This was so incredibly magical, thank you! The master!
Great interview! Thank you Larry and congratulations!
Larry Hama wrote some GREAT GI Joe & Wolverine stories for Marvel Comics
Great video , hello from México ! Larry Rules !!
Larry needs to be the one to write the true G.I.Joe theater released movie. 'Snake Eyes' faced exposed movie... is not it.
Thank you Larry!! We need more GI Joe toons....
Amazing interview 😎
it was definitely the file cards and the beautiful package art that pulled me into the brand
I would love an anniversary Gi Joe comic collection of his original 1982 story.
They are out there in a big volume like collection but they are rediculously expensive.
Please bring back Bucky O'Hare!
My only bug with Larry's story about issue 21 is that in issue 10 Snake-Eyes on the branwave scanner revealed he studied Ninjitsu in Japan. But okay, whatever. His analysis of loyalty, though. I totally bought into that as a kid. Into adulthood.
I am holding my Tunnel figure while watching Larry hamma.
That thumb nail 🤣
2:06 is the time 😊
Well, it sounds like ARAH will continue with another publisher.
What a thumbnail.
9:19
..and comic book wise. The number #1 thing I personally don't like is 5 different covers for the same story. 2 max. There are so many Batman title's (example) currently... that I quit buying Batman...although the artist drawing Batman is top notch. The second annoyance in purchasing comics... great art for the comic book cover, but the interior artist is not as good as the artist on the cover. Currently the latest G.I.Joe comics the interior art has been downgraded... but the Cover B artist and Larry's writing keeps me buying the current issues.