Law of the MP and K-9 duo Law & Order was based on Kirk Bozigian the Hasbro exec who got GI Joe rolling again in 1982 and was the driving force behind a lot of the marketing.
Journalist Joe: Lt. Col. Connor Walters (based on Walter Cronkite) is the father figure head of the GI Joe press corps. You couldn't have Joe Journalists without him. I could see it now. He body slams the toughest, meanest Cobra soldier, points at the battered snake and says "and that's the way it is!"
William Perry was actually know to be very athletic in spite of his size. He most certainly could run as he lined up as a running back on multiple occasions (infamously scoring a TD in SB XX) and there was video of him, from a standing position, jumping flat footed onto a training table.
Of course, *this* video features some of the best characters - Cutter (has a brown moustache), Bazooka (has a black handlebar moustache), the (brief) Joe member Rocky Balboa (I definitely do like his Cobra counterpart - Big Boa) [I don't know *why* Sylvester Stallone rejected the idea of Hasbro and G.I. Joe using his likeness, which is exactly *why* Rocky Balboa never became a Joe in 1987], Tunnel Rat (below, I'll say what two versions of *him* I like), Sneak Peek (ditto) and Scoop. OK - the two versions I like, of Tunnel Rat, are his 1987 outfit (where he has a green short sleeved shirt) and his 1991 UK exclusive Tiger Force repaint (where he has a red short sleeved shirt), and the two versions I like, of Sneak Peek, are his 1987 outfit (a red and light grey outfit) and *his* 1991 UK exclusive Tiger Force repaint (where he has a brown shirt, and his trousers are light blue). I've already said, in Toy Galaxy's 'most important vintage G.I. Joe figures', about Sergeant Slaughter. I do like the figures of Scarlett (the first female figure, and from the very first wave, in 1982), and the late 1991 version of Grunt (wearing a brown short sleeved shirt, dark yellow trousers and black boots, and whose hair is now black, as well as is now flat-top). I even like the 1982 version of Grunt - who wears a dark green military uniform, and whose hair's brown (and hair isn't flat-top). In my world of G.I. Joe, these two versions of Grunt have moustaches (the 1982 version has a brown moustache, and the late 1991 version has a black moustache). The only two figures in this video, who I *don't* like, are the Fridge (yes, based on 'William the Refrigerator Perry') and Major Storm.
Shame about the Rocky figure that almost was. I wonder if Sly felt like Rambo was the more profitable choice at the time and chose that over Rocky? Rocky IV made bank but reception was mixed and it was becoming old hat. Rambo meanwhile was firmly implanted in the American consciousness at the time and was everywhere.
I had "the fridge"! 😂 I also remember having a cobra Commander that I had to mail away for too that my one friend was always trying to get me to trade him. No deal! Lol!
Sneak Peek has always been one of my favorites, but this vid only tells half the story, The reason why he was given the name of Stephen King's son was because Owen wrote the filecard for another figure at the time, Crystal Ball, a Conbra Mind reader. As a thank you, they named the Bangor Maine native figure after him.
Small world...the super nice (and super cute) lady who cuts my hair, Leslie, was originally form Rhode Island and sure enough, her dad worked on G.I.Joe....I guess he mostly contributed stuff to the 12 inch line, but they ended up naming Dogfight, the pilot of the Mudfighter after him: James King.
I do like the character Dusty (I like two of *his* versions - his 1985 outfit - where he has black hair, a beige outfit and is dressed like an Arab, and his early 1991 outfit - where he now has auburn hair, and has a yellow beret and a yellow sleeveless shirt). I definitely do like the 1987 Cobra (the last year Cobra would receive any new individuals) Crystal Ball, who has a black moustache (I don't know *why* fans of the vintage G.I. Joe era dislike him so much, which is what led to his figure never being released in the UK, and only in the States).
Also to add, Chuckles was based on Don Johnson. Uncertain if Shipwreck is based on Jack Nicholson in The Last Detail but the cartoon is so Nicholson!!!! Blow Torch head sculpture look like it was based on Robert Mitchum!
Kam Zeng I vaguely remember watching some kind of news show (60 minutes maybe) 30 years ago that was interviewing someone at hasbro about GI Joe, and the guy from hasbro said Chuckles was based on him self.
Pawtucket red sox the farm team for the Boston Red Sox play their home games across the street from Hasbro. The Paw Sox will be moving to Worcester Mass. Dwight Evens play for the Paw Sox in the mid 70's
Hama was also in the military and is knowledge lent a super air of realism to the filecards, but the comic which in many issues wasn't just selling toys but a legit story, it did get silly in it's later run but there were many a grim and gritty Joe tales in the original run. Hama really, truly, is the keeper of the ARAH lore.
I remember that. I'm so glad you remembered that. I think you had to send in some forms and those proof of purchase flags or something. I remember I was in the 5th grade and I kept on asking my brother, "is the fridge good?" and he would reply, "he's ok.." LOL
The Fridge scored a 1-yard touchdown in that Superbowl. Series 1-3 were my favorite Joes. To be perfectly honest, SGT. Slaughter kinda ruined the Joes for me. Don't hate me. There was one kid in day care that mailed in for Cobra Commander during series 1, he was the man.
sgt. slaughter was OK in the Cobra-La movie; but earned my eternal dislike in one of the first post-Cobra-La cartoons with the words "shut up Stalker". I doubt it would've been said and/or gotten away with in the comix; but it was about par for the cartoon's direction of dismissing most of the original team, and undermining Stalker's status as the original field commander.
Wild Bill was named after one of Larry Hama’s friends. I’ve seen mention of Law and Leatherneck already on this list as Kirk and Ron. Dusty’s last name is Ron’s spelled backwards. Sightline, released after this video is named after my late friend (and many other’s in the Joe community) Gary Head.
Practically every Joe in the original 82-94 run was based on a real person. Almost every one of them was sculpted in the likeness of a Hasbro employee with many of them having their name (or some variation of it) as the figure's file name. An early issue of Tomart's Action Figure Digest (#8, I believe) has a big article showing side-by-side photos of the figures with their Hasbro employee counterparts. As for Owen King, the story from the guys working on the line at that time goes something like this... Stephen King was trying to find whatever was the hot Joe toy that Christmas for his son, Owen, with no luck. In desperation he contacted Marvel to talk to Larry Hama in hopes that he could connect him with the crew at Hasbro about getting said toy. Hama got him in touch with Hasbro and he made his request. The guy in charge of the Joe line at the time (I think it was Kirk Bozigian) told him that they would get him that toy and a bunch of other toys that had yet to be released if he'd write the filecard for Crystal Ball. King initially balked at the offer (I'm-a-big-time-writer,-I-can't-write-copy-for-a-toy) with Bozigian assuring him there are no writing credits on the package, no one will ever know. So King agreed to write the bio for Crystal Ball (which, mentioned below, is based on Vincent Price's likeness) and Owen King got Sneak Peek named after him in the deal. Although legend now has it, that while Stephen King agreed to the deal he actually let Owen write that filecard.
You have most of the details of the story correct, but I would like to correct you on the "I'm too important to write a file card" 'fact' you shared. Stephen King never balked at writing the card because he felt he was too important (if you're familiar with the man and his work, you would realize how stupid that sounds). He was worried that people would get the wrong idea if word got around that he used his influence in some degree to get his son exclusive toys that 'normal' people couldn't get. He didn't want anyone thinking he was throwing his weight around, which is pretty much the exact opposite of what you wrote. Also, from everything I've heard (which came straight from Larry Hama), Stephen King volunteered to write the card after Larry Hama showed him the prototype and the two got to talking about Vincent Price. King mentioned that he had just watched Price in the movie _Baron of Arizona_ a couple of nights back, in which Price's character pretended to be a gypsy. King said something to the effect of "he should be a gypsy..." and his son Owen, who was there, finished the thought "... from Bangor!" They all had a good laugh, and Hama said, "That's actually a great idea, can I use it for the file card?" King said "Of course." Owen walked away, distracted by some other cool stuff, and King politely took Hama aside, and stated something to the effect of "I'd love to write the card with you, Larry, if that's fine... it's just, you know, we're doing very well financially now and I would hate if word got around that the bigshot Stephen King marched down to Hasbro and traded some file copy for a huge collection of toys for his spoiled rich brat kid, you see." So Larry Hama tells the story now, only because word has gotten around and he attempts to clarify some of the myths and rumors that are floating around.
I never knew there was a connection between Stephen King and Crystal Ball from the G.I. Joe toy line before! An interesting addition to the story, in his 1987 novel, "The Tommyknockers", King mentions the G.I. Joe action figures, along with specifically name checking Crystal Ball, at the climax of a sequence when a disappearing trick performed by a kid goes terrifyingly wrong during a neighborhood magic show. "All the G.I. Joes!"
+KoolDaznyc Yeah I could have put him in but I decided to limit my selections to the vintage line from 1982-1994. Roddy didn't show up until he was a convention exclusive part of the 25th anniversary line in 2007.
I think the closest thing to a Hunter S. Thompson action figure was a trade paperback collection of Doonesbury strips from 1991 or 92, which was packaged with an action figure of "Uncle Duke," the character that was based on Thompson (which Thompson hated).
Yes, Dusty's real name is Ron Rudat, who in reality was an illustrator who drew the art work for many of the action figures and vehicles early on. As a thank you, Hasbro based Leatherneck's facial appearance on him. Also Law (Military Policeman from the 1987 series has a facial likeness based on Kirk Bozigian - a Hasbro executive who was one of the driving forces behind G.I.Joe's return in 1982 as The Real American Hero.
He was also on Jem and on Transformers. And Flint and Lady Jaye from GI Joe had a daughter named Marissa who was on Transformers. And a very old Cobra Commander was on Transformers. And the Dreadnoks once formed a band called Cold Slither that was seen with the Misfits on Jem and was listened to by several Autobots. And Sabre Jet from Inhumanoids was Ace from GI Joe. And Checkpoint from COPS was the grandson of Beachhead from GI Joe. They're all connected. So GI Joe takes place at the same time as Jem. Inhumanoids is very shortly after that. Transformers is a few decades later. COPS is a few decades after that. I'm guessing Hector was dead by then.
Cutter based on Dewey Evens makes his Red Sox cap make epic sense! wow and BTW: Cutter is from Connecticut so his wearing a Sox cap is fitting too especially as he’s the team’s Coast Guard rep and they’re big in Connecticut
I believe you are referring to Lt. Falcon, the Green Beret. He was introduced in the 1987 animated G.I.Joe movie. It was a pity that they did not bring a Green Beret in the G.I.Joe team until G.I.Joe was already past its prime.
The Queen & toy collector Oh man, I think you're serious. You actually have a favorite journalist! I wan't prepared for this. Uh... mine is... uh... "Fightin'" Edward R. Murrow!
im not sure what year it was, but in the 90's they had a mail away joe, you just needed to send a picture of yourself with it and they made a gi joe that resembled you.
My brother ordered a Steel Brigade figure but it may have been different because he didn't send in a picture. You filled out an order form with the code name and info you wanted and then they'd send a customized bio with the figure whose body was entirely covered with his uniform, including a full helmet. www.yojoe.com/action/87/steelbrigade.shtml
Henry Thrun Your comment has cast a permanent cloud over my life. No joke, I read it and felt a little sick inside. Im a grown ass man and now feel a little incomplete. Please say it ain't so: you mean to tell me that I could've sent in and had a GI Joe character made after me or whatever profile I sent in?!? Are you freaking serious. That is THE coolest thing that actually existed during my childhood...and I knew nothing about it! Do you realize having one of those characters made would have changed the course of my childhood. Granted, my social status would still have been measured within the realm of the nerds but that would have been a come-up for me. At least I could have had legendary status within an elite group...of fellow geeks. Lol
Don't be too upset. The Steel Brigade figure had a non-removable helmet/mask combo so you couldn't see the face. The only thing that was unique to you was a file card with your info on it, which was kind of cool, but your face wasn't there or anything.
this the same henry from TFW2005? snakeeyes1975 here. I still have one of the mail away sheets. it was multiple choice stuff, and you could personalize the top 3rd of the card with your info, and it showed the helmeted steel brigade guy..never a picture of a kid. thats not correct.
Please look at Gijoe figure HIT AND RUN from 1989.the card art. Even as a wee lad I thought the face was Robert Martin Culp. Our very own Bill Maxwell character from THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO.
I'm glad someone else sees. do you think its possible he's the model. not up close in studio but a magazine article or movie poster. I could see the artist putting him in their if it was one of his favorite actors. or boringly simple, just resemblence.
In real life? Slaughter beat Hogan and Vince McMahon decided to have Slaughter's family put up in a hotel. They changed from a larger venue to a smaller one for security purposes.... People were MAD. (And yes I know it's scripted)
Well I can tell you that more slaughter toys bit the dust by hammer and m80 than ever before during the Iraqi war, kids in my town were more than pissed at WWF and slaughter for that heel arc.
Hasbro may have also used Owen's likeness. I always thought the card art and figure for Sneak Peek looked odd, like an adult with a child's face. He looks like the Campbell's soup kid with this rosy cheeks.
There is a board game and a RPG game that has come out over the last two years via Kickstarters. Both are basically G.I. Joe ripoffs with setting and background material with group names of Freedom Force and V.E.N.O.M. The leader of the "Good guys" is drawn as a recolored Miles M. from Mask, and on the cover of the RPG is a character that is a clearly a knockoff Sargent Slaughter Pro Wrestlers Copyright their name and image, like Clowns do, so these game are just a copyright lawsuit waiting to happen. There is a ninth, Hasbro did a re-issue of the larger figures from the original G.I. Joe line, and added a Buzz Aldrian figure, the second man to walk in the Moon (Neil before him :-) )
In "The Toys That Made Us" documentary series on Netflix (highly recommended), Law, of the Law & Order team is revealed to be based on Kirk Bozigian, a top Hasbro executive who pretty much was responsible for bringing the brand back to life in 3 3/4" form.
Favorite journalist? I would totally have bought an Andy Rooney GI Joe figure. Of course I bought every figure from '84-'89, so I'm probably not a good judge.
Larry Hama also did a bit part on MASH playing a North Korean soldier who infiltrated the 4077th, stole some medical supplies, and kidnapped Frank Burns, then kicking Frank out of the Jeep a mile down thw road.
Barbra Walters. And could you imagine Cobra getting Geraldo Rivera and having him not find whatever he was searching for and Cobra Commander being all,”Geraldo!! Your incompetence is only overshadowed by your stupid mustache!”
There was a late 80s TV show called, China Beach. I always believed that there was a character on there based off of Tunnel Rat, played by actor Jeff Kober. He had black face paint and a rag on his head. I strongly believe the show ripped from this Joe as they were trying to find characters to fill a show. Tunnel Rat was released in 87, with the show debuting the following year in 88.
If the toys were to honor the people then why did Hasbro let a saw viper kill sneak peek, aka Owen king, and why let the cartoon make leonard Michael aka scoop a Cobra traitor?
Tunnel Rat was the most badass Joe in my collection! I also had Super Trooper and that custom one where you got to design your own.
Law of the MP and K-9 duo Law & Order was based on Kirk Bozigian the Hasbro exec who got GI Joe rolling again in 1982 and was the driving force behind a lot of the marketing.
Yup!
Metal head = Tom Savini? Rowdy Roddy Piper’s figure is CRAZY EXPENSIVE! You’d have to work as an Iron Grenadier to afford it!
The 1987 Cobra Hypnotist Crystal Ball was supposed to be based on actor Vincent Price.
+Blake Cabrera (b1r6989c) Yeah that seems likely.
Vincent Price also appears in Jem and the Holograms.
@@ps-yk8su Truly? That's OUTRAGOUS!
Journalist Joe: Lt. Col. Connor Walters (based on Walter Cronkite) is the father figure head of the GI Joe press corps. You couldn't have Joe Journalists without him. I could see it now. He body slams the toughest, meanest Cobra soldier, points at the battered snake and says "and that's the way it is!"
I had all of these! Except Rocky of course...obviously. But I did have Big Boa.
Dude! Alpine was Bazooka's sidekick not the other way around.
Patton Tank yeah .......this Guy is not getting his shit right
Law was based on a GI Joe exec and Leatherneck a GI Joe artist also
William Perry was actually know to be very athletic in spite of his size. He most certainly could run as he lined up as a running back on multiple occasions (infamously scoring a TD in SB XX) and there was video of him, from a standing position, jumping flat footed onto a training table.
Of course, *this* video features some of the best characters - Cutter (has a brown moustache), Bazooka (has a black handlebar moustache), the (brief) Joe member Rocky Balboa (I definitely do like his Cobra counterpart - Big Boa) [I don't know *why* Sylvester Stallone rejected the idea of Hasbro and G.I. Joe using his likeness, which is exactly *why* Rocky Balboa never became a Joe in 1987], Tunnel Rat (below, I'll say what two versions of *him* I like), Sneak Peek (ditto) and Scoop.
OK - the two versions I like, of Tunnel Rat, are his 1987 outfit (where he has a green short sleeved shirt) and his 1991 UK exclusive Tiger Force repaint (where he has a red short sleeved shirt), and the two versions I like, of Sneak Peek, are his 1987 outfit (a red and light grey outfit) and *his* 1991 UK exclusive Tiger Force repaint (where he has a brown shirt, and his trousers are light blue). I've already said, in Toy Galaxy's 'most important vintage G.I. Joe figures', about Sergeant Slaughter.
I do like the figures of Scarlett (the first female figure, and from the very first wave, in 1982), and the late 1991 version of Grunt (wearing a brown short sleeved shirt, dark yellow trousers and black boots, and whose hair is now black, as well as is now flat-top). I even like the 1982 version of Grunt - who wears a dark green military uniform, and whose hair's brown (and hair isn't flat-top). In my world of G.I. Joe, these two versions of Grunt have moustaches (the 1982 version has a brown moustache, and the late 1991 version has a black moustache).
The only two figures in this video, who I *don't* like, are the Fridge (yes, based on 'William the Refrigerator Perry') and Major Storm.
Shame about the Rocky figure that almost was. I wonder if Sly felt like Rambo was the more profitable choice at the time and chose that over Rocky? Rocky IV made bank but reception was mixed and it was becoming old hat. Rambo meanwhile was firmly implanted in the American consciousness at the time and was everywhere.
Never knew bazooka might have been based off Steve Grogan of the patriots but it does make sense .
I had "the fridge"! 😂 I also remember having a cobra Commander that I had to mail away for too that my one friend was always trying to get me to trade him. No deal! Lol!
When you include the Collectors series there’s sooo many more based on popular fans, designers, etc.
Sneak Peek has always been one of my favorites, but this vid only tells half the story, The reason why he was given the name of Stephen King's son was because Owen wrote the filecard for another figure at the time, Crystal Ball, a Conbra Mind reader. As a thank you, they named the Bangor Maine native figure after him.
I wasnt expecting to learn so much. I really love this content.
damnyouhussies That's great feedback. Thanks!
+Cobra 6 Python Does that matter? If you're on Instagram check out my account toygalaxy and you'll see a lot of my personal collection.
Remember how many Big Boa's there were left over?
Dan, Rather not tell you my favorite journalist.
I thought Bazooka was based on a buff Freddy Mercury lol. Even the classified version looks like Freddy
Small world...the super nice (and super cute) lady who cuts my hair, Leslie, was originally form Rhode Island and sure enough, her dad worked on G.I.Joe....I guess he mostly contributed stuff to the 12 inch line, but they ended up naming Dogfight, the pilot of the Mudfighter after him: James King.
You won't convince me that Outback wasn't supposed to look like Chuck Norris.
Look out Joes... It's Cronk! (and that's the way it was.. )
You mean it's THE Cronk!
I'm glad sly backed out.
I do like the character Dusty (I like two of *his* versions - his 1985 outfit - where he has black hair, a beige outfit and is dressed like an Arab, and his early 1991 outfit - where he now has auburn hair, and has a yellow beret and a yellow sleeveless shirt). I definitely do like the 1987 Cobra (the last year Cobra would receive any new individuals) Crystal Ball, who has a black moustache (I don't know *why* fans of the vintage G.I. Joe era dislike him so much, which is what led to his figure never being released in the UK, and only in the States).
I'd argue that till booth is based on Robert Mitchum
You forgot: LIFE LINE is Desmond T. Doss
Also to add, Chuckles was based on Don Johnson.
Uncertain if Shipwreck is based on Jack Nicholson in The Last Detail but the cartoon is so Nicholson!!!!
Blow Torch head sculpture look like it was based on Robert Mitchum!
Kam Zeng I vaguely remember watching some kind of news show (60 minutes maybe) 30 years ago that was interviewing someone at hasbro about GI Joe, and the guy from hasbro said Chuckles was based on him self.
Lol. Shippy DOES sound like Jack!
Larry Hama based a lot of the Joes on real people. But don’t ask him about the animation. He’s never seen any of it.
u forgot outback is chuck norris
I always thought Bazooka was based on Freddy Mercury
What about Outlaw? My friends and I called him Chuck Norris.
Gi Joe Dodger - Corporal Dwayne Hicks
What happened to The Roddy Piper figure..... sure he was affiliated with COBRA (Why?), but we all know he was there to kick ass & chew bubblegum!
I was almost certain that Sneak Peek was based solely off of John Lovitz. (Liar guy from SNL) Look up his file card art.
Works for me!
Yeah that's it.. That's the ticket..
Pawtucket red sox the farm team for the Boston Red Sox play their home games across the street from Hasbro. The Paw Sox will be moving to Worcester Mass. Dwight Evens play for the Paw Sox in the mid 70's
Dan, you know you could've sent your flag points to get a figure that you name
They did have a figure you could mail in for that it would come with a patch and file card if I remember correctly
What, no love for Bob Schaffer ?
Ben Swann
Pork chop sandwiches
Forgot law and order
Alex Jones
You mist law based on one of the designers or thrasher based on one of the writers hey that wrimed
Hama was also in the military and is knowledge lent a super air of realism to the filecards, but the comic which in many issues wasn't just selling toys but a legit story, it did get silly in it's later run but there were many a grim and gritty Joe tales in the original run. Hama really, truly, is the keeper of the ARAH lore.
Absolutely. I was honored to finally meet him in person and thank him for his work recently at a comic book convention.
He was in M*A*S*H too.
Hama has also stated that many of the Joe File card he wrote were based on actual people he knew. I remember he saying Stalker was one such Joe.
The original Fridge figure was only available through a mail in offer. His weapon was a metal football attached to a handle by a rope.
I remember that. I'm so glad you remembered that. I think you had to send in some forms and those proof of purchase flags or something. I remember I was in the 5th grade and I kept on asking my brother, "is the fridge good?" and he would reply, "he's ok.." LOL
What about Flint ? He was based on Kris Kristofferson . Kris was a Pilot in Nam who went to Ranger School and was also a Rhodes Scholar .
Wow. Never knew that.
never knew! interesting. I DO know my moither had a thing for him in the 70s...I kinda bear some proof of that lol
@@krismaccall8056 your moither???
Bazooka looks like joseph stalin without his helmet
The Fridge scored a 1-yard touchdown in that Superbowl. Series 1-3 were my favorite Joes. To be perfectly honest, SGT. Slaughter kinda ruined the Joes for me. Don't hate me. There was one kid in day care that mailed in for Cobra Commander during series 1, he was the man.
Yeah, I know. I watched that Super Bowl. From New England. Where I lived and rooted for sports teams.
I first heard of Sgt. Slaughter from G.I.Joe before I heard of the Pro Wrestler Sgt. Slaughter!
Alan Linn yep. I didn't like him because they tried to make him better than Snake-eyes. No one was better than Snake-eyes
sgt. slaughter was OK in the Cobra-La movie; but earned my eternal dislike in one of the first post-Cobra-La cartoons with the words "shut up Stalker". I doubt it would've been said and/or gotten away with in the comix; but it was about par for the cartoon's direction of dismissing most of the original team, and undermining Stalker's status as the original field commander.
+Toy Galaxy also from Boston area. How times have changed since then
Leatherneck was made to look like Ron Rudat and Dusty had his name
Wild Bill was named after one of Larry Hama’s friends. I’ve seen mention of Law and Leatherneck already on this list as Kirk and Ron. Dusty’s last name is Ron’s spelled backwards. Sightline, released after this video is named after my late friend (and many other’s in the Joe community) Gary Head.
Practically every Joe in the original 82-94 run was based on a real person. Almost every one of them was sculpted in the likeness of a Hasbro employee with many of them having their name (or some variation of it) as the figure's file name. An early issue of Tomart's Action Figure Digest (#8, I believe) has a big article showing side-by-side photos of the figures with their Hasbro employee counterparts. As for Owen King, the story from the guys working on the line at that time goes something like this... Stephen King was trying to find whatever was the hot Joe toy that Christmas for his son, Owen, with no luck. In desperation he contacted Marvel to talk to Larry Hama in hopes that he could connect him with the crew at Hasbro about getting said toy. Hama got him in touch with Hasbro and he made his request. The guy in charge of the Joe line at the time (I think it was Kirk Bozigian) told him that they would get him that toy and a bunch of other toys that had yet to be released if he'd write the filecard for Crystal Ball. King initially balked at the offer (I'm-a-big-time-writer,-I-can't-write-copy-for-a-toy) with Bozigian assuring him there are no writing credits on the package, no one will ever know. So King agreed to write the bio for Crystal Ball (which, mentioned below, is based on Vincent Price's likeness) and Owen King got Sneak Peek named after him in the deal. Although legend now has it, that while Stephen King agreed to the deal he actually let Owen write that filecard.
You have most of the details of the story correct, but I would like to correct you on the "I'm too important to write a file card" 'fact' you shared. Stephen King never balked at writing the card because he felt he was too important (if you're familiar with the man and his work, you would realize how stupid that sounds). He was worried that people would get the wrong idea if word got around that he used his influence in some degree to get his son exclusive toys that 'normal' people couldn't get. He didn't want anyone thinking he was throwing his weight around, which is pretty much the exact opposite of what you wrote.
Also, from everything I've heard (which came straight from Larry Hama), Stephen King volunteered to write the card after Larry Hama showed him the prototype and the two got to talking about Vincent Price. King mentioned that he had just watched Price in the movie _Baron of Arizona_ a couple of nights back, in which Price's character pretended to be a gypsy. King said something to the effect of "he should be a gypsy..." and his son Owen, who was there, finished the thought "... from Bangor!" They all had a good laugh, and Hama said, "That's actually a great idea, can I use it for the file card?" King said "Of course."
Owen walked away, distracted by some other cool stuff, and King politely took Hama aside, and stated something to the effect of "I'd love to write the card with you, Larry, if that's fine... it's just, you know, we're doing very well financially now and I would hate if word got around that the bigshot Stephen King marched down to Hasbro and traded some file copy for a huge collection of toys for his spoiled rich brat kid, you see." So Larry Hama tells the story now, only because word has gotten around and he attempts to clarify some of the myths and rumors that are floating around.
You mean there was a hasbro employee who looked like the baroness!???😍
I never knew there was a connection between Stephen King and Crystal Ball from the G.I. Joe toy line before!
An interesting addition to the story, in his 1987 novel, "The Tommyknockers", King mentions the G.I. Joe action figures, along with specifically name checking Crystal Ball, at the climax of a sequence when a disappearing trick performed by a kid goes terrifyingly wrong during a neighborhood magic show.
"All the G.I. Joes!"
@@nohomers100 Doh?! I agree this is a bigger story! The model for Barroness would be hailed at all sci-fi con. And we really want to know!
I'm shocked that you didn't mention Rowdy Roddy Piper on this list. Rip HotRod
+KoolDaznyc Yeah I could have put him in but I decided to limit my selections to the vintage line from 1982-1994. Roddy didn't show up until he was a convention exclusive part of the 25th anniversary line in 2007.
@@MrGrimgut Make your own top 8 video if it means so much to you!
When was Roddy Piper in GIJoe
Oh never mind I see 2007
I waited thru the whole video to see Roddy Piper!
Ha, I hated sgt slaughter! But now I wish I would have kept my tunnel rat figure!! Howard Beale without a doubt for cobra!!
The Fridge was No Joke he was a really really big dude. His SuperBowl ring looks like a bracelet in person.
The Fridge was awesome.
what if hunter s. thompson was a g.i. joe
I think the closest thing to a Hunter S. Thompson action figure was a trade paperback collection of Doonesbury strips from 1991 or 92, which was packaged with an action figure of "Uncle Duke," the character that was based on Thompson (which Thompson hated).
He’d come with a colt python and a barrel of dynamite.
Well that explains why Tunnel Rat is one of the few really good models from that release!
forgot Dusty & Roddy Piper
And Roddy Piper was a real G.I.Joe fan
I heard that Stephen King wrote Crystal Ball's file card
You're right. I heard it as well.
Yes, Dusty's real name is Ron Rudat, who in reality was an illustrator who drew the art work for many of the action figures and vehicles early on. As a thank you, Hasbro based Leatherneck's facial appearance on him. Also Law (Military Policeman from the 1987 series has a facial likeness based on Kirk Bozigian - a Hasbro executive who was one of the driving forces behind G.I.Joe's return in 1982 as The Real American Hero.
Paul Ley Harris and Crystal Balls appearance was inspired by Vincent Price.
G.I.Joe cartoon reporter Hector Ramirez was loosely based on Geraldo Rivera.
It was such a kick - to see Hector Ramirez on both G.I.Joe and Inhumanoids!
He was also on Jem and on Transformers. And Flint and Lady Jaye from GI Joe had a daughter named Marissa who was on Transformers. And a very old Cobra Commander was on Transformers. And the Dreadnoks once formed a band called Cold Slither that was seen with the Misfits on Jem and was listened to by several Autobots. And Sabre Jet from Inhumanoids was Ace from GI Joe. And Checkpoint from COPS was the grandson of Beachhead from GI Joe. They're all connected.
So GI Joe takes place at the same time as Jem. Inhumanoids is very shortly after that. Transformers is a few decades later. COPS is a few decades after that. I'm guessing Hector was dead by then.
@@singaporesammy but they could have had a IDW cinematic universe but nooo.
@@singaporesammy That could be Hector Jr or III.
Cutter based on Dewey Evens makes his Red Sox cap make epic sense! wow
and BTW: Cutter is from Connecticut so his wearing a Sox cap is fitting too especially as he’s the team’s Coast Guard rep and they’re big in Connecticut
HOW ABOUT DON JOHNSON'S GI JOE? That had the same name and outfit for Miami vice
I believe you are referring to Lt. Falcon, the Green Beret. He was introduced in the 1987 animated G.I.Joe movie. It was a pity that they did not bring a Green Beret in the G.I.Joe team until G.I.Joe was already past its prime.
Chuckles. In the movie he says "whoever heard of being shot down by salad" when Cobra la took out their Tomahawk
perfectsplit Don Johnson did the voice of Falcon, but he's talking about Chuckles. Blonde tough guy with Hawaiian shirt and gun in holster character.
@@TheWarriorFrenzy Chuckles didn't say that line in the movie. He had zero lines in the movie. It was actually Law who said it.
Chuckles could be the Manolo character from Scarface.
Mine is Sir Trevor McDonald, he has the balls to interview the Mafia and do a documentary in Death Row.
The Queen & toy collector Oh man, I think you're serious. You actually have a favorite journalist! I wan't prepared for this. Uh... mine is... uh... "Fightin'" Edward R. Murrow!
What about Law, and Leatherneck, based after Kirk Bozigen, and Ron Rudat?
im not sure what year it was, but in the 90's they had a mail away joe, you just needed to send a picture of yourself with it and they made a gi joe that resembled you.
My brother ordered a Steel Brigade figure but it may have been different because he didn't send in a picture. You filled out an order form with the code name and info you wanted and then they'd send a customized bio with the figure whose body was entirely covered with his uniform, including a full helmet.
www.yojoe.com/action/87/steelbrigade.shtml
Henry Thrun Your comment has cast a permanent cloud over my life. No joke, I read it and felt a little sick inside. Im a grown ass man and now feel a little incomplete. Please say it ain't so: you mean to tell me that I could've sent in and had a GI Joe character made after me or whatever profile I sent in?!? Are you freaking serious. That is THE coolest thing that actually existed during my childhood...and I knew nothing about it! Do you realize having one of those characters made would have changed the course of my childhood. Granted, my social status would still have been measured within the realm of the nerds but that would have been a come-up for me. At least I could have had legendary status within an elite group...of fellow geeks. Lol
Don't be too upset. The Steel Brigade figure had a non-removable helmet/mask combo so you couldn't see the face. The only thing that was unique to you was a file card with your info on it, which was kind of cool, but your face wasn't there or anything.
this the same henry from TFW2005? snakeeyes1975 here. I still have one of the mail away sheets. it was multiple choice stuff, and you could personalize the top 3rd of the card with your info, and it showed the helmeted steel brigade guy..never a picture of a kid. thats not correct.
caplin Grey your picture was to put you in the cartoon... knowing is half the battle... Also super trooper was a mail in.
Pretty sure tunnel rat took inspiration from Sergeant Elias play by William Dafoe in the movie Platoon as well!!!...
Scoop was my first G.I. Joe figure! I liked his helmet!
Tollbooth looks exactly like Hugh Downs
SGT. SLAUGHTER has a chin like a canned ham
The counter part to the fridge for cobra the freezer lmao
Bazooka reminds me of Freddie Mercury.
Please look at Gijoe figure HIT AND RUN from 1989.the card art. Even as a wee lad I thought the face was Robert Martin Culp. Our very own Bill Maxwell character from THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO.
Exactly. Even as a kid I thought it was the spitting image of Robert Martin Culp.
I'm glad someone else sees. do you think its possible he's the model. not up close in studio but a magazine article or movie poster. I could see the artist putting him in their if it was one of his favorite actors.
or boringly simple, just resemblence.
I thought this would be about actual soldiers. That would be way cooler if GI Joe figures paid homage to real American heroes.
IIRC there was a line of 12" Figures (old school Joe style) in the late 90s/early 00s that did that
I’m loving these joe videos and I hope you don’t mind but I screenshotted the Hama as god piece! That was golden!!!!!
Torch was based on Lemmy.
Sgt. Slaughter. The name says it all.
(Hasbro is located in Rhode island so you see the patriots connection)
What happened to GI Joe Sgt Slaughter when Pro Wrestling Sgt Slaughter turned heel and became an Iraqi sympathizer?
In real life? Slaughter beat Hogan and Vince McMahon decided to have Slaughter's family put up in a hotel. They changed from a larger venue to a smaller one for security purposes.... People were MAD. (And yes I know it's scripted)
Well I can tell you that more slaughter toys bit the dust by hammer and m80 than ever before during the Iraqi war, kids in my town were more than pissed at WWF and slaughter for that heel arc.
you forgot Walter Barabas
Steven Kings son Owen created the character Crystal Ball. So as a thanks Hasbro named Sneak Peak Owen King.
Hasbro may have also used Owen's likeness. I always thought the card art and figure for Sneak Peek looked odd, like an adult with a child's face. He looks like the Campbell's soup kid with this rosy cheeks.
sgt slaughter was my favorite. he was awesome in the cartoon.
There is a board game and a RPG game that has come out over the last two years via Kickstarters. Both are basically G.I. Joe ripoffs with setting and background material with group names of Freedom Force and V.E.N.O.M. The leader of the "Good guys" is drawn as a recolored Miles M. from Mask, and on the cover of the RPG is a character that is a clearly a knockoff Sargent Slaughter Pro Wrestlers Copyright their name and image, like Clowns do, so these game are just a copyright lawsuit waiting to happen.
There is a ninth, Hasbro did a re-issue of the larger figures from the original G.I. Joe line, and added a Buzz Aldrian figure, the second man to walk in the Moon (Neil before him :-) )
In "The Toys That Made Us" documentary series on Netflix (highly recommended), Law, of the Law & Order team is revealed to be based on Kirk Bozigian, a top Hasbro executive who pretty much was responsible for bringing the brand back to life in 3 3/4" form.
Shipwreck... Jack Nicholson?
💯
Favorite journalist? I would totally have bought an Andy Rooney GI Joe figure. Of course I bought every figure from '84-'89, so I'm probably not a good judge.
Larry Hama also did a bit part on MASH playing a North Korean soldier who infiltrated the 4077th, stole some medical supplies, and kidnapped Frank Burns, then kicking Frank out of the Jeep a mile down thw road.
Barbra Walters. And could you imagine Cobra getting Geraldo Rivera and having him not find whatever he was searching for and Cobra Commander being all,”Geraldo!! Your incompetence is only overshadowed by your stupid mustache!”
Doc was also based on a Hasbro designer. For My Little Pony, of all things...
Law & Order was modeled for a Hasbro Executive Kirk Bozigian who was responsible for launching the ARAH line
There was a late 80s TV show called, China Beach. I always believed that there was a character on there based off of Tunnel Rat, played by actor Jeff Kober. He had black face paint and a rag on his head. I strongly believe the show ripped from this Joe as they were trying to find characters to fill a show. Tunnel Rat was released in 87, with the show debuting the following year in 88.
What about Dusty being named Ronald Tadur, or "Rudat" spelled backwards? Too much of a stretch for this video????
I wish we had a Rocky figure
I know. It's completely and utterly ridiculous yet awesome at the same damn time.
You forgot Bullet Proof based on famous shoe designer E.Scott Morris. www.yojoe.com/action/92/bulletproof.shtml
I had big boa,Sgt slaughter,bazooka,tunnel rat,sneakpeek,the fridge,scoop an the Hoover craft driver
I always thought Cross Country looked like he was based on Rick Moranis. The real question there would be.... why?
Why didn’t they make them resemble Medal of Honor recipients or something? Guess there’s more money in football players and random writers.
If the toys were to honor the people then why did Hasbro let a saw viper kill sneak peek, aka Owen king, and why let the cartoon make leonard Michael aka scoop a Cobra traitor?
Need to even those sideburns up, dan. They're cut to the middle of each ear but your ears are uneven, (most ppls are). Making your burns uneven
Journalistic integrity...lol
What a contradiction in terms 😂😂😂😂
I have a comic where Sneak Peak and Batlledforce 2000 were killed when Cobra commander set oil field on fire.
thats a Daring question,.,.,.
who is yer favourite journalist!?!?
I remember sending away for the Fridge. lol came with a football that was supposed to be a grenade.
What about Rock N Roll?? He's an exact match to the actor Ty Hardin who played Ensign Leonard Thom in the 1963 movie PT 109.
Hes also the 'blonde bearded adventurer' from 70s 12 inch generic figures.. Snow Job is the red beard. Clutch is the brown beard.
Did they have make your own Joe? Looks like snakes eye v3 but they gave you a file card with your name on it