Spotlight on a Fictional Fantasy Fan: Which G.I. Joe Team Member Dug Sci-Fi?

Spotlight on a Fictional Fantasy Fan: Which G.I. Joe Team Member Dug Sci-Fi?

Joe-Poster
Poster depicting most of the ’82 – ’87 Joe team. Art by Ian Fell

Anyone else out there grow up immersed in the adventures of those Real American Heroes, the Joes? Back in the early ’80s, via the Larry-Hama penned Marvel comic, the Hasbro toys, and the television cartoon, they were a big part of my landscape.

 

There was one member of the Joe team who, if he were real, might be reading Black Gate today. Which G.I. Joe team member read science fiction and comic books? Click on the “READ MORE” tab for the answer…

grandslam82

The answer is Grand Slam, the Laser Artillery Soldier. According to the note on his File Card:

“He’s soft-spoken and calm — just a bit shy. Intelligent. Loves to read escapist fantasy (science fiction and comic books).”

Sounds like he’d be an interesting Joe to hang out with. And he got to shoot laser cannons.

If you’re feeling nostalgic now for your old Grand Slam action figure (1982), he typically fetches around $15 – 20 on eBay in good condition with his helmet/visor and file card. If you want  the H.A.L. (Heavy Artillery Laser) cannon he originally came packaged with, you can find that for another $15 – 20. You want ’em both together in the original box? Be prepared to fork over triple digits.

 

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Thomas Parker

I was in the Army from 1982 to 85, and I don’t see anyone I knew in that poster. I must have been stationed at the wrong post.

James McGlothlin

One cannot fail to note that since the Laser Artillery Soldier read escapist literature, this is just another piece of evidence showing that SF&F fans are all actually violent people!

thehessiangoeshome

Not sure what constitutes escapist fantasy in escapist fantasy, but I just want to point out that when I was in Iraq with the infantry in 2005, when guys were off mission lots of them played “Call of Duty”. Seriously.
Myself, I played lots of Halo 2, which is “escapist” in that it’s aliens shooting at you, not other humans.


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