Grand Slam (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
Grand Slam is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. Grand Slam is the G.I. Joe Team's original laser
artillery
soldier.
, and graduated top of his class from Special Weapons School. He has an uncanny ability to estimate distances and plot trajectories with amazing accuracy. He is also noted for being an introvert, losing himself in escapist fantasy such as science fiction novels and comic books.
exclusive.
ever since his debut in 1982. He appeared often in both the Marvel Comics
series and the Devil's Due Publishing
series. He also appeared in the new IDW Publishing
series
and in several alternate continuities.
G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 (June 1982), along with the rest of the original team. The entire team attacks a Cobra stronghold to retrieve Dr. Adele Burkhart, a famous pacifist and scientist with national secrets. The mission is successful, though Cobra Commander escapes.
Several months later, after a battle at the United States Treasury building
, Grand Slam and Stalker
spot Major Bludd
trying to escape Washington, D.C. aboard a hijacked bus. The two Joes pursue Bludd on a RAM motorcycle. Grand Slam climbes on top of the moving bus and kicks through the glass front window. He subdues Major Bludd with several punches. These wounds are then exaggerated by Bludd and a Cobra agent doctor. The two accuse Grand Slam of excessive force as part of an escape plot that ultimately fails.
Grand Slam is also featured in G.I. Joe #59 (May 1987). He and other Joe soldiers are attacked by Cobra forces while returning from weapon testing. He appears in issue 82, supervising the new Joes Repeater, Budo and Lightfoot
.
in the second Cobra civil war. Like the first one, this takes place on Cobra Island
. Later, he is one of the guards for Scrap-Iron and Major Bludd
at Blackwater Prison.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. Grand Slam is the G.I. Joe Team's original laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
soldier.
Profile
His real name is James J. Barney, and his rank is that of sergeant E-5. Grand Slam was born in Chippewa Falls, WisconsinChippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 13,661 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa County....
, and graduated top of his class from Special Weapons School. He has an uncanny ability to estimate distances and plot trajectories with amazing accuracy. He is also noted for being an introvert, losing himself in escapist fantasy such as science fiction novels and comic books.
Toys
Grand Slam appeared first as part of the original 1982 toy line, and was packaged with the "HAL" (Heavy Artillery Laser). In 1983, the Grand Slam figure was repackaged with the JUMP, and he was a recast as a laser jet pack soldier. In 2007, a brand new incarnation of Grand Slam was released in the 8" Sigma 6 line. This was the only Grand Slam toy to ever feature a unique head sculpt. Every other version of him used a repainted head from a different character. A 25th Anniversary/Modern Era figure was released with a recolored SHARC in 2008. A Rise of Cobra figure was released as a Target exclusive with a different color scheme and lower legs. Another movie figure using the original 25th Anniversary mold was packaged with Hawk and Laser Artillery Weapon as a Wal-MartWal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
exclusive.
Comics
Grand Slam has been a fixture in G.I. Joe comicsG.I. Joe (comics)
G.I. Joe has been the title of comic strips and comic books in every decade since 1942. As a licensed property by Hasbro, comics have been released from 1967 to present, with only two interruptions longer than a year . As a team fighting Cobra since 1982, the comic book history of G.I...
ever since his debut in 1982. He appeared often in both the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
series and the Devil's Due Publishing
Devil's Due Publishing
Devil's Due Publishing is an independent comic book publishers in the United States. Based in Chicago, Illinois, DDP is best known for its wide selection of genres, including licensed and original creator-owned properties that populate its monthly comic book series and graphic novels.Though...
series. He also appeared in the new IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
series
G.I. Joe (IDW Publishing)
G.I. Joe is a comic book series by IDW Publishing, based upon Hasbro's G.I. Joe characters and toy line.The series is marketed as three ongoing series , two mini-series and a small series of one-shots...
and in several alternate continuities.
Marvel Comics
In the Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 (June 1982), along with the rest of the original team. The entire team attacks a Cobra stronghold to retrieve Dr. Adele Burkhart, a famous pacifist and scientist with national secrets. The mission is successful, though Cobra Commander escapes.
Several months later, after a battle at the United States Treasury building
Treasury Building (Washington, D.C.)
The Treasury Building in Washington, D.C. is a National Historic Landmark building which is the headquarters of the United States Department of the Treasury....
, Grand Slam and Stalker
Stalker (G.I. Joe)
Stalker is the code name of Army Sergeant Lonzo R. Wilkinson, a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series. He is one of very few characters from the first line of the toys to have a distinct appearance from the other action figures, as he is African-American. Stalker was a major...
spot Major Bludd
Major Bludd
Major Bludd , is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of the 1980s. Appearing in both the comic books and the cartoons, Major Bludd is one of the series villains, a mercenary working for the Cobra Organization.-Toy:Major Bludd first appeared in 1983, he has had 6...
trying to escape Washington, D.C. aboard a hijacked bus. The two Joes pursue Bludd on a RAM motorcycle. Grand Slam climbes on top of the moving bus and kicks through the glass front window. He subdues Major Bludd with several punches. These wounds are then exaggerated by Bludd and a Cobra agent doctor. The two accuse Grand Slam of excessive force as part of an escape plot that ultimately fails.
Grand Slam is also featured in G.I. Joe #59 (May 1987). He and other Joe soldiers are attacked by Cobra forces while returning from weapon testing. He appears in issue 82, supervising the new Joes Repeater, Budo and Lightfoot
Lightfoot (G.I. Joe)
Lightfoot is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's explosives expert and debuted in 1988.-Profile:...
.
Devil's Due
He has appeared in the many of the Joe comics produced by Devil's Due. Grand Slam is one of the many Joes called back into action to fight against SerpentorSerpentor
Serpentor is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. The character was introduced in 1986 as a toy with an air chariot and included in the animated series that same year.-Toys:...
in the second Cobra civil war. Like the first one, this takes place on Cobra Island
Cobra Island
Cobra Island is a fictional country located in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the main base of operations for the fictional Cobra Organization featured in the G.I. Joe toyline from the 1980s. It is featured in the G.I. Joe cartoon and the comic book series created by Marvel Comics and Devil's Due...
. Later, he is one of the guards for Scrap-Iron and Major Bludd
Major Bludd
Major Bludd , is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of the 1980s. Appearing in both the comic books and the cartoons, Major Bludd is one of the series villains, a mercenary working for the Cobra Organization.-Toy:Major Bludd first appeared in 1983, he has had 6...
at Blackwater Prison.
IDW
Grand Slam had very little exposure in the IDW reboot of the comic. He first appeared in G.I. Joe Origins #7, but he was unceremoniously killed by a sniper on the same page in which he was introduced.Sunbow
Grand Slam appeared in the original G.I. Joe animated series. However, he only appears in the opening to the A Real American Hero mini-series, making him the only one of the original Joes to not have a significant appearance in the animated series.External links
- Grand Slam at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page