Greenshirts (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
Greenshirts is a term applied to the generic-looking soldiers from the cartoon G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. The Greenshirts are the equivalent of "extras" in that they are in the story to serve merely as background characters and have little to no speaking parts. Due to the unique look of each G.I. Joe
member, it became a problem for Sunbow
animators to render the G.I. Joe Team, especially for all-out battle scenes. The solution was to create generic G.I. Joe soldiers. This also addressed a problem not brought up in the comics: Cobra would outnumber the Joes.
The appearance of the Greenshirts are based upon the G.I. Joe team member Grunt
, the Joe Team
's infantry squad leader.
Greenshirts are introduced in the second issue of the series. Some are introduced by name. There is Tony Beuke, F.B.I. agent. Shipwreck meets Chief Petty Officer David Adcox. Paige Adams shows off her shooting skills. Crawford defeats Gung-Ho in a sparring session. Greenshirts and veteran Joes are sent on a ground assault on the Florida Everglades Dreadnoks
base. Many die, including one who sacrifices himself to save Stalker
from a H.I.S.S. tank.
Several Greenshirts are featured in issue #4 of the 'Real American Hero' series. They are part of a combined military force defending the White House
from advancing Cobra forces. Many Greenshirts die in the battle, though Cobra suffers more losses and are forced to retreat.
One Greenshirt in particular is featured in issue #9. When Storm Shadow
infiltrates a Joe facility in an attempt to slay General Hawk
, he ultimately takes a Greenshirt and Beach Head hostage. The Greenshirt tells the other Joes to 'do what they have to do' but is ordered to be silent. Storm Shadow literally throws him around, then uses his uniform as a double-distraction escape. General Hawk, Beachhead and the Greenshirt survive.
Five Greenshirts play a prominent role in the Devil's Due G.I. Joe issue #17. Flashbacks show general training for the recruits, with special focus on Corporal Eddie Shrote. At first they think it will just be a repeat of boot camp, which all have gone through before. They soon learn it is much more, as G.I. Joe basic training involves live fire. Beachhead takes them on a dangerous mission deep into a hostile city. The team learns to work together to accomplish their goals, up to and including disobeying direct orders. Many Greenshirts get half-satirical code names throughout their training, but Beachhead's squad gets simple numbers.
Joe agent Chuckles
, after his faked death, is sent to a Joe safehouse near Sudell, Louisiana. It is manned by four Greenshirts. Zandar
and The Baroness
attack; all four Greenshirts are slain.
Four greenshirts, Lowe, Ward, Smith and Rosen, are riding with a Joe escorting Serpentor
clones when the man himself attacks. All four Greenshirts, along with the computer expert Daemon, are slain. Multiple greenshirts are assigned as part of the task force to take out Serpentor on Cobra Island
. Harrison, a pilot, almost kills Serpentor by aiming a malfunctioning plane at him.
to steal data. He even gains the admiration of the Crimson Twins for his business sense. Regardless, the twins still attempt to kill him, but he escapes the island. He also strikes up a friendship with the new Joe recruit, former Oktober Guard member Daina Janack.
Later, the status of Greenshirts changes. New recruits will be trained at various military bases, without yet knowing that the G.I. Joe Team exists. Those Greenshirts that do know of the G.I. Joe Team will be upgraded to "cadet" status.
for many years avoided producing a Greenshirt figure, as several members of the designing and writing teams didn't want to have "nameless" G.I. Joe figures for various reasons. This was circumvented with the 2005 "Infantry Team" figure six-pack, which featured six figures designed to look like the cartoon's Greenshirts. Each figure was given a separate filecard with a blank file name and codename for the buyer to fill in their own details, in essence making them "named" characters. Two of these are darker-skinned men.
In the UK equivalent of the toy line, produced by Palitoy
and known as Action Force
, the Grunt action figure was re-designated as a generic infantryman, available as a mail-in promotion in 1985-6. These characters also appeared in the contemporary Battle Action Force comic. It is not clear whether there was any direct connection between this and the "Greenshirts" of the American cartoon.
After Hasbro
and Marvel
took over the toy-line and comic in 1987, the generic "infantryman" figure disappeared.
In 2008, as part of Hasbro's 25th Anniversary G.I. Joe line, a 5-figure boxed set was released featuring Cobra villain Firefly opposed by four generic G.I. Joe troopers.
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
member, it became a problem for Sunbow
Sunbow Productions
Sunbow Entertainment was an animation studio, founded in 1980 and owned up until 1998 by Griffin-Bacal Advertising in New York. The first animation efforts by Griffin-Bacal were producing the animated commercials for Hasbro's G.I...
animators to render the G.I. Joe Team, especially for all-out battle scenes. The solution was to create generic G.I. Joe soldiers. This also addressed a problem not brought up in the comics: Cobra would outnumber the Joes.
The appearance of the Greenshirts are based upon the G.I. Joe team member Grunt
Grunt (G.I. Joe)
Grunt is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is an infantryman with the G.I. Joe Team and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
, the Joe Team
G.I. Joe Team
G.I. Joe is the code name of an elite covert special forces unit operating under the control of the United States Military in the fictional G.I. Joe universe....
's infantry squad leader.
Devil's Due comics
The name "Greenshirts" came to use within canon with the release of new G.I. Joe comics from Devil's Due Productions. In this continuity, the Greenshirts were soldiers used as support troops for the main G.I. Joe team. The Greenshirts were broken into three different types, infantry, navy and air force. Some of them have been given personalities and play slightly bigger roles, even gaining Joe code-names and more prominent roles.Greenshirts are introduced in the second issue of the series. Some are introduced by name. There is Tony Beuke, F.B.I. agent. Shipwreck meets Chief Petty Officer David Adcox. Paige Adams shows off her shooting skills. Crawford defeats Gung-Ho in a sparring session. Greenshirts and veteran Joes are sent on a ground assault on the Florida Everglades Dreadnoks
Dreadnoks
The Dreadnoks are a fictional biker gang who act as villains in the G.I. Joe saga, which have been represented in several types of media, including toylines , comic books series , and television cartoons .All Dreadnoks are uncouth and violent, and usually engage their enemies with...
base. Many die, including one who sacrifices himself to save 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...
from a H.I.S.S. tank.
Several Greenshirts are featured in issue #4 of the 'Real American Hero' series. They are part of a combined military force defending the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
from advancing Cobra forces. Many Greenshirts die in the battle, though Cobra suffers more losses and are forced to retreat.
One Greenshirt in particular is featured in issue #9. When Storm Shadow
Storm Shadow (G.I. Joe)
Storm Shadow is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series and television shows. The character is best known for his history with fellow ninja Snake Eyes...
infiltrates a Joe facility in an attempt to slay General Hawk
Hawk (G.I. Joe)
Hawk is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys. He appears in the animated series, comic books, toyline, and movie.-Profile:...
, he ultimately takes a Greenshirt and Beach Head hostage. The Greenshirt tells the other Joes to 'do what they have to do' but is ordered to be silent. Storm Shadow literally throws him around, then uses his uniform as a double-distraction escape. General Hawk, Beachhead and the Greenshirt survive.
Five Greenshirts play a prominent role in the Devil's Due G.I. Joe issue #17. Flashbacks show general training for the recruits, with special focus on Corporal Eddie Shrote. At first they think it will just be a repeat of boot camp, which all have gone through before. They soon learn it is much more, as G.I. Joe basic training involves live fire. Beachhead takes them on a dangerous mission deep into a hostile city. The team learns to work together to accomplish their goals, up to and including disobeying direct orders. Many Greenshirts get half-satirical code names throughout their training, but Beachhead's squad gets simple numbers.
Joe agent Chuckles
Chuckles (G.I. Joe)
Chuckles is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's undercover specialist and debuted in 1987.-Profile:...
, after his faked death, is sent to a Joe safehouse near Sudell, Louisiana. It is manned by four Greenshirts. Zandar
Zandar
Zandar is an adversary in the cartoon, toy and comic book line of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero fictional universe.-Profile:Zandar is the brother of Zartan and Zarana. He is a member of the Dreadnoks, mercenaries who worked for Cobra and enemies of G.I. Joe. While he possesses skill in...
and The Baroness
Baroness (G.I. Joe)
The Baroness is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline by Hasbro, originally appearing in the first issue of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic series by Marvel Comics in June, 1982. The Baroness is a villain, usually associated with G.I. Joe's enemy, Cobra.Baroness...
attack; all four Greenshirts are slain.
Four greenshirts, Lowe, Ward, Smith and Rosen, are riding with a Joe escorting Serpentor
Serpentor
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:...
clones when the man himself attacks. All four Greenshirts, along with the computer expert Daemon, are slain. Multiple greenshirts are assigned as part of the task force to take out Serpentor 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...
. Harrison, a pilot, almost kills Serpentor by aiming a malfunctioning plane at him.
Barrel Roll
In issue #28, four Greenshirts graduate to official G.I. Joe status: Sgt. Nick Landon becomes "Depth Charge", Sgt. Paige Adams gains the code name "Mayday", David Adcox becomes "Mariner", and Lt. Dwight Stall is now Barrel Roll. Barrel Roll was then the focus of the next few issues, when he infiltrates Cobra IslandCobra 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...
to steal data. He even gains the admiration of the Crimson Twins for his business sense. Regardless, the twins still attempt to kill him, but he escapes the island. He also strikes up a friendship with the new Joe recruit, former Oktober Guard member Daina Janack.
Later, the status of Greenshirts changes. New recruits will be trained at various military bases, without yet knowing that the G.I. Joe Team exists. Those Greenshirts that do know of the G.I. Joe Team will be upgraded to "cadet" status.
Toys
HasbroHasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
for many years avoided producing a Greenshirt figure, as several members of the designing and writing teams didn't want to have "nameless" G.I. Joe figures for various reasons. This was circumvented with the 2005 "Infantry Team" figure six-pack, which featured six figures designed to look like the cartoon's Greenshirts. Each figure was given a separate filecard with a blank file name and codename for the buyer to fill in their own details, in essence making them "named" characters. Two of these are darker-skinned men.
In the UK equivalent of the toy line, produced by Palitoy
Palitoy
Palitoy was the name of a British toy company.It manufactured some of the most popular toys in Britain, some original items and others under licence...
and known as Action Force
Action Force
Action Force was a 1980s range of European action figures initially based on Action Man, and later used to introduce G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toys to European markets...
, the Grunt action figure was re-designated as a generic infantryman, available as a mail-in promotion in 1985-6. These characters also appeared in the contemporary Battle Action Force comic. It is not clear whether there was any direct connection between this and the "Greenshirts" of the American cartoon.
After Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
and Marvel
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...
took over the toy-line and comic in 1987, the generic "infantryman" figure disappeared.
In 2008, as part of Hasbro's 25th Anniversary G.I. Joe line, a 5-figure boxed set was released featuring Cobra villain Firefly opposed by four generic G.I. Joe troopers.