Heavy Duty (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
Heavy Duty is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
series of toy lines, comics and cartoons. Heavy Duty is the G.I. Joe Team's heavy ordnance
specialist. He is described as being unafraid of any situation despite heavy enemy fire. He is also the cousin of Roadblock
, and shares the same passion for cooking and speaking in rhyme.
, Illinois
. Heavy Duty grew up with a passion for metropolitan living, expressing it through classical guitars and Bach
. After enlisting in the Army, he discovered that many of his skills in music also applied to heavy weapons: coordination, dexterity and multi-tasking. His extreme strength and grasp of advanced weapon systems, brought him to the attention of the G.I. Joe Team.
When the G.I. Joe team disbanded, Heavy Duty returned to his hometown of Chicago, and opened a small, home-based recording studio, where he recorded his renditions of popular classical pieces on guitar. He returned to the team when they were reinstated, and when Roadblock did not initially return to G.I. Joe, Heavy Duty also attempted to fill in his cousin's role as a cook. However, his culinary skills weren't nearly as enthusiastic, and Heavy Duty tended to improvise ingredients and methods.
Roadblock returned when the team roster was scaled down into an elite unit, and a hungry bunch of Joes greatly welcomed him back.
toyline. A new version of Heavy Duty was released in 1993 as part of the Star Brigade
line. Although he appeared in very minimal roles in other G.I. Joe media, Heavy Duty was still able to attain some level of popularity despite appearing late in the series. He is one of very few characters from that time to cross over to the G.I. Joe revival in 2002 and is included in G.I. Joe: Sigma 6
. He has had several editions of action figures since then.
. He was among the group of Joes who defended the Pit
from an assault by Cobra.
.
He is later seen in Istanbul
, Turkey
. He is helping fellow Joes Bombstrike and Taurus fight Cobra soldiers.
. He is featured in a two part story. He is part of a running battle in Chicago against an out of control Battle Android Trooper and a group of Dreadnoks and Cobra soldiers. He is wounded halfway through but still continues the fight with the help of other Joes such as Jinx
and Lady Jaye
. Firefly
takes the 'B.A.T.' and most of the Cobras are arrested.
. Heavy Duty appears in several episodes in the DiC-produced third and fourth seasons of the original G.I. Joe TV series.
, Heavy Duty returns with a more colorful personality, albeit as one who loves explosives. It is mentioned in the film that he is Roadblock's
cousin. Like his relative, he shares the same passion in cooking, if not the skills. He returns in G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom
, and is voiced in both movies by Blu Mankuma
.
. He does not possess the same refinement as his original incarnation. This Heavy Duty is more preoccupied with his brawn, and shows off his muscles as much as he can. He is usually paired with fellow teammate Tunnel Rat
.
episode "Knockoffs", it is revealed Roadblock
has a cousin named Hershel. This is probably a reference to the film version of Heavy Duty, instead of his original counterpart.
This was confirmed in "Cousins" when Flint and Lady Jaye call upon Corporal
Hershel Dalton when it comes to tracking his cousin Roadblock. In exchange for bringing in Roadblock, Heavy Duty will join the Falcons. It's revealed that Heavy Duty doesn't like Roadblock because of something that went wrong in the past. That's why Heavy Duty moved away from his hometown of Biloxi, Mississippi
and moved away to go to college and later live in Idaho
. Heavy Duty manages to ambush Roadblock after their grandfather's funeral (Captain Jefferson Hinton who served as a pilot in the Tuskegee Airmen
). The two of them are then ambushed by Major Bludd which ends up with Heavy Duty handcuffing himself to Roadblock. Heavy Duty drags Roadblock into his car which leads them into a car chase until Major Bludd ends up blowing up the bridge. Due to Major Bludd firing his laser onto the car as it was sinking, Heavy Duty loses the keys to his handcuffs. Heavy Duty manages to pull himself and Roadblock out of the river and ending up in the swamp while evading alligators. Heavy Duty was surprised that Roadblock was able to fight off the alligator. Major Bludd attacks them in a swamp boat as Roadblock saves Heavy Duty from a snake. After a brief fight, Roadblock and Heavy Duty try to break the handcuffs as Major Bludd arrives and captures them. While Major Bludd prepares a trap for the others, Roadblock and Heavy Duty work to get out the handcuffs. When an alligator attacks them, Snake Eyes ends up scaring the alligator away. Roadblock and Heavy Duty then join the other Joes in fighting off Major Bludd and Baroness. After the fight, Roadblock and Heavy Duty return to their grandmother's house where she revealed that their grandmother had given his inheritance to both of them making Heavy Duty animosity towards his cousin to end. It was then revealed that Hershel had been nicknamed by Grandma. She said when Hershel was a baby that he could fill up a diaper like no ones business hence the name Heavy Duty. When Heavy Duty wonders how he is going to explain all of this to Flint, Roadblock tells him that he'll think of something.
portrays Heavy Duty in the live action movie. However, his filecard states his name is Hershel Dalton. His background is also rebooted that he was originally a member of the British Armed Forces prior to becoming a G.I. Joe member. He also serves as field commander of the team.
voiced by Rodney Saulsberry
.
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...
series of toy lines, comics and cartoons. Heavy Duty is the G.I. Joe Team's heavy ordnance
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
specialist. He is described as being unafraid of any situation despite heavy enemy fire. He is also the cousin of Roadblock
Roadblock (G.I. Joe)
Roadblock is a character from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toys, comics and cartoons. He is one of the most prominent African-Americans in the series. His primary function in G.I. Joe is as a heavy machine gunner and a secondary function as a cook.-Fictional character...
, and shares the same passion for cooking and speaking in rhyme.
Profile
His original file card indicates that his real name is Lamont A. Morris, and that he was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Heavy Duty grew up with a passion for metropolitan living, expressing it through classical guitars and Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
. After enlisting in the Army, he discovered that many of his skills in music also applied to heavy weapons: coordination, dexterity and multi-tasking. His extreme strength and grasp of advanced weapon systems, brought him to the attention of the G.I. Joe Team.
When the G.I. Joe team disbanded, Heavy Duty returned to his hometown of Chicago, and opened a small, home-based recording studio, where he recorded his renditions of popular classical pieces on guitar. He returned to the team when they were reinstated, and when Roadblock did not initially return to G.I. Joe, Heavy Duty also attempted to fill in his cousin's role as a cook. However, his culinary skills weren't nearly as enthusiastic, and Heavy Duty tended to improvise ingredients and methods.
Roadblock returned when the team roster was scaled down into an elite unit, and a hungry bunch of Joes greatly welcomed him back.
Toy history
The first appearance of Heavy Duty was in the 1991 lineup of the G.I. Joe: A Real American HeroG.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. A new version of Heavy Duty was released in 1993 as part of the Star Brigade
Star Brigade
The Star Brigade is a fictional sub-team from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. With specialized space suits and accessories, these high-tech astronauts were designed to protect the universe from Cobra and the Lunartix Empire.-Toys:All of the Star Brigade...
line. Although he appeared in very minimal roles in other G.I. Joe media, Heavy Duty was still able to attain some level of popularity despite appearing late in the series. He is one of very few characters from that time to cross over to the G.I. Joe revival in 2002 and is included in G.I. Joe: Sigma 6
G.I. Joe: Sigma 6
G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 is a line of military-themed action figures and toys produced by Hasbro, re-imagining the characters of the 1980s toyline, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.The Sigma 6 toy line served several purposes for Hasbro...
. He has had several editions of action figures since then.
Marvel Comics
In other media, Heavy Duty first appeared in issue #130 of the G.I. Joe comics published by 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...
. He was among the group of Joes who defended the Pit
The Pit (G.I. Joe)
The Pit is the fictional headquarters of the specialist G.I. Joe team from the 1980s Marvel comic book created by Larry Hama. It is a multi-level underground base complete with training facilities, living quarters, a briefing room, and heavy equipment storage....
from an assault by Cobra.
Devil's Due
He appeared in an issue in the comics published by Devil's DueDevil'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...
.
He is later seen in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. He is helping fellow Joes Bombstrike and Taurus fight Cobra soldiers.
IDW comic
In the IDW/Devil's Due series, there is a key character with the codename Heavy Duty, but with the personality and physical looks of RoadblockRoadblock (G.I. Joe)
Roadblock is a character from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toys, comics and cartoons. He is one of the most prominent African-Americans in the series. His primary function in G.I. Joe is as a heavy machine gunner and a secondary function as a cook.-Fictional character...
. He is featured in a two part story. He is part of a running battle in Chicago against an out of control Battle Android Trooper and a group of Dreadnoks and Cobra soldiers. He is wounded halfway through but still continues the fight with the help of other Joes such as Jinx
Jinx (G.I. Joe)
Jinx is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. She debuted in 1987, and her code name has also been the identity of several other incarnations of the same female ninja character: one of Snake-Eyes' apprentices in Sigma 6, Chuckles'...
and Lady Jaye
Lady Jaye (G.I. Joe)
Lady Jaye is a fictional character in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. She was originally created as a character for the Sunbow cartoon series in 1984, and later produced as an action figure, and finally introduced into the comic book in 1985. Lady Jaye is...
. Firefly
Firefly (G.I. Joe)
Firefly is a fictional character in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero universe. He is a mercenary who works for the Cobra Organization as a saboteur.-Profile:...
takes the 'B.A.T.' and most of the Cobras are arrested.
DiC cartoon
He was also featured in the first and second season of the second animated seriesG.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1989 TV series)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a half-hour American animated television series based on the successful toyline from Hasbro and the comic book series from Marvel Comics. The series was produced by DIC Entertainment and ran from 1989 to 1991....
. Heavy Duty appears in several episodes in the DiC-produced third and fourth seasons of the original G.I. Joe TV series.
Spy Troops and Valor vs. Venom
In the direct-to-video CGI animated movie G.I. Joe: Spy TroopsG.I. Joe: Spy Troops
G.I. Joe: Spy Troops is a 2003 direct-to-video CGI animated movie produced by Reel FX Creative Studios. Spy Troops is the first G.I. Joe movie to be released by Reel FX....
, Heavy Duty returns with a more colorful personality, albeit as one who loves explosives. It is mentioned in the film that he is Roadblock's
Roadblock (G.I. Joe)
Roadblock is a character from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toys, comics and cartoons. He is one of the most prominent African-Americans in the series. His primary function in G.I. Joe is as a heavy machine gunner and a secondary function as a cook.-Fictional character...
cousin. Like his relative, he shares the same passion in cooking, if not the skills. He returns in G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom
G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom
G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom is a direct-to-video CGI animated movie and sequel to G.I. Joe: Spy Troops. It was released in 2004 by Reel FX Creative Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Like Spy Troops, the film was written around the theme of the toys released that year. In this case, it...
, and is voiced in both movies by Blu Mankuma
Blu Mankuma
Blu Mankuma is an American actor. He has appeared in numerous Canadian and American productions filmed in Canada.Mankuma was born in Seattle, Washington...
.
Sigma 6
Heavy Duty co-stars in the new series, G.I. Joe: Sigma 6G.I. Joe: Sigma 6
G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 is a line of military-themed action figures and toys produced by Hasbro, re-imagining the characters of the 1980s toyline, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.The Sigma 6 toy line served several purposes for Hasbro...
. He does not possess the same refinement as his original incarnation. This Heavy Duty is more preoccupied with his brawn, and shows off his muscles as much as he can. He is usually paired with fellow teammate Tunnel Rat
Tunnel Rat (G.I. Joe)
Tunnel Rat is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline. He has appeared in all cartoon and comic incarnations of the series.-Profile:...
.
Renegades
In the G.I. Joe: RenegadesG.I. Joe: Renegades
G.I. Joe: Renegades is an American animated television series based on the G.I. Joe toy franchise. The series premiered on November 26, 2010 on The Hub. The series aired on Teletoon in Canada....
episode "Knockoffs", it is revealed Roadblock
Roadblock (G.I. Joe)
Roadblock is a character from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toys, comics and cartoons. He is one of the most prominent African-Americans in the series. His primary function in G.I. Joe is as a heavy machine gunner and a secondary function as a cook.-Fictional character...
has a cousin named Hershel. This is probably a reference to the film version of Heavy Duty, instead of his original counterpart.
This was confirmed in "Cousins" when Flint and Lady Jaye call upon Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
Hershel Dalton when it comes to tracking his cousin Roadblock. In exchange for bringing in Roadblock, Heavy Duty will join the Falcons. It's revealed that Heavy Duty doesn't like Roadblock because of something that went wrong in the past. That's why Heavy Duty moved away from his hometown of Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
and moved away to go to college and later live in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Heavy Duty manages to ambush Roadblock after their grandfather's funeral (Captain Jefferson Hinton who served as a pilot in the Tuskegee Airmen
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....
). The two of them are then ambushed by Major Bludd which ends up with Heavy Duty handcuffing himself to Roadblock. Heavy Duty drags Roadblock into his car which leads them into a car chase until Major Bludd ends up blowing up the bridge. Due to Major Bludd firing his laser onto the car as it was sinking, Heavy Duty loses the keys to his handcuffs. Heavy Duty manages to pull himself and Roadblock out of the river and ending up in the swamp while evading alligators. Heavy Duty was surprised that Roadblock was able to fight off the alligator. Major Bludd attacks them in a swamp boat as Roadblock saves Heavy Duty from a snake. After a brief fight, Roadblock and Heavy Duty try to break the handcuffs as Major Bludd arrives and captures them. While Major Bludd prepares a trap for the others, Roadblock and Heavy Duty work to get out the handcuffs. When an alligator attacks them, Snake Eyes ends up scaring the alligator away. Roadblock and Heavy Duty then join the other Joes in fighting off Major Bludd and Baroness. After the fight, Roadblock and Heavy Duty return to their grandmother's house where she revealed that their grandmother had given his inheritance to both of them making Heavy Duty animosity towards his cousin to end. It was then revealed that Hershel had been nicknamed by Grandma. She said when Hershel was a baby that he could fill up a diaper like no ones business hence the name Heavy Duty. When Heavy Duty wonders how he is going to explain all of this to Flint, Roadblock tells him that he'll think of something.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Adewale Akinnuoye-AgbajeAdewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is a British actor, and former fashion model best known for his roles as Mr. Eko on Lost, Simon Adebisi on Oz and Nykwana Wombosi in The Bourne Identity.-Early life and career:...
portrays Heavy Duty in the live action movie. However, his filecard states his name is Hershel Dalton. His background is also rebooted that he was originally a member of the British Armed Forces prior to becoming a G.I. Joe member. He also serves as field commander of the team.
Video games
Heavy Duty appears as a playable character in the video game G.I. Joe: The Rise of CobraG.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (video game)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is the title of a video game adaption of the film of the same name. The game takes place after the film. The 360 and PS3 versions are based on the same code, while the DS is an entirely different game unto itself, and the Wii, PS2, and PSP version are also based on...
voiced by Rodney Saulsberry
Rodney Saulsberry
Rodney Jerome Saulsberry is an American voice-over performer, actor, vocalist, announcer and author, known for his voice work on commercials , his two books and the voice of Joe Robbie Robertson on the animated TV series Spider-Man.Born in Detroit, Michigan, Saulsberry is a University of...
.
External links
- Heavy Duty at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page
- Heavy Duty at YOJOE.com