Steeler (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
Steeler 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 original tank commander and debuted in 1982.
.
Steeler was a Tank Commander for the "M.O.B.A.T." tank (Multi-Ordnance Battle Assault Tank). Steeler comes from a blue collar middle-class background. He put himself through college on an ROTC scholarship and worked as a heavy equipment operator. He went through Armor School as Fort Knox. He is young and reckless, and often clashes with authority (including superior officers). He often challenges teammaters to physical endurance tasks; he respects people more this way.
and a Cobra Officer. It was packaged with a reprint of issue #5 of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, in which all three were featured. In 2007, Steeler had a release as part of the International G.I. Joe convention, which took place in Atlanta, Georgia.
and Breaker
, have no ammunition for the tank, so they utilize nonlethal methods to defeat Cobra and save innocent lives. For example, the popping of Breaker's gum in the P.A. system convinces many Cobras that the tank has ammo. The crew rams the VIP stand, uncovering Cobra Commander's influence. The enemy leader himself escapes.
Steeler and the tank are again featured in issue 28. Teaming up with Clutch
, Breaker
and two Florida police officers, they fight Cobra influence in swamps of the Everglades
.
The original Joes are transferred to administrative duty by General Austin, to watch over all the new recruits. Despite this, Steeler is one of the many Joes, including Clutch and Heavy Metal
, to work security as mechanics in the Joe's operative cover facility, the Chaplain's Assistant Motor Pool. Steeler and the other administrators are put back on active duty for the invasion of Springfield, a Cobra-controlled town.
After a public relations fiasco arises from a raid on Cobra Island
most of the G.I. Joe team is arrested. Steeler and many other G.I. Joe members, such as Bazooka
, Jinx
, Wet-Suit
and Snow-Job
, manage to go underground, then meeting up at Burkhart's house. Steeler participates in a raid on a government controlled hospital with the intention of rescuing the commander of the G.I. Joe team, General Hawk
and his ally, General Hollingsworth. The situation quickly devolves into a firefight, with Destro
saving the day due to respect for Hawk.
in the second Cobra civil war. Like the first one, this takes place on Cobra Island
.
In the episode "Worlds Without End" of the on-going 1985 series, Steeler was portrayed as being weary of the G.I. Joe/Cobra struggle, and questioned whether it would really matter if Cobra were to win. In the second part of "Worlds Without End", Steeler was among a group of Joes who visited an alternate version of earth, in which Cobra had already won and G.I. Joe had been all but wiped out. Indeed, the only surviving "Joe" depicted in the episode was the Baroness
, who (in that continuity) was a double-agent and the alternate-Steeler's lover. Having discovered that Cobra had killed the alternate Steeler, apparently in a weapons test, Steeler has an epiphany—it did matter whether Cobra won or lost. Steeler, Clutch
, and Grunt
elect to stay in the alternate reality in order to re-build G.I. Joe. As Steeler never returned from the alternate-reality, and no further stories were set there, Steeler never reappeared in the Sunbow series continuity.
episode "Rage", voiced by Eddie Mata. He was first seen as one of the war veterans that fell victim to the experiments conducted by Destro and Scrap-Iron
. After the veterans recovered, Steeler thanks G.I. Joe and vows to help them when they need his services.
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. He is the G.I. Joe team's original tank commander and debuted in 1982.
Profile
His real name is Ralph W. Pulaski, and his rank is that of army 2nd lieutenant O-1. Steeler was born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
.
Steeler was a Tank Commander for the "M.O.B.A.T." tank (Multi-Ordnance Battle Assault Tank). Steeler comes from a blue collar middle-class background. He put himself through college on an ROTC scholarship and worked as a heavy equipment operator. He went through Armor School as Fort Knox. He is young and reckless, and often clashes with authority (including superior officers). He often challenges teammaters to physical endurance tasks; he respects people more this way.
Toy
Steeler was first released in 1982, packaged with the MOBAT (Motorized Battle Tank). In 2004, Steeler was released as part of a three-pack of figures, the others being General FlaggGeneral Flagg
General Flagg is the code name as well as the rank and surname of two fictional characters from the toyline, cartoon and comic series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero....
and a Cobra Officer. It was packaged with a reprint of issue #5 of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, in which all three were featured. In 2007, Steeler had a release as part of the International G.I. Joe convention, which took place in Atlanta, Georgia.
Marvel Comics
In the Marvel comics G.I. Joe series, he appears in the first issue, along with the rest of the original team. They raid a Cobra facility to rescue a peace activist, Dr. Adele Burkhardt. Steeler is featured in issue #5 as he and his tank team were threatened by Cobra forces in the middle of a crowded New York City during an Armed Forces parade. Steeler, along with ClutchClutch (G.I. Joe)
Clutch is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is one of the G.I. Joe Team's motor vehicle drivers and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
and Breaker
Breaker (G.I. Joe)
Breaker 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 original communications officer and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
, have no ammunition for the tank, so they utilize nonlethal methods to defeat Cobra and save innocent lives. For example, the popping of Breaker's gum in the P.A. system convinces many Cobras that the tank has ammo. The crew rams the VIP stand, uncovering Cobra Commander's influence. The enemy leader himself escapes.
Steeler and the tank are again featured in issue 28. Teaming up with Clutch
Clutch (G.I. Joe)
Clutch is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is one of the G.I. Joe Team's motor vehicle drivers and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
, Breaker
Breaker (G.I. Joe)
Breaker 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 original communications officer and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
and two Florida police officers, they fight Cobra influence in swamps of the Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
.
The original Joes are transferred to administrative duty by General Austin, to watch over all the new recruits. Despite this, Steeler is one of the many Joes, including Clutch and Heavy Metal
Heavy Metal (G.I. Joe)
Heavy Metal 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 Mauler M.B.T. tank driver and debuted in 1985.-Profile:...
, to work security as mechanics in the Joe's operative cover facility, the Chaplain's Assistant Motor Pool. Steeler and the other administrators are put back on active duty for the invasion of Springfield, a Cobra-controlled town.
After a public relations fiasco arises from a raid 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...
most of the G.I. Joe team is arrested. Steeler and many other G.I. Joe members, such as Bazooka
Bazooka (G.I. Joe)
Bazooka 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 missile specialist and debuted in 1985.-Profile:...
, 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'...
, Wet-Suit
Wet Suit (G.I. Joe)
Wet Suit is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is one of the G.I. Joe team's two Navy SEALs, the other being Torpedo. Wet Suit debuted in 1986.-Profile:...
and Snow-Job
Snow Job (G.I. Joe)
Snow Job is a 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 original arctic trooper and debuted in 1983.-Bio:...
, manage to go underground, then meeting up at Burkhart's house. Steeler participates in a raid on a government controlled hospital with the intention of rescuing the commander of the G.I. Joe team, 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:...
and his ally, General Hollingsworth. The situation quickly devolves into a firefight, with Destro
Destro
Laird James McCullen Destro XXIV, usually referred to simply as Destro, is a fictional villain from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys from Hasbro. He is portrayed by Christopher Eccleston in the 2009 live-action film, G.I...
saving the day due to respect for Hawk.
Devil's Due comics
Steeler returns for the series printed by Devil's Due comics. He is one of the many Joe soldiers called back into active duty 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...
.
Sunbow Series
Steeler first appeared in the 1983 cartoon G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero five part mini-series called "The MASS Device".In the episode "Worlds Without End" of the on-going 1985 series, Steeler was portrayed as being weary of the G.I. Joe/Cobra struggle, and questioned whether it would really matter if Cobra were to win. In the second part of "Worlds Without End", Steeler was among a group of Joes who visited an alternate version of earth, in which Cobra had already won and G.I. Joe had been all but wiped out. Indeed, the only surviving "Joe" depicted in the episode was 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...
, who (in that continuity) was a double-agent and the alternate-Steeler's lover. Having discovered that Cobra had killed the alternate Steeler, apparently in a weapons test, Steeler has an epiphany—it did matter whether Cobra won or lost. Steeler, Clutch
Clutch (G.I. Joe)
Clutch is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is one of the G.I. Joe Team's motor vehicle drivers and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
, and 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:...
elect to stay in the alternate reality in order to re-build G.I. Joe. As Steeler never returned from the alternate-reality, and no further stories were set there, Steeler never reappeared in the Sunbow series continuity.
G.I. Joe: Renegades
Steeler first appears in the 2011 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 "Rage", voiced by Eddie Mata. He was first seen as one of the war veterans that fell victim to the experiments conducted by Destro and Scrap-Iron
Scrap-Iron
Scrap-Iron is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is Cobra's anti-armor specialist and debuted in 1984.-Profile:Scrap-Iron's primary military specialty is tank destroyer...
. After the veterans recovered, Steeler thanks G.I. Joe and vows to help them when they need his services.
Video games
Steeler is one of the featured characters in the 1985 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero computer game.External links
- Steeler at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page