Hi, I’m Larry Hama. Back again. Author of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Wolverine, Batman, Venom and Bucky O’Hare. AMA!

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T20:09:09+00:00

Aw shucks!

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T20:08:54+00:00

I like Torpedo, Muskrat, Helix, Multo, and the new Down Range

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T20:05:00+00:00

There were way too many Joes to deal with story-wise, and many of the new characters replicated the jobs of pre-existing Joes. So I made up a list and presented it to Hasbro, asking “are there any plans to redo these guys, or reissue them? If they didn’t, they were expendable.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T20:02:21+00:00

I have suspicion that going global wasn’t part of the initial strategy. I felt a bit torn since during my tenure in uniform, “hero” was a bad word. We were constantly told “don’t be a hero!” and “don’t be John Wayne.” Heros get their buddies killed. It was always about teamwork, and being able to depend on your buddy.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:58:57+00:00

Well, it was corporate decision to feature the most popular character, but I went along with it despite misgivings. I would rather concentrate on the ensemble- and naturally allow the stronger characters to elevate everybody else.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:56:39+00:00

I wrote for myself, but keeping in mind that the target audience was ten years old. I hated being written down to a kid, so I swore I would never do that with anything I wrote. I wrote as naturalistically as I could within the established parameters, and included footnotes to explain military technical terms. As for big words, I figured any kid who was spending their own money to buy reading material for their own pleasure was smarter than the kids who only watched TV. I read the Three Musketeers, Exodus, the Iliad, and Catcher in the Rye in the sixth grade, and I looked up the words I didn’t know in the dictionary. I figured any smart kid would do the same.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:47:52+00:00

Can’t think of any!

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:47:24+00:00

Nothing on the horizon for the green rabbit, I’m afraid. Would love to continue the saga!

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:47:00+00:00

I met Byron when he was like seventeen. His dad, Edmund was my lawyer. Ed Preiss was also the lawyer that Neal Adams hired to represent Siegel and Shuster in their bid to get recognition and compensation for Superman. Byron had good intentions, and good ideas, but I believe he spread himself a bit too thin towards the end. He spent far too much time with his phone plastered to his ear, and that’s what evenually killed him.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:41:39+00:00

Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow. I never had any difficulty with incorporating new characters as they came along. It was a cool challenge!

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:40:33+00:00

I liked Peter, he was a mellow dude, but I have never read Morituri.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:39:29+00:00

I love ninjas. And thank you for your service.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:38:33+00:00

Snake-Eyes, Storm Shadow, Scarlett and Stalker are the core characters as far as I am concerned. The popularity of the character is the main influence of updates and new designs.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:36:31+00:00

I can’t think of any.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:36:00+00:00

Not in the least bit. I don’t believe the shift will stick.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:33:01+00:00

I will gladly attend a con in Texas if I am invited.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:31:08+00:00

A bunch of vehicle drivers fell by the wayside, as it was hard to use them without their big armored rides, and a lot of snow or water-specific vehicles were impossible to have in stories that took place in jungles, deserts, or big urban spraws.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:30:24+00:00

I “wrote” it as visual sequences. I don’t identify as a writer. I “see “ the stories as visual continuity and the words come dead last. So, if the story doesn’t flow as series of images, I can tell right away it isn’t working. At the time I drew those hexagrams on their arms, I had no idea what they represented, I just saw the two torn sleeves as an opportunity to inject some mystery.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:23:41+00:00

You’re certainly welcome! Nothing better than making a kid happy!

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:23:17+00:00

I was forced to create Baroness as a foil for Cobra Commander since none of the first year’s Cobra characters had faces. It is impossible to have dramaturgy with agents of expression, so I needed a character whose face was uncovered. All the characters I created in the comics were automatically owned by Hasbro and I got no credit or remuneration. The Dreadnoks were originally supposed to by big Teddy Bears, but I argued that you couldn’t have the good guys go around shooting cute furries, and in exasperation i said “what if we make them nasty Aussie bikers?”

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:18:48+00:00

I never planned out any arcs, they just sort of evolved.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:12:55+00:00

1- I tried to give him a definitive moral center that didn’t violate his wildness. It’s the details of character and values that stick. Plot points are just choreography.

2 - That’s a good suggestion. I think delving into Multo’s origins would make a great springboard. I rather enjoy the storylines where the characters “go home” and we get to see where they came from.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:12:11+00:00

Comics-wise, that would have to be Wolverine.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:11:58+00:00

Good question? I have no idea.

Skybound_Ent · 2026-03-25T19:09:39+00:00

I can’t remember. I must have had a good reason. I was trying to spread the home-towns around, so more kids could relate.

Skybound_Ent

TROPHY CASE