Duke (G.I. Joe)
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|
Duke | |
---|---|
St. Louis, Missouri | |
SN | RA 213-75-7793 |
Rank | E-8 (First Sergeant) E-9 (Sergeant Major) (1997) E-5 (Sergeant) (Renegades) O-6 (Colonel) (IDW comics) |
Primary MOS | Airborne Infantry |
Secondary MOS | Small Arms/Artillery |
Subgroups | Tiger Force Star Brigade Anti-Venom Task Force |
Duke is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books, and animated series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's First Sergeant, and debuted in 1983. The character is also featured in both the G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 animated series and comic books. Channing Tatum portrays Duke in the 2009 live-action film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and the 2013 sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
Profile
Duke is the code name of
Duke is field commander and second-in-command of the G.I. Joe team after Hawk.[2] In this role, he has served as a rugged leader by example, a precise giver of orders, a source of history and knowledge, and a fair settler of disputes. As the team has fluctuated in size and structure over the years, Duke has supervised the training of the non-commissioned officers in G.I. Joe, as well as leading special units such as Tiger Force and Star Brigade.[3]
After the G.I. Joe Team disbanded, Duke disappeared. It was later learned that he had been performing Black Ops for a secret government agency, his missions of which are still highly classified. One such mission was to locate and detain the mercenary Major Bludd, which led to evidence that Cobra Commander had returned, and hastened the reinstatement of G.I. Joe.[3] Duke returned to active duty in G.I. Joe when the team was reinstated, though his maverick and dangerous behavior took some of his longtime colleagues by surprise, and caused him to relinquish his position as field commander for a more behind-the-scenes advisory role.[4]
Toys
Vintage/Modern
Duke was one of the first mail-away figures created in 1983 for the G.I. Joe 3 3/4" action figure line of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.[5][6] He was later released as a carded figure in 1984, as part of the third series.[7][8] The figure was recolored and released as the leader of the "Tiger Force" line in 1988.[9][10]
A new version of Duke was released in 1992.
A version of Duke with no accessories came with the Built to Rule Armadillo Assault, which followed the G.I. Joe: Spy Troops story line. The forearms and the calves of the figure sported places where blocks could be attached.[16] The same figure was recolored and released in 2005 with the Built to Rule Freedom Defense Outpost.[17]
Hall of Fame
In response to the high demand from nostalgic collectors of the vintage era G.I. Joe action figures, Hasbro introduced the G.I. Joe: Hall of Fame era of 12" action figures in 1991. Duke was the first 12" (30 cm) action figure produced in the Hasbro G.I. Joe line since 1978.[18]
The first 12" Duke was a Target Stores exclusive. The popularity of the figure convinced Hasbro to unleash a new series of 12" G.I. Joe action figures, known as the Hall of Fame series. These new 12" figures were based on the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of 3.75" action figure characters. The 12" Duke had a headsculpt that was never used again for any other G.I. Joe figure, and was dressed for Desert Storm combat, with a backpack, commemorative stand, a light-up weapon with sound effects, grenades, and a Beretta handgun and holster.[19]
25th anniversary
Duke was released in a box packed with Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Roadblock, and Gung-Ho, created from an entirely new mold that was based heavily on the original design. He was also released in several single packs (with one including his Jet Pack featured in the opening credits of G.I. Joe: The Movie), comic packs, movie packs (packaged with the greatest battles DVD), and multi-packs. Duke was one of the only G.I. Joe figures to be released in a special package for the G.I. Joe: Resolute animated series.
The Rise of Cobra
To coincide with the launch of the movie G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Hasbro released at least two figures in 2009 based on the Duke movie character. For both releases, he is listed as Conrad "Duke" Hauser. The first, classified as "Desert Ambush", features Duke in a desert camouflage uniform. The second, classified as "Reactive Impact Armor", features him in the movie style black uniform. Two versions of Duke were also released as part of "The Pursuit of Cobra" line in 2010, with non-actor based heads.
30th Anniversary
The G.I. Joe: Renegades version of Duke was released as an action figure in 2011, as part of the 30th Anniversary line. Three versions of Duke were released in 2012, the last one listed again as Conrad "Duke" Hauser to tie in with the movie G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
G.I. Joe Classified Series
Q2 of 2020 sees the release of G.I. Joe Classified Series, a new line of highly articulated 6-inch scale action figures that includes prominent characters like Duke. This line features premium deco, detailing, articulation, and classic design updated to bring the classic characters into the modern era, plus accessories inspired by each character’s rich history.
Comics
Marvel Comics
In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, Duke first appears in issue #22. He and Roadblock act as security for the funeral of General Flagg, shooting down an attacking Rattler plane.[20] Duke is added to the G.I. Joe team line-up, to help straighten the team out and become the new field commander. His first mission is surveillance of the Baroness and Major Bludd at the Bern Institute of Reconstructive Surgery in Switzerland. A major battle results in the capture of Cobra Commander.[21] Duke leads an effort to keep Cobra Commander prisoner in a mountain base. However, the Cobra ninja Storm Shadow rescues the Commander.[22]
Duke then traveled down to Florida, where he and Roadblock met up with
Duke takes part in the invasion of the Cobra-controlled town of Springfield, as the leader of the Security Team.
Duke would recover from that experience and lead the defense of the Joe headquarters,
In an interview in ToyFare magazine, G.I. Joe comic book writer Larry Hama admitted he could never get a handle on Duke. According to Hama, military comic book conventions maintain that the commanding officer is the "good cop" and the first sergeant is the "bad cop," and Duke, as first sergeant, never really fit the "bad cop" mold.[34]
Devil's Due
After the disbandment, Duke went to take on
Duke returns as the team's field commander, leading a team to defend Washington D.C. when Cobra threatens the world with nanomites.
America's Elite
The team is reorganized in the
Following the invasion of The Rock, General Rey goes on a sabbatical to fill in some of the holes in his memory, and Duke accompanies him because he does not trust his intentions. They discover that
Later, Duke deals with his father, a protester who dislikes the military. During a talk in his father's home, Cobra agent
Hasbro later announced that all stories published by Devil's Due Publishing are no longer considered canonical, and are now considered an alternate continuity.[44]
IDW Publications
In this continuity, Duke has been promoted to colonel after General Hawk is dismissed and is now the leader of the G.I. Joe team.[45]
Alternate universe series
G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II
A scientific accident eventually sends a small group of Joe and Cobra soldiers twenty years into the future. Older Duke is there, having lost all but his right arm. He leads the last remnants of human resistance against
G.I. Joe Reloaded
In this series, Duke is a double agent working for Cobra, due to his distress over the U.S. government's willingness to create destructive weaponry. In the final issue, he confronts Scarlett in a sewer system. She gains the upper hand and kills him with a knife to the back.[47]
In the mirror universe created by
Animated series
A Real American Hero
In the first G.I. Joe miniseries The MASS Device, Duke is the field leader of G.I. Joe, under the command of
In the second season, Hawk replaces Duke as commander of G.I. Joe. Duke becomes second-in-command, while Flint is the third man down. Duke also appears briefly alongside Torpedo in one of the series' public service announcements about the dangers of swimming alone. Duke was voiced by Michael Bell.[50]
G.I. Joe: The Movie
In
Duke's original fate in the movie was to die at the hands of Serpentor. However, due to fan backlash regarding the death of the Autobot leader Optimus Prime in The Transformers: The Movie, Hasbro asked for a re-edit, so Duke would merely fall into a coma following Serpentor's venomous attack, and a later edit added dialogue near the end of the movie, indicating Duke recovered from his injuries.[51]
Spy Troops and Valor vs. Venom
Duke appeared in the direct-to-video CGI animated movies G.I. Joe: Spy Troops and G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom, voiced by John Payne.
Sigma 6
In G.I. Joe: Sigma 6, Duke is the leader of the G.I. Joe team. He has retained much of his personality from the A Real American Hero series. albeit looking much younger and with a new haircut. One other physical differentiation of this Duke from previous continuities, is the scar on his right cheek. He is still willing to go into the most dangerous situations, rather than send a member of his team to do it. This Duke is much more comfortable being the military man than engaging in social situations, as seen in the first-season episode "Vacation".
Resolute
Duke appeared in G.I. Joe: Resolute, in which he was voiced by Steve Blum. He and the other Joes learn of Cobra Commander's latest scheme to take over the world with a particle superweapon, sending his various underlings across the globe to ensure its success. In the course of the storyline, Duke presents Scarlett with an ultimatum, to go with Snake Eyes or to remain with him, and she chooses to be with Duke. Later on while on a mission in Siberia, Duke gets injured fighting Zartan and orders Scarlett to leave him. She refuses and replies: "Oh, to hell with your orders! It's taken me years to sort out in my head what I want - who I want - and today I did. I'm staying with you, for all the time I have left. And if that's only six minutes, then damn it, I'm spending my last six minutes with you!" After the duo are picked up by Ripcord, Duke makes a vow to kill Cobra Commander for his actions over the course of the story, and leads the assault on the Cobra base in Springfield. He manages to get to the control room for the weapon, where the Commander gloats behind a bunker window that the weapon can't be stopped from firing on Washington D.C. Duke instead redirects the weapon to fire at the Springfield base, and though the area is decimated and the Joes evacuated, a field report at the end of the miniseries reveals in a return to the site, Duke found the bunker that Cobra Commander took shelter in to be empty.
Renegades
In G.I. Joe: Renegades, Duke is a younger, and far more aggressive version than his other incarnations. Duke is a member of command staff, and makes the decision to expose the Cobra mega-corporation's true basis at cost, which results in them being branded as criminals following the destruction of Cobra Pharmaceuticals. He is also humble and selfless; during training Duke saves a fellow cadet who had stepped on a pressure-activated land mine, with Duke taking the small blunt of the blast scarring his back in the process. Duke also turns down an accommodation and a medal ceremony.
In the two-part episode "Homecoming," a flashback revealed that Duke was on a football team in his youth and went up against the football team that Flint was a part of. A play that Flint did ended up breaking Duke's leg costing him his college scholarship. A later encounter with Flint had Duke being given the offer to join the military. When he was assigned to work with Stalker to thwart a weapons trade held by M.A.R.S. Industries, Duke ended up disobeying orders when a M.A.R.S. Operative shoots down a helicopter that Lady Jaye was on and ended up saving her and the pilot.
In the present, Duke splinters from the others when his parents Max and Connie are captured. During that time, he did have some problems with his brother Vince who was shown displeased with what happened at Cobra Pharmaceuticals and stated that their parents are in doubt about what happened. After Duke saves his parents and reunites with the other Joes, they arrive at the Hauser household where Connie wanted to treat them to a meal. Unfortunately, Vince had called Flint after he had warned Duke to stay away. Duke ends up defending his actions towards the other Joes and tells Flint upon the group's arrest to see that their families are protected.
In the season finale, he obtains his trademark scar across his right eye as a result of a fight with Cobra Commander.
Live action film
Duke | |
---|---|
G.I. Joe character | |
First appearance | 2009 |
Portrayed by | Channing Tatum |
Voiced by | Roger Craig Smith (video game) |
In-universe information | |
Affiliation | G.I. Joe |
Specialty | Soldier |
File name | Conrad Hauser |
SN | 234-55-GI89 |
Rank | O-3 (Captain) (Rise of Cobra) O-4 (Major) (Retaliation) |
Primary MOS | Intelligence and Infantry |
Series | G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra G.I. Joe: Retaliation |
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Channing Tatum portrays Duke in the 2009 film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. He is the primary protagonist and is part of General Hawk's team. Contrary to his original back-story, he is a newcomer to the G.I. Joe team; all Joe rookies are already established, well-trained soldiers. Also in the 2009 film, Duke identifies himself as a Captain, while conspicuously wearing the rank of Major (Army) or Lt. Commander (Navy), although all versions of his action figure have him graded at Major/O-4. There is no reference in the film to him ever performing duties as a First Sergeant. He was also engaged to marry Ana Lewis (who would end up becoming the Baroness), but left her at the altar because of guilt due to the apparent death of Ana's brother, Rex Lewis.
In the beginning of the film, Duke and
The Joes pursue the Baroness and Storm Shadow in Paris. Duke manages to shut down a warhead fired by Storm Shadow before the nanomites could spread through the city, but not before it destroys the
G.I. Joe: Retaliation
Tatum returns as Duke in the sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, in which the character has become a captain and the leader of tactical operations and has been awarded his own team of Joes. In one mission, he leads the team to find a North Korean defector in the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Duke has also become friends with his second-in-command Roadblock; the two later play video games at the latter's house. Shortly after, Duke and the Joes are sent to Pakistan to retrieve nuclear warheads when the country is in a civil war. After saving Flint, Duke is killed off early in the film via an airstrike ordered by Zartan (who was masquerading as the President of the United States). Zartan is exposed and killed by Storm Shadow, Cobra Commander escapes, and G.I. Joe is reinstated. Roadblock vows to go after Cobra Commander and avenge Duke.[52]
Director Jon M. Chu had stated that Duke may return in the third film, but this did not happen.[53]
Video games
Duke is one of the featured characters in the 1985 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero computer game.[54]
Duke is featured as a playable character in the 1991
Duke appears as a playable character in the video game G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout.
Other media
- Duke appeared in the Junkyardeats the chocolate statue and dies, Duke speaks at Junkyard's funeral, and has Junkyard's name added to the Wall of Fallen Heroes. Amazed that Junkyard was the only name on the list, he bets that Cobra's Wall of Fallen Villains is full of names.
- Duke's romantic inclinations are touched on in the non-fiction paperback Saturday Morning Fever.[57]
- Michael Bell reprises his role of Duke in the Community episode "G.I. Jeff."
References
- ISBN 0-87135-288-5.
- ^ MacDonald, Marianne (7 February 1994). "Black Action Man is left on the shelf". The Independent. Independent Print Limited.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-345-51642-8.
- ^ Wherle, Scott (2002). G.I. Joe: Battle Files #1. Devil's Due Publishing. p. 6.
- ISBN 978-0-89689-922-3.
- ISBN 0-87341-301-6.
- ISBN 978-0-89689-922-3.
- ISBN 0-87341-301-6.
- ISBN 978-0-89689-922-3.
- ISBN 0-87341-301-6.
- ISBN 978-0-89689-922-3.
- ISBN 0-87341-301-6.
- ISBN 978-0-89689-922-3.
- ISBN 978-0-89689-922-3.
- ISBN 978-0-89689-922-3.
- ^ Armadillo Assault w/ Duke at YOJOE.com Retrieved 2012-04-23
- ^ Freedom Defense Outpost w/ Duke at YOJOE.com Retrieved 2012-04-23
- ^ Woulfe, Molly (Dec 9, 1992). "G.I. Joe Is Back". Times-Union. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
- ISBN 0-87341-301-6.
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #22 (April 1984)
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #23 (May 1984)
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #24 (June 1984)
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #28 (October 1984)
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #29 (November 1984)
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #33 (March 1985)
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #38 (August 1985)
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #41 (November 1985)
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #49-50
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #74-76
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #108-111
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #130-131
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #132-134
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #145-148
- ^ Root, Tom (May 1998). "ToyFare Q&A: Larry Hama". ToyFare. Vol. 1, no. 9. pp. 38–43.
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol. 2 #5 (April 2002)
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol. 2 #4 (March 2002)
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol. 2 #17-19 (2003)
- ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vol. 2 #37 (December 2004)
- ^ G.I. Joe: America's Elite #7-10 (2006)
- ^ G.I. Joe: America's Elite #16-18 (2006)
- ^ G.I. Joe: America's Elite #19-20 (2007)
- ^ G.I. Joe: America's Elite #27 (September 2007)
- ^ G.I. Joe: America's Elite #30-33 (2007-2008)
- ^ Antarctica (12 May 2010). "Comic Continuity Clarity in the Comic Section - YoJoecom Forums". Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
- ^ G.I. Joe #12 (April 2012)
- ^ G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1-4 (2004)
- ^ G.I. Joe Reloaded #14 (April 2005)
- Eye in the Sky. Fun Publications.
- ^ "The Synthoid Conspiracy". G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.
- ^ "Roll Call". G.I. Joe Roll Call. Joe Headquarters. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ G.I. Joe: The Movie (Motion picture). De Laurentiis Entertainment Group. April 20, 1987.
- ^ "'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' Introduces A Whole New Joe". MTV. 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
- ^ "Could Channing Tatum Return For 'GI Joe 3'?". Mtv.com. 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
- ^ Roberts, Matt. "G.I. Joe for Personal Computers". YoJoe.com. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
- ^ G.I. Joe game review Archived 2012-10-09 at the Wayback Machine Mania.com
- ^ Roberts, Matt. "G.I. Joe: The Atlantis Factor for the NES". YoJoe.com. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
- ISBN 978-0-312-16996-1.
External links
- Duke at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page