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Originally posted by: Shin Densetsu @ Hisstank.com

Quote:

ComicBookResources has interviewed Larry Hama, also known as the godfather of G.I. Joe A Real American Hero! In their in-depth review, CBR asked Hama questions ranging from his work for Continuity Comics, to Devils Due, and of course, G.I. Joe:

CBR: When approaching GI Joe, did you have a concept in mind going in, or did Hasbro have a direction they wanted to take? What was the initial process of creating the back-story and story arcs for this series?

LH: Hasbro had no idea what story was. That was why they brought in Marvel. Knowing what you can’t do is the best talent to have. Then, you can get somebody who knows how to do it to do it, and you can concentrate on what you do know you can do. I made up the back-story as I went along, mostly as retcon. I never submitted a single story arc beforehand because I never knew how any one given issue was going to end until I got to the last page. When I started drawing/writing “Silent Interlude” (“GI Joe: Real American Hero” #21) I had no idea that both Snake Eyes
and Storm Shadow were going to have matching hexagram tattoos.

CBR: You returned to “GI Joe” during its publishing at Devil’s Due. What was it like returning to those characters after so many years? Did you find it difficult to get into that mindset to write those characters again?

LH: They wanted me to do it “old school,” and they wanted a detailed 4-issue story arc beforehand. I’m always looking to try something new, so having to do something the way I did it 25 years ago was a drag. Having to pre-think the story structure for four issues and forcing the characters into it was even worse. Although it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as my Batman experience, where editorial insisted that the stories were for kids, and they handed me an inch thick binder that was full of stuff I was not allowed to do. Had a different problem with “Generation X” -- there, my directive was to “fix” it. I thought that it was what it was, and if it ain’t broke, etc. But I just followed the marching orders. On the Amalgam stuff, I was given pretty free rein and the results showed.

CBR: Many of your characters created for the comics saw their way into the toy lines. Was that a rewarding experience to see your characters expand beyond the page into the toys, cartoons, and later film? How did the rights on those characters work out?
"G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" #21 is among Hama's personal favorites

LH: Hasbro owns everything. But that was the deal from the getgo. That’s fine. It’s called “business.” I had to create new characters for the comics to hold the stories together or to facilitate storytelling. The Baroness came about because there wasn’t a single Cobra character with a visible face! It’s sort of hard to have acting going on when nobody has any agents of expression. It was very cool to see the Oktober Guard and Kwinn finally get their figures. I’m still waiting for Bongo The Balloon Bear, though.

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Read More: New Larry Hama Interview @ G.I. Joe - HissTank.com.