[Heroguy70]

Modern G.I Joe was a product of Marvel and Hasbro working together. Hasbro went to Marvel and asked them to create a team with a backstory and an on-going comic series that would tie-in with their toy line. Marvel simply dusted off a proposal for the relaunch of Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD comic and reworked the characters into what we now know of as GI Joe. Duke and Nick are the same guy.