General Joseph Colton

Not to be confused with Joseph Colton.

G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe character
General Colton from G.I. Joe: America's Elite
First appearance	1963 (as G.I. Joe Colton), 1993 (as Gen. Joseph B. Colton)
In-universe information
Affiliation	G.I. Joe
Specialty	Strategic and Tactical Operations
File name	Colton, Joseph Brady
Birth place	Central Falls, RI
SN	1033-1027-HAS93 (1994) 103-31-HA27 (2006)
Rank	O-2 (1st Lieutenant) (1964) O-10 (General) (1994)
Primary MOS	G.I. Joe X-O (Executive Officer)
Secondary MOS	Combat Infantry (Training and Intelligence)

General Joseph Brady Colton, the original G.I. Joe, is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro and does not identify any known, living person. He also appeared as a character later in the comic book series, but did not appear in any of the animated series.

Profile

"There are other men in the military---ones with higher rank and more experience and shinier medals---who could have been selected to lead this new force. Some of them may even be better soldiers than Lt. Colton. But what this country needs now, even more than good soldiers, are great heroes."

— 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy

Joseph Colton graduated with the highest honors from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1960. An expert marksman, he was recruited by Special Forces, and later became a Green Beret. During service overseas, he participated in numerous combat operations, but saw minimal acknowledgment, as his missions were "ultra" classified. In 1963, he was appointed by then President John F. Kennedy to create and command an "ULTIMATE freedom fighting force." It was at this time that he received the code name G.I. Joe.

He later "retired" from active military duty, and was placed as the head of a secret Strategic Defense Initiative installation in New York City. There he served with the lead scientist, G.I. Jane, who originally maintained cover as a combat nurse.

His personal quote is: "Duty, honor, country. They're not just words, they're the way to live your life."

Toy history

File:Gijoe-original.jpg

Original G.I. Joe Action Figure

In the 3 3/4 inch toy line, G.I. Joe was first released in 1994 as a mail-in exclusive for the 30th Anniversary of G.I. Joe. This version of the figure is of G.I. Joe from 1964. He was not released again until 2006, this time as part of a multi-figure pack, the Viper Lockdown. This version of the G.I. Joe was made up of parts from different figures, and is not a separate mold. Overall, he has had 2 releases using a total of 2 different molds.

He was also released in the 12 inch line in 1994, as an homage to his original figure released in 1964.

Comics - Original Continuity

Marvel Comics

General Joseph Colton made very few appearances during the original G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series. In issue #86, he is working with his old colleague Jane in a secure level in the Chrysler Building. The laboratories are attacked by Cobra forces, which desire the orbital pulsed weapon system hidden inside. Joe, Jane and a small squad of official G.I. Joe forces (including Repeater and Lightfoot) defeat the Cobra soldiers. He also appeared in issues #127 and 152.

Devil's Due Publishing

G.I. Joe: Frontline

The first four issues of Devil's Due Publishing's G.I. Joe: Frontline featured Larry Hama's story of one last mission, "The Mission That Never Was." After the official disbandment of the G.I. Joe team they hold one last mission. They had to transport the Rapid Pulse Particle Beam from Florida to Colton's location in New York City. During this series, Colton is stationed in the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).

Reinstatement

General Colton appears later in the series. He comes out of retirement to lead the G.I. Joe Team, after Hawk is paralyzed by Cobra Commander. His leadership is temporary, as he is quickly sidelined by the cabal of Generals known as the Jugglers who instead want General Philip Rey to lead the team.

Colton becomes a target when the Red Shadows began going after G.I. Joe and Cobra agents. He is shot and apparently killed by the Red Shadow's leader, Wilder Vaughn, a man Colton once knew. The injuries are critical, but Colton survives.

America’s Elite

After a year of disbandment, General Colton is asked by the president to head a much smaller G.I. Joe team in the absence of Hawk. He is reluctant, but accepts the position. During the series' run from 2005 to 2008, he leads the Joes from their new headquarters, a secret facility known as The Rock.

At the end of the series, he is able to convince the president that G.I. Joe is still needed, and with Hawk at his side, he leads a fully restored and recognized G.I. Joe team into battle to find all Cobra members that were around after World War III ended.

Comics - Alternate Realities/Continuities

General Colton has made one appearance as a major character outside of the main G.I. Joe continuity.

G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers: Black Horizon (Vol 4)

During this fourth miniseries, Hawk discovered G.I. Joe was being held captive by the forces of Cobra-La in the Himalayas. Along with his team, Joe was captured by the Decepticons in 1978. He later escaped to help Hawk and Optimus Prime defeat Cobra-La.

G.I. Joe Retaliation

Bruce Willis Portays G.I. Joe Colton

General Colton will be portrayed by Bruce Willis in the sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation. The movie is scheduled for a 2012 release.

External links

• Template:IMDB character
• G.I. Joe Colton at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page
• Joseph Colton at YOJOE.com
• [1] at Fully Articulate Action Figure Reviews
• [2] at Official Hasbro Website