Larry Hama

Larry Hama and the making of a ‘GI JOE A Real American Hero’

see link:" http://www.nichibei.org/2010/07/larry-hama-and-the-making-of-a-%E2%80%98real-american-hero%E2%80%99/"

"... I am against war, but for the soldier. The dominant themes in my G.I. Joe universe are that loyalty is to your immediate buddies and not to abstractions, that there is no end or satisfaction to revenge, and that if you want to be a soldier you should not expect recognition or the gratitude of the nation. I think of the last one every time Congress acts to cut veterans benefits. The main fantasies in the comic are about loyalty, honor and the primary martial art precept that the only logical reason for mastering a deadly art is to reach a point where you no longer have to use it. I received hundreds of letters from soldiers who read the G.I. Joe comics when they were kids and not a single one ever said I sold them a bill of goods."