List of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero characters (H–L)

This is an alphabetical List of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero characters whose code names start with the letters H-L.

Hardball

Hardball is the G.I. Joe Team's multi-shot grenadier. His real name is Wilmer S. Duggleby, and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Hardball was born in Cooperstown, New York, and was first released as an action figure in 1988.

Hardball's primary military specialty is infantry, and his secondary military specialty is special services. Hardball played centerfield in the minor leagues for five seasons before he realized that the big league scouts were looking for star quality over athletic prowess. The G.I. Joe Team was looking for team players however, and had a need for someone who could judge distances accurately and react quickly with deliberation.

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in issue #80 (November 1988). Hardball is later selected as one of the many Joes to help protect the President of the United States. His skills are vital to rescuing the President after he is kidnapped by Cobra forces. He later mans a machine-gun turret in the Joe vehicle called "The Mean Dog" that had been headed out to a weapons testing range. Hardball, Repeater and Wildcard assist in a running battle against Dreadnoks, who are trying to capture two other Joes, Clutch and Rock 'n Roll.

In the Devil's Due series, the Red Shadows, a Cobra splinter group, wages a campaign against the Joes. While on assignment in South America, Hardball (along with Rampart and Glenda) is killed by the Red Shadows.

Hard Drive

Hard Drive is the G.I. Joe Team's battlefield computer specialist. His real name is Martin A. Pidel, and he was first released as an action figure in 2004.

Hardtop

Hardtop is the designer and driver of the G.I. Joe Team's Crawler. His real name is Nicholas D. Klas, and his rank is that of sergeant E-5. Hardtop was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was first released as an action figure in 1987, packaged with the Defiant space vehicle launch complex. In 2004, he was released as part of the "40 Years of Adventure" Tiger Force Box Set, at the 2004 G.I. Joe Convention in Orlando, Florida.

Hardtop's primary military specialty is heavy equipment operator, and his secondary military specialty is electronics. He is a man known for getting the job done without questions; for example, moving the Crawler to the top of a mountain. He is known for being quiet, as talking is not one of his priorities.

Budget cuts later force the closing of the G.I. Joe space shuttle program. Hardtop continues to work with the team as a heavy equipment operator, and also becomes their liaison to the National Space Agency. Due to later developments with fuel cells, he is one of Cobra Commander's most wanted prisoners.

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared, with Payload in issue #64 (October 1987). In that issue, he almost crushes Crankcase's A.W.E. Striker vehicle and Back-Stop's Persuader tank.

Hawk

Main article: Hawk (G.I. Joe)

Heavy Duty

Main article: Heavy Duty (G.I. Joe)

Heavy Metal

Main article: Heavy Metal (G.I. Joe)

Hi-Tech

Hi-Tech is the G.I. Joe Team's operations support specialist. His real name is David P. Lewinski, and he was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Hi-Tech was first released as an action figure in 2004, in a two-pack with Dr. Mindbender. A version of Hi-Tech with no accessories also came with the Built to Rule Patriot Grizzly in 2004. The figure featured additional articulation with a mid-thigh cut joint, and the forearms and the calves of the figure sported places where blocks could be attached.

His primary military specialty is armament research and design. His secondary military specialty is telecommunications. Hi-Tech is a technological genius, and is more at home with a soldering gun than an automatic pistol. He can counted on to repair any computer-controlled device, rewrite computer code on the fly, and enact emergency field repairs, to get the most out of the G.I. Joe Team's cutting-edge arsenal of equipment.

Hi-Tech appeared in the direct-to-video CGI animated movies G.I. Joe: Spy Troops and G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom, voiced by Mark Hildreth. He also appeared in the animated series for G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 voiced by Eric Stuart.

Hit & Run

Hit & Run is the G.I. Joe Team's light infantryman. His real name is Brent Scott, and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Hit & Run was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and was first released as an action figure in 1988. In 1991, Hit & Run was released in Europe in Tiger Force colors, and he received a 25th anniversary style figure as part of the "Assault on Cobra Island" 7-pack. In the UK Action Force series, Hit and Run's real name is Bryan Scott and he is from Basildon in Essex, England.

Hit & Run's primary military specialty is infantry, and his secondary military specialty is mountaineering. He was orphaned at age three by a drunken driver, and grew up in a county institution. He escapes from the institution regularly, climbing down sheer walls and running for miles across the plains in the middle of the night. He claimed that he was not running away from anything and merely "practicing"; he joined the Army directly after leaving custody of the county.

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in issue #80. He assists other Joes in stopping Cobra forces on Cobra Island from claiming a nearby land mass. He later takes part in an attempt to rescue hostages, which turns out to be a Cobra ruse: the terrorists and hostages were all Cobra agents. Later, he deals with a legitimate hostage situation, where an isolated farmhouse is taken over by two criminals, but problems arise when the criminals are initially misidentified. He also joins with Tunnel Rat, Stalker and the rookie Scoop soon after to battle Iron Grenadiers in the fictional country of Sierra Gordo.

In the Devil's Due series, he is one of the Joes assigned to invade Cobra Island during their second civil war.

Hollow Point

Hollow Point is a U.S. Marine sniper and the Range Officer of the G.I. Joe Team. His real name is Max V. Corey, and he was born in Quitman, Arkansas. He was first released as an action figure in 2003 with the Built to Rule Locust, 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.

Hot Seat

Hot Seat is the G.I. Joe Team's Raider driver. His real name is Michael A. Provost, and his rank is that of Sergeant First Class E-7. Hot Seat was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and was first released as an action figure in 1989, packaged with the "Raider" 4-track assault vehicle.

Hot Seat's primary military specialty is Raider driver, and his secondary military specialty is drill instructor. He was a boxer and could have been a heavyweight contender; he had a left jab like a jack hammer, reflexes like liquid crystal, and the tactical mind of a 5-star general. When he considered the possibilities of permanent brain damage, he instead opted for the Army and asked for "Anything fast and furious!"

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in issue #105. He works with other Joes, the Oktober Guard and the Indian soldiers Tucaros, long time Joe allies, in battle against Destro's Iron Grenadiers.

Iceberg

Main article: Iceberg (G.I. Joe)

Ice Cream Soldier

Ice Cream Soldier is the G.I. Joe Team's flamethrower commando. His real name is Tom-Henry Ragan, and his rank is that of sergeant E-5. Ice Cream Soldier was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and was first released as an action figure in 1994, as part of the "Battle Corps" line. The entire mold was re-used in 2002 for the Shock-Viper figure.

His primary military specialty is fire operations expert. His secondary military specialty is barbecue chef. His code name is designed to cause enemy troops to underestimate him. His equipment is capable of delivering streams of flame up to seventy-five feet.

Jinx

Main article: Jinx (G.I. Joe)

Kamakura

Main article: Kamakura (G.I. Joe)

Keel-Haul

Keel-Haul is the G.I. Joe Team's Admiral, and was first released as an action figure in 1985, as commander of the U.S.S. Flagg aircraft carrier. The figure was repainted and released as part of the "Battle Corps" line in 1993. His real name is Everett P. Colby, and he was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. Keel Haul's rank is that of O-9 (Vice Admiral, USN). He is the highest ranking G.I. Joe officer, outside of General Joseph Colton (O-10), outranking General Hawk by two pay grades, and serves as head of the Joe team when they operate out of the Flagg.

Keel-Haul's primary military specialty is command, and his secondary military specialty is pilot. He graduated from Annapolis and Navy Flight School, and flew Phantom F-4's off the Intrepid in the late 1960s. He attended the Naval War College in Newport, RI and the Armed Forces Staff College, and is a holder of the Navy Cross, DFC and Air Medal. He is a respected military historian, a nationally-rated chess player, and a clarinet player of questionable talent.

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in issue #36 (June 1985), a cameo appearance as rescue for seemingly stranded Joes. Keel-Haul and the USS Flagg serve as support in the first assault on Cobra Island. Later, Keel-Haul suggests using a captured Cobra "MAMBA" helicopter to insert a recon team onto Cobra island during the Cobra civil war. Keel-Haul also takes part in the conflict referred to as the "Battle of Benzheen".

In the Devil's Due series, he serves as naval support in the second Cobra Island civil war. Later, he assists a Joe team in neutralizing a Cobra submarine armed with a nuclear device. Keel-Haul saves Wet-Suit from death after the sub-infiltration goes badly.

Kickstart

Kickstart is the codename of Joseph A. Rivera. He is an expert in electronic engineering, bio-engineering, and computer technology for the G.I. Joe team. He was able to understand the micro-circuits of the G.I. Joe Team's advanced mobile Mech Suit (which he once used to deactivate an electronic perimeter warning system and subdue Cobra Troopers enough for G.I. Joe to enter the Cobra Facility).

Knockdown

Knockdown is a member of Battleforce 2000. He is the G.I. Joe Team's electronic detection systems expert, and operator of the "Sky-Sweeper" mobile anti-aircraft platform. His real name is Blain M. Gonsalves, and he was first released as an action figure in 1987. Knockdown was KIA in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #113 while maneuvering through an oil field, when it is bombed by Cobra Commander.

Lady Jaye

Main article: Lady Jaye

Law & Order

Main article: Law & Order (G.I. Joe)

Leatherneck

Main article: Leatherneck (G.I. Joe)

Lifeline

Main article: Lifeline (G.I. Joe)

Lift-Ticket

Main article: Lift-Ticket (G.I. Joe)

Lightfoot

Lightfoot is the G.I. Joe Team's explosives expert. His real name is Cory R. Owens, and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Lightfoot was born in Wichita, Kansas, and was first released as an action figure in 1988. The figure was repainted and released as part of the Night Force line in 1989, packaged with Shockwave.

Lightfoot's primary military specialty is demolitions, and his secondary military specialty is artillery coordinator. Lightfoot has memorized all the mathematical tables that he found in military manuals for explosives, for calculating amounts of explosives needed, safe firing distances, power requirements for firing circuits, and formulas for cutting structural steel, timber and breaching various forms of bunker material. He has also memorized all the conversion tables for foreign and non-military explosives, as he doesn't take any chances.

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appears in Special Missions #13. He is sent to the Trucial Absysmia desert with the Joes Outback, Dusty, and fellow trainee Mangler. They are captured by local military forces, who torture the Joes' objective out of Lightfoot; they were sent to Africa to destroy a buried weapons cache. Only Mangler is angry that Lightfoot broke. After escaping, the Joes manage to make their way to the cache. Lightfoot, despite his injuries, succeeds in destroying it. Mangler sacrifices himself to allow the others to escape.

Lightfoot spends much time recovering from his injuries, and has to go through training again. Despite the real possibility of washing out, he makes it along with the fresh recruits Budo and Repeater. All three are drawn into a mission under the command of Grand Slam. They are defending a weapons cache, from Iron Grenadiers. Despite their leader being badly wounded, the Joes complete the mission, killing all they came across. Lightfoot saves the day with a time-delayed bomb destroying a retreating helicopter. He is one of the few Joes available to protect a space-based laser weapon from Cobra hands., and later assists in fighting "Darklonian" terrorists in New York City.

In the Devil's Due continuity, he makes a cameo appearance in G.I. Joe Frontline #18, walking down a hallway in the current G.I. Joe headquarters. He also appears when Cobra Commander makes an attempt on General Hawk's life by bombing the television studio he had appeared in. Lightfoot and Zap are two of the Joes who safely rescue Hawk.

Long Arm

Long Arm is the G.I. Joe Team's first strike specialist. His real name is Thomas P. Mangiaratti, and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Long Arm was born in Boulder Creek, California, and was first released as an action figure in 1993, as part of the "Battle Corps" line. His primary military specialty is initial assault. His secondary military specialty is offensive technician.

Long Range

Main article: Long Range (G.I. Joe)

Low-Light

Main article: Low-Light (G.I. Joe)

Lt. Falcon

Main article: Lt. Falcon

See also

• List of Cobra characters
• List of G.I. Joe Extreme characters
• List of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero characters
• List of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero characters (A–C)
• List of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero characters (D–G)
• List of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero characters (M–R)
• List of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero characters (S–Z)

External links

• Character Guide at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page