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Roadblock (G.I. Joe)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roadblock is a character from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toys, comics and cartoon. He is one of the most prominent African-Americans in the series. His primary function in G.I. Joe is as a heavy machine gunner and a secondary function as a cook.
Roadblock's real name is Marvin F. Hinton and was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. Before he enlisted in the U.S. Army, Roadblock wanted to be a gourmet chef and towards that, was working as a bouncer in order to earn enough money to attend Escoffier School in France. An army recruiter managed to convince him that he can learn to be a chef in the Army. After enlisting, Roadblock found Army food appalling and transferred to infantry where he excelled at using heavy weapons. Roadblock is one of the biggest and strongest members of G.I. Joe. He can carry a fully-loaded M2 Browning machine gun which can weigh up to 134 lbs. Despite working in infantry, he still maintains his passion for making good food and indulges in it while engaging in his secondary duty.
As a habit, Roadblock speaks in rhyme.
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Introduced in 1984, Roadblock is one of the most popular characters in G.I. Joe. There have been fifteen versions or variations of the 3.75" Roadblock action figures to date. Additionally, GI Joe issued a 12" Roadblock action figure for the 1992 Hall of Fame series that brought back the 12" GI Joe action figures. After that, GI Joe issued two other versions of the 12" Roadblock. Roadblock's head is bald and the face has a mustache. Some versions have a small goatee on the chin. An action figure called Double Blast used one of the Roadblock molds causing fear in fans that Hasbro lost the rights to Roadblock's name. Interestingly enough, Hasbro released a figure named Roadblock with Double Blast's information and real name on the filecard. All other version of Roadblock have been remakes of the original.
Roadblock is the most prominent African-American character in the animated series. He frequently talks in rhymes and has a talent for cooking. Roadblock is one of most good natured of the Joes, both in and out of combat situations and is a very capable leader when the situation calls for it. He appeared in various episodes of the Sunbow-produced animated series (voiced by Kene Holliday). He appears in the DIC series but only in the second season (see Episode 25 The Eliminator where he has a starring role).
In G.I. Joe: Spy Troops, it is revealed that the G.I. Joe character, Heavy Duty is a cousin of Roadblock and apparently shares the same passion for cooking. However, Heavy Duty does not possess Roadblock's talent in the kitchen. Many didn't understand why Roadblock wasn't involved in the Movie being that he is one of top members of the GI Joes.[1]
![[1]](http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/7118/roadblock2zc8.png){kind=link}
Roadblock first appeared in G.I. Joe #22 of the Marvel Comics series. He is the second most prominent black character, next only to fellow G.I. Joe member, Stalker. Unlike the cartoon version, the comic book Roadblock does not spout rhymes, and is mentioned to have a fierce temper that "is a long time building, and a long time going." He frequently says variations on "Flush 'em out with a burst of fifty 'cal", meaning force enemies out into the open with concentrated fire from his 50-caliber machinegun.
In issue #69, while in an American embassy is being looted, Roadblock threatens a man who is intending to burn an American flag. Roadblock aims his machine gun at the man's head. When the threatened man points out how looters are stealing computers, Roadblock states that nobody died for a computer. The man backs down.
In issues #77 and #78 he and other Joes battle American agents who are trying to frame and arrest every single G.I.Joe member. Roadblock is originally captured along with Hawk and ally General Hollingsworth. He violently escapes from captivity in order to organize the resistance movement. He manages to organize a group of Joe allies who, along with the unexecpected assistance of Destro, temporarily halt the comspiracy.
In another incident, detailed in the Secret Missions series, Roadblock and Chuckles escort a Harvard-educated African prince back to his homeland, to help him stabilize a power struggle. Despite the Joe's assistance in saving the prince's life (who is a capable fighter in his own right), the man evicts all foreign embassasies from his soil.
In issue #145, Roadblock is chosen to go into space with the Star Brigade, a small team of Joe members. They travel on board the Joe's own space shuttle, the Defiant. The team fights rampaging robots inside an asteroid that threatens all of earth. The Joes, along with the October Guard, destroy the asteroid, saving billions of lives.
Issue #154 is a Roadblock story in which, on his way to a cooking competition, he ends up on a civilian plane loaded with Cobra Vipers. Roadblock acquires a rocket launcher from the cargo hold, parachutes out of the plane, and destroys it with the weapon.
In the alternate continuity of Devil's Due G.I.Joe Versus Transformers, Roadblock is one of the few Joes to pilot large, humanoid robots. They befriend and team up with the Autobots to stop a conspiracy happening literally below their own headquarters.
Roadblock is one of the main characters in the G.I.Joe Find Your Fate novel Operation: Death Stone (ISBN 0-345-32936-8). In this story, which the reader chooses the options, Roadblock is part of a team of Joes, including Gung-Ho and Snake-Eyes that is searching a remote Pacific jungle island for a strange meteor.
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