Defiant (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
The Defiant is a fictional space shuttle
complex vehicle and station from the G.I. Joe
series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
, line of toys, comics and cartoons.
One is the Crawler unit, which transports the shuttle to a designated location. The Crawler unit is operated by the G.I. Joe member Hardtop, and features dual surface-clearing laser cannons, and 7.62mm machine guns. The Crawler also contained a crank to turn, in order to place the booster/shuttle into launch position.
Second, is the booster shuttle unit, which opened to reveal four computer consoles, a transporter air-lock with sliding door, and crew quarters with sleeping compartments. The booster shuttle was a space station on which the third component, the Defiant space shuttle, piggyback rides on launch.
The final part of the Defiant is the shuttlecraft
itself, which featured a three station cockpit/operations center, retractable landing gear, and hatch covers that opened to reveal a claw with laser gun, and an umbilical cord for outer space missions. The Defiant shuttle is commanded by astronaut Payload
.
It is a common misconception that the Defiant shuttle's design is based on the X-33
proposed shuttle design for NASA
. In fact, the Defiant was introduced in the comics nearly a decade before the X-33 Venture Star even started development; the Defiants appearance is based on several lifting body designs from the late 1960s.
Retailing at US $129.99, the cost of the playset - the most expensive toy in Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
lineup - led to Hasbro re-releasing the shuttle two years later as a stand alone vehicle called the Crusader, which used the same mold as the Defiant shuttle. The toy also came with a re-painted version of the "Payload" action figure. Using a metal tab that came with the Defiant shuttle, the Crusader could be modified to fit on top of the booster that was included in the original shuttle complex playset.
and Psyche-Out
sneak out. They discover the machine's tracks leading to undisturbed sand. They do not understand it has hidden itself underground.
It is these very tracks which would later bring misery to the Joe team. Satellite photos of the vanishing treads (and a badly timed G.I.Joe football game) are what lead Cobra forces to know where the headquarters is located. This leads to a later battle .
The Defiant and crew are featured in G.I.Joe Special Missions #28. Payload, Slipstream
and Ace
take the Defiant into low orbit to discover if Cobra can detect a new military base in the fictional country of Punta Del Mucosa. Payload breaks off the mission to save several teammates, utilizing the Defiants guns to destroy a Cobra jet fighter. At the end of the issue; Payload makes a safe landing on the USS Flagg
. The craft is then featured in a splash page that breaks the fourth wall as #28 is the last issue of the Special Missions line.
launch. The crew includes Payload, along with Space Shot, the craft's co-pilot, Duke
, Roadblock
and Sci-Fi
.
The Defiant lands inside an asteroid threatening to collide with Earth. By issue #148, its last appearance, it had become damaged, unable to fly. The Oktober Guard, which has also traveled to the asteroid, works with the Joes; Payload and the Russian officer Dragonsky cannibalize the Defiant in order to effect an escape. The Russian shuttle escapes with everyone on board, the asteroid is destroyed, and the remains of the Defiant are obliterated.
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
complex vehicle and station from the G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
, line of toys, comics and cartoons.
Toys
Released in 1987, it is also one of the largest playsets in the toyline series. The Defiant is actually composed of three vehicles.One is the Crawler unit, which transports the shuttle to a designated location. The Crawler unit is operated by the G.I. Joe member Hardtop, and features dual surface-clearing laser cannons, and 7.62mm machine guns. The Crawler also contained a crank to turn, in order to place the booster/shuttle into launch position.
Second, is the booster shuttle unit, which opened to reveal four computer consoles, a transporter air-lock with sliding door, and crew quarters with sleeping compartments. The booster shuttle was a space station on which the third component, the Defiant space shuttle, piggyback rides on launch.
The final part of the Defiant is the shuttlecraft
Shuttlecraft
Shuttlecraft may refer to any smaller spacecraft, usually capable of atmospheric transport, such as:* Shuttlecraft , small space vehicles in the fictional universe of Star Trek...
itself, which featured a three station cockpit/operations center, retractable landing gear, and hatch covers that opened to reveal a claw with laser gun, and an umbilical cord for outer space missions. The Defiant shuttle is commanded by astronaut Payload
Payload (G.I. Joe)
Payload is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's Defiant pilot and his figure debuted in 1987.-Profile:...
.
It is a common misconception that the Defiant shuttle's design is based on the X-33
Lockheed Martin X-33
The Lockheed Martin X-33 was an unmanned, sub-scale technology demonstrator suborbital spaceplane developed in the 1990s under the U.S. government-funded Space Launch Initiative program. The X-33 was a technology demonstrator for the VentureStar orbital spaceplane, which was planned to be a...
proposed shuttle design for NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. In fact, the Defiant was introduced in the comics nearly a decade before the X-33 Venture Star even started development; the Defiants appearance is based on several lifting body designs from the late 1960s.
Retailing at US $129.99, the cost of the playset - the most expensive toy in Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
lineup - led to Hasbro re-releasing the shuttle two years later as a stand alone vehicle called the Crusader, which used the same mold as the Defiant shuttle. The toy also came with a re-painted version of the "Payload" action figure. Using a metal tab that came with the Defiant shuttle, the Crusader could be modified to fit on top of the booster that was included in the original shuttle complex playset.
Marvel Comics
In the comic books, it is hidden under the desert near the Joe's Utah headquarters. Its knowledge is limited only to official members of the G.I. Joe team, raising suspicion among a new group of Joe rookies. They would have been told, except for a paperwork error. After an incident where the Crawler almost runs over two Joe vehicles parked outside the top-level Quonset huts, rookies ChucklesChuckles (G.I. Joe)
Chuckles is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's undercover specialist and debuted in 1987.-Profile:...
and Psyche-Out
Psyche-Out (G.I. Joe)
Psyche-Out is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's deceptive warfare specialist and debuted in 1987.-Profile:...
sneak out. They discover the machine's tracks leading to undisturbed sand. They do not understand it has hidden itself underground.
It is these very tracks which would later bring misery to the Joe team. Satellite photos of the vanishing treads (and a badly timed G.I.Joe football game) are what lead Cobra forces to know where the headquarters is located. This leads to a later battle .
The Defiant and crew are featured in G.I.Joe Special Missions #28. Payload, Slipstream
Slip Stream (G.I. Joe)
Slip Stream is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's Conquest X-30 pilot and debuted in 1986.-Profile:...
and Ace
Ace (G.I. Joe)
Ace is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's original fighter pilot and debuted in 1983.-Profile:...
take the Defiant into low orbit to discover if Cobra can detect a new military base in the fictional country of Punta Del Mucosa. Payload breaks off the mission to save several teammates, utilizing the Defiants guns to destroy a Cobra jet fighter. At the end of the issue; Payload makes a safe landing on the USS Flagg
USS Flagg
The USS Flagg is a fictional U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier from the toy line, comic and cartoon series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. It is the G.I. Joe Team's primary sea going vessel...
. The craft is then featured in a splash page that breaks the fourth wall as #28 is the last issue of the Special Missions line.
Lost in space
The shuttle is featured in issue #65, where the team goes into orbit to prevent the destruction of US spy satellites by Cobra. Later, a small team of Joes named Star BrigadeStar Brigade
The Star Brigade is a fictional sub-team from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. With specialized space suits and accessories, these high-tech astronauts were designed to protect the universe from Cobra and the Lunartix Empire.-Toys:All of the Star Brigade...
launch. The crew includes Payload, along with Space Shot, the craft's co-pilot, Duke
Duke (G.I. Joe)
Duke is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 lines of military-themed toys. The character is featured in both the animated series and comic books. Duke is portrayed by actor Channing Tatum in the 2009 live-action film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of...
, Roadblock
Roadblock (G.I. Joe)
Roadblock is a character from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toys, comics and cartoons. 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.-Fictional character...
and Sci-Fi
Sci-Fi (G.I. Joe)
Sci-Fi is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's laser trooper and debuted in 1986.-Profile:His real name is Seymour P. Fine, and his rank is that of corporal E-4...
.
The Defiant lands inside an asteroid threatening to collide with Earth. By issue #148, its last appearance, it had become damaged, unable to fly. The Oktober Guard, which has also traveled to the asteroid, works with the Joes; Payload and the Russian officer Dragonsky cannibalize the Defiant in order to effect an escape. The Russian shuttle escapes with everyone on board, the asteroid is destroyed, and the remains of the Defiant are obliterated.
External links
- Defiant at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page