Payload (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
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.
O-6. Payload was born in Cape Canaveral, Florida
. Payload's primary military specialty is astronaut
, and his secondary military specialty is fixed wing
pilot. He grew up watching the early space flights blasting off, staring at the flaming boosters through the hurricane fence. He joined the Air Force to make his dream a reality, flying F-4 Phantoms
over southeast Asia for three tours. He signed up for the astronaut training program after returning to the United States.
Payload frequently works closely with Hardtop, a specialist in the launching facility the Defiant moves in.
.
A new version of Payload was released in 1989, packaged with the Crusader space shuttle. A new version of Payload was released in 1993 as part of the Star Brigade
line. This one indicates that Payload helps patrol multiple planets. Another version was released in 1994.
G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in issue 64. In that and the following issue, he heads up a mission to stop Cobra forces from stealing U.S. spy satellites. The mission fails when Cobra destroys the satellites after they are prevented from stealing them.
Payload heads up a mission to rescue Joe survivors from a mission to the fictional land of Trucial-Abysmia.
Payload is featured in the last issue of the "Special Missions" series. He, Ace
and Slipstream
are sent to space to test out various survelliance techniques. When he learns Joe forces are in trouble on land, Payload goes against plan and pilots the Defiant back to Earth. He uses the Defiant's weaponry to neutralizes the threat and lands on the USS Flagg
, an aircraft carrier.
He later takes a team of G.I. Joe members to an asteroid endangering Earth; this grouping is called the 'Star Brigade'. This team includes Space Shot, Sci-Fi
and Roadblock
. The Joes team up with the current Oktober Guard to battle a robot army. The shuttles for both teams are damaged in the mission. Payload and the others cannibalize the Defiant to fix the Russian spacecraft. Both teams safely leave in the latter one. The Defiant is destroyed when the asteroid safely explodes.
to destroy a Cobra weapon aimed at Earth.
He also is featured in the Little Golden Books
'Tower Of Power' G.I. Joe story.
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...
toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's Defiant
Defiant (G.I. Joe)
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.-Toys:...
pilot and his figure debuted in 1987.
Profile
His real name is Mark Morgan, Jr., and his rank is that of Colonel, USAFColonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
O-6. Payload was born in Cape Canaveral, Florida
Cape Canaveral, Florida
Cape Canaveral is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 8,829 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, the estimated population according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 10,147...
. Payload's primary military specialty is astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
, and his secondary military specialty is fixed wing
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
pilot. He grew up watching the early space flights blasting off, staring at the flaming boosters through the hurricane fence. He joined the Air Force to make his dream a reality, flying F-4 Phantoms
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
over southeast Asia for three tours. He signed up for the astronaut training program after returning to the United States.
Payload frequently works closely with Hardtop, a specialist in the launching facility the Defiant moves in.
Toys
Payload was first released as an action figure in 1987, packaged with the Defiant space vehicle complexDefiant (G.I. Joe)
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.-Toys:...
.
A new version of Payload was released in 1989, packaged with the Crusader space shuttle. A new version of Payload was released in 1993 as part of the Star Brigade
Star 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...
line. This one indicates that Payload helps patrol multiple planets. Another version was released in 1994.
Comics
In the Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in issue 64. In that and the following issue, he heads up a mission to stop Cobra forces from stealing U.S. spy satellites. The mission fails when Cobra destroys the satellites after they are prevented from stealing them.
Payload heads up a mission to rescue Joe survivors from a mission to the fictional land of Trucial-Abysmia.
Payload is featured in the last issue of the "Special Missions" series. He, 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:...
and 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:...
are sent to space to test out various survelliance techniques. When he learns Joe forces are in trouble on land, Payload goes against plan and pilots the Defiant back to Earth. He uses the Defiant's weaponry to neutralizes the threat and lands 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...
, an aircraft carrier.
He later takes a team of G.I. Joe members to an asteroid endangering Earth; this grouping is called the 'Star Brigade'. This team includes Space Shot, 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...
and 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...
. The Joes team up with the current Oktober Guard to battle a robot army. The shuttles for both teams are damaged in the mission. Payload and the others cannibalize the Defiant to fix the Russian spacecraft. Both teams safely leave in the latter one. The Defiant is destroyed when the asteroid safely explodes.
Books
Payload and the Defiant play a critical role in the climax of the G.I. Joe novel 'Fool's Gold'. He works with Sci-Fi and HawkHawk (G.I. Joe)
Hawk is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys. He appears in the animated series, comic books, toyline, and movie.-Profile:...
to destroy a Cobra weapon aimed at Earth.
He also is featured in the Little Golden Books
Little Golden Books
Little Golden Books is a popular series of children's books. The first 12 titles were published on October 1, 1942:#Three Little Kittens#Bedtime Stories#Mother Goose#Prayers for Children#The Little Red Hen#Nursery Songs...
'Tower Of Power' G.I. Joe story.
External links
- Payload at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page