The GI Joe/Cobra Concept Art & Filecard Project

zuludelta · 07:04 PM

Hey all,

I've slowly let my old art thread die a quiet death, primarily because updating the image links to reflect my switching image servers (form HISStank to Photobucket) was too much of a hassle. Anyway, I've continued to make "digibashed" and airbrushed concept art for my version of the GI Joe & Cobra characters, and the filecards to go with them. The filecards are accurate as of at least late 2007 with regards to the publicly accessible Department of Defense occupational codes, courses & training school listings.

You can view the concept art here (162 images as of latest count)

The custom filecards can be viewed here

My organizational outline of the GI Joe team, which shows my take on the Joe team's roster and will help explain why I've given certain Joes the jobs that they hold in their filecards, can be downloaded here

Here are some samples of my latest concept images:

Clockwise, from top left: Storm-Shadow, Flint, Mayday, Snake-Eyes

Comments are always welcome.

EDIT (15 Jan 2012): Welp, I'm doing a post-mortem of sorts of the Fielcard project... read here to read my thoughts on why I, after 2 years and some odd months, I decided to go in a different direction).

Master Thespian · 08-02-2009, 01:35 PM

Glad to see you've started your own topic again. I'm back in school, and it was getting really daunting to sift through the other topic for all of the explanations.

I'm pretty sure I've commented on Flint and Snake Eyes before, so I'll skip those here. Mayday looks fantastic. I always love to see more female Joes, and they way you integrated her is perfect. Nice work avoiding the pratfall of making her just look like Scarlett with a different outfit. Whatever your reasoning behind Storm Shadow's look, I love it. RoC has turned me off visually on the Joe side, but the Cobras look aces (save the Commander/Doctor/Rex). Your version takes the awesome of that design, and removes the S&M leatheriness of the movie look.

Wry1 · 08-02-2009, 01:38 PM

Excellent man, definitely like the idea of SS using a firearm. Ninjas always incorporated newer technology, then is was powder filled eggs, now silenced firearms would definitely be used. Oh and Mayday looks outstanding, well done.

Troynos · 08-02-2009, 01:40 PM

I loved Mayday from her first introduction in the DDP comic (Mayday and Barrell Roll were that run's only saving graces). LOVE LOVE LOVE the adaption of her. Beautiful. Hit the nail on the head with that one.

So I'll start backflipping to Canada now, I'm stopping 1/2 way until Barrell Roll gets made.

Also, making her USAF was a nice touch.

I like the new Storm Shadow, the lack of "detail" (pouches, stars, knives, etc..) gives him a very sleek look. Not really stealthy (he is wearing white after all) but sleek and dangerous. This is a guy that doesn't need to wear the threats, he is the threat.

And Flint is still one of my favorites.

zuludelta · 08-02-2009, 01:43 PM

Here's a look at my take on the GI Joe team's DUI (distinctive unit insignia):

This was inspired by the design of the DUI of the USSOCOM Joint Forces Command Army Element The Fairbairn-Sykes knife represents the Army's special-operations personnel on the team, the lightning bolt represents the Air Force's, the trident the Navy's, and the anchor the USMC's. The black field stands for the concealed and stealthy nature of the Joe team's missions, while the green represents land-based operational capability and the blue field represents the unit's airborne & seaborne insertion capabilities.

Written in a banner (coloured in Ranger black & gold) below the shield is the Latin phrase "Ex Scientia Victoria," which translates into English as "From knowledge comes victory," which is basically a fancy way of saying "Knowing is half the battle"

Here's the GI Joe team's beret and shoulder flash:

This is basically the crossed gold emblems of the team's DUI laid over the JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command) beret flash. This was inspired by DEVGRU's shoulder insignia, which uses a similar design scheme.

zuludelta · 08-02-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master Thespian

RoC has turned me off visually on the Joe side, but the Cobras look aces (save the Commander/Doctor/Rex).

I was somewhat against the movie Storm-Shadow look myself but my opinion started changing after seeing the action figure in hand. I think it's just that the preview stills weren't very flattering towards the design.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wry1

Excellent man, definitely like the idea of SS using a firearm. Ninjas always incorporated newer technology, then is was powder filled eggs, now silenced firearms would definitely be used. Oh and Mayday looks outstanding, well done.

Thanks man. But just in case, I'll be steeling myself for the onslaught of comments decrying Storm-Shadow's use of a silenced firearm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troynos

I loved Mayday from her first introduction in the DDP comic (Mayday and Barrell Roll were that run's only saving graces). LOVE LOVE LOVE the adaption of her. Beautiful. Hit the nail on the head with that one.

Glad you like it. Coming from an obvious fan of the character, that means a lot to me.

Troynos · 08-02-2009, 01:51 PM

Zulu, nice touch making her from New Hampshire. But why Lebanon?

Also, if she's going to get a law degree from a school in NH, it's going to come from Franklin Pierce.

Loose Cannon · 08-02-2009, 01:54 PM

Well now we'll get to see Cobra. Mayday looks awesome. And I like this Storm Shadow better actually than the first one you did. Definitely more modern.

zuludelta · 08-02-2009, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troynos

Zulu, nice touch making her from New Hampshire. But why Lebanon?

Totally random choice. I just picked it out because it sounded unique.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troynos

Also, if she's going to get a law degree from a school in NH, it's going to come from Franklin Pierce.

Oh, I credited her with a criminal justice degree, not a law degree. Since you're the NH native, I'll go with your Franklin Pierce suggestion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loose Cannon

Mayday looks awesome.

I had my doubts about how you guys would receive the beret (since she was never portrayed with one), but I think it turned out well and makes her look distinctive, and I'm glad you seem to like that touch too.

Troynos · 08-02-2009, 02:35 PM

Make her from Troy, New Hampshire (yes, there is such a place).