[Clockwise]

Every Joe #325: Short-Fuze

Not so long ago, I heard a podcast (Lyle's Movie Files) discussing how a GI Joe movie should have been done. His suggestion, not too far off from what I've always said, is to start with the OG13 characters for a first movie and go from there.

Then Lyle did the unthinkable. He suggested that one of the Joes would have to die in the first movie. Who did he suggest?

Short-Fuze.

Why, Lyle, just why? (I'm slowly shaking my head side-to-side.)

Sadly, this lack of love for the character has been an albatross for it since the line started. Short-Fuze is commonly mentioned as "the worst" or "least likable" of the OG13 (looking at you, youtube's Destro is My Spirit Animal).

The '82 figure is admittedly bland. No sidearm (even a molded one) to balance out his mortar. His uniform was exactly the same as Zap's. Mixing in short sleeves might have helped. Not even his trademark glasses were sculpted on the head, which is fair enough as Marvel added them.

It might not have helped that Hasbro started the character off with different file names from the jump. He was Eric Freidstadt- then Mark Freidstadt (or something like that, or in reversed order).

Hama never did much with Short-Fuze. After issue #1, where he did get some panel time, Short-Fuze was tossed aside. He was better represented in Sunbow?s first mini-series, where his sharp mind and grumpy disposition were better displayed when he and Steeler whipped up an anti-satellite rocket-thing.

Obviously, I'm a fan of poor Short-Fuze. Here he is, in updated uniforms of his '82 and Stars and Stripes Forever designs.

[flashtronaut8]

Man, this is great! Short-Fuze remains such a cool character. The more I think about it over the years, the more I'm convinced that he was my first Joe because of how much I liked his card art. (Got a JCP 3-pk of Grunt, Flash, RnR that Christmas.) I agree that the film and even a new book would do well to start with the most basic Joes and show the audience why they were so elite as to be chosen for the team. There are no bland members on an elite team - only members who've yet to be explored.

Side note: SF was one of the only repro card art pieces I bought from a maker on Etsy.

[Ponygt50]

Nice!

[Itchweed]

Very cool!

[Clockwise]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashtronaut8

Man, this is great! Short-Fuze remains such a cool character. The more I think about it over the years, the more I'm convinced that he was my first Joe because of how much I liked his card art. (Got a JCP 3-pk of Grunt, Flash, RnR that Christmas.) I agree that the film and even a new book would do well to start with the most basic Joes and show the audience why they were so elite as to be chosen for the team. There are no bland members on an elite team - only members who've yet to be explored.

Side note: SF was one of the only repro card art pieces I bought from a maker on Etsy.

Thanks.

I agree with you. He's an unexplored character, not a bad one.

And, I should have mentioned- the pose for Short-Fuze in this piece is modeled after a photo of one of my brothers, who was a mortar man in the Marine Corps in the mid 90's.

[Clockwise]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponygt50

Nice!

Thanks!

[Clockwise]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itchweed

Very cool!

Thank you!

I will probably break down and buy the CS Short-Fuze, whenever Hasbro gets around to making it. I hope they modify his look enough to give it some oomph. Maybe a ball cap with hearing protection and a shoulder holster added to his across-the-chest web gear.

[flashtronaut8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clockwise

Thanks.

I agree with you. He's an unexplored character, not a bad one.

And, I should have mentioned- the pose for Short-Fuze in this piece is modeled after a photo of one of my brothers, who was a mortar man in the Marine Corps in the mid 90's.

Very cool.

[turner]

Actually short fuse is one of my favorite joes. Pretty sure I got him first, makes sense, he had a helmet, visor, two part weapon, and backpack. That’s 4 accessories when stalker had 1, Scarlett 1, snake eyes 2, grunt 3, zap 3, rock n roll 3, breaker 3, and flash is the only other to have 4.

[Clockwise]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashtronaut8

Very cool.

I try to work little nods to friends/family members as I can.

Mutt & Junkyard (don't think it's been posted yet?) was modeled after one of my friends who is a canine officer. Wild Bill was modeled after my father-in-law (who had been in the Navy but more GI Joe-importantly had been photographed in cowboy hat at some point!). Scarlett and Serpentor were modeled after friends from decades ago who had modeled for me for Wonder Woman and Superman portfolio pieces.