IDW Publishing Forums

burg · Transforumer Joined: 27 Feb 2009 Posts: 541

I'm sorry if this was covered already but seriously, this has been bugging the hell out of me:

WHY THE NAME CHANGE???

The 25th Ann. figure is called Roadblock - why did they change it to Heavy Duty for Origins & the new ongoing?

I know the 25th Ann. figure of Ripcord has been renamed "Altitude" so not to confuse people with Marlan Wayans character but Heavy Duty is very obviously Roadblock in the IDW-verse.

When I think Heavy Duty I think of a lamo in a neon-green backwards baseball cap from the shitty DIC cartoons. Roadblock was an amazing character! What the F???

Please enlighten me Smile

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Ro-Dan · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:51 am Post subject:

I'm totally confused by this too. Obviously Hasbro has not lost the rights to the name "Roadblock", so why doesn't IDW just call him that instead of "Heavy Duty"?
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Cattleprod · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:38 pm Post subject:

"Hasbro lost the rights to the name" holds no water, the Transformers comic is full to the brim with character names Hasbro lost the rights to, several of which were proudly displayed on the covers. Spotlight: Hot Rod, for instance.

CrazyK · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:37 pm Post subject:

I believe the rights exist in different forms of media. So while you can have the GI Joe Heavy Machine Gunner Action Figure can be named Roadblock, the character in any printed media cannot.

It's very confusing and I wish Hasbro would give us a definitive answer...

Cattleprod · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:59 pm Post subject:

shanecdavis · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:52 pm Post subject:

I doubt we will ever get the REAL answer to this. I also heard that it was the movie influence that forced this. The REAAALLLLYYYY smart decision to use a throw-away character like Heavy Duty over an established and popular character like Roadblock, at least initially, forced IDW to either uuse the HD character or go with RB in every aspect but name.

Personally, to me that is Roadblock and that is what he will always go by. Who knows, maybe in a future issue, we will see him dump the HD name. Either way, he is Roadblock to me.

CrazyK · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:44 am Post subject:

In relation to the character being used in the film, the creators and producers that were at the Joe panel at SDCC 08 said they felt it was stronger and fit the role of the character they created. None of us bought it.

As it is, the characters in the film and the new comics are in fact different characters. The Heavy Duty in the comics is, in essence, a brand new character. He's not wearing the same uniform. He's not a chef by trade- as far as we can tell. And there is no indication that he's from Mississippi so far. Much like the new Dial-Tone, the new relationships between Scarlett and Duke and Snake-Eyes, the new Destro dynamics, et al, the Roadblock/Heavy Duty character is a brand new entity. A new continuity. Same with the movieverse. These are brand new characters based loosely on an archetype established by Hama and Marvel and Hasbro twenty five years ago.

I think we have to let go of that, we have to accept that the Hama Establishment is done, that story is over. We take the very BASICS of these archetypes and see what these new creators can build upon them.

Ro-Dan · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject:

Cattleprod · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject:

G. Noel Gross · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:13 pm Post subject:

The Rev · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:14 pm Post subject:

This is just more bit of proof to what I already suspected.

As much as we're led to believe that there is no pressure on the writer's part to push toys (since they're dealing with old established characters) and they have freedom galore, it apparently is only gloss over attempt to insult our intelligence.

Am I one happy soldier with Hasbro giving its licences to IDW? ... You better believe it!

However the powers that be at Hasbro yet to have show absolute trust in those who basically advertise their brands (and lets face it ... the comics are really to cater to our nastalgia in order to get us to buy some more plastic men) with true freedom.

First I learned that Hasbro was having a fit over having Joe's in the background just milling about. Hmmm ... why not ... it is the PIT after all. Then Shane McCarthy tells about having to concede to some notion that G1 transformers are for kids and therefore had to tame (dumb down) the violence in AHM! (But I guess over blown violence in a movie is OK? Seems like a double standard here.)

Who are these people ... news flash to Hasbro ... kids aren't buying the TF and Joe rags ... ADULTS ARE!! You know the ones that grew up with the darn toys ... we're now in our 30's.

Hasbro I love you ... I really do ... and if anyone of you Hasbro guys actually reads this stuff please listen.

I know you own the characters ... we all know that ... us fans we get that ... but for once let what these guys at IDW do best and let them write the stories we're all grown up enough to read.

Heavy Duty instead of Road Block just doesn't cut it for whatever reason. Push the toys with the TV ads on the cartoon networks the kids are watching ... not to us in our beloved comics ... besides we're already sold ... we were sold in 1982 and will continue to fork over our money for little plastic men for a long time to come.

You better believe it!!
YO JOE!!
Smile

KJ · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:32 am Post subject:

If it was a trademark thing, then they'd still be able to use the character name.

They just wouldn't be able to use the name on the cover, or as a title.

So no Spotlight:Roadblock.

I'd wager it's simply a Hasbro request, to go along with the movie naming. We know it's Roadblock, anyone who sees the movie (LOL) will know that same character and recognise the name 'Heavy Duty.' Make it a bit more familiar for them.

G. Noel Gross · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:45 am Post subject:

Some of you are missing the point.

Both are actual Joe characters. Roadblock was featured heavily in the cartoons and comics. Heavy Duty was not, which given the characters are nearly identical physically and in specialty, is why screenwriter Stuart Beattie's choice sucketh so.

Roadblock (Marvin Hinton of Biloxi) was the first in 1984.
http://www.yojoe.com/filecard/84/roadblock.shtml

Heavy Duty (Lamont Morris of Chicago) followed in 1991.
http://www.yojoe.com/filecard/91/heavyduty.shtml

CrazyLogic · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:47 pm Post subject:

Watch them be identical twins...
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