CLASS OF 1982 Code Name: GRAND SLAM

GRAND SLAM is one of the few 1982/83 action figures I never owned. I don't remember ever seeing either the J.U.M.P. or H.A.L. in stores as a kid. My friend, Andy, had both. So, whenever I would visit to play G.I. Joes I had the opportunity to try them out. I actually found the H.A.L. to be quite boring as a toy. I understand the concept of having a gun the V.A.M.P. and M.O.B.A.T. could pull around, and the sci-fi nature of a "laser cannon;" but I just don't think that it appealed that much to kids. However, this could just be my opinion because I never owned one!

In my Joeverse, Grand Slam is how the original file card described him, a comic book, sci-fi nerd. But this is why he gets to play with so many cool, sci-fi weapons! I see Grand Slam more of a Jet Pack trooper or an Artillery Support trooper. I've slightly customized a Steel Marauder that I call the H.A.L. (Heavy Assault Leader) - which is more like the Mech Suit thing from Avatar.

Basically, a kit-bash figure, sticking to the color scheme of the original ARAH action figure.

Due to a SNAFU with the blog, some of the original pictures were lost and had to be copied from another site, which explains the smaller sizes. I've tried to enlarge and brighten the pictures from some of my original blog posts.