Roadblock (G.I. Joe)

Unlike the cartoon version, the comic book Roadblock does not spout rhymes, and is mentioned to have a fierce temper that "is a long time building, and a long time going". He has been known to say things like "Flush 'em out with a burst of fifty 'cal", meaning force enemies out into the open with concentrated fire from his .50 caliber machine gun.

Roadblock first appeared in Marvel Comics' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #22 (April 1984). In that issue, he is standing guard with Duke. They are overlooking the funeral of General Flagg, which is taking place at Arlington National Cemetery. Cobra attacks the funeral with a Rattler plane. Before anyone is hurt, Roadblock and Duke shoot it down, killing the pilot.[17]

In the next issue, Roadblock is part of a Joe team attempting to keep Cobra Commander prisoner in the Rocky Mountains. The ninja Storm Shadow manages to rescue the Commander, though he himself is captured by Roadblock.[18]

In issue #69, while in an American embassy that is being looted, Roadblock threatens a man who is intending to burn an American flag. Roadblock aims his weapon at the man's head, asking him to "desist in your actions or I will be obliged to reduce your head to a fine red mist." When the threatened man points out how looters are stealing typewriters, Roadblock states that "Nobody ever died for a typewriter." The man backs down.[19]

In issues #77 and #78, he and other Joes battle American agents who are trying to frame and arrest every single G.I. Joe member. Roadblock is originally captured along with Hawk and ally General Hollingsworth. He violently escapes from captivity in order to organize the resistance movement. He manages to organize a group of Joe allies, along with the unexpected assistance of Destro, temporarily halting the conspiracy.[20]

In another incident, detailed in the Secret Missions series, Roadblock and Chuckles escort a Harvard-educated African prince back to his homeland, to help him stabilize a power struggle. Despite the Joes' assistance in saving the prince's life (who is a capable fighter in his own right), the man evicts all foreign embassies from his land.

In issue #145, Roadblock is chosen to go into space with the Star Brigade, a small team of Joe members. They travel on board the Joes' own space shuttle, the Defiant. The team fights rampaging robots inside an asteroid that threatens all of Earth. The Joes, along with the Oktober Guard, destroy the asteroid, saving billions of lives.[21]

Issue #154 is a Roadblock story in which, on his way to a cooking competition, he ends up on a civilian plane loaded with Cobra Vipers. Roadblock acquires a rocket launcher from the cargo hold, parachutes out of the plane, and destroys it with the weapon.[22]

In a direct continuation of the original Marvel Comics series, still written by Larry Hama, Cobra is a worldwide popular paramilitary strike force and G.I. Joe is on the run. Roadblock kills a Cobra assassination team and hooks up with other Joes to steal proof for the United States President that Cobra is acting against America's interests.[23]

The Joe team spends much time inactive. When Cobra is revealed to be a threat yet again, Roadblock, now making a living as a chef, eagerly answers the call to reform the team.[24] He is one of those stricken by the nanite virus but recovers.[25]

Roadblock gains his own television cooking show. It ends up that Tomax and Xamot, Cobra operatives, own the show; they decide to have the studios destroyed to cover up money laundering crimes. Roadblock ends up fighting overeager Dreadnoks on stage, which just increases his popularity, including sales of his Marvin Hinton Grill.[26]

In the alternate continuity of Devil's Due G.I. Joe Versus Transformers, Roadblock is one of the few Joes to pilot large, humanoid robots. They befriend and team up with the Autobots to stop a conspiracy happening literally below their own headquarters.

Roadblock appeared in various episodes of the original G.I. Joe animated series, voiced by Kene Holliday.[27] Roadblock is the most prominent African-American character in the animated series. He frequently talks in rhymes and has a talent for cooking. Roadblock is one of the most good-natured of the Joes, both in and out of combat situations and is a very capable leader when the situation calls for it. He is particularly good friends with Flint and Lady Jaye.

Roadblock first appeared in the miniseries "The Revenge of Cobra", in which he had a major role. He is among the Joes led by Flint to rescue Duke and Snake Eyes, as well as to retrieve a laser core from Cobra. However, Destro creates a storm over the Pit of Chaos with the Weather Dominator weapon. A tornado traps Flint, Roadblock and Mutt into the pit, where Destro has planted strangling vines, which grow due to a rainstorm. Roadblock lets Flint and Mutt escape via a makeshift helicopter made from parts of a Skystriker, while he struggles against the vines. The vines die when the rain has stopped, allowing Roadblock to climb out of the pit. He later stows away in a trailer, where he meets and befriends truck company owner Honda Lou West. He and Honda Lou are smuggled into the Cobra Temple, and captured alongside Duke and Snake Eyes. The four work together to escape the arena of sport, and successfully execute Roadblock's idea of stopping Destro's control of the Weather Dominator using the vines.[28]

He also had a prominent role in the episode "Red Rocket's Glare", as did his uncle and aunt, Caleb and Sarah Bronson, who were part of the episode's plotline. In the episode, Roadblock and Recondo discover a series of new "Red Rocket" restaurants, and find Roadblock's aunt and uncle's diner replaced with one of them. The Joes later learn that the restaurants were opened by Cobra through Extensive Enterprises and are armed with missiles, which they then set out to disarm. As Roadblock climbs onto the last rocket, Tomax and Xamot try to stop him. The rocket launches, carrying Roadblock and the Crimson Twins, but Flint hits its nose cone with a missile from his Skystriker, saving Roadblock. Later, the Joes celebrate their victory at the Bronsons' diner, with Roadblock cooking with his uncle and aunt.[29]

Roadblock is featured in two of the series' Public Service Announcements warning a couple of kids about the hazards of playing with/around fallen power lines and telling one kid to never give his address to a stranger.

In G.I. Joe: The Movie, Roadblock has a prominent role. He leads a team of Joes in pursuit of the fleeing Cobra after their initial attack on G.I. Joe in an attempt to steal the Broadcast Energy Transmitter. Roadblock and the Joes follow Cobra into Cobra-La, where they are captured. During an escape attempt the other Joes are re-captured, with only Roadblock managing to escape, but not before being temporarily blinded by Nemesis Enforcer. Aided by the slowly mutating Cobra Commander, Roadblock escapes Cobra-La and wanders through the snow with Cobra Commander before eventually being found by a G.I. Joe search party. With his vision restored, he is then able to lead the Joes back to Cobra-La's ice dome, where the final battle between Cobra-La and G.I. Joe takes place.[30]

Roadblock appears in the DiC G.I. Joe cartoon, voiced by Blu Mankuma.[31] He has a starring role in Episode 25, "The Eliminator".

In G.I. Joe: Spy Troops, it is revealed that the G.I. Joe character, Heavy Duty is a cousin of Roadblock and apparently shares the same passion for cooking, but not the talent of it.

Roadblock appears in G.I. Joe: Resolute.

In G.I. Joe: Renegades, Roadblock is reinterpreted as the chief mechanic and technical support person and one of the original six Renegade members. He is partnered with Tunnel Rat. In "Knockoffs," it is revealed he has a cousin named Hershel as they both share the same shoe size. Roadblock is re-interpreted with large sideburns and a high affinity for the team's van which he nicknames the "coyote" and continually shows his devotion to, as shown in the Renegades episode 15 "White Out" where he likens the truck to a well cultured and athletic woman and episode 16 "Shipwrecked" where he risks his life to save the van from sinking into the ocean. He is also shown to enjoy heavy metal music. Like his other versions, this Roadblock cooks, but does not speak in rhyme unlike the classic Roadblock. He has a cheerful and calm personality.