Larry Hama, Shannon Gallant and Bob Brechin interviews!!

[The Baron]

Brilliant news! Larry Hama has agreed to conduct an exclusive interview with BFTB for our 10th anniversary! Fingers crossed artist Shannon Gallant will sit in on it too and Bob Brechin has offered to do a similar interview about the history of the Roboskull itself.

Obviously the buzz topic has to be the forthcoming Red Shadows IDW issues, but I'm very pushed for time. Please could you guys suggest some questions for the interview? I'm thinking 10 questions for each (although Shannon is not guaranteed at this stage, so his questions can match Larry's).

[Squad Leader]

Excellent!

Larry
Are we going to see the Red Shadows in the IDW comics and will any of the other vehicles or characters of The Enemy be making an appearance?

If it wasn't for you coming to the Roll Out Roll Call event would you of ever featured the original Action Force creations in the IDW comic?

Will any of the other Action Force teams be featured? I'm sure theres a story for the SAS somewhere!…as well as Z Force, Q Force and Space Force. It would certainly create an interest on this side of the water to buy the comics.

Bob
How long did it take you to make the prototype for the Roboskull, did it come together quickly or were bits added and changed over time?

Did you make any sketches for the design and do you still have them? If so would there be any chance of them being shown to BFTB?

Would it ever be possible for a video interview and for you to talk about your time with Palitoy and the items that remain in your possession?

[Thundershot]

Epic news

I'll need a little time to ponder upon what questions to ask, when's the deadline for submitting questions?

[The Baron]

The BFTB 10th anniversary is on the 24th, a week tomorrow. So I need to submit the questions, get them back and have time to prepare a presentation. It really is a rush job, I'm afraid.

[SteveD]

How about something like this for bob:-
"could you please give us some insight into the development process for a new item like the roboskull? Obviously it begins with sketches, but what then? Are they discussed with a committee before being made into a prototype? And once the prototype was made is it a full sized mock up? Made of clay or similar? Is it then "signed off" for production? Any insight you can give would be of great interest".

Or something along those lines?

[Quickfire]

What a great initiative; and a great coup to boot

Hmm...

LARRY - At what point did you find out about the British Action Force toy line and the associated comics?
Have you read the Battle Action Force comics on BFTB and, if so, which stories are your favourites? Any preferred writers and artists from those strips?
Did you follow British comics at that time, such as 2000AD, or their writers who went on to other projects in the States later such as Alan Moore and John Wagner, or artists such as Cam Kennedy? Any favourite stories?
Do you have any favourite characters or vehicles from the pre-Cobra Action Force-Red Shadows line?

BOB -
Thanks for all the information on the Roboskull and Red Wolf in your last interview with BFTB.
Did you have a 'eureka' moment when creating the Roboskull? Either on the technical /assembly side, or just realising that you had a perfect new vehicle to fit into the Red Shadow line?
Roughly how much did it cost to get a Roboskull from a mould into the shipping-ready boxed version sitting on a factory warehouse shelf? And roughly how long did it take?

Finally, thanks for creating the Roboskull, a masterpiece of imagination and, of course, Red Shadow engineering.

[Thundershot]

I'm still formulating my questions for Bob, but here's mine for Larry:

Before embarking on this new story, did you any research into the background history of the such as studying thier file cards, blueprints (as featured in the superb B.F.T.B toy archives ) or even purchase any of the toys to use as reference guides?

What was the expereince like writing a story involving the Red Shadows & how would you compare & contrast them to Cobra?

[Thundershot]

Bob:

Were you originally ever given a design brief to create a high end cost/signature vehicle, for the Red Shadows, or was the Roboskull entirely a concept of your own which you proposed to Palitoy?

When you first put pencil to paper & started to sketch out ideas for the Roboskull did you ever think to yourself: "This just too bizarre to ever make it to retail!" & did you have to scale or tone down any elements of its design on the grounds of cost or manufacturing practicalities?

[jamarmiller]

Larry
1. When were you first exposed/made aware of the Red Shadows ?
2. Now that the comic is finally going to be using a new enemy that is not Cobra or Destro, is it possible we could get a chance to see others like, S.K.A.R., IRON ARMY, or DR X from Action Man ?
3. In your opinion, what is the big differences between Cobra and The Red Shadows ?
4. When considering to use the Red Shadows were you only interested and concentrated on the original UK versions or did you take a look at the Devils Due versions as well. Were characters from DDP like Dela Eden and Arthur Kulik ever looked at , for possible inclusions ?
5. What is your take/feeling on Action Force and it's original Characters
6. Do you feel there is room for Action Force to make an appearance in your GI JOE universe someday ?

[The Baron]

Great stuff. I'm going to give this another 24 hours then submit the questions.

Bob: Where did the name Roboskull come from?
Larry: Will Skeletron be making an appearance? He never had any comic appearances in Battle Action Force.