The Black Major
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The Black Major (real name John ShepherdRed Shadows Revenge!storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron!) is a character from the Action Force series depicted in the Battle Action Force comic books and Palitoy action figures as a European version of GI Joe.
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Characterisation
The Black Major was depicted in the Battle Action Force comic book series as a member of the Red Shadows and second-in-command to Baron Ironblood.
Limited information is given in to his background on the file cards that accompanied the action figure although it is variously believed that he was either a traitor from Action Force (as a former United Kingdom Special Boat Service marine commando) or was otherwise a captive of Baron Ironblood, subsequently brainwashed into: a dedicated and ruthless follower. Brilliant military commander and tactician. Totally emotionless. The Black Major carries out Baron Ironblood's orders without question.The Black Major at Leicestershire Council Museum collection
His primary military speciality is stated as Combat Control though all other information is classed as Classified. However, his real name is referred to a number of times in his extensive back story.
Court martialled in absentia by his former unit and disowned by his family following his treachery,The Black Major storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron! his name is derived from the Spanish phrase el comandante negro, which was shouted at him by Andean soldiers in his first engagement for the Red Shadows.
Graphic representation
The figure is a repaint of the Action Force commander (a figure only available via a mail-in offer), giving some weight to his characterisation as a former Action Force member.
The figure was provided with an AK-47 assault rifle and a red paper codebook. Using the codebook one was able to decipher the characters used on Red Shadow vehicles (such as Shadowtrak), decals and armour as well as occasional Red Shadow wording used in the comic books.
Transition to Cobra
The Black Major was one of the key characters retained in the storylines surrounding the transition from the Red Shadows to Cobra. The evolution of both the action figures and the comic strip to conform to G. I. Joe in the mid-1980s saw a storyline where Ironblood betrayed the Red Shadows, leaking information about their bases and intentions to the United Nations. As the Shadows were wiped out, Ironblood constructed a new identity for himself, becoming Cobra Commander, and creating Cobra as a new enemy force. World Enemy No. 1 storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron!
While Red Jackal Red Jackal storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron! sought his own revenge and instead became Destro, the Black Major, Red Laser and Red Vulture stuck together and went in search of Cobra Commander. The Major finally confronted him at gunpoint during a battle with Action Force. He was taken aback when Cobra Commander addressed him by his real name of "Shepherd" and was even more surprised to recognise his voice as Ironblood's. Revenge of the Red Shadows storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron! He dropped his guard long enough for Cobra Commander to squirt him with cobra venom from a ring on his finger. He was rescued by Red Laser and Red Vulture.
Determined on revenge, the Black Major now led his own group of surviving Red Shadows Death in South America storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron! and fought his own war against Cobra, independent of Action Force. The Major's next appearance in Battle Action Force was in Showdown for the Shadows, Showdown for the Shadows! storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron! in which he sought one final counter-attack against the combined Action Figures AF (Action Force). The Black Major escaped with a fortune in valuables.
On another occasion, he destroyed a school where Cobra had assembled child prodigies from all over the world and brainwashed them into serving Cobra Commander. School for Snakes storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron! A chance encounter with Destro lead to them plotting to assassinate Cobra Commander, though this truce was short-lived.
His final appearance was in the Battle Action Force Annual 1987 Storm Shadow Storm Shadow II storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron! story where, acting upon a tip-off, Cobra Commander despatched Storm Shadow to eliminate the Black Major. He barely escaped with his life and was not heard from again...
Wilder Vaughn
Certain writers in the Devil's Due G.I. Joe universe have recently revived storylines incorporating elements of the Red Shadows factionDawn of the Red Shadows - Part 1 and Part 2 from the G.I. Joe comic book archive at YoJoe.comUnion of the Snake - Part 6 from the G.I. Joe comic book archive at YoJoe.com led by a "Wilder Vaughn". The back-story of that character is not fully explained and it has been speculated by online fan communities that Wilder Vaughn could be a new manifestation of the Black Major.Is Wilder Vaughn the Black Major? from The Action Force Online Forum However, there are a number of continuity differences between the two as a result of the divergent comicbook heritage of Action Force and G.I. Joe/Cobra.