Doc (G.I. Joe)

Doc (also known as G.I. Joe Doc) is the code name of two fictional characters from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic book and cartoon series.

The first is Carl W. Greer, who is the G.I. Joe Team's original medic and debuted in 1983. This Doc was born in Concord, Massachusetts.^[1]

The second fictional character to use the same code name was Carla P. Greer, the niece of the original Doc. She was born in the same city as her uncle, and has the same rank and skills.^[2]

Carl W. Greer

G.I. Joe character
Doc
Affiliation	G.I. Joe
Specialty	Medic
File name	Greer, Carl W.
Birthplace	Concord, Massachusetts
SN	RA367221097
Rank	O-3 (Captain)
Primary MOS	Medical Doctor
Secondary MOS	Chaplain's Assistant
Voiced by	Buster Jones (Sunbow) Steve Blum (Resolute) Phil LaMarr (Renegades)
Year introduced	1983

Profile

Carl W. Greer was the first member of the G.I. Joe medical team, and possibly the only one with a terminal degree; his M.D. Doc graduated from Harvard Medical School, and completed his residency at Johns Hopkins to become a full medical doctor. He also completed Airborne School, Mountaineering School and the Desert Training Unit. He is an avowed pacifist for practical reasons, in accordance with the Geneva Convention guidelines for battlefield medics.^[3] A spiritual man, he devoted himself to alleviating suffering in the world, and admired the G.I. Joe Team's efforts to do the same, by challenging those who would bring about violence and chaos. He served until killed in action, during a mission to Trucial Abysmia.^[4]

A Real American Hero Toy history

In the 3 3/4 inch toy line, Carl has had 2 figures made. He first appeared in 1983.^[5] His second was a mail-in exclusive released in 2008 as part of "Operation: Rescue Doc".

Comics

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #11 (May 1983). He saves three other Joes from Destro with a well-aimed snowball, saying he was unable to carry a weapon due to the Geneva Convention. He loses to the man in a fistfight, but manages to secure the antidote needed for several ill Joes. Furthermore, he faces down an armed squad of Cobra soldiers, tricking them into believing they were also sick and trading the 'antidote' for the plutonium that Cobra had taken. What the Cobra personnel inject into themselves is really a tetanus booster shot.^[6]

Later, Cobra forces make an attack on Joe headquarters. In the confusion, Doc finds General Flagg dead in the brig; Major Bludd had killed him while escaping.^[7] Doc then participates in a raid on a Cobra weapons facility located in Asbury Park, New Jersey.^[8] He also flies a recon mission with Wild Bill in the Florida Everglades.^[9]

Doc is part of a team investigating Cobra activity in the Gulf of Mexico. During a battle, Doc manually aims a ship's gun while Tripwire fixes and fires it.^[10] In issue #40, Doc convinces the military authorities to avoid using nuclear weaponry on another Cobra operation in the Gulf of Mexico. Doc persuades them to use enough conventional bombs to simulate a nuclear explosion without the dangerous radiation. This was planned for by Cobra, who uses the after-effects to raise what would later be Cobra Island.^[11] Doc is then part of an aborted raid on the newly formed island.^[12]

Later, Doc would join in the hunt for and be impersonated by Zartan, an illusion caster who had ended up deep inside the HQ.^{[volume & issue needed]} He is seen in issue #77, helping to take care of the wounded that resulted from the Cobra civil war.^[13]

Doc himself would die in issue #109. He is captured by the Crimson Twins, along with several other Joe soldiers, after a mission in Trucial Abysmia. Unarmed, they are being kept inside a wide hole in the ground. The Crimson Twins, completely misunderstanding an order from Cobra Commander, are very reluctant to carry out any murders. One S.A.W. Viper steps up and kills Doc first, then other Joes. The survivors wound the Viper and escape.^[14]

Animated series appearances

Sunbow Series

He first appeared in the "A Real American Hero" mini-series, voiced by Buster Jones.^[15]

Episodes

Doc appears in the following episodes (in alphabetic order):^[16]

• Arise, Serpentor, Arise
• Cobra's Creatures
• Countdown For Zartan
• GI Joe I
• GI Joe II (Revenge of Cobra)
• Lasers In The Night
• Last Hour To Doomsday
• Memories of Mara
• There's No Place Like...
• The Synthoid Conspiracy
• The Traitor
• Twenty Questions
• Worlds Without End

G.I. Joe: The Movie

Doc also appeared briefly in the 1987 animated film G.I. Joe: The Movie.^[17]

G.I. Joe: Resolute

Doc appears as the medical officer on the USS Flagg. During the autopsy of Bazooka, Doc discovers a message for Snake Eyes hidden inside Bazooka's mouth.

G.I. Joe: Renegades

Doc appears in the G.I. Joe: Renegades episode "Rage" voiced by Phil LaMarr. He is shown as a doctor who is watching over the war veterans who fell victim to the experiments conducted by Destro and Scrap-Iron. Doc later helps G.I. Joe get away when Flint arrives.

Carla P. Greer

G.I. Joe character
G.I. Joe Doc
Affiliation	G.I. Joe
Specialty	Medical Doctor
File name	Greer, Carla P.
Birthplace	Concord, MA
Rank	O-3
Primary MOS	Medical Corps Officer
Secondary MOS	Chaplain's Assistant (56M)
Year introduced	2004 (Comic) 2007 (Figure)

Fictional character biography

Carla P. Greer is the niece of the original Doc. She acquired her medical degree from Wayne State University, and took residence at a hospital in Detroit. After enlistment, she graduated top of her class from the Army Medical Department Officer Advanced Course, leading her to join G.I. Joe. Like her uncle, she is a pacifist, but carries a special tranquilizer gun used to help sedate patients or incapacitate enemies.^[4]

A Real American Hero Toy history

In the 3 3/4 inch toy line, Carla has had 1 figure made. She first appeared in 2007 as part of the "Tanks for the Memories" convention exclusive pack. The mold for her body is actually the same mold used to create the 1985 Lady Jaye figure.

America’s Elite - Devils Due

Carla Greer is listed in #28 as being deployed to Walter Reed Medical Center. Carla makes a one panel appearance in the final issue of America's Elite. She is part of the medical team tending to wounded after the events of World War III.^[18]

Alternate Realities/Continuities

A female Doc, based on the original male character, made her first appearance once before she existed in the main continuity.

G.I. Joe: Reloaded

A Carla W. Greer first appeared in the 2004 issue of G.I. Joe: Reborn, the second one-shot that set up the 14 issue comic book series G.I. Joe: Reloaded published by Devil's Due. This series was a new take on the formation of the G.I. Joe team. Carla was one of the characters with the most change to their history.^[19]

In this reality, Carla is the first person to use the code-name Doc. It is never revealed if she has an uncle named Carl that served as a Medical doctor as an inspiration to her. She is first seen in the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases treating Scarlett. She is recruited to the Joe team after helping the Joes confront a seeming terrorist attack.^[19]

References

1. ^ 1983 File Card Packaged with action figure ©Hasbro - Yo Joe!
2. ^ 2007 File Card Packaged with action figure ©Hasbro - Yo Joe!
3. ^ Hama, Larry (1987). Howard Mackie. ed. G.I. Joe Order Of Battle. Marvel Entertainment Group. p. 39. ISBN 0871352885. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Hidalgo, Pablo (2009). G.I. Joe vs. Cobra: The Essential Guide 1982-2008. Random House. p. 45. ISBN 9780345516428. 
5. ^ Santelmo, Vincent (1994). The Official 30th Anniversary Salute To G.I. Joe 1964-1994. Krause Publications. p. 98. ISBN 0-87341-301-6. 
6. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #11 (May 1983)
7. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #19 (1984)
8. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #20 (Feb. 1984)
9. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #28 (1984)
10. ^ G.I. Joe #36 (October 1985)
11. ^ G.I. Joe #40 (October 1985)
12. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #41 (November 1985)
13. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #77
14. ^ G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #109
15. ^ "Roll Call". G.I. Joe Roll Call. Joe Headquarters. http://www.joeheadquarters.com/rollcall_joes.shtml. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
16. ^ The Ultimate G.I. Joe Cartoon Website (2005). "GI JOE CHARACTER LIST". http://www.joeheadquarters.com/charlist_joes.shtml. Retrieved October 31, 2008. 
17. ^ G.I. Joe: The Movie (Motion picture). De Laurentiis Entertainment Group. April 20, 1987. 
18. ^ Powers, Mark (w), Bear, Mike, Quinn, Pat, Shoykey, Mike (p). "World War III Part 12 of 12: Hell" G.I. Joe: America's Elite 36 (June 2008), Devil's Due Publishing
19. ^ ^{a b} Reiber, John Ney (w), Bennett, Joe, Saltares, Javier (p), Jose, Ruy, Pepoy, Andrew (i). G.I. Joe: Reborn One-Shot (March 2004), Devil's Due Publishing

External links

• Doc on Joepedia, an external wiki
• Doc at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page