The code name of the first African-American G.I. Joe character introduced in 1982 is Stalker. His real name is Lonzo R. Wilkinson, and he is the team’s original ranger and an important field leader.
Stalker appeared among the original 1982 G.I. Joe figures and made his comics debut in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 in June of that year. His military background combines infantry, medic, interpreter, and ranger expertise. In the character’s backstory, he served on the same long-range reconnaissance patrol team as Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow during the Vietnam War.
The wording can cause confusion because Roadblock is another prominent African-American G.I. Joe character, but he was not the first. Doc and Heavy Duty are also distinct characters with different specialties and introductions. Stalker’s early status, leadership experience, and language skills made him one of the team’s most capable original members.