Ace

Origin

While still in high school in Providence, Rhode Island, Ace, real name Brad J. Armbruster, worked after school and on weekends to pay for flying lessons. He became an expert pilot and had several different jobs, including stunt flying for movies. When he was 22, Ace joined the Air Force. During his time in the Air Force, Ace became the senior instructor for the USAF Fighter Weapons Squadron known as "The Aggressors" just before he was assigned to the G.I. Joe.

Creation

Beginning as a toy in 1983 for Hasbro, Ace made his comics debut in Marvel's G.I. Joe series in the same year. He was first drawn by Mike Vosburg and written by Larry Hama.

Character Evolution

Ace is a qualified expert pilot of various fighter jets including the F-5E, F-15, F-16, XP-14/F, and X-16. Ace mainly pilots the Skystriker, but he has also flown many missions piloting the G.I. Joe's C-130 Hercules transport.

Ace's nickname has a double meaning. Ace is a term used in the Air Force for a highly skilled pilot, or a pilot who accumulates more than five kills. However, Ace gained his nickname because he is a highly skilled poker player that never loses.

After the Joe team is disbanded in 1994, Ace returns to stunt flying for movies. He returns to duty in 2001, a part of the Devil's Due G.I. Joe series, to fly for the reinstated G.I. Joe team.

Major Story Arcs

Cobra Civil War

Ace flies a C-130 to Cobra Island during the Cobra Civil War in which the Joes participate on Serpentor's side. Just after the invasion, Ace and Lift-Ticket, along with several other G.I. Joe pilots, fly a diversionary mission so that a Stealth Fighter can fly a recon mission over Cobra Island.

Other Media

Television

Ace appears in the 1985 Sunbow G.I. Joe TV-series. He first appeared in the show's opening mini-series "A Real American Hero". He was voiced by Pat Fraley.

Movies

Ace appears in the direct-to-DVD CGI G.I. Joe movie "Valor vs. Venom". He is voiced by Alistair Abell.

Toys

As previously mentioned, Ace was initially released in the Hasbro G.I. Joe toy line in 1983. He was packaged with the Joe's fighter jet the Skystriker. He was again released in 1992 as a part of the Battle Copters line. Then in 1993, he was again repainted and released as a member of the G.I. Joe Battle Corps and was packaged with the X-16 Ghoststriker fighter jet. In 2011, as a part of the 30th anniversary toy line, a new version of Ace was created and this time packaged with the XP-14F Combat Jet Skystriker.