CGC Collectorverse: Collector Origin Stories – CleverName

For this issue of Collectorverse “Origin Stories,” we’re spotlighting CGC Comics Registry user CleverName and a collection of G.I. Joe comics that would make any collector stand and salute!

This impressive G.I. Joe collection highlights many of the franchise's most sought-after comic books, from pivotal first appearances to unforgettable battles that shaped the series' legacy. Each high-grade issue celebrates the blend of military action, larger-than-life heroes and Cold War-era intrigue that transformed G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero into one of the most influential licensed comic runs ever published, making it a standout tribute to a property that continues to inspire fans decades later.

Q&A with CleverName

Let's get right into it. Tell us how you got started collecting comics.

I got into comics when my mom was taking me and my brothers on a long road trip. At a stop, I begged for some comics off one of those old spinner racks. I picked out Uncanny X-Men #279 and G.I. Joe #115. Ever since then, I’ve loved comics. I could get lots of G.I. Joe back issues at the local flea market, and the early 1990s were a great time to get into comics. I vividly remember the buzz around 1991’s X-Men #1 and the launch of Image Comics — it was a great time to be a kid, mowing lawns to buy comics!

You collect a mix of Marvel, DC, and indie titles, and your G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero set just won the award for Best Modern Set in the 2026 CGC Comics Registry Awards. What was it about this run that got you into collecting it? 

This particular run is especially important to me because I’d always loved the Joes, and when G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero relaunched, my son was two years old, and I was reading a lot of kids books to him. I was excited for the return of G.I. Joe and mixed things up by reading comics to him instead. He loved them! And I’m still reading this series to him at night. It’ll be a sad (but proud) day when he doesn’t need me to read them to him any longer.

You've got a lot of very high-grade books in this set. Were these a challenge to get and have there been any other challenges in collecting this title? 

You have to constantly be hunting. I can be a little competitive, so I enjoy it, but I’m always looking for the next big book!

G.I. Joe started out, of course, as an action figure but has really transcended into this huge universe. What do you think it is about G.I. Joe that makes it so enduring? 

I think G.I. Joe is enduring and compelling because it’s a character-driven, reality-rooted concept that addresses challenges and threats confronting America today. There are dozens and dozens of Joes and Cobras that are deliberately pulled from all walks of life, and there’s just enough science fiction and ninja mysticism sprinkled in to keep things fun. Our family dogs are Scarlett  and Lady Jaye, my son’s favorites are Beach Head and Snake Eyes (of course!), and I love Flint and Recondo. But there’s an endless supply of characters and real-world scenarios that I think will always produce enduring resonance.

Who is your creative dream team in G.I. Joe comics? We're talking writers and artists. 

I’m a huge Larry Hama fan, and I hope he sees this. As far as I’m concerned, G.I. Joe is Larry’s world, but I did really like how Chuck Dixon made G.I. Joe more real, raw, and urgent. For artists, I would love to see a rotation (sort of like how Titan is working their team on Conan the Barbarian) of Robert Atkins, Jamie Sullivan, and Netho Diaz, with each of them doing a 4-to-6-issue arc, taking a brief pause, and then jumping on the next arc. But they need to get John Royle doing covers again immediately. Seriously, people at Skybound need to get John back in the game right now!

How has the CGC Comics Registry helped when it comes to collecting? 

The Registry is great because it helps me see what’s out there. I know there are some great apps for comic collecting now, but the Registry existed as a reference before most of them. And I also feel like I’m stewarding the hobby a little bit every time I add a slot to a set or post a picture; it’s a wonderful digital community and resource. Soon I’m going to create a custom set of G.I. Joe #1 through current that’ll consolidate decades of the best title in comics — hopefully the Registry team will even make it competitive.

Last but not least — what is the one comic that you've either parted with or haven't owned that you'd love to have? And tell us why. 

The G.I. Joe/Danger Girl crossover was awesome, and I have a lot of nostalgia for 1990s comics and creators. So I’d love to see Larry Hama, Jim Lee, and Scott Williams combine on a crossover of G.I. Joe/WildC.A.T.S. If I can’t manifest that here, I’d settle for a commission: have Jim Lee do an homage to WildC.A.T.S. #1 with G.I. Joe characters — Yo Joe!

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games, and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs, and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation, and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray, and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.

CGC is part of the Certified Collectibles Group, a global provider of expert and impartial authentication, and grading services for collectibles. Since 1987, the Certified Collectibles Group companies have certified more than 110 million collectibles, including coins, banknotes, comic books, cards, autographs, and stamps.