The Black Major

Black Major
G.I. Joe character
The Black Major in his Red Shadows-affiliated uniform
Affiliation	Royal Marines (Former) Red Shadows
File name	John Shepard
Birth place	United Kingdom
SN	Unknown
Primary MOS	Combat Control
Secondary MOS	Classified

The Black Major (published name John Shepherd (name changed to protect his family ) is a fictional character from the Action Force series depicted in the Battle Action Force comic books and Palitoy action figures as a European version of G.I. Joe.

In West Germany, he was known as the Schwarzer Major.

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 British 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.

His primary military specialty 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 Royal Marine unit and disowned by his family following his treachery, 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.

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.