THE POP EXPOSE ‘RIP Hector Garrido’ by Mitchell Smith!

Hector Garrido passed away last week peacefully at the age of 92. Hector was responsible for most of the 1980’s G.I. Joe card back artwork. Although Hector had his hand in other things such as Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and even Time Magazine, I will always be grateful for his contribution to G.I Joe. The figures were awesome in the 1980’s and going to the store was tough for any Joe fan to choose just one character if it was your lucky day to get one as a little gift.

One of the things that made it so hard was the card art. I know for me one of my favorite things as a kid was looking at the back of the card for all the other figures I didn’t have. The images were small on the back but they were so well done that little image just popped off the card and dragged you in like the old cartoon character sniffing the apple pie scent all the way back to the window sill where momma had just set it to cool. Hector was so brilliant in making the characters come alive. He captivated everything about the character and put it down into 1 image that would make you fall in love with that character.

He brought joy to millions and I couldn’t find anything about his personal life, but he was part of a toy explosion, and part of bringing joy to many kids across the globe. I wish I had all my card backs from my childhood, but somewhere these got lost in the shuffle. I now save card backs, but there will never be any that bring more joy to me then those of the 80’s Joes that the one and only Hector Garrido created. Rest in Peace sir. Your memory will live on through all the great art you created over the years.

Join in the conversation AFTER THE JUMP!