John James Rambo was introduced by David Morrell in his 1972 novel, First Blood. Rambo is a Vietnam War veteran and Green Beret. Rambo is also skilled in aspects of survival, weaponry, hand to hand combat and guerrilla warfare. David Morrell says he was inspired by "the sound of force" found in rambo apples he encountered in Pennsylvania. He was also inspired by the similar sound of the surname of Arthur Rimbaud, whose famous work, A Season in Hell, seemed "an apt metaphor for the prisoner-of-war experiences" he imagined Rambo endured.
The first movie in the film franchise is 1982’s First Blood, and the director was Ted Kotcheff. First Blood was followed by three sequels with another in the works. The sequels are Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988), and Rambo (2008). Sylvester Stallone has portrayed John Rambo in all films in the series. Rambo has also appeared in comic books, video games, and an animated series.
