G.I. Joe #51 (September 1986) – “Thunder Machine” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky
This one continues where last issue left off, with the Dreadnoks and Storm Shadow meeting Zartan’s sister (Zarana) in their gas station hideout in New Jersey. They also meet Zandar (Zartan and Zarana’s brother) and another Dreadnok named Thrasher, who used to run with them years ago. Thrasher loves causing mayhem, but is a great mechanic and has fixed up a couple of vehicles for the Dreadnoks to use, including the Thunder Machine (which is cobbled together from various car parts). When Zarana hears the
Joes have captured Zartan, she immediately wants to go rescue him, without any help from Cobra. (It’s not out of love, but because Zartan stashed a bunch of stolen gold in the swamps and Zarana wants it.) Buzzer knows the location of the Pit, so Zarana masquerades as Lady Jaye to get herself and Zandar inside. Zandar is pretending to be an Army interrogator, there to get some info out of Zartan. Their ruse works and they make it to Zartan, who disguises himself as Sgt. Slaughter while Zarana changes to look like Scarlett. (Zandar makes his own way out, but he’s apparently so nondescript that people literally forget about him unless he’s right in front of them.) They make it outside, but run into a new Joe named Cross Country 
(who prefers being called a redneck to a hillbilly) who just saw the real Scarlett at McGuire Air Force Base. Zartan and his sister are in the Swampfire, which doubles as a helicopter, so they take off. Zartan stole a com-link so he could monitor Joe communications, but the com-link enables the Joes to track him and they send a contingent to bring him back. Meanwhile, Hawk has to go to Washington to meet with some Army top brass. Zartan and Zarana head for the marshlands of New Jersey, where they meet up with the Dreadnoks. Zarana and Zandar take the com-link in the Swampfire, while Zartan goes with the Dreadnoks in the Thunder Machine, splitting up to fool their pursuers. The Joes home in on the com-link and ambush Zarana and Zandar, but Zartan and the others ride to the rescue, decimating the Joes’ vehicles with the Thunder Machine’s firepower.
(Zartan isn’t acting out of brotherly concern here either, he just wants the Joe com-link to sell to Cobra.) Cross Country and Sgt. Slaughter show up in the HAVOC as back-up and play chicken with the Thunder Machine. Thrasher proves to be a hell of a driver, getting past the HAVOC on two wheels and heading into an oil refinery to keep the Joes from shooting at them. Cross Country catches up and rams the Thunder Machine, forcing Thrasher to head for open country again. Thrasher’s main skill seems to be his craziness, as he escapes the Joes by driving the Thunder Machine right 
through a moving train. Sgt. Slaughter tries to track them in his utility flyer and actually does find the gas station where they’re hiding, but he’s sent on a false trail by a disguised Zandar. This is a great issue, showcasing the Dreadnoks and giving us our first look at some new characters (Zarana, Zandar, Thrasher, and Cross Country) and vehicles (the Swampfire, Thunder Machine, and HAVOC). I have a soft spot for this one because I always liked the Dreadnoks and I still have the Thunder Machine toy, so seeing Thrasher drive it through a train was pretty cool.
G.I. Joe #52 (October 1986) – “Snap Decisions” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky
The opening of this issue actually takes place before last issue, soon after the Battle of Springfield in #50. Serpentor arrives at Cobra Island leading the Springfield evacuees in triumph and Cobra Commander immediately becomes paranoid, thinking Serpentor wants to overthrow him as leader of Cobra. He arranges an assassination at the airfield, but Serpentor anticipates it and gets so close to Cobra Commander that the snipers don’t dare fire. When the Springfield refugees praise Serpentor for saving them, he shares the credit with Cobra Commander, lauding him so much that he doesn’t dare try to kill Serpentor openly, for fear of losing the loyalty of his followers. The rest of this story takes place after last issue,
with the Joes returning to the Pit after losing Zartan and company in the swamps. They watch some martial arts training, which is interrupted by Storm Shadow showing up to talk to Snake Eyes. After pounding various Joes Including Quick Kick), Storm Shadow confronts Scarlett, who senses that he’s no longer a bad guy and allows him to speak to Snake Eyes. On Cobra Island, Cobra Commander wonders how to get rid of Serpentor without alienating his followers and wishes he could find a way to get the Joes to eliminate him. When he hears Zartan and the Dreadnoks are arriving, he gets an idea, even ignoring the news that Buzzer and Zartan know where Joe 
headquarters is located. Speaking of which, Storm Shadow tells Snake Eyes how he slowed his bodily functions to survive being shot by Baroness, and how Dr. Mindbender’s vat revived him. He says he needs a place to relax and meditate, so Snake Eyes gives him the key to his mountain cabin (or he key to the trap door under the cabin, since the actual cabin blew up in issue 31) and Storm Shadow leaves. On Cobra Island, Cobra Commander sends Zartan and the Dreadnoks to assassinate Serpentor, but Serpentor is ready for it. Baroness throws herself in front of him and Destro comes in to stop the Dreadnoks. (He’s probably more concerned about Baroness than Serpentor, but it certainly saves Serpentor’s ass.) Serpentor confronts Cobra Commander about the failed assassination, but decides to use it to his
advantage. Since the “Joes” tried to kill Serpentor, he can whip the Cobra troops into a frenzy to get them to attack the Pit and eliminate the Joes for good. Unfortunately, Hawk has just returned to the Pit to let the Joes know they’ve been officially shut down by the government because of the Springfield debacle. The issue ends with Storm Shadow finding the ruins of the cabin in the High Sierras and meeting Snake Eyes’s wolf, Timber. This is a pretty good issue, although it’s mainly setting up the assault on the Pit next issue. It’s good to see Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes acting like brothers instead of enemies, and it’s cool that Scarlett can read Storm 
Shadow’s heart as well as she can Snake Eyes. Serpentor makes a good foil for Cobra Commander; he’s not only a great military leader, but a canny politician too … not surprising since he’s made up of some of the best strategic minds in history. Next week there’ll only be one issue of G.I. Joe reviewed because I’m adding Special Missions to my reviews. That comic was bi-monthly at first, so I won’t have a Special Missions review every week (and the order might get a bit muddled), but I will be covering all the issues.