G.I. Joe #55 (January 1987) – “Unmaskings” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky
This one opens with Destro and Cobra Commander trying to figure a way out of the remains of the Pit before they drown. (Well, Destro is trying to figure a way out, while Cobra Commander throws a temper tantrum.) Figuring the Joes must have more than one emergency escape route, Destro finds a tunnel-boring machine that they can use to dig their way to the surface. In Sierra Gordo, Dr. Mindbender is getting suspicious of “Flint’s” ability to block the brainwave scanner, as well as the strange lack of physiological response in his face. Counter-revolutionaries attack the Terror Drome, so
Baroness puts Tomax and Xamot in charge of dealing with them. Destro and Cobra Commander use the pre-programmed tunnel borer to reach the surface, coming up inside an abandoned clothing shop in a mall. Meanwhile, Serpentor is telling Zartan how he plans to legitimize Cobra, making it a true world power by selling arms to other countries. He also unveils plans for a consulate building in New York. Destro and Cobra Commander disguise themselves (although we don’t get to see their real faces) and prepare to go underground, since they want to avoid Cobra as well as the Joes, now that Serpentor has taken over. In Sierra Gordo, the twins learn why the counter-
revolutionaries are so effective … they’re being “advised” by some Joes (Stalker, Leatherneck, Lowlight, and Beach Head). Dr. Mindbender unmasks Snake Eyes, but the news of Joes helping their opponents causes him to delay the interrogation. Stalker has Lowlight take down some Cobras with tranquilizers so they can borrow their uniforms and get inside the Terror Drome. Back in the States, Cobra Commander and Destro have acquired a car and we find out the Commander is very good at “legitimate theft”. They’re stopped by a cop, who recognizes Cobra Commander as Billy’s father. Yeah, Billy didn’t die when that car blew up, he crawled out of the wreckage (missing a leg and an eye) and collapsed into a coma, but his wallet had his name and a photo of
his father, Cobra Commander (who’s travelling under his real name right now, to keep things legit). In Sierra Gordo, the Joes get inside the Terror Drome and find Snake Eyes and Stalker explains why he came on this rescue mission, to make up for almost leaving Snake Eyes behind in Vietnam. As they’re leaving, Stalker gets shot and orders the others to leave him behind, but they refuse. Snake Eyes chooses to stay behind to hold off the Cobras and gets hit with a load of grenades, making the other Joes wonder if he survived. Back in the States, Cobra Commander and Destro visit the comatose Billy in hospital and Cobra Commander feels bad for being such a shitty father, but 
Destro points out it’s not too late for him to change that. This is a good issue, although the tease on the cover never really pays off, as we don’t actually get to see anyone’s real face. But we do learn some more about Cobra Commander, like the fact that he’s cool in a crisis as long as he can control the situation, but falls apart when circumstances are beyond his control. We also get the return of Billy, although he’s not up and around yet, and the possibility of Snake Eyes being killed … although I think we all know that isn’t happening any time soon.
G.I. Joe #56 (February 1987) – “Jungle Moves” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky
This one starts just after last issue, with the unconscious Snake Eyes being taken into the Terror Drome in Sierra Gordo, having been knocked out by concussion grenades. The Joes are still helping the counter-revolutionaries and Cobra worries they might overrun the base, since the Terror Drome is designed to protect itself from air assaults, not ground. Dr. Mindbender is already planning his escape and the other Cobras aren’t much more optimistic than him. Stalker is evacuated to the aircraft carrier, where he apologizes to Scarlett for getting wounded which led to Snake Eyes being captured. She’s cool about it but is
obviously worried about what might happen to her boyfriend. Meanwhile at Georgia Tech, Grunt is still getting up early to work out and runs into a total babe named Lola who’s ex-Army herself. In Sierra Gordo, the Cobras pull out, taking Snake Eyes with them, and leave behind a team of sappers led by Tomax and Xamot to blow up the Terror Drome. (Apparently, there’s something about it they don’t want the Joes to find out.) When Serpentor finds out they’ve been overrun, he’s pissed off (mostly at Mindbender) and personally leads a squadron of air support to make certain the Terror Drome 
is destroyed. When the Crimson Twins try to blow the Terror Drome, nothing happens because Trip Wire disarmed the explosives. He places the charges in different areas to knock the modular base to pieces so the Joes can take it back with them and examine it in detail. Tomax and Xamot wait to see how the Joes will move the heavy Terror Drome segments without equipment, which they do with a combination of explosives and ingenuity. The Joes load the segments onto an old train and start it downhill, but Serpentor shows up and blasts the train as it crosses a bridge. Turns out the train was a decoy and the real Terror Drome segments are being taken out by river. In New York, we see Destro heading for Scotland (and having a little trouble getting his mask through security) to take care of some “family business”. This is a pretty good issue, although technically not a lot happens. The Joes do manage to get the Terror Drome
parts, but don’t succeed in rescuing Snake Eyes. That story was told in the third annual, but since I haven’t been reviewing the annuals, I won’t be doing that one either. Basically, Scarlet and Storm Shadow get into the new Cobra Embassy building in New York and get Snake Eyes out, using a little subterfuge in the end, with Scarlett impersonating the Baroness. It’ll be interesting to see what Destro’s up to in Scotland; I vaguely remember it has something to do with Lady Jaye, but I’ve forgotten the details.