Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
G. I. Joe #11 (May 1983) – “The Pipeline Ploy” – Larry Hama/Mike Vosburg/Jon D’Agostino
This one starts with some new Joes (Doc, Snow Job, and Gung Ho) being brought in to relieve the team during a firefight with Cobra along the Alaskan Oil Pipeline. Hawk explains how Cobra had been sniffing around the pipeline and how they engaged with them and took out most of the Cobra artillery before their own tanks were blasted. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 11, G.I. Joe 12”
Conan the Barbarian #11 – “Rogues in the House” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Sal Buscema
This one starts with Conan chained in a dungeon, taunted by a sadistic guard named Ch’unda. We get a flashback showing how Conan wound up in the dungeons after killing the priest last issue. Jenna (who now has the hots for the thief Igon) betrayed Conan to the guards and Conan was so drunk he knocked himself out during the fight. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 11, Conan the Barbarian 12”
G. I. Joe #9 (March 1983) – “The Diplomat” – Steven Grant/Mike Vosburg/Chic Stone
This one starts with a team of Joes raiding a secret Cobra facility in Nebraska and capturing part of a computer hard drive. A lot of the data has been erased, but there’s enough to make Hawk worry. Cobra is very interested in a diplomat named Brian Hassell, who is involved in delicate talks with the (fictional) Middle East country of Al-Alawi. Since Al-Alawi would be a valuable ally in the Middle East, the talks are very important and Cobra would just love to screw things up. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G. I. Joe 9, G. I. Joe 10”
Conan the Barbarian #9 – “The Garden of Fear” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Sal Buscema
This one starts with Conan and Jenna still fleeing after last issue’s troubles. They run into some primitive hill people who (after a brief fight) turn out to be friendly. Conan and Jenna notice a couple of nearby valleys separated by a pass, but the tribesmen are too afraid to even look in that direction. As Conan and Jenna are leaving, she’s grabbed by a winged creature and the hill tribe seems to think she’s as good as dead. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 9, Conan the Barbarian 10”
G. I. Joe #7 (January 1983) – “Walls of Death” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Chic Stone
Last issue, a team of Joes (Stalker, Scarlett, Flash, Breaker, Clutch, and Steeler) was sent to Afghanistan to retrieve a crashed Russian experimental plane and get it to a ship waiting in Karachi. Naturally, the Russians wanted their plane back and sent their equivalent of the Joe team, the Oktober Guard, to get it. After a running fight, the Joes and Oktober Guard were surprised by Cobra, who also want the plane. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 7, G.I. Joe 8”
Conan the Barbarian #7 – “The Lurker Within” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Dan Adkins, Sal Buscema
This one starts with Conan on the Road of Kings outside Numalia, second-largest city in Nemedia. He saves a high-born lady (Aztrias) from wolves and agrees to drive her chariot to the city (since he probably would’ve been refused entry otherwise). Inside the teeming city, Conan runs the chariot into another, driven by Kallian, owner of the Hall of Relics. A guard captain (Dionus) intervenes and Conan is ready to fight until Aztrias smooths things over. (She’s the governor’s niece, so the other two defer to her.) Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 7, Conan the Barbarian 8”
G.I. Joe #5 (November 1982) – “Tanks For the Memories” – Larry Hama/Don Perlin/Jon D’Agostino, Mike Esposito
This one starts with Steeler, Breaker, and Clutch showing off the Mobat (Mobile Armored Battle Tank) to Scarlett. She’s not impressed by all the sophisticated hardware, saying that a tank is a tool not a toy. (Kind of ironic, since Marvel’s deal with Hasbro meant that Larry Hama was forced to introduce all the toys and action figures into the comic.) Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 5, G.I. Joe 6”
Conan the Barbarian #5 – “Zukala’s Daughter” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Frank Giacoia
This one starts with Conan passing through a village in Zamora on his way to the debauched city known as Shadizar the Wicked. As Conan talks to a weaponsmith, the skies darken and the smith freaks out, telling Conan the local warlord (Zukala) has sent someone to collect a tribute in gold from the villagers. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 5, Conan the Barbarian 6”
G. I. Joe #3 (September 1982) – “The Trojan Gambit” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Jack Abel, Jon D’Agostino
This one starts with the aftermath of a battle between the Joes and Cobra, in which the Joes have captured a Cobra stronghold and everything inside, including a sophisticated battle robot. The robot is dismantled and taken to the Pit, the Joes’ secret headquarters under the Chaplain’s Assistants’ Motor Pool at Fort Wadsworth. (And from the title of this story, you can probably guess what’s going to happen.) Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 3, G.I. Joe 4”
Conan the Barbarian #3 – “Twilight of the Grim Grey God” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Sal Buscema
This story begins with a manacled Conan making his way through the wilds of Hyperborea. He runs into a grey-haired warrior, who tells him Hyperborea and Brythunia will soon be embroiled in a border war. Conan gets snotty with the guy, who tells him to respect his betters and shows him some Valkyrie-type maidens riding through the sky. It’s obvious this is some kind of god, but Conan doesn’t seem too impressed. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 3, Conan the Barbarian 4”