G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 54, G.I. Joe Special Missions 2

GIJoe 054 coverG.I. Joe #54 (December 1986) – “Launch Base” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Sam De La Rosa

This one opens with Snake Eyes and Scarlett honouring Destro with a bouquet of flowers on the site where the Pit collapsed last issue. They’re not the only ones, as Baroness glides by to drop a wreath for her dead boyfriend. Meanwhile on Cobra Island, Serpentor is enjoying his new position as Cobra leader (since Cobra Commander supposedly died alongside Destro) and makes a deal with the new provisional government of Sierra Gordo to buy a Terror Drome from Cobra. (The Terror Drome is a launch base for a Firebat jet, which can take down pretty much any plane that gets too close.) Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 54, G.I. Joe Special Missions 2”

G.I. Joe Reviews: Special Missions 1, G.I. Joe 53

GIJoe Special Missions 01 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #1 (October 1986) – “That Sinking Feeling” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe

This one starts with a team of Joes (Cutter, Shipwreck, Torpedo, Wetsuit, and Deep Six) aboard a Swedish trawler (the Christina) in the Baltic Sea. They’re obviously not there for the sights and we see the Russians have sent the Oktober Guard to check them out, with Colonel Brekhov and Daina flying over them in a HIND chopper. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: Special Missions 1, G.I. Joe 53”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 51, G.I. Joe 52

GIJoe 051 coverG.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. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 51, G.I. Joe 52”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 49, G.I. Joe 50

GIJoe 049 coverG.I. Joe #49 (July 1986) – “Serpentor” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with Destro and Dr. Mindbender stealing a mummy from a museum in the Middle East and taking it back to Springfield. The Frankenstein parallels continue, with Mindbender planning to extract the DNA from the stolen remains of history’s greatest warriors, mix it together and put it into an artificial body he’s grown, then fill that new creation with historical knowledge to create the ultimate conqueror. (The idea was Mindbender’s, but Cobra Commander is behind him all the way.) Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 49, G.I. Joe 50”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 47, G.I. Joe 48

GIjoe 047 coverG.I. Joe #47 (May 1986) – “Sea Duel” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts where last issue left off, with the Joes loading the wounded Ripcord into the Killer Whale after finding him on Cobra Island. Of course, we know that this isn’t actually Ripcord, it’s Zartan in disguise hoping to infiltrate Joe headquarters, while the real Ripcord is in the Cobra Firebat plane that just launched from the island. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 47, G.I. Joe 48”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 45, G.I. Joe 46

GIJoe 045 coverG.I. Joe #45 (March 1986) – “In Search of Candy” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with Ace and Ripcord doing aerial surveillance of Cobra Island from the Skystriker. Since Cobra Island has been declared a sovereign nation (at least tentatively), the Joes aren’t allowed on the territory, hence the eye in the sky. Professor Appel wants to shoot them down because they’re violating sovereign airspace, but Zartan tells him not to be too hasty. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 45, G.I. Joe 46”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 43, G.I. Joe 44

GIJoe 043 coverG.I. Joe #43 (January 1986) – “Crossroads” – Larry Hama/Rod Whigham/Andy Mushynsky

Last issue, Stalker and Snake Eyes were at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. to look up their dead war buddies. But one name was missing, that of Wade Collins. The two Joes got a surprise when Fred II (a Crimson Guardsman working for Cobra) stepped out of the shadows with a gun to tell them that he was Wade Collins, given a new face and name by Cobra. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 43, G.I. Joe 44”