G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 23, G.I. Joe 88

Special Missions 023 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #23 (July 1989) – “Scoop” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe

This one starts on the USS Flagg aircraft carrier, where a team of Joes (Stalker, Tunnel Rat, Leatherneck, Hit & Run, and Muskrat) are getting ready for a mission. At the last minute they find out a new Joe named Scoop is coming with them to document everything with a video camera. They’re not too happy about having a rookie on the mission, especially since they haven’t had a chance to train with him, but they aren’t given a choice. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 23, G.I. Joe 88”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 22, G.I. Joe 87

Special Missions 022 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #22 (June 1989) – “Decisions” – Larry Hama/Dave Cockrum/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts at an isolated farm in Iowa where three terrorists have taken hostages after an attack at a nearby airport. Some Joes (Chuckles, Lady Jaye, Hit & Run, and Shockwave) are aware of the situation and do a recon by driving by on the main road in a plumber’s van. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 22, G.I. Joe 87”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 21, G.I. Joe 86

Special Missions 021 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #21 (May 1989) – “The Lower Depths” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with four Joes (Airtight, Tunnel Rat, Charbroil, and Spearhead) in the sewers beneath Manhattan. Someone found gas canisters with Cobra markings on them in the sewers, so the Joes are there to check things out, although Airtight figures the canisters are so obvious they must be a diversion for something else. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 21, G.I. Joe 86”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 20, G.I. Joe 85

Special Missions 020 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #20 (April 1989) – “Snow Blind” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with some Joes checking out an armoured column of Russians (including the Oktober Guard) around the Bering Strait. The Russians seem to be there on a scientific survey, but the Joes are suspicious. They elect not to drop a team just yet, but change their minds after some Cobras show up and attack the Russians. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 20, G.I. Joe 85”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 19, G.I. Joe 84

Special Missions 019 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #19 (March 1989) – “Getting There” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts on the USS Flagg aircraft carrier with Lift Ticket checking out the Tomahawk helicopter in anticipation of a big mission. Wild Bill, Muskrat, Repeater, and Lifeline are on the mission too, but they don’t find out what it is until after they take off. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 19, G.I. Joe 84”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 18, G.I. Joe 83

Special Missions 018 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #18 (February 1989) – “Extraction” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with Chuckles, Scarlett,Snake Eyes, and Iceberg returning from their mission in Tibet (uh, I mean Chomo Lungma) travelling down the Mekong River to find an extraction site. They’ve already missed a couple due to Snake Eyes spotting some ambushes, so they’re coming up on their last site somewhere in Southeast Asia. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 18, G.I. Joe 83”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 17, G.I. Joe 82

Special Missions 017 coverG. I. Joe Special Missions #17 (January 1989) – “All in a Night’s Work” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with Dusty waking up four Joes (Muskrat, Shockwave, Hardball, and Hit & Run) to tell them they have a mission. They meet up with the team leader for the mission (Stalker) who fills them in en route. Armed gunmen have taken over the headquarters of Nexustech, a company in Siliconville, California that makes microchips and other high-tech stuff for the government. Local and federal law authorities are in a pissing contest over jurisdiction, so they probably won’t be much help, and the building is built like a bunker, so it’ll hard to get in without endangering the hostages. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 17, G.I. Joe 82”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 16, G.I. Joe 81

Special Missions 016 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #16 (December 1988) – “Tight Circle” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with Cobra moving a bunch of heavy crates on Cobra Island in preparation for airlifting them someplace else. The crates are labelled “Farm Machinery”, but the Joes (who are spying on Cobra with their satellite) don’t believe that for a second. When one of the crates breaks open, they see that it actually contains … a sofa? Hawk is doubly suspicious now and sends all the Joe pilots (Wild Bill, Lift Ticket, Ace, Slipstream, Maverick, and Ghost Rider) to the island for recon. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 16, G.I. Joe 81”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 15, G.I. Joe 79, G.I. Joe 80

Special Missions 015 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #15 (November 1988) – “… and Into the Fire” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

Last issue, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Chuckles, Iceberg, and CIA agent Anderson went to a hidden valley in the Himalayas to find a renegade CIA operative named Esterhazy who supposedly died twenty years ago. Esterhazy’s original mission was to help the people of Chomo Lungma (a fictional stand-in for Tibet) fight the Chinese imperialists, but when Nixon and Mao settled some of their differences diplomatically, that meant Esterhazy’s mission was no longer needed. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 15, G.I. Joe 79, G.I. Joe 80”

G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 14, G.I. Joe 77, G.I. Joe 78

Special Missions 014 coverG.I. Joe Special Missions #14 (October 1988) – “In From the Cold” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe/Andy Mushynsky

This one starts with some Joes (Chuckles, Iceberg, Snake Eyes, and Scarlett) in a old Dakota plane flying through the Himalayas in the (fictitious) region of Chomo Lungma. They have a CIA case officer named Anderson with them (who you’ll remember from issue 8) and he’s guiding them to a hidden valley. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 14, G.I. Joe 77, G.I. Joe 78”