Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
G.I. Joe Special Missions #9 (February 1988) – “Plausible Denial” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one starts with some rebels in Afghanistan using Stinger missiles to bring down a couple of Soviet helicopters. The rebels capture the passengers and we learn that the Americans have given them a bunch of Stingers in exchange for turning over the Soviets (who just happen to be Spetsnaz soldiers) to the Joes. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 9, G.I. Joe 69”
G.I. Joe #66 (December 1987) – “The Tenth Letter” – Larry Hama/Ron Wagner/Randy Emberlin
This one starts with Billy and Storm Shadow practicing esoteric martial arts in San Francisco. They’re interrupted by Jinx, who lets them know where Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick are being held in Borovia, and also shows them a newspaper photo of a circus with Scarlett in the background. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe 66, G.I. Joe Special Missions 8”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #7 (October 1987) – “The Old Switcheroo” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one starts with some terrorists (or freedom fighters if you prefer) from Sierra Gordo busting into the Cobra Embassy Building in New York. Using a combination of guile and firepower, the counter-revolutionaries manage to barricade themselves in the boiler room and disable the security cameras there. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 7, G.I. Joe 65”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #6 (August 1987) – “Evasion” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one continues from G.I. Joe 61, showing us how Outback escaped into the sewers in Borovia’s capital city, while his teammates (Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick) were caught by the Borovian Army. The Joes were in Borovia to rescue a political prisoner, but he was already exchanged for a Borovian spy and since their mission is top secret (and utterly deniable), they weren’t told about the exchange. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 6, G.I. Joe 62”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #5 (June 1987) – “Showdown” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one starts on Cobra Island, with a ground crew prepping the Night Raven stealth fighter for a recon flight. The crew are all impressed by the plane’s tech (including low-tech stuff like a breakout tool to be used if the canopy jams in a crash), but much less so with its pilot, the Strato-Viper. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 5, G.I. Joe 61”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #4 (April 1987) – “No Holds Barred” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one starts with a team of Joes (Wild Bill, Roadblock, Leatherneck, and Lifeline) in a cargo plane being pursued by a Russian HIND helicopter over the Malay Peninsula. The Joes have retrieved a Cobra Firebat and are trying to get the electronic black boxes out so they’ll know the technical specs of the plane, but the Oktober Guard want the black boxes too. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 4, G.I. Joe 58”
G.I. Joe Special Missions #3 (February 1987) – “Burn-out” – Larry Hama/Herb Trimpe
This one starts with some Joes (Stalker, Leatherneck, and Slipstream) hanging out undercover at a café in some unidentified Middle Eastern country. They’re with an American mercenary pilot (Deke) who flies MiGs for the local dictator, Colonel Sharif. But Deke is helping the Joes, who want to get inside Sharif’s airbase. Unfortunately, the café owner is a spy for Sharif and lets him known about Deke’s treachery. Continue reading “G.I. Joe Reviews: G.I. Joe Special Missions 3, G.I. Joe 57”
G.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”