G.I. Joe Special Missions #5

Special Missions #5- “Showdown”

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Herb Trimpe

Summary

A sequel, of sorts, to issue #34. An Air Force base in Florida has been noticing that a Cobra Night Raven has been skirting the edge of US airspace and snapping pictures. Ace and Slipstream are called in to goad the Raven into combat. Aside from the enemy divisions, the big issue is how Ace and Slipstream are appreciative of their rescue staff, while the Raven’s Strato-Viper is a complete dick to his staff. Using the Skystriker and the Conquest X-30, the two pilots enage the Raven. Ace is shot down, but Slipstream manages to recover and knock out the Raven. Ace is rescued by the Joe’s support staff…but the Strato-Viper is left to die by his support staff, who were in no hurry to rescue him and let him drown.

Notes:

• Top-secret counter-terrorist team? The Joes have 3 Tomahawks at a Florida airbase, marked “GI Joe” and some regular grunts know all about the team.
• To further the connection to issue 34, this is titled “Showdown”, whereas #34 was “Shakedown”.
• Slipstream gives one of his mechanics a gift for his kid: a Transformers figure. It’s clearly Megatron, but Slipstream calls it “Jetfire! He changes into a swoop-winged fighter jet”. Obviously, a mix-up.
• This is the first real appearance of the Cobra Night Raven, although it had been seen under a tarp during the first few issues on Cobra Island.
• Not much dogfighting in this issue. They launch missiles maybe two times and that’s it. The focus is on the support/rescue teams.
• Strangely enough, the Cobra rescue staff do not have masks or helmets; they look like regular guys from Sears Automotive. Peculiar, since Cobra flunkies were always depicted with some kind of mask. But like all Cobra flunkies, they’re shown to be complete jerks without morals.
• Ace offers to buy the crew a round of “Yo-Jo Cola”. They all state that the stuff tastes terrible. Ha!

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Hawk, Ace, Slipstream, Cobra Strato-Viper

Characters (“comic-only”): Jonesy, Peaches, Lowball (Joe support/rescue team)

Vehicles and stuff (toys): Skystriker, Conquest X-30, Tomahawk, Cobra Night Raven

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): Cobra rescue helicopter

Firsties:
Characters: Jonesy, Peaches, Lowball

Vehicles: none

Rating: Rating: 2 Flag Points