G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #286

Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Andrew Griffith

Summary:

In an “Untold Tale” Spotlight, we flashback to Vietnam to see how Storm Shadow met Snake-Eyes and joined the LRRP team.

Snake-Eyes, Wade Collins, Dickie Saperstein, Ramon Escobedo and their sergeant, Upton, are notified that “LRRP Team Alpha” sustained heavy casualties. Snake-Eyes and his fellow “Bravo” team help with unloading the medevac. The only member of Alpha still in good shape is “Tommy A”, aka “Fresno”. Four of the team died and their leader, Sgt. Davis aka “Brooklyn”, lost an eye and is sent home.

Tommy/Fresno is then absorbed into Bravo. Snake-Eyes is a man-of-few-words and nobody can connect with him. Yet he soon forms a bond with Snake-Eyes and “they’d go off and talk for hours”. Snake-Eyes began to open up a bit more, after meeting Tommy. He even speaks, as he suggests to a letter-writing Ramon: “Don’t lie to her… just don’t tell her the truth”.

On a supposedly routine patrol, the LRRP team walked into an ambush and Sgt. Lipton was shot. Snake-Eyes unloaded his M60 into the jungle. Upon returning to base, Lipton is implied to be dead…and Stalker arrives to take over as the team leader, the next day.

Notes:

• This story has a framing sequence of Scarlett asking Stalker about when/how he met Storm Shadow.
• If you’d like, the framing story itself could also be a flashback, as Stalker and Scarlett are driving the original VAMP into Fort Wadsworth. It could be either a “modern” or “classic” flashback.
• Yes, for only the second time in GI Joe (comic book) History: Snake-Eyes TALKS! The last time he spoke was circa issue 102, when he struggled to say; “Scarlett”. For what it’s worth, this is the ONLY time he speaks a full sentence!
• Stalker talks about coming over from the “reeple deeple”. From what I can gather, this is military slang for the “Replacement Depot”, where soldiers stay until they’re officially assigned to a combat unit.
• The guys who unload the medevac choppers are called “57 Foxtrots”. Again, from what I gather (via Google), this is a reference to “57F MOS, Memorial Activities Specialist- Supervises or collects, identifies evacuates, escorts, and buries deceased personnel.”
• Tommy is called “Fresno” by Sgt. Davis, since that’s where he was born.
• Tommy then explains that while he was born in Fresno, he grew up in San Francisco. His mom was from Sacramento and his dad came over from Japan. His dad died when Tommy was 10.
• It’s been speculated about for years, but “Storm Shadow’s Dad” (and mom for that matter) is still an open book in Hama’s continuity. He could be saving those roles for a rainy day plot device, but it could also simply be coincidence.
• The other (deceased) members of Alpha are Reno, Bambi, Little-Bit and Feeny. I’m guessing these were loosed based on more old army buddies of Hama’s.
• The “Cover A” is the first of another inter-connecting image. It appears to be a modern update of the (awesome) intro to “G.I. Joe: The Movie”, right down to the Cobra airship/helli-carrier and the Statue of Liberty. I say “modern”, because Helix is depicted. That intro is the only part of the animated works that still gets me fired up, so I’m interested to see the subsequent covers.
• This is the first of 5 “Spotlights”, yet this one’s actually an “Untold Tale” in my book. It was solicited as a spotlight on Storm Shadow, yet it also works for Snake-Eyes (and the other LRRPs, I suppose).
• I’m giving this a top rating, since for a GI Joe comic it’s a home run. I was going to go with “4”, but liked the historic significance of Snake-Eyes speaking. as it comes off as the big deal it should be.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Snake-Eyes, Stalker, Scarlett, Storm Shadow,

Characters (“comic-only”): Wade Collins, Dickie Saperstein, Ramon Escobedo, Sgt. “Brooklyn” Davis, Sgt. Lipton (croaks)

Vehicles and stuff (toys): VAMP

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): Medevac HUEY choppers

Firsties: Sgt. Davis, Sgt. Lipton

Rating: 5 Flag Points