G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #151

#151 – “Cobra Renewed”

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Phil Gossier

Summary:

Snake-Eyes escapes the Silent Castle by using Cobra Commander (still in his battle armor) as a shield. He makes it outside, where Hawk and Flint lead a crew to pick him up. To cover their escape, Hawk calls up “GI Joe” in NYC. Joe uses a pinpoint satellite-guide laser blast to blow up a bridge and cut off Cobra’s pursuit.

In Borovia, “Wolfgang” waltzes into the presidential palace and plants a bomb in the bathroom. He then gives Pres. Metz a watch as a “token of friendship”. But when Metz enters the bathroom, it turns out that the watch was actually a proximity detontator. So Metz is blown up and killed in a bathroom! Also, it wasn’t really “Woflgang”…it was Zartan in disguise. Seemingly angry Borovians hunt down the real Wolfgang. We think they’re preparing a lynch mob.. but they’re actually glad that “he” killed Metz. A startled Wolfgang is praised as a hero.

Finally, in NYC, Tunnel Rat and Roadblock deliver orders to “GI Joe”. He’s been recalled to active duty and made a part of the team.

Notes:

• For all intents and purposes, this story is the LAST ongoing episode of the 1982 “Real American Hero” characters. Three one-shot issues follow, then the final melancholy story in issue 155. As a result, several plotlines were left to rot.
• Also, somewhat surprising, this is the last we’ll see of Cobra Commander, Baroness, Destro, Zartan, Mindbender and all the top Cobra bad guys.
• “GI Joe” is officially mentioned as “Colton, Joseph B.”
• The trick to the new Brainwave Scanner brainwashing is that the victims (Billy, Baroness and Stormie) all believe they have been reverted to their original states of mind.
• Funny scene as Storm Shadow tries to save CC: “Cobra Commander! Your deliverance is nigh!”
  Two confused Vipers ask:
  “Nigh?”
  “Brainwave Scanner.”
  “Oh.”

• After changing from Wolfgang into an old lady, Zartan enters a phonebooth and claims to be calling “my relatives in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA!”. A reference to Zartan’s old gas station in Jersey.
• Ironically, the letters column mentions that there would be a Marvel contingent at the Hasbro 30th Anniversary GI Joe Convention on the USS Intrepid that summer. Strange, because Hasbro would discontinue their GI Joe toy line shortly after and the Marvel series would end. It’s possible that the Marvel guys showed up at the convention knowing that their involvement was over.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Hawk, Stalker, Flint, Lady Jaye, Storm Shadow, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Tunnel Rat, Roadblock, Cobra Commander, Baroness, Dr. Mindbender, Zartan

Characters (“comic-only”): GI Joe, GI Jane, Wolfgang, Billy, Metz, Corp. Smazony (Borovian Army officer)

Vehicles and stuff (toys): Rhino GPV, Mauler MBT, Cobra Detonator

Vehicles and stuff (not toys):none

Firsties:
Characters: Corp. Smazony

Vehicles and stuff: none

Rating: 2 Flag Points