G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1

“Lady Doomsday”

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciller: Herb Trimpe

Summary: Dr. Adele Burkhart, a top nuclear physicist who claims to have been duped into working on the US mlitary’s “Doomsday Project” is kidnapped by Cobra Command. Deep in the Pentagon, Generals Austin and Flagg call “Special Counter-Terrorist Group Delta, Code-Named: G.I.JOE” into action. All of the orginal 13 members perform an assualt on Cobra’s carribean island stronghold. In what would be a trademark, Cobra Commander doesn’t have obvious motives. He doesn’t care about killing Burkhart, he simply wants to defeat the top-notch force that would be sent to retrieve her. Basically a way to call out his top opposition and defeat them in one blow. It almost works, but of course the Joes save the day after a big battle and lots of action.

Notes:

• This appears to be the team’s first official mission against Cobra, but Hawk mentions that they’ve been called together in the past.
• Cobra, as they often were in the early comics, are presented as more of a Neo-Nazi group. Like Hydra.
• Clutch mentions that the squad has an “A team”, consisting of Grunt, Stalker, Short-Fuze, Scarlett, Snake-Eyes and Flash. I don’t think the team definitions were ever brought up again.
• Snake-Eyes has his first signs of being a bad-ass as he signs to Scarlett: “why not just bomb the entire island?” Note that his first scene is with Scarlett, as they would be a HUGE subplot and the main romantic couple of the entire franchise.
• The team has alot of ambiguity over Dr. Burkhart, some consider her a traitor to the US, but they’ll rescue her because they’re the good guys and, more importantly, those are their orders.
• The Baroness is disguised as a reporter at Brukhart’s press conference. She operates with a guy named “Gregor”. I don’t believe he was ever mentioned again (presumably he was captured or wasted by the Secret Service), but there’s some fan triviata and something Devil’s Due could swoop in and include in their next ret-con special.
• Baroness has a beauty mark on her left cheek. Something that would come and go for the first year of the comics.
• It’s a little wacky that Baroness escapes with Dr. Burkhart into the air in a balloon contraption, then is picked up by a helicopter. Figure that one out.
• There’s also a bald Cobra general, standing with Cobra Commander and the Baroness in one panel. Looks sort of like Baron Strucker. Again, he’s probably not important and is more “Devil’s Due fodder”.
• The mysterious “Shooter” is seen as a Joe agent on an initial computer screenshot. Although we don’t see his/her face. It was thrown in to balance out the role call of 13 to an even 14 and was a deliberate joke towards then Marvel Editor-In-Chief, Jim Shooter. Obviously, Devil’s Due and IDW decided to expand on it, years later. Hama officially brings in Jodie “Shooter” Craig; retroactively; in issue 228 in 2016.
• Zap flies a helicopter to escape the island at the end. This starts an early recurring joke about people telling Zap that flying a helicopter is something you never forget– just like riding your bike. To which Zap responds: “yeah, but I fell off my bike alot!”
• Cobra Commander and the Baroness escape the island and fly to their “true headquarters”. Oooo! Nice.
• The Joes’ heavy equipment arrives on the island in the Hydrofil LCT (Landing Craft Tank). A large boat that was never meant to be a toy and was never seen again. On occassion, I would make my own LCT with a big ol’ shoe box.
• Stalker is shown as the “driver” of the JUMP jetpack, while Rock n’ Roll is clearly tied as the “driver” of the RAM motorcycle.
• Blueprint/profile pages of the HAL, Mobatnd VAMP are on the back and interior covers. Flash is incorrectly cited as the “driver” of the HAL.
• Center-fold has a cut-away diagram of the five levels of the underground Pit headquarters.
• Full profile pages of Scarlett, Breaker, Flash and Stalker are at the back of the book. With original art. These wouldn’t return for another six years or so.
• This was one of the few issues were the entire team was in action, together. I don’t think this would happen again until issue 8.
• Also one of the few issues were ALL of their vehicles were used. With the only exceptions being the MMS Missile Launcher and the FLAK cannon. I don’t believe the FLAK was EVER shown.

#1B- “Hot Potato”
Writer: Larry Hama
Penciller: Don Perlin

Summary: Snake-Eyes, Scarlett and Rock n’ Roll are running across the desert with a high-priority tape. They’re being pursued by Colonel Sharif and his “Guardians of Paradise”. Clutch, Hawk and Stalker are waiting for them, in disguise, at a border town. Scarlett decides to make a final stand against the Guardians, but orders Rock n’ Roll to run the tape to the border, with Snake-Eyes enforcing him. Halfway to the border, Snake-Eyes suddenly disappears and runs back to help Scarlett. Scarlett tears up when he arrives to save her, saying she has “sand in (her) eyes”. They’re about to be over-run and Scarlett suggests taking their own lives, instead of falling captive. Rock n’ Roll arrives on his RAM motrocycle to save the day. Sharif calls in an air-strike, but it’s thwarted by Round Two of the Cavalry: Hawk and Clutch in the VAMP (one of those “Sgt. Rock” rules of comics– a well-placed machine gun can alway blow-up a plane). Stalker flies the tape out the country.

Notes:

• Hawk mentions that Colonel Sharif is being backed by Cobra.
• Rock n’ Roll says to Snake-Eyes: “I used to think you had some feelings for her (Scarlett)”. Again, it’s only the first issue, but the subplot’s already being laid.

Appearances and Firsties (all are “firsties” in this issue):
Characters (with action figures): Hawk, Steeler, Zap, Clutch, Grand Slam, Stalker, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Flash, Grunt, Breaker, Short-Fuze, Rock n’ Roll, Shooter (unofficial)

Characters (no action figures, or “comic-only” characters): Cobra Commander, Baroness, “Gregor”, Dr. Burkhart, General Flagg, General Austin, Colonel Sharif, Guardians of Paradise.

Vehicles and stuff (toys): VAMP, MOBAT, HAL, RAM, JUMP (pack only, landing pad was never seen)

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): LCT, Cobra’s bulbous tanks, standard helicopters, jeeps, halftracks.

Rating: 5 Flag Points