G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #108

“Apparent Conclusions”

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: M.D. Bright

Summary:

In Trucial Abysmia, Lt. Falcon leads an armored squadron through the desert, destroying Terror Dromes. They eventually follow one stray Cobra vehicle into an ambush and are captured.

Back in NYC, Snake-Eyes, Stalker, Storm Shadow and Scarlett meet and patch things up. As they take Stormie to the hospital, Snake-Eyes hears about Cobra Commander’s attempted assasination on his buddy. He leaps out of the ambulance and single-handedly breaks through CC’s armed troops on top of the Cobra Consulate. With Stalker to translate, Snake-Eyes holds his knife to CC’s throat and gives him the message: “get out of town and leave us alone, you prick”

In Washington DC, Hawk callas out Gen. Crowther and lays a huge guilt trip on him in front of the actual Constitution of the US.

Finally, “somewhere in America”, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker and Storm Shadow all deliver their “niece”, Marina, to her new family: the home of Wade Collins, where everyone is adopted.

Notes:

• One of the few “happy endings”, and once again it’s with Wade Collins.
• We get to see the “Snake-Eyes Cave”! It’s hidden behind the sensory depravation tanks in the basements of Columbia University (see issue 2). A two-room bunker with lots of guns, personal artifacts…and even Snake-Eyes’ famous Spike-Knuckled Trench Knife Collection!
• We see through a newspaper headline that Magda has been elected President of Borovia.
• The Night-Creepers are verbally lambasted by Cobra Commander, but they’re full of excuses.
• There seems to be an upgraded paper stock and printing process in this issue
• This issue also marks the start of “The GI Joe Dossiers”. An extra page or two of profiles on certain characters, a la the “Marvel Universe” or “Order of Battle” entries. Original art and issue citations, too. This issue features in-depth write-ups on Snake-Eyes and Cobra Commander, plus a diagram of the Locust helicopter. This basically killed any fan requests for a new “Order of Battle”.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Hawk, Storm Shadow, Scarlett, Stalker, Lt. Falcon, Duke, Crankcase, Cross Country, Breaker, Doc, Quick Kick, Crazylegs, Thunder, Heavy Metal, Cobra Commander, Tomax, Xamot

Characters (“comic-only”): Gen. Crowther, Aleph, Marina, Wade Collins & family, Magda & White Clown (cameos in newspaper).

Vehicles and stuff (toys): HAVOC, AWE Striker, Mauler MBT, Warthog, Cobra HISS II, Cobra FANG II, Cobra Terror Drome, Cobra Rage

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): none

Firsties:
Characters: none

Vehicles and stuff: Cobra Rage

Rating: 4 Flag Points