G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #138

“Unfoldings!” (Part 4 of 4)

Writer: Larry Hama
Breakdowns: Andrew Wildman
Finishes: Stephen Baskerville

Summary:

At the Silent Castle, Scarlett and Dr. Biggles-Jones are called in to hunt down Destro and the Baroness. Destro enters the castle’s reconfiguration room and sets the controls to halfway. The Castle slowly shifts into several incongruous forms, allowing Destro and the Baroness to elude their pursuers.

Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow HALO jump in to extract Destro and the Baroness, via a balloon skyhook system. Snake-Eyes comes face to face with Scarlett…and stabs her though the chest!! The Joes escape with Destro and the Baroness. Scarlett tears up, as Snake-Eyes actually stabbed her with a non-lethal precision blow. A way to tell her that he knows she’s not a traitor.

But the castle’s transformations were noticed by two shadowy figures. One suddenly drops out of the sky. It’s MEGATRON from “Transformers”. He’s pissed that the castle isn’t a Decepticon.

Notes:

• Megatron’s appearance was the final straw for me. I can’t remember when or where, but Hama had maintained that the “GI Joe vs. Transformers” mini-series from 1986 wasn’t part of his “world”. Now he suddenly has to work it in.
• Also leads to tons of confusion over which “universe” the Joes are now in. They had always been independent, but now with the Transformers easily walking in, they have connections to that title’s 80 issues of history (which featured some really weird sh*t; not weird in a cool way…weird in a bad way).
• There were clearly TWO Decepticons talking… but we’ll never find out who the second one is.
• So that’s the end of the supposedly big “relaunch”. Instead of a 4 part story, it was just four issues with no real conclusion that led into a frickin’ Transformers promo. Goofy action and characterization throughout, too.
• The whole Scarlett/double-agent thing was an interesting idea…but poor execution. Although she had some doubters (like Slice) she was accepted into Cobra way too easily. If infiltrating Cobra was this easy, you’d think they would’ve done it before. We’re also NEVER told the hows and whys of the whole thing. What did they hope to gain by infiltrating Cobra? The whole plan is quickly brushed aside so more Transformers can blow stuff up.
• Surprisingly enough, the cartoons actually pulled off much better “traitor/double agent” storylines. The 1985 Marvel/Sunbow series had a decent two-parter where Dusty switched (“The Traitor”). Later, in 1989, the DIC series pulled it off in “Operation: Dragonfire” with Scoop, who was cast as a former Crimson Guardsman who joined the Joes.
• Final polybagged issue. Came with the same Cyber Viper card as last issue. Not sure if this was just my copy, or if that was a widespread effect.
• This issue is, quite possibly, my least favorite GI Joe comic. That includes the Special Missions issue at the baseball game.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Snake-Eyes, Storm Shadow, Scarlett, Hawk, Stalker, Wild Bill, Cobra Commander, Zarana, Road Pig, Slice, Dice, Destro, Baroness, Megatron (ugh)

Characters (“comic-only”): Dr. Biggles-Jones

Vehicles and stuff (toys): none to speak of

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): GI Joe C-130, Cobra gunship/transport copter

Firsties:
Characters: none

Vehicles and stuff: none

Rating: 1 Flag Point