G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #154

“Flying the Unfriendly Skies”

Writer: Peter Quinones
Penciler: Ernie Stiner

Summary:

Roadblock takes a vacation weekend to attend a chili cook-off in Texas. As he’s arriving at the airport, undercover Cobra operatives spot him and arrange for his original flight to be “cancelled”. He’s sent to Swan Charter Airlines, which Cobra uses to shuttle their personnel and equipment around the country. Once in flight, Roadblock has to fight his way through the entire plane, full of Cobra soldiers. After duking it out with a big lug named “Igor”, Roadblock makes it to cargo hold. He steals a parachute and a bazooka, then leaps out of the plane and blows it apart. Eventually, Ace tracks him down…and finds Roadblock chowing down on his special chili.

Notes:

• After recognizing Roadblock, the Cobras quickly run a computer scan and discover his identity- Marvin S. Hinton. Just like in the Scarlett/traitor case, why is it suddenly so easy for Cobra to find the Joes’ real identities.
• No way to tell, but it’s entirely possible that the Cobra operatives at the airport were the same ones who relayed information in issues 17-18 (during the Scar-face/courier plot).
• No hidden wordgames to the name “Swan Charter Airlines”. ie: no “Arbco” or “Broca”. But it does a good job of explaining how Cobra got around the US, unnoticed.
• The name “Swan Charter” might have been a tie-in to the book’s pending demise, as sort of a “swan song”.
• One of the Cobra operatives on the plane looks a little like Marvel’s Dakota North character.
• It’s amazing that “Igor” was never brought back in the Devil’s Due series. He seemed like the perfect fringe character they would’ve liked to spruce up. Heck, maybe in their minds he became “The Interrogator”?
• Roadblock apparently got his chili recipe from his Grandma. Aside from the horrible training issue, circa issue 84, this is one of the few times Roadblock got to induldge in his culinary passion.
• Cover has a small “featuring Road Block” right below the main title.
• This issue has a semi-rigid half-page subscription card bound into it. Makes it very hard to read certain pages, as the card wants to flip pages toward you or weaken the spine if not held straight. Indeed, the card probably makes this particular issue a “condition-sensitive” one.
• Letters page refers to Wolfgang as “President Wolfgang”, meaning he ascended to Metz’s old spot.
• The letters page also basically confirms all the rumors: next issue is the LAST issue of the series! Even worse, turn the page and there’s a Marvel subscription ad– for the first time since 1982, “GI Joe” is not listed as a choice.
• Cover price jumps to $1.50 as well.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Roadblock, Ace

Characters (“comic-only”): Igor

Vehicles and stuff (toys): Ghoststriker X-16

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): none

Firsties:
Igor

Vehicles and stuff: none

Rating: 2 Flag Points