G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #180

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: S.L. Gallant

Summary:

Picking up at the end of last issue, 3 Crimson Guardsmen reveal themselves to be Blue Ninjas. Destro suddenly arrives and deactivates them with an EMP grenade. Destro takes the Baroness and also escorts the Joes out of town. Before he leaves, Destro gives a tip to Duke that a rogue agent is at large, trying to sell a virtual kryton (nuclear trigger device) to somebody.

The rogue was apparently embedded in Destro’s MARS. The trail leads the Joes to San Diego…and “Comic Con International”. Hi-jinks aplenty as the team wanders around the fully-packed convention center, running into “cosplayers”, booths and other “humorous” stuff. As Snake-Eyes zeroes in on their target, it appears that another Blue Ninja is outside.

At the Pit, Darklon is due to be transferred, but hints that he may have additional information. In Broca Beach, Cobra Commander appears to be selling the entire town and moving on.

Notes:

• I suppose the biggest gag in this story is that a guy in an Optimus Prime costume follows Scarlett around.
   
• A big panel of the Comic Con is shown. Most of the booths are generic stuff, like “Dead Babe”. Of course, the IDW booth is prominent. SL Gallant becomes the first GI Joe artist to officially draw himself into the stories, as he’s signing at the booth.
   
• Destro returns to his castle with the Baroness and finally shows her his “sanctum santorum”– a secret room behind the fireplace, hidden by holograms, sounds and the smell of smoke. He mentions that the only other non-Destro to see the room was a “pretender to the throne of England who met an untimely demise in the tower”. I’m not 100% sure, but I’m guessing this might be Perkin Warbeck.
   
• To complete the sale of Broca Beach to prospective buyers, Cobra Commander brings in “the crooked State Senator and the Local Crime Boss”, who tried to swindle him; both in the trunk of a limo. He promptly executes them. Or at least makes it seem like he did; we never see the actual bodies, so it would be completely in-line with Cobra Commander if it was just a smoke n’ mirrors trick.
  
   

• After the battle, Cobra Commander runs around in a scaled down version of his armor. He still has the same faceplate, but his outfit is similar to his old (pre-1986) togs. I’ve always liked the old faceplate look, so I hope they keep this as his primary outfit for awhile.
   
• I’m guessing Cobra moves back to Springfield. One of ’em. I always preferred that location over Cobra Island, Broca Beach, the Cobra Consulate, or the Silent Castle. The whole “hiding in plain sight in the middle of America” concept was/is great.
   
• The stuff with Destro, Cobra Commander and even Darklon saved this issue from being a complete eye-roller. I thought the special “SDCC” cover was just a marketing ploy, so I groaned when the actual story took place at the convention.
   
• I’m noticing with the Character Appearances that, since the re-launch, the emphasis seems to be on Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker, Duke, Storm Shadow, Destro, Baroness and Cobra Commander; with other characters coming in on an “as needed” basis. I don’t have any issues with this as the core cast. Aside from somebody wanting their favorite action figure showcased (like the fan in the 80’s who wanted more Muskrat), these are pretty much the main characters of the comics.
   
• This has absolutely no relevance or bearing on this issue: but last month (June 2012) I got to meet and shake hands with Herb Trimpe– the guy who wrote n’ drew the first-ever GI Joe comic I bought (issue 8). Super nice guy, if not a little dorky. But aren’t we all?

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Snake-Eyes, Duke, Scarlett, Stalker, Mainframe, Lift-ticket, Psyche-Out, Law & Order (cameos), Storm Shadow (cameo), Baroness, Destro, Darklon, Cobra Commander

Characters (“comic-only”):None. Unless you want to be an uber-geek and mention SL Gallant. Or the guys CC sells Broca Beach to.

Vehicles and stuff (toys): Tomahawk, MARS AGP

Vehicles and stuff (not toys):none

Firsties:
Characters: none

Vehicles and stuff: none

Rating: 2 Flag Points