G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero #209

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: S.L. Gallant

Summary:

More sub-pots galore this month. Through a little smoke-and-mirrors and some traditional runaround, Sean Collins is assigned to the GI Joe team. Roadblock gives him the codename of “Throwdown! Since you look like a fight waiting to happen”.

Storm Shadow takes the ashes of Pale Peony to Granny Obake in Japan and encounters some Blue Ninjas attacking the dojo. In San Francisco, Budo continues training Raymond.

Joe Colton and Jane press on with the revival of Serpentor as the consciousness to control the Big Ol’ Eye. The Joes protest, but Hawk arrives to tell them they are part of the back-up/failsafe plan, “Moongoose”.

Fred 191 (The Windy Ling Torres mole) is grabbed by Scrap-Iron, Firefly and Copperhead. They use him to push a detonator button that blows up the local armory. Fred 172 (Seattle) returns to his family, intending to shoot them. But his gun was filled with blanks and it was all part of a Crimson Guard test.

In the back of an office building, Cobra Commander and Dr. Mindbender are visited by the new big cheese behind Revanche: BN-002. Oh golly.

Finally, the house outside Ft. Wadsworth is confirmed to be an active Crimson Guard family, the “Darren Fergussen” model. Darren’s only working for Cobra because of the healthcare plan.

Notes:

• “Throwdown”, while not the coolest code-name is better than “Kamakura”…which really didn’t make a lot of sense.
   
• Bit of a lettering mix-up at Ft. Wadsworth, as it appears Clutch and Steeler are labelled incorrectly. You can No-Prize this by saying simply talked about himself in the third person for a moment.
   
• BN-002 has a creepier appearance than BN-001– a buncha’ eyeballs and wires sticking out of his head.
   
• It’s implied that Storm Shadow will be sending Raymond to Granny Obake for further training.
   
• Funny exchange between Storm Shadow and Granny Obake after she brains some Blue Ninjas with her handbag: “Your prada bag technique has become more effective, Auntie Obake”. “Added more bricks, nephew”.
   
• Definitely fills like a “filler” issue as it’s nothing but subplots. The official induction of Sean Collins is nicely done and probably the only thing I’ll remember about this issue in a few years.
   
• Clutch is envious as both Scarlett and Cover Girl give Sean Collins a goodbye smooch. Nice call-back to Clutch’s old lecherous 1982 ways; which haven’t really been referenced since 1984.
   
• The cover is another homage to issue #1 (or issue #200). Doesn’t really fit, because it has Storm Shadow, Serpentor and Destro all charging with Cobra. Just a generic cover (with a silly joke between Tomax and Xamot) that could’ve been applied to any issue. But a handful of IDW’s GI Joe covers have been this way since the re-launch.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Hawk, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Roadblock, Duke, Mainframe, Psyche-Out, Stalker, Clutch, Flint, Lady Jaye, Steeler, Cover Girl, Wild Bill, Storm Shadow, Budo, Muskrat, Long Range, Alpine, Dial-tone (cameo), Airtight (cameo), Bazooka (cameo), Serpentor (cameo), Cobra Commander, Dr. Mindbender, Firefly, Scrap-Iron, Copperhead, Destro (flashback cameo)

Characters (“comic-only”):Sean Collins/Throwdown, Joe Colton, Jane, Darren Fergussen and family, BN-002

Vehicles and stuff (toys): VAMP

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): GI Joe C-130

Firsties:
Characters: BN-002

Vehicles and stuff: none

Rating: 3 Flag Points