G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero #220

Cobra World Order: Part Two

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: SL Gallant

Summary:

Duke gets word that his wife, Claire, has been found alive. He’s instantly flown on a supersonic flight to Andrews Air Force base, where they are reunited. Cobra noticed the flight on satellite on radar and, paranoid that the Joes know about their plans, has moved up their schedule.

In Toronto, Marie Fournier and Hawk discover a warehouse full of Blue Ninja crates. In Taos, New Mexico, Outback had been visiting Spirit’s home. Outback’s surprised to meet Spirit’s adoptive parents, as they’re not “disadvantaged” as he expected. Snake-Eyes II continues his training with the Arashikages. Another Joe team, surveying the Silent Castle, sends word that Cobra has mobilized.

On the Cobra front, Destro and Zartan have a meeting, while the political “Fred” meets up with Copperhead, Firefly and Scrap-Iron.

Notes:

• The second consecutive “getting ready” issue. I suppose that’s a curse of the modern pacing of comics.
   
• Not a lot of action, but a LOT of “human interest drama”.
   
• Lady Jaye brings up the old point that Roadblock and Duke worked together, before becoming Joes. I remember one of the “25th anniversary” Hasbro Comics featured a flashback of pre-GI Joe Duke and Roadblock facing the Crimson Twins. I may have to dig that up and officially review it. Some day… after I watch all the TV series I have queued up on Netflix and Hulu…
   
• The surveillance team at the Silent Castle includes Ambush, Rampart, Recoil and… Bombstrike, making her first appearance. I think she’s the first “modern Joe” from the 2000’s to make an apperance in the “Hama-verse”.
   
• I was tempted to score the tent they’re using as the “firstie” of the 1984 “GI Joe Bivouac”… but that is a HUGE stretch.
   
• The Flak-Vipers also appear… not sure if this is their first appearance, or not.
   
• Cobra Commander’s reaction to the supersonic flight is more than a little cartoony and “vintage Skeletor”.
   
• Spirit’s parents, Ingrid and Javier are an artist and a brain surgeron, respectively. They also appear to be caucasian and mention that “Charlie’s” birth parents died when he was young.
   
• I don’t list their last name, as I suspect that it’s not “Iron Knife”.
   
• Seems more than a little weird (and suspicious) that, after 200+ issues, we’re finally seeing the family members of some Joes…
   
• Claire Hauser was found in a bunker in Trucial Abysmia. She had been a roving prisoner for years.
   
• Destro and the Baronees fly what appears to be an Apache helicopter. I’m not up on my modern military choppers, so please correct me if I’m wrong.
   
• In a rather insignificant and minor note: it appears that IDW was branding their cover images for their online solicitations with “Part 1” or “Part 2” (note the NUMBERS); but the actual hard-copy covers ended up as “Part One” and “Part Two” (numbers spelled out).
   
• Once again, there’s no issue number on the cover. Grrrrr….

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Duke, Hawk, Scarlett, Roadblock, Lady Jaye, Mainframe, Dial-tone, Chuckles, Ace, Recoil, Ambush, Rampart, Bombstrike, Storm Shadow, Spirit Iron Knife, Outback, Cobra Commander, Dr. Mindbender, Destro, Baroness, Zartan, Scrap-Iron, Firefly, Copperhead

Characters (“comic-only”): Throwdown (Snake-Eyes II), Obake Obasasan, Marie Fournier, Wendy Ling-Torres, Ingrid, Javier, Claire Hauser

Vehicles and stuff (toys): Skystriker, HISS (cameo)

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): Destro’s Apache

Firsties:
Characters: Bombstrike, Ingird, Javier, Claire Hauser

Vehicles and stuff: none

Rating: 3 Flag Points