G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #253

Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Brian Shearer

Summary

In a story set “before the formation of the GI Joe team”, Duke and Roadblock are in Trucial Abysmia, as U.S. Troops are supporting the Emir, and facing opposition from Colonel Sharif.

During a supply convoy, Duke’s team is ambushed by insurgents. The driver of their Humvee, Maureen Hennesey, isn’t afraid of conflict because she has her good luck charm– a little leprechaun hanging from the rear-view mirror. Even though she gets shot in the cheek, Hennessey proves vital in turning back the insurgents and saving the convoy. Duke decoys the bad guys with a fuel tanker, eventually blowing them all up.

After the action is over, Duke and Roadblock are shocked to see that Hennessey is dead. A bullet went through the Humvee’s door and nicked an artery in her leg. But she carried out her mission to the end.

Awhile later, Duke and Roadblock pay a visit to Hennessey’s Pub in Brooklyn, telling her brother how she was a hero. Instead of heading back to Trucial Abysmia, Duke contemplates taking a new assignment in Staten Island– and hopes he can bring Roadblock along.

Notes

• This is somewhat similar to a “figure pack Hasbro comic” that featured Duke and Roadblock in Trucial Abysmia, facing the Crimson Twins, in their pre-GI Joe days. Yet this story is an improvement.
   
• The Hasbro comic could potentially be in canon, but for now this issue is chronologically the first appearances of Duke and Roadblock. Technically & retroactively.
   
• Duke and Roadblock also appear to deliver Maureen’s good luck charm to her brother, Fergis.
   
• Another soldier in Duke’s unit is given a name: SFC-4 Terry Chiang. He appears to survive the battle, so I’m wondering if he’s based on another buddy of Hama.
   
• Colonel Sharif is only mentioned in the opening caption, and is not seen.
   
• While the timeline of this story absolutely fits, if you’re an obsessive purist, you might be cheesed off at the anachronisms seen here. For one, Humvee’s weren’t around until the mid-80’s. Ditto for the fuel tanker truck– basically, everything looks like the “Desert Storm” gear we’re all used to. So, it’s not accurate to 1983, before Duke and Roadblock popped up in issue 22… but you can’t obsess over “comic book time”. I’ll point to the origins of the Fantastic Four or Iron Man, as both had military conflict backgrounds that were updated to more modern incidents.
   
• This is pure speculation, but as Trucial Abysmia eventually attacked Benzheen as “bad guys”, it’s a little disheartening to know that the insurgents will take over.
   
• If I had read this 10 years ago; when I started doing the Marvel recaps of GI Joe; I probably would’ve added Maureen Henessey as another victim in my old “Duke is a tool” theory.
   
• Shearer does a decent job on the pencils, but he has weird perspective on three panels that feature someone firing a gun. Arms are shortened or elongated. I’d show pictures, but I really don’t want to rag on the guy. Like I said, his work is perfectly fine and I’m sure he can figure these perspective issue out, over time.
   
• In the letters page, Hama actually lists all the people who have died. It’s all stemmed from somebody who talks about possibly bringing Raptor back from the dead. Hama mentions that is was an “oversight” to have mentioned Raptor and confirms him as dead.
• One slight error, as General Flagg is listed as dying in issue 16; not 19. He mentions that Dusty actually shot and killed the Range Viper who shot Sneak Peek back in issue 113. Tyrone is included, which is odd. I’m surprised “Jodie Craig/Shooter” from issue 228 wasn’t mentioned.

Appearances

Characters (figures): Duke, Roadblock
 
Characters (“comic-only”): Maurren Hennessey, Fergis Hennessey, Terry Chiang
 
Vehicles & Stuff (toys): None
Vehicles & Stuff (not toys): Humvee, V-150 Tank, SU-7 Frogfoots (Trucial Abysmia jets)

Firsties:
Characters: Maureen Hennessey (croaks), Fergis Hennessey, Terry Chiang
Vehicles: none

Rating: 4 Flag Points