G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #256

Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Ron Joseph

Summary:

Picking up from the Joes’ Darklonia mission in issue 245; and its brief follow-up in issue 249; Bombstrike, Sightline and Ambush have smuggled themselves into Springfield. They hid in Revanche creates, then step out to hear Dr. Venom babbling to himself.

Venom has created two significant Battle Androids. The first is a stylized android of Storm Shadow. The second is a Big Ol’ Frickin’ Robot. Venom wants to upgrade himself from Dr. Mindbender’s body and begins transferring his consciousness into the Big Ol’ Frickin’ Robot.

The Joes (and Milo) attack and disrupt the process. In the chaos, Dr. Mindbender reclaims his own body and an “insane version” of Dr. Venom takes over the Big Ol’ Frickin’ Robot.

At the Pit, Big Ben is being de-briefed on his mission to Darklonia and mentions that 3 Joes are currently in Springfield. Duke says that a rescue mission will incur too many casualties and that they’re on their own.

Notes

• Important to note that artist Ron Joseph worked on this issue while going through open heart surgery!
   
• This issue is officially the first part of a new sub-set: “The Cobra’s Venom”.
   
• The Storm Shadow Android looks a little like the “Version 9 Night Creeper” figure, circa 2005. The mask is different (and a little more Snake-Eyes), but the body and color scheme appear to indicative of the Night Creeper figure.
   
• During the melee, Milo runs over to hack into Cobra’s computers. He mentions that their systems are inferior to Revanche’s… otherwise, why would Cobra be buying from Revanche?
   
• As Dr. Mindbender reclaims his body, there’s a clever artistic effect as a flame is shown passing over his face, creating a mustache of sorts.
   
• This is fine and all, but Dr. Venom switching bodies has become yet another repeating hindrance in this title. This is now the FOURTH time he’s switched bodies or come back from the dead. If you’re counting (and we are):
  1. Original Venom from 1982
  2. “Virtual Venom” from the relaunch, circa issue 158. Who was supposedly trapped and being tormented by Kwinn in issue 169
  3. “Mindbender Venom”
  4. Big Ol’ Frickin’ Robot Venom
• Seems like a waste of time to get us right back to “Virtual Venom”. If you want him to be a disembodied bio-mechanical being (like 90’s Team Titans “Prester Jon” or Marvel’s “Quasimodo”), then stick with it. Don’t go through all this stuff with Mindbender.
   
• I couldn’t determine if Dr. Venom’s new robot was based off a toy or not. It didn’t resemble any of the “Armor Bots” from the 90’s, nor the “Pulverizer” from 2004. If you can find a match, please let us know in the COMMENTS, below.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Bombstrike, Sightline, Ambush, Big Ben, Duke, Psyche-Out (cameo), Dr. Mindbender

Characters (comic-only): Dr. Venom, Milo

Vehicles and stuff (toys): none

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): Venom’s Robot?

Firsties:
Characters:none

Vehicles and stuff: Venom’s Robot

Rating: 3 Flag Points