G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #263

Summary:

All across the world, the Joes and their allies are remembering their fallen comrades. Stalker and Storm Shadow are at the Vietnam Memorial in DC and run into Wade Collins. All three are there to remember their departed buddies, Ramon Escobedo and Dickie Saperstein. Collins had been incognito, but some things are worth coming out of hiding for.

In Arlington cemetery, Duke and Roadblock visit the graves of departed Joes and even run into Doc’s parents. Duke and Roadblock also flash back to General Flagg’s funeral and remember officially joining the team.

Scarlett remembers Snake-Eyes on the Staten Island ferry. Granny Demon remembers the Hard Master and Soft Master in Japan (while scaring off some Red Ninjas with the threat of a Purse Thumpin’). Budo, Raymond and Milo do the same in San Francisco (with no Red Ninjas or Purse Thumpin’, though).

In Staten Island, Clutch hosts a cook-out for the Chaplain’s Assistants, as well as orphans. In Darklonia, Katya visits the grave of Sneak Peek (turning the tables on two would-be snipers in the process). In Utah, Hawk holds a special ceremony to remember the team’s fallen. Finally, in the High Sierras, Trips the Wolf visits Snake-Eyes’ cabin and howls.

Notes

• We mentioned this, last month, but I think this was intended to be closer to Memorial Day, 2019. As it is, it’s still a nice story. Funny that comic books (as a whole) have had a long history of doing Halloween and Christmas stories… but I don’t think there are too many Memorial Day stories.
• I would be in favor of this being an annual story idea, going forward (or even bi-annually… or occasionally). Every year we could have a flashback and/or a story based around remembering the fallen.
• Duke and Roadblock mention that they were late to General Flagg’s funeral and “didn’t even have time to change into dress greens”. It never occurred to me why they were NOT in dress greens back in issue 22. But yeah, it makes sense. So Hama answered a question I never realized I had! Appreciate that.
• Doc’s mom says that she hated Duke for a long time. After reading Doc’s journals about camaraderie, she began to understand and felt no hate, but ashamed.
• Duke and Roadblock mention Doc, General Flagg, Breaker, Avalanche, Blaster, Blocker, Crazylegs, Maverick and Quick Kick… yet leave out Dee-Jay, Thunder, Crankcase, Heavy Metal, Mangler and Cool Breeze.
• No Prize explanation: maybe those guys were buried in a different military cemetery? Closer to their hometowns perhaps?
• Snake-Eyes was excluded…but consider that the Joes don’t want Cobra to know he’s dead.
• Wade Collins and Storm Shadow leave a bottle of hot sauce by Ramon Escobedo’s name. They say it was his favorite “fixer-upper” for c-rations.
• Hawk does a roll call, presumably in alphabetic order. The first name he calls out is “Airborne”… then “Avalanche”. So I’m guessing the scene where he mentions “Airtight” was edited for broadcast.
• The two chaplains in Fort Wadsworth are based off of the M*A*S*H character Father Mulcahy. They resemble both actors who played the same character: Rene Auberjoinis (movie version) and William Christopher (TV version).
• Clutch is the head chef at the cookout and his apron reads “Good Cook in a Clutch”. Har…har? I shouldn’t be too harsh. I mean, I’d probably freak out if Clutch was actually depicted wearing a t-shirt from the band Clutch. C’mon IDW artists, make that happen.
• Rock & Roll appears at the cookout…and also the remembrance ceremony in Utah. Unless there’s some other blonde guy with a full beard that we’re forgetting (Hollow Point making his first appearance?)
• The rest of the cameos I scored are seen in Utah. Most are very distinctive; like Cutter and Shipwreck; but a few are difficult to identify. I did my best.
• I also did NOT score the full 1983 team as cameos, since we don’t really see them and there’s no way to truly ID them all.
• This issue actually has a …gasp…STORY TITLE. “Some Gave All”. Something we haven’t seen for a single issue since the relaunch (I think). Although it seems commonplace to have multi-issue story arcs as the “title” nowadays.

Appearances

Characters (figures): Duke, Roadblock, Stalker, Storm Shadow, Hawk, Airborne, Clutch, Scarlett, Budo, Rock & Roll (cameo), Cutter (cameo), Mutt (cameo), Junkyard (cameo), Steeler (cameo), Cross Country (cameo), Shipwreck (cameo). Torpedo (cameo), Gung Ho (cameo), Tunnel Rat (cameo), Alpine (cameo), Recondo (cameo)

Characters (“comic-only”):   Demon Granny, Katya, Doc’s parents, Milo, Raymond

Vehicles and stuff (toys): none

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): Army JEEP

Firsties:
Characters:  Doc’s parents

Vehicles and stuff: none

Rating: 4 Flag Points