G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #29

“Beached Whale”

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Frank Springer

Summary

The Joes dock the banged-up WHALE at Ehrlinger’s Cove on Florida’s coast. Destro and Firefly, intent on getting back to Springfield, sneak into the Cove at night and steal the WHALE. The Joes chase them over the land and sea, but the two Cobras make their escape in hollowed-out depth charges. The Joes recover the WHALE, but Firefly had it rigged to blow. Tripwire tries to smother the detonator, but Roadblock tosses it up through a ventilation shaft, where it safely detonates. Destro and Firefly sneak onto a fishing boat and disappear into the ocean.

Back in Springfield, Cobra Commander holds another neo-Nazi rally, where he unveils his newest plan: the Crimson Guard! Deep spies for Cobra that will infiltrate middle America and become respected citizens and eventually politicians. Cobra Commander also mentions the success of Cobra’s household cleaning pyramid scam and their nationwide “Greed is Good” seminars. Plus, the Cobra media department has just sold “ten more mindless sitcoms to the networks to further lower the intelligence of America!”

Notes:

• Pretty lame issue, as it’s a goofy cartoonish chase, involving the WHALE, Jane and Dragonfly. The Jane suddenly sprouts hydrofoils and can glide over the penninsula
• Another knock on this issue: Cutter mentions that he could go for “a frosty Yo-Jo Cola”. This was the first time that phrase had been muttered in the comic and it’s used for a fictional soda. Depsite it’s popularity and use on the cartoon, the phrase was NEVER a battle cry for the comic team (although they do mutter it once or twice around issue 50).
• Last issue, it was clearly depicted that the WHALE had a bridge or cockpit in the rear of the vehicle. In this issue, Destro drives the WHALE while sititng in the front of the vehicle. Again, the shift in artists messes with them, just like Mutt’s helmet from #25-27.
• Roadblock scolds Tripwire for wanting to “fall on the grenade”, specifically citing that Uncle Sam paid big bucks for the team to act intelligently. “Medals ain’t no shinier when they’re posthumous”. Part of the comraderie and commitment to saving another’s soldier life that Hama would frequently cite.
• The Sheriff and R.L return. This time they’re buzzed by the WHALE as it drives down the itnerstate and the Jane as it passes over a pier.
• Cobra Commander’s speech borders on hilarity. Especially the sitcom nugget. He states that getting Americans to cheat on their taxes prompts the government to cut defense spending and “Cobra WINS”. The stuff with Cobra saves this issue from being a total dud.
• The Crimson Guardsmen is code-named “Smith”. Next issue, it’ll be changed to “Fred Broca”.
• While the Crimson Guardsmen did inflitrate America, in this issue Cobra Commander specifically announces that their main ambition will be to get into American politics. That plot never developed, as they just became simple spies.
• Billy, the kid from issue 10, makes a cameo appearance. He thinks to himself: “I’ll get you Cobra Commander, for what you did to my father”. Remember that.
• Firefly tells Destro that he doesn’t know where Cobra HQ is. He was blindfolded when originally taken there.
• The appearance of the Crimson Guard is leaked early from the FOURTH wave of toys and figures. Funny, because the comics still haven’t gotten around to introducing everything from the THIRD wave!
• Depending on where you lived, this issue hit the stands about the same time the second GI Joe cartoon hit the airwaves (“The Revenge of Cobra”, or as it’s sometimes called: “The Weather Dominator”). That series leaked the early debuts of Flint, Lady Jaye and the Crimson Guard. So stuff’s beginning to pile up.

Appearances:

Characters (with figures): Duke, Roadblock, Tripwire, Cutter, Deep-Six, Steeler (cameo), Grunt (cameo), Wild Bill, Destro, Firefly, Wild Weasel, Cobra Commander, Crimson Guardsman “Smith” (Fred Broca).

Characters (no action figures, or “comic-only” characters): R.L & the Sheriff, Billy, “Smith Family”

Vehicles and stuff (toys): Dragonfly, WHALE, Rattler
Vehicles and stuff (not toys): G.I. Jane Freighter

Firsties:
Characters:Crimson Guardsman “Smith” (Fred Broca)
Vehicles: none

Rating: 2 Flag Points