G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #296

Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: S.L. Gallant

Summary:

We’re shown the final moments of Genghis Khan, as he died (of unspecific causes) right before rallying his Mongol hordes for another attack.

In the present, the firefight escalates at the Cobra Casino, as the extraction team of Roadblock, Rock and Roll, and Gung Ho enters the enfilade. Dr. Mindbender hollers to Laura and the Cobra troops to not hit the Brainwave Scanners or the cloning tubes. Yet, a stray bullet hits the Serpentor/Genghis Khan cloning tube, and he fully awakens (starkers with the convenient smoke clouds, of course).

At the Pit, Duke orders reinforcements to the scene and mobilizes a team.

Notes:

• Yup, “more of the same”. There is an increase in action, with the extraction team and the mobilization at the Pit. This includes a quick role call of who –and what (vehicles)– are on the way. Those are always exciting, but still not enough for me to bump this up from 2 to 3 Flag Points.
• Duke mentions the “VAMP II”, yet it looks like the regular ol’ VAMP I; with a machine gun in the back, and not a rack of missiles.
• One of the first caption boxes of this issues mentions: “Genhis Khan”. I think there may be a LinkedIn email alert for “IDW Publishing is looking for an Editor”.
• In the Genghis flahback, he mentions (in order) the Qara Khitai, Kwarazmian, then the regions of Georgia, Crimea, Kievan Rus, Volga Bulgaria and finally, Western Xia. Just saying, but if you look at Genghis Khan’s Wikipedia page, things are listed in that same exact order. Research!
• Ghostrider (“old whats-his-name”) has a line of dialogue, but not an actual physical appearance.
• This is supposedly the start of the final arc, “All In”. Yet where “High Stakes” ends and “All In” begins is blurry, as it’s all the same story.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Scarlett, Helix, Jinx, Rock and Roll, Roadblock, Gung Ho, Duke, Muskrat, Ghostrider, Long Range (cameo), Lady Jaye (cameo), Cover Girl (cameo) Stalker (cameo) , Dr. Mindbender

Characters (Comic only): Dawn Moreno, Throwdown/Snake-Eyes II, Multo, Laura-343, Genghis Cobra

Vehicles and stuff (toys): VAMP , Wolverine, Phantom X-19, Hammer

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): G.I. Joe C-130

Firsties: none

Rating: 2 Flag Points