G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #313

Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Chris Mooneyham

Summary:

Destro enters Cobra Commander’s bunker, below the Springfield Recreation Center. After taking out some Night Vipers and HEAT Vipers, Destro engages the Commander. Expecting Destro, the Commander dons his new “Mark 7” Battle Armor. The two go into a knockdown, drag-out fight, worthy of a superhero comic. However, Cobra Commander pushes his suit too far, and it locks up on him. Womp womp.

Notes:

• This basically concludes this arc; including the “Battle of Springfield II”. While Serpentor Khan has been decimated and a lot of Mutant Cyborgs destroyed, there’s still the matter of the mutants on Cobra Island/Casino, Revanche, and Mindbender with yet another clone. ZERO of those subplots intrigue me; but they’re probably not going away.
• This month’s Destro Scottish lesson: “Lavvy-heid bampot”, which I gather means “toilet-headed fool”. Or “sh*t-headed fool”, if you wanna’ up the rating.
• Destro and Cobra Commander seem to have had a buncha’ “deals”, over the years. Thus, it’s nice to see Destro finally lose his patience and actually ATTACK him, for once.
• The Joe Ninjas and the Dreadnoks purposely stand around, waiting for the fight to end. They’re just background window dressing and almost cameos, this issue. Which is acceptable, sine this story is all about Destro vs. Cobra Commander.
• It appears Mooneyham uses the exact same panel of the Ninjas and Dreadnoks on page 1 and again on page 9 (see below). However, this is a common storytelling trick that’s been used many times, before, in comics. Usually, it’s on the same page or subsequent page. It’s a little jarring when it’s 8 pages, though. When I saw it on page 9, I thought: “hey…that looks familiar” and had to go back and check.
• Not a GREAT ending, but an ending. Cobra Commander’s armor locking-up is kind of a “slip on the banana peel” resolution, but I’ll take it.
• Chris Mooneyham does a great job of conveying how serious and determined Destro is, throughout the issue, making him look rather intimidating. Hard to do with a guy wearing a shiny mask, open shirt, and a big red collar. I honestly don’t think Destro has looked this “bad*ss”, ever. I’m fine with saying that Mooneyham’s work bumps up the Rating by 1 Flag Point, this issue.
• I’ll make my usual disclaimer about not keeping up on the Hasbro toys n’ figures, but I honestly don’t know if Cobra Commander’s “Mark 7 Armor” exists in one of his many figures.

Appearances

Characters (figures): Snake-Eyes, Storm Shadow, Scarlett, Jinx, Zartan, Buzzer, Ripper, Torch, Road Pig, Destro, Cobra Commander

Characters (comic-only); Dawn Moreno

Vehicles and Stuff (toys): Dreadnok Thunder Machine (cameo), HISS Tank (cameo)

Vehicles and Stuff (comic-only): Cobra Commander’s Mark 7 Armor

Firsties: Cobra Commander’s Mark 7 Armor

Rating: 3 Flag Points