G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #42

“Ties That Bind”

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Rod Whigham

Summary

After selling toys for two issues, it’s back to some of Hama’s subplots. Upset over the Cobra Island problem, General Austin has a heart attack and collapses. Hawk, Snake-Eyes and Stalker all drive down to Washington DC to check in on him. For once, Fred’s surveillance works, as he clearly spots the VAMP M2 driving out of Fort Wadsworth. Fred tails them to DC. Hawk stays with General Austin in the hospital, while Stalker and Snake-Eyes head over to the Vietnam Memorial. One of their buddies from their Vietnam LRRP team, whom they believed dead, isn’t on the wall— but he steps out from the trees, pulling a gun on them. His name was Wade Collins, but Cobra gave him a new face and name: “Fred”.

In other locations, Buzzer and Candy ditch the MP bus for a “Love Bandit” truck (basically the “Pussy Wagon” from Kill Bill). Candy manages to kick Buzzer out of the truck, with help from the truck’s shotguns. Instead of shooting him, she leaves him on the road and drives away.

In Springfield, the Soft Master waltzes into the main Police Department and politely kicks all their asses. He begins to search their computers for the Hard Master’s killer.

In New York City, Billy leaves a letter for Storm Shadow, thanking him for all his help and instruction. He’s going away to “confront (his) past and part of (yours)”.

Notes:

• An extra addendum to the Snake-Eyes origin, with a flashback to the other members of the LRRP patrol: Dickie Saperstein, Ramon Escobedo and Wade Collins. In issue 26, Stalker mentioned “there were six of us”… so we finally get to meet the other 3.
• We find out that Fred didn’t “die” in issue 36. He made it out of the water and now has a bad fever. Part of the fever is what causes “Fred” to suddenly remember his Vietnam days as Wade Collins.
• Dickie is vaporized by a landmine and Ramon’s head is blown off.
• Storm Shadow reveals to Billy the whole mystery of the Hard Master’s killer.
• It’s established that Storm Shadow’s water tower hideout is in New York City.
• The Soft Master hitchikes his way into downtown Springfield. He gets picked up by a travelling salesman with a thermos of “special” coffee, laced with Brandy. Softie, either accidentally or intentionally, leaves his suitcase in the guy’s car.
• In the letters page, it’s answered what the hell a “sniffer” is. Longtime GI Joe fans (mostly “toy-only” fans) were perplexed for years over what the sniffer was. It was the gun that came with the Airtight figure. According to Marvel (and Hama), it is “a hand portable spectroscopic analyzer that can detect and identify atmospheric traces of poisonous, caustic, vomit-inducing and irritant gases, liquids and suspended particles. It also fires 5.56 mm ball ammo, in semi, three shot burst and full-auto mode”. And now ya’ know…
• There’s also a big yellow box in the letters page, attempting to shoot down the countless No-Prize attempts the book had been getting for months. Fans would write in and nitpick about the tiniest detail. Such as, how Lady Jaye was shot in the chest in issue 38, but later had her arm bandaged.

Appearances:

Characters (figures):Hawk, Stalker, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett (cameo), Rip-cord (cameo), Recondo (cameo), Roadblock (cameo), Duke (cameo), Buzzer, Storm Shadow

Characters (“comic-only”):Candy, Soft Master, Billy, Chuck the drunk driving travelling salesman

Vehicles and stuff (toys): Vamp Mark II
Vehicles and stuff (not toys): none

Firsties:
Characters:none
Vehicles: none

Rating: Rating: 3 Flag Points