G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #61

“Beginnings….and Endings”

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Marshall Rogers

Summary:

Stalker, Snow Job, Outback and Quick Kick are given an undercover/rescue mission to free crappy US journalist Devlin Winchell from the Eastern block country of Borovia. Since it’s such a hush-hush job, all four are given full discharges, so the military can cover their tail. Everything goes well in Borovia, until they get to actually rescuing Mitchell: he had already been released earlier that day to the US State Dept. The Joes are screwed and everything quickly goes to hell. Quick Kick and Snow Job are wounded and Stalker gives Outback the order to escape, on his own.

Back home, Hawk receives word that there will be NO rescue mission for the four Joes. They’ve been cut off and the US has disavowed all connections. The four Joes are shown on a newscast as “American mercenaries”.

In Denver, Billy remembers everything…except his undying hatred (and lust for vengeance). He walks out on his dad and moseys into the Blind Master’s dojo, where he meets Jinx, again. Cobra Commander, inspired by Billy’s actions, also decides to turn over a new leaf (do a face turn). As he takes off his battle armor, Fred VII is pissed….and shoots him in the back! With Cobra Commander dead, Fred surmises that he could step into the armor and masquerade as “Cobra Commander”

Notes:

• Start of the big, serious “POW story”. A very nice break from all the cartoony crap since issue 44 or so. It seemed that the 3 captured Joes (Stalker, Quick Kick and Snow Job) might actually die, since all their figures were no longer on the shelves. Plus, the rumor is that Hama hated the character of Quick Kick.
• Bit of a shock, as a mission doesn’t go as planned for the ultra-professional, usually slick Joes.
• Stalker’s team are all decked out in “night commando/Delta Force gear”. Black sweaters and hats, etc.
• The Joes are helped in Borovia by a guy named Spigou. He dies trying to save them.
• How do we know that the Borovian colonel is EVIL and NASTY? His name it “Ratnikov”.
• Another recurring Hama theme: a secret negotiation between some government suits has caused the frontline grunts to get screwed over. The State Dept negotiates the release of Winchell without communication, or concern for, the Dept of Defense.
• The capital city of Borovia is Krogdnz. Another fictional country and city added to the “Joe Universe”.
• Winchell’s reputation as a trashy tabloid reporter is mentioned.
• An alternate art version of this issue was published in early 1995 as the rare “GI Joe Special #1”. The same story, but with Todd McFarlane’s shitty cartoony pencils (he was still about a year or so away from his distinctive style). McFarlane penciled a full issue, but it was rejected.
• Jinx tells Billy that “somewhere down the line” she reports to the GI Joe team. Blind Master is an independent operator, though. I guess you could fill in the blanks and figure Jinx was stationed in Denver to spy on Fred VII or possible CG activities.
• No location is cited for the Joes’ base of operations. I.E: Fort Wadsworth is NOT cited.
• Raptor is again belittled by CC and Fred VII. I just think it’s significant that a new character isn’t presented as a “dangerous foe”. He’s a loon in a birdsuit. I wish they had taken the same route with Tomax and Xamot.
• This issue is also the “Death of Cobra Commander”. But if you’ve seen any GI Joe comics from 1990 to today, you know that distinction doesn’t last. Still, he’s essentially “dead” for the next four years or so. That counts as a “death” in comics. See: Grey, Jean or Hudson, James or May, Aunt.
• I think it’s a little funny how, 9 times out of 10, whenever a “random group of Joes” is shown for a crowd shot, that Rock n’ Roll is usually included.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Hawk, Stalker, Quick Kick, Snow Job, Outback, Jinx, Airborne (cameo), Snake-Eyes (cameo), Scarlett (cameo), Slipstream (cameo), Roadblock (cameo), Rock n’ Roll (cameo), Flint (cameo), Falcon (cameo), Shipwreck & Polly (cameos), Cobra Commander, Raptor

Characters (“comic-only”): Fred VII, Billy, Spigou, Col. Ratnikov

Vehicles and stuff (toys): none!
Vehicles and stuff (not toys): none to speak of

Firsties:
Characters: Spigou (croaks), Col. Ratnikov
Vehicles and stuff: none
Rating: 4 Flag Points