G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #63

“Going Under”

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Ron Wagner

Summary

< While Stalker and his pals face new hardships in the Borovian gulag, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Flint and Lady Jaye are vacationing in Grenada. Scarlett and Snake-Eyes meet up with a "blind man" and walk across a supposed mine field. All three are seemingly blown up without a trace.

In the Presidio, Billy meets Hawk and they share information. Hawk then arranges a meeting between Billy, Storm Shadow and Rip-cord, to discuss the deaths of the Soft Master and Candy (Bongo the Balloon Bear). Flint calls in from Grenada and tells Storm Shadow about Snake-Eyes’s “death”. Storm Shadow puts it all together and knows that his friends are up to something.

Fred VII drives to Galveston and charters a boat to Cobra Island. In Utah, Roadblock calls all the Joes out for a game of football. The game is picked up by a a Cobra spy satellite. Plus, Raptor calls Serpentor about the suspicious activity in the Presidio.

Notes:

• Why vacation in Grenada? According to Flint, it’s “one of the few places where they don’t hate Americans”.
• The Blind Master’s meeting with Snake-Eyes and Scarlett is definitely reminiscent of the blind man from “Dr. No” (James Bond #1)
• For some reason (that I forget at the moment), Blind Master has had a patch of skin removed from his forearm. Probably an Arashikage tattoo, I forget the details on the WHY.
• The Cobra spy satellite also picked up some enormous tracks in Utah. A tease for the Defiant Space Shuttle Complex.
• Billy refuses to offer Hawk any details on his father (Cobra Commander) and Hawk’s okay with that.
• Hawk is still hanging out with his new buddies from issue 60. Namely Chuckles, Law and Order.
• Fred VII hires one Captain Minh in Galveston. Minh is portrayed like a stereotypical Vietnamese immigrant.
• The guards in the gulag address Stalker as “Wilkinson” (his real name). So all three Joes have been exposed, publicly.
• Final tie-up to the subplot of the Candy/Soft Master/Billy car crash from issue 43.
• Also important to note that Hawk himself is working with Storm Shadow. Stormie was sort of an “unofficial helper”, just called in when Snake-Eyes or Scarlett needed him (like in Yearbook #3). Before he was just a friend of Snake-Eyes, now he’s a friend of the entire team. Another big step in his good guy turn.

Appearances:

Characters (figures):Hawk, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Flint, Lady Jaye, Stalker, Quick Kick, Snow Job, Jinx, Roadblock, Storm Shadow, Rip-cord, Roadblock,Chuckles, Law, Order, Raptor, Serpentor, Dr. Mindbender

Joe cameos: Dusty, Leatherneck, Low-light, Wild Bill, Spirit Iron-Knife, Crankcase, Tunnel Rat, Rock n’ Roll, Shipwreck, Mutt, Recondo, Beachhead, Bazooka, Cross Country, Alpine, Gung Ho, Steeler

Characters (“comic-only”): Blind Master, Billy, Fred VII, Captain Minh, Corporal Olga (Borovia), Boris the Squealer (Borovia inmate)

Vehicles and stuff (toys): APC

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): Pit III (quonset huts)

Firsties:
Characters: Captain Minh, Techno-Vipers

Vehicles and stuff: none

Rating: 3 Flag Points