G.I. Joe European Missions #1

GI Joe European Missions Intro

Featuring reprints of “Action Force”, think of “GI Joe: European Missions” as the Earth-2 JSA to the GI Joe’s Earth-1 JLA. Technically, “Action Force” came first, evolving out of the UK magazine/comic “Battle!” and the UK toyline “Action Man”. But it wasn’t until 1983 or so when they began to incorporate some of the elements of the American “GI Joe”. Really, it’s a somewhat confusing or interesting lineage, depending on your point-of-view and patience. I won’t spell out all the differences between “GI Joe” and “Action Force”, but Google is there for you, pumpkin!

But here’s something pertinent. Marvel’s UK division began reprinting issues of “GI Joe”. Basically the same 1982 Marvel series, but with a few changes and under a different name. Due to formatting demands, the UK blokes would often split up the US stories into several smaller parts. To fill out the book, they would create their own unique stories, created in the UK and not seen over here. Sometimes the stories would tie in to the US reprints (like a bizarre wrap-around story for the famous “Silent Issue“), but mostly they were their own thing.

In the mid-80’s, some comic book shops would import the flimsy, over-sized “Action Force” UK comics. But these never sold well, because they were pricier than the usual US comics, had a different size, and roughly 85% of the book was a reprint of an old GI Joe comic. I imagine it was a minor hassle for comic shop owners to get the things delivered, too. So it wasn’t too appealing to put up with those differences
for a small 5 page UK-exclusive GI Joe story. Thus, it was nice when Marvel finally collected all the UK stories in “European Missions” in late 1987. These issues were only available in comic book shops (“the direct market”) and were fairly unknown to the average Joe fan.

Finally, we should note that while this issue is “#1”, it is not the start of the official Action Force/UK stories. This “#1” is just a random starting point. As we’ll see, there’s a whole different continuity that’s been going on. For this reason, these stories are generally NOT considered to be a part of the Marvel/GI Joe/Larry Hama continuity and mythos. An uber-fan could take a few issues (where the words “Action Force” are not mentioned) and reason that they would work in the Marvel US world. But for the most part, these are non-canon stories.

#1A- “Double Bluff”
Writer: Ian Rimmer
Penciler: Dougie Braithwaite

Summary

After saving a politician from a hostage situation, the Joes take some Crimson Guard gear back to their subterranean base below London. It’s all part of a ruse, to lure the Crimson Twins into a trap. To further beef up the plan, Footloose enters the subway of tunnels, supposedly on leave, but intending to get captured by the Guardsmen.

Backed by BATs, Tomax and Xamot storm the base, but are turned away after getting deep enough. The BATs are destroyed and more intel is gained, but the Twins escape into the subway. They manage to steal a picture of Action Force’s liaison, Trent and his daughter. They plan to kidnap Trent’s daughter…a scheme which is overheard on the subway by a disguised Zartan.

#1B- “Double Cross”
Writer: Dan Abnett
Penciler: Dougie Braithwaite

Shipwreck is out in the ocean with a Dr. Forbes, to check out the latter’s new invention: using inflatable bags to raise up old sunken warplanes. They raise an old Nazi plane, filled with gold. This draws the attention of Cobra and a trooper named Thronton. The Cobras kill Dr. Forbes and his crew, but Shipwreck dives into the ocean. He manages to cut off the inflatable bags and sends the Cobras to their death– crushed beneath the gold and the ocean.

Notes:

• It’s different, but probably the lamest thing is how the team’s base is painfully ordinary and has all the design and appeal of your local gymnasium. But they do have a “laser grid” security net.
   
• Of all people, Sci-Fi gets a Bad-Ass Moment, as he plays “laser sniper” during the opening scene and shoots a Crimson Guardsman from 2 miles away.
   
• In the second story, Thornton and his Cobra pals (apparently only 2 or 3) are decked out in Copperhead uniforms (the Cobra Water Moccasin Pilot). They’re referred to as “Lampreys”, though. Using the Copperhead figure as another legion of Cobra troopers may have been one of those US-to-UK differences.
   
• Another one of those “Only in Comics Rules”, when the Nazi plane is pulled out of the water, Shipwreck explores the interior and finds skeletons of the Nazis… seated in the EXACT SAME LOCATIONS they were in World War II. Being underwater for 40 years didn’t affect the movement of their dead bodies at all! No-Prize Explanation: similar to Sweden’s Vasa, the ship sunk in brackish waters and was able to be preserved in mud.
   
• Not to say that the US series wasn’t violent, but there’s quite a lot of death in this story. All the Crimson Guardsmen in the opening scene are killed, plus Dr. Forbes, his crew, and the Lampreys in the second story. I don’t recall too many scenes where Joes fatally shot Cobras in the US series. Usually, Cobras died in explosions.
   
• The fine print and an intro piece on the inside cover refer to this series as “Action Force Monthly”. That may have been the orginal or working name of the book, but they probably changed it to “GI Joe: European Missions” for familiarity and sales purposes.
   
• Included is a UK advertisement for the Skystriker, FANG and Dragonfly toys. Probably wasn’t a current ad, as those
  toys came out in 1983 (or maybe 1984 in the UK). I’d suspect the ad was included as a bonus “easter egg” for US fans.
   

• Also included is an ad for the Marvel UK “Dragon’s Teeth” series. I can’t recall how Marvel was dealing with their UK titles at the time (1987), as the line wasn’t properly introduced onto US soils until 1993 or so. I’m no expert on UK comics, but from what I’ve seen, they tend to be more fantasy and sci-fi based than US titles. More over-the-top and unrealistic, too. Sure, “realism” in comics is kinda’ an oxymoron, but there is a noticeable difference. Example: think of the satire and excess in “Judge Dredd” as opposed to
  any issue of “Amazing Spider-Man”.
   

• Oh yeah…most “European Missions” contain another additional story…involving those worthless, uninteresting blocks of plastics known as the Transformers. This particular story seemed to be about how much of an jerk Grimlock was. Since I HATE Transformers, I’ll be ignoring these completely. Okay…mostly.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Flint, Lady Jaye, Footloose, Roadblock, Recondo, Leatherneck, Shipwreck, Tomax, Xamot, Zartan

Characters (“comic-only”): Trent, Dr. Forbes, Thornton the Lamprey.

Vehicles and stuff (toys): none

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): none

Firsties:
Characters: Dr. Forbes, Thornton (both croak)

Vehicles and stuff: none

Rating: 2 Flag Points