G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #249

Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Netho Diaz

Summary

In Tokyo, Harada, Lt. Knod and Sgt. Imai arrive outside the Red Ninja dojo. Inside; in a secured room in the back; Dawn Moreno fights with Firefly…and his armed drone. Firefly is shocked when Dawn asks her about Professor Onihashi and the “Sword Shrine Incident”. The drone is destroyed, but Firefly escapes through a trap door, with Dawn following/

Over at Atsugi Naval Station, Hawk arrives in the DEFIANT with a small team of Joes. They take off in a helicopter, as they mention that Budo is their “special weapon”.

The final page takes place in Darklonia, where the Joes have escaped the Revanche plant (last seen in issue 245). Black Major still orders a special shipment to be sent to Springfield.

Notes

• This was a great rebound from a rather lackluster and annoying last issue.
   
• I kinda’ ragged on Netho Diaz’s Firefly, last issue. So it’s only fair that I mention he did a good job, this issue!
   
• With all the modern ret-cons and flashbacks since 2002, I forget if we’ve actually covered the “Sword Shrine Incident” and Professor Onihashi. Firefly says that the only other person who would know about it is Zartan (which makes sense). So we can conclude that’s what Zartan told Dawn, a few issues back. It ties into the whole Firefly/Zartan/Hard Master thing…but what the EXACT incident with Professor Onihashi was, hasn’t been covered (at least I don’t think it has).
   
• In issue 245, Sightline, Big Ben, Ambush and Bombstrike were trapped in the Revanche facility. This issue show us that they apparently got out… so I suppose we didn’t really needed to see them blow away a buncha’ stuff. UNLESS— all 4 Joes are still hiding inside the facility for whatever reason; and want Black Major to think they’ve escaped. That actually seems more likely.
   
• Black Major is called “Iron Major” by a Techno-Viper. Probably a small slip-up, as somebody probably confused “Black Major” with “Baron Ironblood”.
   
• Nice to see Hawk back. He’s even in his 1986 gear.
   
• It may seem like overkill that the Joes arrive in Japan in a space shuttle. I No-Prize that as saying that it was probably quicker and that an orbital (or sub-orbital) flight allowed them to jump over any “restricted air space” issue.
   
• Since Dawn Moreno/Snake-Eyes has been on the covers, she’s usually shown with her mouth open or teeth glaring. Only exception has been the alternate cover to issue 247.
   
• Behind Firefly we see a bulletin board with notes, articles and pictures involving Snake-Eyes and Dawn. So he’s been following what’s been going on. One cute little note is a mugshot that says: “Larry H. WANTED”
   
• Along with Firefly’s drone, Lt. Knod also uses one. We covered this with the 1983 PAC-RATS a few issues back, but drones seem much more believable and practical nowadays.
   
• Scarlett’s fatigues look a little like her “G.I.Joe: Renegades” gear.
   
• Some good set-up for issue 250. Snake-Eyes (all three versions), Stalker, Scarlett, Storm Shadow and even Springfield. All are essential elements to the franchise and, as a fan of the comic, you couldn’t ask for more.
   
• In the letters page, Hama mentions that he’s been trying to meet the reader demand for lesser-seen characters. Of course, there are significantly fewer readers (and letters) than the 80’s, but it’s a nice gesture. Seems to me, that a lot of those fan requests are usually for characters that had simply had cool figures.

Appearances

Characters (with figures): Hawk, Scarlett, Storm Shadow, Stalker, Payload, Firefly

Characters (comic-only): Throwdown (Snake-Eyes II), Dawn Moreno, Harada, Lt. Imai, Sgt. Knod

Vehicles and stuff (toys): Defiant Space Shuttle

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): Blackhawk helicopter, Firefly’s drone

Rating: 4 Flag Points