G.I. Joe Special Missions #21

Special Missions #21 “The Lower Depths”

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Herb Trimpe

Summary

A small team of four Joes enter Manhattan’s sewers to counter what appears to be a Cobra nerve gas bio-terrorism plot. After receiving help from an old bum and former war vet (who sorta’ lives like a “moleperson”), the Joes find out that Cobra just let off a nasty stink bomb. Turns out, the gas/bio-terror scheme was just a ruse– Cobra’s real motive was to tap into the circuit boards of the phone company, so they could boost their TELE-MARKETING SCHEMES! Damn, they’re EVIL!!

Notes:

• The bum, Sgt. Gamble, dies after falling on a suspected live grenade. The grenade doesn’t detonate, he just has a heart attack
• The plot ties into the long-running urban myths of the complexity and depth of NYC’s sewer system. The Joes even run into an albino alligator.
• Spearhead tells Gamble’s group of seeimmingly disgruntled vets: “you got your medal and your parade! What did you expect, undying gratitude? Grow up!”
• Tunnel Rat acts as the field leader of this little squad.
• Charbroil is quite nerdy, as he uses his NYC tourism guide to point out little facts during the Joes’ trek. Seems a bit far-fetched that a tourism brochure would include a walk-through of the city’s SEWERS. But it is New York, where all sorts of strange shit pops up. If any city would sell a guide to their sewers, it would be NYC.
• Gamble warms up to the Joes, as he remembers how much he missed the camaraderie of being in the Army. Another recurring theme of Hama’s– how important camaraderie is among soldiers.
• Among Cobra’s telemarketing schemes: aluminum siding, sweepstakes entries, along with the previously mentioned vitamins and cleaning products.
• Great joke at the end, but the issue itself is rather comical. Sgt. Gamble even has a corn cob pipe, a la Popeye.
• The letters page announces that there is NO connection between Budo and Storm Shadow’s clan. A lot of fans (myself included) kind of assumed there would be…but Budo was just a guy of Japenese descent who liked samurai crap. Yet circa 2015, Hama reversed/forgot and tied Budo into the Arashikage clan. No-Prize Explanation: he grew to like ’em and they became buddies, allowing Budo to oversee their dojo in San Francisco.
• Max is just Spearhead’s pet bobcat. The duo never really caught on, like Mutt & Junkyard.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Tunnel Rat, Airtight, Spearhead (& Max), Charbroil, Zandar, Road Pig, Buzzer, Zarana

Characters (“comic-only”): Sgt. Gamble (croaks), other bums

Vehicles and stuff (toys): none

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): none

Firsties:
Characters: Spearhead & Max, Sgt. Gamble

Vehicles: none

Rating: Rating: 2 Flag Points