G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #315

Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Chris Mooneyham

Summary:

Cobra Commander is held in chains beneath Castle Destro in Scotland. Destro has flown in a team of surgeons led by Dr. Gretchen Mayer to operate on the Baroness. The surgeons are successful in removing the bullet from the Baroness. Once again, Destro then forces Cobra Commander to make a deal between MARS and Cobra.

At Cobra Island, Alpha-001 and Revanche arrive to reset everything. All of the enhanced mutant cyborgs are instantly destroyed, through use of a remote detonator. The old BAT bartenders and staff are reverted to their old programming. All the casino patrons are given antidotes and are instantly returned to normal. Alpha-001 mentions that he was given the antidote, as a result of a trade with Dr. Mindbender.

In Pensacola, the Joes’ recon team of Multo, Wet-Suit, Muskrat and Helix wade ashore, with Dr. Mindbender and Serpentor’s container. People think they’re “terrorists” and local authorities instantly arrive. The Joes are detained, while Mindbender claims that they infected him with a mutant virus and he was only traveling home with his brother’s casket to give him a proper burial. The authorities eventually “call the Pentagon” and verify the Joes’ story…but not before Mindbender has made his escape (with Serpentor’s body). Mindbender uses some “tranquilizer missile launchers”, embedded in his arm, which were part of his trade with Revanche.

At Fort Wadsworth, the “ninja Joes” all arrive at their newly updated base and do their Arashikage finger weave.

Notes:

• Multo asks to borrow a civilian’s phone to “make a collect call to Utah”. Umm…collect call? I mean, sure, those old “1-800-Collect” commercials live rent-free in my head, but is it still possible to make a COLLECT CALL? Nevertheless, the civilian runs away from Multo in terror…which the average American would probably do if someone popped out of the ocean and asked to make a COLLECT CALL.
• Seems even stranger when, two pages later, Dr. Mindbender asks “Alexa, shortest route to Baton Rouge!”
• By the way, if you’re ever in Pensacola during baseball season, check out the Marlins’ Double-A squad, the Blue Wahoo, and their park. Great ocean view, accessible field, and they have their own blueberry beer.
• The pass phrase for getting authorization from the Pentagon is “knowing is half the battle”. Cute.
• Seems like a treadmill effect, again, as Destro has Cobra Commander in a compromising position, but coerces an agreement out of him, then warns that he has the upper hand. When was that scene with Cobra Commander in his bathtub, then Destro (with his super-mechanical retractable HANDS) showed up and did the same thing? Oh yeah, and what ever happened to Destro’s mechanical hands? And whattabout Scarecrow’s brain?
• And speaking of the treadmill effect: how many “cloned bodies of Serpentor” have we had, now? Serpentor’s always been kind of a mess (even Serpentor Khan), so why the constant push to clone him and bring him back? I know, I know: “Dr. Mindbender is a mad scientist”. I suppose that explanation works.
• FWIW, Dr. Mindbender is still all mutated and cyborg-y. Yet I feel that works for him.
• I didn’t realize it, at first, but the Fort Wadsworth scene is the first time “cloned Snake-Eyes” has been “back” to the Pit.
• The Joes land at McGuire Air Force Base, their original airfield. I’m curious: when was the last time that location was referenced or used?
• Biggest development in this issue is the complete wipe and reset of the Revanche “enhanced mutant cyborgs”. Alpha-001 hits a switch and they’re ALL gone. The two pages with the reset of the Cobra Casino, the civilians, and the mutant stuff are some of the most therapeutic pages for G.I. Joe readers in awhile.
• The vehicle cameos in the Pit are tough to score, but so my best guesses are listed.

Appearances

Characters (figures): Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Storm Shadow, Jinx, Helix, Muskrat, Wet-Suit, Destro, Baroness, Dr. Mindbender, Cobra Commander.

Characters (comic-only):Multo, Dawn Moreno, Sean Collins/Throwdown/Snake-Eyes II, Alpha-001

Vehicles and Stuff (toys): Wolverine (cameo), Thunderclap (cameo), Mean Dog (cameo)

Vehicles and Stuff (not toys): GI Joe C-130, Cobra Aspid

Firsties: none