G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero – Duke #1

Writer/Pencils: Wes Craig

Summary

Duke quietly infiltrates a Cobra island outpost, apparently in memory of a fallen comrade named Amos Silverheels. He fights his way past some Night Creepers and a squad of Vipers en route to sabotaging a chemical weapons plant. One determined Viper keeps hounding Duke, as he is only subdued after taking a knife to the eye and falling into a chemical vat.

As Duke intended, the plant explodes, but he inhales some of the chemicals. After a brief hallucinogenic episode, Duke injects himself with an antidote, then staggers into an abandoned research hut. There, we see clippings of how Amos Silverheels was apparently responsible for creating the chemicals, apparently his family via “friendly fire” (per a newspaper clipping). Silverheels, himself, then rushes and attacks Duke. Duke has no choice but to fight him off, eventually killing him with a shard of broken glass. Duke then acquires all the necessary intel; with the help of a handy all-purpose USB drive; and silently departs the island.

Notes:

• Duke brought Silverheels’s dog tags with him; then left them on his dead body.
• Another old picture in the hut shows an old picture of Duke, Silverheels and their military unit, including a bald black man; presumably Roadblock. I’ve always liked the past connection between Duke and Roadblock.
• Duke is shown, in silhouette, crawling onto the island’s beach in a SCUBA suit. The very next panel, he’s in his usual gear or “costume”.
• He also uses a drone of some sort to support his approach. Yet at the end of story is appears as if it might be a one-man helicopter of some sort.
• During the 1:1 fight with the Viper, the US Flag patch on Duke’s right shoulder suddenly jumps to his left shoulder. No-Prize explanation: they were falling off a waterfall at this point, and the image we see if a reflection from the water. Maybe?
• This story works around, or cheats, with the “Silent” concept, as it uses the newspaper clippings to fill in the blanks on Amos Silverheels. Even the issue’s’ solicitation was necessary to set the plot: “In a standalone silent issue from Wes Craig (Kaya, Deadly Class), Duke treks through Cobra-infested terrain to find his target — a traitor who’s joined the enemy. Can Duke do the unthinkable to complete his mission?“
• At first, I thought Silverheels was a guy who was coerced into joining Cobra, or was abducted. Maybe Cobra killed his wife and kid, and it was reported as “friendly fire” to the press? When he attacked Duke, I thought he had also inhaled the chemicals and was hallucinating, or was delusional. I then went back and read the solicitation (above) and that changed my perception of the story. So, I feel like this comic had trouble communicating its main message to me.
• I always mention that I’m not 100% of my various Viper identifications, but I had real trouble identifying the troopers who attacked Duke. The Night Creepers were clear to me, but the guy who pursued Duke was some sort of Viper, SAW Viper, HISS driver, Nitro Viper, Crimson Guard trooper. Any help is appreciated.
• Aside from the cameo from Roadblock, another thing I appreciated about this was the use of Duke’s bomb. It was set at 3 minutes, and we see a timer countdown in subsequent panels. The time frame is actually believable, however. As opposed to the ridiculous countdown in the Jinx one-shot.
• Not that it matters to anybody-not-named-me, but I’m going to move these OUT of the “First Issue” category. While the FIRST ISSUE joke is still my favorite comic book joke, that category; on this cr*ppy website; is exclusively full of silly DC and Marvel superhero stuff. No sense in clogging it up with more GI Joe stuff.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Duke, Razorclaw (see COMMENTS, below), Roadblock (cameo)

Characters (comic-only): Amos Silverheels

Vehicles and Stuff (toys): none to speak of

Vehicles and Stuff (comic only): none to speak of

Firsties: Amos Silverheels (croaks), Razorclaw

Rating: 2 Flag Points