G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero- Copperhead #1

Writer/Pencils: Howard Porter

Summary:

After stealing some mysterious (and glowing) components from an off-shore facility, Copperhead is picked up and paid by Cobra. He then heads to a nearby metropolis to drink, gamble, and participate in a street bike race. After winning the race, he’s (apparently) told about a special challenge cup race, in a swamp.

Copperhead shows up at the swamp city for more boozin’ and gamblin’. He ends up playing poker with a buncha’ interesting characters, including Zanzibar the Dreadnok. The poker match ends in a stalemate, so to settle their differences everyone enters a boat race. Copperhead wins, but not before fighting off all of the characters. However, rather than celebrating, he receives a call from Cobra and departs for another mission.

Notes:

• Something about this seems more like a random super-hero or adventure comic and not necessarily “G.I. Joe”. Sure, It has two recognizable characters, but nothing really seems unique to the G.I. Joe world. For instance, I could see all of this happening in a Wolverine/Patch story set in Madripoor.
• The big boat race seems like something from Hanna-Barbera’s “Wacky Races”, mixed with “Trollkins”. All of the colorful characters from the poker game seem to have gimmicked boat rides and tactics.
• One racer is apparently a cat-lady and throws CATS at Copperhead. Another bloke in a top hat is apparently an android.
• At first, I thought some might be more Dreadnoks, but I guess not. For instance: one guy has a handlebar mustache, like Torch.
• The location could, potentially, be Miami… but it’s more likely an international city. Copperhead walks around in his Cobra gear and stays in a snake-themed skyscraper. Again, “Madripoor” comes to mind.
• Copperhead’s gambling addiction is taken straight from his original 1984 file card: “His major weakness is gambling”. Also, his boat racing background.
• The Cobra Sea-Plane that picks up Copperhead is pretty snazzy. At first, I thought it was the Sea Ray, but it’s more like an in-wing helicopter with a cargo bay. I feel like it might have been in with some modern toys that were released around the two movies.
• We only see his back, but it appears to be Cobra Commander congratulating Copperhead on his heist.
• The crew Copperhead attacks on the off-shore rig all wear diving uniforms that look like Captain America’s “Super Patriot”, circa 1985. They have a big star and red/white/scheme, so they could be US operatives…but not necessarily.
• Like the other Sssilent Missions, it will depend on if this story is ever referenced anywhere else. It could be a flashback, or set in modern continuity. I’d lean more towards “modern continuity”, as Copperhead and Zanzibar aren’t currently engrossed in anything, storyline-wise. It would fit without any contradictions or issues.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Copperhead, Zanzibar, Cobra Commander (cameo)

Characters (comic-only): 5 Poker Game Characters (all un-named), street racing thugs

Vehicles and stuff (toys): Zanzibar’s Air Skiff

Vehicles and stuff (comic-only): Cobra Sea-Plane/Copter

Firsties: Poker Characters, Cobra Sea-Plane/Copter