G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #122
“Transformer!”
Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Andrew Wildman
Summary:
Destro voluntarily subjects himself to the Brainwave Scanner, which triggers an old memory of himself and the Baroness. In the memory, he claims that his love would last as long as Castle Destro would stand… so they unplug Destro and run to the top of the Silent Castle. They pull a lever and it turns into a streamlined version of Destro’s old castle.
While the Ninja Force has some run-ins with Slice, Dice and Red Ninjas, Cobra Commander lands his troops on the outside of the castle. After all of his air support is shot down, Cobra Commander pursues the Joes into a ravine, for kicks.
Notes:
- Very painful to read. The book has straddled the “realism” border before, but the castle conversion is very hard to swallow. Also hurts that this was the big return to the “Silent Castle”, Hama’s finest moment on the title, yet it’s a completely wretched story.
- The Red Ninjas refer to Slice and Dice as their “masters”. So they’re aparently somewhat significant in the renegade Arashikage clan.
- The characters all make sure to drop the name of each other, and the vehicles, as often as possible.
- Cobra Commander is back to wearing his classic blue hood. Strange, considering he leads an all-out assault in his cloth hood. That’s a situation where he should be wearing his battle helmet.
- GI Joe Dossier is of Billy.
- The letters page basically confirms that Firefly has magically been added to the survivors of the Arbco Star and is still out there. It’s suggested that he dressed one of the other corpses in his uniform, then escaped on his own.
Appearances:
Characters (figures): Hawk, Snake-Eyes, Storm Shadow, Nunchuk, Tjbang, Dojo, Flint, Lady Jaye, Roadblock, Rock n’ Roll, Dusty, Big Ben, Ambush, Stalker, Destro, Baroness, Slice, Dice, Cobra Commander
Characters (“comic-only”): Red Ninjas
Vehicles and stuff (toys): Badger, Battle Wagon, Brawler, Cobra Paralyzer
Vehicles and stuff (not toys): Cobra transport/gun-ship copter
Firsties:
Characters: none
Vehicles and stuff: Cobra Paralyzer
Rating: 1 Flag Point
