G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero #272

Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Netho Diaz

Summary:

As expected, below the Springfield Community Center, Throwdown (Snake-Eyes) uses the magical Arashikage Mindset finger weave to knock-out Laura and escape from his cell. He then blows away a few Crimson Guardsmen and holds Cobra Commander and Dr. Mindbender at gunpoint.

Meanwhile, everybody else is either on their way to, or arriving at, Springfield. Stalker’s team meets up with Destro and the Dreadnoks at a gas station. Destro agrees to put his Iron Grenadiers under Stalker’s command, since “Snake-Eyes has always been an honorable foe”.

The Oktober Guard’s truck drives by the Community Center, while a team of Joes are paratrooping in.

Notes:

• I suppose the “honorable foe” thing harkens back to Destro’s original file card, but it still seems kinda’ random.
• Bullhorn makes his first official appearance, as he yells at all the other Joes on the bus with …a bullhorn. Har…har?
• Bullhorn and Freefall were small dots in the big Snake-Eyes funeral, but I feel this is their first OFFICIAL appearance.
• Yes, that’s CRAZYLEGS. Still back from the dead. Again.
• Lady Jaye is seen on a bus traveling to Springfield, then is immediately seen in the parachute scene. This is probably why they added the line about “by the time I get to the airfield”. See picture, below.
• Likewise, last issue Duke told Muskrat and Torpedo that they would be staying behind (with Long-Range) to guard the Pit, but both are shown as parachute jumpers.
• I don’t know if I’ve noticed this, before, but the (plain ol’ 1986) Vipers actually use those googles on their foreheads!
• Maybe a slip-up, but the Dreadnoks go into the gas station pining for chocolate donuts and root beer— not their usual grape soda. No-Prize Explanation: their tastes have changed.
• They’re un-named, but I think the two pilots flying for the Joes are the two vets, from about 2-3 years ago.
• Sure, it’s a direct continuation, but this issue reads so much like last issue that it’s hard for me to distinguish them. Both the tone and pacing are identical to last issue.
• I’m including the “crowd shots” and added in my official identification of everybody. Note that these do not include ALL characters in this issue. it’s just the big crowd shots.
• When I posted the screenshot, below, I originally counted Freedom twice. Incorrect on my part… that’s bleeding over the panel from the next scene.
• I mean, I’m sure it’s fun for fans n’ all, but if all these character don’t end up doing anything, it’s all just window dressing.

Appearances

Characters (figures): Hawk, Duke, Roadblock, Duke, Mainframe, Steeler, Stalker, Clutch, Rock & Roll, Backstop, Barbeque, Beach-head, Blizzard, Blowtorch, Budo, Bullhorn, Cover Girl, Chuckles, Charbroil, Cross-Country, CRAZYLEGS, Dusty, Footloose, Flint, Freefall, Frostbite, Gung Ho, Hardball, Helix, Hit n’ Run, Lady Jaye, Law & Order, Leatherneck, Lifeline, Lightfoot, Lowlight, Lt. Falcon, Muskrat, Mutt & Junkyard, Payload, Recoil, Recondo, Rip-cord, Scarlett, Shipwreck, Short Fuse, Slipstream, Snow Job, Spirit Iron-Knife, Storm Shadow, Torpedo, Tripwire, Tunnerl Rat, Wet-suit, Wild Card

Cobra Commander, Dr. Mindbender, Destro, Zartan, Baroness, Ripper, Torch, Buzzer, Crystal Ball

Col. Brekhov, Daina, Schrage, Horrorshow, Dragonsky, Stormavik

Characters (comic-only): Throwdown, Demon Granny, Dawn Moreno, Milo, Raymond, Joe Colton, Jane, Laura-343

Vehicles (toys): Maybe the Mauler? Iron Grenadiers AGP
Vehicles (not toys): Bongo the Balloon Bear’s Van.

Firsties: None

Rating: 2 Flag Points