G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #290
Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Andrew Lee Griffith
Summary:
Picking up from the conclusion “Snake-Hunt” in issue 275, the Oktober Guard is speeding out of Springfield, to get Daina some emergency medical help. Colonel Brekhov and Stormavik spill the beans to Stalker and Wade Collins that they were all “dead and reanimated by an A.I.” (with the exceptions of Dragonsky and Daina).
After their seeming demise in Special Missions #26, the Guard were immediately medevac’d by a Russian medical team and taken to a stealth ship, off the coast of Sierra Gordo. They were then taken to the “Bacu Robotics and Cybernetics Center in St. Petersburg, Russia”, where they were reborn with cybernetic enhancements. However, their actual A.I. components were fared out to…Revanche. As a result, Horroshow is 100% Revanche components, with Brekhov at 20%, Stormavik at 40% and Schrage at around 70%.
Back in the present, two weeks pass, and the Guard is determined to fix Horrorshow’s recent malfunctions. Doctors inform them that the only way to get new A.I. modules for Horrorshow is to obtain them from Revanche HQ in New Jersey. The Guard attacks Revanche H.Q. and after meeting some resistance, are able to find the parts they need. Despite being 100% Revanche, Horrorshow’s original personality is able to override the programming and help save his teammates.
Revanche’s Alpha-001 remarks that it’s all part of their “long game”, as the Guard have trojan horses inside them.
Notes:
- Yup, as we predicted here, awhile back, the reborn Oktober Guard are tied into Revanche. While this certainly isn’t the first time long-dead characters have been brought back by off-screen ret-conned shenanigans (see: “Soldier, Winter”), it feels very “connect-the-dots” and not fresh or intriguing.
- Sorry, but I still feel Hama accidentally brought them back and forgot they were dead, in the first place. Revanche was a convenient plot device to fix the error.
- All the “new” Oktober Guard guys that have popped up since issue 102 (including those since the relaunch) have still not been mentioned. Not a big deal, but a reference to Col Krimov/Red Star being a dead ringer for Col. Brekhov in issue 146 would’ve been appreciated.
- No-Prize Explanation and/or “Fan Theory” on WHY the cyborg Oktober Guard haven’t appeared until recently, and we’ve seen those other guys? Simple: it took a long time to “grow” them back to full functionality. Like, years.
- In fact, in this issue, the guard discover that Revanche has been “growing” parts in regeneration vats.
- Sorry, but I don’t know if “Bacu” is an abbreviation for something, a geographic location, or what. An editorial asterisk would’ve been nice.
- Alpha-001 has a fun line as the Blue Ninjas shout his name: “Pre-programmed self-congratulations are STILL satisfying. It allays fleeting thoughts of rust and system failure”.
- Alpha-001 dispatches a special “Quantum Eradicator” model to fend off the guard.
- The Joes and Oktober Guard leave Springfield via the Bongo the Ballon Bear’s van. When it breaks down, Crystal Ball shows up to help.
- No letters page, this issue. Instead, we get a full page of next issue’s cover.
- Once again, I opted for “Cover B”, since it featured the Oktober Guard.
Appearances:
Characters (figures): Clutch, Stalker, Rock and Roll, Crystal Ball, Colonel Brekhov, Daina, Horrorshow, Dragonsky, Stormavik, Schrage
Characters (comic-only): Wade Collins, Alpha-001, 2 un-named Russian doctors, Quantum Eradicator
Vehicles and Stuff (toys): none
Vehicles and Stuff (comic-only): Bongo the Balloon Bear’s Van
Firsties: 2 un-named Russian Doctors.
Just a note – you forgot Rock & Roll appears as well. 🙂
I’ve been able to forgive Larry for bringing back other dead characters, (and as for ones who appear in the background is that the writer or the artist’s fault?), but did he actually forget he killed off most of the original Oktober Guard?? That would be a huge gaffe.
Thanks! I’ve added Rock and Roll to the “Appearances” roll call.
I think Hama originally forgot they were dead, when he started “Snake Hunt”. Then, thanks to fan backlash and such, he realized the error and the Revanche explanation was a good back door escape option. Along those lines, there’s still no explanation or “on-screen” acknowledgement that the formerly-dead Crankcase and Heavy Metal suddenly re-appeared around the time same time. Then Crazylegs the next issue.
Or who the “dead” Sneak-Peek in the Benzheen War was. That question was acknowledged by Dusty, “on-screen”, just a few years ago. Yet there has been no follow-up.
We’ve said it a buncha’ times, but an actual EDITOR (who like, y’know, actually EDITS and/or proofs things) would’ve helped to prevent such a mess.
Yeah there have been a lot of complaints about the complete lack of editorial work done on ARAH. But does anyone know who actually decides who appears in the background? Does Larry say to Gallant or Diaz, “Okay I want Steeler, Clutch, Thunder, Flash and Heavy Metal” in the background on this panel”? It seems like that would be a lot for the writer to be bothered with. especially if it’s a page with a ton of non-speaking characters. I mean if Heavy Metal was to say something for sure that would be on Larry, but who decides he’s in the panel in the first place? I mean Larry should definitely catch it but maybe he doesn’t even look at the issues after he’s written them.
Both Crankcase and Heavy Metal had dialogue when they appeared in “Snake Hunt”.
Crazylegs and Thunder were just background appearances, so not as big a deal (Thunder was at Snake-Eyes’ funeral, but someone mentioned that it could have been “Thunderwing”, from circa 2001).
“Both Crankcase and Heavy Metal had dialogue when they appeared in “Snake Hunt”.”
Oh yeah that’s right. Well major mistake then. I do remember one person had a letter printed where he asked for more appearances of his favourite Joe, Thunder. I had to wonder how much of a favourite he could be if the guy didn’t even know he was dead, lol. But maybe that planted a seed in Larry’s brain and he wrote him in while forgetting he was killed off many years ago.
I got the new GI Joe Real American Hero Issue on Friday, It’s Issue #291.
That’s cool. No luck in my town, though. Called 5 shops, around the city, and they each don’t have a copy.
What’s more frustrating is that each time, the “employee” acted clueless and had no idea what I was talking about. One guy asked me to hang up and text him the details.
Two guys each acted annoyed and put-off that I was asking for a new comic that they, personally, didn’t like. “Pfft! GI Joe?! No, I don’t sell that”.
I think I’m going to have to cross the line and go digital or pay an extra $5 per issue for online ordering and delivery.
G.I. Joe doesn’t get much love in my area either. My main shop is really good but most others don’t even bother to bring it in because “it doesn’t sell.”