G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #319
Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Paul Pelletier
Summary
Both of the Joes’ intel operations at Springfield and the Cobra Casino go south and are discovered. In Springfield, Storm Shadow and Dawn Moreno fight through the sewers. Topside, at the Joes’ undercover house, Monty is temporarily subdued by Throwdown’s use of the Arashikage Nerve Pinch. He soon sneaks away and loudly alerts the neighborhood that they’re G.I. Joe infiltrators. The house is surrounded by HISS Tanks and an assault is prepared, until Storm Shadow and Dawn arrive in a stolen Stinger and help the entire Ninja Team escape Springfield.
On Cobra Island, Wet-Suit and Muskrat engage a Cobra drone, then are pursued by Cobra Scorpion jeeps. They’re able to take over one jeep, and use it to help Multo and Helix escape. Dr. Mindbender shows off some of his new armaments, but decides to not pursue the Joes; preferring to focus on re-animating Serpentor (again).
Over in Scotland, Cobra Commander forces Rory McCleod to lead the local cops on a high-speed chase. When the chase finally ends, the “cop” is actually a Crimson Guardsman who is there to get Cobra Commander back home in a Hurricane VTOL
Notes
- Step-up, this month, with almost on-stop action. I kinda’ feel like this could’ve been squeezed together with the last issue to help speed things up (and consolidate actual hard copy comics).
- Probably intentional, but there are distinct similarities in each scenario. The ruse is blown or discovered; a conflict occurs; someone takes over a vehicle from the chasers (Scorpion, Stinger, and Scottish Cop Car); then everyone appears to get away cleanly.
- Multo has a stolen energy sabre and uses it to fight off Dr. Mindbender. It seems to be a recurring trope in this series, over the past 4 or 5 years, that the bad guys have a new technological enhancement, but it’s almost immediately defeated by the good guys. This month it’s Mindbender’s upgrades, I’m thinking of all the enhanced BATs that seemed threatening, but were simply neutralized by various Joes in the past 20-30 issues.
- The Scorpion: here it’s clearly announced as such, but I feel like it may have appeared in the recent past, and I scored it as a simple “Cobra Jeep (not toys)”. Please lemme’ know.
- By my official scorecard, the Scorpion first/last appeared way back in issue 154.
- The letters page has an entry from the Talking Joe Podcast guy, Mark. He’s a “Friend of This Ol’ (crappy) Website” (FOTOCW), so here’s another plug and link for his podcast.
- Sorry, I’ve tried for years, but I just can’t listen to podcasts. I’ve tried with various subjects and methods. I personally have nothing against podcasts, and I’m sure they’re quality entertainment. I simply don’t have the time to listen; I prefer to read. I’ve been a guest on Talking Joe, as well as a few other comic-book related podcasts…yet I never have time to sit down and listen. In my home and at work, I need to have my hearing available at all times. Maybe if I had a long commute, I would listen to podcasts. Yet I haven’t had to commute since 2009.
Appearances
Characters (figures): Wet-Suit, Muskrat, Helix, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Jinx, Storm Shadow, Duke, Mainframe, Stalker, Cobra Commander, Dr. Mindbender, Serpentor (corpse)
Characters (comic-only): Dawn Moreno, Sean Collins/Throwdown, Monty, Rory McCleod, Multo, Black Hat
Vehicles (toys): Cobra Scorpion, Cobra HISS, Cobra Stinger, Cobra Hurricane VTOL (cameo)
Vehicles (comic-only): Scottish police car
Firsties: none
