G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero #79

“Dreadnoks RULE!”

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Marshall Rogers

Summary:

While Zandar and Zarana are busy conducting a real estate conference at hotel in New Jersey, the Dreadnoks cruise out to their old gas station hideout for some merriment. Coincidentally, a small team of Joes have been dispatched there for surveillance.

Junkyard tips off the Joes’ presence, so Buzzer takes off after him and slices the poor pooch. Cross-Country and the HAVOC take on the Thunder Machine– in a rematch from issue 51– and win this time. Thrasher, Monkeywrench and Buzzer are captured, while the other Dreadnoks bail. The Joes find Junkyard and it turns that he’ll be okay with some veterinary help.

Notes:

• The Joes drive their HAVOC down the NJ Turnpike, in broad daylight, getting stuck in traffic.
• At a scene at the Cobra Consulate Building, a Tele-Viper dives to avoid the Dreadnoks and discovers the bug the Joes had planted in Special Missions #7.
• The Joes who were listening to the bug were stationed in the sewers, below a newstand run by an old war vet they called “Sergeant”.
• Just like issue 32 and 35, the Dreadnoks pass an army convoy and decide to attack it. They manage to steal a wire-guided rocket launcher, too.
• Zanzibar is back with the Dreadnoks. He hadn’t been seen since his first appearance in issue 62.
• Zarana and Zandar’s conference is advertised on the hotel’s marquee as: “How to become filthy rich from real estate without having any capital or even moderate intelligence! 8:00pm tonight” Hmmm..Cobra’s starting a real estate scam? Damn, they are frickin’ EVIL!
• As the Zartan family and the Dreadnoks arrive at the Consulate, it’s announced that Zartan is now in charge of the Consulate, while Zandar and Zarana are in charge of the new real estate scam.
• The Dreadnoks make SEVERAL references to Grape Soda and Jelly Doughnuts in this issue. About once every other page.
• Here’s some weird trivia: this issue has one of the few covers in the entire series with a word balloon on it. Funny, since it’s Junkyard saying “Arf?”

Appearances:

Characters (figures):Cross-Country, Mutt, Junkyard, Law & Order, Dial-Tone, Cover Girl, Mainframe, Zartan, Zandar, Zarana, Torch, Ripper, Buzzer, Monkeywrench, Thrasher, Zanzibar

Characters (“comic-only”): “Sergeant”

Vehicles and stuff (toys): HAVOC, Cobra Ferett, Dreadnok Thunder Machine, Dreadnok Cycle, Zanzibar’s air skiff

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): Zartan’s helicopter (ZTN-456)

Firsties:
Characters: “Sergeant”

Vehicles and stuff: none

Rating: 2 Flag Points