G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero – Roadblock #1
Writer and Pencils: Andrew Krahnke
Summary:
In cold weather conditions, Lady Jaye has been taken prisoner by Cobra and is being transported in an armored convoy. Roadblock uses a Polar Battle Bear, lots of ammo and some good ol’ fashioned brute strength to rescue Lady Jaye and fight off the Cobras. The Cobras mange to get a distress call to their bases, and Wild Weasel answers the call in his Rattler. Roadblock is able to gun down the Rattler and, with Lady Jaye’s help, is able to pummel and capture him.
The Joes make a campfire, Roadblock cooks and meal, and Wild Bill arrives to extract them, with their prisoner.
Notes:
- In the back-up “sketchbook” pages, it appears that this story may have been named “Heatseeker”. Yet G.I. Joe comics haven’t had single-issue story titles since the relaunch.
- Roadblock and Lady Jaye use what can mostly be described as a “pro wrestling tag team finisher” to knock out Wild Weasel. Roadblock lifts him up on his shoulders and Lady Jaye delivers a flying kick. Think Road Warriors or Steiner Brothers. Roadblock also slams around the Cobras and rips off a steel door like he’s the FF’s Thing.
- Very straight forward story, but it seems like it didn’t really fit with the “Silent Missions” theme and could’ve benefitted from two issues. What’s the mission the Joes were on? Where are we; aside from “in the snow”? Why/how does Cobra have a nifty mountainside base? Since they have a base, why didn’t they follow up after the Rattler had been shot down? Yes, everything doesn’t have to be explained, but it’s mostly just picking some random toys and figures from the shelf and making a little battle scenario with them.
- You might also roll your eyes at the inclusion of the Rattler to quell a ground-bases assault. Yet the Rattler was originally known as a “Tank Smasher” plane, so it’s okay.
- Roadblock gunning down the Rattler might be a callback to issue 22. You figure Roadblock might now be Wild Weasel’s arch nemesis.
- Roadblock in cold weather is fine, but traditionally “cold weather conditions” stories usually involve one of the many G.I. Joe “Artic Troopers”. Like Snow Job, Iceberg, Blizzard, Sub-Zero, etc. Well, at least the Cobra side is all-in with their cold weather guys: Snow Serpents, Ice Vipers, Ice Sabres, Wolf, etc.
- Along those lines, this might be the first significant “screen time” for an Ice Viper (Cobra Wolf driver). I think they’ve been shown in the background, before, but here we see several close-ups and action scenes with one.
- And hey, when was the last time the Polar Battle Bear got some screentime? Way back in issue 11?!
- Rock and Roll makes a cameo, in his “V2” or 1989 gear. I note that because he’s usually depicted in his original “V1” gear (or something similar).
Appearances:
Characters (figures): Roadblock, Lady Jaye, Wild Bill (cameo), Tunnel Rat (cameo), Rock and Roll (cameo), Wild Weasel
Characters (comic-only): none
Vehicles and stuff (toys): Polar Battle Bear, Tomahawk, Cobra Wolf, Cobra Ice Sabre, Cobra Rattler
Vehicles and stuff (comic only): Cobra prisoner/troop unit (towable)
Firsties: Cobra prisoner/troop unit
