G.I. Joe Special Missions #24

Special Missions #24: “Ladies’ Day”

Writer: Herb Trimpe
Penciler: Dave Cockrum

Summary

At Flushing Stadium, during an exhibition between the “New York Mites” and the “New York Dandees”, Cobra attempts to kidnap the President. Luckily, the Joe women were all disguised as cheerleaders and save the day by punching out all the Cobras in their escape blimp. As bad as it sounds.

Notes:

• Cheerleaders…at a baseball game?
• This is, arguably, THE worst GI Joe comic ever published. It reads like some of the cheesy mini-comics that came with various toys in the 80’s and 90’s (like the type you’d find with He-Man figures).
• Poor Trimpe. He’d been involved with the series since its inception, but seemed to learn absolutely NOTHING from working with Larry Hama. Bad story, bad dialogue, even bad art… avoid this issue at all costs.
• The dialogue is attrocius, too. Jinx yells “ah, ah, ah! Don’t touch that dial” as she prevents a Viper from pressing a console button.
• Features the debut of Cobra’s Crystal Ball– a weird hypnotist character who was supposedly designed by Stephen King’s son. He even uses the big flashy “hypno-shield” that his figure came with. He’d sit in “Joe Limbo” until Hama dusted him off, circa issue 165 and 2013.
• Fred VII is leading what I’d call the “League of Cobra Losers”. His crew includes Crystal Ball, Raptor, Zarana and Firefly. Firefly was usually cool, but he throws EXPLODING HOT DOGS in this story.
• Again, it seems a little weird that the Joes would be making such a high-profile public appearance.
• Some of the Mites players: Seth Kernandez, Wooky Milston and Darren Blueberry. Gee…subtle! The Mites are also the “World Champions”…despite this book being published well over two years after the Mets had won the 1986 Series.
• Several characters are mis-named in the story, as well. It appears Trimpe couldn’t tell the difference between Lady Jaye and Cover Girl at times, plus Cutter suddenly appears and is addressed as “Heavy Metal”.
• The Joes are also shown using a Cobra Stinger. True, the Stinger had some resemblance to the VAMP, but it’s colored in Cobra blue and has the distinctive missile rack of the Stinger.
• Zap is included, as he mentions it’s “great to be back in action”.

Appearances:

Characters (figures): Hawk, Scarlett, Lady Jaye, Cover Girl, Jinx, Lt. Falcon, Zap, Heavy Metal (Cutter), Tunnel Rat, Hardball, Doc, Zarana, Raptor, Firefly, Crystal Ball

Characters (“comic-only”): Fred VII, “the President”

Vehicles and stuff (toys): all cameos– Mean Dog, AWE Striker, “Stinger”, Mauler MBT, Tomahawk, Dragonfly

Vehicles and stuff (not toys): Cobra’s blimp

Firsties:
Characters: Crystal Ball

Vehicles: none

Rating: Rating: 1 Flag Point