"The Pipeline Ploy!"
Credits: Larry Hama (writer), Mike Vosburg (artist), Jon D'Agostino (inker), Rick Parker (letterer), Christie Scheele (colorist), Denny O'Neil (editor)
Feature Characters: Airborne (Franklin E. Talltree, first appearance, appears next in G.I. Joe #16), Breaker, Doc (Dr. Carl Greer, first appearance, full name given in G.I. Joe Yearbook #1, appears next in G.I. Joe #13), Grand Slam (last seen in G.I. Joe #8, appears next in G.I. Joe #17), Gung Ho (Etienne R. LaFitte, first appearance, full name given in G.I. Joe Yearbook #1), Hawk, Rock 'N Roll (appears next in G.I. Joe #13), Scarlett, Short-Fuze (appears next in G.I. Joe #17), Snake Eyes, Snow Job (Harlan W. Moore, first appearance, full name given in G.I. Joe Yearbook #1, appears next in G.I. Joe #19), Steeler (last seen in G.I. Joe #8, appears next in G.I. Joe #16), Wild Bill (William S. Hardy, first appearance, full name given in G.I. Joe Yearbook #1, appears next in G.I. Joe #14), Zap (appears next in G.I. Joe #14)
Supporting Characters: General Flagg (last appearance behind the scenes in G.I. Joe #6)
Villains: Baroness, Cobra Commander, Cobra troops, Destro (James McCullen Destro XXIV; first appearance; full name revealed in G.I. Joe #96, known only as "The Specialist" and face obscured in this story; appears next in G.I. Joe #13)
Story: Investigating reports of Cobra activity along the Alaskan oil pipeline, the G.I. Joe team discovers Cobra's plan to introduce a plague toxin into the Alaskan oil supply. The plague is revealed as a diversion for Cobra to steal plutonium from a nearby nuclear power plant.
Review: The first story to introduce Hasbro's new toys for the year oddly flows a lot better than it should. Also odd is that the introduction of new characters and equipment doesn't feel too forced. The sole exception in my opinion was the brief aerial battle using hang-gliders. I know the Airborne character needed something to do, but it felt like Larry Hama was merely shutting up a Hasbro executive by including the gliders so he'd never have to use them again (and he didn't).
The new characters are actually interesting. Snow Job's little con game with Rock 'N Roll about setting up a date with Gung Ho's sister was amusing, as was Gung Ho's reaction. Doc is a neat character and a little devious. His end run around the Geneva Convention was inspired as was deceiving the Cobra troops with a tetanus booster (instead of the plague vaccine) to exchange for the plutonium.
"The Specialist" working for Cobra is, of course, Destro. According to Cobra Commander, Destro was to be his field commander but this role wouldn't stick for very long as the political intrigue within the Cobra organization dictated Destro taking a bigger role. A key part of this intrigue is the Baroness, whom we learn, in this issue, already had a prior relationship with Destro. The groundwork is being laid for Hama's intricate plot weaving that will last for years to come.
Credits: Larry Hama (writer), Mike Vosburg (artist), Jon D'Agostino (inker), Rick Parker (letterer), Christie Scheele (colorist), Denny O'Neil (editor)
Feature Characters: Airborne (Franklin E. Talltree, first appearance, appears next in G.I. Joe #16), Breaker, Doc (Dr. Carl Greer, first appearance, full name given in G.I. Joe Yearbook #1, appears next in G.I. Joe #13), Grand Slam (last seen in G.I. Joe #8, appears next in G.I. Joe #17), Gung Ho (Etienne R. LaFitte, first appearance, full name given in G.I. Joe Yearbook #1), Hawk, Rock 'N Roll (appears next in G.I. Joe #13), Scarlett, Short-Fuze (appears next in G.I. Joe #17), Snake Eyes, Snow Job (Harlan W. Moore, first appearance, full name given in G.I. Joe Yearbook #1, appears next in G.I. Joe #19), Steeler (last seen in G.I. Joe #8, appears next in G.I. Joe #16), Wild Bill (William S. Hardy, first appearance, full name given in G.I. Joe Yearbook #1, appears next in G.I. Joe #14), Zap (appears next in G.I. Joe #14)
Supporting Characters: General Flagg (last appearance behind the scenes in G.I. Joe #6)
Villains: Baroness, Cobra Commander, Cobra troops, Destro (James McCullen Destro XXIV; first appearance; full name revealed in G.I. Joe #96, known only as "The Specialist" and face obscured in this story; appears next in G.I. Joe #13)
Story: Investigating reports of Cobra activity along the Alaskan oil pipeline, the G.I. Joe team discovers Cobra's plan to introduce a plague toxin into the Alaskan oil supply. The plague is revealed as a diversion for Cobra to steal plutonium from a nearby nuclear power plant.
Review: The first story to introduce Hasbro's new toys for the year oddly flows a lot better than it should. Also odd is that the introduction of new characters and equipment doesn't feel too forced. The sole exception in my opinion was the brief aerial battle using hang-gliders. I know the Airborne character needed something to do, but it felt like Larry Hama was merely shutting up a Hasbro executive by including the gliders so he'd never have to use them again (and he didn't).
The new characters are actually interesting. Snow Job's little con game with Rock 'N Roll about setting up a date with Gung Ho's sister was amusing, as was Gung Ho's reaction. Doc is a neat character and a little devious. His end run around the Geneva Convention was inspired as was deceiving the Cobra troops with a tetanus booster (instead of the plague vaccine) to exchange for the plutonium.
"The Specialist" working for Cobra is, of course, Destro. According to Cobra Commander, Destro was to be his field commander but this role wouldn't stick for very long as the political intrigue within the Cobra organization dictated Destro taking a bigger role. A key part of this intrigue is the Baroness, whom we learn, in this issue, already had a prior relationship with Destro. The groundwork is being laid for Hama's intricate plot weaving that will last for years to come.
1 comment:
(1) I subscribe to this blog through bloglines, and it delivered your last five reviews all at once. Weird.
(2) I am a child raised on the GI Joe cartoon, and I can't make myself picture Destro talking with a Scottish accent like a character in Trainspotting. He didn't talk like that in the cartoon!
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