G.I. JOE #14
Destro Attacks

Cover Date: August, 1983
Scripter: Larry Hama
Penciler: Mike Vosburg
Inker: Jon D'Agostino
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Christie Scheele
Editor: Denny O'Neil
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Summary (by Darren M. Reid):  The issue begins with the revelation that Kwinn, Venom and Snake-Eyes survived the bombing in issue 12 and have sunk to the bottom of the river in the cobra bunker. Venom reveals that the vial carried by Scar-face does not contain the plague toxin. Meanwhile at G.I. Joe HQ, the micro-dot found at the cobra research station in Sierra Gordo has been decoded. It is a map of part of Vermont showing a town called Springfield.

In Cobra HQ, Destro questions Scar-face to confirm that Scar-face switched the micro-dot that Cobra Commander ordered the Baroness to deliver with one of Destro's design. With the past references to Springfield in cobra activities, the Joes mount up and and head out for an attack on the town. Back at Cobra HQ, Cobra Commander is taking a rocket to Springfield where he will test the toxin on a willing cobra subject. When Scar-Face reveals to Destro that the Baroness is piloting the rocket, Destro quickly prepares a squad of cobra troopers to fly to Springfield as a defence to the Joe attack. Meanwhile, in the Cobra bunker. Kwinn uses all his strength to open the door so that the three can escape but Venom cracks him across the head with a wrench. When Snake-Eyes and Venom surface, the cobra troopers who had rescued the joes from mercernaries capture both of them. They intend to kill Venom and Snake-Eyes to get back in the good with Cobra Commander.

In Springfield after the rocket has landed, Cobra Commander and the Baroness test the toxin. Cobra Commander reveals his plot to have the test subject captured and deep within G.I. Joe HQ where he will act as a biological timebomb killing everyone he comes in contact with. But when the toxin is injected into the volunteer it promptly kills him, showing Venom's double cross. The Joes arrive in Springfield but are ambushed by Destro and his squad of troopers. Destro holds off the Joes just long enough for Cobra Commander and the Baroness to escape in the rocket.

Commentary: Another fabulous issue. Larry Hama rocks. This issue is full of double crosses. Cobra Commander orders Venom killed after he gets his toxin, Venom gave Cobra Commander a fake toxin and Destro reveals the location of Springfield to the Joes so that Cobra Commander will be killed in a Joe attack. No wonder Cobra never gets ahead.

This issue also shows Destro's head for the first time. For some reason in issue 11 and 13, Destro's head was always in the shadows. It is shown for the first time here during an emotional scene between Destro and the Baroness. It's a strong scene showing romance between the villains and how the Baroness is torn between loyalties to Cobra Commander and Destro. Of course later in the series, the Baroness will have almost no loyalites at all. Scar-face's role is also expanded in this issue. He reports to Destro and is actually a conspirator against Cobra Commander, although he doesn't really know to what extent. There is also a hint that Destro knows a little dark secret from Scar-face's past that he is using to black mail Scar-face with.

Destro is really shown to be a man of action in this issue. When he learns that the Baroness is in Springfield, he quickly assembles a rescue team which he leads himself. He double times the team over rough terrain and has Scar-face shoot anyone who lags behind.

All in all an excellent issue. The pace is flawless, cutting from scene to scene always maintaining suspense and leading to the climatic ending. The only flaw I can think of is... well a big one. If G.I. Joe knows the location of Springfield in this issue, why do they forget about it until it is revealed again some thirty issues later?

First Appearances:

  • G.I. Joe team: Ace
  • Cobra: Destro (now named and seen fully)
  • G.I. Joe vehicles: APC (Amphibious Personnel Carrier), Skystriker
Reprinted in:
  • G.I. JOE Comics Magazine #5 (August 1987). Digest format from Marvel Comics. Includes issues #12 and #13.
  • Tales of G.I. Joe #14 (February 1989). Reprint series from Marvel.
  • G.I. JOE: Volume 2 (June 2002). A trade paperback collection from Marvel. Includes issues #11-20.
  • A version of the issue was released by Hasbro in 2008, packaged with comic-based action figures of Destro and Breaker. All references to Marvel Comics were removed. It features a new painted cover, based on the original.
  • Classic G.I. JOE: Volume 2 (March 2009). A trade paperback collection from IDW Publishing. Aside from some slight changes made to the cover, this is a reprint of the earlier Marvel collection. Includes issues #11-20.
  • G.I. JOE: Best Worst of Destro (June 2009). Part of a series of reprints from IDW. Also includes issues #11, 33, 57, 78, 87.
  • G.I. JOE: Best Worst of Baroness (January 2010). Part of a series of reprints from IDW. Also includes issues #1, 13, 15, 34 and 47.