G.I. JOE #16
Night Attack

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

Summary (by Eugene Son):  The story begins with the Joes on the armor range - Rock & Roll, Clutch, Scarlett, Wild Bill, and Airborne are manning the RAM, VAMP, MOBAT, and Dragonfly, taking out a series of target pill-boxes and HISS tanks. Hawk, concerned about upgrading the Joe team's armor defeating capabilities, orders into action the Wolverine - the new G.I.Joe missle tank. Hawk introduces Cover Girl - the Wolverine driver - to Scarlett, Clutch, and Rock N Roll. They're introduced to Tripwire, the new explosive ordnance specialist, who promptly trips over his own mine detector. The introductions are cut short as Breaker announces that headquarters has discovered where Cobra is to strike next.

Elsewhere, inside an ARBCO eighteen-wheeler truck, Cobra Commander introduces the newest member of Cobra, Major Bludd. The twisted loyalties of Cobra thicken as Major Bludd has allied himself with Cobra Commander against Destro. At G.I.Joe Headquarters, even though Cobra has threatened to attack the capitol building, Hawk believes that the evidence from the Cobra Lab in Vermont (issue #14) suggests that Cobra intends to poison American money at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving.

Hawk is right. At the capitol building, Cobra sends radio control planes and toys to divert the soldiers protecting the Capitol. At the Treasury building, Dr Venom and Scarface lead the attack inside the building. But three Joes, Gung-Ho, Tripwire, and Torpedo are there and a gunfight erupts. Dr Venom plans to explode the toxin over the presses and also knocks out Scarface - revenge for Scarface firing the missle that blew up the bunker (in issue #12). Zap disables the Cobra command truck with an anti-tank missle. Cobra Commander mans a HISS Tank, with Destro Bludd as his gunner. Baroness drives the other tank, with Major Bludd as the gunner. In the two tanks, they capture the three Joes inside the Treasury and take back the toxin, which has been disarmed by the Joes.

Once outside, Cover Girl and the Wolverine tank jump into action. They get air support from Wild Bill and Airborne in the Dragonfly. As the fight heats up, Cobra Commander gives Major Bludd the order to terminate Destro. Baroness, realizing what Major Bludd is about to do, crashes the HISS tank. Major Bludd runs, leaving the Baroness trapped in the HISS tank as it explodes.

The Wolverine is knocked out, as Cobra Commander and Destro escape on the HISS tank. They stop to pick up Dr Venom, who drives as Cobra Commander takes the gun turret. Destro is stricken with grief as he watches the Baroness' tank burn. Clutch, Hawk, and Scarlett arrive on the scene, just in time to chase the last HISS Tank. Hawk jumps on the moving HISS tank, and proceeds to pummel Cobra Commander - until Destro pulls himself together and goes toe to toe with Hawk on the back of the HISS Tank. Cobra Commander pulls out his gun, but is unsure which one of the two to shoot.

Cobra Commander empties three bullets into Hawk's back, who falls to the ground. Clutch and Scarlett pull up to attend to him - he doesn't look good. Meanwhile, Scarface is sneaking out of town on a bus - swearing revenge on Dr. Venom.

Commentary: G.I.Joe #16 "Night Attacks" continues the great continuing story arc of Dr. Venom and introducing the second series of characters (1983). At the same time, it begins two long-running, recursive story arcs.

Firstly, there is the continuing story of Scarface and Dr Venom's toxin, which began back in Issue #12. Issue #16 is the culmination of Cobra's plans for the toxin - to poison America's money at the source. This story arc continues and doesn't conclude until issue #19. Next, there is the introduction of some classic 1983 characters and vehicles - such as the Wolverine missle tank. Cover Girl and Tripwire make their first appearances. The apparent death of the Baroness is a classic story arc that begins in issue #16. Her recovery puts her out of action until #23. It also marks the beginning of her relationship with Major Bludd - a relationship that causes some major revelations in the future of the comic book. Lastly, issue #16 is the another early occurance of the continuing life-and-death rivalry between Destro and Cobra Commander. Their rivalry would continue off and on for the next ten years.

Another action-intense story - issue #16 introduced new heroes, a new vehicle, an all-out battle in the streets of Washington DC, and a cliffhanger of an ending. As always, there's some great Larry Hama humor : some dialogue based (Airborne's reaction to Wild Bill referencing the "cavalry to the rescue") and some visually based (where Baroness's body lands in relation to her glasses).

First Appearances:

  • G.I. Joe team: Cover Girl, Tripwire
  • G.I. Joe vehicles: Wolverine missile tank
Reprinted in:
  • G.I. JOE Comics Magazine #6 (October 1987). Digest format from Marvel Comics. Includes issues #15 and #17.
  • G.I. JOE: Volume 2 (June 2002). A trade paperback collection from Marvel. Includes issues #11-20.
  • 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 Cobra Commander (May 2009). Part of a series of reprints from IDW. Also includes issues #1, 5, 38, 55 and 61.
  • G.I. JOE: Best of Hawk (June 2009). Part of a series of reprints from IDW. Also includes issues #4, 45, 47, 70 and 74.