Zartan!
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Cover Date:
July, 1984
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Script: Larry Hama
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Pencils: Frank Springer
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Inks: Mike Gustovich
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Lettering: Rick
Parker
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Colors: George
Roussos
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Editor: Denny O'Neil
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Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter
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Summary (by
Henry
Dera):
The issue starts with Short Fuse and Roadblock in San Franciso on a
Coast Guard boat heading for Alcatraz. The Joes are using Alcatraz as a
stockade, and their first prisoner is Storm Shadow. Storm Shadow
promises to Roadblock that he will not be staying long.
Baroness and Destro accompany Cobra Commander on the Swamp Cruiser to
meet with Zartan. At the same time, Duke acting on a hunch sends a
recon team to the Zartan's cabin, because Storm Shadow had sent a
package there of great importance. The recon team is made up of Wild
Bill and Zap as the pilots of the two helicopters. Airborne will be
acting as Wild Bill's gunner, and Torpedo and Tripwire will ride along
Wild Bill's skids. Zap will have Rock & Roll as a gunner and Mutt
and Junkyard riding on his skids.
We are introduced to Cutter who used to be a Coast Guardsman, and Deep
Six who is the best diver and deep water man the Navy has. Allthough
Deep-Six has a very sluggish and "out of it" mood, he does get the job
done.
In the previous issue Gung-Ho was badly hurt by Storm Shadow. Snake
Eyes visits Gung-Ho in the Naval Hospital and at that time Gung-Ho
notices the tattoo on Snake Eyes' arm and says that Storm Shadow has
the same tatoo. Snake Eyes immediately dissappears.
The Recon team is dropped off, and being their mission. As the
helicopters are leaving they encounter resistance. Firefly and Wild
Weasel in the Swamp Cruiser attack the helicopters and puncture Wild
Bill's helicopter inabling him to fly properly. At the same time Deep
Six in his SHARC comes to the rescue and blows up the Swamp Cruiser,
saving Wild Bill. The recon team then captures Firefly and Wild Weasel.
At this time the Joes at Alcatraz are ordered by Hawk to check on Storm
Shadow. As Duke opens the cell door, he notices that Storm Shadow is
missing.
After helping capture Firefly and Wild Weasel, Junkyard runs towards
Zartan's cabin. Zartan answers the door and points his gun at the dog.
Saying that he will put it out of its misery.
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Commentary:
All in all an excellent issue. The pace is
flawless,
cutting from scene to scene always maintaining suspense and leading to
the climatic ending. Only flaw I can think of, and it is a minor one is
that, when Firefly and Wild Weasel are in the Swamp Cruiser, when they
first show them, Wild Weasel is in the turret, then next frame Firefly
is in the turret.
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First Appearances:
- G.I. Joe team:
Cutter,
Deep
Six, Mutt and Junkyard
- Cobra: Dreadnoks (Buzzer, Ripper and Torch;
unnamed)
- G.I. Joe vehicles:
S.H.A.R.C.
flying
submarine, the freighter Jane
- Cobra vehicles: Zartan's Chameleon swamp skier
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Reprinted
in:
- Action Force #9 & #10 (May 2nd
& 9th, 1987). A Marvel UK series featuring the UK's version of G.I.
Joe reprints this story in two parts, alongside an original story. All
references to "G.I. Joe" were changed to "Action Force".
- G.I. JOE Comics
Magazine #9 (April 1988). Digest format from Marvel Comics. Includes issues #23
and #24.
- G.I. JOE: Volume 3 (August 2002). A trade paperback collection from
Marvel. Includes issues #21-30.
- A version of
the
issue was released by Hasbro
in 2008, packaged with comic-based action figures of Deep Six
and Rock
& Roll as seen in
the issue. All references to Marvel Comics were removed. It features a
new painted
cover, based on the original.
- Classic G.I. JOE:
Volume 3
(May 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
#21-30.
- G.I. JOE: Best Worst of Storm Shadow (July
2009). Part of a series of reprints from IDW. Also includes issues #24, 38, 39, 42, 43.
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