Celebration!

Cover Date: March, 1985

Script: Larry Hama

Pencils: Frank Springer

Inks: Andy Mushynsky

Lettering: Rick Parker

Colors: George Roussos

Editor: Denny O'Neil

Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

In Springfield, Major Bludd and the Baroness supply Billy with the gun he is to shoot Cobra Commander with. He's wearing a "junior Cobra" uniform and will carry the gun in a bouquet of flowers to give Cobra Commander at the Cobra rally. The Baroness leaves and runs into Destro, who questions her dealings with Bludd. Destro tells her they used to have a trust between them. "When have you ever demonstrated your trust in me?" she asks. Destro reaches up and removes his metal mask and the Baroness faints.

Back at the mall, Spirit stops Fred II, trying to bring him with him to answer some questions. Fred's wife and kids attack Spirit, knocking him to the ground. The other Joes arrive to help Spirit. "We gotta stop him," shouts Spirit.

At the Pit, some Joes are in the mess hall kitchen. Roadblock is coaching Gung-Ho on preparing the canapes for the ceremony. Gung-Ho wishes Wild Bill, Cutter and Deep Six would help, Wild Bill says they're the decorating committee. Clutch, Breaker and Cover Girl arrive. Clutch is trying to convince Cover Girl to allow him to manage her and Scarlett as a mud wrestling team. She's obviously disgusted. Gung-Ho asks where the decorations are. She says Blowtorch and Ripcord are getting them at the mall. At that very moment, Ripcord, Blowtorch and Spirit are pursuing the Broca family into the parking lot. As the Brocas drive off, Fred's wife tosses a grenade at the parked Vamp, blowing it up. A van marked "Bongo the Balloon Bear" pulls up to help. Inside is a person in a bear suit, obviously on the way to a party. The three Joes get in the van, telling "Bongo" to follow Fred's car.

Back in Springfield, preparations are underway in the stadium where the rally will be held. Storm Shadow tells the Commander about all the special security equipment installed to unsure his safety. The Commander is pleased that Storm Shadow is so concerned for him. The ninja says he's concerned for his afety as long as he's convinced the Commander knows who killed his uncle. Up in the bleachers, the Baroness and Destro are discussing the assassination plans. Destro doesn't like their use of a child as the assassin, but the Baroness says it's too late to stop now, especially when Major Bludd is so intent on killing the Commander.

On Staten Island, the Joes in the van are in the middle of a frantic car chase, trying to catch up with Fred II's car. Eventually, Ripcord climbs out of the van and jumps atop the Broca' car. Fred II hits the breaks, but Ripcord stops his fall by grabbing on to the front of the car. Spirit hangs out of the van's window and grabs Ripcord just before Fred's wife shoots him. The chase continues, but "Bongo" gets out of the van asking the Joes to bring it back in one piece.

In Springfield, the rally is underway. The Commander is making his speech, telling those assembled that Cobra will take over the world legally with Crimson Guard lawyers, bankers and business leaders. Destro is looking through binoculars as the Cobra Youth Brigades approach, with Billy at the front of the line. Destro somehow recignizes the boy as Billy and races to the stage. As Billy approaches, someone sees Billy raise the gun. Storm Shadow is about to cut down the boy win Destro intervenes. "No!" he shouts, "I won't let this happen!" Destro tells the Commander to take a good look at Billy. Destro says he will not allow patricide. The Commander recognizes Billy. He's his son.

On Staten Island, Spirit and the others have lost Fred II's car. They won't be able to find him on their own with one vehicle.

At the Pit, the celebration begins and General Austin is about to start his speech when the vehicle lift comes down, carrying "Bongo's" van and the three missing Joes. They open the back of the van, letting dozens of balloons spill out. Austin gives up on his speech, happily tossing into the air as confetti. "Ahhh, it was a boring speech anyway!"

The Joes adjourn to the mess hall for refreshments. Austin says he has an important announcement. Breaker, Zap, Grunt, Short Fuse, Stalker, Flash, Scarlett and Rock 'n' Roll are all being promoted one pay grade and getting a presidential unit citation, classified of course. Scarlett notices Snake-Eyes is the only original Joe not mentioned. Austin explains that Snake-Eyes will remain operational while the other original Joes have been taken off duty and will serve as the administration arm of the new Pit. The Joes aren't too pleased to be taken out of the field. Hawk is now full commander of the team as well as commanding officer of the Pit. Hawk then gives Duke field command of the team.

Outside Fort Wadsworth's main gate, the Brocas return home, glad to have lost the Joes. Ripcord brings back "Bongo's" van and finds out it was a woman underneath all along. He makes a joke as she gets in the van, then asks her:

Commentary: This issue is a kind of uneven one. The events on the Cobra side of things are much more important and compelling than the Joes' adventures. Most of the Joes' activities are made to be humorous with the toughest guys in the unit making party food with the others are supposed to decorate. An injured Spirit gets knocked to the ground by Fred's wife's pocketbook, which is full of hand grenades and other weapons. After that, they chase down the Broca family in a balloon van along with a lady in a bear suit. So, it goes with out saying that that plot is rather silly. As for the Joes' promotion, it's probably just Larry Hama's way of putting aside some of the Joes so he can dedicate his writing to the growing number of characters. It also has Hawk give Duke field command of the team. Hama said in a recent interview in ToyFare magazine that he wasn't sure what to do with Hawk and Duke in the comic. He decides to take Hawk off duty rather than try to have two leaders of the team. Duke had already appeared as the team's leader in the cartoon, anyway. The other Joes promotions really have little repercussions. Despite them being upset over it, that plotline seems to be dropped later on, and most of the original Joes appear infrequently. This seems to be the case for a few issues, but by #39, Stalker is leading a team of Joes. The others will periodically go on missions with little or no mention of their desk jobs.

On the Cobra side of things, the events are much more serious and will have repercussions for the rest of the series. The Commander's assassination is stopped and we learn that Billy is Cobra Commander's son. It seems that Billy has blocked out his father's identity. More surprising is the fact that Destro knows who Billy is. This indicates that he and Cobra Commander knew each other in the past, before Destro appeared in the comic. It was apparently at the very founding of the organization, since the Baroness didn't even know. Disappointingly, this is not expanded on later in the series. That said, the uncovering Billy's identity has major ramifications on later storylines, as Billy will become the most used recurring non-toy character in the series. The effect on Storm Shadow will be seen in issue #38. It should also be mentioned that Destro's convoluted sense of honor surfaces again, as he will not allow a child to become a murderer.

First Appearances:

• Recurring characters: Candy (Bongo the Balloon Bear)

• Action Force #25 - #27 (August 22nd - September 25th, 1987). A Marvel UK series featuring the UK's version of G.I. Joe reprints this story in three parts, alongside an original story. All references to "G.I. Joe" were changed to "Action Force".
  
• G.I. JOE Comics Magazine #12 (October 1988). Digest format from Marvel Comics. Includes issues #32 and #34.
• G.I. JOE: Volume 4 (2002). A trade paperback collection from Marvel. Includes issues #31-41.
• G.I. JOE: The Best of Destro (June 2009). A trade paperback collection from IDW, including reprints of various issues.
• Classic G.I. JOE: Volume 4 (July 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 #31-41.
  
  
  
  
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