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Beginnings...
Written by Larry Hama;
Summary by Russ Humphress |
Summary: In the basement of an army office building somewhere in the United States, Hawk is briefing Stalker, Snow Job, Outback and Quick Kick on a reporter named Devlin Winchell, who has been arrested on espionage charges in the People's Democratic Republic of Borovia. The Department of Defense is sending the four Joes in to rescue Winchell, posing as trade emissaries, however, the are being discharged from the service for the duration of the mission as a basis for denial.
The next day, in Denver at Fred's garage Billy has regained his memories
from before his accident. He explains to Fred VII, Raptor and Cobra
Commander, that he can remember everything except how to hate as much as
he did. As he tries to leave, Fred attempts to stop him at gunpoint,
but Billy just brushes Fred aside,
as well as Raptor. Cobra Commander also has Billy at gunpoint, but
lets him go after Billy's promise not to betray him, over Fred's strong
objections.
Later, in Krogdnsz, Borovia, Stalker is the last of the rescue team to arrive at the Hotel Grod, and meet with Spigou, their local contact. The five go over plans to the State Security Building where Devlin Winchell is being held, which Spigou likens to the FBI. Spigou has arranged for them to be on the garbage truck which goes to the building every night, and also has a trunk full of weapons.
Meanwhile in Denver, Billy returns to the blind Master's dojo, finding, not the Blind Master, but Jinx. Billy takes her up on her offer to walk down the path of the ninja, and confirms that she reports to the Joe team. He also reiterates to her that he won't betray his father.
Across the alley in Fred's garage, Cobra Commander has just informed Fred VII and Raptor that he is quitting Cobra. Taking off the suit of Battle Armor Fred constructed for him, he says he's going to start over, honestly this time, and try to win back at least some of Billy's respect. As he tries to walk out, Fred tells him that he owes him more than this for giving up his past, and shoots Cobra Commander through the back. With the smoking gun still in his hand, Fred VII picks up the Battle Armor helmet, and muses "Great thing about this armor...Could be anybody inside."
In Borovia, the rescue team begins their assault of the State Security
Building, capturing one guard and knocking two others unconscious. They
check the cells, only to find that all are empty. The guard confirms that
Devlin Winchell was released that morning, in a spy exchange arranged by
the State Department. The deal was apparently so ultra hush-hush that the
State Department didn't even tell the Department of defense, leaving the
Joes with no one to rescue. Just as the realization dawns on the team,
two State Security officers find the guard missing from his post, and sound
the alarm. The team fights their way out to where Spigou waits in the
get-away truck, but Quick-Kick and Snow Job are both seriously wounded.
Spigou drives through the city, attempting to elude the State Security
units, but the team is eventually trapped in a dead-end alley. The
Joes get out of the truck, and Spigou advises he'll try to buy them some
time. He throws the truck into full speed
reverse and heads toward the tank which is blocking the alley, but
with an order from the commanding officer the tank fires. Spigou muses
"Better this than the Gulag..." as the truck is consumed in the explosion.
Meanwhile, Stalker tells Outback that as mission leader, Stalker has to
stay with Snow Job and Quick Kick. He orders Outback to escape and evade,
and report back to Hawk on what happened. After the explosion the
State Security guards capture Stalker, Quick-Kick,
and Snow Job, and as Colonel Ratnikov kicks Stalker into unconsciousness,
we see that Outback is hiding beneath the manhole cover, and Stalker's
blood drips through onto his face.
Later, somewhere in the United States, several members of the Joe team watch the news report of their teammates' capture. The State Department of course denies any connection to the team's mission. As Hawk comes in, Rock 'N Roll asks when the rescue mission is scheduled. An obviously agitated Hawk informs the team that their is to be no rescue mission, and that anyone who attempts to defy the orders will also be written off.
To Be Continued... (in Special Missions #6)
Commentary: The Commander is Dead, Long Live the Commander! (Or should that be imposter?) This issue contains the start of a fairly major story arc, and the start of the first crossover with the Special Missions series, which is only just getting started (Special Missions 6 picks up immediately from this issue.) Fred VII is about to assume leadership of Cobra (leading in part to the Cobra Civil War) and Billy is starting on the next step of his road, which will eventually result in his being reunited with his mentor Storm Shadow. The primary thread of this issue though, is the failed attempt to rescue Devlin Winchell, which results in Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick-Kick being captured by the Borovians, and written off by the Department of Defense.
In retrospect, this issue doesn't seem as tense as I remember it, but
part of that is certainly knowing that it all does work out in the end.
That said, there's still plenty of action in this issue. Cobra's motto
is Greed, Ambition, and Ruthlessness, so it's not too surprising when one
of the Commander's Crimson Guards shoots him in the back, rather than letting
him abandon the organization to the wind. Also, for those of us who like
the ninja sub-plot, it's nice to see Billy back in the series.
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