Micro-Reviews: G. I. JOE, Vol. 3, Part Three

G. I. JOE #28 (October 1983) The cover has that toy commercial vibe. #GIJoe#LarryHama

My record for predicting which of these issues were commercials is pretty darn good, I'd say.

New vehicles, action on almost every page, robot armies popping up out of nowhere. Very much an animated toy commercial as a comic. 


Marie Severin appears as guest penciler. Very clean, very on-model. Wish she’d done more issues.

Hama adds some personality, with two small town sheriffs chasing the Joes through the Florida swamps. No Burt Reynolds jokes, though.

G. I. JOE #29 (November 1983) Michael Golden! #GIJoe #LarryHama#MichaelGolden

Springer/Mushynsky return as the art team. Even cleaner and more on-model than their last issue. First read this issue in a digest reprint.

For the kids acutely concerned with flotation skirt repair.

Significant two pages. First hints of just how large Cobra’s operation is. First indication from Hama of just how much the Commander adores public adulation

Introduction of Cobra schemes involving mundane plots (we later learn it was funded this way, with pyramid schemes.) One of the few times the book truly turns “political”(yet not strictly right or left wing; defense spending is exalted even as Reagan’s view of economics is mocked). Also, the intro of the Crimson Guardsmen! (Called “Smith” and not Fred here.)

Billy returns, still not looking like Billy. And what’s this about the Commander and his father?

Only way to massage this into continuity is a STAR WARS-level level of forgiveness. Just as Anakin and Darth Vader are separate people from “a certain point of view,” we have Billy’s Dad and the Commander. Which is silly, to think Billy would be so poetic and non-literal in his private thoughts, but what can you do?

G. I. JOE #30 (December 1983) The first time we see the Dreadnoks really do anything. #GIJoe #LarryHama

The Dreadnoks signify Hama’s Carl Barks influence creeping in. He says they’re inspired by the Bugle Boys. Initially, Hasbro wanted the Dreadnoks to be evil teddy bears. (Maybe as a GREMLINS riff?) Hama balked, proposed making them bikers instead. Buzz Dixon says they were inspired by bad experiences Hama had with Australians when serving in Vietnam, but I’ve never heard him comment on this. 

By the way, I think one of the Sunbow miniseries feature what could’ve been the original Dreadnok concept. Remember the fuzzy creatures who transformed into horned monsters?

The Dreadnoks don’t know about Zartan’s holographic talents? Hm? Also, first chocolate covered donuts and grape soda reference!

First time Billy looks like Billy. And I always enjoyed the Baroness/Bludd/Billy pairing.

This ends the third trade volume. Marvel closes it by printing the missing page 18 from issue #20. “Hot Potato” remains missing.