Notes of Interest

First mention of Professor Onihashi and his Assistant.
Outback's escape from Borovia is in Special Missions #6.
The Joes are working on The Pit III in Utah.
Billy begins his ninja training again, this time with Jinx.

The first appearance of the famous Arashikage family photo, which includes the Hard Master, Soft Master, Storm Shadow, Snake-Eyes, Jinx, Blind Master, Professor Onihashi, Onihashi's Assistant. Jinx is Storm Shadow's 2nd cousin.

Major Players

The Joes: Stalker, Outback, Snow Job, Quick Kick + Jinx
Additional Joe Characters: Beach Head, Gung-Ho, Leatherneck, Lift Ticket, Mutt & Junkyard, Recondo, Roadblock, Spirit, Tollbooth & Retired Joe Grunt

Cobra: Fred VII, Raptor

Additional Characters: Billy, Blind Master

Creative Team

Script: Larry Hama,
Pencils: William Johnson & Arvell Jones,
Inks: Andy Mushinsky,
Colors: Bob Sharen,
Lettering: Joe Rosen,
Editor: Bob Harras,
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod

Full Details

In Borovia:
Stalker, Quick Kick and Snow Job are sentenced to life terms in a hard labor gulag prison for terrorism, weapons possession, attempted murder and various unnamed crimes against the state security of Borovia. They are boarded onto a train filled with many others headed to the gulags. Inside the car the conditions are cold, dirty and terrible. The men are half starved and bordering on losing their humanity. The injured Snow Job and Quick Kick are attacked by the other prisoners for their shoes and clothes. Stalker fights them off and talks about not losing your self respect, even in the face of starvation. Later when food and water are delivered to the car, Stalker has the smallest guy give out equal portions to all, including the injured.

The train arrives at the gulag. The prisoners are processed and sent to their housing units. With Snow Job and Quick Kick's injuries nothing is going to be easy in this prison camp.

In Utah:
Ordered to leave his teammates behind by Stalker, Outback has returned and is confronted by Leatherneck. Stalker's reasoning for giving the order was so that someone could tell the true story of what went down. Outback feels miserable about leaving his teammates behind, but was just following orders.

The Joes are frustrated that no rescue mission is allowed to happen. Even the retired Grunt calls in to see if he can help. Roadblock and Leatherneck get in an argument over Stalker's order to Outback. They are interrupted by Gung-Ho, who is coming up from a hole in the floor, saying "we can hear you all the way down on level three".

In Denver:
As Billy and Jinx are sparring, Billy gets the upper hand on Jinx. Pinning her down, he asks how she is connected to Storm Shadow and why she has the same tattoo. The Blind Master interrupts saying "It is not her place to tell you nor is my place to tell you. I can show you this much though." On the wall is a picture of the Hard Master, he takes it down and on the back is a group photo of the Arashikage Clan. Included in the picture are the Hard Master, Soft Master, Storm Shadow, Snake-Eyes, Jinx, Blind Master, Professor Onihashi, and Onihashi's Assistant. Jinx is Storm Shadow's second cousin on his mother's side. They tell Billy that Jinx is going to take him to San Francisco, and the Blind Master is off to someplace warm with palm trees.

Across the street in Fred VII's garage, Fred and Raptor are returning from burying the body of Cobra Commander. As Fred goes inside, Raptor stays outside and sees Jinx and Billy drive away. He rushes off to follow them.

Jinx and Billy are headed to San Francisco and Raptor is able to track them without their knowledge by using his hawks.

In San Francisco:
Jinx and Billy arrive at the Presidio. They go to the Defense Language Center which is a GI Joe cover. And thanks to Raptor's hawks, Raptor watches them enter the building.

Summary by Josh Eggebeen

Variations

The Mark Jeweler jewelry insert was released in many Marvel comics throughout the late 1970s til the late 1980s. What is pictured here is the actual insert included in Marvel #62. To read about the history of the Mark Jeweler insert follow the link - Marvel Mark Jewelers Inserts Part 4 - Marvel Mark Jewelers Inserts - The Colored End of an Era - October 1986 - July 1991

Direct Market

Newsstand

Mark Jeweler Insert

Mark Jeweler Insert Page 2

Mark Jeweler Insert Page 3

Mark Jeweler Insert Page 4