Notes of Interest

First appearance of The White Clown & Orlovsky the Dwarf Cobra and GI Joe shuttles introduced.

Major Players

The Joes: Hawk, Payload, Roadblock, Sci-Fi, Slip Stream, Scarlett, Snake-Eyes
Additional Joe Characters: Hard Top, Lift Ticket, Mainframe, Rip Cord, Steeler

Cobra: Baroness, Fred VII (Cobra Commander), Dr. Mindbender, Serpentor, Scrap Iron

Additional Characters: Blind Master, The White Clown, Orlovsky the Dwarf, US Air Force Shuttle crew: Major Jones, Lt. Kirk, Colonel Prupis

Creative Team

Script: Larry Hama,
Pencils: Ron Wagner,
Inks: Russ Heath,
Colors: Neil Yomtov,
Lettering: Joe Rosen,
Editor: Bob Harras,
Editor in Chief: Jim Shooter
Cover Artist: Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod

Full Details

The US Air Force shuttle crew, Major Jones, Lt. Kirk and Colonel Prupis, are making improvements to an eye in the sky satellite. This upgrade will make it easier to see things down on Earth. After starting up the satellite with the new upgrades, they immediately begin receiving tons of extra data. Someone has been running a worldwide operation right under their noses. They make a call to mission control.

Of course, the group running this operation is Cobra. Dr. Mindbender barges in on Fred VII (as Cobra Commander) and the Baroness talking about how they plan to keep up the impersonation of Cobra Commander. Dr. Mindbender is scared that the US will discover what exactly they are doing with these satellites and how it will effect their most secret operation, the true purpose of the Cobra Terror Dromes.

Fred VII and the Baroness launch in the Cobra shuttle to destroy the spy satellites. The Joes detect Cobra's launch and launch a shuttle of their own, the Defiant.

With the US Air Force shuttle in the middle, The Joe's Defiant and Cobra's shuttle begin a space battle. The Joes hit the Cobra shuttle causing damage and knocking out the Baroness. Without the Baroness, Fred VII doesn't know what to do, and has a moment of crisis.

The GI Joe shuttle is coming around for another attack. And the shuttle crew is asking for orders. So Fred VII gathers himself, and leads the Cobra shuttle in a counterattack. Instead of attacking the Defiant, he shots down all of the US Air Force Spy satellites, and heads for home. Fred has found his ability to lead.

Somewhere in Europe, the Blind Master, Scarlett and Snake-Eyes audition for the circus and its ringmaster, The White Clown. The next stop for the circus is in Borovia.

Summary by Josh Eggebeen

Variations

Direct Market

Newsstand