Background
Issue 60 seemed to be a bit of a standalone issue to introduce 4 new Joes, and a couple new Dreadnok’s. Feel free to check out the review of Issue 60 in case you missed it. (You can catch up on other “Now You Know With YorktownJoe” reviews there as well!)
The cover of this issue shows Stalker, Snow-Job and Quick-Kick in significant peril engaged in a shoot-out.
On to the issue
This issue begins with Hawk giving a mission briefing to Stalker, Quick-Kick, Snow-Job, and Outback. They are being sent to Borovia to rescue a hack reporter Devlin Winchell who was arrested on espionage charges.
The four Joe’s are going in undercover for a rescue operation. They have a local contact named Spigou to provide them support and weapons.
In the parallel story, happening over in Denver. (In Crimson Guard Fred VII’s secret robotics lab under his mechanics garage…)
Raptor, Fred VII, Cobra Commander, and Billy are having words with one another. The basic gist is that Billy wants no part of Cobra and all its issues. He is planning on walking out the door, and Fred VII draws his pistol. He doesn’t want to risk leaks.
Billy easily disarms Fred VII with a kick. Raptor tries to signal his attack birds with a special whistle, but Billy swats that away as well.
Billy delivers a classic line as why he will not strike Raptor…
Cobra Commander has Billy sighted in, but he lowers his weapon and allows him to leave.
Back in Borovia…
Stalker is undercover in the ethnic clothes of Botswana. He is impersonating being one of their diplomats.
The undercover team and the agent Spigou are reviewing the plan to penetrate the jail and rescue Devlin Winchell.
Billy returns to the martial arts studio and encounters Jinx. She is deeply affiliated with the Arashikage, and he suspects, G.I.Joe as well. He makes it clear he won’t betray his father. Billy has developed a sense of honor, probably from his pre-accident training with Storm Shadow.
Meanwhile, back at Fred VII’s garage…
Cobra Commander removes his helmet and again begins to talk about turning over a new leaf. This could be author Larry Hama infusing a little Ying Yang philosophy into the story. Perhaps there is a glimmer of good in a very bad man. Perhaps there can be redemption.
He takes off the rest of the battle armor and let’s Raptor and Fred VII know he is leaving and planning to go try amends with Billy.
But Fred VII is not having it…
He shoots Cobra Commander in the back! What a travesty!
Then with a little foreshadowing, Fred VII mentions that there could be anyone inside. Evidently he isn’t interested in Raptor just hacking the accounting to give himself a raise. He wants to assume the role, and take over the big man’s chair.
Back in Borovia…
Outback, Stalker, Snow-Job, and Quick-Kick pull into an alley near the prison. Spigou is driving the truck. They hope to be in and out as quickly as possible.
I would love a kitbash custom of this Quick-Kick. Commando outfit, bandana tied in a durag (or do-rag, or dew rag). At any rate, he kncoks someone out with his nunchaku skills.
Unfortunately, they discover no one is there. Another team from the State Department negotiated his release. They didn’t communicate, so the Joes were sent in unnecessarily. Somebody sounds an alarm and some of our heroes get hit retreating back to the alley.
Spigou picks them up in a truck and tries to make a break for it. But the truck gets riddled, and Spigou and others are hit. Spigou turns down the wrong alley, and they get out. Spigou says he will try to buy them some time to escape.
Stalker and Outback are unhurt. Snow-Job, Quick-Kick and Spigou are all hit. Stalker orders Outback to sneak away to get word out of what happened, and to provide coordination so they can be extracted later. If they are all taken prisoner, no one could provide the intel back to HQ.
Spigou through the truck in reverse to try to block the alley and buy some time. But the Borovians brought up a tank and fired on him at nearly point blank range. There is a massive explosion, as Spigou gives his life so they can try to escape.
The three Joes are captured by the Borovians. Some of the Joe’s blood falls on Outback who remains hidden in the storm sewer under a drain.
Back at HQ, the Joes are watching a news report about everything that is going on. Hawk tells the Joes there will be no rescue attempt. Thanks for looking out, Hawk.
—–
Issue 61 begins a story arc in the dreadful country of Borovia. Cobra has issues of their own, with the avian attired accountant Raptor and the greedy Fred VII shooting Cobra Commander in the back. It is troubling that the Joes are ordered not to undergo a dark op to rescue their own. Especially since the last mission was a dark op to rescue a hack reporter. I’m sure the other Joes are thrilled that they are valued less than a hack reporter.
Hope you enjoyed this review!
Tune in soon for Issue 62. will the wounded and captured Joes be left behind? Will Serpentor have full control of Cobra now that Cobra Commander was shot in the back by Crimson Guard Fred VII? Tune in next time to find out!
Now You Know – a little more about:”BEGINNINGS….AND ENDINGS” Feel free to let me know what you thought of this issue in the comments or on Twitter or Instagram @yorktownjoe.