Now You Know With YorktownJoe –  Marvel G.I. Joe Issue 76 Recap!

Issue 76 “ALL’S FAIR”

Background

Issue 75 showed the Cobra Civil War in full swing!! The fighting continues, alliances shift, and intrigue is underway! Feel free to check out the review of Issue 75 in case you missed it. (You can catch up on other “Now You Know With YorktownJoe” reviews there as well!)

On to the issue

We begin Issue 76 with a splash title page and a serious discussion between an Iron Grenadier and Destro. Gold masked Destro refers to the iG as “Sergeant Major.” This is a recurring right hand assistant who helps Destro carry out orders.

They are standing over a rain water street drain. Falcon and his infiltration crew are hiding directly below the pair and eavesdropping about their plans.

Captain Minh, a Vietnamese refugee (who became a US citizen after the war) is helping guide the Joe’s in an uneasy alliance. Captain Minh had begun a fishing and tourist guide service. Fred VII (7) who is posing as Cobra Commander chartered his boat to get to Cobra Island, but took off in a Pogo vehicle, leaving Minh’s boat destroyed and leaving him for dead in the Gulf.

He is providing useful intel, as he has been scouting Cobra Island since washing up on shore. He is on a vengeful path, and the Joe’s are working with him to see what they can discover and signal back to the Flagg.

The Iron Grenadiers are checking the tunnels and sluiceways to see if they can find the Joe’s.

Meanwhile Zartan is telling imposter Cobra Commander Fred VII that Serpentor needs to be dealt with and their supply lines are spreading too thin. Zartan has a keen tactical sense, and may be getting suspicious of Fred VII’s lack of decisiveness.

Serpentor admires that the B.A.T.S. (Battle Android Troopers) continue to march even after taking severe damage.

But then he notices one has been modified and has a security camera on it. Since it wasn’t their modification, Serpentor blows the B.A.T. away, which effectively cuts off faux Cobra Commander’s intelligence advantage.

Falcon and his recon team continue to run through the Cobra sewage tunnels, dodging Iron Grenadiers. And now dodging RATS as well. He says the one thing to never say in battle or at work: “Well things can’t get much worse.”

News flash Falcon: Things can ALWAYS get worse.

A little comic relief as Destro’s chef “Cookie” orders some IG’s to dump the slop from meal prep down the tunnel…and on to the recon team…

Back on the Flagg…

Psyche-Out and Recondo receive orders from Hawk to take specific actions. Hawk is trying to convince Serpentor to take a route around the mountain for a tactical advantage.

And over where “Cobra Commander” is starting to panic without his video spy B.A.T. camera feed, Fred doesn’t know what to do. For some reason Zarana picks this moment to start flirting with him. Perhaps she is sensing that he will need a new second in command if Baroness gets caught in a crossfire. She does seem to grind her hip a bit TOO close to his, uhm, Battle Armor.

Some Secto-Vipers prepare a BUGG attack. This must have been one of those issues where Larry Hama was trying to convey an epic battle scene conclusion, but was beholden to insert some new toys into a few panels.

But they are unceremoniously dispatched by Ghostrider and the Phantom X-19 Stealth Fighter.

Zartan is dismayed at the loss of the BUGG’s protecting their West flank. He lets Fred know he should go rescue Baroness since he at least listens to her advice. He takes his bow and arrow and runs towards the fight…

Serpentor is yelling at Mindbender about leadership and respect, and still has the Baroness trussed up on the front of their HISS tank like a human shield.

Of course the Joe’s showcase the Bridge-Layer, even though that toy was probably not on shelves at the time…

Falcon, Captain Minh, and the recon team emerge from the sewers ragged, but alive. There is no one at the airfield when they arrive.

Zartan and Fred get more bad news as Zarana points out they have no more West front defenses and Destro’s Iron Grenadiers are marching in from the South.

Zarana accuse Commander imposter Fred of behaving like a wimp. Zartan realizes he has to take back the initiative and runs off again with his bow and arrow.

He even compares the situation as nowhere near as difficult as taking down the Hard Master. (We don’t need to belabor the point that he was actually aiming at Snake-Eyes and missed. So that side brag is a bit diminished.)

But Zartan’s shot this time was not…

Down goes Serpentor, after reciting a bit of history concerning the Battle of Hastings.

Mindbender had been at Serpentor’s side the whole time, along with a loose alliance with Hawk. He runs headlong into battle to grovel a bit and make a deal with whom he believes to be Cobra Commander.

Destro arrives as well, and states he only wants to take the Baroness and leave. Mindbender quickly obliges and cuts her loose and hands her gently to Destro.

He also tells Hawk they are free to leave, and they better do it quickly…

A large number of the Joe reinforcements from the Flagg arrive, just as things are wrapping up.

Instead of attacking them, Destro tells them it’s over and they should return home.

It finishes up with the Iron Grenadier Sergeant Major congratulating Destro on a successful campaign where they hardly fired any shots and got the Baroness back safely.

So fake Cobra Commander Fred VII (7) “wins” because Zartan took out Serpentor with a spectacular bow shot.
Mindbender rejoins him, consolidating their forces.

Destro leaves with the Baroness.

The Joe’s leave with nothing.

And Serpentor leaves, well, kinda. I guess he leaves off panel in a body bag…

That’s all for this issue, but Issue 77 will bring us more action. And a cat fight.

Once again, here is the map of Cobra Island along with a breakdown of forces and alliances. A very helpful resource to keep track of all the alliances as the action unfolds.

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Issue 76 brought the Cobra Civil War to a screeching halt and a very abrupt end!! Alliances shift hard, and the Destro is reunited with the Baroness. And Serpentor is taken off the chess board.

Hope you enjoyed this review!

Tune in soon for Issue 77.

Now You Know – a little more about:”ALL’S FAIR” Feel free to let me know what you thought of this issue in the comments or on Instagram or X or Facebook @yorktownjoe.