'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #31 REVIEWED!

Background In Issue 30, there has been a brief battle at McGuire Air Force Base. Cobra Commander narrowly escaped. He had one of his first Crimson Guards Fred Broca beginning surveillance on Fort Wadsworth, but then cancelling that order and recalling him right before the Joe team drove past the front window of his house. At the very end, Firefly and Destro conspire to pretend to be casual with Cobra Commander to put him at ease so they could plot revenge for being left behind in the Everglades in Issue…

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'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #30 REVIEWED!

Background At the end of Issue 29, Firefly and Destro exit the battle scene in Florida, and begin their journey back to Cobra headquarters in Springfield.  The Master of Disguise Zartan and his insidious (but sometimes incompetent) Dreadnoks had headed North as well. On to the issue The issue begins with Zartan and the Dreadnoks outside the perimeter fence of McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. They notice a Dragonfly helicopter flying in and speculate why.  Zartan decides to get a better look inside to gather intelligence about Joe…

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'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #29 REVIEWED!

At the end of Issue 28, the G.I.Joe Hovercraft, the WHALE, was shot up pretty significantly. Destro and Deep Six was badly wounded while successfully shooting down Destro’s Rattler. Firefly had been left behind by Cobra Commander and Wild Weasel. Firefly blew up Zartan’s cabin out of spite. Two local police officers just avoided being inside before he did. On to the issue The issue begins with Cutter limping the WHALE into harbor to make repairs. The locals are making fun of the Joes and giving them a hard time…

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'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #27 REVIEWED!

Background Snake-Eyes has been shrouded in mystery since the first issue. Issue 26 is the first part of this origin story. Please make sure to read that one first. In addition to the Snake-Eyes origin story, the ongoing covert actions in the Florida swamps near Zartan’s cabin continues. Issue 25 (“Zartan!”) ended with Junkyard coming right to the cabin door. Zartan was brandishing his pistol and was about to put the “stray” out of its misery. Issue 26 ended with Junkyard leading the Cobras into a pit of quicksand. On…

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'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #26 REVIEWED!

  Background Snake-Eyes has been shrouded in mystery since the first issue. We have hints that he doesn’t wear his mask for fun. The older Joes seem to be more respectful, and newer Joes or strangers seem to gasp in horror at his visual appearance. That being said, there are a lot of questions readers have about the Commando. In more recent issues we are privy to the fact that Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow, the Cobra ninja, have the same red tattoo symbol on their right forearms. How are these…

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'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #25 REVIEWED!

Background Last issue Cobra Commander escaped due to Storm Shadow’s tenacity and self-sacrifice. During the issue, Major Bludd revealed to Destro and the Baroness that he hid a transmitter in the handle of Storm Shadow’s sword. They were planning to track where Storm Shadow had gone to try and rescue the Commander. They sent Firefly and a man in red known as “the pilot” (Wild Weasel) to the swamps near the Everglades where the transmitter signal was pinging at a shack. As the issue drew to a close, the Commander…

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'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #24 REVIEWED!

Background   Last issue Cobra Commander was captured after a series of car chases and international intrigue. Clutch, the Joe’s mechanic and VAMP Driver, as well as Roadblock, the heavy machine gunner capture the Commander. The Baroness, Major Bludd, and Storm Shadow got away in the remains of a parade float. There was also a tease last issue that the Joes might not be able to hold on to their new prisoner. On to the issue On the title page we see some parachutes dropped in a clearing in the…

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'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #23 REVIEWED!

Background Last issue teased that Cobra Commander was going to get captured in this issue. This issue will continue to develop the main story plot-line. On to the issue. The cover shows a brilliant portrait of Clutch and Roadblock capturing Cobra Commander. This is actually one of my favorite covers of the whole series. On the title page we see Snow-Job precariously poised on the side of a mountain, using binoculars to keep watch over the Baroness who is recovering from her plastic surgeries. Snow Job is using a s…

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'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #22 REVIEWED!

Background Major characters (and minor recurring characters) perished in Issue 19. Issue 20 was written by a completely different author and featured a stand-alone story. Issue 21 was the iconic Silent Interlude comic, whose story was told in pictures.This issue will bring us back to the main story plot-line. On to the issue. The cover shows Destro literally playing with toys!! He has a plane and he is strafing Joe figures. Okay, product placement is strong with this one. On the title page we see the Chaplain’s Assistants returning to Fort Wadsworth…

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'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #21 REVIEWED!

Background This comic by Larry Hama seems to be more iconic than the actual series. It is visually stunning and there are no words. But there is a story.  If you don’t own this issue, you should find it and buy it.  If you are a G.I. Joe fan, a ninja fan, or a comic connoisseur, you must see this issue. That being said, I’m going to limit the pictures in this review. Find this issue, open it up, and follow along! On to the issue. On the title page…

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THE POP EXPOSE ‘Larry Hama’ By Mitchell Smith!

Larry Hama, born June 7th 1949, has done a lot of comic book work but is best know for his work on the G.I. Joe franchise. He spent 3 years in the Army during the Vietnam War as a firearms and explosive ordinance expert. Hama used his military background to create the G.I. Joe comics which was based off characters from the cartoon. He also wrote a majority of the file cards which is a staple to the Action figure and a must for collectors. I loved the file cards as a…

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'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #19 REVIEWED!

Background The Cobra courier Scar-Face was captured by the Joes in Issue 18. Prior to his capture, Dr. Venom dosed him with a time-release plague toxin. Seemingly, the goal is to kill the Joes within their own HQ. But Cobra and Destro are not patient enough to let the Joes die from disease. They are looking for the Joes to go into plague quarantine protocols. When they notice where this is, they plan to mount an offensive and wipe out the sick Joes. No mention of rescuing Scar-Face. Also in…

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'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #18 REVIEWED!

Background Many people are looking for Scar-Face, the Cobra courier. He slinked away after the Night Attack when he was betrayed by Dr. Venom, a homicidal maniac of a Cobra Scientist who left him to die in the Treasury building (or the Bureau of Engraving and Printing). The Joes are hunting for him as they think he may lead them to other Cobra members. Destro is looking for him because he believes he is integral to Cobra plans. Kwinn is looking for him because he thinks he can get a…

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'NOW YOU KNOW' With Yorktownjoe 

NOW YOU KNOW WITH YORKTOWNJOE – G.I.JOE MARVEL ISSUE #17 REVIEWED!

Background In the last issue, the Baroness crashed her HISS tank into a car to throw off Major Bludd’s aim as Cobra Commander ordered Bludd to send Destro into “early retirement.” Despite that her vehicle was armored, the crash left both vehicles destroyed, Bludd fled from her turret leaving her to be blown up as the gas hit the flames and engulfed her in an explosion. Meanwhile, Hawk beat Cobra Commander up, then Destro and Hawk traded a few blows before Cobra Commander shot Hawk in the back. His body…

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Serpentor's Lair