[DMC]

The next issue is titled ?The pipeline ploy?. In it the Joes are battling Cobra along the Alaskan oil pipeline. We get introduced to some new characters on this issue - Doc, Snowjob, Gung-Ho, Airborne, Wild Bill, and Destro - though we don?t see his face or learn his name in this issue.

Wild Bill is flying a Huey in this issue, and they are used several time to transport troops and evacuate the wounded.





The GI Joe Falcon gliders and the Cobra Viper gliders are also introduced in this issue:





Finally, some Cobra troopers escape in this helicopter:



This looks like the same one from issue #1, the Mi-2 Hoplite:

[Lifeline 71]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMC

Very interesting. I didn?t know that.

Basically, just before he got picked to write G.I. Joe Larry Hama had created a group called Fury Force. It was a small group of operators who had a base under the Chaplain's Assistant School. Members included a female assassin, a masked Vietnam vet,Nick Fury Jr.,and characters who would basically become Stalker, Rock and Roll, Tunnel Rat and Breaker.

[DMC]

In the next issue, ?3 strikes for Snake Eyes,? The Joe?s follow a clues down to Sierra Gordo to investigate a Cobra operation. We get a bunch of good images of the Cobra jet floatplane from a few issues back.

[DMC]

In the next issue, ?The last lane from Rio Lindo,? Hawk rescues the team in a C-130. This is beautifully and accurately drawn.

[DMC]

There are some cool aircraft in the next issue, ?Destro Attacks.?

First is this helicopter that comes in to transport the Joe APC:




Believe it or not, this is a faithful drawing of a real helicopter, the CH-54 Tarhe.



Next, there is a unique Cobra rocket plane that doesn?t really have a real-life counterpart:





Destro and some Cobra paratroopers board a nondescript transport plane:




As you can see, it has a single vertical tail and four prop engines. I?m going to go with the Antonov An-12, mostly because I don?t like the thought of Cobra having NATO equipment.



Last but not least, we are introduced to the Skystriker in this issue, which of course is an F-14, one of the great warplanes of all time.

[DMC]

In ?Red-eye to Miami,? Snake-eyes, Quinn, and Dr. Venom steal a World War II era Avro Lancaster bomber to escape Sierra Gordo, only to be chased by a Supermarine Spitfire. The Lancaster in particular is drawn accurately and beautifully. What a treat to see it in this issue.

[DMC]

In the next issue, ?Night Attack,? the only aircraft is th GI Joe Dragonfly helicopter. This one holds a special place in my heart, as this was the first GI Joe toy I got as a kid. It was a Christmas gift from my Aunt and Uncle. The Dragonfly was based on the AH-1 Covra helicopter.

[DMC]

The next issue, ?Loose Ends?, has some really interesting aircraft in it.

We have the GI Joe Dragonfly and Skystriker.




But Cobra sends a small fleet of aircraft to rescue Destro and Cobra Commander:



We have 3 types here. First, I believe this is the introduction of the FANG helicopters to the comics. The FANG is unique, and not strictly based on an existing aircraft.



Next is this really interesting cargo helicopter that picks up the HISS tank and takes off with it. This is very clearly a Mil Mi-10, a Soviet design.






Then there are two fighter jets in the mix:




These appear different than the Migs we saw in issue 1. I believe they are Sukhoi Su-7 s



Finally, at the end of the issue, Destro orders a Harrier to be made ready for him. The drawing doesn?t look very accurate for a harrier, but we will see more of the plane in the next issue hopefully.

[DMC]

In ?Destro Returns? we get to see Destro in the Harrier again. It actually looks like a harrier this time, too.





We have a Skystriker, a Dragonfly, and a c-130.




Dr. Venom and scar-face hijack an airliner and the it to - where else in the 80s - Libya. It looks like a 707 to me. They were still flying commercial routes back then.

[DMC]

?Joe Triumphs? is a great issue. Cobra launches a full scale attack of fort wadsworth. FANG helicopters are used, as well as this transport helicopter:



As far as I can tell, this is a unique design. Observe the NOTAR on the aft end instead of a rear rotor. Very few helicopters have this. The closest I could find is the MD 600N: